392–393
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. Yes, probably.
10
Socrates
Socrates. And Homer too thought the Trojan men were wiser than the women?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. I suppose he did.
Socrates
Socrates. Then he thought Astyanax was more rightly the boy’s name than Scamandrius?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. So it appears.
Socrates
Socrates. Let us, then, consider the reason for this. Does he not himself indicate the reason most admirably? For he says— He alone defended their city and long walls.Hom. Il. 22.507But the verb is in the second person, addressed by Hecuba to Hector after his death. Therefore, as it seems, it is right to call the son of the defender Astyanax (Lord of the city), ruler of that which his father, as Homer says, defended.
15
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. That is clear to me.
Socrates
Socrates. Indeed? I do not yet understand about it myself, Hermogenes. Do you?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. No, by Zeus, I do not.
Socrates
Socrates. But, my good friend, did not Homer himself also give Hector his name?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. Why do you ask that?
Socrates
Socrates. Because that name seems to me similar to Astyanax, and both names seem to be Greek. For lord (ἄναξ) and holder (ἕκτωρ) mean nearly the same thing, indicating that they are names of a king; for surely a man is holder of that of which he is lord; for it is clear that he rules it and possesses it and holds it. Or does it seem to you that there is nothing in what I am saying, and am I wrong in imagining that I have found a clue to Homer’s opinion about the correctness of names?
Hermogenes
Hermogenes. No, by Zeus, you are not wrong, in my opinion; I think perhaps you have found a clue.
