Lesson 14.5: Scanning the Second Verse

Let us now scan the second verse of the Iliad together.

First, we break the verse up into syllables.

Now let's mark each syllable with the appropriate length.

1. οὐ is long because it is a diphthong. Macron.
2. λο is short because ο is always short. Breve.
3. μέ is short because ε is always short. Breve.
4. νη is long because η is always long. Macron.
5. ν, ἣ is long because η is always long. Macron.
6. μυ is doubtful because υ can be long or short. No mark yet.
7. ρί𝄒 is doubtful because ι can be long or short. No mark yet.
8. Ἀ is doubtful because α can be long or short. No mark yet.
9. χαι is long because it is a diphthong. Macron.
10. οῖ is long because it is a diphthong. Macron.
11. ς ἄλ is long because it is a closed syllable. Macron.
12. γε𝄒 is short because ε is always short. Breve.
13. ἔ is short because ε is always short. Breve.
14. θη is long because η is always long. Macron.
15. κεν, is long because it is the last syllable in the verse. Macron.

Let's now see what the verse looks like with the markings thus far.

The only pattern that will fit the remaining three syllables is a dactyl. Thus we get the following:

Let's put the words back together with the length marks and measure divisions. Finally, we get the following: