Les traces d’un Centaure dans l’Hymne homérique à Hermès (HhH. 224-226)

Abstract

While analyzing the traces left on the ground by the thief of his cows, Apollo mentions allusively a Centaur as the author of the theft, although he formulates this hypothesis only to reject it immediately. Despite the incongruity of this false syllogism and beyond its comic effects, the allusion reveals “theological” significations corresponding to the theogonic issues of the Homeric Hymn to Hermes.

Keywords

• Centaur
• Apollo
• Hermes
• traces
• chthonian cattle
• δαίμων