Note 776 — OMPHI,

Periander is mentioned as beginning a hymn with a like exordium: Αμφι μοι αυθις ανακτα: And Terpander has nearly the same words: [776]Αμφι μοι αυθις ανακθ' ἑκατηβολον. Apollo was so frequently called Αμφι αναξ, that it was in a manner looked upon as a necessary proœemium. Suidas observes, Αμφιανακτιζειν το προοιμιαζειν: And Hesychius, Αμφιανακτα, αρχη νομου Κιθαρωδικου. Much the same is told us in the Scholia upon the passage above from Aristophanes: [777]Μιμειται δε (Αριστοφανης) τον Διθυραμβων τα προοιμια· συνεχως γαρ χρωνται ταυτῃ λεξει· διο αμφιανακτας αυτους καλουσι. However, none of these writers inform us why this word was so particularly used; nor tell us what was its purport. In the short hymns ascribed to Homer this term is industriously retained; and the persons who composed them have endeavoured to make sense of it, by adopting it according to the common acceptation.