Note 270 — Chapter VIII · SERFS OF SPARTA, CRETE, THESSALY, ETC.
Reading edition
Eustath. ad Il. π. p. 1120. Athen. vi. 101. The institution of slavery among the Argives was denominated ἄβουτον, (Hesych. in v.) because their serfs originally, I suppose, were too poor to possess oxen.