Note 396 — FIRST SECTION. (continued 3)

ἕλκοντα τὰ ἴσχια (they are ulcerated on the hip-joints) is found in the text. But the meaning of both words is disputed, and by no means fixed so far. With regard to ἰσχία—we must primarily understand the mass of muscle at the lower exterior portion of the “os ilium”, secondly the whole seat, and the joint-socket (cotyla) of the upper thigh. This is the interpretation of the Etymologicon Magnum; ἰσχία, ὅτι ἴσχει τοὺς καθημένους· σημαίνει δὲ ἰσχίον τὸ ὑπὸ τὴν ὀσφῦν ὀστέον, εἰς ὃ ἔγκειται τὸ ἱερὸν ὀστοῦν, ὅπερ καὶ γλουτὸς καλεῖται, καὶ κοτύλη, παρὰ τὴν κοιλότητα· ἢ τὸ κοῖλον τοῦ γλουτοῦ, ἐν ᾧ ἡ κοτύλη στρέφεται.(ἰσχία,—so called because supporting (ἴσχειν) those who sit; also ἰσχίον signifies the bone below, the loin, on which rests the os sacrum, which is also called γλουτός (rump), and also κοτύλη (joint-socket) in reference to its hollowness; or else the hollow of the rump, in which the joint-socket turns). Similar is the explanation of Suidas, Hesychius, Zonaras, the Scholiast on Homer, Iliad, V. 305, and on Theocritus, VI. 30. The general context shows that the meaning of “Joint-socket” is evidently to be preferred here.