Randbemerkungen über hom. κορυϑαίoλος

In the present paper, the meaning and word formation of the Homeric adjectival compound κορυϑαίoλος are discussed. This compound is smally translated as either ‘with glancing helm’ or ‘moving the helmet quickly’, but there is no decisive argument in favour of one of the two meanings. However, a more fine-grained analysis of the internal structure of this compound as well as the contexts in which it occurs, including some remarks on Greek military equipment in Homeric times, clearly show that the meaning ‘with glancing helm’ must but be secondary. The problem remains how the secondary meaning developed from the original therefore.