ἕρκος

A. fence, enclosure (πᾶν ὅσον ἂν ἕνεκα κωλύσεως εἴργῃ τι περιέχον Pl. Sph. 220b) round gardens and vineyards, Od. 7.113, Il. 5.90, 18.564 ; esp. round the court-yards of houses, Od. 21.238 (pl.), al.; ὑπὲρ ἕρκος ὑπερθορεῖν Sol. 4.29, Hdt. 6.134 : pl., S. Aj. 1274; also, the place enclosed, court-yard, στὰς μέσῳ ἕρκεϊ Il. 16.231, cf. Od. 8.57 (pl.), etc.; Κίσσιον ἕρκος, i.e. Susa, A. Pers. 17(anap.); ποῖον γαίας ἕ.; what city? E. Heracl. 441 ; ἕ. ἱερόν sacred enclosure, S. Tr. 607; shell of the pinna, Plu. 2.980b.

2. wall for defence, ἕρκεϊ χαλκείῳ Il. 15.567 ; ἕρκος..ἐκ ναυηγίων περιεβάλοντο Hdt. 7.191, cf. 9.99.

3. periphr., ἕ. ὀδόντων the fence (consisting) of the teeth, mostly in phrase, ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕ. ὀδόντων; Il. 4.350, cf. Sol. 27.1 ; ἀμείψεται ἕ. ὀδόντων Il. 9.409, Od. 10.328 ; κάρχαρον ἕ., without ὀδόντων, Opp. H. 1.506 ; ἀγγέων ἕρκεσι, = ἄγγεσι, Pi. N. 10.36 ; μέλαν ἕ. ἅλμας, i.e. the sea, Id. Dith. Oxy. 1.16, cf. P. 2.80 (= ἐπιφάνεια, Sch.); σφραγῖδος ἕ., i.e. a seal, S. Tr. 615.

4. metaph., defence, ἕ. ἀκόντων, of a shield, a defence against javelins, Il. 15.646 ; ἕ. βελέων 5.316; ἕ. ἰωχμοῖο, of the lion's skin, Theoc. 25.279; ἕρκεσιν εἴργειν κῦμα θαλάσσας A. Pers. 89 (lyr.).

b. of persons, ἕ. Ἀχαιῶν, of Ajax, Il. 3.229; of Achilles, Pi. Pae. 6.85; of soldiers, ἕρκος πολέμοιο a defence against war, Il. 4.299; of Achilles, ἕ. Ἀχαιοῖσιν..πολέμοιο 1.284; of Clytaemnestra, γαίας μονόφρουρον ἕ. A. Ag. 257(lyr.): abs., Pi. P. 5.113, etc.

5. a net, toils, for birds, Od. 22.469 : mostly in pl., σπίζ’ ὅπως ἐν ἕρκεσιν S. Fr. 431, cf. Ar. Av. 528(anap.), Pherecr. 209, Arist. HA 617b24; for deer, Pi. N. 3.51; coils of a lasso, Hdt. 7.85: metaph., τῆς Δίκης ἐν ἕρκεσιν A. Ag. 1611, cf. S. Aj. 60, E. Med. 986(lyr.); λέκτρων ἔχεσθαι φιλτάτοις ἐν ἕρκεσι Id. Ba. 958, cf. Hymn.Is. 158; χρυσοδέτοις ἕρκεσιν..γυναικῶν, of Eriphyle's necklace, S. El. 838(lyr.).