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LESSON 3
HADES - From Homer's Odyssey

by George Valsamis

In Greek it is usual for a πρόθεσις, and especially for εἵνεκα to be placed after and not before the name, like in the phrase Ἑλένης εἵνεκα, instead of the normal εἵνεκα Ἑλένης (Notice in English both arrangements: "For the sake of Helen", and "for Helen's sake"). This happens, because in a particular sentence a name may be more important than even the clarification that a preposition serves.

In the ordering "εἵνεκα Ἑλένης" most important is that Helen was a cause for something. In the order "Ἑλένης εἵνεκα", Helen's person itself is more important than her being a cause of whatever - or, even better - the fact that she is so important explains why she was a cause for what happened.

As a word, εἵνεκα by itself means "Only one thing matters, that…". Εἵνεκα comes from ἓν (=one) and a verb that means "I want". When I say εἵνεκα, before I go on and reveal "because of what", "for whose sake", I already have said, that what will follow is the only one that matters - but since it is so important, it can't actually follow, and it is placed first!

Kroisus addresses Solon (cf. Herodotus 1.30) aknowledging the fact that Solon traveled many lands θεωρίης εἵνεκεν (for theory's sake - θεωρίη=wisdom). Θεωρίη is the only thing Solon wanted, so that it is placed before and not after the preposition εἵνεκεν. It is very usual for εἵνεκεν to follow instead of preceding. However, the word that belongs to εἵνεκεν is always in genitive case. (Both Ἑλένης and θεωρίης are in genitive case).

Εἵνεκεν indicates the cause or the purpose. Helen was the purpose of many people (πολλοί). To be a purpose or a cause means to be of some worth. Ἑλένη, when she is recognised to be the purpose and loss of so many people, acquires one more letter, she becomes Ἑλένης. 

Ἑλένη is a human being, a woman and Menelaus' wife, but she became also the woman all Greeks wanted, so that they perished for Ἑλένης sake.

Usually names indicating worth or possession are placed in genitive case. 

English has adopted some of this, like when we say Helen's, adding the s. It is an external addition, it is not incorporated in Helen's name, it does not belong to an inflection, but it is better than nothing! 

"Mr. Dick fulfils my aunt's predictions".

Reading this sentence in English you know that aunt's can not be the subject of the verb - it is not aunt's, it is Mr. Dick who fulfils.

In Greek too, when you see a noun in a case other than the nominative you know that this noun is not the subject of a verb.

Reference address : https://ellopos.net/elpenor/lessons/lesson3.asp?pg=13