Brewer's: Zoilos

(Latin, Zoilus). The sword of Zoilos. The pen of a critic. Zoilos was a literary Thersites, shrewd, witty, and spiteful. He was nicknamed Homeromastix (Homer's scourge), because he mercilessly assailed the epics of Homer, and called the companions of Ulysses in the island of Circe “weeping porkers” (“choiridia klaionta”). He also flew at Plato, Isocrates, and other high game.

“Pendentem volo Zoilum videre.” Martial.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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