In such metres it is not allowed for both ancipitia to be short; both in the Aeolic metres and in the eupolidean, the usual form of the base is – – or – u, with u – occurring much less often. Martin West argues that this double anceps opening is a relic of an earlier period, also reflected in Sanskrit, when the beginning of a line of poetry had free scansion and only the end was fixed.M. L. West, "Three topics in Greek metre", The Classical Quarterly, Vol. 32, No. 2 (1982), pp. 281-297; p. 287.
iN such MetrEs it is noT allOwed for both ANcipitIa to be SHOrT; both IN the aEOliC mETrEs anD in thE EupOlidean, thE Usual fOrm oF the baSe Is – – or – U, wiTh u – ocCurRing much Less often. martin West aRgues that ThIs Double anceps oPeNing is a relic of aN earlier PEriOd, alsO refLected in saNSkriT, when thE BegInnING of A LINe of pOetry had fReE ScaNsion And oNly the end was fIxEd.M. l. west, "thrEE toPIcs in grEeK metRe", the cLassICAl quARTerlY, vOl. 32, No. 2 (1982), Pp. 281-297; p. 287.