| a(gnei/a |
hagneia |
purity |
| a(gno/v |
hagnos |
pure, holy |
| a)duton |
aduton |
innermost sanctuary, lit. “not to be entered” |
| a)parxai& |
aparkhai |
first offerings of a ritual; first-fruits |
| a)po&rrhton |
aporrheton |
that which is forbidden or secret |
| a)ra& |
ara |
curse, prayer |
| a)ra&omai |
araomai |
I curse, pray |
| a)reth |
arete |
goodness, virtue, also “manly” qualities |
| ba&kxov, ba&kxh |
bakkhos, bakkhe |
initiate of Dionysos (male, female) |
| bo&qrov |
bothros |
pit dug in ground for khthonic offerings |
| boulh/ |
boule |
council |
| bwmo/v |
bomos |
raised altar, pedestal |
| da|dou~xov |
dadoukhos |
torch-bearer of Eleusinian Mysteries |
| dai&mwn |
daimon |
spirit, god |
| drw&mena |
dromena |
ritual, things done |
| dwrou&meqa |
doroumetha |
we give you a gift |
| e)po&pthv |
epoptes |
watcher, highest degree in Eleusinian Mysteries |
| e0sxa&ra |
eskhara |
low altar for khthonic offerings; also a hearth |
| e1qov |
ethos |
custom, habit |
| ei/ pote |
ei pote |
if ever |
| e0lqe/ |
elthe |
come! |
| (Ella/v |
Hellas |
Greece |
| 9Ellhnv |
Hellenes |
Greeks, also Hellenic pagans |
| e0sxa&ra |
eskhara |
hearth, altar for burnt-offerings |
| eu)daimoni/a |
eudaimonia |
the good, happiness |
| eu)daimonoi/v |
eudaimonois |
bless you |
| eu)se/beia |
eusebeia |
piety, religion |
| eu!xomai |
eukhomai |
offerings made when good news is received |
| eu)xh/ |
eukhe |
prayer |
| eu!xomai |
eukhomai |
I pray |
| qeogoni/a |
theogonia |
genealogy of the gods |
| qeologi/a |
theologia |
speaking about the gods |
| qeo&v, qea&, qeoi& |
theos, thea, theoi |
god, goddess, gods |
| qi&asov |
thiasos |
group of worshippers |
| qumi&ama |
thumiama |
incense |
| qumo&v |
thumos |
soul, breath, spirit |
| qu&rsov |
thursos, thyrsos |
Dionysian staff |
| qusi/a |
thusia |
animal sacrifice |
| i9ereu/v, i9e/reia |
hiereus, hiereia |
priest, priestess |
| i(erafo&rov |
hieraforos |
bearer of sacred things |
| i(erofa&thv |
hierofantes |
hierophant, one who shows sacred things |
| i(ketei/a |
hiketeia |
supplication |
| ka&qarsiv |
katharsis |
purification |
| ki&sth |
kiste |
basket w/ lid, used in Mysteries |
| klu~qi |
kluthi |
Hear! |
| kukew&n |
kukeon, kykeon |
barley drink used in Eleusinian Mysteries |
| li&knon |
liknon |
winnowing basket |
| li/ssomai |
lissomai |
I entreat |
| lith/ |
lite |
entreaty |
| lo/gov |
logos |
word, speech, reason |
| ma/kar |
makar |
blessed, happy |
| mantei/a |
manteia |
prophesying, divination |
| mi/asma |
miasma |
pollution |
| mo/le |
mole |
Come! |
| mousikh/ |
mousike |
music |
| mue&w |
mueo |
to initiate into the Mysteries |
| mu/qov |
muthos, mythos |
speech, counsel, story |
| mu&khv |
mukes |
mushroom |
| mu/sthv |
mustes, mystes |
person initiated into the Mysteries |
| mustipo&lov |
mustipolos |
performing Mysteries |
| nao/v, nho/v, new&v |
naos, neos, neos |
temple (3 different spellings) |
| na&rqhc |
narthex |
plant from which thursos was made |
| no/mov |
nomos |
custom |
| ceni/a |
zenia |
guest-friendship |
| oi}kov |
oikos |
house |
| omfalo/v |
omfalos, omphalos |
navel, stone marking center of earth at Delphi |
| o!rgia |
orgia |
sacred rituals |
| 0Orfeotelesth&v |
Orpheotelestes |
initiating priests of Orpheus |
| ou)ra&nioi qeoi& |
ouranioi theoi |
heavenly gods |
| pi&stiv |
pistis |
faith |
| plou~tov |
ploutos |
riches |
| po/liv |
polis |
city, city-state |
| pomph/ |
pompe |
procession |
| pro_v qew~n |
pros theos |
by the gods (used in oaths) |
| proskune/w |
proskuneo |
I abase myself, or I raise my hand to my lips |
| proskunh/siv |
proskunesis |
act of abasing one’s self, etc. |
| Pu+qi/a |
Puthia |
Pythia, priestess at Delphi |
| sofi/a |
Sophia |
wisdom |
| spondh/ |
sponde |
libation (to heavenly gods) |
| ste/fanov |
stefanos, stephanos |
wreath or crown worn on head |
| su&mbolon |
sumbolon |
symbol, token |
| summu&sthv |
summustes |
fellow initiate |
| sune/siv |
sunesis |
intelligence |
| su&nqhma |
sunthema |
password |
| swthri&a |
soteria |
salvation |
| telesth&rion |
telesterion |
initiation hall |
| telesth&v |
telestes |
initiating priest |
| teleth& |
telete |
initiation ceremony |
| tele&w |
teleo |
to initiate |
| te/menov |
temenos |
sanctuary & its land |
| timh/ |
time |
honor |
| tumpa&nion |
tumpanion |
tambourine |
| u#briv |
hubris |
insolence, pride |
| u#mnw|di/a |
humnodia |
the singing of a hymn |
| u#mnov |
humnos, hymnos |
hymn |
| fallo&v |
phallos |
phallus, penis, or representation of a penis |
| fa&sma |
phasma |
apparition, phantasm |
| xai=re, xai/rete |
khaire, khairete |
greetings or good-bye (sing., plural) |
| xai/rw |
khairo |
I rejoice |
| xa/riv |
kharis |
favor shown/received (reciprocal) |
| xaristh/ria |
kharisteria |
favor offerings |
| xe/rnibev |
khernibes |
purifications with holy water |
| xe/rniy |
khernips |
water for washing hands |
| xqo/niai/ qeai |
khthoniai theai |
Demeter and Persephone |
| xqo/nioi/ qeoi |
khthonioi theoi |
the underground deities |
| xoh/ |
khoe |
libation to underworld gods or the dead |
| yuxh& |
psuche |
psyche, soul |
Some Helpful Greek Words