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On the meaning of σστομος in Euripides*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

E. Coughanowr
E. Coughanowr
Affiliation:
Villanova University, Pennsylvania
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Extract

The epithet σστομος has generally been accepted as deriving from δι and στ⋯μα (σστομος) and meaning ‘double-mouthed’, ‘with two entrances’, ‘with two exits’ or ‘with two branchings’. In these senses it certainly suits caves, harbours, rivers, and roads.

Type
Shorter Notes
Information
The Classical Quarterly , Volume 34 , Issue 1 , May 1984 , pp. 235 - 236
Copyright
Copyright © The Classical Association 1984

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References

2 cf. somewhat metaphorically Aesch. Prom. 1044 π πκης βστρ χος Ar. Nu. 1160 μπκει γώττῃ and Luc. J. Tr. 43 μπκης in relation to an oracle.

3 To the best of my knowledge this suggestion is new. Cf. Kannicht, R., Eur. Helena, Band II Kommentar (Heidelberg, 1969)Google Scholar; also di Benedetto, V., Eur. Orestes (Firenze, 1967)Google Scholar: there is no comment on δσομος

4 3. 60. 1 ρ γμα … μπστομον, ‘a tunnel with mouths, entrances’; similary Soph, . OC 473Google Scholar γαβς μπιςτμο ς ‘handles on either side of a mouth (of a vessel)’; also in Polyb. 2. 28 6 μπιστμο δ ν;μεως and ibid.. 29. 4 μπιστμο τξεως referring to an army arrangement facing both ways.

5 For the στομος -τομος compounds cf. Kretschmer, P. and Locker, E., Rückläufiges Wörterbuch der Griechischen Sprache (Göttingen, 1944)Google Scholar: there are 90 compounds with -τομος and 61 with -ςτομος. Cf. the double derivation and meaning of δστομος (δ -στομος and δ σ-τομος).

6 cf. Σιδρη. Liddell-Scott, I.. Mγα Δεξικ τς 'Eλλην;ικς Гλώσσης (Athens, 1970)Google Scholar: δστομος is translated as δκοπος. Cf. also Δτμητρκο, Δ., Mγα λεlξικν; τς 'Eλλην;ικς Гλώσσης, (Athens, 1933), vol. 3 b δηγGoogle Scholar. Bαλαωρ. π γ. 24 μαχαρι δκοπο μσα μο χών;ει. There is nothing in N. Andriotes, Δεξικν; τς κοιν;ς Nεοελλην;ικsigmav;; also, nothing in Shipp, G.. Modern Greek Evidence for the Ancient Greek Vocabulary (1978)Google Scholar. Elsewhere there is no parallel for δι-στοομος ‘double-mouthed’ in any European language that I could find; one of δισ-τομοσ is found in German. ‘zweischneidiges Schwert’, in Springer, O., Encyclopaedic Dictionary of the English and German Languages (1962)Google Scholar.