Home Classical, Ancient Near Eastern & Egyptian Studies The Philosophy of Etymology in the Περὶ ἐτυμολογιῶν of Orion of Thebes
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

The Philosophy of Etymology in the Περὶ ἐτυμολογιῶν of Orion of Thebes

  • Maria Chriti and Elias Tsolakopoulos
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill
Explore this Subject How to publish with us
Ancient and Medieval Greek Etymology
This chapter is in the book Ancient and Medieval Greek Etymology

Abstract

This contribution aims at shedding light on the etymological practices which seem to have been followed in the earliest etymological ‘lexicon’ by the grammarian Orion of Thebes (5th c. CE). Orion exploits earlier sources and, given that the Byzantine etymological dictionaries represent his indirect transmission, Orion’s entries need to be contextualized into the ancient tradition of etymological approaches. Given the character of ancient etymologizing, according to which semantic relations were the priority, Orion’s etymological practices have never been evaluated from this specific perspective, or as revealing certain interpretations and considerations of his present philosophical milieu, following the nature of his previous respective treatments related to a ‘synchronic’ and not a diachronic reflection on the bond between utterances and the respective meanings. Just like most ancient ‘etymological discourses,’ Orion’s approaches actually have an exegetical, interpretational and argumentative character, by rationalizing and presenting the motive of the ‘name-giver’.

Abstract

This contribution aims at shedding light on the etymological practices which seem to have been followed in the earliest etymological ‘lexicon’ by the grammarian Orion of Thebes (5th c. CE). Orion exploits earlier sources and, given that the Byzantine etymological dictionaries represent his indirect transmission, Orion’s entries need to be contextualized into the ancient tradition of etymological approaches. Given the character of ancient etymologizing, according to which semantic relations were the priority, Orion’s etymological practices have never been evaluated from this specific perspective, or as revealing certain interpretations and considerations of his present philosophical milieu, following the nature of his previous respective treatments related to a ‘synchronic’ and not a diachronic reflection on the bond between utterances and the respective meanings. Just like most ancient ‘etymological discourses,’ Orion’s approaches actually have an exegetical, interpretational and argumentative character, by rationalizing and presenting the motive of the ‘name-giver’.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface VII
  3. Contents IX
  4. List of Abbreviations XI
  5. List of Tables XIII
  6. Introduction 1
  7. Part I: Linguistic Issues
  8. The Philosophy of Etymology in the Περὶ ἐτυμολογιῶν of Orion of Thebes 13
  9. Multiple Etymologies: Plural, Alternative, Complementary Etymologies 41
  10. The Concepts of ‘Barbarism’ and ‘Solecism’ in the Byzantine Etymologica 101
  11. Part II: Etymology and Etiology
  12. Etymology and Cosmological Revisionism in Pherecydes of Syros 141
  13. Etymology and the Rewriting of the Homeric Hymn to Apollo in Apollonius Rhodius 2.669–719 173
  14. Etymology as Explanation in Hellanicus of Lesbos’ Fragments 197
  15. Apollodorus in Pergamum, or the Reconciliation of Opposites 219
  16. Etymologies in the Margins: Etymological Practices in the Scholia on Apollonius’ Argonautica 257
  17. Etymology as a Teaching Tool for Learning Geography: Eustathius of Thessalonica’s Parekbolai on Dionysius Periegetes 279
  18. Celebrating the Hidden Essence of the Gods: The Etymology of Theonyms as a Source of Divine Revelation in Proclus’ Commentary on the Cratylus 297
  19. Part III: Literary and Playful Use of Etymology
  20. The Role of Etymology in the Formation of a Symbol: The Fourth Homeric Hymn to Hermes 331
  21. The Opening Riddle of Plato’s Cratylus 375
  22. Ridentem dicere uerum: Etymology and Humor in Varro and Plutarch 391
  23. Etymological Wordplay: Greek Philology as an Important Mediation between Greek and Latin Poetry of Erudition 413
  24. List of Contributors 431
  25. Index Notionum/Rerum 435
  26. Index Nominum 439
  27. Index Verborum 443
  28. Index Locorum 449
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111572796-002

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface VII
  3. Contents IX
  4. List of Abbreviations XI
  5. List of Tables XIII
  6. Introduction 1
  7. Part I: Linguistic Issues
  8. The Philosophy of Etymology in the Περὶ ἐτυμολογιῶν of Orion of Thebes 13
  9. Multiple Etymologies: Plural, Alternative, Complementary Etymologies 41
  10. The Concepts of ‘Barbarism’ and ‘Solecism’ in the Byzantine Etymologica 101
  11. Part II: Etymology and Etiology
  12. Etymology and Cosmological Revisionism in Pherecydes of Syros 141
  13. Etymology and the Rewriting of the Homeric Hymn to Apollo in Apollonius Rhodius 2.669–719 173
  14. Etymology as Explanation in Hellanicus of Lesbos’ Fragments 197
  15. Apollodorus in Pergamum, or the Reconciliation of Opposites 219
  16. Etymologies in the Margins: Etymological Practices in the Scholia on Apollonius’ Argonautica 257
  17. Etymology as a Teaching Tool for Learning Geography: Eustathius of Thessalonica’s Parekbolai on Dionysius Periegetes 279
  18. Celebrating the Hidden Essence of the Gods: The Etymology of Theonyms as a Source of Divine Revelation in Proclus’ Commentary on the Cratylus 297
  19. Part III: Literary and Playful Use of Etymology
  20. The Role of Etymology in the Formation of a Symbol: The Fourth Homeric Hymn to Hermes 331
  21. The Opening Riddle of Plato’s Cratylus 375
  22. Ridentem dicere uerum: Etymology and Humor in Varro and Plutarch 391
  23. Etymological Wordplay: Greek Philology as an Important Mediation between Greek and Latin Poetry of Erudition 413
  24. List of Contributors 431
  25. Index Notionum/Rerum 435
  26. Index Nominum 439
  27. Index Verborum 443
  28. Index Locorum 449
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 7.10.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783111572796-002/html?lang=en&srsltid=AfmBOoqBp-TGRGb6J80-p1nW8esNQB6-ngia66j-Cy5qEvbt28bY68_g
Scroll to top button