θύσθλα

Ancient Greek

Etymology

Traditionally derived from θύω (thúō, “to sacrifice”) by means of a suffix -θλο-. However, Beekes finds this derivation not adequate, because it presupposes a much more general meaning than the very specific one of the present entry. It is rather a loan, either from Anatolian or from Pre-Greek. Hardly related to θύρσος (thúrsos, “staff carried by Bacchus”).

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /tʰýs.tʰla/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈtʰys.tʰla/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈθys.θla/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈθys.θla/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈθis.θla/

Noun

θῠ́σθλᾰ • (thústhla) n pl (genitive θῠ́σθλων); second declension

sacred implements of Bacchic orgies, such as wands and thyrsi
(by extension) the Bacchic festival itself
(in general) sacrifice

Declension

Second declension of τᾰ̀ θῠ́σθλᾰ; τῶν θῠ́σθλων (Attic)

Case / #	Plural
Nominative	τᾰ̀ θῠ́σθλᾰ tà thústhla
Genitive	τῶν θῠ́σθλων tôn thústhlōn
Dative	τοῖς θῠ́σθλοις toîs thústhlois
Accusative	τᾰ̀ θῠ́σθλᾰ tà thústhla
Vocative	θῠ́σθλᾰ thústhla
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.

References

θύσθλα in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
θύσθλα in Liddell & Scott (1889) An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
θύσθλα in Autenrieth, Georg (1891) A Homeric Dictionary for Schools and Colleges, New York: Harper and Brothers
θύσθλα in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
θύσθλα in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924) A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963
Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN