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GLOSSARY OF LIGHT AND FIRE
IN ANCIENT GREEK RELIGION
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Introduction
There are so many words in ancient Greek that relate to light or to fire that it is impractical to even attempt to find them all and list them. This glossary is representative, however, of some of the most important terms. Light and fire are essential to the lives of mortals and hugely important religious symbols in Ællinismós, the ancient Greek religion.
Ælǽni – (elene; Gr. ἑλένη, ΕΛΕΝΗ. Noun.) torch (not the proper name, Helen)
Ællýkhnion – (ellychnion; Gr. ἐλλύχνιον, ΕΛΛΥΧΝΙΟΝ. Noun.) lamp-wick.
Æpilykhnion – (epilychnion; Gr. ἐπελλύχνιον, ΕΠΕΛΛΥΧΝΙΟΝ. Noun.) lamp-oil.
Æpílykhnos – (epilychnus; Gr. ἐπίλυχνος, ΕΠΙΛΥΧΝΟΣ. Noun.) lamp-oil.
Alychnus – See Álykhnos.
Álykhnos – (alychnus; Gr. ἄλυχνος, ΑΛΥΧΝΟΣ. Adj.) without light, without a lamp.
Áptra – (Gr. ἅπτρα, ΑΠΤΡΑ. Noun.) lamp-wick.
Candele – See Kandíli.
Dadoukhos – (daduchus; Gr. δᾳδοῦχος, ΔΑΙΔΟΥΧΟΣ. Noun.) one who bears torches, official of the Ælefsínia who bears torches.
Dáos – (daus; Gr. δάος, ΔΑΟΣ. Noun.) torch, firebrand.
Elene – See Ælǽni.
Ellychnion – See Ællýkhnion.
Epilychnion – See Æpilykhnion.
Epilychnus – See Æpílykhnos.
Kandíli – (candele; Gr. κανδήλη, ΚΑΝΔΗΛΗ. Noun.) candle, torch.
Lampadeia – (Gr. λαμπαδεία, ΛΑΜΠΑΔΕΙΑ. Noun.) procession with torches.
Lampadikós – (lampadicus; Gr. λαμπαδικός, ΛΑΜΠΑΔΙΚΟΣ. Adj.) of torches.
Lampádios – (lampadius; Gr. λαμπάδιος, ΛΑΜΠΑΔΙΟΣ. Adj.) torch-bearing, epith. of deities, Σελήνη (the Moon).
Lampadiphóros – (lampadephorus; Gr. λαμπαδηφόρος, ΛΑΜΠΑΔΗΦΟΡΟΣ. Noun.) one who bears torches.
Lampádoukhos – (lampaduchus; Gr. λαμπάδουχος, ΛΑΜΠΑΔΟΥΧΟΣ. Adj.) torch-bearing.
Lampë – See Lámpi.
Lámpi – (lampë; Gr. λάμπη, ΛΑΜΠΗ. Noun.) light, torch.
Lophnís – (Gr. λοφνίς, ΛΟΦΝΙΣ. Noun.) a special torch made from vine bark.
Lychnitis – See Lykhnítis.
Lychnus – See Lýkhnos.
Lykhnítis – (lychnitis; Gr. λυχνῖτις, ΛΥΧΝΙΤΙΣ. Noun.) candle-wick.
Lykhnokaia – (lychnocaea; Gr. λυχνοκαία, ΛΥΧΝΟΚΑΙΑ. Noun.) lighting lamps, festival of lamps.
Lýkhnos - (lychnus; Gr. λύχνος, ΛΥΧΝΟΣ. Noun.) a lamp, usually a portable lamp, in Ὅμηρος (Homer) sometimes just light itself.
Panós – (panus; Gr. πανός, ΠΑΝΟΣ. Noun.) torch.
Phafstír – (phauster; Gr. φαυστήρ, ΠΑΥΣΡΗΡ. Noun.) lamp.
Phanë – See Phaní.
Phaní – (phanë; Gr. φανή, ΦΑΝΗ. Noun.) a torch. 2. Φαναί (plural) – (Dionysian) torch-processions.
Phanós – (phanus; Gr. φανός, ΦΑΝΟΣ. Noun.) light, a torch.
Pháos – (phaüs; Gr. φάος, ΦΑΟΣ. Noun. Sometimes you will find φώς.) light.
Phohsphóreia – (Phosphoreia; Gr. Φωσφόρεια, ΦΩΣΦΟΡΕΙΑ. Noun.) festival of torches, festival in honor of the Light-bringing Gods (Φωσφόροι Θεοί).
Polýlykhnon – (polylychnon; Gr. πολύλυχνον, ΠΟΛΥΛΥΧΝΟΝ. Noun.) a lamp with many wicks.
Pyr – (Gr. πῦρ, ΠΥΡ. Noun.) fire.
Pyrsós – (pyrsus; Gr. πυρσός, ΠΥΡΣΟΣ. Noun.) a torch.
Ypsílykhnos – (ypsilychnus; Gr. ὑψίλυχνος, ΥΨΙΛΥΧΝΟΣ. Noun.) the light from a high-hung lamp.
The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Rhapsodic Theogony.
We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.
Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.
Introduction to the Thæí (the Gods): The Nature of the Gods.
How do we know there are Gods? Experiencing Gods.
The logo to the left is the principal symbol of this website. It is called the CESS logo, i.e. the Children of the Earth and the Starry Sky. The Pætilía (Petelia, Πετηλία) and other golden tablets having this phrase (Γῆς παῖς εἰμί καὶ Οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος) are the inspiration for the symbol. The image represents this idea: Earth (divisible substance) and the Sky (continuous substance) are the two kozmogonic substances. The twelve stars represent the Natural Laws, the dominions of the Olympian Gods. In front of these symbols is the seven-stringed kithára (cithara, κιθάρα), the lyre of Apóllohn (Apollo, Ἀπόλλων). It (here) represents the bond between Gods and mortals and is representative that we are the children of Orphéfs (Orpheus, Ὀρφεύς).
PLEASE NOTE: Throughout the pages of this website, you will find fascinating stories about our Gods. These narratives are known as mythology , the traditional stories of the Gods and Heroes. While these tales are great mystical vehicles containing transcendent truth, they are symbolic and should not be taken literally. A literal reading will frequently yield an erroneous result. The meaning of the myths is concealed in code. To understand them requires a key. For instance, when a God kills someone, this usually means a transformation of the soul to a higher level. Similarly, sexual union with a God is a transformation.
The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Rhapsodic Theogony.
We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.
Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.
SPELLING: HellenicGods.org uses the Reuchlinian method of pronouncing ancient Greek, the system preferred by scholars from Greece itself. An approach was developed to enable the student to easily approximate the Greek words. Consequently, the way we spell words is unique, as this method of transliteration is exclusive to this website. For more information, visit these three pages:
Pronunciation of Ancient Greek
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