Epithets
A collection of epithets
The meaning of some is not a literal translation of the word but is
adapted from the original word and used in acient times with other
meanings. Examples of this are words meaning helper or averter of
evils, which indicate protection, but where given to the God as a
thank from healing a plague or aiding in battle, therefore meaning
helper, healer or protector in war.
The meaning of other epithets is not clear but several meanings are
discussed - such epithets are indicated.
Of Purification and Protection
Agônios:
who helps in contests, of contests, helper in struggles
Aguieus:
protector of streets and public places (defender of cities)
Akesios:
averter of evils, of healing
Akestôr:
of healing arts or averter of evils
Alexikalos:
averter of evils, plague healer
Boêdromios:
helper of those in distress (at war), who helps to conquer
Delphinius:
of Delphi (Oracle where he spent the summer), slayer of Python (also
called Delphyne), or of the Dolphins
Epikourios:
helper and healer
Galaxios:
of the stream of Galaxius
Kataibatês:
who grants a happy return home (from war or abroad)
Paian:
healer, physician of the Gods and also deliverer from any evil or
calamity, including death and battler, but also connected with the
verb paiein can mean the striker and destroyer (also spelled Paiôon
and Paiôn)
Parrastos:
the helper
Phoibos:
the shining one, pure, bright
Phuzios:
who protects fugitives
Prostaterios:
standing before the entrance
Theoxenios:
of the festival of Theoxenia, protector of strangers
Of Healing and Plagues
Akesios:
averter of evils, of healing
Akestôr:
of healing arts or averter of evils
Alexikalos:
averter of evils, plague healer
Epikourios:
helper and healer
Eruthibios:
of the mildew
Galaxios:
of the stream of Galaxius
Libustinus:
of Lybia (also plague-raiser, destroyed a Lybian fleet with
pestilence)
Loimios:
deliverer from plague
Oulios:
of formidable health
Paian:
healer, physician of the Gods and also deliverer from any evil or
calamity, including death and battler, but also connected with the
verb paiein can mean the striker and destroyer (also spelled Paiôon
and Paiôn)
Paruopios:
of the locusts
Smintheus:
of the mice, of prophetic powers or of Sminthe (also spelled
sminthaios)
Thanatos:
death, of death, striker, destroyer, death-bringer
Of the Fate, Oracles and Prophecies
Delphinius:
of Delphi (Oracle where he spent the summer), slayer of Python (also
called Delphyne), or of the Dolphins
Eutrêsitês:
of Eutresis (an Oracle)
Isodetês:
who binds all equal, impartial
Klarios:
of Claros (oracle)
Klêdônes:
of omens in words or sounds
Klêrios:
distributing by lot
Loxias:
of obscure oracles, in origin interpreter of Zeus and prophet
Moiragetês:
leader of the Moiroi, ruler of fate (only seen in Zeus and Apollo of
Delphi)
Patareus:
of Patara (oracle where He spent the winter)
Proopsios:
foreseeing
Puthios:
Pythian, of Pytho (ancient name of Delphi)
Sarpedonius:
brother of Artemis Sapedonia, chief-Goddess of the Oracle in
Sarpedon
Smintheus:
of the mice, of prophetic powers or of Sminthe (also spelled
sminthaios)
Thearios:
of the oracle
Of Light
Aiglêtês:
radiant, shining
Intonsus:
unshorn, of eternal youth, of long hair whose locks are like the sun
(?)
Lukêgenês:
born in light or born in Lycia
Lukeios:
of the wolf (or wolf-slayer); of the light (or light bringer); of
Lycia; or destroyer (connected to the wolf)
Phoibos:
the shining one, pure, bright
Of Sports, Archery, Hunting and War
Agônios:
who helps in contests, of contests, helper in struggles
Agraios:
hunter, slayer
Amazonios:
of the Amazons
Boêdromios:
helper of those in distress (at war), who helps to conquer
Chrusaôr:
of golden arms or golden sword
Dekatêphoros:
to whom the tenth part of the booty is dedicated
Delphinius:
of Delphi (Oracle where he spent the summer), slayer of Python (also
called Delphyne), or of the Dolphins
Epibatêrios:
who conducts men on board a ship
Hekatos:
shooter from afar
Isodetês:
who binds all equal, impartial
Kataibatês:
who grants a happy return home (from war or abroad)
Klêrios:
distributing by lot
Libustinus:
of Lybia (also plague-raiser, destroyed a Lybian fleet with
pestilence)
Lukeios:
of the wolf (or wolf-slayer); of the light (or light bringer); of
Lycia; or destroyer (connected to the wolf)
Lukios:
slayer of wolfs, of the wolfs and also the Lycian
Lukôreus:
of Lycoreia, perhaps of the wolfs, wolf slayer or the Lycian
Paian:
healer, physician of the Gods and also deliverer from any evil or
calamity, including death and battler, but also connected with the
verb paiein can mean the striker and destroyer (also spelled Paiôon
and Paiôn)
Thanatos:
death, of death, striker, destroyer, death-bringer
Of Music and Arts
Musagetês:
leader of the Muses
Of Civic Life and Colonies
Aguieus:
protector of streets and public places (defender of cities)
Archêgetês:
founder of towns, leader and protector of colonies
Horios:
of the boundaries
Karneios:
ancient epithet of unclear meaning, related to the festival of
Karneia, may mean "of the ram" as a shepherd, or be related to
colonies and civilization
Prostaterios:
standing before the entrance
Theoxenios:
of the festival of Theoxenia, protector of strangers
Of His Looks
Aiglêtês:
radiant, shining
Akersekômes:
of beautiful unbound hair
Chrusaôr:
of golden arms or golden sword
Intonsus:
unshorn, of eternal youth, of long hair whose locks are like the sun
(?)
Phoibos:
the shining one, pure, bright
Of Nature
Daphnaios:
to whom laurel is sacred
Delphinius:
of Delphi (Oracle where he spent the summer), slayer of Python (also
called Delphyne), or of the Dolphins
Eruthibios:
of the mildew
Karneios:
ancient epithet of unclear meaning, related to the festival of
Karneia, may mean "of the ram" as a shepherd, or be related to
colonies and civilization
Lukeios:
of the wolf (or wolf-slayer); of the light (or light bringer); of
Lycia; or destroyer (connected to the wolf)
Lukios:
slayer of wolfs, of the wolfs and also the Lycian
Lukôreus:
of Lycoreia, perhaps of the wolfs, wolf slayer or the Lycian
Meliai:
of the ash trees
Noumios:
protector os pastures and shepherds
Paruopios:
of the locusts
Platanistios:
of the plane-tree
Smintheus:
of the mice, of prophetic powers or of Sminthe (also spelled
sminthaios)
Thermios:
of the lupine flowers
Others
Agetôr:
unclear meaning, maybe of Agamemnon, or Lord/Leader. Zeus and Hermes
share this obscure Epithet
Aguieus:
protector of streets and public places (defender of cities)
Akritês:
unknown
Aktios:
of the foreshore
Amazonios:
of the Amazons
Argêotas:
unknown
Chrusaôr:
of golden arms or golden sword
Dekatêphoros:
to whom the tenth part of the booty is dedicated
Deiradiôtês:
of the ridge
Dêlios:
of Delos (birthplace)
Dionusodotês:
who gives Dionysus
Enthruptos:
of the sacred Enthryptos-cake
Epibatêrios:
who conducts men on board a ship
Hebdomagetês:
of the seven
Hekaergos:
student of Hekaergus, a name that came from that of one of His
teachers
Intonsus:
unshorn, of eternal youth, of long hair whose locks are like the sun
(?)
Isodetês:
who binds all equal, impartial
Karinos:
unknown
Karneios:
ancient epithet of unclear meaning, related to the festival of
Karneia, may mean "of the ram" as a shepherd, or be related to
colonies and civilization
Kataibatês:
who grants a happy return home (from war or abroad)
Kereatas:
unknown
Klêrios:
distributing by lot
Korunthos:
of the sacred Corynthus-cake
Laphraios:
unknown, used in Calydon (same as Lathrios, real spelling unknown)
Lathrios:
unknown, used in Calydon (same as Laphraios, real spelling unknown)
Latôios:
son of Leto
Lukeios:
of the wolf (or wolf-slayer); of the light (or light bringer); of
Lycia; or destroyer (connected to the wolf)
Lukios:
slayer of wolfs, of the wolfs and also the Lycian
Lukôreus:
of Lycoreia, perhaps of the wolfs, wolf slayer or the Lycian
Maleatos:
unknown
Maloeis:
unknown
Marmarinos:
of the marble, of the quarries of at Carystus
Paian:
healer, physician of the Gods and also deliverer from any evil or
calamity, including death and battler, but also connected with the
verb paiein can mean the striker and destroyer (also spelled Paiôon
and Paiôn)
Patrôios:
of the ancestors
Philêsios:
unclear, used in Didyma
Sarpedonius:
brother of Artemis Sapedonia, chief-Goddess of the Oracle in
Sarpedon
Spodios:
of the ashes, who receives great sacrifices
Temenitês:
of the temple, of Syracuse
Thanatos:
death, of death, striker, destroyer, death-bringer
Theoxenios:
of the festival of Theoxenia, protector of strangers
Thurkxeus:
unknown
Zôstêrius:
unknown
From His Temples and cult centers
Abaios:
from the town of Abai/Abae
Aktiakus:
from the town of Actium
Amuklaios:
of Amyclae
Dêlios:
of Delos (birthplace)
Delphinius:
of Delphi (Oracle where he spent the summer), slayer of Python (also
called Delphyne), or of the Dolphins
Epaktaios:
worshiped on the coast
Epaktios:
worshiped on the coast
Eutrêsitês:
of Eutresis (an Oracle)
Galaxios:
of the stream of Galaxius
Hylatos:
of Hyle (sacred town)
Ismenios:
of the sanctuary Ismenium, by the river Ismenus
Ixios:
of Ixia or Ixiae
Klarios:
of Claros (oracle)
Korudos:
Of Corone
Kunthios:
of Cynthus, in Delos (birthplace)
Leukasios:
of Leucas
Libustinus:
of Lybia (also plague-raiser, destroyed a Lybian fleet with
pestilence)
Lukêgenês:
born in light or born in Lycia
Lukeios:
of the wolf (or wolf-slayer); of the light (or light bringer); of
Lycia; or destroyer (connected to the wolf)
Lukios:
slayer of wolfs, of the wolfs and also the Lycian
Lukôreus:
of Lycoreia, perhaps of the wolfs, wolf slayer or the Lycian
Maleatês:
of Malea
Marmarinos:
of the marble, of the quarries of at Carystus
Mêlos:
of the sanctuary founded by Melos, son of Manto
Onkaios:
of the river Oncesium
Parrhasios:
of Parrhasia
Patareus:
of Patara (oracle where He spent the winter)
Pegasaios:
of Pegasus or Pegasae
Phullios:
of the town of Phyllos
Ptôios:
of Mt Ptoon
Puthios:
Pythian, of Pytho (ancient name of Delphi)
Salganeus:
of Salganeus
Sarpedonius:
brother of Artemis Sapedonia, chief-Goddess of the Oracle in
Sarpedon
Smintheus:
of the mice, of prophetic powers or of Sminthe (also spelled
sminthaios)
Tegurêios:
of Tegyra, Tegyra-born
Telmissios:
of Telnissos or Telmessus
Temenitês:
of the temple, of Syracuse
Teneatos:
of Tenos
Tilphôsios:
of the spring of Tilphosia
Thumbraios:
of Thymbra
May I consider the wise man rich -
Socrates
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