krypteia from kryptos, secret; the ‘secret police’ at Sparta
kouros a youth, especially used of early statues
kylix a drinking cup as used in symposia
kyrios literally, lord; an Athenian citizen was lord of his household
lekythos cylindrical, elongated vessel with vertical handle and narrow neck; ointment
jar often used in the cult of the dead
logos Greek word for argument or discourse; reason
logographers early writers of genealogies and local histories
maenad derived from mania,madness or possession; a female follower of Dionysus
magna Graecia the area in southern Italy colonized by the Greeks from the seventh
century
mechane the crane above the stage by which gods made their entrance in dramatic
performance often at the end to resolve the plot: hence the phrase, in Latin, deus
ex machina
metoikos literally, one who dwells alongside; usually a Greek who was not a citizen
but allowed residence rights
metope the individual exterior slabs of the frieze in Doric architecture, usually
decorated with sculptures
mimesis imitation or representation in artic form
mythos The Greek word for story, also used by Aristotle for plot
nemesis retribution for hybris
nike victory in Greek; name of winged goddess or statue that is the embodiment of
victory
nomos law, custom
oikistes founder of a colony
oikos household, oikonomiahousehold management (economy)
orchestra dancing place, in a Greek theatre
ostracism derived from ostrakon, apotsherd on which names were scratched; ten-
year exile decreed for anyone who received the required number of votes
paidogogos a slave who escorts a boy to school
paideia education
palaistra originally, wrestling ring; facility for athletic exercises
parthenos virgin, maiden
pathos in drama,catastrophe, suffering
patroos adjective meaning of the father
peplos sleeveless woman’s garment, held together at the shoulders with pins; used
in the ceremony of the Pan-Athenaia when a new peploswas dedicated to
Athena in the Parthenon
286 THE GREEKS