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σύμβολον, τό,
tally, i.e. each of two halves or corresponding pieces of an ἀστράγαλος or other object, which two ξένοι, or any two contracting parties, broke between them, each party keeping one piece, in order to have proof of the identity of the presenter of the other, ἀποδεικνύντες τὰ σ. ἀπαίτεον τὰ χρήματα [[ 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 6.86. ; ξένοις τε πέμψω σύμβολ᾽, οἳ δράσουσί σ᾽ εὖ 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Medea” 613 (cf. Scholia)] Refs 5th c.BC+]; διαπεπρισμένα ἡμίσε᾽ ἀκριβῶς ὡσπερεὶ τὰ σ. [[ 4th c.BC: Eubulus Comicus 70 ] Refs 4th c.BC+]; ὡς σ. ὀρέγεται ἀλλήλων [τὰ ἐναντία] [[ 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Ethica Eudemia” 1239b31 ] Refs 4th c.BC+]; ζητεῖ.. τὸ αὑτοῦ ἕκαστος σ. [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Symposium” 191d; καθάπερ ἐκ συμβόλων 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Meteorologica” 360a26, compare “GA” 722b11, “Pol.” 1294a35 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔχειν σύμβολα πρὸς ἄλληλα complementary factors, [[ [prev. author] “GC” 331a24 ] Refs]; ποιησάσθω σύμβολα ἡ βουλὴ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα τὸν Σιδωνίων, ὅπως ἂν ὁ δῆμος ὁ Ἀθηναίων εἰδῇ, ἐάν τι πέμπῃ κτλ. [[ “IG” 22.141.19. ] Refs]
__b of other devices having the same purpose, e.g. a seal-impression on wax, [[ 3rd-2nd c.BC: Plautus Comicus Latinus “Pseud.” 55] Refs 3rd c.BC+] (hence ς. = signet-ring, [[ 1st c.AD: Plinius Rerum Naturalium Scriptor “Historia Naturalis” 33.10)] Refs 1st c.AD+]; an extant bronze hand is inscribed σ. πρὸς Οὐελαυνίους [[ “IG” 14.2432 (from Gaul), compare 279 (Lilybaeum, 2nd c.BC, where the word does not occur). ] Refs 2nd c.BC+]
__2 any token serving as proof of identity, ἔλαβε σ. παρὰ βασιλέως τοῦ μεγάλου φιάλην χρυσῆν [[ 5th c.BC: Lysias Orator 19.25; πολλῶν ἀγαθῶν.. εὐπορήσειν διὰ τὸ σ. [prev. passage]; ὡς ἔγνω.. τὰ παρὰ τῆς γυναικὸς σ. 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 6.1.46 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ μητρὸς σ. [[ 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Ion” 1386, compare “Hel.” 291, “El.” 577, “Comica Adespota” 17.16 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator, 1st c.BC: Diodorus Siculus Historicus 4.59, 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus “Theseus” 6 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἰδοὺ τὰ σ. here are my credentials, [[ 2nd c.AD: Arrianus Historicus “Epicteti Dissertationes” 1.16.11, compare 3.22.99, 4.8.20 ] Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ἔχοντες σ. σαφὲς λύπης bearing clear credentials (consisting) of (a common) grief, [[ 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Philoctetes” 403, compare 2nd c.AD: Aristides Rhetor 1.416 1st c.AD: Josephus Historicus ] Refs 5th c.BC+]
Close Browse lexicon entries __3 guarantee, σ. τῆς παιδεύσεως πιστότατον [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Isocrates Orator 4.49; σ. ὅτι παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ [ἡ ἐπιστολή] ἐστι 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Epistulae” 360a, compare 363b; σ. τῆς σωτηρίας 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 15.4; σ. τοῦ συμφέροντος εἰς τὸ μὴ βλάπτειν ἀλλήλους 4th-3rd c.BC: Epicurus Philosophus “Sententiae” 31. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]
__4 token, especially of goodwill, χρυσίον σ. φιλίας καὶ ξενίας [[ 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus “Pyrrhus” 20, compare “Art.” 18; χρυσοῦν στέφανον ἔλαβον σ. περιέχοντα τῆς ὑμετέρας πρός με εὐσεβείας “PLond.” 3.1178.13 (2nd c.AD). ] Refs 1st c.AD+]
__5 identity-token given to Athenian dicasts on entering the courts, entitling them to vote, and on presenting which they received another ς., in exchange for which they received their fee, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Plutus” 278, 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 18.210, 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Ἀθηναίων Πολιτεία” 65.2, 68.2, 2nd c.AD(?): Pollianus Epigrammaticus 8.16 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; also in the ecclesia, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Ecclesiazusae” 297 (Lyric poetry)] Refs 5th c.BC+]; διάδοσις τῶν σ. [[ “IG” 2.1749.76] Refs]: extant theatre-tokens (without the word ς.) in [[ “IG” 5(2).323 (Mantinea, 4th c.BC). ] Refs 4th c.BC+]
__6 at Rome, = tessera, token entitling the bearer to a donation of corn or money, [[ 2nd-3rd c.AD: Dio Cassius Historicus 49.43. ] Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II of written documents,
__II.1 passport or the seal thereon, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Aves” 1214 (cf. Scholia)] Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐκπλεῖν μηδένα ἀστῶν μηδὲ μέτοικον ἄνευ σ. [[ 4th c.BC: Aeneas Tacticus 10.8: _metaphorically_, 2nd c.AD: Arrianus Historicus “Epicteti Dissertationes” 3.12.15. ] Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.2 passenger-list, ἐμοῦ [τοῦ Ἑρμοῦ] τοὺς νεκροὺς ἀπαριθμοῦντος τῷ Αἰακῷ κἀκείνου λογιζομένου αὐτοὺς πρὸς τὸ.. πεμφθὲν αὐτῷ σ. [[ 2nd c.AD: Lucianus Sophista “Cat.” 4. ] Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.3 plural, treaty between two states providing for the security of one another's citizens and sometimes for the settlement of commercial and other disputes (usually in the law-courts of the defendant's city [[compare (1st-2nd c.AD: Harpocratio Grammaticus see entry )); εἰσὶ.. αὐτοῖς συνθῆκαι περὶ τῶν εἰσαγωγίμων καὶ σ. περὶ τοῦ μὴ ἀδικεῖν 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Politica” 1280a39; σ. ποιήσασθαι πρὸς πόλιν 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 7.11, compare 5th-6th c.BC: Andocides Orator 4.18; τὰ σ. συγχέων 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 21.173 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀπὸ συμβόλων δικάζεσθαι, κοινωνεῖν, [[ 5th c.BC: Antipho Orator 5.78, 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Politica” 1275a10; αἱ ἀπὸ συμβόλων δίκαι [prev. author] “Ath.” 59.6; compare συμβολή 111: _sing._ in same sense, “Foed. Delph.Pell.” 1 A 7 (also written συββ- [prev. work] 1 B 10, +others); ἡ κατὰ τὸ σ. δικαιοδοσία πρός τινα 2nd c.BC: Polybius Historicus 23.1.2, compare 32.7.3 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; κατὰ τὸ σ. [[ “IG” 12(7).67.48 (Arcesine, 4th-3rd c.BC), 9(1).331.5 (Chaleion, 2nd c.BC)] Refs 4th c.BC+]; κατὰ τὸ δοχθὲν κοινᾷ σ. [[ “GDI” 5040.70 (from Crete). ] Refs]
__II.4 contract between individuals, [[ “PCair.Zen.” 724.7, 13, 790.2 (3rd c.BC), “PTeb.” 5.212 (2nd c.BC), 52.10 (2nd c.BC)] Refs 3rd c.BC+]; αἰσχρὰ κακοῖς ἔργοις σ. θηκάμενοι forming disgraceful compacts (sealed) by evil deeds, [[ 6th c.BC: Theognis Elegiacus 1150; τὰ τῷ Καίσαρι πεπραγμένα κυροῦν συμβόλῳ 2nd c.AD: Appianus Historicus “Bella Civilia” 2.132. ] Refs 6th c.BC+]
__II.5 receipt, sometimes made out in duplicate, σ. διπλᾶ ἐσφραγισμένα [[ “PSI” 4.324.4 (3rd c.BC),compare “PRev.Laws” 52.19 (3rd c.BC), “UPZ” 25.25, 26.16 (2nd c.BC)] Refs 3rd c.BC+]; τὸ σ. τῆς ἀποχῆς [[ “PCair.Zen.” 144.2 (3rd c.BC)] Refs 3rd c.BC+]; σ. ἀποχῆς [[ “PEnteux.” 73.4 (3rd c.BC)] Refs 3rd c.BC+]; σύμβολον ποιήσασθαι πρὸς αὐτόν [[ “PLille” 4.18 (3rd c.BC),compare “PHib.” 1.67.16 (3rd c.BC)] Refs 3rd c.BC+]; σ. καὶ ἀντισύμβολα [[ “BGU” 1741.10 (1st c.BC)] Refs 1st c.BC+]; receipt for a pledged article, PCair. Zen.[[ 120.3 (3rd c.BC). ] Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__II.5.b fee for making out a receipt, [[ PRyl. 192.10 (2nd c.AD), “BGU” 1605.13 (2nd c.AD), etc. ] Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.6 unilateral undertaking in writing, guarantee, [[ PPetr. 3p.164 (3rd c.BC), “PMich.Zen.” 57.4 (3rd c.BC), “UPZ” 112 ii 1 (2nd c.BC). ] Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__II.7 warrant entitling the holder to draw allowances over a period, τοῦ κθ ἔτους τὸ σ. τοῦ ὀψωνίου καὶ τῆς ἀγορᾶς σύνταξον γράψαι [[ “PSI” 5.504.8 (3rd c.BC)] Refs 3rd c.BC+]; σ. σιτικὰ καὶ ἀργυρικά (bequeathed) [[ “PGrenf.” 1.21.16 (2nd c.BC)] Refs 2nd c.BC+]; σφράγισαι τὸ σ. [[ “PCair.Zen.” 375.11 (3rd c.BC),compare “PSI” 4.349.2, 7 (3rd c.BC), “UPZ” 14.89 (2nd c.BC)] Refs 3rd c.BC+]; τὰ σ. τῶν σιταρχιῶν [[ “BGU” 1755.5 (1st c.BC). ] Refs 1st c.BC+]
__II.8 warrant or commission from the Emperor, by which officers held their posts, [[ “Codex Justinianus [4th-6th c.AD]” 1.5.12.1, 11] Refs]; σ. τριβούνου [[[prev. work]12.33.8 “Intr.” ] Refs]
__III more generally, token, φυλάσσω λαμπάδος τὸ σ. the beacon-token, [[ 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 8; τέκμαρ τοιοῦτο σ. τέ σοι λέγω [prev. work] 315 ] Refs 4th c.BC+]; μανθάνω τὸ σ. [[ 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Orestes” 1130, compare “Rh.” 220 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; clue, [[ 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Tyrannus” 221 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; χειμῶνος σ. a sign of an approaching storm, [[ 5th c.BC: Anaxagoras Philosophus 19, Scholia 4th-3rd c.BC: Aratus Epicus 832; νόμισμα σ. τῆς ἀλλαγῆς ἕνεκα γενήσεται 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 371b; ἔστι τὰ ἐν τῇ φωνῇ τῶν ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ παθημάτων σ., καὶ τὰ γραφόμενα τῶν ἐν τῇ φωνῇ 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “de Interpretatione” 16a4, compare 24b2, “Sens.” 437a15 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ τεχνητὰ τῶν σ. [[ 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus “Pericles” 6 ] Refs 1st c.AD+]; νίκης σ. Ἰσθμιάδος, of the celery-wreath, [[ 3rd c.BC: Callimachus Epicus “Fragmenta” 103 ] Refs 3rd c.BC+]; τὰ τῶν στρατοπέδων σ. legionary standards, [[ 2nd c.AD: Herodianus Grammaticus 4.7.7 ] Refs 2nd c.AD+]; insignia of deities, [[ 1st c.BC: Dionysius Halicarnassensis 8.38; τῆς βασιλείας 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus “Comp.Cim. Luc.” 3; εἰράνας σ. καὶ πολέμον, of a trumpet, “Anthologia Graeca” 6.151 (3rd c.BC: Tymnes Epigrammaticus). ] Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__III.2 omen, portent, [[ 7th c.BC: Archilochus Lyricus 44, 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 144 (Lyric poetry); σ. δ᾽ οὔ πώ τις ἐπιχθονίων πιστὸν ἀμφὶ πράξιος ἐσσομένας εὗρεν θεόθεν 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 12.7 (cf. Scholia)] Refs 7th c.BC+]; οἱ διὰ συμβόλων.. προλέγοντες distinguished from other kinds of μάντεις, [[ 2nd c.AD: Galenus Medicus 15.442; περὶ οἰωνῶν καὶ σ. καὶ διοσημιῶν 4th c.AD: Iamblichus Philosophus “de vita Pythagorica” 13.62 ] Refs 2nd c.AD+];= auspicium, [[“Corpus Glossariorum Latinorum”] Refs]; ἐν τοῖς λικμητηρίοις γεννώμενα τὰ βρέφη ἐτίθεσαν εἰς σ. εὐτροφίας [[Scholia 4th-3rd c.BC: Aratus Epicus 268. ] Refs 4th c.BC+]
__III.3 in Medicine texts, symptom, [[ 2nd c.AD: Galenus Medicus 19.217, 2nd c.AD: Aretaeus Medicus “χρονίων νούσων θεραπευτικόν” 1.4, +others ] Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__III.4 prearranged signal, ἐπιχειρήσεως [[ 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus “Romulus” 14 ] Refs 1st c.AD+]; watchword, [[ 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Rhesus” 573. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III.5 secret code, τὰ μυστικὰ σ. τῶν περὶ τὸν Διόνυσον ὀργιασμῶν, ἃ σύνισμεν ἀλλήλοις οἱ κοινωνοῦντες [[ 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus 2.611d, compare 5th-6th c.AD: Orphica “Fragmenta” 31.23 ] Refs 1st c.AD+]; consisting of a signum and a responsum, [[ 4th c.AD: Firmicus Maternus Astrologus “De Errore” 18] Refs 4th c.AD+]; τὰ σ. [Πυθαγόρου] [[ 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Fragmenta” 197, 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus 2.727c] Refs 4th c.BC+]; περὶ Πυθαγορικῶν σ., title of a work by Androcydes, [[ 4th c.AD: Iamblichus Philosophus “de vita Pythagorica” 28.145 ] Refs 4th c.AD+]; secret sign, γράψαι τι σ. ἐν πίνακι,.. μαθεῖν τὸν θέντα τὸ σ. [[[prev. work] 33.238, compare 23.103, 32.227, 2nd c.AD: Lucianus Sophista “Laps.” 5 ] Refs 2nd c.AD+]; allegory, [[ 3rd c.BC: Chrysippus Stoicus 2.256, 257, 4th c.BC: Demetrius Phalereus Rhetor “Demetrius on Style” 243; διὰ συμβόλων μηνύειν 1st c.AD: Philo Judaeus 2.559, compare 1.681, +others, 5th-6th c.AD: Damascius Philosophus “de Principiis” 210. ] Refs 4th c.BC+]
__III.6 religious creed, τὸ ἅγιον μάθημα ἤτοι σ. [[ “Codex Justinianus [4th-6th c.AD]” 1.1.7.11, compare 13. ] Refs]
__IV plural, standard weights, [[ Inscriptiones Graecae 22.1013.8. ] Refs]
__V a small coin, perhaps a half-obol, shaped D, [[ 5th c.BC: Hermippus Comicus 61, 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Fragmenta” 44, 5th-6th c.BC: Archippus Comicus 8: hence σύμβολον κεκαρμένος] Refs 5th c.BC+] with half the head shaved, [[ 5th c.BC: Hermippus Comicus 14. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]
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