ON THE FATE OF THE HOMERIC WORD ΘΕΟΠΡΟΠΟΣ

Abstract

Θεοπρόπος was first recorded in Homer’s poems and remained in the language until the 15th century. According to F. Bechtel, its second component is derived from πρέπω in its intransitive meaning, so θεοπρόπος is “one who is able to perceive what comes from a deity”. This etymology is accepted by the authors of etymological dictionaries. However, Liddell and Scott’s Lexicon states that it also had another meaning — “public messenger sent to inquire of an oracle”. But all dictionaries don’t make it possible to understand: how did the semantics of θεοπρόπος develop? what place did it occupy in the system of mantic terminology? what was its fate in late antiquity and in Byzantine time? So, these very points should be the aim of the paper. The fact that no comprehensive study of the semantic development of θεοπρόπος in its relationship with other mantic terms exists suggests the importance of this research. In Homer’s poems θεοπρόπος was a synonym for the term μάντις. The meaning ‘messenger to an oracle’ appeared in the 5th century BC. It provided θεοπρόπος with its place in the system of mantic terminology and was preserved in the works of ancient and Byzantine writers, as well as in inscriptions. From the 5th century BC θεοπρόπος started to be used as an adjective, conveying the meaning ‘bearing the revelation of a deity’. The Homeric meaning was revived by the Hellenistic poets, was used also in prose and expanded: Pythia, Apollo and any soothsayers were being called θεοπρόπος. Then θεοπρόπος penetrated into Christian literature and, like the term προφήτης, denoted biblical prophets and even became an epithet for Jesus Christ. Τhe results of this study allow us to raise the issue of revising the translation of the inscription with a curse from Olbia.