λάρναξ

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

Etymology

Unknown. The suffix "-ακ-" is seen in other instrument names like πίναξ (pínax), κάμαξ (kámax), δίφραξ (díphrax). According to Beekes, this suffix is typical of Pre-Greek, as is also the cluster -ρν-.[1][2] He considers νάρναξ (nárnax) a variant of this word, explaining the intial consonant from dissimilation (l-r > n-r).

Likely related to Etruscan 𐌋𐌀𐌓𐌍𐌀𐌑 (larnaś), suggested to have been borrowed from Greek, if it denotes a type of vessel.[3][4]

Pronunciation
 

Noun

λάρναξ • (lárnax) f (genitive λάρνακος); third declension

  1. coffer, box, chest
    • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 18.412–413:
      φύσας μέν ῥ’ ἀπάνευθε τίθει πυρός, ὅπλά τε πάντα
      λάρνακ’ ἐς ἀργυρέην συλλέξατο, τοῖς ἐπονεῖτο·
      phúsas mén rh’ apáneuthe títhei purós, hóplá te pánta
      lárnak’ es arguréēn sulléxato, toîs eponeîto;
      The bellows he placed away from the fire, and all his tools
      he gathered into a silver box, those with which he worked.
  2. cinerary urn, coffin, larnax
    • 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 24.795:
      καὶ τά γε χρυσείην ἐς λάρνακα θῆκαν ἑλόντες.
      kaì tá ge khruseíēn es lárnaka thêkan helóntes.
      And them [i.e. the bones] they put into a golden urn, having carried them.
  3. bathtub
    Synonyms: πύελος (púelos), ἀσάμινθος (asáminthos)
    • 5th century CE, Hesychius Alexandreus, Συναγωγὴ Πασῶν Λέξεων κατὰ Στοιχεῖον Π:
      πύελος· ἡ ἀσάμινθος, ἡ λάρναξ
      púelos; hē asáminthos, hē lárnax
      púelos: a bathtub, a larnax

Declension
Third declension of ἡ λᾰ́ρνᾰξ; τῆς λᾰ́ρνᾰκος (Attic)
Case / # Singular Dual Plural
Nominative ἡ λᾰ́ρνᾰξ
hē lárnax		 τὼ λᾰ́ρνᾰκε
tṑ lárnake		 αἱ λᾰ́ρνᾰκες
hai lárnakes
Genitive τῆς λᾰ́ρνᾰκος
tês lárnakos		 τοῖν λᾰρνᾰ́κοιν
toîn larnákoin		 τῶν λᾰρνᾰ́κων
tôn larnákōn
Dative τῇ λᾰ́ρνᾰκῐ
têi lárnaki		 τοῖν λᾰρνᾰ́κοιν
toîn larnákoin		 ταῖς λᾰ́ρνᾰξῐ / λᾰ́ρνᾰξῐν
taîs lárnaxi(n)
Accusative τὴν λᾰ́ρνᾰκᾰ
tḕn lárnaka		 τὼ λᾰ́ρνᾰκε
tṑ lárnake		 τᾱ̀ς λᾰ́ρνᾰκᾰς
tā̀s lárnakas
Vocative λᾰ́ρνᾰξ
lárnax		 λᾰ́ρνᾰκε
lárnake		 λᾰ́ρνᾰκες
lárnakes
Notes:
  • This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.

Derived terms
  • λαρνάκιον (larnákion)
  • λαρνακοφθόρος (larnakophthóros)

Descendants

References
  1. Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “λάρναξ, -ᾱκος”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 834–835
  2. Beekes, Robert S. P. (2014) Stefan Norbruis, editor, Pre-Greek: Phonology, Morphology, Lexicon, Leiden: Brill, →ISBN
  3. Bellelli, Vincenzo, Benelli, Enrico (2009) “Un settore “specializzato” del lessico etrusco: una messa a punto sui nomi di vasi”, in Mediterranea, volume 6, page 140 of 139–152
  4. Perkins, Phil (2020) “The Etruscan pithos revolution”, in Gleba, Margarita, editor, Making Cities (McDonald Institute Conversations), Cambridge: McDonald Institute

Further reading
  • “λάρναξ”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN
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