Ruby's Greek Thread

[Ruby Novacna]

Words EVA lched-
In the text of our manuscript there are 8 words beginning with lched- with 118 occurrences in total:

1. lched 6,
   
2. lchedal 1,
   
3. lchedam 2,
   
4. lchedar 2,
   
5. lchedo 1,
   
6. lchedr 1,
   
7. lchedy 104,
   
8. lchedykedy 1.
   

At the moment I have no idea for the words lched and lchedr, but I have suggestions for the others six.

The words lchedal and lchedar could be the inflected forms of lchedy:

• lchedy (lki89) – ἱκέτης – one who comes to seek aid or protection, suppliant; of pilgrims to a healing shrine; ἱκέτις, feminine of ἱκέτης;
  
• lchedal (iki8ai) – ἱκέται, plural of ἱκέτης or Dorian dative;
  
• lchedar (iki8ar) – ἱκέτας, accusative plural of ἱκέτης or Dorian nominative.
  

However, Ἱκέτας can be a proper name, such as Hiketas (of Syracuse), an ancient Greek Pythagorean philosopher and astronomer who, according to Cicero, citing Theophrastus, explained the apparent movements of the starry sky by an axial rotation of the Earth.

Similarly, Ἱκέται (ἱκεταῖοί, ἠϊκέται, Lat. hicetae, ecetae) may be the name of a Christian sect mentioned by Saint John Damascene in his work Περὶ αἱρέσεων (De haeresibus, The Book of Heresies).

The word lchedam (iki8ar..) could be ἱκετηρίς, ἱκετήριος, ἱκετηρία or ἱκετήσιος, for example:

• ἱκετηρίς, feminine form of ἱκετήριος,
  
• ἱκετήριος – of or fit for suppliants,
  
• ἱκετηρία – olive-branch which the suppliant held in his hand as a symbol of his condition; prayer, supplication,
  
• ἱκετήσιος, synonym of ἱκέσιος – of or for suppliants, epithete of Zeus, their protector; as a noun, supplicant.
  

The word lchedykedy (iki89ni89) could be Ἱκεταονίδης, that is, the son of Hikétaôn (Ἱκετάων), Melanippos, a character in the Iliad. Or we should read lchedykedy separately: lchedy + kedy.

The word lchedo can be ἵκετο, synonym according to Hesychius of παρεγένετο, 3rd sg aor ind mid of παραγίγνομαι – to be beside, by or near; of things, to be at hand, increased to one; come to; come to maturity, of corn; have resorted to.

I think « pilgrims to a healing shrine » fits the images well.