λάρναξ

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

νάρναξ (nárnax)

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

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /lár.naks/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈlar.naks/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈlar.naks/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈlar.naks/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈlar.naks/

Noun

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

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.
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.
bathtub
Synonyms: πύελος (púelos), ἀσάμινθος (asáminthos)
- 5th century CE, Hesychius Alexandreus, Συναγωγὴ Πασῶν Λέξεων κατὰ Στοιχεῖον Π:
  πύαλος· ἡ ἀσάμινθος, ἡ λάρναξ
  púalos; hē asáminthos, hē lárnax
  púalos: a bathtub, a larnax

Declension

Third declension of ἡ λᾰ́ρνᾰξ; τῆς λᾰ́ρνᾰκος (Attic)

Case / #	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	ἡ λᾰ́ρνᾰξ hē lắrnăx	τὼ λᾰ́ρνᾰκε tṑ lắrnăke	αἱ λᾰ́ρνᾰκες hai lắrnăkes
Genitive	τῆς λᾰ́ρνᾰκος tês lắrnăkos	τοῖν λᾰρνᾰ́κοιν toîn lărnắkoin	τῶν λᾰρνᾰ́κων tôn lărnắkōn
Dative	τῇ λᾰ́ρνᾰκῐ têi lắrnăkĭ	τοῖν λᾰρνᾰ́κοιν toîn lărnắkoin	ταῖς λᾰ́ρνᾰξῐ / λᾰ́ρνᾰξῐν taîs lắrnăxĭ(n)
Accusative	τὴν λᾰ́ρνᾰκᾰ tḕn lắrnăkă	τὼ λᾰ́ρνᾰκε tṑ lắrnăke	τᾱ̀ς λᾰ́ρνᾰκᾰς tā̀s lắrnăkăs
Vocative	λᾰ́ρνᾰξ lắrnăx	λᾰ́ρνᾰκε lắrnăke	λᾰ́ρνᾰκες lắrnăkes
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

Greek: λάρνακα (lárnaka)
→ English: larnax
→ Old Armenian: լեառնակ (leaṙnak)
→ Old Georgian: ლარნაკი (larnaḳi)
- Georgian: ლარნაკი (larnaḳi)

References

^ 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
^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2014) Stefan Norbruis, editor, Pre-Greek: Phonology, Morphology, Lexicon, Leiden: Brill, →ISBN
^ 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
^ Perkins, Phil (2020) “The Etruscan pithos revolution”, in Gleba, Margarita, editor, Making Cities (McDonald Institute Conversations), Cambridge: McDonald Institute