Ancient Greek ΣΤΑΧΥΣ and ΑΣΤΑΧΥΣ: Semantic and Morphological Discrepancies

Abstract

The Greek appellative στάχυς m. ‘ear of corn’ cannot be treated as a synonym of ἄσταχυς. The latter form represents a compound noun ἄ-σταχυς with the primitive meaning ‘grain growing in the field; (mowed) cereal plant with the stem and ear’ (< Proto-Greek *ἅ-σταχυς ‘(of corn) having the ear; with the ear’). The original sense is securely preserved in Homeric poems (Il. II 148; HH. Cer. 454, 456), as well as in the works of Herodotus of Halicarnassus (Hdt. V 92), Callimachus of Cyrene (Call., H. 4, 284; 6, 20; Aet. fr. 75, 46) and Aratus of Soli (Arat. 150). It is suggested that the confusion of these two terms appeared in late antiquity (see the Hesychian gloss ἀσταχύεσσι· τοῖς στάχυσιν), probably not earlier than the 1st century BC. Most modern dictionaries of the Ancient Greek language suggest an incorrect meaning of the compound ἄσταχυς.