Kerykes

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The kerykes /ˈkɛrɪˌkiːz/ or ceryces /ˈsɛrɪˌsiːz/ (Ancient Greek: Κήρυκες, pl. of Κῆρυξ, Keryx)[1] of Bronze Age Pylos 1200 BC, home to the aged Homeric hero Nestor and the Neleides,[2] are listed in the Linear B tablets as 𐀏𐀬𐀐 ka-ru-ke serving the 𐀨𐀷𐀒𐀪 ra-wa-ko-ri, the commander of armed forces.[3] In Athens, this office became ceremonial, functioning from the Leokoreion, a building site at the Dipylon Gate.[4] Linear B tablets[5] that refer to the keryx mention the office in context with 𐀁𐀔𐁀𐀀𐀩𐀊 e-ma-a2 (e-ma-ha) a-re-ja,[6] Hermes Areias, meaning either the Warrior, or the Curser (aras).

  1. ^ κῆρυξ. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project.
  2. ^ Herodotus Histories 5.65, 4.148, 146–7.
  3. ^ Py Fr187, un219. Colin Edmonson, "The Leokoreion in Athens," Mnemosyne 17 (1964) 375–8.
  4. ^ S. Brunnsaker, "Leokoreiou=ra-wo-ko-rija?" Op.Ath. 8 (1968) 82–3; G. L. Huxley GRBS 2 (1954) 91 ra-wa-ke-ta.
  5. ^ Py Un219, Tn316.
  6. ^ Gulizio, Joann (2000), "Hermes and e-ma-a2:The continuity of his cult from the Bronze age to the historical period" (PDF), ZA, 50: 105–116