ἕρμα

ἕρμα, ατος, τό,

A prop, support: in pl., of the props used to keep ships upright when hauled ashore,

νῆα..ἐπ' ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν ὑψοῦ ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις, ὑπὸ δ' ἕρματα μακρὰ τάνυσσαν Il.1.486

, cf. 2.154: metaph., of men, ἕ. πόληος prop or stay of the city, 16.549, Od.23.121, Epigr.Gr. 452.11 ([place name] Syria); τοῦτο..οἷον ἕ. πόλεως κείσθω as a foundation for the city, Pl.Lg.737b;

ὥσπερ ἕ. τῆς πολιτείας βέβαιον Plu.2.814c

;

ἕ. ἐχέγγυον [ἑταιρίας] D.C.Fr.40.15

;

ὥσπερ ἕρματος ἀεὶ δεόμενοι τῆς τροφῆς Gal.19.208

.

2 sunken rock, reef, Alc.Supp.26.6, Hdt.7.183, Th. 7.25, E.Hel.854;

ἄσημα ἕ. Anacr.38

;

ἄφαντον ἕ. A.Ag.1007

(lyr.), cf.Eu.564 (lyr.);

ἕ. ὕφαλα D.H.1.52

; ἕ. γῆς ἁπαλόν a soft bank of mud, App.BC5.101.

3 cairn, barrow,

πρὸς ἕρμα τυμβόχωστον..τάφου S.Ant.848

(lyr., nisi leg. ἕργμα); Ἑρμᾶν ἀφετήριον ἕρμα starting-post, AP9.319 (Philox.); ἕρματα τῶν θεμελίων ruins of the foundations, D.S.5.70.

4 that which keeps a ship steady, ballast, Plu.2.782b; of stones with which cranes and bees were supposed to steady themselves in their flight, Arist.HA597b1, 626b25;

μετὰ τῶν γεράνων ἀναχωρῶ πάλιν, ἀνθ' ἕρματος πολλὰς καταπεπωκὼς δίκας Ar.Av.1429

: metaph.,

τῆς ψυχῆς ἐχούσης ἕ. Chrysipp.Stoic.2.299

;

τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς φρονήσεως ἕ. Socr.

ap. Stob.3.3.61;

οἷον ἕ. τὴν τῶν γερόντων ἀρχὴν θεμένη Plu.Lyc.5

;

οὔτε τι ἕ. ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ ἔχει D.C.46.3

; also λαβοῦσα ἕ. Δῖον having conceived by Zeus, A.Supp.580 (lyr.); so perh. μελαινέων ἕρμ' ὀδυνάων freight of dark pains, Il.4.117 (athetized by Aristarch.).

II (εἴρω A) in pl.,

ἕρματα

ear-rings,

14.182

, Od.18.297; band, noose, Ael. NA17.35; a serpent's coils, ib.37.