τάφος

τάφος¹ funeral rites, tomb

Pronunciation

• 5th-century BC Attic: /tá.pʰos/^[1]
• 4th-century AD Koine: /ˈta.ɸos/^[1]
• 10th-century Byzantine: /ˈta.fos/^[1]

Forms

τᾰ́φος (táphos) m (genitive τᾰ́φου); second declension^[1]

Etymology

The noun meaning “funeral, tomb” is formed from Ancient Greek θάπτω (tháptō, “to bury”), from its stem ταφ- (taph-) as in the aorist, with the aspiration moved to the second consonant.^[1][2][3] The verb's own origin is uncertain.^[3] It has traditionally been compared with Old Armenian դամբան (damban, “tomb”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰembʰ- (“to dig, bury”), but Clackson doubts that the two words are old, and Beekes thinks the Armenian and Greek words could both be borrowings.^[3][4]

The 1st-century BC grammarian Philoxenus derived both θάπτω and τάφος from a verb “to set”, the place where the remains are laid.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

In Homer the word means the funeral rites rather than the grave: a funeral feast is given and funeral games are held for Patroclus and Hector.^[6][2] The sense “grave, tomb” is not Homeric.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The meaning “grave, tomb” appears from Hesiod's Shield on, and becomes the usual one in Pindar, the tragedians, Herodotus and Thucydides.^[2][7] Sophocles has the plural for a single grave, and “those in their tombs” are the dead in Aeschylus.^[2] Gorgias called vultures “living tombs”, and Lucian calls a living skeleton a “living tomb”.^[2] In the Gospels τάφος is the tomb of Jesus.^[8]

The word survives unchanged as Modern Greek τάφος (táfos, “grave, tomb”).^[9][4]

Timeline

• Homer – The Iliad and the Odyssey use it for funeral rites and the funeral feast.^[6][2]
• Before the 6th century BC – Hesiod's Shield uses it for a grave.^[2][10]
• 5th century BC – Herodotus and Thucydides use it for a tomb.^[2][10]
• 1st century AD – The Gospel of Matthew uses it for the tomb of Jesus.^[8]
• Modern Greek – Modern Greek τάφος (táfos) still means a grave.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. Funeral rites, burial; a funeral feast.^[2][6]
2. The act of performing the rites of burial.^[2]
3. A grave, tomb.^[2][8]
4. An altar (in Duris).^[2]

Word family

• ἐπιτάφιος (epitáphios)
• ἐντάφιος (entáphios)
• ταφήϊος (taphḗïos)

τάφος² astonishment

Pronunciation

• 5th-century BC Attic: /tá.pʰos/^[1]
• 4th-century AD Koine: /ˈta.ɸos/^[1]
• 10th-century Byzantine: /ˈta.fos/^[1]

Forms

τᾰ́φος (táphos) n (genitive τᾰ́φους or τᾰ́φεος); third declension^[1]

Etymology

The neuter noun meaning “astonishment” is formed from Ancient Greek τέθηπα (téthēpa, “I am amazed”) from the stem of its aorist ταφεῖν (tapheîn).^[3][2][6] It means the same as θάμβος (thámbos, “amazement”).^[3][11] Beekes considers the whole group, with the variation θαπ- (thap-), ταφ- (taph-), θαμβ- (thamb-) and the *θαϝ- (*thaw-) of θαῦμα (thaûma, “wonder”), Pre-Greek, since this alternation cannot be Indo-European.^[3] He also holds that θάμβος and τέθηπα cannot be inherited cognates, as there is no trace of the full grade *dʰembʰ- an inherited word would need.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Odyssey amazement seizes all who see Odysseus string the bow, and stupefaction comes over Penelope when she sees him.^[6][2]

Semantic evolution

The word is rare: apart from the Odyssey, LSJ records only a dative in Ibycus.^[2][6]

Timeline

• Homer – The Odyssey has it for amazement and stupefaction.^[6][2]
• 6th century BC – Ibycus uses the dative.^[2][10]

Meanings

Noun

1. Astonishment, amazement; stupefaction.^[2][6]