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[266] κουρίδιον. This word, as Buttmann showed, means ‘wedded,’ ‘legitimate.’ It is probably derived from some part of the marriage ceremony; cp. Hesych. “κουριζόμενος: ὑμεναιούμενος”. Ahrens (“Ῥᾷ”, p. 7) compares Pind. Pyth.3. 18παρθένοι φιλέοισιν ἑταῖραι ἑσπερίαις ὑποκουρίζεσθ᾽ ἀοιδαῖς”, and suggests that this song of the “κοῦραι” was called “κουρίς”, whence “κουρίζεσθαι” ‘to honour with bridal song,’ and “κουρίδιος” of a bridegroom or bride so honoured. Curtius finds the explanation in the practice of cutting the bride's hair (“κουρά”), for which he quotes Hesych. s.v. “γάμων ἔθη”, Pollux iii. 38, Paus. i. 43, 4, ii. 32, 1 (“ἑκάστη παρθένος πλόκαμον ἀποκείρεταί οἱ πρὸ γάμου” ‘cuts off a lock,’ sc. as an offering to Hippolytus).

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hide References (3 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (3):
    • Pausanias, Description of Greece, 1.43.4
    • Pausanias, Description of Greece, 2.32.1
    • Pindar, Pythian, 3
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