ΑΣΤΕΡΙΣΚΟΣ

Definition

According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, ἀστερίσκος originally means "a little star" or "starlet," being a diminutive of ἀστήρ. This word, though simple in its etymology, acquired particular significance in the field of philology and textual criticism. It was employed to mark passages requiring attention or those added from other sources.

The use of the asterisk as a philological symbol was primarily established by the Alexandrian scholars, such as Aristarchus and Zenodotus, during their work on the Homeric epics and other classical texts. Its purpose was to indicate lines or phrases considered doubtful, interpolated, or derived from different traditions, thereby aiding in the restoration of the original text.

In patristic literature, and particularly in the works of Origen, the asterisk played a central role in the critical edition of the Old Testament, known as the "Hexapla." Origen used the asterisk to denote passages present in the Hebrew Bible but missing from the Septuagint translation, which he then added from other Greek versions, primarily that of Theodotion. This usage highlighted the "addition" and restoration of the text.

In modern usage, the asterisk retains its meaning as a reference mark or footnote indicator, but also as a symbol denoting censorship or omitted letters. Its enduring function remains that of highlighting, guiding the reader to specific information or a critical comment, thereby shedding "light" on obscure points within the text.

Main Meanings

1. A small star, starlet — The original and literal meaning, as a diminutive of ἀστήρ.
2. A textual critical mark, philological symbol — Used by Alexandrian philologists to mark doubtful or interpolated passages in texts.
3. A symbol of textual addition — In Origen's critical edition of the Old Testament (Hexapla), it indicates passages added from other Greek translations to complete the Septuagint text.
4. A reference mark, footnote indicator — In modern typography, used to refer to a footnote or to indicate special attention.
5. A symbol of censorship or omission — Used to replace letters or words that have been omitted or censored (e.g., a***).
6. A grammatical mark (e.g., for un-attested forms) — In linguistics, an asterisk before a word indicates that the form is hypothetical or reconstructed and not directly attested.

Word Family

ἀστ- (root of ἀστήρ, meaning "star, light")

The root ἀστ- is one of the oldest and most productive roots in the Greek language, connected to the concept of "star" and, by extension, "light" and "brightness." From this root derive words describing celestial bodies, the sciences that study them (astronomy, astrology), as well as phenomena of shining and illumination. The ἀστερίσκος, as a diminutive, maintains this fundamental connection to light, transferring the idea of a "small bright point" from the sky to the written text.

In Ancient Texts

The most characteristic use of the ἀστερίσκος in antiquity is associated with textual criticism.

The 18 Methods

Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΑΣΤΕΡΙΣΚΟΣ:

Sources & Bibliography

• Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon. Oxford University Press, 9th ed., 1940.
• Bauer, W., Arndt, W. F., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W. — A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. University of Chicago Press, 3rd ed., 2000.
• Eusebius of Caesarea — Historia Ecclesiastica. Ed. E. Schwartz, GCS 9. Leipzig, 1903-1908.
• Dionysius Thrax — Ars Grammatica. Ed. G. Uhlig, Grammatici Graeci I.1. Leipzig, 1883.
• Jerome — Prologus in Librum Iosue (Prologues to the Old Testament). Ed. D. Hurst, CCSL 72. Turnhout, 1969.
• Montanari, F. — Vocabolario della Lingua Greca. Loescher, 2013.