ΚΟΛΑΚΙΣΜΟΣ (kolakismos) — Lexarithmos 661 · Etymology, Meanings

Definition

Kolakismos (κολακισμός, ὁ) in ancient Greek literature refers to the act of excessive, insincere, or servile praise, with the ultimate goal of gaining personal benefit or securing favor from someone superior or more powerful. It is not synonymous with simple praise or politeness but implies a deliberate distortion of truth and a hypocritical demeanor. The word carries a negative ethical connotation, as it suggests a lack of authenticity and dignity on the part of the flatterer.

In philosophical thought, kolakismos is considered a perversion of the virtues of friendship and sincerity. Plato, for instance, in his *Republic* and *Gorgias*, contrasts it with true rhetoric and education, characterizing it as an "art" aimed at pleasure rather than the benefit of the soul. The flatterer, according to the ancients, is one who sacrifices truth and honor for temporary gains, making himself a slave to the passions and interests of others.

Theophrastus, in his *Characters*, dedicates an entire character, "The Flatterer" (ὁ Κόλαξ), to describing the behaviors and tactics of the flatterer, highlighting its social dimension and practical manifestations. Kolakismos, therefore, is not merely a verbal phenomenon but a complex social strategy that reveals much about power relations and moral degradation.

Etymology

κολακισμός ← κολακεύω ← κόλαξ ← κολάω (Ancient Greek root belonging to the oldest stratum of the language)

The word "κολακισμός" derives from the verb "κολακεύω," which in turn originates from the noun "κόλαξ." The root "κολάω" means "to caress, to fawn upon, to flatter." The precise origin of the root "κολ-" is Ancient Greek and belongs to the oldest stratum of the language, with no clear indications of external provenance. The semantic evolution from "to caress" to "to flatter" suggests a transfer from physical contact and pleasure to verbal and social behavior.

From the same root "κολ-" and the noun "κόλαξ," a family of words developed to describe the act and agents of flattery. The verb "κολακεύω" is the active form of the act, while "κολακεία" is a synonym for "κολακισμός," often with slightly different nuances of usage. Additionally, adjectives such as "κολακευτικός" describe the quality or tendency towards flattery, and nouns like "κολακευτής" refer to the person who flatters.

Main Meanings

Excessive and Insincere Praise — The primary meaning, referring to the act of offering exaggerated and false compliments.
Servile Behavior — Conduct that indicates subservience and lack of dignity, aimed at gaining favor.
Art of Deception — Flattery as a skillful, yet unethical, method of manipulating others for personal gain.
Perversion of Friendship — In ancient philosophy, flattery is seen as a false form of friendship, based on self-interest rather than truth.
Means of Social Advancement — The use of flattery as a tool for achieving social or political progress, often at the expense of ethics.
Lack of Authenticity — The state of the flatterer, who lacks sincerity and genuine character.
Moral Degradation — Flattery as an indication of moral weakness and corruption of character.

Word Family

kol- (root of the verb kolao, meaning "to caress, to fawn upon")

The root kol- forms the basis of a family of words describing the act of flattery and related behaviors. It originates from the Ancient Greek verb kolao, which initially meant "to caress, to fawn upon," suggesting a physical expression of pleasure or submission. Over time, the meaning shifted towards the verbal and social expression of excessive and insincere praise. This root, though not as prolific as others, is central to understanding the concept of the flatterer (kolax) and flattery (kolakismos) in ancient Greek thought, as each derivative highlights a different aspect of this ethically charged behavior.

κόλαξ ὁ · noun · lex. 181

The flatterer, one who flatters. This is the person characterized by the act of flattery, as extensively described in Theophrastus's *Characters*, where it serves as an archetype of insincere behavior.

κολάω verb · lex. 921

The original verb from which the family derives. It means 'to caress, to fawn upon, to flatter.' In its earlier usage, it could refer to physical contact, but it quickly acquired the metaphorical sense of verbal flattery.

κολακεύω verb · lex. 1346

The most commonly used verb for the act of flattery, meaning 'to flatter, to try to please with insincere praise.' It represents the active form of flattery, as seen in texts by Plato and Aristotle.

κολακεία ἡ · noun · lex. 157

The act of flattery, often used as a synonym for kolakismos, though sometimes it may imply a more general sense of trying to please. It appears in various authors, such as Xenophon and Demosthenes.

κολακευτικός adjective · lex. 1176

That which pertains to flattery, flattering, capable of flattering. It describes the quality or nature of an act or speech aimed at flattery, such as 'flattering speech' (κολακευτικός λόγος).

κολακευτής ὁ · noun · lex. 1054

The flatterer, one who practices flattery. This noun emphasizes the agent of the act, similar to kolax, but often with the connotation of a professional or systematic flatterer.

κολακευτός adjective · lex. 1116

One who has been flattered, who is the object of flattery. It can also mean 'one who can be flattered,' indicating someone's susceptibility to flattery.

ἀκολακευτός adjective · lex. 1117

One who has not been flattered, who is not susceptible to flattery. It denotes integrity and independence of character, resistance to attempts at manipulation through flattery.

Philosophical Journey

Kolakismos, as a social phenomenon and ethical concept, occupied the ancient Greeks from the Classical era, evolving into a significant topic in philosophy and ethics.

5th-4th C. BCE

Classical Athens (Plato, Aristotle)

Plato in *Gorgias* and *Republic* contrasts flattery with true rhetoric and education, viewing it as an art aimed at pleasure rather than truth. Aristotle, in his *Nicomachean Ethics*, classifies it among the excesses of friendship, as a form of servility.

4th-3rd C. BCE

Hellenistic Period (Theophrastus)

Theophrastus, a student of Aristotle, dedicates one of his *Characters* to 'The Flatterer' (ὁ Κόλαξ), offering a detailed and vivid description of the flatterer's behaviors and tactics, making flattery a central theme of ethical psychology.

1st C. BCE - 2nd C. CE

Roman Period (Plutarch, Lucian)

Plutarch, in his work *How to Tell a Flatterer from a Friend*, extensively analyzes the ways to distinguish a true friend from a flatterer, emphasizing the social danger of flattery. Lucian, with his satirical writing, ridicules flatterers and their practices, highlighting their hypocrisy.

3rd-5th C. CE

Early Byzantine Period

The Church Fathers, such as Basil the Great and John Chrysostom, condemn flattery as a sin and an expression of pride or servility, emphasizing the need for sincerity and humility in human relationships.

Present Day

Modern Greek Usage

The word 'κολακισμός' retains its negative connotation and is used to describe insincere and self-serving flattery, remaining relevant in the critique of social behaviors.

In Ancient Texts

Ancient Greek literature offers rich examples of the concept of kolakismos, highlighting its ethical and social dimensions.

«ὁ κόλαξ ἀεὶ πρὸς ἡδονήν τι λέγει καὶ ποιεῖ.»

The flatterer always says and does something for pleasure.

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 1159a25

«οὐ γὰρ ἐπαινέτης ὁ κόλαξ, ἀλλὰ μιμητὴς ἐπαίνου.»

For the flatterer is not one who praises, but one who imitates praise.

Plutarch, How to Tell a Flatterer from a Friend 49B

«ὁ κόλαξ ἐστὶν ἄνθρωπος ὃς ἐπαινεῖ πάντα τὸν συνόντα.»

The flatterer is a person who praises everyone present.

Theophrastus, Characters 2.1 (On the Flatterer)

Lexarithmic Analysis

The lexarithmos of the word ΚΟΛΑΚΙΣΜΟΣ is 661, from the sum of its letter values:

Κ = 20

Kappa

Ο = 70

Omicron

Λ = 30

Lambda

Α = 1

Alpha

Κ = 20

Kappa

Ι = 10

Iota

Σ = 200

Sigma

Μ = 40

Mu

Ο = 70

Omicron

Σ = 200

Sigma

= 661

Total

20 + 70 + 30 + 1 + 20 + 10 + 200 + 40 + 70 + 200 = 661

661 is a prime number — indivisible, a quality the Pythagoreans considered the mark of pure essence.

The 18 Methods

Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΚΟΛΑΚΙΣΜΟΣ:

Method	Result	Meaning
Isopsephy	661	Prime number
Decade Numerology	4	6+6+1=13 → 1+3=4 — Tetrad, the number of stability and order, but in flattery, it suggests a false or superficial stability, an attempt to impose artificial harmony.
Letter Count	10	9 letters — Ennead, the number of completion and perfection, but in the case of flattery, it may signify the completion of a deception or the illusion of fullness.
Cumulative	1/60/600	Units 1 · Tens 60 · Hundreds 600
Odd/Even	Odd	Masculine force
Left/Right Hand	Right	Divine (≥100)
Quotient	—	Comparative method
Notarikon	K-O-L-A-K-I-S-M-O-S	Flattery, Ominous, Lies, Artifice Conceals Individual Self-interest Merely Outlines Purpose
Grammatical Groups	4Φ · 0Η · 1Α	4 vowels (O, A, I, O), 0 eta, 1 alpha.
Palindromes	No
Onomancy	—	Comparative
Sphere of Democritus	—	Divination with lunar day
Zodiacal Isopsephy	Sun ☉ / Taurus ♉	661 mod 7 = 3 · 661 mod 12 = 1

Isopsephic Words (661)

Words from the Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon with the same lexarithmos (661) but different roots, offering interesting parallels and contrasts.

ἀμφιβολή

Doubt, ambiguity. The isopsephy with kolakismos underscores the inherent uncertainty and lack of clarity that characterizes flattering behavior, which often conceals motives and truths.

ἀναγραπτέον

That which must be written down, recorded. An interesting contrast, as flattery is often fleeting and oral, while 'anagrapteon' implies permanence and the need for official record, perhaps as an antidote to insincerity.

ἀπόλλυμι

To destroy, to lose. This connection can be interpreted as the destructive nature of flattery, which can lead to the loss of credibility, truth, and ultimately to the moral degradation of both the flatterer and the flattered.

ἀρρυθμία

Lack of rhythm, irregularity. Flattery disrupts the harmony of relationships and the balance of truth, creating an 'arrhythmia' in communication and social interaction.

εὐσέβημα

Pious act. A strong contrast, as 'eusebema' denotes sincere devotion and moral integrity, while flattery is the embodiment of insincerity and hypocrisy. The isopsephy highlights the chasm between true virtue and feigned behavior.

θανατικός

Deadly, fatal. This isopsephy may suggest the 'deadly' nature of flattery for the soul and society, as it erodes moral foundations and can lead to catastrophic decisions.

The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 90 words with lexarithmos 661. For the full catalog and AI semantic filtering, see the interactive tool.

Sources & Bibliography

Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon, with a revised supplement. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1996.
Plato — Gorgias. Translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 1994.
Plato — Republic. Translated by G. M. A. Grube, revised by C. D. C. Reeve. Hackett Publishing Company, 1992.
Aristotle — Nicomachean Ethics. Translated by W. D. Ross, revised by J. L. Ackrill and J. O. Urmson. Oxford University Press, 2009.
Theophrastus — Characters. Translated by Jeffrey Rusten. Harvard University Press, 2002.
Plutarch — How to Tell a Flatterer from a Friend. Translated by Frank Cole Babbitt. Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1927.
Lucian of Samosata — Dialogues of the Courtesans. Translated by M. D. Macleod. Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1961.
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, 2000.