ΚΡΑΣΙΣ

Definition

According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, *krasis* (κρᾶσις) is primarily defined as «a mixing, a blending» of two or more elements. This word holds a central position in ancient Greek thought, describing not only simple physical mixing but also the qualitative composition that leads to a new outcome, with particular emphasis on balance and proportion.

In medicine, and specifically within the Hippocratic tradition, *krasis* is fundamental to understanding health and disease. It refers to the proportion of the four basic humors of the body (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile). *Eukrasia* (εὐκρασία, good mixture) signified the harmonious blending of humors, leading to health, while *dyskrasia* (δυσκρασία, bad mixture) indicated imbalance and illness. This concept profoundly influenced medical thought for centuries, from Galen to the early modern era.

In philosophy, *krasis* is used to describe the composition of cosmic elements or ideas. Plato, in his «Timaeus», speaks of the *krasis* of elements that create the world and the world soul. Aristotle, in his work «On Generation and Corruption», distinguishes *krasis* from mere juxtaposition or aggregation, arguing that in *krasis*, the constituent parts are altered and create a new entity, whereas in aggregation, they retain their individual identities. *Krasis*, therefore, is not merely an addition but a dynamic synthesis that produces new qualities.

Beyond medicine and philosophy, *krasis* also had more mundane applications, such as the mixing of wine with water (a common practice in ancient Greece) or describing an individual's temperament and character as a result of the blending of various internal qualities.

Main Meanings

1. Mixing, Blending, Composition — The general concept of combining two or more elements, especially liquids, to form a unified whole.
2. Medicine: Proportion of Humors — The correct or incorrect proportion of the four basic humors (blood, phlegm, bile) in the body, determining health (*eukrasia*) or illness (*dyskrasia*).
3. Philosophy: Composition of Elements — The blending of cosmic elements, ideas, or qualities to constitute reality (Plato, Aristotle).
4. Temperament, Constitution — An individual's character, disposition, or temperament, resulting from the mixture of their internal elements and qualities.
5. Mixing of Wine with Water — The customary practice in ancient Greece of mixing wine with water before consumption, to moderate its strength.
6. General State, Quality — The overall condition or quality of something resulting from the blending of various factors or characteristics.
7. Grammar: Crasis — The contraction of two vowels or diphthongs into a single long vowel or diphthong, when the first word ends and the second begins with them (e.g., τὸ ὄνομα → τοὔνομα).

Word Family

kera- (root of the verb kerannymi, meaning «to mix»)

The root *kera-* is fundamental in the Greek language for concepts related to mixing and blending. It gives rise to words describing the act, the result, the container, and the state of being mixed or unmixed. This root is distinct from others like *mig-* (*mignymi*) which also means to mix, but *kera-* often implies a more deliberate or specific kind of blending, especially in the context of liquids or qualities. Its derivatives are central to understanding ancient medical theories of temperament and philosophical ideas of cosmic composition.

In Ancient Texts

Three significant passages highlighting the central importance of *krasis* in ancient thought:

The 18 Methods

Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΚΡΑΣΙΣ:

Sources & Bibliography

• Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon. Oxford University Press, 9th ed., 1940.
• Hippocrates — On Ancient Medicine.
• Plato — Timaeus.
• Aristotle — On Generation and Corruption.
• Galen — On the Natural Faculties.
• Diels, H., Kranz, W. — Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker. Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1951.
• Long, A. A., Sedley, D. N. — The Hellenistic Philosophers. Cambridge University Press, 1987.