ΟΠΙΣΘΟΔΟΜΟΣ
The opisthodomos, an architectural feature of ancient Greek temples, typically constituted the rear chamber, located behind the cella, and often served as a treasury. Its lexarithmos (823) suggests a connection with the concept of concealment and protection.
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According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, the ὀπισθόδομος is "the back chamber of a temple, behind the cella." It is an architectural term describing the rear part of a building, especially a Greek temple, which was accessible only from the rear and did not communicate directly with the main cella.
The primary function of the ὀπισθόδομος, particularly in Classical Athens, was as a treasury. Sacred dedications, money, and valuable treasures of the temple or city were stored there. The most famous example is the ὀπισθόδομος of the Parthenon, where the funds of the Delian League were kept.
The word is a compound, derived from the adverb ὄπισθεν ("behind") and the noun δόμος ("building, house"). This composition underscores the position and nature of the space: a structure located at the rear. Its meaning expanded to describe any back room or hidden part of a building.
Etymology
The compounding of these two roots creates a new word describing a space with a specific placement and function. From the root opisth- derive words indicating a rear position or direction, while from the root dom- emerge terms related to construction and buildings. Internal Greek linguistics reveals a rich derivation from these two roots, with prefixes and suffixes shaping new meanings.
Main Meanings
- The rear chamber of a Greek temple — The space at the back of the cella of an ancient Greek temple, usually accessible from the rear side.
- Treasury — The most common function of the ὀπισθόδομος, especially in the Parthenon, where money and valuable objects were stored.
- Any back room or inner chamber — A more general usage to describe a space located at the rear of a building.
- Hiding place, secret location — A metaphorical meaning suggesting a hidden or secluded space, due to its isolated position.
- The western porch of the Parthenon — Specific reference to the ὀπισθόδομος of the Parthenon, which was accessible from its western side.
- The rear part of a structure — A broader architectural concept referring to the entire posterior section of a building.
Word Family
opisth- / dom- (roots of opisthen 'behind' and domos 'building')
The word ὀπισθόδομος serves as a characteristic example of a compound word in Ancient Greek, combining two strong roots: opisth- which denotes a rear position, and dom- which refers to construction and buildings. The root opisth- generates words related to receding, lagging, or being in the back, while the root dom- is fundamental to the vocabulary of architecture and dwelling. The fusion of these roots creates a precise description of an architectural space that is both "rear" and a "structure," with a specific function and symbolism.
Philosophical Journey
The history of the ὀπισθόδομος is inextricably linked with the evolution of ancient Greek temple architecture and the political and economic life of the city-states.
In Ancient Texts
Three of the most significant passages referring to the ὀπισθόδομος, highlighting its function as a treasury and its architectural position:
Lexarithmic Analysis
The lexarithmos of the word ΟΠΙΣΘΟΔΟΜΟΣ is 823, from the sum of its letter values:
823 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 ΟΠΙΣΘΟΔΟΜΟΣ:
| Method | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Isopsephy | 823 | Prime number |
| Decade Numerology | 4 | 8+2+3=13 → 1+3=4 — Tetrad, the number of stability and structure, symbolizing the architectural nature of the space. |
| Letter Count | 11 | 12 letters — Dodecad, the number of completeness and wholeness, indicating a full and functional space. |
| Cumulative | 3/20/800 | Units 3 · Tens 20 · Hundreds 800 |
| Odd/Even | Odd | Masculine force |
| Left/Right Hand | Right | Divine (≥100) |
| Quotient | — | Comparative method |
| Notarikon | O-P-I-S-T-H-O-D-O-M-O-S | Opisthios Phylax Ieron Skeuon Thesaurou Ochyron Domema Oikos Mystikos Ochyros Statheros. (Interpretive: Rear Guardian of Sacred Vessels, Treasury, Fortified Structure, Secret Stronghold, Stable.) |
| Grammatical Groups | 5V · 0S · 7C | 5 vowels (O, I, O, O, O), 0 semivowels, 7 consonants. The predominance of the vowels O and I imparts a closed and deep sound, fitting the concept of an internal, protected space. |
| Palindromes | No | |
| Onomancy | — | Comparative |
| Sphere of Democritus | — | Divination with lunar day |
| Zodiacal Isopsephy | Mars ♂ / Scorpio ♏ | 823 mod 7 = 4 · 823 mod 12 = 7 |
Isopsephic Words (823)
Words from the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon with the same lexarithmos (823) as ὀπισθόδομος, but of different roots, offering interesting comparisons:
The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 71 words with lexarithmos 823. 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. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1940.
- Thucydides — History of the Peloponnesian War.
- Xenophon — Hellenica.
- Pausanias — Description of Greece.
- Dinsmoor, W. B. — The Architecture of Ancient Greece. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1975.
- Travlos, J. — Pictorial Dictionary of Ancient Athens. New York: Praeger, 1971.