ΟΡΚΩΜΟΣΙΑ

Definition

According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, ὁρκωμοσία (a feminine noun) signifies 'the act of swearing, the ceremony of taking an oath.' It is a compound word derived from ὅρκος ('oath') and ὄμνυμι ('to swear'), thus indicating a formal and public commitment confirmed by an oath. In ancient Greece, the horkomosia was a fundamental process for ensuring order, justice, and political stability.

The significance of horkomosia was particularly evident in Athenian democracy, where magistrates, judges, members of the Boule, and other public officials took an oath upon assuming their duties. These oaths were not merely symbolic but carried legal and religious weight, as their violation was considered sacrilege and incurred divine punishment, in addition to legal consequences.

The ceremony often involved sacrifices and invocations of the gods, emphasizing the sacred character of the commitment. Horkomosia was not limited to political offices but extended to other aspects of social life, such as the conclusion of treaties and alliances between city-states, where the oaths of representatives were essential for the validity of the agreements.

Overall, horkomosia represented the ultimate form of assurance and guarantee in a society where written law coexisted with a strong belief in divine retribution for breaking an oath. The word retains its meaning today, referring to any official oath-taking ceremony.

Main Meanings

1. The Official Oath-Taking Ceremony — The public and solemn procedure by which a person assumes an office or duty with an oath, such as the swearing-in of magistrates in ancient Athens.
2. The Act of Swearing an Oath — The action of taking an oath, making a solemn promise, as a personal commitment or affirmation.
3. The Oath as Legal Affirmation — The use of an oath in judicial proceedings to confirm the truth or assume responsibility, such as the oath of judges or witnesses.
4. The Oath of Allegiance and Alliance — The commitment by oath in treaties, alliances, or agreements between city-states or individuals, ensuring the observance of terms.
5. The Religious Dimension of the Oath — The invocation of the gods as witnesses and guarantors of the oath's observance, with the belief that violation would incur divine punishment.
6. Confirmation by Oath — The strengthening of the credibility of a statement or promise through the addition of an oath.

Word Family

ork-/om- (root of horkos and omnymi, meaning 'oath, to swear')

The root ork-/om- forms the core of a significant family of words in Ancient Greek, all revolving around the concept of the oath and oath-taking. Its dual form, ork- for the noun and om- for the verb, reflects the interplay between the commitment itself (oath) and the act of making that commitment (to swear). This root is fundamental to understanding the legal, political, and religious practices governing agreements and promises in ancient Greek society. Each member of the family develops a specific aspect of this central idea.

In Ancient Texts

Three characteristic passages from ancient Greek literature that highlight the significance of horkomosia:

The 18 Methods

Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΟΡΚΩΜΟΣΙΑ:

Sources & Bibliography

• Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon, Oxford University Press, 9th ed., 1940.
• Demosthenes — On the Crown, edited by W. W. Goodwin, Cambridge University Press, 1896.
• Thucydides — History of the Peloponnesian War, edited by H. S. Jones & J. E. Powell, Oxford University Press, 1942.
• Plato — Laws, edited by J. Burnet, Oxford University Press, 1907.
• Hesiod — Theogony, edited by M. L. West, Oxford University Press, 1966.
• Lysias — Orations, edited by W. R. M. Lamb, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1930.