ΠΕΡΙΗΓΗΣΙΣ

Definition

According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, periēgēsis initially signifies "a leading or showing around," and by extension, "a description of a place, topography." The word is a compound of the preposition "peri" (around) and the verb "hēgeomai" (to lead, guide). In classical antiquity, periēgēsis was not merely a physical movement but a systematic process of exploration and recording, essential for geographical, historical, and ethnographic knowledge.

The concept of periēgēsis is intimately linked with the development of historiography and geography. Early historians, such as Herodotus, often relied on personal periēgēseis and eyewitness accounts to compose their narratives of foreign lands and peoples. This practice of direct observation and guided exploration formed the basis for understanding the world beyond the confines of the city-state.

Over time, periēgēsis also acquired the meaning of a written work describing a place. The most famous example is Pausanias' "Periēgēsis Hellados" (Description of Greece), an extensive topographical and historical work detailing the monuments, traditions, and art of ancient Greece. These works served as guides for travelers and as sources of information for scholars, preserving knowledge of antiquities.

In the Byzantine period, periēgēsis continued to be used, often in a religious context, referring to pilgrimage journeys and descriptions of holy sites. The word retains its fundamental meaning of guidance and exploration, whether physical or spiritual, offering a structured approach to understanding one's environment.

Main Meanings

1. A leading or showing around, guiding through a place — The primary, literal meaning, referring to the act of conducting someone through an area.
2. Description of a place, topography — The meaning the word acquired to denote a written work that records and explains the features of a location.
3. Journey of exploration, tour — The act of traveling with the purpose of discovering and documenting information about a region.
4. Guided tour — The organized guidance of visitors through historical or cultural sites.
5. Scientific or historical research through on-site study — The methodical approach to knowledge through direct observation and data collection in a specific locale.
6. Pilgrimage (in the Byzantine period) — The journey to sacred places for religious purposes.
7. Route, course — The more general sense of a path or itinerary followed in an area.

Word Family

ag- / hēg- (root of agō, meaning "to lead, carry")

The root ag- is one of the oldest and most productive roots in the Greek language, expressing the concept of movement, guidance, administration, and conduct. From it derives the verb hēgeomai, which, with the addition of the preposition peri-, forms periēgēsis, meaning the act of "leading around." This family illustrates how the basic idea of guidance can extend to complex concepts such as leadership, education, and systematic exploration.

In Ancient Texts

The significance of periēgēsis as a source of knowledge and a literary genre is highlighted in various ancient texts.

The 18 Methods

Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΠΕΡΙΗΓΗΣΙΣ:

Sources & Bibliography

• Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th edition, Oxford University Press, 1940.
• Pausanias — Description of Greece, edited by W. H. S. Jones, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1918.
• Herodotus — Histories, edited by A. D. Godley, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1920.
• Strabo — Geography, edited by H. L. Jones, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1917.
• Stephanus of Byzantium — Ethnica, edited by August Meineke, G. Reimer, 1849.
• Bauer, W., Arndt, W. F., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W. — A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd edition, University of Chicago Press, 2000.
• Montanari, F. — GEI: Grande Dizionario Greco-Italiano, Loescher, 2013.