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σφάζω

σφάζω, to slay, slaughter

σφάζω, Od. 4.320, Hdt. 2.39, E. Tr. 134 (lyr.); in Com. (Cratin. 361) and Prose, from Pl. (Grg. 468c) downwards, σφάττω, cf. Σφαττόμενος title of play by Diph., IG 2(2).2363.34, and ς[φά]ττετ[αι] SIG 1024.36 (Myconus, iii/ii B.C.); Boeot. σφάδδω An.Ox. 4.325: fut. σφάξω E. Heracl. 493: aor. ἔσφαξα Il. 2.422: pf. ἔσφᾰκα, known from plpf. ἐσφάκειν D.C. 73.6, (ἀπο-) 78.7:—Pass., fut. σφᾰγήσομαι E. Andr. 315, Heracl. 583, (ἀπο-) X. HG 3.1.27: aor. ἐσφάγην [ᾰ] Trag. (A. Eu. 305, etc.) and late Prose, Plu. Publ. 4, etc.; less freq. ἐσφάχθην, Pi. P. 11.23, Hdt. 5.5, E. IT 177 (lyr., nowhere else in Trag.): pf. ἔσφαγμαι Od. 10.532, D. 23.68:—
  • slay, slaughter, properly by cutting the throat (v. σφαγή II), in Hom. always of cattle, μῆλʼ ἁδινὰ σφάζουσι καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς Od. 1.92, cf. 9.46, 23.305, Il. 9.467.
    • II esp. slaughter victims for sacrifice, 1.459, etc.; ἔσφαζʼ ἐπʼ ὤμων μόσχον cut its throat, as it hung from the servantʼs shoulders, E. El. 813; σ. παρθένου δέρην Id. Or. 1199:—Pass., Od. 10.532; ἀρνίον ἐσφαγμένον Apoc. 5.6.
      • 2 generally, slay, kill, of human victims, as Iphigeneia, Menoeceus, Pi. P. 11.23, E. Ph. 913, cf. A. Ag. 1433, Ch. 904; σ. τινὰ ἐς τὸν κρητῆρα so that the blood ran into the bowl, Hdt. 3.11:— Pass., σφάζεται ἐς τὸν τάφον Id. 5.5; πρὸς βωμῷ σφαγείς A. Eu. 305.
      • 3 of any slaughter by knife or sword, Hdt. 5.25, 7.107; σ. ἑαυτόν Th. 2.92; σ. καὶ ἐκδέρειν Pl. Euthd. 301c; τὸν ἴδιον ἀδελφόν PMag.Osl. 1.5, cf. 1 Ep.Jo. 3.12.
      • 4 of animals, tear by the throat, σ. ὥσπερ οἱ λύκοι τὰ πρόβατα Arist. HA 612b2.
      • 5 of any killing, BGU 388 ii 21 (ii A.D.), OGI 697 (Egypt), Sammelb. 7436.7 (vi A.D.), Gloss.
      • 6 metaph., torment, τινα POxy. 259.33 (i A.D.).

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