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ἕλιξ

ἕλιξ, twisted, curved

ἕλιξ2, anything which assumes a spiral shape

ἕλιξ (A), ῐκος, ὁ, ἡ, as Adj.,
  • twisted, curved: in Hom. and Hes., as in S. Aj. 374 (lyr.), Theoc. 25.127, epith. of oxen, commonly understood of their twisted, crumpled horns, cf. ἑλικτός I; also expld. of the movement of their bodies as they walk, rolling: freq. coupled with εἰλίπους, cf. Il. 12.293 and Sch. ad loc., etc.; ἕλιξ abs.,= βοῦς, E. Ba. 1170 (lyr.): later of various objects, ποταμός Pi. ap. Sch.Il.Oxy. 221 ix 15; ἕλικα ἀνὰ χλόαν on the tangled grass, E. Hel. 180 (lyr., cf. sq. [ἕλιξ] III); δρόμος Nonn. D. 2.263; σειρή Tryph. 322.
ἕλιξ (B), poet. εἷλιξ, ῐκος, ἡ, (ἑλίσσω)
  • anything which assumes a spiral shape: once in Hom., γναμπτάς θʼ ἕλικας, of armlets or ear-rings, Il. 18.401 (cf. ἑλικτήρ), cf. h.Ven. 87, Arist. Mir. 840b20:—afterwards in various relations:
    • II whirl, convolution, ἕλικες στεροπῆς flashes of forked lightning, A. Pr. 1083 (anap.); of circular or spiral motion, αἱ κινήσεις καὶ ἕλικες τοῦ οὐρανοῦ Arist. Metaph. 998a5; ἕλικα ἐκτυλίσσειν Ti.Locr. 97c; wreath of smoke, A.R. 1.438.
    • III tendril of the vine, Thphr. CP 2.18.2; βοσκὰς εὐφύλλων ἑλίκων E. Hel. 1331 (lyr.); βότρυος ἕλικα παυσίπονον the clustering grape, Ar. Ra. 1321 (lyr.).
      • 2 tendril of ivy, Id. Th. 1000; also, ivy. Hedera Helix, Thphr. HP 3.18.6, 7.8.1.
      • 3 curl or lock of hair, AP 10.19 (Apollonid.), 12.10 (Strat.), Anacreont. 16.6.
      • 4 coil of a serpent, E. HF 399 (lyr.): pl.,feelers of the polypus, AP 9.14 (Antiphil. Byz.).
      • 5 volute on the capital of a column, Callix. 1, Vitr. 4.1.12.
    • IV convolution of a spiral shell (cf. ἑλίκη II), Arist. HA 547b11: pl., convolutions of the bowels, Id. PA 675b24: sg., colon, ib. 675b20; also of the ear, Id. de An. 420a13, Ruf. Onom. 44.
    • V spiral running round a staff, Ael. VH 9.11, Ath. 12.543f; on a childʼs ball, A.R. 3.139; spiral strip folded round the scytale, Plu. Lys. 19.
      • 2 Geom., spiral, Epicur. Ep. 2p.40U., Hermesian. 7.86; περὶ ἑλίκων, title of work by Archim.; also,= κύκλος, Hsch.
        • b of planets’ orbit, Eudox. Ars 5.3, Theo Sm. p.201 H.; but also of the sunʼs and moonʼs orbits, Eudox. Ars 9.2.
      • 3 helix, screw-windlass, employed in launching ships, invented by Archimedes, Moschio ap. Ath. 5.207b.
      • 4 treadmill used to raise water, Ph. 1.410.
    • VI pl., involved sentences, D.H. Th. 48.
    • VII Adj. winding, ὁ ῥοῦς φέρεται ἕλικα πορείαν Dion.Byz. 3.

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