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ῥόμβος

ῥόμβος, a spinning-top

ῥόμβος or ῥύμβος, ὁ, (ῥέμβω)
  • bull-roarer, instrument whirled round on the end of a string, used in the mysteries, ῥόμβου θʼ εἱλισσομένα κύκλιος ἔνοσις αἰθερία E. Hel. 1362, cf. Archyt. 1, Theoc. 2.30; as a boyʼs toy, AP 6.309 (Leon.), Orph. Fr. 31.29, Fr. 34, M.Ant. 5.36; defined as ξυλήφιον, οὗ ἐξῆπται τὸ σπαρτίον, καὶ ἐν ταῖς τελεταῖς ἐδονεῖτο, ἵνα ῥοιζῇ, Sch. Clem.Al. Protr. 2.17.2, cf. Hsch.
      • 2 magic wheel, spun alternately in each direction by the torsion of two cords passed through two holes in it, used as a love-charm, Luc. DMeretr. 4.5; called ἴυγξ in Theoc. 2.17, AP 5.204; Lat. rhombus, Prop. 2.28.35, Ov. Am. 1.8.7.
        • b τροχίσκος ὃν στρέφουσιν ἱμᾶσι τύπτοντες, καὶ οὕτως κτύπον ἀποτελοῦσι Sch. A.R. 1.1134; ὦ ῥύμβε μαστίξας ἐμέ (dub. sens.) Eup. 72.
      • 3 tambourine or kettle-drum, used in the worship of Rhea and of Dionysus, Ar. Fr. 303, Diog.Ath. 1.3, A.R. 1.1139, AP 6.165 (Phal.); ῥύμβος ξύλινος ἐπίχρυσος IG 2(2).1456.49, cf. 1517.207.
      • 4 membrum virile, PLond. 1821.164.
    • II whirling motion, as of a bull-roarer, ἀκόντων ἱέντα ῥόμβον shooting forth whirling darts, Pi. O. 13.94; αἰετοῦ ῥ. the eagleʼs swoop, Id. I. 4(3).47(65); ῥ. τυπάνων Id. Dith.Oxy. 1604 Fr. 1 ii 9; ἐν αἰθερίῳ ῥύμβῳ Critias 19.2D.; ῥόμβου ἀπειρεσίου δινεύμασιν οἶμον ἐλαύνων, of the Sun, Orph. H. 8.7: metaph., Νέμεσις καὶ ῥ. ἀλάστωρ IG 14.1389ii34 (perh. an Adj., = ῥεμβός).—The Gramm. hold ῥύμβος to be Att., ῥόμβος Hellenic, Sch. Theoc. 2.30, Ath. 7.330b.
  • B rhombus, lozenge, i.e. a four-sided figure with all the sides, but only the opposite angles, equal, Arist. Mech. 854b16, Euc. 1 Def. 22.
        • b ῥ. στερεός, a figure composed of two cones on opposite sides of the same base, Archim. Sph.Cyl. 1.26, al.
      • 2 a species of fish, of which turbot and brill are varieties, so called from its rhomblike shape, Nausicr. 2.13; Ῥωμαῖοι καλοῦσι τὴν ψῆτταν ῥ. Ath. 7.330b, cf. ψῆττα.
      • 3 surgical bandage, so called from its shape, Hp. Off. 7, Heliod. ap. Orib. 48.20.14.
      • 4 pattern of the same shape, in weaving cloth, Democr.Eph. 1; διαπλοκὴ ῥόμβων Aristeas 74.

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