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Διόπτρα · dioptra (δ 1195) · Suda

Letters

Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω

Near δ1195

δ1191intending to spy upon
δ1192scout
δ1193scouts
δ1194able to look through [something]
δ1195dioptra
δ1196I amend, I make good, I redeem
δ1197I delimit, I separate [by a boundary]
δ1198fixed time
δ1199dioriskos

Suda/Δ delta/δ1195

← Previous entry,δ1194 Next entry,δ1196 →

Διόπτρα

dioptra

Translated by Antonella Ippolito11 Jan 2005Vetting: high10 revisions

biography
definition
dialects, grammar, and etymology
mathematics
military affairs
poetry
+1
- science and technology

2 notes · 32 words

Translation

A mechanical implement,¹ with which the geometers used to assess with precision the measure of battlements from a distance.
The Pisidian [writes]: "you see these things from far away with your dioptra".²

Greek original · Adler’s text

Διόπτρα· μηχανικὸν τεχνούργημα, δι' οὗ οἱ γεωμέτραι ἀπηκρίβουν τὴν τῶν ἐπάλξεων ἐκ διαστήματος ἀναμέτρησιν. Πισίδης· ταῦτα πρὸ πολλοῦ τῇ διόπτρᾳ σου βλέπεις.

Betacode

*dio/ptra: mhxaniko\n texnou/rghma, di' ou(= oi( gewme/trai a)phkri/boun th\n tw=n e)pa/lcewn e)k diasth/matos a)name/trhsin. *pisi/dhs: tau=ta pro\ pollou= th=| dio/ptra| sou ble/peis.

Notes (2)

Likewise in ps.-Zonaras.
1See already under delta 1192; LSJ entry at web address 1. ↩
2George of Pisidia, Heraclias 3 fr. 8 Tartaglia. The source text of the fragment is unknown. Quercius (J.M. Querci) suggests in his note to the fragment that the poet appears to be addressing Heraclius (cf. Migne, PG 92.1741 n. 71). On Heraclius see eta 465 generally.

References

M.J.T. Lewis, Surveying Instruments of Greece and Rome, Cambridge-New York, Cambridge University Press, 2001
J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia graeca, vol. 92, (Paris, 1860)

External resources

Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu

Linked from2 entries

β547ΒρόμιοςBromios, Bromius[sc. Another name for] Dionysos, the birth-maker of fruits. From bora/ ["food"] comes bo/rimos, and by metathesis bro/mios.
δ1192Διοπτῆραscout[Meaning] spy, inspector. A diopth/r [is] also a mechanical tool, with which the height of battlements used to be determined. Alternatively [sc. found as] dio/ptra.

Neighbouring entries

δ1193Διοπτῆρεςscouts δ1194Διόπτηςable to look through [something]δ1195Διόπτραdioptra δ1196ΔιορθοῦμαιI amend, I make good, I redeem δ1197ΔιορίζωI delimit, I separate [by a boundary]

Revision history10 revisions · last 26 Aug 2025

26 Aug 2025tweaked translation — Catharine Roth
24 Aug 2025expanded n.2, added to bibliography, added cross-reference and keyword — Ronald Allen
11 Nov 2015another note — David Whitehead
26 Nov 2014tweaked reference — Catharine Roth
16 Nov 2014Revised — David Whitehead
16 Nov 2014coding — Catharine Roth
12 Jul 2012cosmetics — David Whitehead
1 Oct 2005added keyword — Catharine Roth
12 Feb 2005cosmetic — Catharine Roth
12 Jan 2005adjustments to translation; modified n.2; another keyword; cosmetics — David Whitehead
11 Jan 2005Translated — Antonella Ippolito

Cite this entry

Suda On Line, s.v. Διόπτρα (Adler number delta 1195), trans. Antonella Ippolito, 11 Jan 2005. https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/sol/sol-entries/delta/1195

Translation by Antonella Ippolito for Suda On Line, revised by Catharine Roth, Ronald Allen, David Whitehead, licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Shown unchanged, under the same licence, non-commercially. Original on SOL ↗