Μίθρης

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

Μίθρας (Míthras) — more common Koine and Mithraic cultic form

Etymology

From an Old Iranian language *Miθra, compare Avestan 𐬨𐬌𐬚𐬭𐬀 (miθra), Old Persian 𐎷𐎰𐎼 (mi-θ-r /⁠miθra⁠/). Literary variant of Μίθρας (Míthras), formed with the -ης masculine declension pattern (cf. Σωκράτης).

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /mí.tʰrɛːs/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈmi.tʰre̝s/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈmi.θris/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈmi.θris/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈmi.θris/

Proper noun

Μίθρης • (Míthrēs) m (genitive Μίθρου); first declension

alternative form of Μίθρας (Míthras) — literary variant in the -ης declension, used by authors such as Xenophon, Plutarch, Lucian, Nonnus, and Hesychius.

Inflection

First declension of ὁ Μίθρης; τοῦ Μίθρου (Attic)

Case / #	Singular
Nominative	ὁ Μίθρης ho Míthrēs
Genitive	τοῦ Μίθρου toû Míthrou
Dative	τῷ Μίθρῃ tōî Míthrēi
Accusative	τὸν Μίθρην tòn Míthrēn
Vocative	Μίθρη Míthrē
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.

Usage notes

This form reflects adaptation of the Iranian name *Miθra-* into the -ης masculine type. By contrast, Μίθρας (Míthras) became the more common form in Koine and Mithraic cultic contexts (e.g. Justin Martyr, Porphyry, the Greek magical papyri).

References

“Μίθρης”, in Liddell & Scott (1940), A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
Woodhouse, S. C. (1910), English–Greek Dictionary: A Vocabulary of the Attic Language‎^[1], London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Limited, page 1,017