σφαγή

A. slaughter; the sg. is freq. in E., as Hec. 571, 1037, al.; in pl., A. Eu. 187,450, S. El. 37, E. Hec. 522, al.; ἕστηκε . . μῆλα πρὸς σφαγὰς πυρός ready for the sacrificial fire, A. Ag. 1057; πολυθύτους τεύχειν ς. to offer many sacrifices, S. Tr. 756: also in Prose, ὑπὸ σφαγῆς Pl. R. 610b; θανάτους τε καὶ σφαγάς Id. Lg. 682e; σφαγὰς ποιεῖσθαι X. HG 4.4.2; σφαγὰς τῶν γνωρίμων ποιήσαντες ib.2.2.6, cf. Isoc. 8.96, D. 19.260; ἐν ταῖς πόλεσι σφαγὰς ἐμποιοῦντες Isoc. 5.107.

2. with collat. sense of a wound, αἷμα τῶν ἐμῶν ς. S. Tr. 573, cf. 717; ἐκφυσιῶν . . αἵματος σφαγήν the blood gushing from the wound, A. Ag. 1389; καθάρμοσον σφαγάς close the gaping wound, E. El. 1228 (lyr.); ἐσφάγη . . σφαγὴν βραχεῖαν Ath. 9.381a.

II. the throat, the spot where the victim is struck (κοινὸν μέρος αὐχένος καὶ στήθους σφαγή Arist. HA 493b7), Antipho 5.69: pl., ἐν σφαγαῖσι βάψασα ξίφος A. Pr. 863; ἐς σφαγὰς ὦσαι ξίφος E. Or. 291; so in prose, οἰστοὺς . . ἐς τὰς ς. καθιέντες Th. 4.48, cf. Sor. 2.63; εἰς τὴν κεφαλὴν . . διὰ τῶν ς. Arist. HA 511b35.