ἀστράγαλος

A. one of the vertebrae, esp. of the neck, Il. 14.466, Od. 11.65, AP 7.632 (Diod.); votive object, IG 5 (2).125 (Tegea, ii A. D.).

II. ball of the ankle joint (not to be confused with σφυρόν, Ruf. Onom. 124), Hdt. 3.129; in horses, X. Eq. 1.15; of various animals, Hp. Int. 20,30.

2. οἱ μὲν πόδες ἀστράγαλοί τευ, as a compliment, i.e. well-turned, Theoc. 10.36.

III. wrist, LXX Da. 5.5,24.

IV. pl., ἀστράγαλοι knucklebones used as dice or a game played with dice, ἀμφ’ ἀστραγάλοισι χολωθείς Il. 23.88, cf. Hdt. 1.94, Menecr.Com.1D.; ἀ. διάσειστοι Aeschin. 1.59, cf. Men. 423; ἀ. μεμολιβδωμένοι loaded dice, Arist. Pr. 913a36, cf. Eust. 1397.34; later, dice proper, ἀντ’ ἀστραγάλων κονδύλοισι παίζετε Pherecr. 43.

V. ἡ ἐκ τῶν ἀστραγάλων μάστιξ scourge of strung bones, Luc. Asin. 38; cf. ἀστραγαλωτός.

VI. moulding in the capital of the Ionic column, IG 1.322, Vitr. 3.5.7.

VII. milk vetch, Orobus niger, Dsc. 4.61, Gal. 11.841.

VIII. prism of wood, Aen.Tact. 31.17, al.

IX. ear-ring, ξύλινοι ἀ. Anacr. 21.4.