ἀθάνατος

A. undying, immortal, Hom., etc.; ἀ. πρόσωπον, of Aphrodite, Sapph. 1.14:— hence ἀθάνατοι,οἱ, the Immortals, Hom., Pi. Pae. 6.50, etc.; ἀθάναται ἅλιαι, i.e. the sea goddesses, Od. 24.47: Comp. ‐ώτερος Pl. Phd. 99c.

2. of immortal fame, Tyrt. 12.322.

II. of things, etc., everlasting, perpetual, ἀ. κακόν Od. 12.118; χάρις Hdt. 7.178; ἀρετή, ἀρχά, S. Ph. 1420, OT 905 (lyr.); κλέος, μνήμη, B. 12.65, Lys. 2.81; συκοφάντης Hyp. Lyc. 2; ἀ. ὁ θάνατος 'death that cannot die', Amph.8; of Nisus' purple locks, ἀ. θρίξ on which life depended, A. Ch. 619.

III. οἱ ἀ. the immortals, a body of Persian troops in which vacancies were filled up by successors already appointed, Hdt. 7.83,211; so ἀ. ἀνήρ one whose successor in case of death is appointed (as we say, the king never dies), ib.31; of a standing army, D.C. 52.27.

2. maintained at a constant figure, πρόβατα PSI 4.377.5 (iii B. C.), PThead. 30.6 (iii A. D.); αἶγες PStrassb. 30.6 (iii A. D.); διὰ τὸ ἀθάνατον (sc. τὸ παιδίον)αὐτὴν ἐπιδεδέχθαι τροφεύειν BGU 1106.25 (Aug.).

IV. = λυχνὶς στεφανωματική, Ps.-Dsc. 3.100.

V. Adv. ἀθανάτως, εὕδειν AP 9.570 (Philod.). [αθ‐ always in the Adj. and all derivs., v. sub ἀ‐ 1 fin.]