ἕρμα

A. prop, support: in pl., of the props used to keep ships upright when hauled ashore, νῆα..ἐπ’ ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν ὑψοῦ ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις, ὑπὸ δ’ ἕρματα μακρὰ τάνυσσαν Il. 1.486, cf. 2.154: metaph., of men, ἕ. πόληος prop or stay of the city, 16.549, Od. 23.121, Epigr.Gr. 452.11 (Syria); τοῦτο..οἷον ἕ. πόλεως κείσθω as a foundation for the city, Pl. Lg. 737b; ὥσπερ ἕ. τῆς πολιτείας βέβαιον Plu. 2.814c; ἕ. ἐχέγγυον [ἑταιρίας] D.C. Fr. 40.15; ὥσπερ ἕρματος ἀεὶ δεόμενοι τῆς τροφῆς Gal. 19.208.

2. sunken rock, reef, Alc. Supp. 26.6, Hdt. 7.183, Th. 7.25, E. Hel. 854; ἄσημα ἕ. Anacr. 38; ἄφαντον ἕ. A. Ag. 1007(lyr.), cf.Eu. 564 (lyr.); ἕ. ὕφαλα D.H. 1.52; ἕ. γῆς ἁπαλόν a soft bank of mud, App. BC 5.101.

3. cairn, barrow, πρὸς ἕρμα τυμβόχωστον..τάφου S. Ant. 848 (lyr., nisi leg. ἕργμα); Ἑρμᾶν ἀφετήριον ἕρμα starting-post, AP 9.319 (Philox.); ἕρματα τῶν θεμελίων ruins of the foundations, D.S. 5.70.

4. that which keeps a ship steady, ballast, Plu. 2.782b; of stones with which cranes and bees were supposed to steady themselves in their flight, Arist. HA 597b1, 626b25; μετὰ τῶν γεράνων ἀναχωρῶ πάλιν, ἀνθ’ ἕρματος πολλὰς καταπεπωκὼς δίκας Ar. Av. 1429 : metaph., τῆς ψυχῆς ἐχούσης ἕ. Chrysipp.Stoic. 2.299; τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς φρονήσεως ἕ. Socr. ap. Stob. 3.3.61; οἷον ἕ. τὴν τῶν γερόντων ἀρχὴν θεμένη Plu. Lyc. 5; οὔτε τι ἕ. ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ ἔχει D.C. 46.3; also λαβοῦσα ἕ. Δῖον having conceived by Zeus, A. Supp. 580 (lyr.); so perh. μελαινέων ἕρμ’ ὀδυνάων freight of dark pains, Il. 4.117 (athetized by Aristarch.).

II. (εἴρω A) in pl., ἕρματα ear-rings, 14.182, Od. 18.297; band, noose, Ael. NA 17.35; a serpent's coils, ib.37.