ἱκέτης

A. one who comes to seek aid or protection, suppliant; freq. in Hom. of one who comes to seek for purification after homicide, ἀνὴρ ἱ. Il. 24.158, cf. Od. 9.270,al.: later generally, ἱκέται ἱζόμενοι τοῦ θεοῦ Hdt. 2.113, cf. 5.71; ἱ. σέθεν ἔρχομαι Pi. O. 5.19, cf. S. OC 634, Th. 1.136; ἱ. πατρῴων τάφων Id. 3.59; δέξασθαι ἱκέτην A. Supp. 27 (anap.); of pilgrims to a healing shrine, ἐγκεκοιμις μένων τῶν ἱκετᾶν IG 4.951.90 (Epid.); ὑβρίζειν . . εἰς ἱκέτας Phld. Ir. p.35 W.:—wrongly expld.as protector of suppliants by some Gramm. in Od. 16.422.