κῆρυξ

A. herald, pursuivant: generally, public messenger, envoy, κ. λιγύφθογγοι Il. 2.50, al.; κηρύκων, οἳ δημιοεργοὶ ἔασιν Od. 19.135; κ. Διῒφίλοι Il. 8.517; κ., Διὸς ἄγγελοι ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν 1.334; θεῶν κ., of Hermes, Hes. Op. 80, cf.Th. 939, A. Ag. 515, Ch. 124: distd. from πρέσβεις, as being messengers between nations at war, Sch.Th. 1.29, cf. A. Supp. 727, Pl. Lg. 941a, D. 12.4: used interchangeably with ἀπόστολος, Hdt. 1.21: as pr.n.of a family at Athens, Th. 8.53, And. 1.116, Paus. 1.38.3, Poll. 8.103; functioning as μάγειροι at festivals, Clidem.3, 17; Κηρυκίδαι Phot.

b. as fem., Pi. N. 8.1, Nonn. D. 4.11.

2. crier, who made proclamation and kept order in assemblies, etc., Ar. Ach. 42 sq.; ὁ κ. ἀνεῖπεν And. 1.36, etc.; ὁ τῶν μυστῶν κ., at Eleusis, X. HG 2.4.20, cf. SIG 845 (Eleusis, iii A.D.), Philostr. VS 2.33.4.

3. auctioneer, ὑπὸ κήρυκος πωλεῖν Thphr. Fr. 97; ἀπέδοτο πάντα τὰ ἔργα ὑπὸ κήρυκα IPE 12.32 (Olbia, iii B.C.), cf. PHib. 1.29.21 (iii B.C.); ἀποδίδοσθαι ὑπὸ κήρυκι Ammon. Diff. p.81 V. (v.l. ὑπὸ κήρυκα Ptol.Asc.p.399 H.).

4. generally, messenger, herald, θεοὶ κήρυκες ἀγγέλλουσι S. OC 1511, cf. E. El. 347; of the cock, Ar. Ec. 30; of writing, Id. Th. 780 (anap.); κ. καὶ τάφος εἰμὶ βροτοῦ IG 14.1618; of Homer, ἡρώων κάρυκ’ ἀρετᾶς ib.1188: metaph., κ. καὶ ἀπόστολος 1 Ep.Ti. 2.7, al.

II. trumpet-shell, e.g. Triton nodiferum, and smaller species, Arist. HA 528a10, al., Hp. Vict. 2.48, Diocl.Fr. 133, Macho ap.Ath. 8.349c, Gal. 4.670, Alciphr. 1.7, Alex. Trall.3.7. [υ exc. acc. pl. κήρυκας Antim. 19 (s.v.l.), cf. κηρυκιον AP 11.124 (Nicarch.): but accented κῆρυξ, Hdn.Gr.1.44, etc.] (Cf. Skt. kārús 'poet', kīrtis 'fame'.)