πύρφορος

A. fire-bearing, esp. of lightning, π. κεραυνός Pi. N. 10.71, A. Th. 444, S. OC 1658; ἀστραπαί Id. OT 200 (lyr.); Διὸς ἔγχος Ar. Av. 1749 (lyr.); πυρφόρος αἰθέρος ἀστήρ Id. Th. 1050 (lyr.).

b. π. οἰστοί arrows with combustibles tied to them, so that they may set fire to woodwork, Th. 2.75, Arr. An. 2.21.3; τοῖς μὲν π . . . τοῖς δ’ ἄλλοις βέλεσι D.S. 20.96; οἱ π. ibid.; πυρφόρα,τά, ib. 88; πυρφόρος,ὁ, engine for throwing fire, fire-dart, Plb. 21.7.1 (dub.), Jul. Or. 2.62d.

II. in special senses,

1. epith. of several divinities, as of Zeus in reference to his lightnings, S. Ph. 1198 (anap.); of Demeter, prob. in reference to the torches used by her worshippers, E. Supp. 260; similarly π. θεαί of Demeter and Persephone, IG 4.666.9 (Lerna), E. Ph. 687 (lyr.); π. Ἀρτέμιδος αἴγλας S. OT 206 (lyr.); Προμηθεὺς π. the Fire-bringer, title of a satyric play of A., cf.S. OC 55; also of Capaneus, A. Th. 432, S. Ant. 135 (lyr.); of Eros, AP 5.87 (Rufin.); but, θεὸς π. the fire-bearing god, the god who produces plague or fever, S. OT 27.

2. bearer of sacred fire in the worship of Asclepius, Ἀσκληπιοῦ δμῶα π. IG 3.693; of the Syrian Goddess, Luc. Syr.D. 42.

b. πυρφόρος,ὁ, in the Spartan army, the priest who kept the sacrificial fire, which was never allowed to go out, X. Lac. 13.2: hence prov. of a total defeat, ἔδει δὲ μηδὲ πυρφόρον . . περιγενέσθαι Hdt. 8.6, cf. D.C. 39.45; οὐκ ἔσται π. (v.l. πυροφόρος)τῷ οἴκῳ Ἠσαύ LXX Ob. 18.

3. π. ἡ ἐκ Δελφῶν bearer of sacred fire from Delphi, SIG 711 D 22 (ii B.C.), cf. 728 I (i B.C.); Φοίβου πυρφόροι IG 4.666.15 (Lerna); also in a Bacchic thiasos, AJA 37.253 (Latium, ii A.D.).