Amphictyony is a term that is not frequently used in everyday language, but it has a rich history and a specific meaning in certain contexts. In this article, we will explore the definition and meaning of amphictyony, its origin, and its associations.
Definitions
Amphictyony is a term that refers to a league or confederacy of ancient Greek tribes that shared a common religious center. In this context, the term is often used to describe the organization of the Delphic Amphictyony, which was a religious association of twelve ancient Greek tribes that shared the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi.
In a more general sense, amphictyony can also refer to any league or confederacy of independent states or tribes that share a common interest, such as defense or trade.
Origin
The term amphictyony comes from the Greek word “amphiktionia,” which means “dwelling around.” The Delphic Amphictyony was established in the 7th century BCE, and it was one of several such associations that existed in ancient Greece.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, amphictyony is “a league or confederacy of ancient Greek tribes, especially the Delphic Amphictyony.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “a league or association of ancient Greek tribes, especially the Delphic Amphictyony.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “a group of ancient Greek tribes who shared a religious center.”
Associations
The most famous example of an amphictyony is the Delphic Amphictyony, which was established in the 7th century BCE and lasted until the 4th century CE. The Delphic Amphictyony was a religious association of twelve ancient Greek tribes that shared the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. The members of the amphictyony were responsible for the maintenance of the sanctuary and the organization of the Pythian Games, which were held every four years in honor of Apollo.
In a more general sense, amphictyony can refer to any league or confederacy of independent states or tribes that share a common interest. For example, the League of Corinth was a confederacy of Greek city-states that was established in the 4th century BCE for the purpose of mutual defense and trade.
Synonyms
Some synonyms for amphictyony include confederacy, league, alliance, and federation.
Antonyms
Some antonyms for amphictyony include disunity, division, separation, and isolation.
The same root words
The root word of amphictyony is “amphi,” which means “around” or “on both sides.” Other words that share this root include amphibious, amphitheater, and amphora.
Example Sentences
- The Delphic Amphictyony was a religious association of twelve ancient Greek tribes.
- The League of Corinth was a confederacy of Greek city-states that was established for mutual defense and trade.
- The amphictyony of independent states was formed to promote trade and economic cooperation.