xoanon

American  

[zoh-uh-non] / ˈzoʊ əˌnɒn /

noun

Greek Antiquity.

xoana plural

1. a simple, carved image, especially one in which the original block of stone or wood is readily apparent.

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xoanon British  

/ ˈzəʊəˌnɒn /

noun

1. a primitive image of a god, carved, esp originally, in wood, and supposed to have fallen from heaven

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• xoana
  plural

Etymology

Origin of xoanon

1700–10; < Greek xóanon carved image; akin to xeîn to scrape, carve

Example Sentences

The eastern door of the Erechtheum was not the normal, not the intended entrance to the cella of Athena, but served as the traditional eastern entrance toward which the xoanon faced.

From Problems in Periclean Buildings by Elderkin, G. W. (George Wicker)

Those who believe that Pausanias saw the xoanon of Athena in the Hekatompedon are also compelled to make Pausanias double on his course and furthermore to strain the meaning of συνεχἡσ.

From Problems in Periclean Buildings by Elderkin, G. W. (George Wicker)

Furthermore, position was determined by reference to the xoanon.

From Problems in Periclean Buildings by Elderkin, G. W. (George Wicker)

The image borne in procession was clearly the xoanon which was brought by Pegasus from Eleutherae.

From The American Journal of Archaeology, 1893-1 by Various