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

See Examples For:

xoanon xoana

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 G. W. (George Wicker) Elderkin

Here was the precinct containing two temples of Dionysus, in the older of which was the xoanon 132 brought from Eleutherae by Pegasus.

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

According to the old plan, Pausanias found the paintings in the western chamber of the διπλοὑν οἱκημα, that is, between them and the wall against which stood the xoanon, was a chamber.

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

A possible interpretation is that the painting was in the cella of Athena on the wall behind the xoanon, but the paintings of the Butadae were in the first room which Pausanias entered.

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

Pausanias' use of the plural in τεταγμέναις ημέραις is excellent authority that the temple of the xoanon was opened at least on more than one day of every year.

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

Wood was often, if not exclusively, used for the earliest Greek temple-images, those rude xoana, of which many survived into the historical period, to be regarded with peculiar veneration.

From A History of Greek Art by Frank Bigelow Tarbell