What is the word for truth and its meaning in Koine Greek?
Last Updated: 18.06.2025 00:17
The word has remained the same into Modern Greek
a couple of points:
The root verb is λανθάνω/lanthano=to escape notice/to make one forget/to lay hidden
as a result Alitheia, the Goddess of Truth, was always depicted as a naked, unassuming and plain looking woman. The Latin equivalent was nuda Veritas. Truth has nothing to hide and didn’t need all the adornments of the other gods.
αλὴθεια / Alithea.
Nuda Veritas is the derivation of the term “Naked Truth”.
the word is composed of the privative prefix α- and λήθη/lethe which means “forgetfulness/stupor”. So the αλήθεια means “without fault/stupor/hiding”
There is absolutely no relation to λίθος/lithos=stone. Notice the η vs ι.
The Greek word for thief/robber/pirate is ληστής/listis which is derived from λανθάνω as well
A similarly derived word is ληθαργία/lethargia=toiling under forgetfulness/stupor….lethargy.
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