ἀθάνατος

See also: αθάνατος

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From ᾰ̓- (ă-, “un-”) +‎ θᾰ́νᾰτος (thắnătos, “dying”).

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /aː.tʰá.na.tos/ → /aˈθa.na.tos/ → /aˈθa.na.tos/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /aː.tʰá.na.tos/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /aˈtʰa.na.tos/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /aˈθa.na.tos/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /aˈθa.na.tos/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /aˈθa.na.tos/

The first alpha is etymologically expected to be short, but it always scans long in poetry because poetic meter does not allow three light syllables in a row.

Sense 4, referring to certain soldiers in Achaemenid Persia, has an uncertain origin. One suggestion claimed that "Immortals" were named by the ancient Greeks because wounded soldiers were quickly replaced, while another claimed that it was because Greek informants confused Old Persian *anauša- (“immortal, without death”) with Old Persian *anūšiya- (“companion, royal bodyguard”).

Adjective

ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτος • (āthắnătos) m (feminine ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτος or ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τη, neuter ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον); first/second declension

1. undying, immortal

   Synonyms: ἄμβροτος (ámbrotos), ἄφθῐτος (áphthĭtos)

   Antonyms: βρότειος (bróteios), βροτός (brotós), θνητός (thnētós), μορτός (mortós)

   • 630 BCE – 570 BCE, Sappho, Collected Works 1.14:

     Σὺ δ’, ὦ μάκαιρα, μειδιάσαισ’ ἀθανάτῳ προσώπῳ ἤρε’ ὄττι δηὖτε πέπονθα.

     Sù d’, ô mákaira, meidiásais’ athanátōi prosṓpōi ḗre’ ótti dēûte pépontha.

     And you, blessed Lady, with a smile on your immortal face, asked what bothered me again.

2. everlasting, perpetual
   • 409 BCE, Sophocles, Philoctetes 1420:

     Ἀθάνατον ἀρετὴν ἔσχον, ὡς πάρεσθ’ ὁρᾶν.

     Athánaton aretḕn éskhon, hōs páresth’ horân.

     I have won deathless glory, as you witness.

3. maintained at a constant figure
4. A member of an elite regiment of the Persian army.

Declension

First and second declension of ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτος; ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τη; ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον (Attic)

Number		Singular				Dual				Plural
Case/Gender		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτος āthắnătos	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τη āthănắtē	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τᾱ āthănắtā	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτοι āthắnătoi	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰται āthắnătai	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτᾰ āthắnătă
Genitive		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́του āthănắtou	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́της āthănắtēs	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́του āthănắtou		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιν āthănắtoin	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́ταιν āthănắtain	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιν āthănắtoin		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́των āthănắtōn	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́των āthănắtōn	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́των āthănắtōn
Dative		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τῳ āthănắtōi	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τῃ āthănắtēi	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τῳ āthănắtōi		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιν āthănắtoin	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́ταιν āthănắtain	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιν āthănắtoin		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοις āthănắtois	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́ταις āthănắtais	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοις āthănắtois
Accusative		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́την āthănắtēn	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τᾱ āthănắtā	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τους āthănắtous	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τᾱς āthănắtās	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτᾰ āthắnătă
Vocative		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτε āthắnăte	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τη āthănắtē	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τᾱ āthănắtā	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτοι āthắnătoi	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰται āthắnătai	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτᾰ āthắnătă
Derived forms		Adverb				Comparative				Superlative
		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τως āthănắtōs				ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰτώτερος āthănătṓteros				ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰτώτᾰτος āthănătṓtătos
Notes:		This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.

First and second declension of ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτος; ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τη; ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον (Epic)

Number		Singular				Dual				Plural
Case/Gender		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτος āthắnătos	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τη āthănắtē	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τᾱ āthănắtā	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτοι āthắnătoi	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰται āthắnătai	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτᾰ āthắnătă
Genitive		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιο ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοο ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́του āthănắtoio āthănắtoo āthănắtou	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́της āthănắtēs	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιο ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοο ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́του āthănắtoio āthănắtoo āthănắtou		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιῐ̈ν āthănắtoiĭ̈n	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́ταιῐ̈ν āthănắtaiĭ̈n	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιῐ̈ν āthănắtoiĭ̈n		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́των āthănắtōn	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰτᾱ́ων ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰτέων ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰτῶν āthănătā́ōn āthănătéōn āthănătôn	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́των āthănắtōn
Dative		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τῳ āthănắtōi	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τῃ āthănắtēi	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τῳ āthănắtōi		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιῐ̈ν āthănắtoiĭ̈n	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́ταιῐ̈ν āthănắtaiĭ̈n	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιῐ̈ν āthănắtoiĭ̈n		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοισῐ ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοισῐν ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοις āthănắtoisĭ(n) āthănắtois	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τῃσῐ ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τῃσῐν ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τῃς ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́ταις āthănắtēisĭ(n) āthănắtēis āthănắtais	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοισῐ ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοισῐν ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοις āthănắtoisĭ(n) āthănắtois
Accusative		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́την āthănắtēn	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τᾱ āthănắtā	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τους āthănắtous	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τᾱς āthănắtās	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτᾰ āthắnătă
Vocative		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτε āthắnăte	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τη āthănắtē	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τᾱ āthănắtā	ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτοι āthắnătoi	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰται āthắnătai	ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτᾰ āthắnătă
Derived forms		Adverb				Comparative				Superlative
		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τως āthănắtōs				ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰτώτερος āthănătṓteros				ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰτώτᾰτος āthănătṓtătos
Notes:		Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms may be based on conjecture. Use with caution.

Second declension of ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτος; ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον (Attic)

Number		Singular				Dual				Plural
Case/Gender		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτος āthắnătos		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτοι āthắnătoi		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτᾰ āthắnătă
Genitive		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́του āthănắtou		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́του āthănắtou		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιν āthănắtoin		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιν āthănắtoin		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́των āthănắtōn		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́των āthănắtōn
Dative		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τῳ āthănắtōi		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τῳ āthănắtōi		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιν āthănắtoin		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιν āthănắtoin		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοις āthănắtois		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοις āthănắtois
Accusative		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τους āthănắtous		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτᾰ āthắnătă
Vocative		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτε āthắnăte		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτοι āthắnătoi		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτᾰ āthắnătă
Derived forms		Adverb				Comparative				Superlative
		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τως āthănắtōs				ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰτώτερος āthănătṓteros				ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰτώτᾰτος āthănătṓtătos
Notes:		This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.

Second declension of ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτος; ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον (Epic)

Number		Singular				Dual				Plural
Case/Gender		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτος āthắnătos		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτοι āthắnătoi		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτᾰ āthắnătă
Genitive		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιο ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοο ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́του āthănắtoio āthănắtoo āthănắtou		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιο ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοο ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́του āthănắtoio āthănắtoo āthănắtou		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιῐ̈ν āthănắtoiĭ̈n		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιῐ̈ν āthănắtoiĭ̈n		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́των āthănắtōn		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́των āthănắtōn
Dative		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τῳ āthănắtōi		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τῳ āthănắtōi		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιῐ̈ν āthănắtoiĭ̈n		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοιῐ̈ν āthănắtoiĭ̈n		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοισῐ ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοισῐν ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοις āthănắtoisĭ(n) āthănắtois		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοισῐ ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοισῐν ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τοις āthănắtoisĭ(n) āthănắtois
Accusative		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τους āthănắtous		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτᾰ āthắnătă
Vocative		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτε āthắnăte		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτον āthắnăton		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τω āthănắtō		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτοι āthắnătoi		ᾱ̓θᾰ́νᾰτᾰ āthắnătă
Derived forms		Adverb				Comparative				Superlative
		ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́τως āthănắtōs				ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰτώτερος āthănătṓteros				ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰτώτᾰτος āthănătṓtătos
Notes:		Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms may be based on conjecture. Use with caution.

Related terms

• ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰσῐ́ᾱ (āthănăsĭ́ā)
• ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰτῐ́ζω (āthănătĭ́zō)
• ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰτῐσμός (āthănătĭsmós)
• ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰτόω (āthănătóō)

Descendants

• αθάνατος (athánatos)

(Persian soldier)

• → English: immortal (calque)

Noun

ἀθάνατος • (athánatos) m (genitive ᾱ̓θᾰνᾰ́του); second declension

1. the rose campion (Silene coronaria, syn. Lychnis coronaria)

References

• “ἀθάνατος”, in Liddell & Scott (1940), A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “ἀθάνατος”, in Liddell & Scott (1889), An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “ἀθάνατος”, in Autenrieth, Georg (1891), A Homeric Dictionary for Schools and Colleges, New York: Harper and Brothers
• ἀθάνατος in Bailly, Anatole (1935), Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
• ἀθάνατος in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924), A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963
• ἀθάνατος in the Diccionario Griego–Español en línea (2006–2026)
• “ἀθάνατος”, in Slater, William J. (1969), Lexicon to Pindar, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter
• Woodhouse, S. C. (1910), English–Greek Dictionary: A Vocabulary of the Attic Language‎^[1], London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Limited.
  • ageless idem, page 18.
  • deathless idem, page 198.
  • eternal idem, page 284.
  • everlasting idem, page 285.
  • immortal idem, page 418.
  • imperishable idem, page 420.
  • incorruptible idem, page 430.
  • undying idem, page 916.
  • unfading idem, page 917.