ἆθλος

ἆθλος, ὁ, contr. from Ep. and Ion. ἄεθλος, which alone is used by Hom. (except in Od. 8.160), and mostly by Hdt. and Pi.:—A. contest either in war or sport, esp. contest for a prize, Hom.; νικᾶν τοιῷδʼ ἐπʼ ἀέθλῳ (for the arms of Achilles) Od. 11.548; ἄεθλος πρόκειται a task is set one, Hdt. 1.126; ἐμοὶ μὲν οὗτος ἄ. ὑποκείσεται Pi. O. 1.84; ἄεθλον προτιθέναι to set it, Hdt. 7.197; ἆθλοι Πυθικοί, Δελφικοί, S. El. 49,682; toil, Pi. P. 4.165; of the labours of Heracles, D.S. 4.11, etc.: metaph., conflict, struggle, ordeal, Alc. 33, A. Pr. 702, 752, S. Ant. 856. II. = ἆθλον I, Theoc. 8.11sqq.—On the proper difference of ἆθλον and ἆθλος v. ἆθλον II. (For ἄϝεθλος, ἄϝεθλον, as in IG 5(2).75.)