στέμμα

στέμμα, ατος, τό, (στέφω) mostly in pl. (sg. in Il. 1.28, Ar. Pax 948), A. wreath, garland, chaplet, esp. of the priestʼs laurel-wreath, wound round a staff, στέμματʼ ἔχων ἐν χερσὶ . . χρυσέῳ ἀνὰ σκήπτρῳ Il. 1.14, 373; σκῆπτρον καὶ σ. θεοῖο ib.28, cf. E. Andr. 894; sts. worn on the head, σ. ἐπὶ τῶν κεφαλῶν ἐχούσας Pl. R. 617c; Φοῖβος ἔλακεν ἐκ τῶν σ. from shrine with chaplcts decked, Ar. Pl. 39, cf. E. Ion 1310, Th. 4.133; used in sacrificial ceremony, στέμμασι πυκασθείς (of victim) Hdt. 7.197, cf. SIG 1025.31 (Cos, iv/iii B.C.); σ. πάλας, as a prize, Epigr.Gr. 247 (Mysia); στέμματʼ Ὀλυμπιάδων ib.881 (Cyzicus), etc.; ὁ ἐπὶ τῶν στεμμάτων an official connected with the crowns of office of magistrates (cf. στεπτικός, στέφανος), PFay. 87i10 (ii A.D.), POxy. 2130.7 (iii A.D.), cf. PRyl. 77.28 (ii A.D.). 2. Sch.S. OT 3 says the στέμματα were wreaths of wool wound round the olive-branch; hence στέμματα ξήνασʼ E. Or. 12. II. in pl., στέμματα pedigrees, family trees, Plu. Num. 1; Lat. stemmata quid faciunt? Juv. 8.1, cf. Plin. HN 35.6. 2. guild, CIG 3995b (Iconium);= φυλή, ib.9897 (Smyrna, Jewish); ὑπὲρ φιλοκυνηγῶν τοῦ σ. guild of huntsmen, Supp.Epigr. 3.499 (Philippi).