Greek word needed for "levelling device"

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Anthony Appleyard
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Greek word needed for "levelling device"

Post by Anthony Appleyard »

Greek word needed for "level" in the sense of "level-finding device" (Latin "norma"). See at

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levelling ... nstruments

polemistes
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Re: Greek word needed for "levelling device"

Post by polemistes »

Perhaps κανών is what you are after? You can see the dictionary definitions here:

http://logeion.uchicago.edu/index.html#κανών

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jeidsath
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Re: Greek word needed for "levelling device"

Post by jeidsath »

Isn't a norma a square for carpentry? The wikipedia article seems to be talking about levels for surveying, as distinct from carpentry? So a plumb-line (ἀλφάριον or a ἀστρᾰβιστήρ) is probably not what you are looking for. According to the LSJ, "prop. στάθμη was the line rubbed with chalk or red ochre, being distd. from the rule (κανών) by Pl.Phlb.56c." So that appears to be ground leveling. The σταφύλη is the plummet of a level (carpentry).

For surveying: χωροβάτης (and χωροβατέω)
“One might get one’s Greek from the very lips of Homer and Plato." "In which case they would certainly plough you for the Little-go. The German scholars have improved Greek so much.”

Joel Eidsath -- jeidsath@gmail.com

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Anthony Appleyard
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Re: Greek word needed for "levelling device"

Post by Anthony Appleyard »

In Modern Greek the constellation of Norma is called Γνώμων .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norma_(constellation)

According to Wikipedia, in Modern Greek the constellation of Circinus (the Compasses)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circinus

is called Διαβήτης !! something that my neighbor has, and I am thankful that I am free of it.

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bedwere
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Re: Greek word needed for "levelling device"

Post by bedwere »

Is there anybody interested in translating Imaginum Vocabularium Latinum into Greek?

Sigrides Albert
Imaginum Vocabularium Latinum
Secunda editio aucta.
Saraviponti 2009
ISBN 978-3-923587-55-4
http://www.voxlatina.uni-saarland.de/

Once we have permission from the author (I can write to ask) for it, we can make translations for each page here on Textkit. Our work is going to be under the Creative Commons license. It would be nice if the author granted the use of the images.
Otherwise, you'll have to buy the Latin book (which you should) to use our Greek version.

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ἑκηβόλος
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Re: Greek word needed for "levelling device"

Post by ἑκηβόλος »

διόπτρα for sighting and χωροβάτης / χωροβατέω for distance + trigonometry of similar (proportional) triangles. v. Hero of Alexandria, On the Dioptra.

[cf. ἀστρολάβος for more accurate measurement of angles.]
τί δὲ ἀγαθὸν τῇ πομφόλυγι συνεστώσῃ ἢ κακὸν διαλυθείσῃ;

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