Hello everyone,
I’m currently reading a novel set in Ptolemaïc Alexandria titled Aphrodite. Moeurs antiques by Pierre Louÿs. The novel, written in French, incorporates a few Greek words and phrases, and I’ve encountered a Greek abbreviation that has piqued my curiosity.
Here’s the context: In the story, this text is inscribed at the entrance of the houses of courtesans, situated near the temple of Aphrodite. The passage introducing it reads:
… and above it the name of the courtesan was written with the initials of the usual phrase: Ω.Ξ.Ε Κοχλισ Π.Π.Π
What could this abbreviation possibly mean in this context? I tried to Google it, but the only results I could find were online versions of the book by Pierre Louÿs… Perhaps it wasn’t such a “usual phrase,” or Louÿs invented it for his novel? Is it possible for to guess its meaning?
My interpretation so far:
Ω.Ξ.Ε seems to be an abbreviation for something like “Ὦ ξένε, εἴσελθε” (Oh stranger, come in), which appears fitting given its location.
“Κοχλισ” should refer to the name of the courtesan, as indicated in the text. (There is also a woman named Κοχλισ in one of Lucian’s Dialogues of the Courtesans, a text which must have been familiar to Louÿs since he had translated these dialogues into French.)
Π.Π.Π remains a mystery to me. I’m left to guess it might mean something like “πληροῖ πάντας τοὺς πόθους” (I don’t know if the “τοὺς” is necessary here?), meaning “she fulfills all desires,” but there could be better interpretations.
I’m eager to hear your thoughts and insights on this matter. Has anyone come across any evidence for the existence of such abbreviations? Any guidance you can offer in deciphering this so-called “usual phrase” would be greatly appreciated.