Labrys

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An ornamented golden Minoan double axe, often spuriously called a labrys

Bronze Age axe from the tholos tombs of Messara in Crete

Coinage of Idrieus of Caria, Obv: Head of Apollo, wearing laurel wreath, drapery at neck; Rev: legend ΙΔΡΙΕΩΣ ("IDRIEOS"), Zeus Labraundos standing with labrys in his right hand, c. 351–50 to 344–43 BCE ^[1]

Labrys (Greek: λάβρυς, romanized: lábrus) is, according to Plutarch (Quaestiones Graecae 2.302a), the Lydian word for the double-bitted axe. (in Greek it was called πέλεκυς, pélekus). The Ancient Greek plural of labrys is labryes (λάβρυες).

Etymology[]

Plutarch relates that the word labrys was a Lydian word for 'axe': Λυδοὶ γὰρ ‘λάβρυν’ τὸν πέλεκυν ὀνομάζουσι.^[a][2] Many scholars including Evans assert that the word labyrinth is derived from labrys and thus, would imply 'house of the double axe'.^[3] A priestly corporation in Delphi was named Labyades. The original name was probably Labryades, servants of the double axe. In Roman times at Patrai and Messene, a goddess Laphria was worshipped, commonly identified with Artemis. Her name was said to be derived from the region around Delphi.^[4][5]

In Crete the "double axe" is not a weapon, however, and it always accompanies women, not a male god.^[6] Beekes regards the relation of labyrinth with labrys as speculative, and rather proposes a relation with laura (λαύρα), 'narrow street', or to the Carian theonym Dabraundos (Δαβραυνδος).^[7]

It is also possible that the word labyrinth is derived from the Egyptian, meaning: "the temple at the entrance of the lake”. The Egyptian labyrinth near Lake Moeris is described by Herodotus and Strabo.^[8] The inscription in Linear B, on tablet ΚΝ Gg 702, reads