- σπεῖρα
- σπεῖρα (Trag.+), ης (this form of the gen. in ins [OGI index VIII p. 704a]; BGU 462, 5 [150–56 A.D.]; 142, 10 [159 A.D.]; 26, 12; CPR I, 18, 1; POxy 477, 3 al.; B-D-F §43, 1; Mlt-H. 117f; Mayser 12, 4), ἡ a military t.t. (Polyb. et al.; ins, pap; 2 Macc 8:23; 12:20; Jdth 14:11; Jos., Bell. 2, 318, Vi. 214). This is the Gk. word used to transl. the Lat. cohors (Polyb. 11, 23, 1; ins, pap [cp. Sb, word-list 10 p. 345; OGI, loc. cit.]; also as loanw. in the Mishnah: SKrauss, Griech. u. lat. Lehnwörter im Talmud II 1899, 408; 497), but also Lat. manipulus (Polyb. 6, 24, 5; cp. 2, 3, 2; 3, 115, 12 al.; Dionys. Hal. 5, 42, 2; Strabo 12, 3, 18). In our lit. prob. always cohort, the tenth part of a legion (the σπ. thus normally had 600 men, but the number varied; s. Jos., Bell. 3, 67). Mt 27:27; Mk 15:16; J 18:3, 12; Ac 21:31. On σπεῖρα ἡ καλουμένη Ἰταλική 10:1 s. Ἰταλικός, on σπεῖρα σεβαστή 27:1 s. σεβαστός and the lit. there. On the whole word s. Schürer I 363–65 and the lit. s.v. ἑκατοντάρχης; cp. Hemer, Acts 132f; Boffo, Iscrizioni 295–96 (lit.).—DELG. M-M.
Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά παλαιοχριστιανική Λογοτεχνία. 2015.