Acanthus

Acanthus

Acanthus (plural: "acanthus", rarely "acanthuses" (English) or "acanthi" (Latin), or feminine form - acantha) is the Latinized form of the Greek Acanthos or Akanthos. It can also be used as the prefix Acantho-, meaning 'thorny'. It may refer to:

Botany

* "Acanthus (genus)", in botany, is both a common name and a genus of flowering plant
* Acantho, as a prefix, is used in botany for spiny-fruited (Acanthocarpous) or spiny-branched (Acanthocladous).
* Acanthus (ornament), form in architecture and in leather carving derived from the acanthus plant.
* The Acanthus is believed by some highly respected theological scholars to be the plant used by Roman soldiers to make the crown which was placed on the head of Jesus Christ when they mocked him by giving him a crown, scepter, and crown of Acanthus leaves. The Greek word for "thorn" and "acanthus" have the same genitive plural (akanthon), which is the word used in the Gospel of Matthew. As shown elsewhere here, the Acanthus is indigenous to the Mediterranean, and it was an iconic symbol of classical Greek architecture. Crowns during that time and region were made of wreaths or diadems.

Cities

* Acanthus, Ontario
* Acanthus (Greece), the name of an ancient Greek city of the Chalcidice
* Acanthus (Egypt), an ancient city of Egypt

Individuals

* Acanthus or Acantha was a Greek mythological figure (possibly a nymph) associated with the acanthus plant.
* Acanthus (Spartan) was a Spartan athlete
* 'Acanthus' was the pen-name of the cartoonist Dr Harold Frank Hoar

Fiction

*Acanthus are a fictional path of enchanters, magicians and witches in White Wolf's RPG.


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  • Acanthus — L. (Bärenklau), Gattung der Akanthazeen, hohe Kräuter oder Sträucher mit meist großen, buchtig ausgerandeten und mehr oder weniger stachelig gezahnten Blättern und ansehnlichen, in endständige Ähren gestellten Blüten mit großen und stachelig… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Acanthus — A*can thus, n.; pl. E. {Acanthuses}, L. {Acanthi}. [L., from Gr. ?. Cf. {Acantha}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Bot.) A genus of herbaceous prickly plants, found in the south of Europe, Asia Minor, and India; bear s breech. [1913 Webster] 2. (Arch.) An… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • acanthus — [ə kan′thəs] n. pl. acanthuses or acanthi [ə kan′thī΄, ə kan′thē΄] [ModL < L < Gr akanthos: see ACANTHO ] 1. any of a genus (Acanthus) of thistlelike plants of the acanthus family with lobed, often spiny leaves and long spikes of white or… …   English World dictionary

  • acanthus — (n.) 1660s, from L. acanthus, from Gk. akanthos, from ake point, thorn (see ACRID (Cf. acrid)) + anthos flower (see ANTHER (Cf. anther)). So called for its large spiny leaves. A conventionalized form of the leaf is used in Corinthian capitals …   Etymology dictionary

  • acanthus — ► NOUN 1) a plant or shrub with bold flower spikes and spiny decorative leaves. 2) Architecture a representation of an acanthus leaf. ORIGIN Greek akanthos, from akantha thorn …   English terms dictionary

  • Acanthus — (A. L.), Pflanzengattung aus der natürl. Familie der Acanthaceae Acantheae, Didynamic, Angiospermi L.; Kelch vierblätterig, das obere helmartig, das untere zweispaltig; Blumenkrone einlippig, dreispaltig; die unteren Staubfäden Sförmig; die… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Acanthus — L., Bärenklau, Pflanzengattg. der Akanthazeen; A. mollis L. [Abb.] und A. spinōsus L., stattliche staudenartige Pflanzen (Mittelmeergegenden), schon bei den alten Griechen und Römern Zierpflanzen; ihre großen buchtig fiederspaltigen Blätter… …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Acanthus — Acanthus. Bärenklau (Dydynamia Angiospermia. Acanthaceae.) A. mollis u. spinosus sind die zwei bekanntesten Arten, welche als ausdauernde Rabattenpflanzen gezogen werden, und ihre röthlichweißen zweilippigen Blumen im Sommer öffnen. Von dem A.… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • Acanthus — • A titular see of Macedonia, on the Strymonic Gulf, now known as Erisso • An ornamental plant indigenous to middle Europe Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Acanthus —   Acanthus …   Wikipedia Español

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