ἀρτέμων
artémōn
G736 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A sail affixed towards the front of a ship, specifically a foresail or headsail, which aids in maneuvering or maintaining a vessel’s course, particularly in adverse wind conditions. In ancient usage, especially in Hellenistic and Roman maritime contexts, refers to a particular sail used for steering and balancing a ship, often during storms or for controlled navigation; may sometimes refer in general to a large operational sail positioned forward of the mainmast.
Semantic Range
foresail, headsail, sail at the prow, maneuvering sail, (by extension) large forward sail of a ship
Root / Etymology
Derived from a term possibly related to ἄρτι ('ready, suitable'), or less certainly linked to αἴρω ('to lift, to raise'). The precise formation is uncertain but reflects nautical terminology for a functional sail. The word may be influenced by or adapted from pre-Greek seafaring vocabulary.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested in Greek maritime literature and papyri; ἀρτέμων specifically denotes a type of sail distinct from the main square sail, corresponding more closely to a foresail or 'jib' in later nautical terms, rather than the 'mainsail' of English translation tradition. In Acts 27:40, the term appears in the context of ancient Mediterranean navigation, where releasing the ἀρτέμων would enable finer steering as the ship approached shore. Standard English translations have often rendered the word as 'mainsail' or simply 'sail,' but this masks the technical specificity of the term within Greco-Roman naval practice. Unlike later terms such as ἱστίον (general 'sail'), ἀρτέμων implies a distinct role and placement. It reflects the sophistication of Hellenistic and Roman seafaring technology, where multiple sails served different functions.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a derivative of ἄρτι; properly, something ready (or else more remotely from αἴρω (compare ἄρτος); something hung up), i.e. (specially) the topsail (rather foresail or jib) of a vessel:--mainsail.
Root Family
ἀρτέμων (artemōn) — foresail, headsail, maneuvering sail, forward sail of a ship
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G736-01 |
ἀρτέμωνα | artemona | N ACC M SG |
foresail | foresail | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G736-01 |
Acts 27:40 | ἀρτέμωνα | artemona | N ACC M SG |
foresail | foresail |