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χέλυς

χέλυς, a tortoise

χέλυς, ῠος, ἡ,
  • tortoise, h.Merc. 33.
      • 2 lyre (since Hermes made the first lyre by stretching strings on a tortoiseʼs shell, which acted as a sounding-board), ib. 25, 153, Sapph. 45, A. Fr. 314; καθʼ ἑπτάτονον ὀρείαν χ. E. Alc. 448 (lyr.), cf. HF 683 (lyr.).
      • 3 the constellation Lyra, Arat. 268.
    • II arched breast, chest, from its likeness of shape to the back of a tortoise, Hp. Anat. 1, E. El. 837; cf. χελώνιον II. [ῡ in nom. and acc. sg., h.Merc. 33, 153; later ῠ, Call. Ap. 16, Arat. 268, Opp. H. 5.404.] (Cf. OSlav. žely ‘tortoise’.)

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