Bible Lexicons

δρόμος in NT keeps the older sense as nomen actionis, = τὸ δραμεῖν. For this cf. Wünsch AF 3.13 (Carthage, imperial), where rivals in a race are vigorously cursed—κατάδησον αὐτῶν τὰ σκέλη καὶ τὴν ὁρμὴν καὶ τὸ πήδημα καὶ τὸν δρόμον. So of the sun and moon, P Leid Wxiii. 29 (ii/iii A.D.) δρόμους ἔχειν τακτούς. In Egypt it had become specialized to denote a place where running might no doubt take place, though the possibility is no more remembered than in some of our modern -drome compounds. See Wilcken Ostr. i. p. 771, Dittenberger on OGIS 178.11, and Otto Priester i. p. 284. It was the area in front of the entrance to a temple, paved with stones—cf. P Flor I. 50.97 (A.D. 268) ἐπὶ τοῦ λιθοστρώτου δρόμου Ἑρμοῦ —and often adorned with Sphinxes : it often became a central point in the business life of the city : see Strabo 17, p. 805, 28 cited ad P Hamb I. 5.18. BGU IV. 1130.10 (B.C. 4) ὧν [γείτον ]ες νότωι δρόμος τοῦ ἱεροῦ Χ [νο ]ύβεως θεοῦ μεγίστου will serve as an example. Hence the μέτρον δρομων came to denote such a measure as was customary on the δρόμοι. In their note on P Fay 16.8 (i/B.C.) GH describe δρό (μῳ) as ";the artaba of the largest capacity"; : see further the introd. to ib. 101 (B.C. 18) where we have in l..3 the full formula, (πυροῦ) δρό (μῳ) (ἀρτάβαι) γ ̄ (ἥμισυ) έ, ";3 .7/10 large artabae of wheat."; See also the note on P Tebt I. 61 (b ).386, and Archiv ii. p. 292 f. In MGr δρόμος = ";way,"; ";street,"; and this is practically what we have in P Par 15i. 16 (B.C. 120), where we read of a house ἥ ἐστιν ἐκ τοῦ ἀπὸ νότου καὶ λιβὸς τῆς Διοσπόλεως, ἀπὸ βορρᾶ τοῦ δρόμου τοῦ ἄγοντος ἐπὶ ποταμὸν τῆς μεγίστης θεᾶς Ἥρας, and in P Oxy VI. 911.13 (A.D. 233 or 265) of property situated ἐ ]π᾽ ἀμφόδου Δρόμου Θοήριδος, ";in the quarter of the Square of Thoëris"; (Edd.) . For δρόμος in connexion with racing contests see Vettius Valens p. 2.31 ὅθεν καὶ δρόμον ταῖς ἀθλήσεσι παρέχεται. In P Oxy VI. 900.7 (A.D. 322) τοῦ ὀξέος δρόμου the editors, following Wilcken, find a reference to the express postal service, and so probably in P Flor I. 39.7 (A.D. 396) etc. For Psa. 18꞉5 [MT Psalms 19:5], where δρόμος might have been very fitly used, we may compare the portentous ";impromptu"; (καίριον) which Q. Sulpicius Maximus perpetrated for his tomb, Kaibel 618.30 : μούνῳ σοὶ πυρόεντος ἐπειγομένῳ κύκλοιο ἀντολίη καὶ πᾶσα —καλὸς δρόμος —ἔπλετο δυσμή. The ";poet"; may well have borrowed his phrase from some predecessor less unworthy of being named with the Hebrew singer.