ostrakon
RareAcademic, Historical, Archaeological, Technical
Definition
Meaning
A potsherd used in ancient Athens for voting in the procedure of ostracism.
More broadly, any fragment of pottery, especially one used for writing or drawing in ancient times, or as an archaeological artifact.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a term of classical history and archaeology. Its core meaning is tied to a specific historical political procedure. The extended sense refers to the physical object as an artifact, often inscribed. The plural is usually 'ostraka' or 'ostrakons'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is consistent. No significant usage difference.
Connotations
Identical academic/historical connotations.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, confined to specialist fields.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N (object): 'They discovered an ostrakon.'N of N: 'an ostrakon of Themistocles'Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Central term in studies of Athenian democracy and classical archaeology.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used by archaeologists and ancient historians to describe inscribed pottery fragments.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- An ostrakon is a piece of broken pot from long ago.
- Archaeologists found an ostrakon with a politician's name scratched on it.
- The discovery of a large cache of ostraka, all bearing the same name, suggested a coordinated effort to ostracise a prominent Athenian.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'OSTRICH ran and broke a pot, creating an OSTRACON to vote someone off.'
Conceptual Metaphor
A FRAGMENT IS A VOTE (the broken piece of pottery metaphorically becomes an instrument of political exclusion).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'остракизм' (ostracism) which is the abstract process; 'ostrakon' is the physical object used in that process.
- Not related to 'острая' (sharp) or 'кость' (bone).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'ostracon'.
- Using it as a synonym for any old piece of broken pottery without the historical/inscribed context.
- Pronouncing the 'k' as soft.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary context for the word 'ostrakon'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Ostracism is the political process of temporary exile. An ostrakon is the physical object (potsherd) used as a ballot in that process.
The most common plurals are 'ostraka' (following the original Greek) and 'ostrakons' (regular English plural).
Yes, inscribed pottery fragments (ostraka) are found at many archaeological sites in the Mediterranean, but they are most famous for their role in the Athenian practice of ostracism.
Almost never. It is a highly specialised term with no common metaphorical use in contemporary language.