Dictionary

dromos en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈdɹɑˌmɑs/ (General-American)
• /ˈdɹɒˌmɒs/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek δρόμος (drómos, “running; racetrack”).

Meanings

1. (historical) An avenue, especially in Ancient Greece.
2. (historical) A walkway to a building, (especially) a ceremonial walkway to a temple or tomb in Ancient Greece or Egypt.
   • On the 20th [of December, 1828] they remained an hour at Oudi-Essebours or the Valley of Lions, thus named from the Sphinxes which ornament the dromos of a monument constructed under the reign of Sesostris, but a mere provincial edifice, built of stone cemented with mortar. 1829 April 23, “Champollion’s Egyptian Expedition”, in The Gentleman's Magazine, page 351:
   • The grave chambers are usually quadrangular, with stone walls, roofs formed by projecting stones, and doors which were walled up. There is no dromos. 1904, “Thera: An Early Necropolis”, in American Journal of Archaeology, volume VIII, page 108:
   • In Lower Egypt : Busiris (Ruins near el Bahbeyt) ; Heliopolis or On [near Matarieh], only an obelisk still extant ; Tanis (San), a dromos of granite columns ; Sais [Sa el Haggar], considerable ruins, particularly of the Necropolis ; Taposiris [Abusir]. 1847, Karl Otfried Müller, “Egyptian Art”, in John Leitch, transl., Ancient Art and Its Remains; Or, A Manual of the Archæology of Art, new edition, London: A. Fullarton and Co., translation of Handbuch der Archäologie der Kunst (in German), published 1850, page 216:
3. (historical) A racecourse, especially in Ancient Greece.

Forms

Relateds

-drome · drome