Classical Greek

1. The original meaning, following etymology, in classical texts this means "incision," "notch," or "groove," (Theophrastus

Theophrastus

Theophrastus , a Greek native of Eresos in Lesbos, was the successor to Aristotle in the Peripatetic school. He came to Athens at a young age, and initially studied in Plato's school. After Plato's death he attached himself to Aristotle. Aristotle bequeathed to Theophrastus his writings, and...

 The Hippocratic treatises 4.8.10, and Symmachus

Symmachus the Ebionite

Symmachus was the author of one of the Greek versions of the Old Testament. It was included by Origen in his Hexapla and Tetrapla, which compared various versions of the Old Testament side by side with the Septuagint...

 Sm.Je.31 (48).37). Whereas aneu katatomes (ἄνευ κατατομῆς) means "uncarved," "smooth," (Inscriptiones Graecae

Inscriptiones Graecae

The Inscriptiones Graecae , is an academic project originally begun by the Prussian Academy of Science, and today continued by its successor organisation, the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften...

IG12.372.134, cf. 373.231). The plural, "notches," is found in Artemidorus

Artemidorus

Artemidorus Daldianus or Ephesius was a professional diviner who lived in the 2nd century. He is known from an extant five-volume Greek work the Oneirocritica, .-Life and work:...

 (1.67). and "written in the incision of the rock" (ἐπέγραψεν ἐπὶ τὴν κατατομήν τῆς πέτρας) Philochorus

Philochorus

Philochorus, of Athens, Greek historian during the 3rd century BC, , was a member of a priestly family. He was a seer and interpreter of signs, and a man of considerable influence....

 Historicus 4th C. BCE (138)

2. By extension it also came to mean an architectural "incision", "nook" in a theatre, in Hyperides, perhaps the same as the orchestra (ὀρχήστρα) or diazoma (διάζωμα), (Anecdota Graeca AB270., cf. Photius Lexicographus, 9thC AD). Demosthenes placed himself beneath the katatome which suggests he may have been barred from speaking to any citizen from another phyle

Phyle

Phyle is an ancient Greek term for clan or tribe. They were usually ruled by a basileus...

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3. A later meaning is katagraphe καταγραφή, "profile," according to Hesychius

Hesychius of Alexandria

Hesychius of Alexandria , a grammarian who flourished probably in the 5th century CE, compiled the richest lexicon of unusual and obscure Greek words that has survived...

 Lexicographus 5th C. AD.

New Testament

It is the Greek word translated "beware of the concision," in Philippians 3:2, KJV. The term "mutilation" is contrasted with "we are the circumcision (περιτομή peritomē), which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." The context is the Circumcision controversy in early Christianity

Circumcision controversy in early Christianity

There is evidence of a controversy over religious male circumcision in Early Christianity. A Council of Jerusalem, possibly held in approximately 50 AD, decreed that male circumcision was not a requirement for Gentile converts. This became known as the "Apostolic Decree" and may be one of the...

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