What is the word for truth and its meaning in Koine Greek?
Last Updated: 29.06.2025 12:36
The root verb is λανθάνω/lanthano=to escape notice/to make one forget/to lay hidden
as a result Alitheia, the Goddess of Truth, was always depicted as a naked, unassuming and plain looking woman. The Latin equivalent was nuda Veritas. Truth has nothing to hide and didn’t need all the adornments of the other gods.
There is absolutely no relation to λίθος/lithos=stone. Notice the η vs ι.
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the word is composed of the privative prefix α- and λήθη/lethe which means “forgetfulness/stupor”. So the αλήθεια means “without fault/stupor/hiding”
A similarly derived word is ληθαργία/lethargia=toiling under forgetfulness/stupor….lethargy.
The word you are looking for is:
αλὴθεια / Alithea.
The word has remained the same into Modern Greek
a couple of points:
Nuda Veritas is the derivation of the term “Naked Truth”.
The Greek word for thief/robber/pirate is ληστής/listis which is derived from λανθάνω as well