A.rope drawn across the race-course at the starting and finishing-point: mostly in pl., posts to which this rope was attached, Ar.Eq.1159: so in sg., turning-post, “νῆσος β. ξεστῇ εἴκασται” Philostr.VA5.5: also, platform from which the quoit was thrown, Id.Im.1.24: hence, any starting-point, Antipho Soph.69; “βαλβίδων ἄπο” E.HF867, cf. Ar.V.548: metaph., “ἕρπε πρὸς βαλβῖδα λυπηρὰν βίου” E.Med.1245; “ἐκ β. εἰς τέρμα” Them.Or.13.177d; “β. λόγου βέβληται” Philostr.VS2.20.3; “βιβλίου” AP4.3b.75 (Agath.); but, edge, ib.39.
II. since the starting-point was also the goal, βαλβῖδες was used for any point to be gained, as the battlements (by one scaling a wall), S.Ant.131 (lyr.), cf. Lyc.287, Opp.C.1.513.
