A.“θεσμά” S.Fr.92: (τίθημι):—that which is laid down, law, ordinance, once in Hom., “λέκτροιο παλαιοῦ θεσμὸν ἵκοντο” Od.23.296; εἰρήνης θεσμοί the order of peace, h.Hom.8.16; esp. of divine laws, “θ. τὸν μοιρόκραντον ἐκ θεῶν” A.Eu.391; ἵμερος . . τῶν μεγάλων πάρεδρος θ. S.Ant.800 (lyr.); οἱ τῶν θεῶν θ. X.Cyr.1.6.6; θ. Ἀδραστείας, οἱ τῆς εἱμαρμένης θ., Pl.Phdr.248c, Plu.2.111d; “παρέβη θ. ἀρχαίους” Ar.Av.331 (lyr.).
2. of human law, οἱ πάτριοι θ. Hdt.3.31; at Athens, esp. of the laws of Draco, IG12.115.20, And.1.81, Decr. ib.83, Arist.Ath.4.1, etc., cf. Ael.VH8.10: used by Solon of his own laws, Sol.36.16, cf. 31.2, Plu.Sol.19; “ὁ ταῦτα ἀπεργαζόμενος θ. νόμος ἂν ὀρθῶς εἴη κείμενος” Pl.Ep.355c; ὁ τοῖς ἄλλοις τιθέμενος θεσμοὺς “Δημήτριος” Duris 10J.; “ὅδ᾽ ὁ τεθμὸς πὲρ τῶν ἐντοφηΐων” GDI2561C19 (Delph.): in later poetry, θεσμοί,= law, jurisprudence, Epigr.Gr. 434.4, al.; θεσμῶν ταμίης, πρόμαχος, IG3.637, 638.
3. generally, rule, precept, rite, S.Tr.682; θ. πυρός the law of the beacon-fire, A.Ag.304; “τεθμὸς ἀέθλων” Pi.O.6.69; στεφάνων τ. the appointed crowns, ib.13.29; θ. ὅδ᾽ εὔφρων the cheering strain (cf. νόμος), A. Supp.1034 (lyr.); “ὕμνου τεθμὸν Ὀλυμπιονίκαν” Pi.O.7.88; “μακάρων” Id.Pae.4.47.
II. institution, as the tribunal of the Areopagus, A. Eu.615; τεθμὸς Ἡρακλέος, Ποτειδᾶνος τεθμοί, the Olympian, Isthmian games, Pi.N.10.33, O.13.40.
III. = θησαυρός, Anacr.58.