A.“-α^ν” Th.1.50, al., PCair.Zen.54.8 (iii B.C.); Ion. and Ep. πρύμνη (also in S.Ph.482, Ar.V.399 (anap.); both forms in Phryn.PSp.114 B.): ἡ:—prop. fem. of πρυμνός (sc. ναῦς), stern, poop, in Hom. mostly πρύμνη νηῦς in full, νηῒ πάρα πρύμνῃ, νηὸς ἄπο πρύμνης, Il.7.383, al., 15.435; “ἐπὶ πρύμνῃ . . νηΐ” 11.600; νηῒ ἐνὶ π. Od.2.417: pl., “νηυσὶν ἔπι πρύμνῃσι” Il.12.403; “ἐπὶ π. νέεσσι” 13.333; ἐπὶ πρύμνῃσιν (ναῦφι going before) 8.475; but also τῆς (sc. νηός)“ πρύμνη” Od.13.84, cf. Pl.Phd.58a, 58c; π. alone, Il.1.409, al.:—Phrases: “πρύμνην ἀνακρούεσθαι” Hdt.8.84; also metaph. of a man, Ar.l.c.; χωρεῖν πρύμναν retire, draw back, E.Andr.1120; ἐπείγει κατὰ πρύμναν, of a fair wind, S.Ph.1451 (anap.); “κατὰ π. ἵσταται τὸ πνεῦμα” Th.2.97; ἄγειν ἑαυτὴν ἐκ πρύμνης, metaph. of the soul, Dam.Pr.400.—Ships were generally drawn up on land by the stern, [“νῆας] πεδίονδε εἴρυσαν, αὐτὰρ τεῖχος ἐπὶ πρύμνῃσιν ἔδειμαν” Il.14.32; “κατὰ πρύμνας καὶ ἀμφ᾽ ἅλα ἔλσαι Ἀχαιούς” 1.409; “πρύμνας λῦσαι” E.Hec.539.
2. metaph., π. πόλεος the Acropolis, A.Supp.345; also of the vessel of the State, Id.Th.2, 760 (lyr.); so ἐκ πρύμνης φρενός, prob. in Id.Supp.989.