Pínakes

Pínakes is a term that can refer to several distinct concepts. In ancient Greece, a pínax (plural: pínakes) was a wooden board or tablet, often coated with wax, used for writing or drawing. These were common for everyday notes, letters, and school exercises. In some contexts, the term can also refer to a specific type of flat, rectangular votive plaque found in ancient sanctuaries, particularly at Mycenae and in Crete. These plaques, often made of terracotta or bronze, were typically incised with geometric patterns or figurative scenes and were likely offered as dedications to deities.

More recently, the term "Pínakes" has been adopted by the Hellenic Parliament of Greece to refer to its online database of legislative and parliamentary information. This digital archive contains records of laws, parliamentary debates, and other official documents, serving as a comprehensive resource for researchers, journalists, and the general public interested in Greek governance and legislation. The modern Pínakes database aims to promote transparency and accessibility to parliamentary proceedings. Therefore, depending on the context, Pínakes can denote ancient writing implements, religious artifacts, or a contemporary digital repository of governmental information.