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basilikón

Basilikón (βασιλικόν) is the neuter singular form of the ancient Greek adjective βασιλικός, meaning royal or kingly. In classical Greek, basilikón describes things related to the king or kingship and can function as a noun in certain phrases, referring to something royal or a royal prerogative.

Etymology and forms: The term derives from basileus (king) with the suffix -ikon, producing the neuter adjective/basilikón,

Notable usage: One well-known compound is basilikon doron, literally “the king’s gift” (βασιλικόν δῶρον). This phrase has been

Modern and scholarly usage: In classical philology and Greek studies, basilikón remains a standard term for

See also: Basil (root), Basileus, Basilikon Doron.

alongside
masculine
βασιλικός
and
feminine
βασιλική.
The
neuter
form
basilikón
often
appears
in
compound
expressions
and
titles,
especially
in
phrases
that
denote
objects
or
concepts
associated
with
the
king.
widely
used
in
historical
and
literary
contexts
to
describe
royal
gifts
or
privileges.
It
also
appears
as
the
title
of
a
famous
political
treatise
attributed
to
James
VI
of
Scotland
(later
James
I
of
England),
Basilikon
Doron,
written
in
Greek
and
published
in
1599.
The
work
presents
guidelines
on
kingship,
governance,
virtue,
and
the
duties
of
a
monarch,
and
it
has
influenced
discussions
of
early
modern
monarchy
and
royal
ideology.
discussing
royal
or
regal
attributes
in
ancient
texts.
It
also
appears
in
discussions
of
epigraphy,
art,
and
political
philosophy
where
the
concept
of
royal
authority
or
royal-related
objects
is
addressed.