plakhos

Plakhos, plural plakhoi, is a Greek noun meaning a flat object such as a tablet, plaque, or slab. In classical Greek, it referred to a physical surface that could bear writing or inscriptions, often a stone or metal plate used to record public texts, decrees, dedications, or lists.

Etymologically, plakhos derives from a root associated with flatness or broad surfaces, with the -hos noun-forming suffix. In ancient texts, plakhos is used to describe the object itself as well as the inscribed text it carried. The term is closely connected to epigraphic practice, where inscribed plates and stelai served as durable records in public spaces, tombs, and sanctuaries.

In modern Greek, plakhos continues to denote a flat plate or plaque, including commemorative plaques attached to buildings or monuments. In scholarly contexts, the word remains a general descriptor for inscribed slabs or plates, while more specific terms like stelai or tabula may be used for particular types of inscriptions. The concept encompasses both the physical object and the text inscribed upon it, bridging material form and communicative record.