σύν + κρητίζω

Word

Validation

No

Word-form

συγκρητισμός

Word-lemma

LSJ

Etymon-lemma

LSJ-1.
LSJ-2.

Transliteration (Word)

sunkrētismos

English translation (word)

Union, federation of Cretan communities

Transliteration (Etymon)

sun + krētizō

English translation (etymon)

with + act like a Cretan

Author

Plutarch

Century

1-2 AD

Source

Idem

Ref.

Plutarchus, De amore fraterno, 490b6

Ed.

M. Pohlenz, Plutarchi Moralia, vol. 3, Teubner, 1929 (repr. 1972)

Quotation

Ἔτι τοίνυν ἐκεῖνο δεῖ μνημονεύειν ἐν ταῖς πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς διαφοραῖς καὶ φυλάττειν, τὸ τοῖς φίλοις αὐτῶν ὁμιλεῖν καὶ πλησιάζειν τότε μάλιστα, φεύγειν δὲ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς καὶ μὴ προσδέχεσθαι, μιμούμενον αὐτὸ γοῦν τοῦτο τὸ Κρητῶν, οἳ πολλάκις στασιάζοντες ἀλλήλοις καὶ πολεμοῦντες ἔξωθεν ἐπιόντων πολεμίων διελύοντο καὶ συνίσταντο· καὶ τοῦτ’ ἦν ὁ καλούμενος ὑπ’ αὐτῶν ‘συγκρητισμός’.

Translation (En)

Then this further matter must be borne in mind and guarded against when differences arise among brothers: we must be careful especially at such times to associate familiarly with our brothers' friends, but avoid and shun all intimacy with their enemies, imitating in this point, at least, the practice of Cretans, who, though they often quarrelled with and warred against each other, made up their differences and united (sunistanto) when outside enemies attacked ; and this it was which they called ‘syncretism.’ (tr. Hembold, 1939).

Comment

The word συγκρητισμός is not attested before Plutarchus, who makes of the behaviour of the Cretans, usually divided, a model of union in the face of adversity. Maybe is he using an Ionian word and he  puts forward an etymological wordplay. The word, which is extremely rare in Greek, seems to be reappearing in the Adagia of Erasmus (16th. c.), and therefore becomes a frequent word to evoke reconciliation, first between Catholics and Protestants, then between different opposing groups or opinions (before being at the origin of a controversy between Bossuet and Leibniz and having a long posterity in the religion and political history).

Parallels

Etym. Magnum, Kallierges p. 732 (Συγκρητίσαι: Συγκρητίσαι λέγουσιν οἱ Κρῆτες, ὅταν ἔξωθεν αὐτοῖς γένηται πόλεμος· ἐστασίαζον γὰρ ἀεί. Δοκοῦσι δὲ πρῶτον ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίων δουλωθῆναι κατὰ τὸν Μιθριδατικὸν πόλεμον· εἷλεν δὲ τὴν νῆσον ὁ κληθεὶς Κρητικὸς διὰ τοῦτο); Suda, sigma, 1299 (Συγκρητίσαι: τὰ τῶν Κρητῶν φρονῆσαι); Michael Apostolus, Collectio Paroemiarum, cent. 15, sect. 81, l. 1 (Συγκρητισμὸν ἔχεις: εἴρηται ἐπὶ τῶν δι’ ἀνάγκην συμμάχων γινομένων ἀλλήλοις· οἱ Κρῆτες γὰρ καθ’ ἑαυτοὺς στασιάζοντες ὅτε στρατὸν ξενικὸν ἑώρων ἐπιστρατεύοντα τῇ ἑαυτῶν πατρίδι, συμμαχίαν καὶ ὁμαιχμίαν ἠσπάζοντο· ὅπερ συγκρητισμὸς ἐκλήθη); Erasmus Roterodamus, Adagia,  chilias 1, century 1, proverbium 11 (Συγκρητισμός Cretico proverbio dicebatur, quoties fieret, ut qui modo videbantur hostes acerrimi, repente in summam concordiam redigerentur. [...] Rursum, inimicos fugias, neque admittas ad familiaritatem, illud videlicet Cretensium exemplum sequutus, qui frequenter cum factionibus et bellis intestinis inter sese pugnarent, invadentibus aliunde hostibus omissa contentione conjuncti sunt: atque is erat, quem illi syncretismum appellabant)

Bibliography

Fr. Bœspflug, 2006, "Le syncrétisme et les syncrétismes: périls imaginaires, faits d'histoire, problèmes en cours", Revue des sciences philosophiques et théologiques, 90, p. 273-295.

Modern etymology

Maybe linked with κεράννυμι (att. συγκρατός, σύγκρασις)

Persistence in Modern Greek

Modern Greek use of συγκρητισμός is a calque from French syncrétisme and designates 1. the coexistence of religions/philosophies, 2. the universal conception of a whole. There also is adjective "συγκρητικός".

Entry By

Margelidon
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