xoanon

plural xoana

1. historicalA wooden statue used as a cult image in Ancient Greece.

   In the case of 679, the well-known female figure of xoanon shape, it is often asserted that we see a more or less archaistic survival; […]

   1913, E. A. Gardner, “Reviews: Catalogue of the Acropolis Museum”, in The Classical Review, volume 27, page 196

   2 more examples

   Callimachus' description of the Samian xoanon as a sanis—a flat board or plank regularly used for doors or wooden tablets—and specifically as "not carved by chisels" (gluphanôn axoos sanis) clearly indicates an aniconic Hera of Samos.

   1993, Joan V. O'Brien, The Transformation of Hera: A Study of Ritual, Hero, and the Goddess in the Iliad, page 19

   On Carlo Brillante's convincing interpretation, Thamyras is here attempting not simply to display his musical virtuosity, but to animate with his song this chorus of nine female xoana, his own personal substitutes for the nine real Muses […]

   2009, Peter Wilson, “Thamyris the Thracian: the archetypal wandering poet?"”, in Richard Hunter, Ian Rutherford, editors, Wandering Poets in Ancient Greek Culture, page 73