A.mixing vessel, esp. bowl, in which wine was mixed with water, κ. ἀργύρεος, χρύσεος, Il.23.741,219; [“κ.] ἀργύρεος ἔστιν ἅπας, χρυσῷ δ᾽ ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράανται” Od.4.615; “οἶνον δ᾽ ἐκ κρητῆρος ἀφυσσόμενοι δεπάεσσιν ἔκχεον” Il.3.295, cf. 247; κρητῆρι δὲ οἶνον μίσγον ib.269; “κρητῆρα κερασσάμενος” Od.7.179, 13.50; “οἶνον ἔμισγον ἐνὶ κρητῆρσι καὶ ὕδωρ” 1.110, cf.Sapph.51, Alc. 45, S.OC159 (lyr.), Ar.Ec.841; κρατῆρα κεράσαι Orac. ap. D.21.53, cf. Th.6.32; “κρητῆρα καὶ ὑποκρητήριον” SIG2 (Sigeum, vi B.C.); πίνοντες κρητῆρας drinking bowls of wine, Il.8.232; κρητῆρα στήσασθαι ἐλεύθερον to set up a bowl of wine to be drunk in honour of the deliverance 6.528, cf. Od.2.431; κρητῆρα ἐπιστέψασθαι ποτοῖο, v. ἐπιστέφω; κρατῆρος μέρος μετασχεῖν A.Ch.291; “σπονδὴ τρίτου κρατῆρος” S.Fr. 425.
2. metaph., κ. ἀοιδᾶν, of the messenger who bears an ode, Pi.O.6.91; κ. κακῶν, of a sycophant, Ar.Ach.937 (lyr.); “τοσόνδε κρατῆρ᾽ ἐν δόμοις κακων πλήσας . . ἐκπίνει” A.Ag.1397; αἵματος κρατῆρα πολιτικοῦ στῆσαι, of civil war, D.H.7.44.
3. a constellation, the Cup, Ptol.Tetr.27.
II. any cup-shaped hollow, basin in a rock, S. OC1593, cf. Pl.Phd. 111d.
