A.an inner room or chamber, surrounded by other buildings: freq. in Hom.,
1. generally, women's apartment, inner part of the house, like μυχός, Il.3.142,174, Od.4.121, etc.: in pl., Il.18.492; ἐκ τῶν ἀνδρεώνων . . ἐς τοὺς θ. Hdt.1.34.
2. a special chamber in this part of the house,
a. bedroom, esp. of the lady of the house, Il.3.423, al., Hdt.1.12, 3.78, Plu.Alc.23; esp. bride-chamber, Il.11.227, Pi.P.2.33 (pl.), S.Tr.913, E.Hipp.540 (lyr., pl.); also, bedroom of an unmarried son, Od.1.425, 19.48.
b. store-room, esp. for valuables, Il.24.191, Od.21.8, X.Oec.9.3, etc.; “ὄλβου διοίγων θάλαμον” E.Fr.285.8.
c. generally, chamber, room, Od.23.192, POxy. 1144.2 (i/ii A.D.).
II. metaph., ὁ παγκοίτας θ., of the grave, S.Ant.804 (anap.); τυμβήρης θ., of the prison of Danae, ib.947 (lyr.); θάλαμοι ὑπὸ γῆς the realms below, A.Pers.624; “γᾶς θάλαμοι” E.HF807 (lyr.); “θ. Περσεφονείας” Id.Supp.1022 (lyr.); θ. Ἀμφιτρίτας, of the sea, S.OT195 (lyr.); “πολυδένδρεσσιν Ὀλύμπου θαλάμοις” E.Ba.561 (lyr., θαλάμαις cj. Barnes); ἀρνῶν θ. folds or pens, Id.Cyc. 57 (lyr.).
IV. used of certain mystic shrines or chapels, sacred to Apis, Ael.NA11.10, cf. Plin.HN8.185; the innermost shrine, Luc.Syr.D.31.
