Korai
/ˈkɔːraɪ/noun
The plural of kore, referring chiefly to archaic Greek statues depicting young women or maidens.
Did you know?A kore could represent a goddess, a worshipper, or an idealized maiden, but unlike many male statues, korai were typically shown fully clothed.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*korwā
“A reconstructed word associated with a young woman or girl; the precise reconstruction is debated.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
κόρη (korē)
“Girl, maiden, daughter; also the pupil of the eye.”
Archaic Greek
Greek
κόραι (korai)
“Maidens; the plural form of κόρη.”
19th Century
Archaeological Greek
kore / korai
“Modern scholarly terms for an archaic Greek statue of a clothed young woman and such statues collectively.”
Modern English
English
korai
“The conventional archaeological plural of kore.”