the Cabeiri, divinities worshipped especially in Lemnos, Samothrace, and Boeotia, Pi. Fr. 74bSchr., Hdt. 2.51, 3.37, Str. 10.3.15, etc.; at Miletus, Nic.Dam. 52J., Milet. (v. infr.), BCH 1.288; title of play by Aeschylus, Ath. 10.428f, Sch. Pi. P. 4.303: sg., Κάβειρος Pi. l.c.; freq. in Boeotian Inscrr. (written -βιρ-), IG 7.2457, al., cf. AP 6.245 (Diod.), Q.S. 1.267:
Καβειρίδες Νύμφαι, and Καβειρώ, ἡ, the sisters and mother of the Cabeiri, Acus. 20J., Pherecyd. 48 J.:—
Adj. Καβειρικός, ή, όν, fem. Καβειριάς, άδος, Cabeiric, St. Byz.:—also Καβειραῖος, α, ον, Id., Paus. 9.25.8:
Καβειρία, ἡ, epith. of Demeter at Κάβειροι, Id. 9.25.5 codd.:
Καβείριον, τό, sanctuary of the C., Id. 9.26.2; more correctly Καβείρ[ε]ιον IG 11(2).144A 90 (Delos, iv B.C.):
Καβείρια, τά, their mysteries, Inscr.Perg. 252, Hsch.:—
hence Καβειριάζομαι, celebrate these mysteries, St.Byz.: Καβῑριάρχας, ὁ, IG 7.2428 (Boeot.): Καβειριαρχίω ( -έω), ib. 2420. (The spelling -βειρ- is correct, ib. 11(2). l.c., Hdn.Gr. 2.411: the form -βιρ- is Boeot. (v. supr.) and late Gr., Milet. 6.26 (i A.D.), Alexio and Philox. ap. Et.Gud. 289.30.) (The connexion with the Semitic root KBR ‘greatʼ (cf. the title Μεγάλοι Θεοί) is not certain; nor is that with Skt. Kúbera- (name of a divinity), fr. *Kabera-, cf. Patron. Kāberaká-.)