pentarchy Definition
- 1a government or ruling body composed of five individuals or groups
- 2the five patriarchates of the early Christian Church, comprising Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem
Using pentarchy: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "pentarchy" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The pentarchy was established to ensure that no single ruler had too much power.
Example
The pentarchy of the early Christian Church played a significant role in the development of Christianity.
Phrases with pentarchy
the period in the history of the early Christian Church when the five patriarchates held equal authority and power
Example
During the Great Pentarchy, the five patriarchates of the early Christian Church were considered equals.
the period in the history of the Roman Empire when it was ruled by five emperors at the same time
Example
The Pentarchy of Rome occurred during the crisis of the third century.
a group of five musical genres that are considered the most influential and important in the history of music
Example
The Pentarchy of Musical Genres includes classical, jazz, rock, pop, and hip-hop.
Origins of pentarchy
from Greek 'penta-' meaning 'five' and '-archia' meaning 'rule'
Summary: pentarchy in Brief
The term 'pentarchy' [pen-tahr-kee] refers to a government or ruling body composed of five individuals or groups. It can also refer to the five patriarchates of the early Christian Church, comprising Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. The Pentarchy played a significant role in the development of Christianity. The term extends into phrases like 'the Great Pentarchy,' denoting the period in the history of the early Christian Church when the five patriarchates held equal authority and power.
