ἥβη manhood, youthful prime, youth, Lat. pubertas, νεηνίηι ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς, τοῦπερ χαριεστάτη ἥβη Od.; ἥβης μέτρον ἱκέσθαι or ἱκάνειν ἡβάσκειν, Od. youthful strength, vigour, πειρώμενος ἥβης Il.; ἥβηι πεποίθεα Od. legally, ἥβη was the time before manhood, at Athens 16 years of age; at Sparta, 18, so that τὰ δέκα ἀφʼ ἥβης were men of 28, τὰ τετταράκοντα ἀφʼ ἥβης men of 58, and so on, Xen.: cf. ἔφηβος. metaph. youthful cheer, merriment, δαιτὸς ἥβη Eur.: also youthful passion, fire, spirit, Pind. a body of youth, the youth, Lat. juventus, Aesch. as femin. prop. n., Ἥβη, Hebe, daughter of Zeus and Hera, wife of Hercules, Hom.