by Homer
By dint of hard tradition or unusually difficult pronunciation in the English, some names have not been restored. “Odysseus” is not respelled Odusseus. The name probably sounded like aw-DOOSS-(eh)ooss in Mycenaean times and perhaps a future translator will return to that form. The upsilon in the second syllable certainly became a troublesome letter in this and other nouns. During the centuries following Homeric Greek it became a rounded front vowel like the French u in plume; it was eventually spelled in English with a y. The problem of course is that y in modern English can be pronounced ee, ih, or ai, as in “Cyclops.” Some entries below, therefore, have both the traditional Anglicized form (generally used in this book) and the Homeric word. The entry “Thrace or Threke” is an example; so is “Nymphs or Numphai.” Often the two words are quite close to each other in spelling and pronunciation. In addition, the group or adjective form of some nouns remains the simpler, Anglicized version. Aithiopes, somewhat ungainly in English, became the usual “Ethiopians.” Instead of “living in Oikhalie” (in 8.224), this text reads “Oikhalian.”
Still, the vast majority of entries here include a suggested spelling and pronunciation approximating Homer’s. (A few exceptions demanded special care, like Aiguptos, which in Homer can mean “Egypt” or “the Nile.”) Entries also include the name’s first appearance in the epic, where readers will generally learn something about the subject. Names used by Homer to refer to more than one character are designated as (a), (b), and so forth. Parentheses around a letter indicate a muting of that sound. Homeric chi, phi, and theta do not correspond exactly to modern English ch, k, f, or th; Khios, for example, should sound rather like K(H)EE-awss, where the (H), though not fully articulated, has the effect of softening the K, as in German licht. Phoibos, still another name for Helios / Apollon / the Sun-God, should sound like P(H)OI-bawss, where the (H) has the effect of making the plosive, you might say, somewhat more plosive—less like the p in map and more like the strong p in power. Parentheses around vowels also indicate a muting, as with Homer’s diphthongs. The form eu (epsilon plus upsilon) in Akhilleus probably sounded, according to Allen, less like the ew in our few and more like a quickly voiced eh-oo, the former slightly muted; thus, uh-K(H)ILL-(eh)ooss. The restored name becomes easy enough to say after a few tries. And it’s certainly closer to Homer’s language than the older “Achilles,” pronounced by my younger brother in his teens—following good English rules—to rime with BAT-chills. (We chuckled at the mistake and concocted a new epithet: cold enough, Ach-ills becomes the a-CHOO-er.) To avoid this tendency I’ve changed all the old English ch spellings for Homeric chi to kh.
A final note on the capitalization: Homer’s divinities were certainly “Gods” (not lowercase “gods”) to his characters, just as Jesus of Nazareth is God, not “god,” to his followers. The oldest Greek texts offer no objection, of course, being entirely in capitals. Where godhead is associated with lesser figures, as with Ker, I’ve also capitalized: “the Powers of Death.” Parents belonging to the speaker at hand are also capitalized: “I saw the mother of Oidipus,” Odysseus tells us, back from the land of the dead (in 11.271) and (in 11.84) “The ghost of my dead Mother came” as well.
Adreste, 4.123: ah-DRESS-tay
Agamemnon, 1.30: uh-guh-MEM-nohn
Agelaos, 20.321: uh-geh-LAH-awss (the g as in guard)
Aiai, 9.32: AI-ai
Aiaie, 10.135: ai-AI-ay
Aiakos, 11.471: AI-uh-kawss
Aias, 3.109: AI-ahss
Aides, 3.410: AI-dayss
Aietes, 10.137: ai-AY-tayss
Aigai, 5.381: AI-gai
Aigis, 3.394: AI-giss (the g as in guard)
Aigisthos, 1.29: ai-GISS-t(h)awss
Aiguptios, 2.15: ai-GOOP-tee-awss
Aiolia, 10.1: ai-AW-lee-uh
Aiolos, 10.1: AI-aw-lawss
Aison, 11.259: AI-sohn
Aithon, 19.183: AI-t(h)ohn
Aitolia or Aitolos, 14.379: ai-TOHL-awss
Akastos, 14.336: uh-KAHSS-tawss
Akhaia and Akhaians, 1.90: uh-K(H)AI-uh, uh-K(H)AI-uns
Akheron, 10.514: uh-KEH-rohn
Akhilleus, 3.106: uh-K(H)ILL-(eh)ooss
Akroneus, 8.111: uh-KRaw-n(eh)ooss
Aktor, 23.228: AHK-tawr
Alektor, 4.10: uh-LEK-tohr
Alkandre, 4.125: ahl-KAHN-dray
Alkinoos, 6.12: uhl-KIH-naw-awss
Alkippe, 4.124: uhl-KIP-peh
Alkmaion, 15.248: ahlk-MAI-ohn
Alkmene, 2.120: ahlk-MAY-nay
Aloeus, 11.305: uhl-oh-EY-ooss
Alpheidas, 24.305: ahl-PHEY-duss
Alpheios, 3.489: ahl-P(H)AY-awss
Alubas or Alubantos, 24.304: uh-LOO-bahss, uh-loo-BAHN-tawss
Amnisos, 19.188: ahm-NEE-sawss
Amphialos, 8.114: ahm-P(H)IH-aw-lawss
Amphiaraos, 15.244: ahm-p(h)ee-uh-RAH-awss
Amphimedon, 22.242: ahm-PHIH-meh-dohn
Amphinomos, 16.351: ahm-P(H)IH-naw-mawss
Amphion, (a) 11.262 and (b) 11.283: AHM-p(h)ee-ohn
Amphithea, 19.416: ahm-p(h)i-T(H)AY-uh
Amphitrite, 3.91: ahm-p(h)ih-TREE-tay
Amphitruon, 11.266: ahm-p(h)ee-TROO-ohn
Amuthaon, 11.259: uh-moo-T(H)AH-ohn
Anabesineos, 8.113: AH-nuh-bay-SIH-neh-ohss
Andraimon, 14.499: ahn-DRAI-mohn
Ankhialos, (a) 1.180 and (b) 8.112: ahn-K(H)IH-uh-lawss
Antikleia, 11.85: ahn-tih-KLAY-uh
Antiklos, 4.286: AHN-tih-klawss
Antilokhos, 3.112: ahn-TEE-law-k(h)awss
Antinoos, 1.383: ahn-TIH-naw-awss
Antiope, 11.260: ahn-tih-AW-pay
Antiphates, (a) 10.106 and (b) 15.242: ahn-tih-P(H)AH-tayss
Antiphos, 2.19: AHN-tih-p(h)awss
Apeire, 7.9: uh-PAY-ray
Aphrodite, 4.14: ah-p(h)raw-DEE-tay
Apollo. See Phoibos Apollo
Ares, 3.109: AH-rayss
Arete, 7.54: uh-RAY-tay
Arethousa, 13.408: uh-reh-T(H)OO-sah
Aretios, 16.395: ah-RAY-tee-awss
Aretos, 3.414: ah-RAY-tawss
Argive or Argeios, 1.61: AHR-gaiv, Ahr-GAY-awss
Argo, 12.70: AHR-go
Argos, (a) 1.344 and (b) 17.292: AHR-gawss
Ariadne, 11.321: uh-rih-AHD-nay
Arkeisios, 4.755: ahr-KAY-see-awss
Arnaios, 18.5: ahr-NAI-awss
Artakie, 10.107: ahr-TAH-kee-ay
Artemis, 5.123: AHR-teh-miss
Arubas, 15.426: uh-ROO-bahss
Asopos, 11.260: ah-SOH-pawss
Asphalion, 4.216: ahss-p(h)uh-LEE-ohn
Asteris, 4.846: AHSS-teh-riss
Athene, 1.44: ah-T(H)AY-nay
Athens or Athenai, 3.278: uh-T(H)AY-nai
Atlas, 1.52: AHT-luss
Atreus, 1.40: AH-tr(eh)ooss
Autolukos, 11.85: ow-TAW-loo-kawss
Autonoe, 18.182: ow-taw-NAW-ay
Avenger(s) or Erinus, 2.135: eh-REE-nooss
Boethous, 4.31: baw-AY-t(h)aw-ooss
Bootes, 5.272: baw-OH-tayss
Damastor, 20.321: duh-MAHSS-tohr
Danaans or Danaoi, 1.350: duh-NAH-ans, duh-NAH-oy
Dawn or Eos, 2.1: AY-ohss
Deiphobos, 4.276: day-IH-p(h)aw-bawss
Delos, 6.162: DAY-lawss
Demeter, 5.125: day-MAY-tayr
Demodokos, 8.44: day-MAW-daw-kawss
Demoptolemos, 22.243: DAY-mawp-TAW-leh-mawss
Deukelion, 19.180: (deh)oo-KAH-lih-ohn
Die, 11.325: DEE-ay
Diokles, 3.488: dih-AW-klayss
Diomedes, 3.181: dih-aw-MAY-dayss
Dionusos, 11.325: dih-aw-NOO-sawss
Dmetor, 17.443: duh-MAY-tohr
Dodone, 14.327: doh-DOH-nay
Dolios, 4.735: daw-LEE-awss
Dorians or Doriees, 19.177: doh-rih-EH-ess
Doulikhion, 1.246: doo-LIH-k(h)ih-awn
Dumas, 6.22: DOO-mahss
Dusk or Hesper, 8.29: HESS-pair
Egypt or Aiguptos or Nile, 3.300: ai-GOOP-tawss
Eidothee, 4.366: ey-daw-T(H)EH-ay
Eileithuie, 19.188: EY-ley-t(h)-oo-EE-ay
Ekheneos, 7.155: eh-k(h)eh-NAY-awss
Ekhephron, 3.413: eh-K(H)EH-p(h)rohn
Ekhetos, 18.85: EH-k(h)eh-tawss
Elatos, 22.267: eh-LAH-tawss
Elatreus, 8.111: eh-LAH-tr(eh)ooss
Elis, 4.635: AY-liss
Elpenor, 10.552: el-PAY-nohr
Elusian (Fields), 4.563: ay-LOO-see-ahn
Enipeus, 11.238: eh-NEE-p(eh)ooss
Epeians, 13.275: eh-PAY-uhns
Epeios, 8.493: eh-PEY-awss
Eperitos, 24.306: eh-PAY-rih-tawss
Ephialtes, 11.308: eh-p(h)ee-AHL-tayss
Ephure, 1.259: eh-P(H)OOR-ay
Epikaste, 11.271: eh-pih-KAHSS-tay
Erebos, 10.528: EH-reh-bawss
Erekhtheus, 7.81: eh-REK(H)-t(h)(eh)ooss
Eremboi, 4.84: eh-REM-boy
Eretmeus, 8.112: eh-RET-m(eh)ooss
Eriphule, 11.326: eh-rih-P(H)OO-lay
Erumanthos, 6.103: eh(oo)-roo-MAHN-t(h)awss
Eteoneus, 4.21: eh-teh-OH-n(eh)ooss
Ethiopians or Aithiopes, 1.22: ai-T(H)IH-aw-payss
Euanthes, 9.197: eh (oo)-AHN-t(h)ayss
Euboia, 3.174: eh (oo)-BOI-uh
Euenor, 2.242: (eh)oo-AY-nohr
Eumaios, 14.55: eh(oo)-MAI-awss
Eumelos, 4.798 : eh(oo)-MAY-lawss
Eupeithes, 1.383: eh(oo)-PEY-t(h)ayss
Euruades, 22.266: (eh)oo-roo-AH-dayss
Eurualos, 8.115: eh(oo)-ROO-uh-lawss
Eurubates, 19.247: (eh)oo-roo-BAH-tayss
Eurudamas, 18.297: (eh)oo-ROO-dah-muss
Eurudike, 3.452: eh(oo)-roo-DEE-kay
Eurukleia, 1.428: eh(oo)-roo-KLAY-uh
Eurulokhos, 10.232: eh(oo)-ROO-law-k(h)awss
Eurumakhos, 1.399: eh(oo)-ROO-muh-k(h)awss
Eurumedon, 7.58: eh(oo)-roo-MEH-dohn
Eurumedousa, 7.8: eh(oo)-roo-meh-DOO-suh
Eurumos, 9.509: EH(OO)-roo-moss
Eurunome, 17.495: (eh)oo-ROO-naw-may
Eurunomos, 2.21: eh(oo)-ROO-naw-mawss
Eurupulos, 11.520: eh(oo)-ROO-poo-lawss
Eurution, 21.295: (EH)OO-roo-TEE-ohn
Eurutos, 8.224: EH(OO)-roo-tawss
Gaia, 7.325: GAI-uh
Geraistos, 3.177: geh-RAISS-tawss (the g as in guard)
Gerenians or Gerenos, 3.68: geh-RAY-nawss (the g as in guard)
Giants or Gigantes, 7.59: GEE-gahn-tayss (both gs hard)
Gorgo, 11.634: GAWR-goh
Gortun, 3.294: GAWR-toon
Graces or Kharites, 6.19: K(H)AH-rih-tess
Great Bear. See Wagon
Gurai, 4.501: GOO-rai
Halios, 8.119: HUH-lih-awss
Halitherses, 2.157: huh-lih-T(H)AIR-sayss
Hebe, 11.603: HAY-bay
Helen or Helene, 4.13: heh-LEH-nay
Helios or Eelios, 1.8: HAY-lih-awss
Hellas, 1.344: HELL-uhss
Hellespont, 24.82: HELL-ess-pawnt
Hephaistos, 4.617: hay-P(H)AISS-tawss
Herakles, 8.224: HAY-rah-klayss
Here, 4.513: HAY-ray
Hermes, 1.38: HAIR-mayss
Hermione, 4.14: hair-mih-AW-nay
Hippodameia, 18.182: HIP-paw-duh-MEY-uh
Hippotes, 10.2: HIP-paw-tess
Hulakos, 14.203: HOO-luh-kawss
Hupereia, 6.4: hoo-peh-REY-uh
Huperesie, 15.255: HOO-peh-ray-SEE-ay
Huperion, 1.9: hoo-peh-REE-ohn
Iaolkos, 11.256: ih-uh-OHL-kawss
Iardanos, 3.292: i-AHR-duh-nawss
Iasion, 5.126: ih-AH-sih-ohn
Iasos, 11.283: EE-uh-sawss
Idomeneus, 3.191: ih-daw-MEN-(eh)ooss
Ieson, 12.72: ih-AY-sohn
Ikarios, 1.329: ee-KAH-rih-awss
Ikmalios, 19.57: ik-MAH-lih-awss
Ilion or Troy, 14.71: IH-lih-awn
Ilos, 1.259: IH-lawss
Ino, 5.333: IH-noh
Iphiklos, 11.290: ih-P(H)IH-klawss
Iphimedeia, 11.305: IH-p(h)ih-meh-DEY-uh
Iphitos, 21.14: IH-p(h)ih-tawss
Iphthime, 4.797: ih-P(H)T(H)EE-may
Iros, 18.6: IH-rawss
Ismaros, 9.40: ISS-muh-rawss
Ithaka or Ithake, 1.18: IH-t(h)uh-kay
Ithakos, 17.207: IH-t(h)uh-kawss
Itulos, 19.522: IH-too-lawss
Kadmeians, 11.276: kahd-MEY-uns
Kadmos, 5.333: KAHD-mawss
Kalupso, 1.14: kuh-LOOPS-oh
Kassandre, 11.422: kah-SAHN-dray
Kastor, (a) 11.300 and (b) 14.203: KAHSS-tohr
Kaukones, 3.367: KOW-koh-ness
Kentaur, 21.295: KEN-towr
Kephallenians or Kephallenes, 20.210: kehp(h)ahl-LAY-ness
Keteians or Keteioi, 11.521: KAY-tey-oy
Khalkis (River), 15.295: K(H)AHL-kiss
Kharubdis, 12.104: k(h)uh-ROOB-diss
Khios, 3.170: K(H)EE-awss
Khloris, 11.281: K(H)loh-riss
Khromios, 11.286: k(h)raw-MEE-awss
Kikones, 9.39: KIH-kaw-ness
Kimmerians or Kimmerioi, 11.14: kim-MEH-rih-oy
Kirke, 8.448: KEER-kay
Kleitos, 15.249: KLEY-tawss
Klumene, 11.326: kloo-MEN-ay
Klumenos, 3.452: KLOO-meh-nawss
Klutaimnestre, 3.266: kloo-taim-NAY-stray
Klutios, 15.540: KLOO-tih-awss
Klutoneos, 8.119: kloo-TAW-nay-awss
Knosos, 19.178: KNOH-sawss
Kokutos, 10.513: koh-KOO-tawss
Korakos (Rock), 13.408: KAW-ruh-kawss
Krataiin, 12.124: krah-TAI-in
Kreion, 11.269: KREY-ohn
Krete, 3.192: KRAY-tay
Kretheus, 11.237: KRAY-t(h)eh-ooss
Kronos, 1.45: KRAW-nawss
Krounoi (springs), 15.295: KROO-noy
Ktesios, 15.413: (K)TAY-sih-awss
Ktesippos, 20.288: kuh-tay-SIP-pawss
Ktimene, 15.364: k(t)ih-MEN-ay
Kudonians or Kudones, 3.292: koo-DOH-ness
Kuklops, 1.69: KOOK-lohps
Kullene, 24.1: kool-LAY-nay
Kupros, 4.83: KOO-prawss
Kuthereia, 8.288: koo-t(h)eh-REY-uh
Laerkes, 3.425: lah-AIR-kayss
Laertes, 1.188: lah-AIR-tayss
Laistrugonians or Laistrugonie, 10.82: LAISS-troo-gaw-NIH-ay
Lakedaimon, 3.326: Lah-keh-DAI-mohn
Lamos, 10.81: LAH-mawss
Lampetie, 12:132: luhm-peh-TEE-ay
Lampon, 23.245: LAHM-pohn
Laodamas, 7.170: LAH-aw-DUH-muss
Lapiths or Lapithai, 21.297: lah-PEE-t(h)ai
Lede, 11.298: LAY-day
Lemnos, 8.283: LEN-nawss
Leiodes, 21.144: ley-OH-dayss
Leiokritos, 2.242: ley-OH-krih-tawss
Lesbos, 3.169: LESS-bawss
Leto, 6.106: LAY-toh
Leukas (Rock), 24.11: L(EH)OO-kuhss
Leukothee, 5.334: L(EH)OO-kaw-T(H)EH-ay
Libya or Libue, 4.85: lih-BOO-ay
Lotos-eaters, 9.84: LOH-tawss
Maia, 14.436: MAI-uh
Maira, 11.326: MAI-ruh
Maleia, 3.287: muh-LEY-uh
Mantios, 15.242: MAHN-tih-awss
Marathon, 7.80: MAH-ruh-t(h)ohn
Maron, 9.197: MAH-rohn
Mastor, 2.158: MAHSS-tohr
Medon, 4.677: MEH-dohn
Megapenthes, 4.11: meh-guh-PEN-t(h)ayss
Megare, 11.269: meh-GAH-ray
Melampous, 11.292: meh-LAHM-pooss
Melantheus or Melanthios, 17.212: meh-LAHN-t(h)eh-ooss
Melanthos, 18.321: meh-LAHN-thoh
Memnon, 11.522: MEM-nohn
Menelaos, 1.285: meh-neh-LAH-awss
Menoitios, 24.77: meh-NOY-tih-awss
Mentes, 1.105: MEN-tayss
Mentor, 2.225: MEN-tohr
Mermeros, 1.259: MAIR-mair-aws
s
Mesaulios, 14.449: meh-SOW-lih-awss
Messene, 21.15: mehs-SAY-nay
Mimas, 3.172: MEE-mahss
Minos, 11.322: MIH-nohss
Minuans or Minuai, 11.284: mih-NOO-ai
Moulios, 18.424: MOO-lih-awss
Mukenai, 3.305: moo-KAY-nai
Mukene, 2.120: moo-KAY-nay
Murmidons or Murmidones, 3:188: moor-mih-DAW-nes
Muse or Mousa, 1.1: MOO-sah
Naubolos, 8.116: NOW-baw-lawss
Nausikaa, 6.17: NOW-see-KAH-uh
Nausithoos, 6.7: now-SEE-t(h)aw-awss
Nauteus, 8.112: NOW-t(eh)ooss
Neaira, 12.133: neh-AI-rah
Neias and Neiades, 13.104: NAY-uhss and NAY-uh-dess
Neion, 1.186: NEY-awn
Neleus, 3.4: NAY-l(eh)ooss
Neoptolemos, 11.506: neh-awp-TAW-leh-mawss
Nerikon, 24.377: NAY-rih-kawn
Neriton, 9.21: NAY-rih-tawn
Neritos, 17.207: NAY-rih-tawss
Nestor, 1.284: NESS-tohr
Nisos, 16.395: NEE-sawss
Noemon, 2.386: naw-AY-mohn
No-one or Outis, 9.366: OO-tiss
Northwind or Borees, 5.296: baw-REH-ayss
Nymphs or Numphai, 6.105: NOOM-p(h)ai
Ocean or Okeanos, 4.568: oh-keh-UH-nawss
Odysseus or Odusseus, 1.21: aw-DOOSS-(eh)-ooss
Ogugie, 1.85: Oh-goo-GEE-ay (the g as in guard)
Oidipus, 11.271: OY-dih-pooss
Oikhalian or Oikhalie, 8.224: oy-k(h)uh-LIH-ay
Oikleies, 15.243: oy-KLEY-ayss
Oinops, 21.144: OI-nawps
Okuolos, 8.111: oh-KOO-uh-lawss
Olumpos, 1.27: aw-LOOM-pawss
Onetor, 3.282: aw-NAY-tohr
Ops, 1.429: OHPS
Orestes, 1.30: aw-RESS-tayss
Orion, 5.121: oh-REE-ohn
Orkhomenos, 11.284: or-K(H)AW-men-awss
Ormenos, 15.414: OR-men-awss
Ortilokhos or Orsilokhos, 3.489: or-TIH-lawk(h)awss
Ortugie, 5.124: or-too-GEE-ay (the g as in guard)
Ossa, 11.316: AWS-sah
Otos, 11.308: OH-tawss
Paieon, 4.232: pai-AY-ohn
Pallas, 1.125: PAHL-luhss
Pandareos, 20.66: pahn-DAH-reh-awss
Panopeus, 11.581: puh-NAW-p(eh)ooss
Paphos, 8.363: PAH-p(h)awss
Parnesos, 19.394: pahr-NAY-sawss
Patroklos, 3.110: PAH-traw-klawss
Peiraios, 15.539: PEY-rai-awss
Peirithoos, 11.631: pey-REE-t(h)aw-awss
Peisandros, 18.299: pey-SAHN-drawss