N.B. Unless otherwise noted, words are given in the format: Singlular / Plural.
Ainian (Αἰνιάν) / Ainianes (Αἰνιᾶνες) = an Ainian from Ainis (Αἰνίς).
Akhaios (Ἀχαιός) / Akhaioi (Ἀχαιοί) = an Akhaian from Akhaia (Ἀχαΐα) in northern Peloponnesos. In Homer, the Greeks are frequently called Akhaians and, according to legend, the Akhaians had been expelled from much of the Peloponnesos by the Dorians. Thus, legend associates the Akhaians with the Mycenaean Greeks.
Akhaios Phthiotes (Ἀχαιός Φθιώτης) / Akhaioi Phthiotai (Ἀχαιοὶ Φθιῶται) = a Phthiotic Akhaian from Akhaia Phthiotis (Ἀχαΐα Φθιῶτις).
Argeios (Ἀργεῖος) / Argeioi (Ἀργεῖοι) = an Argive from Argos (Ἄργος).
Arkas (Ἀρκάς) / Arkades (Ἀρκάδες) = an Arkadian from Arkadia (Ἀρκαδία).
Athaman (Ἀθαμάν) / Athamanes (Ἀθαμᾶνες) = an Athamanian from Athamania (Ἀθαμανία).
Athenaios (Ἀθηναῖος) / Athenaioi (Ἀθηναῖοι) = an Athenian from Athenai (Ἀθῆναι), which of course is known as Athens in English.
Attike (Ἀττική), singular = the district belonging to Athens, called Attica in English.
Boiotios (Βοιώτιος) / Boiotioi (Βοιώτιοι) = a Boiotian from Boiotia (Βοιωτία).
Dolops (Δόλοψ) / Dolopes (Δόλοπες) = a Dolopian from Dolopia (Δολοπία).
Eleios (Ἠλεῖος) / Eleioi (Ἠλεῖοι) = an Eleian from Elis (Ἦλις). In the local Eleian dialect, the ethnic was Waleios (Ϝαλεῖος) and the name of the city was Walis (Ϝᾶλις).
Eretrieus (Ἐρετριεύς) / Eretrieis (Ἐρετριεῖς) = an Eretriean from Eretria (Ἐρέτρια) on the island of Euboia.
Hellas (Ἑλλάς), singular = Greece.
Hellen (Ἕλλην) / Hellenes (Ἕλληνες) = a Greek, also known as a Hellene in English.
Hellespontos (Ἑλλήσποντος), singular = the Hellespont, the modern Dardanelles.
Hestiaiotis (Ἑστιαιῶτις), singular = one of the four tetrades into which Thessaly was divided.
Ithomaios (Ιθωμαῖος) / Ithomaioi (Ιθωμαῖοι) = a Ithomaian from Ithome (Ἰθώμη), the capital of the new state of Messenia founded in the winter of 370/369 BCE by the Thebans below Mt. Ithome. The city was later called Messene beginning around the end of Fourth Century BCE.
Khalkideus (Χαλκιδεύς) / Khalkideis (Χαλκιδεῖς) = a Khalkidean either from the city of Khalkis (Χαλκίς) on the island of Euboia or from the district of Khalkidike (Χαλκιδική) in Thrace. It might be expected that an individual from Khalkidike would be called a Khalkidikean, but that is not the case!
Khersonesites (Χερσονησίτης) / Khersonesitai (Χερσονησῖται) = a Khersonesitan from Khersonesos, i.e. the peninsula. The Thracian Khersonesos is the modern Gallipoli peninsula. The Tauric Khersonesos (Ταυρικὲ Χερσόνησος) is the modern Crimea.
Krannonios (Κραννώνιος) / Krannonioi (Κραννώνιοι) = a Krannonian from the city of Krannon (Κραννών) in the tetras of Pelasgiotis in Thessaly.
Lakedaimon (Λακεδαίμων), singular = the state erroneously called Sparta in English; also applied to the city of Sparta itself.
Lakedaimonios (Λακεδαιμόνιος) / Lakedaimonioi (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) = a Lakedaimonian. The Spartiatai (Spartans) were the elite citizens of the Lakedaimonian state. However, almost without fail, ancient Greeks referred to the state, its army, its kings, etc. as Lakedaimonian not as Spartan. The difference between the terms Lakedaimonian and Spartiate (Spartan) is something like the difference between the terms British and English. At times the Lakedaimonians emblazoned their shields with a Λ (the Greek letter lambda) for Lakedaimon as that was the official name of the state. Every Spartan was a Lakedaimonian, but not every Lakedaimonian was a Spartan. The second-class Lakedaimonian citizens were called the perioikoi (‘dwellers around’). To help those who are unfamiliar with the term Lakedaimonian, I have written “Lakedaimonian (Spartan)” in many cases on my blog pages.
Lakon (Λάκων) / Lakones (Λάκωνες) = an inhabitant of Lakonike, called a Lakonian in English. Herodotos (7.153, 7.160–161) called Syagros an envoy from the Lakedaimonians and later referred to him as a Spartiate and then as a Lakon. A Lakonian woman was called a Lakaina (Λάκαινα).
Lakonia (modern Greek: Λακωνία), singular = the modern Greek word for the nomos or prefecture in the southeastern Peloponnesos. Even though it is anachronistic to do so, many modern scholars find it to be convenient to use the modern word Lakonia rather than the ancient terms Lakedaimon or Lakonike as the area that the latter two words covered varied greatly over the years according to the political situation.
Lakonike (Λακωνική), singular = the territory belonging to the Lakedaimonians. The term included Messenia during much of the Archaic and Classical Greek eras. For example, Thucydides (5.33–34) referred to Skiritis in Lakonike and to Lepreon on the border of Lakonike and Elis. Most modern authors would write that Skiritis was in Lakonia and that Lepreon was on the border of Messenia and Elis.
Larisaios (Λαρισαῖος) / Larisaioi (Λαρισαῖοι) = a Larisaian from the city of Larisa (Λάρισα) in the tetras of Pelasgiotis in Thessaly. Though the name was sometimes spelled Larissa, coins indicate that the proper form is Larisa.
Magnes (Μάγνης) / Magnetes (Μάγνητες) = a Magnesian from Magnesia (Μαγνησία).
Makedon (Μακεδών) / Makedones (Μακεδόνες) = a Makedonian from Makedonia (Μακεδονία).
Malieus (Μαλιεύς) / Malieis (Μαλιεῖς) = a Malian from Malis (Μαλίς). Though the name was often spelled Melis (Μηλίς) in literary sources, coins indicated that the proper form is Malis.
Mantineus (Μαντινεύς) / Mantineis (Μαντινεῖς) = a Mantinean from Mantinea (Μαντινέα). The Attic form of the name of the city is Mantineia (Μαντίνεια).
Megareus (Μεγαρεύς) / Megareis (Μεγαρεῖς) = a Megarean from Megara (Μέγαρα).
Messanios (Μεσσάνιος) / Messanioi (Μεσσάνιοι) = a Messanian from the city of Messana in Sicily, earlier called Zankle. In ca. 488/487 BCE, the tyrant Anaxilas of Rhegion drove out the Samians, who had earlier siezed Zankle. Anaxilas brought in a mixed population and renamed the city Messene/Messana in honour of his original homeland as Messenian refugees from the Peloponnesos had participated in the original foundation of Rhegion. Most ancient Greek authors as well as the earliest settlers (based on coinage) used the form Messene (Μεσσήνη), but soon the citizens of the city used the spelling Messana (Μεσσάνα) as did the later Roman conquerors. It is customary for modern writers to use the form Messana in order to differentiate the Sicilian city from the Peloponnesian city and district.
Messenios (Μεσσήνιος) / Messenioi (Μεσσήνιοι) = a Messenian from the southwestern district of the Peloponnesos. The earlier name for the district was Messene (Μεσσήνη) or Messana (Μεσσάνα) in the local Doric dialect. After the liberation of the Messenians in ca. 370/369 BCE, the usual name for the district was Messenia (Μεσσηνία) or Messania (Μεσσάνία) in the local Doric dialect. It is clear that the Lakedaimonians considered that Messenia no longer existed while it was occupied by themselves as Thucydides (4.3.2) stated that Pylos was “in the land that once was Messenia”. So far as the Lakedaimonians were concerned, Messenia was an integral part of Lakonike. However, following Messenian independence in 370/369 BCE, the term Lakonike no longer included Messenia.
Messenios (Μεσσήνιος) / Messenioi (Μεσσήνιοι) = a Messenian from the city of Messene (Μεσσήνη), the capital of Messenia founded in 370/369 BCE. The name of the city was Messana (Μεσσάνα) in the local Doric dialect. It was originally called Ithome until apparently at least the end of Fourth Century BCE.
Oitaios (Οἰταῖος) / Oitaioi (Οἰταῖοι) = an Oitaian from Oitaia (Οἰταία).
Peiraieus (Πειραιεύς) aka Peiraeus (Πειραεύς), singular = the port of Athens which superseded Phaleron.
Pelasgiotis (Πελασγιῶτις), singular = one of the four tetrades into which Thessaly was divided.
Perrhaibos (Περραιβός) / Perrhaiboi (Περραιβοί) = a Perrhaibian from Perrhaibia (Περραιβία).
Petthalos (Πετθαλός) / Petthaloi (Πετθαλοί) = a Thessalian in the Aiolic Greek dialect of Thessaly. Οn Thessalian coins, the name was abbreviated to PETHA (ΠΕΘΑ), PHETHA (ΦΕΘΑ), and PHETA (ΦΕΤΑ). The last two abbreviations use an initial PH (Φ) and indicate that Phetthalos and Phet(t)alos were alternate spellings. Also see: Thessalos and Thettalos.
Pharsalios (Φαρσάλιος) / Pharsalioi (Φαρσάλιοι) = a Pharsalian from the city of Pharsalos (Φάρσαλος) in the tetras of Phthiotis in Thessaly.
Pheraios (Φεραῖος) / Pheraioi (Φεραῖοι) = a Pheraian from the city of Pherai (Φεραί) in the tetras of Pelasgiotis in Thessaly.
Phleiasios (Φλειάσιος) / Phleiasioi (Φλειάσιοι) = a Phleiasian from Phleious (Φλειοῦς)
Phokeus (Φωκεύς) / Phokeis (Φωκεῖς) = a Phokian from Phokis (Φωκίς).
Phthia (Φθία), singular = the mythological home of the legendary hero Akhilleus (Achilles). Phthia was located in Thessaly perhaps at or near Pharsalos.
Phthiotis (Φθιῶτις), singular = one of the four tetrades into which Thessaly was divided.
Piraeus (the Latin spelling!) = see: Peiraieus.
Plataieus (Πλαταιεύς) / Plataieis (Πλαταιεῖς) = a Plataian from Plataiai (Πλαταιαί) aka Plataia (Πλάταια).
Skotoussaios (Σκοτουσσαῖος) / Skotoussaioi (Σκοτουσσαῖοι) = a Skotoussaian from the city of Skotoussa (Σκοτοῦσσα) in the tetras of Pelasgiotis in Thessaly.
Spartiates (Σπαρτιάτης) / Spartiatai (Σπαρτιᾶται) = a Spartan from the city of Sparte (Σπάρτη). The city was called Sparta (Σπάρτα) in the local Doric Greek dialect of the Lakedaimonians. The Spartiatai were the elite citizens of the Lakedaimonian state. Also see: Lakedaimonios.
Tegeatas (Τεγεάτας) / Tegeatai (Τεγεᾶται) = a Tegeatan from Tegea (Τεγέα) in Arkadia. Though the form Tegeates (Τεγεάτης) is found in literary sources, the city ethnic is invariably Τεγεάτας in inscriptions.
Thebaios (Θηβαίος) / Thebaioi (Θηβαῖοι) = a Theban from Thebai (Θῆβαι), which is known as Thebes in English.
Thespieus (Θεσπιεύς) / Thespieis (Θεσπιεῖς) = a Thespiean from Thespiai (Θεσπιαί) aka Thespeia (Θέσπεια).
Thessaliotis (Θεσσαλιῶτις) aka Thettaliotis (Θετταλιῶτις), singular = one of the four tetrades into which Thessaly was divided.
Thessalos (Θεσσαλός) / Thessaloi (Θεσσαλοί) = a Thessalian from Thessalia (Θεσσαλία) in the Old Attic Greek dialect, which has some Ionic Greek elements such as the double ‘ss’. Also see: Petthalos.
Thettalos (Θετταλός) / Thettaloi (Θετταλοί) = a Thessalian from Thettalia (Θετταλία) in the New Attic Greek dialect. Also see: Petthalos.
Thrax (Θρᾷξ) / Thrakes (Θρᾷκες) = a Thracian from Thrake (Θρᾴκη), which is known as Thrace in English.
Triphylios (Τριφύλιος) / Triphylioi (Τριφύλιοι) = a Triphylian from Triphylia (Τριφυλία).
NOTES
My principal sources for the spelling of ancient names are:
- Brill’s New Pauly aka New Pauly Online. Edited by Hubert Cancik and Helmuth Schneider (Antiquity) and Manfred Landfester (Classical Tradition). English translation edited by Christine F. Salazar (Antiquity) and Francis G. Gentry (Classical Tradition). 1996–.
- A Greek–English Lexicon: With a Supplement 1968. Compiled by Henry George Liddell and Robert Scott. New (9th) Edition. Revised and augmented thoughout by Sir Henry Stuart Jones with the assistance of Roderick McKenzie. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1973.
- An Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis: An Investigation Conducted by The Copenhagen Polis Centre for the Danish National Research Foundation. [Edited by] Mogens Herman Hansen and Thomas Heine Nielsen. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.
- Kent, Roland G. Old Persian: Grammar, Texts, Lexicon. Second Edition, Revised. (American Oriental Series, volume 33). New Haven, Connecticut: American Oriental Society, 1953.
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