What’s in a Name?

  What’s in a Name?

“What’s in a name?” – the question posed by Shakespeare’s Juliet to her beloved Romeo:

Juliet:

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.

Romeo:

I take thee at thy word:
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.

Like the Montagues and Capulets of Verona, the ancient Greeks took their names rather seriously. They followed fairly rigid conventions when naming their children. Names were deeply symbolic and were often designed to influence a person’s destiny or to reflect a family’s social status. Names were likely to follow a three-part structure with a personal or given name, a patronymic that reflected the father’s name, and sometimes a demotic that indicated a person’s city of origin or their occupation. Children were generally named on the 7^th or 10^th day following their birth in a ceremony called the amphidromia.

Many ancient Greek names were derived from a connection to the divine and are referred to as Theophoric names. These names are usually in a form which describes the person as being a “gift” from a god or “belonging” to a god. Commonly used suffixes for such names included:

-doros (gift of), -dotos (given by), -phanes (appearing), -phon (voice of)

Examples of such names include Apollodoros, Theodoros, Demetrios, and Artemidorus.

In addition to deriving names from divine sources, the ancient Greeks also took names from nature, mythology and references to beloved and revered heroes. Names were also used to describe the qualities or the nature of an individual, sometimes combining two elements to form what is known as a Dithematic name. Several of the names of key players among the Achaeans in the Iliad provide us with some excellent examples of these naming conventions.

Achilles – derived from achos (pain) and laos (people) – “pain or grief of the people” – a reference to the hero’s sorrow or suffering.

Antilochus – derived from anti (against) lochus (place or ambush) – “one who lies in wait”.

Other famous Achaeans included Agamemnon (steadfast), Diomedes (advised by the gods), Idomeneus (one from Idomene), Nestor (a traveler or returner i.e. Nostos), Odysseus (angry man or one who causes pain, Calchas (a seer or dark man), Aias (strength or of the earth), Menelaus (wrath of the people), Patroclus (glory of the father i.e. Kleos), and Teucer (archer).

We can find a number of Dithematic names among the Trojan warriors and other personages. For example, Alexandros combines alexein (to defend) and aner (man), meaning “defender of the people”. Antenor means to be “against a man” or a “combatant”. The name Aeneas could be derived from ainos, meaning “glory or praise” or from ainon, meaning “terrible grief”. Hector means “steadfast” and Helen means “shining bright”. Astyanax means “lord of the city”.

It is interesting to note that many of the Trojan heroes and characters had Greek names and that they were able to communicate with the Achaeans without the need of translators. We know that historically the people of Troy were part of a large international trade network and had wide connections in the region, but we also know that they likely spoke the Luwian, Arzawan or Hittite languages and not Greek. Homer is using a little poetic licence when he portrays the Trojans as fluent Greek speakers bearing Greek names. Homer calls the leader of the Trojans Priam, but more than likely his Luwian name was Pariya-muwa, meaning “exceptionally courageous”. The name Paris is a Greek rendering of the Luwian Parizitis and the names Aeneas (Ainiya in Hittite), Anchises, Pandarus and Sarpedon are all thought to have Hittite, Luwian or Anatolian roots.

Sometimes it appears that Homer has made up a name just to suit the character in his narrative. For example, Anticleia the mother of Odysseus is rarely mentioned in the story and her name means “of little fame”. Eurycleia, the nurse who recognizes Odysseus on his return and who plays a vital role in the story has a name that means “of great renown”. The faithful swineherd Eumaeus, who raised Odysseus like a son, has a name that means “wonderful step-father”. Melantho, Penelope’s unfaithful servant is a “dark flower”. Though he is now in his old age and is about to die, the patiently waiting dog Argos has a name that means “swift or agile”, a reflection of his younger days. Then there are examples where the name does not make any sense at all. For example, the name Andromache means “battler of men”. Another example is the Phaeacian princess Nausicaa who has a name that means “the burner of ships”. Women in ancient Greece were often identified by their father’s name, or upon marriage, by their husband’s name. How Nausicaa came to be named is uncertain, to say the least. Some scholars suggest the alternative meaning of “a passion for ships”. This makes more sense since the Phaeacians were known for their prowess at ship-building and sailing.

There are well over 1,000 named characters in the Iliad, with barely 100 of them having any significant role in the narrative, and only 78 of them have speaking  parts, with only 19 of them having in excess of 100 lines of dialogue. The Odyssey is likewise well-populated with a wide array of gods, nymphs, monsters, suitors, royalty and crew members. It makes one wonder why there are so many people referred to in Homer’s stories. One must remember that the epics were products of an oral tradition and that wandering bards roamed the countryside reciting the stories to wide and varied audiences. The recitation of familiar names was one way to engage the audience and to capture and maintain its attention. Hearing one’s family name mentioned or that of a familiar character must have been an exciting moment for a listener. It’s like when my dear wife’s eyes light up when I point out a castle during one of our journeys and tell her that it used to belong to her 44x great-grandfather, and the connection is made.

The following is an AI-generated (Google) summary of the importance of the family name in ancient Greece and why people of the period worked so diligently to protect its integrity.

 

Maintaining the reputation of the family name in ancient Greece was of paramount importance, functioning as a foundational element of social structure, legal standing, and personal identity within a "collectivist" society. In a world dominated by an "honor-shame" culture, an individual's worth was not based on internal, individualistic metrics but on public perception, with the family unit (the oikos) bearing the collective weight of honor. 

 

Key aspects of the importance of family reputation in ancient Greece include:

 

·         Foundation of Identity and Social Standing: A person's reputation, status, and honor were directly tied to their family background. The family was the primary unit of social and economic support, and upholding its dignity was a major duty.

·         The "Honor-Shame" Dynamic: Reputation was paramount, and honor was seen as the ultimate asset, while shame was the ultimate deficit. Maintaining a good name required demonstrating virtuous actions and avoiding any public scandal that could shame the household.

·         Collective Accountability: Actions were viewed as reflecting on the entire household, not just the individual. A scandal involving one member brought disgrace upon the entire lineage.

·         Protection of Lineage and Legitimacy: Preserving the family's honor was crucial for ensuring the legitimacy of the male line. This was particularly true for women, who were expected to be faithful to their husbands to guarantee that children belonged to the oikos.

·         Impact of Gender on Reputation: Women’s reputation was directly tied to their modesty and fidelity, which protected the family's honor. Any deviation could lead to severe social consequences or, in the case of infidelity, allow a husband to take drastic actions against the lover.

·         Role of Patronymics and Ancestry: Although not using modern surnames, Greeks often used patronymics (deriving the name from the father) to maintain family heritage, honor their lineage, and distinguish themselves within the community.

·         Legacy and Continuity: The family name was a living entity that linked individuals to their past, often with a focus on continuing the fame and fortune of ancestors. 

Insults to an individual were interpreted as slurs on their entire family, and it was expected that members would dispute any criticism to prevent discredit.