PRONUNCIATION BOOKLET

Word Phonetic pronunciation (mine) What Meaning (if known)

Abaton ab-are-tonActual sacred space or enclosure attached to a temple of

Asclepius where those wanting to be cured slept

Acayo a-key-owe Fictional character - a Spartan soldier Greek name meaning out of step/ill-timed

Acropolis ac-rop-o-liss Actual fortified part of a city, normally built on a hill

Aegeus ee-gee-usActual ancient Greek King of Athens, father of the hero

TheseusGreek name meaning protection

Agora ag-or-areActual Ancient Greek name given to the public open space

used for marketsGreek name meaning gathering place or assembly

Agrias ag-ree-us Fictional character - Alexis' father, and King of Trachis Greek name of unknown meaning

Aigai ay-gayActual ancient first capital of Macedonia, now called Vergina

Greek name meaning place of goats

Alexis al-ex-usFictional character - Princess of Thermopylae, daughter of

Agrias & Melina

Greek name meaning helper and defender (can be male

or female name)

Amazonomachiai am-a-zon-e-mack-ee Plural of the battle of the Amazonomachy

Amazonomachy am-a-zon-e-mack-eePortrayal of a mythical battle between the Amazons and

Ancient GreeksAmazon battle

Amphissa am-f-iss-are Actual ancient city in Phocis, now known as Amfissa Greek name meaning surround

Amphora am-for-aActual Ancient Greek jar or jug with two handles and a

narrow neck (singular)From Greek word amphoreus meaning to bear

Amphorae am-for-iActual plural of the Ancient Greek jars or jugs called amphora

Amyntas arm-in-t-us Actual King of Macedonia Amyntas I 540-498BC Greek name meaning defender

Andreas on-dray-usFictional character - Molossian tribesman, father of Basileios,

Melanthios, Cleon, Xylon and MarcarioGreek name meaning man/warrior

Anticyra anti-sear-are Actual ancient town in Greece

Antigonos an-tee-go-nusFictional character - former Epirote tribesman living in Trachis

Greek name meaning comparable to his father or worthy of

his father

Aphrodite afro-die-tee Actual Greek Goddess of Love Greek name of unknown meaning

Apollo a-poll-owe Actual Greek God of Music & Poetry Greek name of unknown meaning

Apollonia apple-own-ee-areActual ancient Greek city on the right bank of the Aous river

(modern day Vjose)

Ares air-ease Actual Greek God of War From Greek meaning bane/ruin

Aretos air-toesActual Ancient Macedonian name for the Greek hero

Heracles

Ancient Greek name meaning goodness, excellence,

manliness, prowess, rank, valour, virtue, character,

reputation, glory, fame, dignity, distinction

Argonauts are-go-noughtsActual heroic men who joined Jason on his quest to retrieve

the Golden Fleece from Colchis

Artemis art-ee-muss Actual Greek Goddess of the HuntMeaning unknown, possibly from the Greek word artemes

meaning safe/artamos meaning butcher

Asclepeion ass-clee-pee-onActual ancient healing temples in Greece dedicated to

Asclepius

Asclepius ass-clee-pee-us Actual Greek God of Medicine and Healing Greek name of unknown meaning

Augean o-jean Actual mythological stables which Heracles had to clean

Ava Ay-var Daughter of Nasrin, of Persian descent Persian name meaning a voice/sound

Basileios bass-ill-ee-us

Fictional character - Alexis' betrothed, eldest son of Andreas,

brother of Melanthios, Cleon, Xylon and Marcario, of the

Molossian tribe of Epirus

Greek name meaning royal/kingly

Bellerophon bell-air-o-phon Actual Greek mythological hero Greek name meaning slew chimera

Bessoi bess-oyActual Ancient Thracian tribe, protectors of the priests and

priestesses Possible word meaning bound to something/agreememt

Brygos br-i-goss Fictional character - a soldier of Trachis Greek name of unknown meaning

Calla car-la Fictional character - Alexis' horse Greek name meaning most beautiful

Centaur s-en-toreMythological creature with head, arms and torso of a man

and the body and legs of a horse

Ceryneia s-air-a-knee-are Mythological hind which lived in Ceryneia (Keryneia)

Chalcidice cal-sid-i-seeActual peninusla of central Greece, in Macedonia, modern

name is Khalkidiki

Charon care-onMythological operator of the ferry which took people across

the Acheron river and into HadesGreek name possibly meaning fierce brightness

Chiton kite-onActual name given to the full length garment worn by women

of Ancient GreeceFrom the Greek word chitōn meaning tunic

Cleisthenes cl-i-s-th-e-knees Actual 5th century BC nobleman and statesman of Athens,

maternal grandson of the tyrant Cleisthenes of Sicyon

Greek name derived from the words kleos meaning glory and

sthenos meaning strength

Cleomenes cleo-mean-ees Actual King of Sparta c. 520–490BC Greek name of unknown meaning

Colchis coal-kissActual ancient region at the eastern end of the Black Sea

Corinth cor-in-thActual Ancient Greek city near the Isthmus, in the north of

the Peloponnese

Corinthian (Gulf) cor-in-th-ee-on Actual ancient and current Gulf in Greece

Cretan cree-t-anMythological bull whom Pasiphae fell in love with

Crete cree-t Actual ancient and current Greek island

Cuirass k-were-asActual name given to the Ancient Greek armour chest piece -

normally made of bronze or leatherFrom the Greek word keriein meaning to cut

Darius d-are-ee-us Actual King of Persia, Darius I - 550-486BCPersian name Dārayavahush, elements dâraya "to possess"

and vahu "good"

Darko dark-owe Fictional character - Thaddeus' horse Macedonian name meaning gift

Deacon dee-conFictional character - head priest at the Asclepeion of

EpidaurusGreek name meaning Dusty one/servant

Deianira Day-eye-near-are Actual mythological princess of Calydon, lover to Heracles Greek name meaning man-destroyer or destroyer of husband

Delphi dell-fee Actual ancient town in Greece, famous for its Oracle

Democedes demo-seeds Actual ancient Greek healer enslaved by Darius Greek name

Diolkos die-ole-k-eyes Actual stone portage road at the Isthmus

Dioscuri die-es-cure-eyeActual ancient mythological twins named Castor and

Polydeuces (or Pollux). Brothers to Helen of Troy.

Doric door-ick Actual type of Greek column (architecture)

Dorieus door-ee-usActual prince of Sparta, brother of Cleomenes, Leonidas &

Cleombrotus, son of Anaxandridas Greek name meaning gift or of the Dorian tribe, from Doris

Dyras die-rus The name of a number of rivers in Greece

Eleusis el-you-sisActual ancient and current Greek town 18km from Athens

Elis ee-lissActual ancient city and capital, also a modern area of Greece

in the northwest of the Peloponnese

Eos ee-oss Actual Greek Goddess of the Dawn Greek name meaning dawn

Epidaurus epi-door-us Actual ancient Greek town

Epirotes e-pie-r-ut-s Actual Ancient Greek tribe from the region of Epirus

Epirus e-pie-r-us Actual Ancient Greek region in northern Greece From the Greek word epeiros meaning mainland

Eros err-oss Ancient Greek God of Love Greek name meaning love

Erymanthian air-ee-man-th-ee-an Mythological boar who terrorised the mountain range

Erymanthus air-ee-man-th-usActual mountain in southern Greece in the northwest

Peloponnese, known now as Erymanthos

Eschatiotis (Lake) ess-car-rot-isActual ancient lake of Greece near Loutraki, now known as

Vouliagmeni Lake

Euboea you-bee-are Actual second largest Greek island

Eurystheus you-riss-the-us Actual ancient king of Tiryns, and cousin to Heracles Greek name meaning broad strength

Eurytus you-writ-us Actual mythological king of Oechalia, father to Iole

Evrytania every-ta-knee-are Actual mountain range in central Ancient Greece

Fibula fib-you-lar Actual name given to the Ancient Greek brooch or clasp,

which were made from bone, wood or metal (singular)

Word possibly means to fasten

Gamelion gam-ee-lion Actual first moon of winter, seventh moon of the year in the

Ancient Attic calendar. Equivalent to our January/February

Geraneia (Mts) g-er-are-nay-are Actual ancient and current mountains in Perachora

Glauce gl-our-seeActual ancient princess of Corinth, also known as Creusa,

daughter of king Creon

Gnosidicus no-sid-ee-cuss Actual Ancient Greek descendent of Asclepius Greek name of unknown meaning

Hades hay-dees Actual Greek God of the Underworld Greek name meaning unseen

Halcyonic (Gulf) hell-see-on-ick Actual Greek Gulf off mainland Greece

Hekatombaion heck-a-tom-bonActual first moon of summer, first moon of the year in the

Ancient Attic calendar. Equivalent to our July/August

Helicon (Mt) hell-ee-con Actual mountain in Boeotia, Greece

Helios hell-ee-us Actual Greek God of the Sun Greek name meaning sun

Hephaestus heff-ess-t-us Actual Greek God of the Forge Greek name of unknown meaning

Hera hair-are Actual Greek Queen of the Gods & Childbirth Greek name meaning queen

Heracles hair-a-cl-ease Actual Ancient Greek Hero, known as Hercules to the Romans Greek name meaning in Hera's service

Heraion hair-i-on Actual name given to temples dedicated to Hera

Hermione her-my-owe-knee

Actual ancient town in Argolis in the Peloponnese, now

known as Ermioni

Hesper hess-per Fictional character - Alexis’ best friend, wife of Thaddeus Greek name meaning evening or evening star

Hetaira he-tie-raActual name given to an ancient courtesan/concubine

(singular)

Hetairai he-tie-raActual name given to more than one ancient

courtesan/concubine (plural)

Himatia hi-mat-ee-areActual plural of the Ancient Greek himation (long cloak)

which was normally made of wool

Himation him-a-tee-onActual name of the Ancient Greek long cloak which was

normally made of woolAkin to the Greek word hennynai meaning to clothe

Hippias hip-ee-us Actual tyrant of Athens from 527BC–510BC Greek name of unknown meaning

Hippolyta hip-ol-ee-tar Actual mythological Amazonian queen Greek name meaning horse and let loose

Hippolytus hip-owe-lie-t-us Actual mythological son of Theseus, devotee of Artemis Greek name meaning unleasher of horses/horse-freer

Hoplites hop-lights Actual name given to Ancient Greek soldiers

Hydra hi-dr-areActual Ancient Greek mythical 9-headed monster killed by

Heracles

Hyllus high-l-us Actual mythological son of Heracles and Deianira

Hypnos hip-noss Actual Greek God of Sleep

Idylla eye-deal-areFictional character - Alexis' attendant at the temple in Corinth

Greek name meaning perfect

Illyria ill-ear-ee-aActual Ancient Greek region of Illyria, western part of Balkan

peninsula

Illyrian/s ill-ear-ee-un/s Actual Ancient Greek tribe of the region of Illyria

Iole eye-ole-ee Actual mythological daughter of king Eurytas Greek name meaning violet, purple flower

Iolkos ee-ole-c-ossActual ancient city and modern village (Iolcus) in Thessaly

Ionic eye-on-ick Actual type of Greek column (architecture)

Isagoras i-sag-or-as Actual Athenian aristocrat in the late 6th century bc

Greek name derived from the words isos meaning equal and

agora meaning marketplace or agoreuo meaning to orate/to

speak publicly

Isthmian is-th-me-onActual ancient games held in Corinth in the 2nd and 4th years

of the Olympiad in Mounichon (spring)

Isthmus is-mu-ssActual narrow strip of land which connects the Peloponnese

peninsula to the rest of GreeceFrom Greek word isthmos meaning neck

Itinerary i-tin-er-are-ee Actual ancient Greek unit of measurement

Kalika car-lee-carFictional character - Skylar's attendant at the temple in

CorinthGreek name meaning rosebud

Kallidromon (Mt) kelly-d-row-mon Actual mountain in NE Phocis in central Greece

Kenchreai ken-cr-ee-eye Actual ancient and modern village near Corinth

Keres care-easeActual Ancient Greek female spririts of violent or cruel death

Greek name meaning evil spirits

Kerkyon ker-key-on Actual mythological man killed by Theseus

Klinai cl-ee-nigh Actual name of Ancient Greek bed/banquet couch

Konitsa con-its-are Actual ancient town in Epirus

Krommyon cr-om-my-onActual ancient mythological place where Theseus killed a wild

sow

Kuria cue-ree-ar Fictional character - wife of Stamatis of Corinth Greek name meaning lady

Larissa la-riss-are Actual ancient town in Thessaly Greek name meaning citadel

Leandros lee-ann-d-ross Fictional character - Skylar’s father Greek name meaning lion man

Lechaeum l-e-ch-ee-um Actual port of ancient Corinth

Leonidas lee-on-i-das

Actual brother of Cleomenes and Prince of Sparta. Note:

actually born in 540BC, rather than 528BC as suggested in my

series

Greek name meaning son of the lion

Lerna l-air-kneeActual ancient area of springs/swamp in the Peloponnese

south of Argos

Limenia limb-ee-nar Name of ancient temple dedicated to Hera

Lykaon ly-kay-on Fictional character - Spartan soldier Greek name possibly meaning wolf

Macedonia Mass-ee-dough-knee-are Actual Ancient Greek & Modern region

Macedonian/s Mass-ee-dough-knee-an/s Actual Ancient Greek people of Macedonia

Macrobio mack-row-be-owe Fictional character - soldier in Cleomenes' army Greek name meaning he who enjoys a long life

Makhaira mack-hair-are Actual ancient knife used for sacrifice Greek word, related to mákhē meaning a battle

Malian mar-lee-onActual Ancient Greek Tribe & Gulf in the region of

Thermopylae

Malis mar-lissActual Ancient Greek region and river near Thermopylae

Medea ma-dee-are Actual ancient woman from Colchis Greek name meaning either to ponder or cunning

Megara (place) meg-are-a Actual ancient town in West Attica, Greece Greek word derived from megaron, meaning large

Melanthios mel-ann-thee-oss

Fictional character - Second oldest son of Andreas, brother of

Basilieos, Cleon, Xylon and Marcario, of the tribe of the

Molossians in Epirus

Greek name meaning dark flower

Melas mel-usActual name given to a river in the region of Thermopylae,

was also known as the Black River

Melina me-lean-areFictional character - Queen of Thermopylae, wife of Agrias,

mother of AlexisGreek name meaning honey

Miletus my-lee-tussActual ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia

Mina me-nar Actual ancient Greek unit of weight

Minoan min-owe-enActual Bronze Age civilisation on Crete, its people or language

Moeris more-us Fictional character - soldier of Trachis Greek name of unknown meaning

Molossians moll-owe-shins Actual Ancient tribe of the Epirotes

Morpheus more-fee-us Actual Greek God of Dreams Greek name meaning shape (morphe)

Mysia miss-ee-areActual ancient region in northwest Asia Minor (in modern

Turkey)

Mycenae my-see-nayActual ancient city near current Mykines in Argolis, north-

eastern Peloponnese

Naarda nar-dar Actual ancient Egyptian city

Nardus nar-dus Actual ancient plant which was used in temples

Nasrin nass-reen Fictional character - of Persian descent Persian name meaning wild rose

Nemea na-me-are Actual ancient town in central to east Peloponnese Greek word meaning to graze

Nemean na-me-on

Actual ancient games held in Nemea in the 2nd and 4th years

of the Olympiad - in winter in the 2nd year and in summer in

the 4th year

Nessus ness-us Mythological centaur killed by Heracles

Nikomachos nick-o-mark-osFictional character, Hesper and Thaddeus' eldest son Greek name maning battle of victory

Olympia owe-lim-pee-are Actual ancient town in western Peloponnese region Greek name meaning from the home of the Gods

Olympos o-lim-pusActual Ancient Greek mountain, which was believed to be the

home of the GodsGreek name of unknown meaning

Oresinios or-es-in-ee-osActual name of the 'hero physician' Heros Iatros, who was

known by several names, including this one

Othrys (Mts) oth-riss Actual mountain range and mountain in central Greece

Pamphilos pam-fill-os Fictional character, Hesper and Thaddeus' second son Greek name meaning friend of all

Panathenaea pan-a-then-ay-ick Actual ancient festival held in Athens

Panathenaic pan-a-then-ay-ickActual games held during ancient Athenian festival of

Panathenaea

Parnassos (Mt) par-nass-osActual mountain in Ancient Greek mythology where it was

believed the Muses lived

Pegasus peg-a-sussIn Greek mythology, he was the horse belonging to the hero

BellerophonGreek name meaning winged horse

Peisistratos pie-sis-trit-is Actual ancient ruler (tyrant) of Athens Greek name meaning to persuade, to convince

Peloponnese pel-op-o-knees Actual region of South-west Greece Greek name meaning island of Pelops

Peraea pear-ee-are Actual region northwest of the Isthmus in Greece Greek word meaning the country beyond

Peraia Chora pear-are core-are Actual ancient place near Corinth in Ancient Greece Greek word meaning the land on the other side

Periander pear-ee-an-der Actual tyrant of Corinth (died circa 587BC)

Periphetes pear-if-it-ee Actual mythological figure known as the club bearer

Perseus purr-see-usActual mythological hero said to have founded the ancient

city of MycenaeGreek name meaning to destroy

Phalanx fell-ann-ck-sActual name of the formation of the hoplites in the armies of

Ancient Greece

Phalerum fell-a-rum Actual ancient port of Athens on the Saronic Gulf

Philoctetes fill-ock-tee-teesActual Greek hero and archer who received a bow from

Heracles and later killed Paris in TroyGreek name meaning killed Paris

Polos pole-owes Actual ancient Greek crown - high and cylindrical

Polydeuces poly-due-seesActual twin brother of Helen of Troy, in Greece he was known

as Pollux, in Rome as PolydeucesRoman form of Greek meaning very sweet

Poseidon poss-i-don Actual Greek God of the Sea Name of unknown origin or meaning

Potidaea po-t-i-dee-areActual ancient colony, on the most western peninsula at the

southern end of Chaldice in northern Greece

Procrustes pro-cr-us-tees Actual mythological robber who was killed by Theseus Greek name meaning he who stretches

Pylae pie-layActual ancient name of Thermopylae used by the Malian tribe

Pyre pie-areActual ancient heap of combustible material, often used for

burning corpses

Pythian pith-ee-onActual ancient games held in Delphi in the 3rd year of the

Olympiad in Metageitnon (summer)From the Greek word puthios, the ancient name for Delphi

Pyxides picks-are-dees Actual name given to the small containers/boxes used by

ancient Greeks (it is the plural of the word pyxis)

Rhoda roe-dar Fictional character - Sister of Kalika Greek name meaning rose or from Rhodes

Sabazios sar-bee-zee-os Actual Thracian and Phrygian sky-god Name related to the Macedonian word satyrs

Sargos s-are-goesActual type of white sea-bream (fish) commonly found in

Greece waters

Saronic sar-on-ick Actual ancient and current Gulf in Greece

Sinis sin-is Actual mythological man killed by Theseus

Skaris scar-us Fictional charcater - Leandros' horse Thracian name meaning quick

Skiron sky-ron Actual mythological man killed by Theseus Name meaning from the (rising) sun

Skirophorion skeer-o-for-ee-onActual last moon of spring, 12th moon of the year in the

Ancient Attic calendar. Equivalent to our June/July

Skotos sc-owe-toss Fictional character - Skylar’s horse Greek name meaning darkness

Skylar sky-l-are Fictional character - Zita & Leandros' daughter Greek name meaning fugitive

Skyphoi sky-foy Actual plural of the Ancient Greek cups called skyphos

Skyphos sky-fos Actual Ancient Greek deep, two handled cup

Sophos s-off-oss Fictional character - fisherman from Thermae Greek name meaning clever/skilled

Spercheios spur-key-usActual Ancient Greek valley and river in the region of

Thermopylae, central Greece

Stamatis st-a-mart-us Fictional character - husband of Kuria Greek name meaning one who stops

Stratos stra-toss Actual Ancient Greek village in Acarnania Greek word meaning army

Stymphalian s-tim-far-lee-unThe birds (sometimes also the area) Heracles had to travel to

during his labours

Stymphalos s-tim-far-lossActual ancient lake (Lake Zaraka) in Arcadia where Heracles

was sent for one of his labours

Sunium soon-ee-um Actual town - the southernmost tip of Attica in Greece, 69km

SSE of Athens, now called Cape Sounion

Tartarus tart-are-usActual Ancient Greek area of torture and torment in the

Underworld, equivalent to Hell

From the Greek work tartaros meaning a type of encrustation

or as a verb meaning to cast down

Thaddeus th-add-ee-usFictional character - Hesper’s husband, friend of Alexis,

favoured guard and best friend of AgriasAramaic name meaning heart

Thermae th-er-mayActual ancient town on the Isthmus of Corinth, situated on

the site of the modern city of LoutrakiGreek name meaning hot springs

Thermopylae therm-op-a-lie Actual ancient region of Central Greece Hot Gates

Theseus th-ee-see-us Actual founding king of Athens, father of Hippolytus Greek name meaning son of Aegeus

Thessaly thess-a-lee Actual ancient region of Central Greece

Thorikos th-ore-eco-s Actual ancient city of Ancient Attica

Thrace th-race Actual ancient region of Greece

Thracian/s th-ray-shin/s Actual Ancient Greek tribe from the region of Thrace Greek word meaning to trouble, stir

Thrasybulus th-rass-ee-bool-us Actual ancient tyrant of Miletus in the 7th century BC Greek name meaning brave-willed

Trachis tray-kissActual Ancient Greek town in the region of Thermopylae,

south of the river Spercheios

Tritonos try-ton-os Fictional character, Hesper and Thaddeus' youngest son Variant form of Greek triton, meaning of the third

Troezen tree-zen Actual ancient place and king (current town in Greece)

Valkyrie val-k-ear-eeActual name of ancient Norse gatherers and keepers of dead

warriors

Xiphos ziff-oss Actual type of Ancient Greek/Spartan sword Word possibly meaning penetrating light

Xylon z-eye-l-onFictional character - second youngest son of Andreas, brother

of Basileios, Melanthios, Cleon and MarcarioGreek name meaning from the forest

Zeus zoo-ss Actual Greek King of the Gods

Zita zee-tah Fictional character - Skylar’s mother Greek name meaning reaper or seeker