Download Names in The Iliad

Names in The Iliad
http://www.behindthename.com/
ACHILLES m
Usage: Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Pronounced: a-KIL-eez
Meaning unknown, perhaps derived from Greek achos "pain" or else from the name of the Achelous River
in Greece. This was the name of a warrior in Greek legend, one of the central characters in Homer's 'Iliad'.
The bravest of the Greek heroes in the war against the Trojans, he was killed by an arrow to his heel, the
only vulnerable part of his body.
PRIAM m
Usage: Greek Mythology (Anglicized)
From the Greek Priamos, possibly meaning "redeemed". In Greek legend Priam was the king of Troy
during the Trojan War and the father of many children including Hector and Paris.
PARIS m
Usage: Greek Mythology
Pronounced: PAR-is, PER-is
Meaning unknown. In Greek mythology he was the Trojan prince who kidnapped Helen and began the
Trojan War. He slew the great hero Achilles, but was himself eventually slain in the battle. The capital city
of France bears this name, though it derives from a different source: the ancient Celtic tribe known as the
Parisii.
AGAMEMNON m
Usage: Greek Mythology
Pronounced: ag-a-MEM-nahn
Possibly meaning "very steadfast" in Greek. In Greek mythology he was the brother of Menelaus and he led
the Greek expedition to Troy to recover his brother's wife Helen. After the Trojan War Agamemnon was
killed by his wife Clytemnestra.
MENELAUS m
Usage: Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Means "withstanding the people" from Greek meno "to last, to withstand" and laos "the people". In Greek
legend he was a king of Sparta and the husband of Helen. When his wife was taken by Paris, the Greeks
besieged the city of Troy in an effort to get her back. After the war Menelaus and Helen settled down to a
happy life.
HECTOR m
Usage: English, French, Spanish
Pronounced: HEK-tor
Derived from Greek echein meaning "to hold, to possess". In Greek legend Hector was one of the Trojan
champions who fought against the Greeks. After he killed Achilles' friend Patroclus in battle, he was
himself brutally slain by Achilles, who proceeded to tie his dead body to a chariot and drag it about.
HELEN f
Usage: English
Pronounced: HEL-en
Possibly from either Greek helene "torch" or "corposant", or Greek selene "moon". In Greek mythology
Helen was the daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose kidnapping by Paris was the cause of the Trojan War. The
name was also borne by Saint Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine, who supposedly found
the True Cross during a trip to Jerusalem. Another famous bearer was Helen Keller, the American author
and lecturer who was both blind and deaf.
ANDROMACHE f
Usage: Greek Mythology
Means "battle of a man" from the Greek elements andros "of a man" and mache "battle". In Greek legend
she was the wife of Hector, taken by Neoptolemus after the fall of Troy
DIOMEDES m
Usage: Greek Mythology
Means "thought of Zeus" from Greek Dios "of Zeus" and medesthai "to think". In Greek legend Diomedes
was one of the heroes who fought against the Trojans. With Odysseus he entered Troy and stole the
Palladium. After the Trojan War he founded the cities of Brindisi and Arpi in Italy.
AJAX m
Usage: Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Pronounced: AY-jaks
From the Greek name Aias, perhaps deriving from Greek aiastes "mourner". In Greek mythology this was
the name of one of the heroes who fought for the Greeks in the Trojan War. When the armor of the slain
hero Achilles was not given to him he became mad with jealousy and killed himself.
ODYSSEUS m
Usage: Greek Mythology
Perhaps derived from Greek odyssesthai "to hate". In Greek legend Odysseus was one of the Greek heroes
who fought in the Trojan War. In the 'Odyssey' Homer relates Odysseus's misadventures on his way back to
his kingdom and his wife Penelope.
PATROCLUS m
Usage: Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Means "glory of the father" from Greek patros "of the father" and kleos "glory". In Greek legend he was
who of the heroes who fought against the Trojans. His death at the hands of Hector drew his friend Achilles
back into the war.
AENEAS m
Usage: Roman Mythology
Pronounced: i-NEE-as
Latin form of the Greek name Aineas, which is derived from Greek aine meaning "praise". In Virgil's
'Aeneid', Aeneas is a Trojan warrior who founds the Roman state.