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Getting started on ancient Greek
Getting started on ancient Greek

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3 Practice

Now try to convert some transliterated words back into the Greek alphabet. For example:

Themistoklēs —> Θεμιστοκλῆς

If you'd like to refresh your memory of transliterated Greek, refer back to Session 1, Section 6. Remember that eta is represented by ē, and omega by о̄.

Activity 3 Word practice

Timing: Allow about 20 minutes

Write the following words. You should include breathings where necessary. Accents are, as usual, optional. You can use this worksheet if you wish: Practice [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]

  • anthrо̄pos (= man)
  • didaskalos (= teacher)
  • potamos (= river)
  • stratēgos (= a general)
  • phо̄nē (= voice)

Discussion

In Greek the words are:

  • ἄνθρωπος
  • διδάσκαλος
  • ποταμός
  • στρατηγός
  • φωνή

Now, convert the names of the Olympian gods into the corresponding Greek form.

Start with an initial capital and continue in lower case. Remember to include breathings if needed.

  • Artemis
  • Dēmētēr
  • Dionysos
  • Zeus
  • Hēra
  • Poseidо̄n

Discussion

The Greek names are:

  • Ἄρτεμις (goddess of the hunt and childbirth)
  • Δημήτηρ (goddess of grain and agriculture)
  • Διόνυσος (god of the grape and wine)
  • Ζεύς (father of the gods)
  • Ἥρα (wife and sister of Zeus)
  • Ποσειδῶν (god of the sea)

Now try a few more.

  • Athēnē
  • Apollо̄n
  • Arēs
  • Aphroditē
  • Hēphaistos
  • Hermēs

Discussion

The Greek names are:

  • Ἀθήνη (goddess of wisdom and war)
  • Ἀπόλλων (god of the lyre, prophecy, medicine)
  • Ἄρης (god of war)
  • Ἀφροδίτη (goddess of love and beauty)
  • Ἥφαιστος (god of fire and blacksmiths)
  • Ἑρμῆς (the messenger god)

If you used the worksheet, here is a completed version for comparison: Practice [completed].