Συράκουσαι

Ancient Greek

Συράκουσαι (Surā́kousai) Syracuse was the most powerful Doric Greek settlement in Magna Graecia, and among the largest of the Ancient Greek world. Syracuse played a major role in the Peloponnesian War. From 415-413 BC, archrival Athens launched a massive Sicilian Expedition campaign to attack Syracuse; a series of battles between the two great city-states resulted in a decisive victory for the Syracusans and a crushing defeat for the Athenians, who never fully recovered.

Alternative forms

  • Συράκοσαι (Surákosai) Doric
  • Συρακόσσα (Surakóssa)
  • Συράκοσσαι (Surákossai)
  • Συράκουσα (Surákousa)
  • Συρήκουσαι (Surḗkousai) Ionic
  • Συράκουσσα (Surákoussa)
  • Συρακώ (Surakṓ)

Etymology

Found as far back as 8th century BC; from a Pre-Greek word, possibly Phoenician 𐤔𐤄𐤓𐤀𐤇 (šhrʾḥ, to feel ill), a reference to the port being near a swamp.

Pronunciation

 

Proper noun

Συρᾱ́κουσαι (Surā́kousai) f pl (genitive Συρακουσῶν); first declension

  1. Syracuse

Inflection

Derived terms

  • Συρακοσεύς (Surakoseús)
  • Συρακοσία (Surakosía)
  • Συρακόσιος (Surakósios)
  • Συρακόσσιος (Surakóssios)
  • Συρακοσσίς (Surakossís)

Descendants

  • Arabic: سيراقوسة
  • English: Syracuse
  • French: Syracuse
  • Greek: Συρακούσες (Syrakoúses)
  • Italian: Siracusa
  • Latin: Syrācūsae
  • Sicilian: Saragusa (“g” is mostly silent)
  • Spanish: Siracusa

References

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