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

Attested by 8th century BC, from a Pre-Greek word, possibly Phoenician 𐤔𐤄𐤓𐤀𐤇 (šhrʾḥ, to feel ill) in reference to the port's proximity to 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
  • Greek: Συρακούσες (Syrakoúses)
  • Latin: Syrācūsae
  • Sicilian: Saragusa (“g” is mostly silent)

References

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