Quote Originally Posted by o_megas
The other one is about the choice of the name “Arche Seleukeia”. I’ve read the post by Teleclos Archelaou several times trying to understand what is meant by the choice between “Basileia” and “Empire” (Autokratoria) and as to why “Arche Seleukeia” was finally chosen, but I must confess I don’t get it..

I am sure you all know that the word APXH- arch, arche, archi- stands for “first”, “original”, “beginning”, also something akin to “the powers that be”(exousia) and it can be used to denote “greatness”; but when the word “arch” is used to signify “first” (as in the “top-one”) or “greatest” like in “archipelagos” or “archangel” and a lot of other Greek words, I believe it implies that it's “first” or “greatest” amongst others, and since there was only one Seleucid Kingdom –Empire, the choice of “Arche Seleukeia” appears quite strange... Pronounced correctly should sound as one word: “Archeseleukeia”, and with all due respect, IMVHO, this is not even “poor Greek” is more like a name just “made up” using these two words.

I believe the linguists in your team will agree that translations from one language to another can result in, some times, almost comical wording and there is no better example than this: “Our Galaxy is called The Milky Way”. To an English speaking Greek this is quite funny, because translated in Greek it means “Our Galaxy is called Galaxy” or “Our Milky Way is called Milky Way”! and who can forget the famous translation from English to Russian made by a computer of: “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”!!

Remaining_In_Awe

O_Stratigos
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"arche" alpha-rho-chi-eta (feminine noun)

II. first place or power, sovereignty (not in Hom.), cf. Hdt.1.6, etc.; Arist.Pol.1284b2 : metaph., of a stroke of fortune, D.21.196: pl., A.Ch.864 (lyr.); S.Ant.744 , etc.: c. gen. rei, S.OT737 ; power over them, Th.3.90, X.Ath.2.7, etc.: prov., Biasap.Arist.EN1130a1, cf. D.Prooem.48; method of government, Th.6.54 .

2. empire, realm, Hdt.1.91, Th.4.128, etc.

3. magistracy, office, Hdt.3.80, 4.147; Id.3.89 ; Th.8.70; D.59.72, etc.; to obtain an office, Id.57.25; Th.1.96 ; Id.6.54 ; Lex ap.Aeschin.1.21; withsg. Noun, Th.4.53 ; term of office, Antipho6.42 ; POxy.119.16 (iii A.D.).

4. in pl., the authorities, the magistrates, Th.5.47 , cf. Decr. ap. And.1.83; Th.6.54; collectively, 'the board', D.47.22, cf. IG1.229, etc.; Antipho5.48 ; but of a single magistrate, PHal.1.226 (iii B.C.); against authority, A.Supp.485; Id.Ag.124 (anap.).

5. command, i.e. body of troops, LXX 1 Ki.13.17, al.

6. pl., heavenly powers, Ep.Rom.8.38, al., cf. Dam. Pr.96; powers of evil, Ep.Eph.6.12, al.

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Seleukeios, -a, -on‚ adjective

A. of Seleucus, IG11(2).203 B 22 (iii B.C.); name of a month at Ilium, OGI212.11 (iv/iii B.C.), Supp.Epigr.4.664.3 (i B.C.): festival of S., IG12(1).6.3 (Ery thrae).

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Have posted this elsewhere, but here is the explanation of why using "empire" (for which 'arche' is the closest word and the word attested to used in the Seleukid empire) is the best way to go and hardly "made up":

Contemporary references to the state as both a kingdom 'basileia' and an empire 'arche' exist in loyalty decrees from Ilium - OGIS 219. From Sherwin-White and Kuhrt's "From Samarkhand to Sardis" ('93): (chapter 2: section on 'Defining the Seleucid State') "One factor about the Seleucid kingdom, at least, is indisputable: it was an empire, meeting two of the most basic criteria of imperial rule, i.e. (a) where one state, or central power, encompassing a large territory and incorporating a number of socities, often heterogenous in geography and culture, dominates the others by military conquest and military force, and uses the surpluses of the subordinated 'countries'; (b) there exists some sort of overarching administrative framework, which may be loose or tight. The state is created by conquest (Alexander the Great and Seleucus I) and perpetuated by military constraint (armies, colonies, military expeditions, garrisons), which permits the levy of tribute and service from the subjugated peoples. This broad definition the Seleucid kingdom fits."

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I will see to it that the noun-adjective word order is reversed in the Babylonian description.