Greek Titles

[miotas]

G'day,

I hope it's not asking too much, but I have a few questions for those knowledgeable in ancient greek.

I am playing a Baktrian campaign and for role playing purposes I would like to know what the titles i have given my characters would be in Greek.

so here goes:
King of Baktria
King of the East
King of the Indians
Theodotos the foolish (he died attacking Taksashila early on)
Diodotos the Careful (i know, i'm bad at names so if you can think of something better that has a similar meaning then help me out)
Patrokles the Unworthy(obviously not something he's called himself but something everyone else does)
disgruntled heir (as in he is pissed that he is only the heir when his younger brother is king)

and a few general ones i may use later on:
the lion, this is one i would really like as i believe it is what is on their banner and the hetairoi kataphraktoi later on have lion masks
the terrible
the mighty
the fearsome

if there are any others you can think of feel free to add them, as I said I'm not the best at this thing

oh, and in the latin alphabet if you don't mind as i can't read greek

I'm thinking of doing an AAR but I'm not sure yet, the holidays are coming up so I will basically have 2 weeks of solid EB playing to decide.

Cheers

*edit*
some more names i just thought of

the lion-hearted
the brave

[Maion Maroneios]

Because I'm rather bored to write up, why don't you take a look at a previous thread in the main forum section entitled: "Hellenistic rulers: Conceivable epithets".

Maion

[miotas]

wow, thanks, that's exactly what i was looking for.

so according to that king of baktria would be basileus ton baktria?

and sorry to bother you, but the disgruntled heir thing would be greatly appreciated (if it's easily translatable)

[Maion Maroneios]

wow, thanks, that's exactly what i was looking for.

so according to that king of baktria would be basileus ton baktria?

and sorry to bother you, but the disgruntled heir thing would be greatly appreciated (if it's easily translatable)

King of Baktria - Basileus Baktries (ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΒΑΚΤΡΙΗΣ)
Disgruntled Heir - Dysarestos Kleronomos (ΔΥΣΑΡΕΣΤΟΣ ΚΛΗΡΟΝΟΜΟΣ)

Don't worry about bothering, 'cause you aren't. I was just too lazy to translate them all As for your AAR idea, consider me already as a viewer

Maion

[miotas]

ok thanks,

but if i were you i wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the aar, it will be 1 probably 2 weeks, as im taking it slowly and i want to have something worth writing about before i start.

i have one idea i would really like to do but it depends on a child having good traits when he comes of age. If i were to save the turn before he came of age and then reloaded would he get different traits?

and i hope you don't mind if i bounce ideas for titles of you during the aar, although that shouldn't happen often, that thread was pure gold.

cheers

[Olaf Blackeyes]

It was a good thread while it lasted and should be archived for all to see.
And if you are going to start an AAR plz make sure that you actually HAVE the time to play it.
Seen way too many AAR quit out due to poor RL planning.

[miotas]

It was a good thread while it lasted and should be archived for all to see.
And if you are going to start an AAR plz make sure that you actually HAVE the time to play it.
Seen way too many AAR quit out due to poor RL planning.

i'm a tafe student so, yeah plenty of time

[miotas]

hey, how would these names be used?

I have a character, Diodotos Baktrios, and he is going to be known Sophos(the wise).

so would he be
Sophos Diodotos Baktrios
Diodotos Sophos Baktrios
Sophos Diodotos, or
Diodotos Sophos?

is this the same for all the titles in the thread?
would refering to them simply by title have been done?
and if he was king would he have been refered to as Sophos Basileus?

sorry for all the questions but I'm getting pretty keen on this aar and I'm discovering that the names aren't as simple as they seem at first.

[Maion Maroneios]

and i hope you don't mind if i bounce ideas for titles of you during the aar, although that shouldn't happen often, that thread was pure gold.

cheers

Certainly, I'll be open to questions. I'm helping Centurio with his Anabaseis, I can help you anytime as well.

Sophos Diodotos Baktrios - Wise Diodotos the Bactrian (or from Bactra, not sure)
Diodotos Sophos Baktrios - Diodotos the Wise Bactrian (or from Bactra, not sure)
Sophos Diodotos - Wise Diodotos
Diodotos Sophos - Diodotos the Wise

See the quoted part for all the literal translations. Don't they make the exact same meaning? It really doesn't matter how you use it. Now, a more frequent way of saying, would be: Diodotos Sophos or Diodotos Sophos Baktrios.

To further understand this concept, you must understand that epithets were used for Hellenistic rulers in order to define them from others, in the same way we officially call Alexander the Great Alexander III, because he was the 3rd Macedonian King with the name "Alexander". The Hellenes, not favouring numbers, used epithets. So if you were talking about "Megas Alexandros" back that time, everyone (literally in this case) would know who you were talking about.

Answering your other questions now, first of all it goes more or less the same for the rest of the titles. It depends really, so feel free to ask if not sure. As for the reference to them, they would probably be called by their titles, so if say (your) Diodotos is Basileus and defeated the Parthians, he would formally be addressed or referenced as: Basileus Diodotos Baktrios "Nikesas Parthon", "bla bla bla". The "bla bla bla" part is the part were all his given titles are referenced. The most important one, the "Basileus" part, goes first. So basically he wouldn't be referenced by his epithets, only titles. And "Sophos" is an epithet, not a title. The reason why their epithets weren't referenced, us because sometimes they were not exactly good for their prestige, like "Monophthalmos" (The One-Eyed), "Epimanes" (The Mad) etc. How would you feel as Basileus to be referenced by your defections?

Epithets, thus, were only used to distinguish rulers after their deaths, not during. Formally, at least. Everyday people could probably use their epithets as well, be that for praising him or making fun of him

Maion

[miotas]

So these epithets are more informal, whereas the titles would be used in more formal situations like talking to other nations?

I remember in my last game one of my FM's got a trait called indophonos(not sure on the spelling) something to do with beating the Indians in battle, would this have been the kind of thing used as a title? If so I will rely on eb for my titles and just give them epithets, for something extra.

Cheers

[Maion Maroneios]

So these epithets are more informal, whereas the titles would be used in more formal situations like talking to other nations?

Exactly, you got the point.

I remember in my last game one of my FM's got a trait called indophonos(not sure on the spelling) something to do with beating the Indians in battle, would this have been the kind of thing used as a title? If so I will rely on eb for my titles and just give them epithets, for something extra

Indoktonos, or phonos, means "Killer", so it means "The Killer of Indians". And this could be used as a title. Not wise though, especially for the local population. Imagine yourself being ruled by Americans (not that we all aren't) and have a ruler appointed as your High Master or something, who also happens to be called "The Killer of Australians". Not exactly nice, right?

Maion

[miotas]

Indoktonos, or phonos, means "Killer", so it means "The Killer of Indians". And this could be used as a title. Not wise though, especially for the local population. Imagine yourself being ruled by Americans (not that we all aren't) and have a ruler appointed as your High Mater or something, who also happens to be called "The Killer of Australians". Not exactly nice, right?

lol. High Mater?

OK thanks for the advice.

[Maion Maroneios]

Damn. Corrected thanks. It seems Physics is getting more and more involved with my thoughts lately In other words, that's what happens if you study Physics 'till 2-3a.m. in the morning...

EDIT: LOL, I saw the "funnier" part. I made the link with "matter", then realized it sounds more like "mater" from "mate" Makes more sense than the first though

Maion