In this short post today, we take a look at the names of the two best known Macedonians and dissect them to prove their Greekness. So let's get straight into it.Alexander the Great: Ἀλέξανδρος (Aléxandros) = ἀλέξω (verb aléxo meaning to ward off, to defend) + ἀνήρ (anír, genitive being ανδρός andrós, meaning [of] man) = Protector, defender of man
King Philip II: Φίλιππος (Fílippos) = φίλος (fílos meaning dear, loving, friend) + ἵππος ([h]íppos meaning horse) = Fond of horses, horse's friend
When the Yugoslavs hear this, they usually have nothing to say. Some try to argue that just because the ancient Macedonians had Greek names that doesn't make them Greeks. While other, more extreme Yugoslav nationalists will say that Aleksandr and Filip are names belonging to the same language family as Gojko and Zoran.
In any case, their arguments are always very weak, baseless in fact. They cannot claim that the ancient Macedonians were not Hellenes despite having Greek names and promoting Hellenic culture because they were forced to. (By who?) It just makes no sense.
Taking a look at other historical figures of the time and the names they bore, we can see that names often, if not always, reflected the language spoken and, consequently, the identity of the person.
Take Julius Caesar for example. Emperor of Rome, his birth name in Latin was Gaius Julius Caesar. In the history books we don't read that Caesar was secretly a Gaul or a German barbarian.
What about Tutankhamun, the boy pharaoh of Egypt? He wasn't secretly a Hebrew named Solomon or an Arab born Walid.
As always, if you'd like to get in touch with us, give some feedback, or ask a question, please email melbourne.macedonian@gmail.com.
When the Yugoslavs hear this, they usually have nothing to say. Some try to argue that just because the ancient Macedonians had Greek names that doesn't make them Greeks. While other, more extreme Yugoslav nationalists will say that Aleksandr and Filip are names belonging to the same language family as Gojko and Zoran.
In any case, their arguments are always very weak, baseless in fact. They cannot claim that the ancient Macedonians were not Hellenes despite having Greek names and promoting Hellenic culture because they were forced to. (By who?) It just makes no sense.
Taking a look at other historical figures of the time and the names they bore, we can see that names often, if not always, reflected the language spoken and, consequently, the identity of the person.
Take Julius Caesar for example. Emperor of Rome, his birth name in Latin was Gaius Julius Caesar. In the history books we don't read that Caesar was secretly a Gaul or a German barbarian.
What about Tutankhamun, the boy pharaoh of Egypt? He wasn't secretly a Hebrew named Solomon or an Arab born Walid.
As always, if you'd like to get in touch with us, give some feedback, or ask a question, please email melbourne.macedonian@gmail.com.