The Barbaric-Pelasgian names of the heroes in the Trojan Wars Period
explained with the use of Macedonian and Slavic Languages
Author : Odyssey Belchevsky May 2007, ©® (10 pages)
Prologue
The Trojan Wars took place approx. 1,100- 1250 BC. The events of these wars have been
sung in the form of the Homeric Epics, which became part of the fundamental Classic
literature of Western Civilization and culture. Today it is not clearly known as to what was
the original Language that these poems / epics were sung in. It appears that for a very long
time these epics were carried on from generation to generation as a verbal tradition.
However it is a fact that this type of epic singing still exists today with the Slavic Peoples in
the Balkans.
According to Prof. Alberto Salinas –Price, on the subject of the Language of Homer,
..“It is no novelty that certain words in both the Iliad and the Odyssey have a hazy
meaning and that they are derived from older, now non-existent words of unknown
meaning; these words, while they do not seriously hinder the general understanding of
this or that particular line, are, nevertheless, a source of puzzlement; however, on a more
cautious view of the matter, there are many place-names whose meaning is utterly
unknown, for, while they may have some sort of meaning in Greek, it must be presumed
that these names are derived from far older pre-Greek language-forms (perhaps with
slight variants in orthography) whose original meaning can be nothing more than an
educated guess”……
Prof. Alberto Salinas –Price,…..… In sum “the subject-matter of the Homeric epics—in
particular, the subject matter and its corresponding details—must have been developed in
a non-Mycenaean Linear B language (in a distant periphery of a Hellenic scenario), and, if
the line of inquiry is in the right direction, one might ponder whether the language was
internal to the subject-matter (that is, "Trojan"), or independent of it. Thus, "Homer",
rather than the "author" of the epics, might better be thought of as their "transcriber",
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from a hitherto unknown language into a sophisticated (if not exquisite) Ionian language
of the day.
“It is extremely laborious (if not altogether dangerous) to attempt an etymology of this or
that Homeric geonym (ethnicon or toponym) from the Mycenaean Linear B, simply on two
counts: first, the paucity of Linear B vocabulary, and, second, a doubt whether the great
array of squiggles and glyphs which represent a Linear B language have been correctly
identified phonemically... for, on this wise, there seems to be disagreement among
scholars. By contrast with these difficulties is the ease (and internal coherence) with which
etymologies of Homeric geonyms may be adduced with a basis in a Slavic
vocabulary.”…….
The Names of the Trojan – Homeric heroes
In the distant past when the Trojan Wars Epics ( Homeric Epics) were sung/told in a folk
song style fashion, the heroes were given second /additional names that fitted their
attributes, deeds, and achievements during their lives. This is common occurrence in many
cultures and is found in many other famous names in history like the English names of the
Medieval Kings and heroes such as King Richard ‘the Lion heart ‘, a name given by the
people to truly describe and confirm his bravery and courage. An other example is the
classical name Plato, properly "broad-shouldered" (from platys "broad ;”). His original
name was Aristocleo-s.
After a careful analysis of the Homeric names, it becomes quite clear that the names of
these heroes of the Trojan Wars Period described in the Homeric Epics, were of ‘Barbarian‘
origin not related to the Greeks or Greek language. Today, these names can be identified
with common words in, and explained with the help of the Modern Slavic Languages.
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1.Laomedon,
He was the father of Podarces/ Priam, King of Troy, who was killed by Heracles. Analysing
this name and reinstating the missing sound / letter ‘V’ which in ancient times was ‘’F’ also
known as the ‘digamma’, we arrive at the word ‘laFomedon’ > ‘lavo-met-on’ ‘d’↔’t’
( lit.‘ he the lion wrestler-thrower’) or. ‘the lion thrower he is’ Macedonian lav > lavo =
lion ; Macedonian ‘met > metni = to throw; Macedonian ‘ on’ = he, It is a known fact that
lions lived in the lower part of the Balkan Peninsula and Asia minor in ancient times. The
lion and the hunt or fighting with the lion was associated with strength courage and glory.
Many ancient kings including Alexander the Great were depicted wearing the lion skin with
the lions head a top.
2.Podarces (Priam )
Ancient king of Troy. Son of Laomedon ( Lavometon) He was originally called Podarces and
he kept himself from being killed by Heracles by giving him a gift, a golden veil
embroidered by his sister, Hesione.- ‘esione. According to L.S Lexicon ( 1845, p. 1236 ref.
Apollod.2,6,4,5 ) Priamo was redeemed by his sister Hesione from Heracles.
It appears that after this, Podarces changed his name to Priam. Oxford makes an attempt
to explain the etymology of this name, based on a word ‘priatos’, that may possibly be
related to "ransomed’. However Oxford lacks further evidence and reference to any
actual/recorded language or basic relations to other words and concludes that the actual
etymology of the name is probably not Greek, but perhaps Lydian in origin.
In search for clues to this name one quickly finds that the Macedonian nouns and verb
associated with gifts and giving gifts is’ podare’ > podarok > podari’= to shower in gifts.
‘ a gift, . A person that gives or is a giver in Modern Macedonian assumes the name
‘Podarec’, an adjective of the word /noun ‘podarok’= gift. This type of adjective is common
in Macedonian and other Slavic ex. ‘zemjodelec- farmer’, ‘drvodelec’-carpenter. Sometimes
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the gifts are given to gain something in return, and can be channeled as a ransom, given
with the intention of receiving something desirable in return.
This relation is in line with the Homeric stories/ writings, namely Podarke gives a gift to
Heracles in order to save his life. However this is not an ordinary gift but a ‘gold
embroidered veil’ made by his sister Esione. ( Vesione).In Old Macedonian tradition as well
as old Gaelic and other European, a young unmarried woman always embroiders till the
time she is ready to marry and is ‘given away’to her future husband, usually by her father’.
This embroidery is made only by the hands of the young brides and takes long pain staking
time to make. In Modern Macedonian the new brides carry with them the ‘ves’, and the
‘mile’ all hand embroidered, and ‘given as a symbol and sign of love and care.
This comes from the basis Macedonian word-verb ‘milue – milos, also found in the
Homeric milos-μιλοσ.milia- μιλια love, care as well as love making.( reff. Liddell Scott).
The Homeric word ‘milia’-love dear’, is the base root for the word ‘family from the
Macedonian and South Slavic sva-milia’ ‘va milia, lit. ‘own dear’
This indicates that Vesione was ‘given as bride’ to Heracles, and is confirmed in or by other
accounts or versions of the Homeric Epics where Heracles received Vesione from her
brother Podarces (In the Ancient and present traditions of Europe, it is always the father
that gives his daughter away. However since Vesione’s father Lavomet-on- ( lit.‘ the lion
wrestler-thrower’ )was killed earlier by Heracles, the giving away was done by her brother).
However Heracles decided to give Hesione as a prize to his friend companion Telamon
instead of keeping her for himself. This would be regarded as an insult to the young bride as
well as her close family.
In other parts of the epics as well as other versions, Podarces was also known to have his
head shaven clean. With further research we find that Podarki/ Priamo was represented on
stage with shaven/bald head.( Ref. LS Greek Lexicon, 1845. P. 1236, Homeric ‘priamo’-
briam-o, πριαμοω = to shave, to shave the head).
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Now in Macedonian and South Slavic the word/ verb for shaving is ‘ bria >brie > ‘briam’(.(
‘p’↔’b’ > ‘priam’) = to shave, I shave, with the infinite forms ‘brijati’ – bricit = to shave
However one can ask the obvious question: why would a man especially a king go to the
trouble of shaving his hair off.?
It is rare to find any depiction in any carvings, paintings, etc from ancient times of Europe,
of men-kings with hair shaved off. It appears that there are some other basic human values,
emotions and relations that are present here. Studding the events that appears to have taken
place we realize that it would not be acceptable (then and today) for a young man to give his
sister as a bride to a man who has killed-slew his own father.
This would be a shame to one’s dignity and respect of ones family (blood). Here we have a
very possible motif and good reason for Podarces to shave all his hair as an indication of
shame related to the actions he did.
Later on, Priam in attempt to ‘return some respect’ to his name and family, sent his men
Antenor and Anchises to Sparta to demand Hesione's return, but they were rejected and
driven away, hence the willingness of Priam later to accept the abduction of the Spartan
princess/queen Helen by his son Paris.
3. Hesione-Fεσιονε < vesione
This lady is the sister of Priam / Podarke. She embroidered a golden veil that was given to
Heracles by Podarke/ Priam. Using the basic fact that this lady was known as the one who
embroidered the famous veil, we search for associated words or relations. Using basic
Slavic/ Macedonian this name can be explained as very much related to the facts given in
the Homeric epic. By reinstating the sound / letter ‘V’ which in ancient times was ‘’F’,also
known as the ‘digama’ we arrive at the word ‘Fesione’
Namely in search for related words to ‘embroider’ as related to ‘hesione↔v’esione, we come
to the Macedonian / Slavic verb ‘ vezio- vezi =‘to embroider’. From here we get ‘vesi- one’
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↔ vezi-ona= lit. “ the one (she) who embroidered” This belongs to a massive root/word
concept in Macedonian/ Slavic.Also ther is the general Macedonian word ‘veš’ = clothing,
handmade, embroidered, also found in the Latin and English words such as ‘vestibule’.
4.Briseis
In Classical Mythology, Brisēís (Βρισηίς) was a Trojan widow (from Lyrnessus) who was
abducted during the Trojan War by Achilles upon the death of her three brothers and
husband, King Mynes of Lyrnessus, in the fight. After an oracle forced Agamemnon to give
up Chryseis <> chrasna ( Mac.’ beautiful), a woman he had captured, the
king ordered his heralds Talthybius and Eurybates to take Briseis from Achilles as
compensation. Achilles was offended by this seizure and, as a result, withdrew from the
fighting. He did not return to the fray until the death of Patroclus.
Very basic etymology is at view. The name’ Brisēís < Biseri < Bisera, is a most typical
Macedonian name, related to biseri,- pearls.The Macedonian and South Slav word ‘biseri’,
a - bisera -visera’( ‘b’↔’v’) is created from’ visi’> ‘vise’ – ‘to hang’,’ to dangle’, combined
with the root/word’ ra’ ( z-ra-k > ‘zrak- light ray’) lit. ‘dangling rays’>pearls. Pearls are
shiny little ‘droplets-balls that reflect the Sun rays.
5.NESTOR (NAISTAR)
This is the name of the old Trojan king, a name for "old king renowned for wise counsel,"
1588, This is the name of the aged and wise hero /king in the "Iliad.".The name relates to
the Macedonian and South Slavic ‘Nai star-Ναισταρ> Ναιστορ > Νεστορ’, lit. the oldest. In
the Homeric epics Naistor was always addressed as the oldest and the wisest, believed to be
close to 300 hundred years old. It is a natural and typical occurrence to associate wisdom
/wise with age.
6.PARIS
The prince of Troy..Paris -Πάρις; also known as Alexander, c.f. Alaksandus of Wilusa, the
son of Priam, king of Troy appears in a number of Classical legends. Probably the best7
known was his elopement with, Helen, queen of Sparta, this being one of the immediate
causes of the Trojan War. Later in the war, he fatally wounds Achilles in the heel with an
arrow, as foretold by Achilles’ mother.
His original name was Alexandro and Alaksandus. The name Pari(s) was given to him later.
Other Etymologists made attempts to relate the name Paris to a backpack (πήρα,
"backpack) by hinging on a small detail that Agelaus, the man who was originally ordered to
kill Paris as infant/baby, brought the infant Alexander from the forests of mountain Ida
home in a back pack to rear as his own. However this etymology is shallow without any
practical or conceptual relation to the name. Most of the infant children in the era of the
Trojan Wars were carried in some kind of bag or ‘back pack for easy transportation as is still
the case in many places today. It will not be logical then to call them all ‘Paris’.Also, if the
name Paris is related to ‘pera>pira - πηρα it would have been an adjective of pira –
pirodetos - πηροδετοσ.Linguistically it is difficult to get ‘Paris’ from Perodetos/Pirodetos or
from Pira-Pera. Also on the old original word ‘pira ( Greek Poetic Lexicon E.Maltby
1823)’the accent is on the letter ‘a’ and not on the letter ‘i-e’( η ).
Reviewing all the facts and relations associated with this famous name it appears that
Macedonian and Slavic provide an etymology that is logical and in line with most of the
available facts and information.
Namely this is related to the Slavic noun and verb’ par >pari> parira > pair > pair up >
‘couple. South Slav ‘pariti se’ <> ‘parise’ =coupling of two people that are a true
match to one other. In South Slavic this also has the related meaning of mating to produce
offspring or to inseminate. Therefore “se pari> pari se’ is connected to ‘par’ – a pair ‘lit.
two of a kind, like man & wife male - female
This concept also relates to two of a similar kind, when paring animals for mating.lit. a
matched entity of two. Today the fundamental meaning of this noun – verb, can be
explained as made up of the basic Macedonian particle ‘pa’’ = again, repeat, and the Slavic
root/word ‘ri’ > ree >rea = flow, come.
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Further to this, to elope, most literally, merely means to run away. Elopement is often used
to refer to a marriage conducted in sudden and secretive fashion, usually involving hurried
flight away from one's place of residence. It is significant at this point to indicate that in
Shakespeare, the meaning of the word to ‘make a pair’ by matching or simply ‘pair up ‘
(pari, par ) is related to’ to mate’. The fact that this person named Paris, is best known for
his pairing with and elopement – abduction, of Helen for the basic reason of love
/attraction to her and therefore to mate and ‘pair’ up with Helen is what truly defines and
explains this ancient Pelasgian name.
Paris literally coupled with ( pair up) and ‘stole’ Helen in a sudden and secretive fashion
which action was the main cause of the Trojan Wars. This is confirmed with the Greek
translations of the Paris’s name given in the Greek Poetic Lexicon Edward Maltby, London,
1829, p.514 ‘ p.23,where the name Paris is associated with ‘the Greek
ainogamos’αινογαμοσ ’ unhappily married’ / paired up, an adulterer’ and apatelios ‘
απατελιοσ = deceitfull.
7 Omiro
There are two explanations for the meaning of this famous name, given below as ‘A’ and ‘B.
According to Alberto Salinas Price, a well known authority on the Homeric Epics from
Mexico ‘HOMER WAS NOT A PERSON: HE WAS A COLLEGE OF BARDS AND AN AGE, AND THE
LITERATURE THEY PRODUCED’.
With an in depth study on this word we find that in Modern Greek today the word Homer –
‘Omiro(s) has the meaning of taking a hostage or a hostage. However there is no acceptable
etymology of this word in the Greek language with the meaning of “hostage”. An acceptable
etymology can be found in the Macedonian and all Slavic Languages. It appears that there
were two different words at the time of the Trojan Wars. Although similar in sound the two
words are different in meaning. However not knowing the ‘Barbaric language’ of the masses
in Europe, the early Greeks could have easily mixed up the two words.
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A. Omiro >Ομηρο
Etymology /explanation of the meaning ‘meeting to agree’ and ‘taking pledge or
hostage’
Reviewing the well known Liddell Scott( Greek –English Dictionary. 1845 p. 1022-
London) which was translated from the German Linguist Francis Passow – Leipzig, we find
that according to this author the word Omiro >Ομηρο is related to ‘ομηρευο’ – ‘omirevo’
with the original meaning of ’ to meet’, to agree’, later, ‘tally’, ’to serve as a pledge’.
Researching the Macedonian and Slavic Languages we come across the word and concept
associated with ‘ mir’ >’smiri’ > p’omiri > omiri> ομηρι = - make peace. This can be
associated with ‘meeting to agree’ and ‘taking pledge or hostage’. Also in the Modern
Macedonian there is the verb action ‘pomiruva’> p’omiruva’ > omiruva> omirevo
(‘ομηρευο’ )= to meet and make peace, which relates to the general concept of ‘ agreement’
The Macedonian word ‘ mir’ = peace, ‘miri> pomiri > ‘omiri ‘ -ομηρι = to make peace.
This is futher confirmed with the name of the Classical Goddess of peace ‘irini> ‘ireni- Ιρενι
(miren >pomireni>pom-ireni> ‘ireni.
In ancient times of Europe during the wars, peace was often made by the two opposite
parties or enemies meeting face to face to negotiate. Also taking hostages on one or the
other side /group (but usually both sides )of the people fighting the war or battle, created
the conditions for these meetings. This is logical and did happen during the Trojan wars
when important hostages were taken which in turn initiated negotiations and promoted
peace.
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B. Ομιρο
Etymology / explanation of the other meaning of the word’ Homer ‘.
Using Macedonian and Slavic as guide we can easily find out the true meaning of the
writer – author of these famous epics as follows:
In Macedonian ‘um < oum =" the"> ‘myru’ = the world
Combining these two simple words we get :
um > oum + myrou > oummiro →Oumiro > Ομιρο ’ the mind of the world (masses)’.
The word ‘um – oum also relates to , thought’, knowledge’ ‘to know ‘.Also there is the
Macedonian expression ‘na oum’ relating to ‘ remember’ also ‘to be thoughtful.
Today in the Balkans, in Macedonia there are the epic singers ‘the Guslars ‘that sing songs
and / or tell the stories in very similar fashion as the Homeric Epics. These singers can tell
these long stories that are composed of thousands of words all by heart/ memory.
It is also a fact today that there have never been found any documents and /or writings that
show the name of Homer. It appears that Homer was not a person or a writer but simply the
masses – people and the ‘creations of the people’ or simply what was then known as ‘folk
singing / story telling’ or a typical ‘folk songs-tales’ -later recorded. Today all songs, poems
and stories that are created and told by the common people, almost never have a single
author associated with them, simply because they were created and embellished by the
common people.
