Bαsil Bαtrαkhosαnd thε Mystεry LεttεrCLASSICAL GREEK FOR 9–12 YEAR OLDS

Bαsil Bαtrαkhosαnd thε Mystεry Lεttεr

Contεnts ListChapter One 3

Chapter Two 11

Chapter Three 19

Chapter Four 25

Chapter Five 33

Chapter Six 41

Chapter Seven 49

Basil’s Word Bank (Dictionary of pronunciation and meanings) 55

Illustrations 61

Crack the alphabet code practice page 64

© 2019 Classics for All

Consultant Advisor: Peter JonesEditor: Charlie Andrew (From original material by C.-M. Roxby)

Designer and typesetter: Stephany Ungless

Character illustrations by Graham HodgsonAdditional illustrations by Stephany UnglessPhotographs on pp. 9, 17, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 37, 42, 47 and 53 © Trustees of the British Museum

Set using Greek Keys polytonic fonts AttikaU and KadmosU; Helvetica Neue and Baskerville.

Hello there!

Allow me to introduce myself.

I am Basil Batrakhos from Taurica.

And I have travelled many a mile across the sea and down this river to the land of Greece, the home of my ancestors.

My ancestors? Well, you see, you may not have noticed this, but I have a Greek surname.

It’s Batrakhos. Rather a grand name, I think you’ll agree. I’m sure it means something very special and probably very heroic in Greek, but I’m not sure what. Sadly I don’t speak Greek.

Chαptεr Onε

Lεttεr Guidε

3

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Chαptεr Onε

Lεttεr Guidε

4

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

I am proud of my Greek ancestry, but I didn’t wonder much about how my family ended up so far away in Taurica until last week.

I was rummaging around in my attic, when I came across an old box. Inside it was this ancient papyrus: a letter written many years ago by my very famous Greek ancestor Odysseus Batrakhos. It was he who somehow ended up in Taurica! How exciting, I thought. I can find out what happened to him. The only problem is that it was written in Greek. Look, I’ve got it here.

Lεttεr Guidε

So I decided to learn Greek in order to understand the letter and solve the mystery.

I’ve come all the way to Greece, but have had no luck so far. Maybe these locals can help me…

[Basil spots two mice having a picnic]

Chαptεr Onε

5

Μικροµυς Mikromus

Μεγαµυς Megamus

crαck thε αlphαbεt codεΜυ Μ µThe letter Μ (upper case) or µ (lower case) is called mu and is pronounced like our letter ‘m’.

Upsilon Υ υΥ (upper case) or υ (lower case) is called upsilon and sounds like our letter ‘u’ in ‘put’.

Sigma Σ ς σΣ (upper case) or ς and σ (both lower case) is called sigma and sounds like our letter ‘s’ in ‘soft’. ς looks rather similar to our ‘s’, but notice that the top curve is bigger then the lower one. It is used only at the ends of words – like µυς – while σ is used at thebeginning or in the middle of words.

Μ µ, Υ υ and Σ ς σ

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Μ μ

Υ υ

Σ ς σ

Using paper and pencil or a whiteboard and marker, practise writing the letters.

Chαptεr Onε

Lεttεr Guidε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

6

Basil: Hello, there.

I am Basil from Taurica. I want to get to Athens to learn Greek. I wonder if you can give me some assistance.

Mikromus: Greetings stranger. I’m Mikroµυς, the mikros µυς… the small mouse.

Megamus: And I’m Megaµυς, the megas µυς… the big mouse. Look at my huge µυς-cles.

Mikromus: Mega-stomach µυς, more like!

So you’re Basil Batrakhos, Basil the frog. I am a µυς…

[He draws the letters on the ground.]

Basil: Ah yes, I can see that looks easy enough. µ υ ς – that must mean mouse. My first Greek word is µυς.

Mikromus: Brilliant!

timε-trαvεl wordsPart of the fun of learning Greek is meeting some of these time-travel words that have helped to form the languages that we speak today.

μεγας – megas μικρος – mikrosThe Greek words megas and mikros are added to the front of words to mean ‘big’ and ‘small’. Here are some examples. Do you know what they mean?

megapixel megaphone megabyte megalithic microscope

microphone microbiology microchip microwave

Can you think of any more? Try inventing some.

μυς – musYou have probably noticed that our word ‘mouse’ is very similar to the Greek word μυς. This is no coincidence. Μυς is one of many words that have travelled for thousands of years to give us words that we use in modern languages.

Our ‘mouse’ is from the same very ancient family of words as μυς which has sounded almost the same for so long. The Latin for ‘mouse’ is also ‘mus’. Look at the word ‘muscle’. Can you see the mus in that? In Latin, the word for ‘muscle’, ‘musculus’ meant ‘little mouse’. Both Greeks and Romans must have thought that muscles looked like mice running under the skin!

BreathingsYou may have noticed the little mark written above the letter iota in οἰμοι. This mark is called a ‘breathing’.

If the breathing mark is like a nine-shape, there is no extra sound, so ἰς would be pronounced ‘is’. This is called a ‘smooth’ breathing.

The breathing like a six-shaped apostrophe add the ‘h’ sound, so ἱς would be pronounced ‘his’.This sign is called a ‘rough’ breathing.

If a word begins with a single vowel, then that vowel must have a breathing above it. As we can see with οἰμοι, if there are two vowels at the start of a word, sometimes the breathing goes on the second. This happens when the two vowels form one sound, a dipthong (αι, αυ, ει, ευ, οι or ου).

Chαptεr Onε

Lεttεr Guidε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

7

Mikromus: οἰµοι οἰµοι! It’s that ferocious Jason! οἰµοι!

Megamus: Forget all this οἰμοι-ing! Let’s get out of here!

[The mice start to run away before the dog can catch them.]

crαck thε αlphαbεt codεOmicron O oThe letter O (upper case) or o (lower case) is called omicron and is pronounced like our letter ‘o’ in the word ‘hot’.

O-micron means ‘o-little’ or ‘little-o’.Remember where you’ve seen‘micro’ before?

Iota Ι ι Ι (upper case) or ι (lower case) is called iota and can be pronounced like the ‘i’ in ‘hit’. Notice that it doesn’t have a dot like our letter ‘i’.

Omicron and Iota οιWhen you write the Greek letters ο and ι together they make the sound ‘oy’ like in the English word ‘boy’.

Basil: Dead easy, this Greek. Though sadly my name turns out not to be very grand after all.

Oh look, another friendly local has come to help!

οἰμοι ‘oy-moy’ = oh no!

What do you think οἰμοι means?Can you find the answer hidden somewhere on this page.

οἰµοι!

‘

,

Lεttεr Guidε

8

Chαptεr Onε

[Basil picks up a stick from the ground and throws it in the river.]

Basil: Bad Jason! Leave me and my friends alone. Go fetch!

Basil: What a naughty doggy! Hey, μυς! Come back, you haven’t told me the way to Athens yet.

Mikromus: He said ‘Athens’. He must want to go there. Well, maybe we can invite him to stay with us.

Megamus: Good idea! We Athenians are famous for our kindness to strangers.

[He turns to Basil.]

Megamus: Do you want to come with us?

Basil: That’s very kind of you. My luggage is there. It’s not very heavy.

Mikromus: You want us to carry that? οἰµοι!

Megamus: Well, he did save us from Jason.

Mikromus: Jason! That miserable dog – a barbarian indeed! Why was he given such a heroic name? But you’re right: one good turn deserves another.

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Lεttεr Guidε

9

Chαptεr Onε

Jason and the Golden Fleece

Jason the dog was named after the famous Greek hero, who came from a place called Iolkos (‘Yol-koss’) in Greece where his father had been king. But his uncle Pelias (‘Pea-lea-as’) had seized the throne, which Jason did not like one bit.

Jason went to his uncle, asking for the throne to be handed back to him, as he was the rightful heir. The cunning Pelias agreed on one condition – Jason had to find and bring him the legendary Golden Fleece. Of course, Pelias expected Jason to die on this mission. The journey to Colchis (‘Kol-kiss’), where King Aietes (‘Eye-ee-teas’) kept the Golden Fleece was long and perilous and, in case any adventurers made it that far, the fleece was guarded by a fierce, hundred-eyed dragon. After all, the precious fleece had once been owned by Zeus himself.

Yet Jason loaded his ship, the Argo, with men and set sail for Colchis. The journey, indeed, was not easy. The dangers faced by Jason and his Argonauts (‘sailors on the Argo’) included an island populated entirely by man-hating women who had all murdered their husbands; a group of half-human, half-bird killers called Harpies; and clashing rocks that smashed to pieces every single ship that tried to sail between them.

Overcoming all of these challenges with the help of his men, the brave Jason finally arrived in Colchis. But do you think Aietes happily handed over his precious Golden Fleece? Not likely. Just like Pelias, King Aietes set Jason a series of impossible tasks designed to finish the hero off. To the amazement of all, Jason gave these tasks a go: he yoked fire-breathing bulls; he sowed dragons’ teeth; he defeated phantom warriors.

Little did King Aietes know that the hero was being helped by his very own daughter, the sorceress Medea, who had fallen in love with brave Jason. Finally, using a potion brewed by Medea, Jason overpowered the dragon guarding the Golden Fleece, stole his prize and stealthily sailed away, with Medea, on the Argo.

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

In the picture on this pot, Medea is using her magic to help Jason.

Exercise 1 Practise writing the Greek letters Μ µ Υυ Σ ς σ Ο o Ι ι and the two types of breathing.

Exercise 2Practise writing the following English words in Greek letters:him oi! is mum his hi! hum

For extra writing practice, go to page 64.

Μ μΥ υΣ ς σ

Ο ο

Ι ι

οι

‘

’

Lεttεr Guidε

10

Chαptεr Onε

Mu is pronounced like our letter ‘m’.

Upsilon sounds like our letter ‘u’ in ‘put’.

Sigma sounds like our letter ‘s’ in ‘soft’. ς is used only at the ends of words.

Omicron is pronounced like our letter ‘o’ in the word ‘hot’.

Iota can be pronounced as the ‘i’ in hit. It doesn’t have a dot like our letter ‘i’.

Omicron + iotaWhen you write the Greek letters ο and ι together they make the sound ‘oy’ like in the English word ‘boy’.

‘rough’ breathingThis mark looks like a six-shaped apostrophe makes the ‘h’ sound.

‘smooth’ breathingThis mark looks like a nine-shaped apostrophe and shows that there is no ‘h’ sound at the beginning of a word that starts with a vowel.

whαt wε lεαrnεd in chαptεr onε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

μεγας ‘meg-ass’: large

μικρος ‘mick-ross’: small

μυς ‘muss’: mouseοἰμοι ‘oy moy’: oh dear!

Basil’s word bank

crαck thε αlphαbεt codεAlpha Α αAlpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and it gives us the first part of that word in English.

Kappa Κ κ Kappa is quite an easy one as it looks and sounds just like our letter ‘k’.

Lambda Λ λ is your first strange letter. It sounds like our letter ‘l’ but doesn’t look very much like it. It might help to think of the letter as a rather lazy ‘l’ leaning back on a stick.

Tau Τ τ is just like our letter ‘t’.

Alpha + iota αιWhen you write the Greek letters α and ι together they make the sound like in the English word ‘eye’.

Using paper and pencil or a whiteboard and marker, practise writing the letters Α α, Κ κ, Λ λ, Τ τ and the sound αι.

Lεttεr Guidε

11

Chαptεr TwoThe mice, with their new friend Basil, finally arrive back home. They’ve even been kind enough to teach him some new Greek words on the journey…

Βasil: ἰου ἰου! This house isn’t bad, και my companions have stopped saying οἰμοι too. I think I’ll enjoy staying here μαλιστα. ἀλλα who else lives here? Perhaps I’d better ask my two new friends.

ἰου ‘i-oo’: hooray!και ‘k-eye’: andμαλιστα ‘ma-liss-ta’: very much

ἀλλα ‘al-la’: but

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Α α Κ κΛ λΤ ται

Lεttεr Guidε

12

Chαptεr Two

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Megamus: He may be a βαρβαρος but he’s our βαρβαρος. Don’t wake him or else he’ll ‘βαυ βαυ’ all night.

Βasil: οἰμοι! You mean you actually live in the same οἰκος as this crazy brute?

βαρβαρος ‘bar-ba-ross’: barbarian

βαυ βαυ ‘bow bow’: a dog’s bark

crαck thε αlphαbεt codεBeta Β β Beta looks very like our capital B and is pronounced in the same way. As you have probably worked out, it forms the second part of our word alphabet.

Rho Ρ ρ is the first really tricky letter because it looks like English ‘p’. But it appears in Μικρομυς and that will help you recognise that it is ‘r’. Practise drawing rho starting at the bottom.

Alpha + upsilon αυαu is pronounced as English ‘now’. Greek dogs go βαυ βαυ but they can also go αὐ αὐ.

Using paper and pencil or a whiteboard and marker, practise writing the letters Β β, Ρ ρ the sound αυ and the punctuation mark ; .

; You may have noticed that instead of a question mark (?), Ancient Greek uses a semi-colon (;)

οἰκος ‘oy-koss’: home, house

Β βΡ ραυ;

Lεttεr Guidε

13

Chαptεr Two

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

τις εἰ; ‘tiss eh?’: who are you?

εἰμι ‘eh-mi’: I am κυριος ‘koo-ree-oss’: master

οἰκος ‘oy-koss’: home, house

μαμμια ‘mam-ee-a’: Mummy!

τις εἰ;

τις εἰ;

τις εἰ;

Mikromus: Let’s meet the nicer inhabitants of this fine house.They’re more friendly than Jason. All you need to do is ask each one, ‘τις εἰ;’

Alexandros: εἰμι Alexandros. Ι’m just 8 years old and I’ll be the κυριος of this οἰκος one day.

Sophia: Sophia εἰμι. I’m Alexandros’ sister. I love animals μαλιστα – frogs και mice in particular – και I think I am getting pretty good at spinning και weaving.

Hektor: μαμμια, μαμμια, μαμμια!

Mikromus: That’s baby Hektor. In a few years he’ll be in the men’s quarter of the house, ἀλλα for now he spends most of his time with the women. His interests? Well, he loves a good story μαλιστα!

οἰκος This word meaning ‘house’ has given us the words ‘economics’ and ‘economy’. How? Because οι- of οἰκος in Greek became oe- (‘oeconomics’) and then e- (‘economics’) in English.

The nom- part of ‘economics’ and ‘economy’ comes from a Greek word nom-os meaning ‘rule, law, management’. So ‘eco-nomics’ and ‘eco-nomy’ are to do with house rules or management. What do these other ‘-nomy’ words mean? astronomy gastronomy taxonomy

timε-trαvεl words

μαμμια Hektor’s cry is a sound that babies make all over the world, which they then use as the word for their mother, like the English mummy, French maman, Spanish mama, or Italian mamma.

Lεttεr Guidε

14

Chαptεr Two

Mikromus: But Hektor hates going to bed. At the moment things are pretty noisy as he is refusing to go to sleep.

Hektor: μαμμια, μαμμια, μαμμια, μαμμια!

Sophia: Oh, μαμμια! It’s the same every night. It’s funny, when I’m μαλιστα tired, I fall asleep. Not Hektor though. ἀλλα he’ll go to sleep soon enough.

Hektor: μαμμια, μαμμια, μαμμια, μαμμια!

Sophia: οἰμοι! δια τι are you crying? ἀκουε Hektor, go to sleep!

Hektor: μαμμια, μαμμια, μαμμια, ΜΑΜΜΙΑ!

Sophia: ἀκουε, μαμμια is busy, so give me a break!

δια τι; ‘dee-a ti’: why?

ἀκουε ‘a-koo-ay’: listen!

Delta Δ δ Δ δ looks and sounds like our letter ‘d’. If you have heard of river deltas and are wondering why this looks nothing like one, then that is because they are named after the capital delta Δ!Epsilon Ε ε It is not difficult to work out that this is the same as our letter ‘e’, pronounced ‘eh’ like in ‘egg’.

Omicron + upsilon ου ου makes the sound of the English ‘do’.

crαck thε αlphαbεt codε

Using paper and pencil or a whiteboard and marker, practise writing the letter Δ δ, Ε ε and the sound ου.

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Δ δΕ εου

The imperative Have you noticed that Sophia gives her little brother Hektor lots of commands, like

This ‘commanding’ form of the verb is known as the imperative. You can often recognise it in Greek by the ε at the end of the verb.

Lεttεr Guidε

15

Chαptεr Two

Hektor: μαμμια! μαμμια! μαμμια! μαμμια! μαμμια!

Sophia: ἰδου Hektor! Who’s this? A frog? και some mice?

Hektor: ἰου ἰου! Want frog! Want frog! Want frog!

Sophia: Here, batrakhos. Look! It’s your friend Hektor. και look, Hektor, here is μυς too.

Basil: οἰμοι! εἰμι μαλιστα in trouble here!

Hektor: Nice batrakhos! Nice μυς!

Sophia: ἰου ἰου! Now you play nicely with them και go to sleep!

ἰδου! ‘i-doo’: look!

Give me a break!

ἀκουε!Look!

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

grαmmαr notε

Lεttεr Guidε

16

Chαptεr Two

The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

A Town Mouse was visiting his friend in the country. Although the Country Mouse was hospitable, offering his guest the best food he had, the Town Mouse soon grew weary of the simple meals and lack of comfort. ‘My dear Country Mouse!’ he exclaimed. ‘Why do you suffer here in your simple but dull life? If only you could experience city life – the excitement, the comfort, the food. Come to the city and stay with me!’

Being a polite rodent, the Country Mouse agreed to his friend’s plan. The two set off together. After a long journey they arrived in the city and the home of the Town Mouse. The Country Mouse marvelled at the size of the mansion, the comfort of his Town friend’s hole, and the abundance of delicious morsels of food that lay around for the taking.

After a sumptuous meal (which, the Country Mouse had to admit, was the finest he had ever eaten), the two mice lay down on a silk cushion and started to doze off. All of a sudden, into the dining room burst two enormous, terrifying, snarling dogs. They ran straight for the mice who, in turn, ran for their lives. The mice jumped out of the delicately carved windows; ran across the neatly manicured lawn; through the elegantly designed flower beds; and out underneath the magnificent and ornate iron gates.

As they lay exhausted by the roadside, the Country Mouse exclaimed: ‘You’re right, Town Mouse. City life is definitely more exciting…but it’s not for me. I’ll not swap my simple food and peaceful life for any amount of luxury. Farewell!’ And off he scampered, back to his modest but peaceful country home.

Maybe Hektor needs a bedtime story? Hey, Hektor. If you promise you’ll stop crying, I’ll tell you the tale of the town mouse και country mouse…

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Aesop and his fables The story of the Town Mouse and the Country Mouse was originally written by Aesop, who is thought to have lived in the Mediterranean (possibly Greece or Turkey) in roughly the 6th century BCE.

He wrote many fables, such as The Tortoise and The Hare and The Boy Who Cried Wolf. A fable is a short story that is designed to teach a moral lesson about life.

What do you think the fable of the Town Mouse and Country Mouse is teaching us?

Do you know any more of Aesop’s fables? Can you research some less well-known fables?

Can you create your own fable?

Lεttεr Guidε

17

Chαptεr Two

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

This mouse decorates the top of an old lamp. Do you think he is a town or country mouse?

How the ancient Greeks say

‘he measures’Bull, perhaps

a famous starry one?

A person who imitates In Greek, this

means life.

A sign (try and see the ‘υ’ as a ‘y’).

Languagε dεtεctivε

βιος μιμος μετρει συμβολος ταυρος

mimic

Match the Greek words up to the right definition and then try to think of an English word that comes from it.One has been done to show you how.

culturαl notε

Lεttεr Guidε

18

Chαptεr Two

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

whαt wε lεαrnεd in chαptεr two

The imperative is used to give commands. You can often recognise it in Greek as a verb ending in ε.

Alpha makes the ‘a’ sound in ‘cat’.

Kappa looks and sounds just like our letter ‘k’.

Lambda sounds like our letter ‘l’.

Tau sounds like our letter ‘t’.

Beta looks very like our capital B and is pronounced in the same way.

Rho is the letter ‘r’.

Delta looks and sounds like our letter ‘d’.

Epsilon looks like our letter ‘e’ and sounds like ‘eh’.

ai is pronounced ‘eye’.

ou makes the sound of the English ‘do’.

au is pronounced as English ‘now’.

the semi-colon is used as a question mark.

Α αΚ κΛ λΤ τΒ β

Ρ ρΔ δΕ εαιουαυ;

Exercise 1 τις εἰ; Can you remember the names of these characters?

Exercise 2Practise writing the following English words in Greek letters:lab air bark ball bad drab

you?

Basil’s word bank

ἀκουε: listen! ἀλλα: but βαρβαρος: barbarian

βαυ βαυ: a dog’s bark

δια τι;: why?εἰ: you areεἰμι: I am ἰδου: look! See! ἰου: hooray! και: and κυριος: master μαλιστα: very much, a lot

Μικρομυς: Mikromus

οἰκος: household τις εἰ;: who are

For extra writing practice, go to page 64.

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α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

After his story, baby Hektor sleeps soundly all night – and so do Basil and his friends. The next morning, they wake up with rumbling stomachs…

Mikromus: Wake up, Βασιλευ! ἀλλα if you want breakfast νυν you’ll have to be quick. There was quite a feast in ὁ ἀνδρων last night και my spies tell me there’s quite a bit left over. ἀλλα the maid will be clearing up soon. We’ll οὐν have to be quick! Come on!

[τελος they enter ὁ ἀνδρων.]

Megamus: ἰου, ἰου! ἰδου! Look at this table – all my favourite foodsincluding cheese και olives!

Βασιλευ ‘Ba-sill-you’: Hey Basil!

νυν ‘noon’: nowὁ ‘ho’: theἀνδρων ‘and-roan’: men’s quarters/ part of the house

οὐν ‘oon’: therefore, so

τελος ‘tell-oss’: finally, at last

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α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Basil: τι ἐστι in this one?

Mikromus: Something the μελισσα made!

Basil: μελισσα;

[Μικρομυς points at a bee]

...oh yes, I see – μελισσα is the Greek word for a honey bee. ἰου ἰου! This οὐν must be honey. A little sweet for my taste. I think οὐν I’ll stick to flies, or rather they seem to be μαλιστα sticking to me νυν! ἀποβαινε, fly! Go away flies!

τι ἐστι; ‘tee ess-tee’: what is?

μελισσα ‘meh-liss-a’: honey-bee

The Ancient Greek diet shared many similarities with the food we eat today: vegetables, fruit, fish, bread and cheese were all staples.

However, unlike their modern counterparts, Ancient Greek cooks didn’t have sugar to sweeten their dishes, but instead had to use honey.

In fact, this recipe for honey cakes has survived through the ages – why not try making them?↩︎

Honey and sesame cakes

100g sesame seeds

60g flour

2 tbsp honey

1 tbsp light olive oil

3 tbsp water

Toast the sesame seeds under the grill until golden.

Next, mix all the ingredients together until they form a rough dough. Make the dough into a ball and chill for one hour.

Preheat the oven to 190°C.

Roll out the dough on a lightly-floured surface to about a 5mm thickness. Cut out discs with a round cutter and transfer to a greased and lined baking tray.

Bake for ten minutes until golden. Cool and serve.

ἀποβαινε ‘ap-o-bye-neh’: go away!

culturαl notε

Mikromus: οἰμοι, it’s Jason. Watch out, Βασιλευ!

Megamus: ἰδου! οἰμοι, Jason, mind that vase!

Basil: ἰδου, the beautiful vase is broken!

Megamus: ἀλλα don’t worry, Alexandros can fix that. We’ll take it to the workshop και it’ll be as good as new…at least, I hope it will. That vase with Πεγασος on it was very expensive…ἀλλα at least Πεγασος got to fly for real at last!

Basil: ἀλλα τι τουτο; What are the mice laughing about νυν;

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α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Chαptεr Thrεε

crαck thε αlphαbεt codε

Gamma Γ γHave you heard of gamma rays? Well, they are named after the letter gamma. Τhe third letter of the Greek alphabet, it pronounced like the hard ‘g’ in ‘get’ and never like the soft ‘g’ in ‘giraffe’.

When two gammas are written together – γγ – they make the sound ‘ng’. So to make the sound ‘bang’ in Greek, you would write: βαγγ. Here’s a real Greek example: ἀγγελος, the Greek word for messenger. Which English word do we get from this?

Write in Greek letters* the following real Greek words: gamma, gamos (Greek for ‘marriage’), megas (big), megara (rooms), aigis (goatskin).

Nu Ν ν is a really mean one. As a capital it looks and is pronounced exactly like our capital N; but in the lower case it looks very much like our letter ‘v’! Make sure that when you write it you make it pointed at the base so you don’t confuse it with upsilon υ.

The word for ‘now’ in Greek has both of these letters: νυν. It is pronounced with the u sound as in ‘put’.

Pi Π π is probably the most famous of the Greek letters. You may have met it in maths where it is used in formulae to measure circles. π is pronounced like our ‘p’.

Omega Ω ω is our last letter in this chapter. This also happens to be the last letter of the alphabet. It looks like our ‘w’, but is a vowel and is pronounced ‘oh’. O-mega means ‘ô-big’, or ‘big ô’, as we would say.

What was the Greek for ‘little-o’? And how is little-o different from big-ô?

*Remember the breathings!

Πεγασος ‘Pe-ga-soss’: Pegasus

λογος is a word that we find forming part of many English words. It means ‘story, reason, account’, and gives us the ending ‘-logy’ as in ‘biology’, ‘geology’ and ‘meteorology’. Do you know what they mean? If not, use a dictionary to help you. Can you discover any more words ending in ‘-logy’?

timε-trαvεl words

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ἀλλα ἰδου! τι τουτο; τις smashed that vase?

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Basil: That wretched Jason did it! Do you think you can fix it?

Alexandros: I’ll give it a go. I hope I can make it look as good as new. It’s my favourite vase after all. I love that picture of Πεγασος.

Basil: Who is Πεγασος;

Alexandros: Ah, let me tell you ὁ λογος about Πεγασος.

ὁ λογος ‘ho log-oss’: the story

μελισσα is a honey bee in Greek, and the French word ‘miel’ meaning ‘honey’ comes from this, as does the girl’s name ‘Melissa’.

We get our word ‘mildew’ from it too, but it is certainly not something sweet to spread on toast; ‘mildew’ is in fact a type of fungus!

This bee brooch is over 3,500 years old.

In Greek thismeans ‘dried up’,

‘withered’A ‘garden’ in

Greek, or a lovely place to be.

‘All-imitating’, a one person show,

with many different characters.

Not a friend of μυς

He can be a bit snappy.

Languagε dεtεctivε

παντομιμος σκελετος καττα κροκοδιλος παραδεισος

pantomime

Can you match the Greek words up to the right clue and think of an English word that comes from it? The first one has been done to show you how.

τι τουτο;: what’s this?

τι τουτο;: what’s this?

Pegasus and Bellerophon

Pegasus was a beautiful white flying horse. Although he was a horse, his mother was Medusa, the Gorgon who had snakes for hair. Zeus, the king of the gods, gave Pegasus a very important job – he had to carry Zeus’ thunder and lightning all the way down from the home of the gods on Mount Olympus. But he wasn’t just a glorified work-horse. Pegasus helped a hero called Bellerophon defeat one of the most terrifying creatures of all time, the dreaded Chimera.

The Chimera was not a beast you’d want to meet on a dark night. Its front end was a fearsome lion, then sprouting from its back was a goat’s head, and at the rear end it had a snake for a tail. And just in case that wasn’t enough to get the bravest hero running for the hills, it also breathed fire.

Ordinarily, Pegasus would not have let anyone ride him, but Bellerophon had divine help. After all, heroes wouldn’t be heroes without the help of the gods. Some say it was the god Poseidon, while others say it was Athene who helped him.

Either way, Bellerophon mounted Pegasus and flew off into the sky in search of the Chimera. He soon found it, but couldn’t kill it, as every time he flew near he was scorched by the fire from the monster’s throat. Eventually he had an idea. He put a block of lead on the end of his spear and shoved it down the Chimera’s throat. When the beast breathed fire onto it the lead melted and blocked its throat, and so the Chimera suffocated.

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α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Chαptεr Thrεε

The verb ‘To be’ You have already met some parts of this verb: you know how to say ‘I am’ εἰμι and ‘you are’ or ‘are you?’ εἰ/εἰ;If you are learning a modern foreign language at the moment, you may see verbs set out like this: person singular (s.) plural (pl.)

1 I we

2 you you

3 he/she/it they

Greek verbs are set out in the same way. Here is the full present tense of the verb ‘to be’: person singular (s.) plural (pl.)

1 εἰμι ἐσμεν I am we are

2 εἰ ἐστε you are you are

3 ἐστι(ν) εἰσι(ν)(s)he/it is they are

Happy eNdingsDo you see there is a letter ν in brackets at the end of ἐστι(ν) and εἰσι(ν)? If the following word begins with a vowel, you add the ν; if not, then you leave it out. For example:ἐστιν ἀνδρων ‘It’s the men’s quarters’; but ἐστι Μικρομυς = ‘It’s Mikromus’.You also add ν if ἐστι or εἰσι ends a sentence. So......Μικρομυς ἐστιν. = ‘It’s Mikromus.’

Bellerophon riding Pegasus.

grαmmαr notε

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α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

whαt wε lεαrnεd in chαptεr thrεε

Γ γΝ ν

Π πΩ ω

Greek verbs work the same way as many other foreign languages:

Gamma makes the hard ‘g’ sound in ‘got’.

Nu sounds just like our letter ‘n’ but watch out – in the lower case it looks very much like our letter ‘v’!

Pi is pronounced like our ‘p’.

Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. It looks like our ‘w’ but is a vowel and is pronounced ‘oh’.

person singular (s.) plural (pl.)

1 I we

2 you you

3 he/she/it they

ὁ ἀνδρων: the men’s part of the house

ἀποβαινε: go away!

εἰμι: I am εἰ: you (s.) areἐστι(ν): he/she/ it is

ἐσμεν: we are ἐστε: you (pl) areεἰσι(ν): they are ὁ λογος: the storyμαλιστα: very much

μελισσα: honey-bee

νυν: now ὁ: theοὐν: thereforeΠεγασος: Pegasus

τελος: finallyτι ἐστι;: what is it?

τι τουτο;: what’s this?

Basil’s word bank

Exercise 1 – Translate Can you translate the following sentences? (Turn back one page for help.)

εἰμι Μικρομυς

εἰ Μεγαμυς

ἐστιν Ἑκτωρ

ἐστε Ἑκτωρ και Σοφια

εἰσιν Ἑκτωρ και Βασιλ

ἐσμεν Μικρομυς και Μεγαμυς

For extra writing practice, go to page 64.

Chαptεr Four

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α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Alexandros και the animals βαινουσιν εἰς το workshop, clutching the bits of broken vase…

Basil: ἀλλα τι τουτο; Alexandros γαρ is νυν having a go at mending the broken vase.

Mikromus [βλεπει Alexandros]: σιγα! If we’re quiet, we can watch him mending τον vase. Watch out, though, ἰδου! τις ἐστιν over there? βλεπω τον κυνα!

[He points at Jason. ὁ κυων is by the door ἀλλ’ οὐ βαινει εἰς τo workshop.]

Basil: How is that vase coming along, Alexandros?

Alexandros: βραδεως. I γαρ just can’t find the piece with το πλοιον on it. οἰμοι. ἀλλα που ἐστι το πλοιον; που ἐστιν; ἰου ἰου! ἰδου, το πλοιον ἐστι right here. εὐγε!

Basil: Hmm! It looks as if that could take quite a while. Why don’t βλεπω some of the finished pieces?

[βλεπει the other vases in the workshop.]

βαινουσιν ‘b-eye-noo-seen’: they go

εἰς ‘ehss’: intoτο ‘to’: the βλεπει ‘blep-eh’: he sees, watches, looks at

σιγα! ‘see-ga’: be quiet!

τον ‘ton’: the βλεπω ‘blep-oh’: I see

τον κυνα ‘coo-na’: the dog

ὁ κυων ‘coo-oh-n’: the dog

οὐ ‘oo’: notβαινει ‘b-eye-neh’: he goes

βραδεως ‘brad-ee-oh-s’: slowly

γαρ ‘gar’: for, because

το πλοιον ‘ploy-on’: the boat

που ‘poo’: where? εὐγε! ‘ay-oo-geh’: very good, excellent!

crαck thε αlphαbεt codε

Using paper and pencil or a whiteboard and marker, practise writing the letters Η η, Θ θ, Ζ ζ and Χ χ.

Eta (‘air-ta’) Η η looks like a letter ‘n’ with a long tail but it is a vowel. It makes a ‘long’ e sound but more like ‘eh’ or ‘air’ than ‘ee’. η is the long version of ε epsilon which, as you know, is pronounced as in ‘egg’.

Mikromus: What are you doing in there, Βασιλευ? ἀλλα τις ἐστιν in there with you? οἰμοι! τι τουτο; ἡ Μεδουσα γαρ ἐστιν!

[ὁ terrified Μικρομυς falls into τον cup too.]

οἰμοι! δεινη ἐστι Μεδουσα. ἐλθε! σωζε με! βοηθει, βοηθει!

Βasil: Just looks like a picture to me. But a μαλιστα δεινη one, I must say – all those snakes. ἀλλα τι νυν are we going to do?

Mikromus: Don’t worry, Μεγαμυς will save us!

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Chαptεr Four

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Basil: These vases really are something. ἰδου! There’s a δελφις on this one... ἰδου, βλεπω το πλοιον...ἰδου, ἡ θαλαττα. εὐγε!

I think I’ll hop up here and have a look inside one of these cups. ἰδου! There’s even a picture inside one. εὐγε! Now that is μαλιστα clever.

[He leans over και καταδυει into a cup.]

Mikromus: ἐλθε, Μεγαμυ! Have you seen τον frog anywhere? I’ve had enough of being in here. I’m starving μαλιστα, και ἐθελω to go back. ἀλλα we can’t leave without him. ἀλλα που ἐστι νυν ὁ βατραχος?

Mikromus και Megamus: βατραχε, που εἰ;

Βasil: βοηθει! ἐλθε! σωζε με, σωζε με!

[Μικρομυς και Μεγαμυς τελος find the cup.]

Theta Θ θ looks a little bit like an Easter egg. It is pronounced like ‘th’ in ‘thirst’.

Zeta Ζ ζ is one of the stranger looking letters. It is pronounced like the ‘sd’ in the word ‘wisdom’.

Khi (‘k-eye’) Χ χ: hard breathy k sound like the ch in ‘chaos’.

Η η

Θ θ

Ζ ζ

Χ χ

δελφις ‘del-fiss’: a dolphin

ἡ θαλαττα ‘hair tha-latt-a’: the sea

καταδυει ‘cat-a-doo-eh’: falls, sinks

ἐλθε ‘el-theh’: come!

Μεγαμυ: hey Megamus

τον: the ἐθελω ‘eth-ell-oh’: I wish, want

ὁ βατραχος ‘ho bat-ra-khos’: the frog

βατραχε: hey frog βοηθει! ‘bo-air-theh’: help!

σωζε με ‘sohs-deh meh’: save me!

ἡ Μεδουσα ‘hair Meh-doo-sa’: [the] Medusa

δεινη ‘deh-nair’: terrible, frightening

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α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Chαptεr Four

Μεδουσα: in the Greek stories, Medusa was a frightening monster with terrifying snakes for hair. She could turn you to stone with one glance. Today the French use her name as their word for the jellyfish, ‘une meduse’. It looks a bit like Medusa, don’t you think, and it can be just as deadly. Her story is on the next page.

δεινος: this meant ‘terrible, awesome’, and it gives us the word ‘dinosaur’. σαυρος means ‘lizard’ so a dinosaur was really just a terrible lizard – a δεινος σαυρος. in fact, many dinosaurs’ names contain Greek. Find out what these names mean. brontosaurus pterodactyl triceratops tyrannosaurus rex

(there’s actually a bit of Latin in here, too!)

timε-trαvεl w

ords

σιγα! Someone γαρ is coming... σιγα, σιγα! I think I’d better hop in with you.

The vocative You may have noticed that when a character talks to another by name, that name sometimes changes slightly at the end. For example

This changed noun ending is known as the vocative, and is used when addressing someone directly. The word ‘vocative’ comes from the Latin verb ‘vocare’, ‘to call’.

Βατραχε, που εἰ;

ἐλθε Μεγαμυ!

Wake up, Βασιλευ!

grαmmαr notε

σιγα!

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α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Medusa and Perseus

The story of Medusa is indeed a terrible tale. Medusa was once a beautiful mortal, but she unwisely bragged of her excellence. Now this is a very dangerous thing to do, as the gods do not like mortals getting ideas above their station. Especially annoyed by Medusa’s over-inflated opinion of herself was Athena. The powerful goddess decided to teach Medusa a lesson by turning her beautiful hair into hissing, writhing snakes. In case such a hideous appearance wasn’t enough to keep Medusa in solitude, Athena also cursed Medusa with the power to turn anyone to stone simply by looking at them. Medusa was truly now a monster.

Obviously, the world wanted Medusa dead and gone, but that’s not so easy when your opponent can turn you to stone through the sheer power of her gaze. Knowing the difficulty of the task, the scheming King Polydectes sent the hero Perseus on a quest. ‘Fetch me the head of Medusa the Gorgon!’ he commanded, in the hope that, with the young man sent to his doom, he would finally be able to marry Perseus’ mother, Danaë.

Now, how could Perseus slay and cut off the head of such a fearsome creature? The answer as usual came from Olympus. Athena, goddess of war and wisdom, woke Perseus one night as he slept and presented him with a shining shield. ‘Use the reflection in this shield to see your enemy,’ she counselled. ‘That way, you can defeat Medusa without gazing directly on her.’ Perseus thanked Athena. The next day, with this clever plan in his head and renewed courage in his heart, he set off to slay Medusa.

Time passed. The evil King Polydectes, convinced that Perseus was long since petrified and out of the picture, relaxed and made plans for his upcoming marriage to the unwilling Danaë. Yet his plans never came to fruition as, on his return home, Perseus greeted Polydectes by holding up Medusa’s severed head to his gaze. With the unwanted suitor turned to stone, Perseus and his mother jubilantly escaped to safety.

In this picture you can see Perseus fleeing with Medusa’s head in his bag.

Megamus: While we’re stuck in here, I’ll tell you τον story of your new friend Medusa with the snakey hair-do. δεινος ἐστιν ὁ λογος!

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α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Chαptεr Four

PotteryWe know a lot about Ancient Greek culture today from decorative pictures that survive on pottery. Pictures on pottery were diverse, from everyday scenes to representations of gods and myths. The ‘black-figure’ style (see right) was the first to emerge, and this was then replaced in time by the ‘red-figure’ style (far right). Painters could become very famous for their skill, and their pots could become very valuable items and were traded all around the Mediterranean area.

Where a king or queen might sit A good place for

swimming, sailing and diving.

An animal with a horn (‘κερας’) on its

nose (‘ῥινο-’). A creature adaptedfor survival in

the desert.

Big cat that lives in a group called

a ‘pride’.

Languagε dεtεctivεCan you match the Greek words up to the right clue and think of an Englishword that comes from it? The first one has been done to show you how.

ῥινοκερως καμηλος θρονος λεων ὠκεανοςrhinoceros

culturαl notε

Exercise 1 – Translate to English What do these verbs mean in English? The first has been done for you.1. βαινομεν We go2. ἐθελουσι3. λεγετε4. σωζει5. ἀκουετε6. βλεπομεν 7. σωζομεν8. ἀγουσι9. ἐθελω10. ἀκουεις

Exercise 2 – Translate to GreekCan you translate the following into Greek? Remember: get the stem by knocking off the –ω, and then add the right ending. 1. They hear ἀκουσι2. We save3. They go4. He wants5. I say6. You (pl.) lead7. You (s.) wish8. She goes

Regular verbsIn the last chapter you met the verb ‘to be’, which is an irregular verb. Now it is time to meet a regular verb. So far this chapter you have met:

Βλεπω which means ‘I see’ Βλεπομεν which means ‘we see’ Βλεπει which means ‘he/she or it sees’

Good spot, Basil. The first bit of the verb stays the same – it’s known as the ‘stem’. However, the ending changes, depending on who is doing the action of the verb. Here is βλεπω with all the endings:

singular (s.) plural (pl.)

1 Βλεπω Βλεπομεν I see, we see, am seeing are seeing

2 Βλεπεις Βλεπετε you see, you see, are seeing are seeing

3 Βλεπει Βλεπουσι(ν) he/she/it sees they see, is seeing are seeing

There are more verbs you’ve met that work exactly like βλεπω, where the stem stays the same and the ending changes depending on who is doing the action of the verb:

ἀκουω ‘I hear’ βαινω ‘I go’

λεγω ‘I say, speak’ ἀγω ‘I lead’

ἐθελω ‘I wish, want’ σωζω ‘I save’

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Lεttεr Guidε

Chαptεr Four

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

That’s clever – the βλεπ- part stays the same, and the ending changes

depending on who is doing the seeing!

grαmmαr notε

whαt wε lεαrnεd in chαptεr four

Eta makes a ‘long’ e sounds like ‘eh’ or ‘air’.

Theta, which looks a little bit like an Easter egg, is pronounced like the ‘th’ in ‘thirst’.

Zeta is pronounced like the ‘sd’ in ‘wisdom’.

Khi is drawn as a cross and pronounced with a hard breathy k sound like the ch in ‘chaos’. Try to make it different to kappa k.

person singular (s.) plural (pl.)

1 -ω I -ομεν we

2 -εις you -ετε you

3 -ει he/she/it -ουσι(ν) they

Η ηΘ θ

Ζ ζΧ χ

Regular verbs The stem (first bit) of a regular verb stays the same but the ending changes depending on who is doing the action of the verb. The endings are:

The vocative In Greek when someone is being addressed directly, the ending of their name changes. This form is called the vocative. Help Basil practise this in the exercise on the next page.

βαινω: I goβατραχος: frogβλεπω: I see, watch, look at

βοηθει!: help!βραδεως: slowlyγαρ: for, because (second word in Greek, first in English)

δεινη: terrible, frightening

ὁ δελφις, δελφιν-: dolphin

ἐθελω: I wish, want

εἰς: intoἐλθε!: come!εὐγε: excellent! Very good!

ἡ or την or το or τον: the

ἡ θαλαττα: the seaκαταδυει: he sinksὁ κυων: the dogμε: meἡ Μεδουσα: the Medusa

Basil’s word bank

Exercise 1 – Translate Translate these sentences into English.

1. νυν ἀκουω

2. βαινουσιν

3. Βασιλ λεγει και ἀκουει

4. τελος ὁ δελφις βαινει

5. λεγουσιν

6. ἐθελεις

7. σωζετε

8. ἀλλα τις ἀκουει;

9. Σοφια βλεπει και ἀκουει

10. σωζει

Lεttεr Guidε

31

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Chαptεr Four

Μεγαμυ: Hey Megamus

οὐ: not, noπλοιον: boatπου: where?σιγα: quietσωζε με: save me!

Exercise 3 – What is Basil saying to his friends?Basil is using the vocative to call out to his friends, but whom is he addressing in each picture? Join each speech bubble to the right friend.

Can you now translate what Basil is saying to his friends?

32

Lεttεr Guidε

Chαptεr Four

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Exercise 2 – match the animal1. πανθηρ2. τιγρις3. λεων4. καττα5. κροκοδιλος6. καμηλος7.δελφις8. ῥινοκερως

3

Μεγαμυ! σωζε με!

ἰδου Ἑκτoρ!

ἐλθε Μικρομυ!

✓

For extra writing practice, go to page 64.

33

Lεttεr Guidε

Chαptεr Fivε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

All this excitement has been too much for Basil, Mikromus and Megamus and they have fallen fast asleep in their hiding place in the cup. But Basil ἐξαιφνης wakes up…

Basil: ἰδου! Come and see what I can see!

Mikromus and Megamus: τις ἡ βοη, Βασιλευ; τι ἐστιν; δια τι καλεις;

Basil: καλω διοτι βλεπω something exciting – ἡ γραφη of us ἐν the γυναικων!

Mikromus: τι λεγεις, Βασιλευ;

Basil: λεγω ὁτι βλεπω something – ἡ γραφη of us! ἐλθε, ταχυ!

Mikromus: ἀλλα ἐσμεν male, Βασιλευ! Males οὐ βαινουσιν into the

ἐξαιφνης ‘ex-eye-f-nay-ss: suddenly

τις ἡ βοη ‘tiss hair bo-air’: what [is] the shout(ing)

καλεις ‘cal-ehs’: You call out

καλω ‘cal-oh’: I call out

διοτι ‘dee-o-ti’: because

ἡ γραφη ‘hair graf-air’: the picture, drawing

ἐν: inγυναικων ‘guh-n-eye-cone’: women’s quarters

τι λεγεις ‘ti leg-ehs’: what are you saying?

ταχυ ‘tack-hu’: quickly

λεγω ὁτι ‘leg-oh hot-tee’: I say that

σωος ‘soh-oss’: safeψυχη ‘p-soo-k-air’: life, soul, mind

γυναικων. I wouldn’t feel at all σωος doing that.

Megamus: ἀλλα δια τι don’t we dress up as women and go into the γυναικων;

Basil: Dress up as a woman? Upon my ψυχη! How undignified. We frogs are far too sophisticated for that sort of nonsense.

Mikromus: σιγα, Βασιλευ! Just hurry up and put your dress on. Look! We have a nice long, frog-coloured women’s robe for you.

μητηρ ‘mair-teh-r’: mother

πλεω ‘pleh-oh’: I sail

φιλοι ‘fill-oy’: friends

μενει ‘men-eh’: he waits, stays

καλος ‘cal-oss’: lovely, fine

οὐκ ‘ook’: notμωρος ‘moh-ross’: stupid

φιλει ‘fill-eh’: he loves

τον μυν: the mouse

πατηρ ‘pat-air’: father

ἱππος ‘hip-oss’: horse

Sophia: My μητηρ needs to see this. Μαμμια! ἐλθε! ἰδου! γραφη γαρ ἐστι - βατραχος και μυς και πλοιον! ἰδου!και λογος ἐστιν!

Basil: τις ὁ λογος;

Sophia: ἰδου! ὁ βατραχος πλει across the θαλαττα και ἐξαιφνης meets a μυς, και νυν εἰσι φιλοι, και ὁ βατραχος μενει ἐν the οἰκος of the μυς…

Mother: ἐστι καλος ὁ λογος, Σοφια, καὶ καλη ἡ γραφη, ἀλλα you know that would never happen. ὁ γαρ βατραχος και ὁ μυς οὐκ εἰσι φιλοι.

Basil: τι λεγει ἡ μητηρ; φιλοι γαρ ἐσμεν! μωρα ἐστιν!

Sophia: ἀλλα δια τι φιλοι οὐκ εἰσιν, Μαμμια; δια τι ὁ βατραχος οὐ φιλει τον μυν;

Mother: ὁ βατραχος οὐ φιλει τον μυν διοτι they live in different sorts of places. Now look at ὁ λογος on my picture! It is about ὁ κυων who ἐστι so selfish that, just διοτι he has nothing to eat, he decides that no one else is going to eat either. ἰδου! He just sits in the horse’s hay και spoils it. I thought your πατηρ would like it as there is a ἱππος and a κυων in the picture. ἀλλα ὁ κυων ἐστι μαλιστα unpleasant...

34

Lεttεr Guidε

Chαptεr Fivε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

The definite articleThe ‘definite article’ is a grand name for a small word, the determiner. In English is it ‘the’. Greek has a definite article, too. In fact, it has several. Take a look at the following sentences:

Greek also often uses the definite article in front of names (proper nouns):

What do you notice about the words for ‘the’, Basil?

Spot on! But why does Ancient Greek need so many? First of all, think of English. Why do we need the words ‘he’, ‘she’ and ‘it’?

Well done again! The word we use to distinguish males, females and things is ‘gender’. Greek, like English, has three genders. ὁ is used with things that are masculine; ἡ with things that are feminine; and το with things that are neuter, that is, neither masculine nor feminine.

Every single noun in Greek has a gender, and these genders can seem strange to English-speaking ears, like γραφη (feminine) and λογος (masculine).

masculine m. feminine f. neuter n.

ὁ ἡ το

ὁ βατραχος ἐστι καλος ‘the frog is lovely’ ἡ γραφη ἐστι καλη ‘the picture is lovely’ το πλοιον ἐστι καλον ‘the ship is lovely’

ὁ Ἀλεξανδρος ἐστι καλος ‘(the) Alexander is lovely’

ἡ Σοφια ἐστι καλη ‘(the) Sophia is lovely’

35

Lεttεr Guidε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Chαptεr Fivε

There are three different onesὁ, ἡ and το.

Well, ‘hes’ are boys, ‘shes’ are girls and ‘its’ are things.

Exercise 1 – Translate to English Add the right form of ‘the’ to the following common nouns and proper nouns (names) and things. Remember to get the correct gender.

Can you spot any English words we get from these?

ἱππος(m. ‘horse’)

μηλον(n. ‘apple’)

δελφις(m. ‘dolphin’)

θεος(m. ‘god’)

γη(f. ‘land’)

ποταμος(m. ‘river’)

θεα(f ‘goddess’)

ποιημα(n. ‘poem’)

Βατραχος(m. ‘frog’)

φιλος(m. ‘friend’)

θαλαττα(f. ‘sea’)

καρδια(f. ‘heart’)

Μεδουσα(f. ‘Medusa’)

ἐργον(n. ‘work’)

δουλος(m. ‘slave’)

grαmmαr notε

36

Lεttεr Guidε

Chαptεr Fivε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

crαck thε αlphαbεt codεUsing paper and pencil or a whiteboard and marker, practise writing the lettersΦ φ, Ψ ψ and Ξ ξ.

In this chapter we have met the final three letters of the Greek Alphabet.

Phi Φ φ looks like a circle with a vertical line down the middle. It is pronounced like our ‘f’.

Psi Ψ ψ ‘ps-eye’ looks just like a trident that Ποσειδον might be holding. It is pronounced ‘ps’ as in ‘tips’.

Xi Ξ ξ is pronounced like our ‘x’. It does take some practice to get those curves drawn right: try writing a backwards ‘3’ and add a quiff at the top and a tail at the bottom.

ὁ ποταμος ‘ho pot-am-oss’: river

γη ‘gair’: landμελας ‘mell-as’: dark, black

οὐρανος ‘oo-ran-oss’: sky

χειμων ‘kh-eh-moan’: storm

καλλιστη ‘cal-iss-tair’: the best, most beautiful, (from καλος)

φοβερα ‘fob-eh-ra’ : fearful, afraid

ἐγω ‘egg-oh’: Iἐμος ‘em-oss’: myἈραχνη ‘A-rack-neh’: Arachne

μωρα ‘moh-ra’: silly, stupid, foolish

Sophia’s μητηρ goes out of the γυναικων. Catching sight of her animal friends, Sophia is keen to show off her work…

Sophia: ἰδου! I have made a picture on my loom. I’ve made ὁ ποταμος flowing through a γη, and look, above it I’ve woven a μελας οὐρανος – it looks like a χειμων is about tobreak. εἰμι such a great weaver!καλλιστη ἐστιν ἡ γραφη!

Mikromus: καλλιστη ἐστι, Σοφια, ἀλλα [he looks around] you must be very careful and you mustn’t show off. Ιt is dangerous....

[ἡ Σοφια looks worried.]

Sophia: φοβερα εἰμι ἐγω. Why must I not show off?

Mikromus: Listen to λογος ἐμος about a girl called Ἀραχνη, who was very clever ἀλλα μαλιστα μωρα. δεινος ὁ ἐμος λογος ἐστιν…

Φ φ

Ψ ψ

Ξ ξ

Arachne

There was once a very beautiful and talented girl called Arachne, who was amazingly skilled at weaving – perhaps the greatest weaver who had ever lived. Unfortunately, Arachne knew she was good, and she wasn’t afraid to let people know it. She even foolishly bragged that she was a better weaver than Athena, the goddess of technology. Athena heard the girl’s boast, grew very angry and decided that the girl must be punished.

Athena challenged Arachne to a weaving contest, and Arachne accepted the challenge. Both stood by their looms and, at a given signal, both began to weave. Arachne unwisely chose to weave a picture of the bad behaviour of the gods, Athena’s family – hardly tactful!

The goddess worked with supernatural speed and grace and created a cloth fine enough even for Aphrodite, goddess of beauty, to wear. Not to be outdone, Arachne used all her skill and produced a cloth like none other seen before in the mortal world.

Realising that Arachne’s skill rivalled her own, Athena grew terribly, terribly angry. Picking up her spear, she struck Arachne on the forehead, and in an instant the girl was dead. She then suspended her by a thread from her loom so that others would know not to dare offend a goddess. But just as she was about to leave, Athene began to feel pity in her heart. As the goddess in charge of technology, perhaps she ought to have been proud of Arachne. Smiling sadly at the foolish girl, she brought her back to life as a spider, forever weaving her silky web.

37

Lεttεr Guidε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Chαptεr Fivε

timε-trαvεl words

ψυχη is the Greek for ‘life’. It also meant ‘soul’ or ‘mind’ and this is how we still use it today in our words ‘psychology’ (ψυχη + λογος, ‘an account of the mind’) and ‘psychiatry’ (ψυχη + ἰατρος: ἰατρος meant ‘doctor’, so it means ‘curing the mind’, which is what a ‘psychiatrist’ hopes to do).

ἐγω This word meaning ‘I’ has given us a word to mean your opinion of yourself. It has also given us the word ‘egotist’ which is someone who has a very high opinion of themselves.

μητηρ, πατηρ: two more words that have sounded almost the same across many languages for thousands of years. In Latin these words were‘mater’,‘pater’, and have given us ‘maternal’ and ‘paternity’; in German ‘Mutter’ and ‘Vater’; French ‘mère’ and ‘père’; and English ‘mother’ and ‘father’.

This pot, from around 430 BCE, shows a detailed picture of a loom.

38

Lεttεr Guidε

Chαptεr Fivε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

μωρος: foolishκαλος: lovely, beautiful, handsome, fine

φοβερος: fearful, terrifying

δεινος: terrible, amazing

You probably know that an adjective is a ‘describing word’, like καλος, ‘lovely’ or φοβερος ‘fearful, terrifying’.

Just like the definite article (ὁ ἡ το) matches (or ‘agrees’) with the gender, you may be unsurprised to discover that Greek adjectives do just the same. Have a look at these sentences:

The adjective changes to agree in gender with the thing it describes whether masculine, feminine or neuter. So:ὁ (masculine) goes with καλος and φοβερος

ἡ (feminine) goes with καλη and φοβερα

το (neuter) goes with καλον and φοβερον

So we can now update our chart and add adjectives to the definite article, as follows:masculine m. feminine f. neuter n.

ὁ ἡ το καλος καλη καλον φοβερος φοβερα φοβερονNote the feminine forms: most adjectives go like καλος, turning to καλη in the feminine. But adjectives ending in ‘-ρος’ like φοβερος turn into φοβερα in the feminine.

ὁ βατραχος ἐστι καλος, ἀλλα φοβερος ‘The frog is lovely but terrifying.’ἡ Σοφια ἐστι καλη, ἀλλα φοβερα ‘Sophia is lovely but terrifying.’το πλοιον ἐστι καλον, ἀλλα φοβερον ‘The ship is lovely but terrifying.’

μωρος οὐκ εἰμι!

Exercise 1 – Pick the correct form After reading the grammar note, try and pick the correct gender form of the adjective to describe these nouns, then translate. The first one has been done to show you how.

1. ὁ βατραχος ἐστι (μωρος / μωρα / μωρον). The frog is foolish

2. ἡ γραφη ἐστι (καλος / καλη / καλον).

3. το πλοιον ἐστι (καλος / καλη / καλον).

4. ἡ Μεδουσα ἐστι (φοβερος / φοβερα / φοβερον).

5. ὁ ἱππος ἐστι (μωρος / μωρα / μωρον).

6. ὁ λογος ἐστι (δεινος / δεινη / δεινον).

grαmmαr notε

Phi is pronounced like our ‘f’.

Psi is pronounced ‘ps’ as in ‘tips’.

Xi sounds like our English ‘x’.

The definite article (‘the’)Greek often uses the definite article in front of common nouns and proper nouns, and has three different gender versions which must agree with the gender of the noun each is attached to:

AdjectivesThe adjective changes to agree in gender with the thing it describes whether masuline, feminine or neuter, with the endings as follows:

There are a lot of new words in Basil’s word bank for this chapter.

Take a few minutes to go through them before you move on. They will all help Basil to understand his ancestor’s letter.

If you ever forget a word, turn to Basil’s Word Bank on pages 55 to 62.

39

Lεttεr Guidε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Chαptεr Fivε

whαt wε lεαrnεd in chαptεr fivε

Φ φΨ ψΞ ξ

masculine m. feminine f. neuter n.

ὁ ἡ το

Ἀραχνη: Arachne ἡ βοη: a shout ἡ γη: landἡ γραφη: the picture, drawing

γυναικων: women’s quarters

διοτι: becauseἐγω: Iἐμος: myἐν: in ἐξαιφνης: suddenly

ὁ ἱππος: horseκαλλιστη: the best, most beautiful, (from καλος)

καλος: lovely, beautiful, handsome, fine

καλω: I call outλεγω: I speak, sayμελας: dark, black

μενω: I wait, stayἡ μητηρ: motherμωρος, μωρα: foolish

m. f. n.

καλος καλη καλον φοβερος φοβερα φοβερον

Basil’s word bank

ὁτι: thatοὐκ: not ὁ οὐρανος: skyὁ πατηρ: fatherπλεω: I sailὁ ποταμος: riverσωος: safe ταχυ: quicklyφιλοι: friendsφιλω: I love, likeφοβερος α ον: fearful; terrifying

ὁ χειμων: stormἡ ψυχη:life, soul, mind

For extra writing practice, go to page 64.

40

Lεttεr Guidε

Chαptεr Fivε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Translates as ‘leisure’ but you might not agree.

You may have one in your bathroom.

The Greek word for ‘king’ that

gives us the name of the herb.

A famous sports brand that means ‘victory’ in

Greek.

Means ‘voice’, gives its name to a useful modern

invention.

Languagε dεtεctivεCan you match the Greek wordsup to the right clue and think of an English word that comes from it? The first one has been done to show you how.

βασιλευς νικη σχολη σπογγος φωνηBasil

Βασιλευς ‘ba-sill-eh-us’: king

So our intrepid frog’s first name means ‘king’.

Bow down before King Basil!

Speedy pop quiz!Can you remember what these words mean?

φοβερος

ἡ μητηρ

ἐξαιφνης

πλεω

ἐγω

βλεπω τον Παρθενωνα, temple of the goddess Ἀθηνη!

Basil: τι τουτο; [he points to a temple.]

Mikromus: That’s ὁ ναος of the god Ἡφαιστος, και ἐκει ἐστιν ὁ altar of Ζευς, και ἐκει βλεπεις τον ναον of Ἀρης, και ἐκει βλεπεις τον ναον of Ἀπολλων, και ἐκει βλεπεις all the shops και market stalls και το ἐμποριον, where the traders borrow money. It’s very busy here. Let’s try not to get trodden on!

41

Chαptεr Six

Lεttεr Guidε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Basil, Megamus and Mikromus have decided to go exploring, and have hitched a lift on a cart going to town…

Basil: που ἐσμεν, Μεγαμυ;

Megamus: Don’t ask me, Βασιλευ. I’m just a country mouse. Ask clever-clogs here.

Basil: που ἐσμεν, Μικρομυ; τι βλεπω;

Mikromus: βλεπεις την ἀγοραν. ἐκει γαρ ἐσμεν, Βασιλευ. [ἐξαιφνης] ἰδου!

την ἀγοραν ‘tairn agg-or-an’: the agora, market-place

ἐκει ‘eck-eh’: there

τον Παρθενωνα ‘tonn Par-then-oh-na’: the Parthenon

Ἀθηνη ‘Ath-air-nair’: Athene

ὁ ναος ‘ho na-oss’: the temple

Ἡφαιστος ‘Hair-fy-stoss’: Hephaestus

Ζευς ‘Ze-yoos’: Zeus

τον ναον ‘ton na-on’: the temple

Ἀρης ‘A-rairs’: Ares

Ἀπολλων ‘App-oll-oh-n’: Apollo

ἐμποριον ‘em-po-ree-on’: money-lender’s stall

Lεttεr Guidε

Chαptεr Six

42

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

The Ancient Greeks worshipped twelve main gods, called the Olympians after their home on Mount Olympus. They each had special powers and symbols.

goddessἩραHera (queen)

ἈθηνηAthena

ἈρτεμιςArtemis

ἈφροδιτηAphrodite

ΔημητηρDemeter

power/in charge ofwomen, marriage

wisdom, battle strategy, handicraft

hunting

love, beauty

crops

symbolpeacock

olive tree, owl

bow and arrow, moon

swan, dove

wheat ears,

torch

godΖευςZeus

ἈρηςAres

ἈπολλωνApollo

ἙρμηςHermes

ἉιδηςHades

ΠοσειδωνPoseidon

ἩφαιστοςHephaistos

power/in charge ofsky, weather, la

war, violence

music, medicine prophecy

messengers, thieves

the dead, the underworld

seas, earthquakes, horses

fire, craftsmen

symbolthunderbolt, eagle

shield, spear

laurel wreath, lyre, sun

winged sandals, staff

three-headed dog, staff

trident

hammer, tongs, anvil

This pot is painted with scenes from Mount Olympus. See if you can find out which god is which. The most important god is sitting down in the image above. The three images below show you round the rest of the pot.

culturαl notε

Chαptεr Six

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Lεttεr Guidε

43

Well, I am doing the action, so the Parthenon must be receiving the action…so it’s the object!

Nominative and accusative articles

We saw in the last chapter that there are three different words for ‘the’ in Greek: ὁ (masculine), ἡ (feminine) and το (neuter). But did you notice that some more versions of ‘the’ have now crept into our story?

Calm down Basil! It is for a very logical reason. Let’s take a look at one of those sentences again.

Answer me this question, Basil. Is the Parthenon the subject of the sentence, doing the action? Or is it the object, receiving the action?

Spot on! So in Greek, we change the definite article not just depending on the gender of the noun following, but depending on whether the noun is the subject or the object of the sentence. And if you want to be really fancy, we can call the subject the nominative case and the object the accusative case.

m. f. n.

nominative(subject) ὁ ἡ το

accusative(object) τον την το

Βλεπω τον Παρθενωνα ‘I see the Parthenon’Βλεπεις την ἀγοραν‘You see the marketplace.’

Βλεπω τον Παρθενωνα ‘I see the Parthenon’

οἰμοι! Nooooo! Why!!!!

Exercise – Nominitive or Accusative Tick the boxes to show whether the article underlined is in the nominative (subject) or accusative (object) case. The first one has been done to show you how.

nominative accusative1. Basil can see την ἀγοραν.2. ἡ ἀγορα is very busy.3. ὁ βατραχος likes honey.

4. Megamus helps τον βατραχον.5. Sophia saw το ἐμποριον.*6. το ἐμποριον contains gold.*

*The last two are tricky – the neuter article is the same in both nominativeand accusative cases. Check the meaning and context to find the answer.

grαmmαr notε

✓

Lεttεr Guidε

Chαptεr Six

44

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Ἐξαιφνης, the animals in ἡ ἀγορα see Σοφια rushing toward them carrying a crying Ἑκτωρ.

Sophia: Shhh, Ἑκτωρ. Let’s just get across την ἀγοραν. ἰδου, Ἑκτωρ – ἐστι βατραχος! Βλεπεις τον βατραχον;

Hector: ἰδου! βλεπω τον βατραχον! βατραχε, ἐλθε! τον βατραχον φιλω!

[το παιδιον stops crying, hugs τον βατραχον, and falls asleep.]

Basil: What are you doing here in town, Sophia?

Sophia: I’ve come to look for my brother. I’m in trouble if οὐχ εὑρισκω το δωρον for our πατηρ. It’s his birthday tomorrow και οὐκ ἐχομεν τον δωρον.

Basil: But how are we going to find τον Ἀλεξανδρον. ἡ ἀγορα is very busy. It’ll take ages to search την ἀγοραν for him.

Megamus: He’ll be with his teacher. Ηe’ll οὐ be sad for us to rescue him from his lessons!

Sophia: Good idea, Μεγαμυς. But it is οὐκ a good idea for me to move and wake το παιδιον up. You’re γαρ μικρος and can easily slip through the crowds and cross την ἀγοραν, so how about you go and fetch τον Ἀλεχανδρον and bring him here.

Megamus: Well, we’ve οὐ got anything better to do. Come on Μικρομυ, come on Βασιλευ!

[Τhe friends set off…]

timε-trαvεl words

κυων: You have met the Greek for ‘dog’ – κυων - and the Greek for ‘dog-like’ is κυνικος. That word gives us the English ‘cynic’, or ‘cynical’. This means someone who sneers or mocks at anyone who tries to do good. Is that a fair thing to say about dogs?

ἀγορα: agora in Greek meant ‘market place’. In English we have the word ‘agoraphobia’ which means fear of crowded places. φοβος in Greek meant ‘fear’. Do you know what fears these following ‘-phobia’ (‘fear’) words refer to? The answers are on p. 48.claustrophobia arachnophobia hydrophobia xenophobia

οὐχ εὑρισκω ‘ookh he-you-risk-oh’: I do not find

δωρον ‘doh-ron’: present, gift

οὐκ ἐχομεν ‘ook ekh-oh-men’: we do not have

το παιδιον ‘to pie-dee-on’: the small child

Negatives

In Greek we can make a phrase or sentence negative, just like in English:οὐ βλεπει – you don’t seeοὐκ ἐχομεν – we do not haveοὐχ εὑρισκω – I don’t find

Three different ways of writing the Greek word for ‘not’ are necessary: οὐ is used if the next word starts with a consonant; οὐκ if the next word starts with a vowel and smooth breathing (’) and οὐχ if the next word starts with a vowel and a rough breathing (‘).

grαmmαr notε

Chαptεr Six

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Lεttεr Guidε

45

Yes! The endings of the nouns change when they’re the object of the sentence – ἀγορα to ἀγοραν and βατραχος to βατραχον…

Nominative and accusative nouns.

The keen-eyed among you may have spotted that something other than the article changes when it becomes the object of the sentence:

Can you see what is going on here, Basil?

Here is how it works:

Looking at the endings of nouns is a particularly important rule in Greek. Take the following sentence:

Batrakhos sees Sophia.

In English, we know Batrakhos is the subject, Sophia the object because of the word order. In English, the subject comes before the verb and the object after.

In Greek the word order doesn’t matter. You can say ‘Batrakhos Sophia sees’, ‘Sophia Batrakhos sees’, ‘sees Sophia Batrakhos’, ‘sees Batrakhos Sophia’, ‘Batrakhos sees Sophia’, ‘Sophia sees Batrakhos’, and as long as you know which one is ὁ or ἡ and which one is τoν or την, you know who is subject, who the object.

Rule: the case of the words will tell you which is the subject, which is the object, NOT the order of the words.

Basil can see την ἀγοραν. ἡ ἀγορα is very busy. ὁ βατραχος likes honey. Megamus helps τον βατραχον.

masculine feminine neuter

nominative ὁ ἡ το(subject) βατραχος ἀγορα ἐμποριον

accusative τον την το(object) βατραχον ἀγοραν ἐμποριον

Exercise – Sort and translateNone of these sentences comes in the usual English word order. Sort them out, identifying the nominative and accusative and translate. Again, be careful with the neuter! e.g. τον βατραχον βλεπει ἡ Σοφια → ἡ Σοφια βλεπει τoνβατραχον → [the] Sophia sees the frog.

1.την Σοφιαν ἀγει ὁ πατηρ.2. βλεπει ὁ δελφις την γην.3. τoν Μικρομυν σωζει ἡ Εὐνομια.4. ἡ Εὐγενεια τον βατραχον βλεπει.5. τον ἱππον ὁ Ἀλεξανδρος και ἡ Σοφια ἀγουσιν.

grαmmαr notε

Lεttεr Guidε

Chαptεr Six

46

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Basil and the mice arrive at Alexandros’ school. There they find him and his teacher in the middle of a writing lesson…

Alexandros [writing]: …οἰμοι! Ξ ξ Ksi οὐκ ἐστιν easy, in fact it’s μαλιστα fiddly! Χχ khi – γραφω this one more easily. ἐστι γαρ like a cross. ἰδου!

Teacher: Very good. Now, can you tell me any words with a khi in them?

Alexandros: βατραχος! χαιρε!

Teacher: Quite right!

Alexandros: No, ἰδου! [points at Basil]Here is Basil ὁ βατραχος I was telling you about! And his φιλοι Μεγαμυς και Μικρομυς.

Teacher: Ah! τον γαρ βατραχον βλεπω! χαιρετε! To what do we owe the pleasure?

Basil: We’ve come to get Alexandros for… [he pauses]. εἰ a teacher?

Teacher: I am, Βασιλευ.

Basil: And you can read all kinds of Greek words?

Teacher: Of course, Βασιλευ!

Basil [very excited]: Ha! The gods smile on me at last. Sir, you could be just the person to help me with a mystery.

Teacher: Ah, if we’re talking about mysteries, do you all know the story of the Sphinx and its fiendish riddle?

γραφω ‘graf-oh’: I write

χαιρε ‘kh-eye-reh’: hello! (to one person)

χαιρετε ‘kh-eye-reh-teh’: hello! (to more than one person)

The Riddle of the Sphinx

Originally from Egypt, the mysterious Sphinx was a wise but terrible monster, with the head and torso of a woman, and the rest of her body a lion. She guarded the entrance to the Greek city of Thebes. After failing to answer the Sphinx’s riddle, many people were devoured by the dreadful beast.

However, Creon, the king of Thebes, finally determined to use every effort to rid the country of so terrible a scourge. On consulting the oracle of Delphi, he was informed that the only way to destroy the Sphinx was to solve one of her riddles, at which point she would immediately throw herself to her death from the rock on which she was seated.

So Creon made a public declaration – whoever could solve the Sphinx’s riddle would be given Creon’s crown and his sister Jocasta in marriage. A brave young man named Oedipus put himself forward, and proceeding to the spot where the terrible monster sat, received from her the following riddle for solution: ‘What creature goes in the morning on four legs, at noon on two, and in the evening on three?’

Chαptεr Six

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Lεttεr Guidε

47

Oedipus gave his answer: it must be a man, who in infancy crawls on all fours, then walks upright on two legs, and then, in old age, uses a stick to help him walk.

The Sphinx no sooner heard this correct solution to her riddle, than she flung herself off her high rock, and perished in the abyss below.

crαck thε αlphαbεt codε

Can you match the upper case letter to its lower case version?

Capital lettersYou have now seen all 24 letters of the Greek alphabet. You’ll have noticed that there’s an upper case and a lower case version for each letter like in English.

Τ

Ρ

Χ

Ε

Λ

Δ

Γ

Η

Ξ

Υ

ΨΘ Φ

Ο

Ζ

Κ

Σ

Ν

Ω

ΜΑ

ΠΙ

Βα

β

γ

η

ε

δ ι

ζ

θ μ

λ

κ

πο

ν

σ/ς

ρ

ξ

τ

υ

φχ

ψ

ω

Oedipus meeting the Sphinx.

Lεttεr Guidε

Chαptεr Six

48

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Nominative and accusativeGreek shows the subject and object of a sentence by changing the ending of nouns, and not by word order, as we do in English. The subject ending is called the nominative case, and the object ending is called the accusative case. Definite articles (‘the’) also change depending on sentence meaning.

Word orderWe learned that word order is not important in Greek, but the case of a word is. By looking at the ending of a Greek word, you can work out the correct English translation.

NegativesTo make a verb negative, just add οὐ (followed by a consonant) or οὐκ (folllowed by a vowel with a soft breathing) or οὐχ (followed by a vowel with a rough breathing). E.g. οὐ βλεπω ‘I do not see’, οὐκ ἐθελω ‘I do not want’, οὐχ εὑρισκω ‘I don’t find’.

whαt wε lεαrnεd in chαptεr six

ἡ ἀγορα: the agora, market-place

Ἀθηνη: AtheneἈπολλων: ApolloἈρης: Aresγραφω: I write δωρον: present, gift

ἐκει: thereἐμποριον: money-lender’s stall

εὑρισκω: I findἐχω I have Ζευς: ZeusἩφαιστος: Hephaestus

ὁ ναος: the temple

οὐκ: notτον Παρθενωνα: the Parthenon

χαιρε: hello! (to one person)

χαιρετε: hello! (to more than one person)

Basil’s word bankmasculine feminine neuter

nominative ὁ ἡ το(subject) βατραχος ἀγορα ἐμποριον

accusative τον την το(object) βατραχον ἀγοραν ἐμποριον

Exercise – TranslateTranslate the following sentences from Greek into English. Use the Word List at the back of the book to help you if you need to.1. ὁ Παρθενων ἐστι καλος.2. ἐξαιφνης την ἀγοραν βλεπομεν.3. μωρος οὐκ εἰμι! σοφος γαρ εἰμι.4. ἡ Σοφια φιλει τον βατραχον.5. τις ἡ βοη; δια τι καλεις;6. οἰμοι! δεινος ὁ κυων ἐστιν!7. Μικρομυς και Μεγαμυς φιλοι μαλιστα εἰσιν.8. την γραφην οὐ φιλω.9. βοηθει! πανθηρ με βλεπει!

Answers for p. 44: ‘claustrophobia’ is a fear of being shut up in a small space; ‘arachnophobia’ is a fear of spiders; ‘hydrophobia’ is a fear of water; ‘xenophobia’ is a fear of foreigners.

Basil is delighted. Finally he has found someone to help him solve the mystery letter. He opens his trunk to get it out and hands it to Alexandros’ teacher…

Teacher: So, τι τουτο; ἐπιστολη γαρ ἐστιν. Where did you get this?

Basil: I found it in my attic but οὐδεις in my family could ever make sense of it. It was written by my μεγιστος ancestor Odysseus Batrakhos, who went to a νεα γη, Taurica, from

these parts many, many years ago. I thought, if I could learn Greek, I could finally read the mystery letter that has intrigued us all.

Teacher: Well, let me take a look and see if we can work out λογον [reads the letter] τι τουτο; νεον οικον…θαλαττα…Hmmm… χειμων… oh, that’s bad… ἀλλα τι τουτο; δελφις! Oh, very good!

Basil [bursting with curiosity]: Tell me, tell me! τι λεγεις;

49

Chαptεr Sεvεn

Lεttεr Guidε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

ἐπιστολη: a letter

οὐδεις: no-one

μεγιστος ‘meg-is-toss’: greatest, biggest

νεα ‘neh-a’: new (νεος)

Teacher: You tell me οὐ μανθανεις, but I think that is οὐκ ὀρθον. I think you must have already learned quite a lot of Greek on your journey.

Basil: I’ve learned some words, it’s true. But I’m οὐ good enough to translate the letter. Often οὐχ εὑρισκω what words mean.

Teacher: Oh, I don’t know about that, Basil. Why don’t we sit down and look at it together. Alexandros, Sophia, will you help?

Megamus and Mikromus: And us!

[Everyone gathers round…]

Teacher: Hmm… A very clever man called Plato told me once that ‘παντες ἀνθρωποι του εἰδεναι ὀρεγονται φυσει’ - ‘all people by nature are after knowledge’. Basil, you want to know what’s written on this scroll but I think you’re more than capable of working it out. Look at the letter, about five lines down:

‘το μεν πλοιον πλει, ἐξαιφνης δε φοβερος εἰμι ἐγω.’

Could you have a go at working out what’s going on?

Basil: Well, I remember from Sophia’s weaving that το πλοιον is a boat… and πλει means ‘is sailing’… so ‘the boat is sailing’, right?

Alexandros: εὐγε, βατραχε, you’ve got it!

Basil: ‘ἐξαιφνης δε φοβερος εἰμι ἐγω’… Hmm, ἐγω is ‘I’ and εἰμι is ‘am’, so ‘I am…’ φοβερος! ‘I am scared!’

Sophia: You’ve missed some words out, Basil.

Basil: Oh, yes. ἐξαιφνης – ‘suddenly’. ‘Suddenly I am scared.’ But I don’t think I’ve seen μεν and δε before?

Teacher: Ah, those two little words crop up everywhere. μεν means ‘on the one hand’, while δε means ‘on the other hand.’ They make a sentence balance beautifully.

Micromus: Like, ‘Μικρομυς μεν σοφος ἐστι, Μεγαμυς δε μωρος!’ [sniggers]

Basil: Hey! That’s not very kind!

Teacher: What do you mean, Basil?

Basil: ‘On the one hand, Micromus is clever and on the other Megamus is stupid.’ You two are supposed to be φιλοι!

Alexandros: You see Basil, you do know Greek!

Teacher: σοφος γαρ εἰ συ! So how about you give this mysterious letter a go? We’ll all be here to help you if you get stuck.

συ: you

ὀυ μανθανεις: you don’t understandὀρθος: right, true

Lεttεr Guidε

Chαptεr Sεvεn

50

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

σοφος: wise, clever

51

Lεttεr Guidε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Chαptεr Sεvεn

The Letter

Can you help Basil translate the letter? Use Basil’s Word Bank on pages 55 to 62 if you get stuck on any of the words. Search through the green Grammar Note sections for untangling the sentences (the last one you need is on the next page, so make sure you look there first).

grαmmαr notε

μεν and δεTwo little words pop up as a pair in Greek all the time: they are μεν and δε.

μεν means ‘on the one hand’, (it is always the second word in a phrase)δε means ‘on the other hand’ (also always second word)

Greeks loved drawing strong contrasts in this way:

Greeks μεν are brilliant, barbarians δε are stupid;

we μεν are right, you δε are wrong;

I μεν am brave, he δε is a coward.

Teacher: Well, well, Basil! The mystery is revealed. Odysseus Batrakhos sailed from Greece to Taurica and sent this letter to his parents. They must have then joined him in his νεος οἰκος in Taurica. That’s how your Greek ancestors became your Taurican ancestors. A true odyssey indeed! That reminds me of a similar λογος, the one that gives its name to the word ‘odyssey’…

Lεttεr Guidε

Chαptεr Sεvεn

52

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

culturαl notε

Greek philosophers

Philosophy means loving (‘φιλος’) wisdom (‘σοφια’). Many very important philosophers lived in Ancient Greece, and their ideas still affect how we think today.

Plato lived in Athens in the 5th–4th Centuries BCE, and was the student of the great philosopher Socrates. Using his teacher as a character in many of his books, Plato explored various ideas, such as how to govern; how we know what is real; and why people behave in certain ways. Plato’s student Aristotle also had a great impact on the history of thinking, continuing to explore many of Plato’s questions and coming up with many original scientific ideas.

Languagε notε

Wily OdysseusThe word for ‘Nobody’ in Greek is ‘Οὐτις’ which sounds a bit like ‘Odysseus’. So the ancient hero really is being very clever in this story (on the next page). Homer, who told the tale of Odysseus’ long journey home in The Odyssey, often called him ‘μητις’ which means ‘cunning intelligence’.

Once you have read the story opposite, do you think Odysseus has earnt this adjective?

Odysseus escaping from the cyclops.

Odysseus had tricked Polyphemus. However, they still needed to escape. Of course, now Polyphemus was blind in his one, big eye, that should be easier. The next morning, Polyphemus let his sheep out to graze, but felt with his giant hands for any of the Greeks trying to make a getaway. Odysseus instructed his men to cling on to the bellies of the sheep, hanging underneath each animal as it left the cave. So Odysseus outwitted Polyphemus again. When he found out that Odysseus and all his men had escaped, Polyphemus exploded with rage and cried to his father Poseidon for divine vengeance.

Odysseus and the Cyclops Polyphemus

The story of Odysseus starts at the end of the Trojan War. Some of the victorious Greek warriors got home easily; others did not. Odysseus, inventor of the Trojan Horse, was one of the unlucky ones. Thanks to Zeus, king of the gods, his journey back home to Ithaca was long and full of adventure. He met some of the most terrifying creatures known to mythology. One-eyed Polyphemus, the Cyclops, was one such monster.

Odysseus landed his ship on an unfamiliar shore to look for food. He couldn’t believe his luck when he and his men found a cave filled with cheese and wine. They loaded up their bags with the food, then went to leave. But the cave’s owner, a ferocious (if dim-witted) Cyclops called Polyphemus, returned and caught them stealing his things. Polyphemus herded his sheep into his cave and rolled a stone boulder to cover the entrance and stop Odysseus and the sheep from escaping. The giant then reached out, seized some of Odysseus’ men, and, with a terrible crunching of bones, gobbled them up.

Stuck inside the cave with a man-eating Cyclops, Odysseus knew he had to come up with a plan, and a good one. The next morning, after Polyphemus had left the cave (not forgetting to roll the large boulder back to block the doorway), Odysseus and his men found the giant’s walking stick and set about sharpening one end of it. That night, when Polyphemus returned to the cave, Odysseus used all his skill and wit to start up a conversation with the Cyclops. Although Polyphemus was still intent on munching all the humans, he chatted with Odysseus, who persuaded the giant to have a drink.

Polyphemus became a little drunk and asked Odysseus what his name was. The cunning Odysseus replied, ‘My name is Nobody’. Then he and his men took the sharpened stick and drove it into Polyphemus’ eye. The giant’s cries of agony were so loud that they brought all his Cyclops neighbours running to his door. ‘Who is doing this to you?’ they shouted from beyond the boulder. ‘It’s Nobody!’ roared the injured Cyclops. ‘Nobody is killing me!’ So the neighbours shrugged their shoulders, and went away.

53

Lεttεr Guidε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Chαptεr Sεvεn

μεν and δεThese two words were used by ancient Greeks all the time to contrast one thing with another. Do the translation exercise below to practise how it works.

whαt wε lεαrnεd in chαptεr sεvεn

ἐπιστολη: letterὲυρισκω: I findμεν…δε: on the one hand… on the other

μανθανω: I understand

μεγιστος: greatest, biggest

νεα: new (νεος)

ὀρθος: right, trueοὐδεις: no-oneσοφος: wise, clever

συ: you

Basil’s word bank

Languagε dεtεctivεFirst match up the definitions of these English words. Then find the Greek word or words that give us the English words and write them out carefully in Greek. The first has been done for you.

orthography epistle graph acoustic emporium

Lεttεr Guidε

Chαptεr Sεvεn

54

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Translate into English:1. ἐγω μεν σοφος εἰμι, ὁ δε βατραχος μωρος.

2. ὁ πατηρ μεν οὐν εἰς το πλοιον βαινει, ἡ δε μητηρ μενει.

3. ὁ μεν Βασιλ λεγει τον λογον, ὁ δε Μικρομυς οὐκ ακουει.

4. ἡ μεν Σοφια εἰς τον οἰκον ἀποβαινει, ὁ δε Βασιλ προς τον ποταμον.

5. ἐγω μεν οὐ μανθανω, συ δε ταχυ μανθανεις.

The rules of writing and

spellingRelating to sound or hearing

The word for ‘letter’ used in

the Bible

A large shop selling many

things.

A drawnrepresentation of information

ὀρθος γραφη

55

Bαsil’s Word Bαnk

Lεttεr Guidε

α alpha a • β beta b • γ gamma g • δ delta d • ε epsilon e • ζ zeta sd(z) • η ēta ē • θ theta th • ι iota i • κ kappa k • λ lambda l • µ mu m • ν nu n • ξ xi x • ο omicron o • π pi p • ρ rho r • σ/ς sigma s • τ tau t • υ upsilon u • φ phi ph • χ khi ch/kh • ψ psi ps • ω omega ō

Word Pronunciation Meaning Chapter first seen Word type

ἀγορα agg-or-a agora or market-place

6 noun, fem (ἡ)

ἀγω agg-oh I lead, I take 4 verb

Ἀθηνη A-thair-nair Athene 6 noun, fem (ἡ)

Ἁιδης Hay-dairs Hades 6 noun, masc (ὁ)

ἀκουε! a-koo-ay listen! 2 verb, imperative

ἀκουω a-koo-oh I listen 4 verb

ἀλλα al-la but 2 conjunction

ἀνδρων and-roan men’s part of the house

3 noun, masc

ἀποβαινω ap-o-bye-noh I go away 3 verb

Ἀπολλων App-oll-oh-n Apollo 6 noun, masc (ὁ)

Ἀραχνη A-rack-neh Arachne 5 noun, fem (ἡ)

Ἀρης A-rairs Ares 6 noun, masc (ὁ)

Ἀρτεμις Art-e-miss Artemis 6 noun, fem (ἡ)

βαινει b-eye-neh (he/she/it) goes 4 verb

βαινουσιν b-eye-noo-see(n) (they) go 4 verb

βαινω b-eye-noh I go 4 verb

βαρβαρος bar-ba-ross foreigner 2 noun, masc (ὁ)

βασιλευς ba-sill-eh-us king 5 noun, masc (ὁ)

Word Pronunciation Meaning Chapter first seen Word type

βατραχος bat-ra-khos frog 4 noun, masc (ὁ)

βιος be-oss life 2 noun, masc (ὁ)

βλεπει blep-eh (he/she/it) sees 4 verb

βλεπω blep-oh I see 4 verb

βοη bo-air a shout 5 noun, fem (ἡ)

βοηθει! bo-air-theh help! 4 verb, impera-tive

βραδεως brad-ee-oh-s slowly 4 adverb

γαρ gar for, because (sec-ond word)

4 conjunction

γη gair land, country 5 noun, fem (ἡ)

γραφη graf-air picture 5 noun, fem (ἡ)

γραφω graf-oh I write 6 verb

γυναικων guh-n-eye-cone women’s part of house

5 noun, masc (ὁ)

δε de see μεν…δε 7 particle

δεινος/δεινη deh-noss/ deh-nair

terrible, frightening

4 adjective

δελφις del-fiss dolphin 4 noun, masc (ὁ)

δια τι; dee-a ti why? 2 interrogative

διοτι dee-o-ti because 5 conjunction

δουλος doo-loss slave 5 noun, masc (ὁ)

δωρον doh-ron present, gift 6 noun, neuter (το)

ἐγω egg-oh I 5 pronoun

ἐθελω eth-ell-oh I want 4 verb

εἰ eh you (s) are 2 verb

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Bαsil’s Word Bαnk

Word Pronunciation Meaning Chapter first seen Word type

εἰμι eh-mi I am 2 verb

εἰς ehss to, into, toward 4 preposition

εἰσι(ν) eh-si(n) (they) are 3 verb

ἐκει eck-eh there 5 preposition

ἐλθε! el-th-eh come! 4 verb, imperative

ἐμος em-oss my 5 adjective

ἐμποριον em-po-ree-on money-lender’s stall

6 noun, neuter (το)

ἐν en in, into 5 preposition

ἐπιστολη eh-pee-stoll-air letter 7 noun, fem (ἡ)

ἐξαιφνης ex-eye-f-nay-ss suddenly 5 adverb

ἐργον er-gone work 5 noun, neuter (το)

Ἑρμης Her-mairs Hermes 6 noun, masc (ὁ)

ἐσμεν es-men we are 3 verb

ἐστε es-teh you (pl) are 3 verb

ἐστι(ν) es-ti (he/she/it) is 3 verb

εὐγε ay-oo-geh hooray! 4 exclamation

εὑρισκω he-yoo-risk-oh I find 6 verb

ἐχω ekh-oh I have 6 verb

Ζευς Ze-yoos Zeus, king of the gods

6 noun, masc (ὁ)

ἡ hair the 4 article, fem

Ἡρα Hair-a Hera 6 noun, fem (ἡ)

Ἡφαιστος Hair-fy-stoss Hephaistos 6 noun, masc (ὁ)

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Bαsil’s Word Bαnk

Word Pronunciation Meaning Chapter first seen Word type

θαλαττα tha-latt-a sea 4 noun, fem (ἡ)

θεα they-a goddess 5 noun, fem (ἡ)

θεος they-oss god 5 noun, masc (ὁ)

θρονος th-ron-oss throne 4 noun, masc (ὁ)

ἰδου! i-doo look! 2 exclamation

ἰου! i-oo hooray! 2 exclamation

ἱππος hip-oss horse 5 noun, masc (ὁ)

και k-eye and, also, too 2 conjunction

καλλιστη/καλλιστος

cal-iss-tair, cal-iss-toss,

best, most lovely 5 adjective

καλος cal-oss good, lovely 5 adjective

καλω cal-oh I call 5 verb

καμηλος ca-mair-loss camel 4 noun, masc (ὁ)

καρδια car-di-a heart 5 noun, fem (ἡ)

καταδυω cat-a-doo-oh I sink 4 verb

καττα catt-a cat 3 noun, fem (ἡ)

κροκοδιλος crock-o-dill-oss crocodile 3 noun, masc (ὁ)

κυριος koo-ree-oss master 2 noun, masc (ὁ)

κυων (κυνα) coo-oh-n (coo-na)

dog 4 noun, masc (ὁ)

λεγω leg-oh I say 4 verb

λεων le-oh-n lion 4 noun, masc (ὁ)

λογος log-oss word, story 3 noun, masc (ὁ)

μαλιστα ma-liss-ta very, very much, greatly

2 adverb

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Bαsil’s Word Bαnk

Word Pronunciation Meaning Chapter first seen Word type

μαμμια mam-ee-a mummy 2 noun, fem (ἡ)

μανθανω man-tha-noh I understand 7 verb

με meh me 4 pronoun

Μεγαμυς meh-ga-muss Megamus 4 noun, masc (ὁ)

μεγας meg-as big, great 1 adjective

μεγιστος meg-iss-toss biggest, greatest 7 adjective

Μεδουσα meh-doo-sa Medusa 4 noun, fem (ἡ)

μελας mell-as dark, black 5 adjective

μελισσα meh-liss-a honey bee 3 noun, fem (ἡ)

μεν…δε men… deh (balances two parts of a sentence)

7 particle

μενω men-oh I stay, remain 5 verb

μετρω met-roh I measure 2 verb

μηλον mair-lon apple 5 noun, neuter (το)

μητηρ mair-teh-r mother 5 noun, fem (ἡ)

Μικρομυς mick-ro-muss Mikromus 2 noun, masc (ὁ)

μικρος mick-ross small, llittle 1 adjective

μιμος mi-moss mimic 2 noun, masc (ὁ)

μυς (μυν) muss (mun) mouse 1 noun, masc (ὁ)

μωρος, μωρα moh-ross, moh-ra

silly, stupid 5 adjective

ναος na-oss temple 6 noun, masc (ὁ)

νεος, νεα neh-oss, neh-a new 7 adjective

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Bαsil’s Word Bαnk

Word Pronunciation Meaning Chapter first seen Word type

νικη nick-air victory 5 noun, fem (ἡ)

νυν noon now 3 adverb

ὁ ho the 3 article, masc

οἰκος oy-koss house 2 noun, masc (ὁ)

οἰμοι oy-moy oh no!, oh dear! 1 exclamation

ὀρθος or-thoss true, correct 7 adjective

ὁτι hott-ee that 5 conjunction

οὐ(κ/χ) oo/ook/ookh not, no 4 negative

οὐδεις ood-ehs no-one 7 pronoun

οὐν oon therefore, so 3 conjunction

οὐρανος oo-ran-oss sky, heavens 5 noun, masc (ὁ)

Οὐτις Oo-tiss Nobody, Noman 7 noun, masc (ὁ)

παιδιον pie-dee-on small child 6 noun, neuter (το)

πανθηρ pan-th-air panther 4 noun, masc (ὁ)

παντομιμος pan-toh-mi-moss pantomime 3 noun, masc (ὁ)

παραδεισος par-a-deh-soss park, garden 3 noun, masc (ὁ)

Παρθενων(α) Par-then-oh-n(a) the Parthenon (temple of Athena)

6 noun, masc (ὁ)

πατηρ pat-air father 5 noun, masc (ὁ)

Πεγασος pe-ga-soss Pegasus (mythical winged horse)

3 noun, masc (ὁ)

πλεω pleh-oh I sail 5 verb

πλοιον ploy-on boat 4 noun, neuter (το)

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Bαsil’s Word Bαnk

Word Pronunciation Meaning Chapter first seen Word type

ποιημα poy-air-mah poem 5 noun, neuter (το)

Ποσειδων Poss-eh-doh-n Poseidon 6 noun, masc (ὁ)

ποταμος pot-am-oss river 5 noun, masc (ὁ)

που poo where 4 interrogative

ῥινοκερως rhy-no-care-rose rhinoceros 4 noun, masc (ὁ)

σαυρος s-ow-ross lizard 4 noun, masc (ὁ)

σιγα! see-ga! silence! be quiet! 4 exclamation

σκελετος skell-e-toss dried up, withered 3 adjective

σχολη s-khol-air spare time, leisure

5 noun, fem (ἡ)

σοφος soff-oss clever, wise 7 adjective

σπογγος spong-oss a sponge 5 noun, masc (ὁ)

συ soo you (s) 7 pronoun

συμβολος soom-bol-oss symbol, sign 2 noun, masc (ὁ)

σωος soh-oss safe 5 adjective

σωζε (με)! sohs-deh (meh) save me! 4 verb, imperative

σωζω sohs-doh I save 4 verb

ταυρος t-ow-ross bull 2 noun, masc (ὁ)

ταχυ tack-hu quickly 5 adverb

τελος tell-oss at last, finally 3 preposition

την tairn the 4 article, fem

τιγρις tig-riss tiger 4 noun, fem (ἡ)

τι ἐστι; tee ess-tee what is it? 3 phrase

τις tiss who 2 pronoun

61

Bαsil’s Word Bαnk

Word Pronunciation Meaning Chapter first seen Word type

τις ἡ βοη; tiss hair bo-air what’s that noise? 5 phrase

τι τουτο; tee too-to what’s this? 3 phrase

το (τον) to (tonn) the 4 article (neuter)

φιλος/φιλη fill-oss/fill-air dear, friend 5 noun (singular)

φιλοι fill-oy friends 5 noun (plural)

φιλω fill-oh I love 5 verb

φοβερος/φοβερα fob-eh-ross/ fob-eh-ra

fearful, afraid 5 adjective

φωνη foe-nair a sound 5 noun, fem (ἡ)

χαιρε/χαιρετε kh-eye-reh/ kh-eye-reh-teh

hello (to one per-son/to more than one person)

6 verb, imperative

χειμων kh-eh-moan storm 5 noun, masc (ὁ)

ψυχη p-soo-k-air soul 5 noun, fem (ἡ)

ὠκεανος oh-keh-an-oss ocean 4 noun, masc (ὁ)

62

Bαsil’s Word Bαnk

Illustrαtions

Location Item type Details Date (approximate)

Chapter 1 p.9(1843,1103.76)

Red-figured pitcher with three handles (hydria)

Medea using magic to renew Jason’s youth

480 BCE– 470 BCE

Chapter 2 p.17(1926,0415.54)

Bronze lamp Mouse decoration on a lamp 2nd century BCE

Chapter 3 p.22(1875,0406.2)

Gold ornament Bee (less than 2 cm long) 1700 BCE–1600 BCE

Chapter 3 p.23 (1863,0728.102)

Black-figured shallow bowl on long stem (kylix)

Bellerophon riding Pegasus 520 BCE– 500 BCE

Chapter 4 p.27(1917,0501.94)

Gold finger ring Medusa’s head 350 BCE– 330 BCE

Chapter 4 p.28(1873,0820.352)

Red-figured water pitcher (hydria)

Perseus fleeing with the head of Medusa in a bag

460 BCE

Chapter 4 p.29(1836,0224.183)

Black-figured two-handled storage jar (amphora)

Warriors heading off to battle 530 BCE– 510 BCE

Chapter 4 p.29(1863,0728.18)

Red-figured oil storage jar (lekythos)

Owl perched on an olive branch 470 BCE– 460 BCE

Chapter 5 p.37(1893,0303.1)

Black-figured two-handled deep wine cup (skyphos)

Loom (this cup depicts Odysseus meeting Circe on his journey home after the Trojan War)

450 BCE– 420 BCE

Chapter 6 p.42(1836,0224.8)

Red-figured storage jar (stamnos)

Gods on Mount Olympus: Main image: Zeus seated, Hebe(?), Hermes. Round the jar, the smaller images show, from left to right: Hebe(?), Hermes, Demeter/Hestia (with torches), Dionysus, Nike (winged), Apollo with his kithara and Hera.

490 BCE– 460 BCE

Chapter 6 p.47(1867,0508.1132)

Covered wine cup (kantharos)

Oedipus telling the Sphinx the answer to her riddle

440 BCE– 430 BCE

Chapter 7 p.53(1864,1007.228)

Black-figured wine jug (oinochoe)

Odysseus escaping from Polyphemus by hiding under a sheep

500 BCE– 490 BCE

All these items are owned by the British Museum. More information can be found in their online collection: https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/search.aspx To help your search, each item’s museum identification number has been given in the Location column in brackets.

63

crαck thε αlphαbεt codεPractice page

Alpha Α α

Beta Β β

Gamma Γ γ

Delta Δ δ

Epsilon Ε ε

Zeta Ζ ζ

Eta Η η

Theta Θ θ

Iota Ι ι

Kappa Κ κ

Lambda Λ λ

Mu Μ μ

Nu Ν ν

Xi Ξ ξ

Omicron Ο ο

Pi Π π

Rho Ρ ρ

Sigma Σ σ/ς

Tau Τ τ

Upsilon Υ υ

Phi Φ φ

Khi Χ χ

Psi Ψ ψ

Omega Ω ω

64

Α α

Β β

Γ γ

Δ δ

Ε ε

Ζ ζ

Η η

Θ θ

Ι ι

Κ κ

Λ λ

Μ μ

Ν ν

Ξ ξ

Ο ο

Π π

Ρ ρ

Σ σ/ς

Τ τ

Υ υ

Φ φ

Χ χ

Ψ ψ

Ω ω

Α α

Β β

Γ γ

Δ δ

Ε ε

Ζ ζ

Η η

Θ θ

Ι ι

Κ κ

Λ λ

Μ μ

Ν ν

Ξ ξ

Ο ο

Π π

Ρ ρ

Σ σ/ς

Τ τ

Υ υ

Φ φ

Χ χ

Ψ ψ

Ω ω