Nikolaz
01-05-2008, 11:42 PM
Hello guys...
I don't know if you have ever came across to this "article"....It's really interesting how Skopians explain the name "Thessaloniki" in their Bulgarian language....
I took this article from a blog:
Thessalonika is not Greek,it is Macedonian name!
A great number of people among us today and in the past, reckoned and still reckon that the name “Solun” is the real Macedonian name of that city and that the name “Thessalonica” (and now “Thessaloniki”) is a “Greek” name which many refuse to accept. However, the truth may be different and surprising. The name “Thessalonica” is the true and authentic Macedonian name, whereas the name “Solun” was acquired later.According to historical documents the city was founded in 315 BC by the Macedonian King Cassander. The city was founded near the old settlement of Therma and surrounding villages. Cassander named this city “Thessalonica” after his wife Thessalonica who was Alexander the Great’s sister and daughter to Philip II of Macedon. In other words, the city was founded by a Macedonian and was named after a Macedonian woman – born sister to the most famous Macedonian king.
But what is the etymology of the name “Thessalonica”? Why did Philip II call his daughter by this name? The answer to this question is simple. After fighting the Thessalians in a difficult war which lasted for months in 354 BC, Philip II came out victorious and to commemorate his victory he named his daughter, who was born soon after that war, “Thessalonica”. The name “Thessalonica” is a compound word consisting of the words “Thessalo” and “nica”. “Thessalo” comes from the word “Thessaly” and “nica” comes from the word “nice” for “victory”. In other words “victory over Thessaly”. Thus the etymology of the names is “Thessaly-nice” which in the female version translates to “Thessaly-nica” or “Thessalonica”. It is a tragic comedy that the modern Greeks of today are “proud” of this name and we the Macedonians have rejected it believing it to be Greek (even though in essence it is authentic Macedonian and “anti-Greek”).Later and with many years of passing the name was shortened to “Salonica” and from that the name “Solun” was derived. However, we should not forget nor reject the name “Thessalonica” if for nothing else, than for our respect of the ancient Macedonians who came victorious over the so called “Greeks” and whose victory was enshrined in the name “Thessalonica”.
And now to say a few words about the etymology of this name. As was earlier mentioned, “Thessalo” comes from the word Thessaly which is obvious. The suffix “nika”, however, which some may say is a Greek word for “victory” and from this they may deduce that the name “Thessalonica” is Greek, is not so obvious. First of all the word “nik(a)” is found in the ancient Macedonian language, but not as a separate noun, but as a suffix (used in large numbers) and has the same meaning as the Greek noun. For example, the noun “rabotnik” (worker) consists of the compound noun “rabota” (work) and the suffix “nik”. From this, the etymology of the noun “rabotnik” is “he who performs work”. The etymology of the noun “volshevnik” (sorcerer) is “he who performs sorcery (volshestvo)”. By this etymological method other nouns can be explained: tsarinik (tax collector) (he who collects taxes), k (he who rides horses), etc.The suffix “nik” can also be utilized for different assignments: svinjarnik (pigpen) (a place where pigs reside), ribarnik (fish tank) (a place where fish reside), etc.Even though the meaning of the suffix “nik” was explained, there may be some who will still maintain that it is a “Greek” suffix which the Macedonians adopted from the “Greek” noun “nice”.That may be so, given that it is well understood that the suffix “nik” was present in the ancient Macedonian language but how does one explain the suffix “nik” found in other Slav languages like Croatian (djalatnik and provrednik), Serbian (ratnik), Russian and others? How is it that these various people living far away from the “Greeks” have adopted this suffix from the “Greeks” and have it so intricately set into their speech when it is well known that they never had any major contacts with the Greeks?
It is well understood that words are borrowed from other languages but this only happens where there is major contact between different people; usually between people that border each other. The only logical explanation as to why this particular word is so widely used and is part of the “Greek” vocabulary is because the “Greeks” borrowed it from the Slav speakers. While this word remained a suffix in all the Slav languages the “Greeks” converted it to a noun. There is also evidence that proves that ancient “Greeks” were adopting words from foreign (Macedonian as well as other “barbarian”) languages. For example, the ancient author Athenei from Naukrat says that the Athenian writers accepted words from the Macedonians. He also wrote of the existence of such words in the “Greek” language. Athenei wrote: “I know that many Athenian writers use Macedonian idioms as a result of mutual influence between Athens and Macedonia.” ("Deipnosophists" III., Loeb Classical Library, William Henemann, London p. 201).Could it be that the noun “nice” is one of these borrowed words? Only further study can answer this question.
I would like to see your opinion over this one..... :angry:
I don't know if you have ever came across to this "article"....It's really interesting how Skopians explain the name "Thessaloniki" in their Bulgarian language....
I took this article from a blog:
Thessalonika is not Greek,it is Macedonian name!
A great number of people among us today and in the past, reckoned and still reckon that the name “Solun” is the real Macedonian name of that city and that the name “Thessalonica” (and now “Thessaloniki”) is a “Greek” name which many refuse to accept. However, the truth may be different and surprising. The name “Thessalonica” is the true and authentic Macedonian name, whereas the name “Solun” was acquired later.According to historical documents the city was founded in 315 BC by the Macedonian King Cassander. The city was founded near the old settlement of Therma and surrounding villages. Cassander named this city “Thessalonica” after his wife Thessalonica who was Alexander the Great’s sister and daughter to Philip II of Macedon. In other words, the city was founded by a Macedonian and was named after a Macedonian woman – born sister to the most famous Macedonian king.
But what is the etymology of the name “Thessalonica”? Why did Philip II call his daughter by this name? The answer to this question is simple. After fighting the Thessalians in a difficult war which lasted for months in 354 BC, Philip II came out victorious and to commemorate his victory he named his daughter, who was born soon after that war, “Thessalonica”. The name “Thessalonica” is a compound word consisting of the words “Thessalo” and “nica”. “Thessalo” comes from the word “Thessaly” and “nica” comes from the word “nice” for “victory”. In other words “victory over Thessaly”. Thus the etymology of the names is “Thessaly-nice” which in the female version translates to “Thessaly-nica” or “Thessalonica”. It is a tragic comedy that the modern Greeks of today are “proud” of this name and we the Macedonians have rejected it believing it to be Greek (even though in essence it is authentic Macedonian and “anti-Greek”).Later and with many years of passing the name was shortened to “Salonica” and from that the name “Solun” was derived. However, we should not forget nor reject the name “Thessalonica” if for nothing else, than for our respect of the ancient Macedonians who came victorious over the so called “Greeks” and whose victory was enshrined in the name “Thessalonica”.
And now to say a few words about the etymology of this name. As was earlier mentioned, “Thessalo” comes from the word Thessaly which is obvious. The suffix “nika”, however, which some may say is a Greek word for “victory” and from this they may deduce that the name “Thessalonica” is Greek, is not so obvious. First of all the word “nik(a)” is found in the ancient Macedonian language, but not as a separate noun, but as a suffix (used in large numbers) and has the same meaning as the Greek noun. For example, the noun “rabotnik” (worker) consists of the compound noun “rabota” (work) and the suffix “nik”. From this, the etymology of the noun “rabotnik” is “he who performs work”. The etymology of the noun “volshevnik” (sorcerer) is “he who performs sorcery (volshestvo)”. By this etymological method other nouns can be explained: tsarinik (tax collector) (he who collects taxes), k (he who rides horses), etc.The suffix “nik” can also be utilized for different assignments: svinjarnik (pigpen) (a place where pigs reside), ribarnik (fish tank) (a place where fish reside), etc.Even though the meaning of the suffix “nik” was explained, there may be some who will still maintain that it is a “Greek” suffix which the Macedonians adopted from the “Greek” noun “nice”.That may be so, given that it is well understood that the suffix “nik” was present in the ancient Macedonian language but how does one explain the suffix “nik” found in other Slav languages like Croatian (djalatnik and provrednik), Serbian (ratnik), Russian and others? How is it that these various people living far away from the “Greeks” have adopted this suffix from the “Greeks” and have it so intricately set into their speech when it is well known that they never had any major contacts with the Greeks?
It is well understood that words are borrowed from other languages but this only happens where there is major contact between different people; usually between people that border each other. The only logical explanation as to why this particular word is so widely used and is part of the “Greek” vocabulary is because the “Greeks” borrowed it from the Slav speakers. While this word remained a suffix in all the Slav languages the “Greeks” converted it to a noun. There is also evidence that proves that ancient “Greeks” were adopting words from foreign (Macedonian as well as other “barbarian”) languages. For example, the ancient author Athenei from Naukrat says that the Athenian writers accepted words from the Macedonians. He also wrote of the existence of such words in the “Greek” language. Athenei wrote: “I know that many Athenian writers use Macedonian idioms as a result of mutual influence between Athens and Macedonia.” ("Deipnosophists" III., Loeb Classical Library, William Henemann, London p. 201).Could it be that the noun “nice” is one of these borrowed words? Only further study can answer this question.
I would like to see your opinion over this one..... :angry: