Newbie here, at Pharr Lesson 4.
The rule appears to be that the genitive of nouns like θάλασσα (short alpha) will end in ης, while those like θεά (long alpha) will end in ας.
Can I ask a few examples of other such nouns following this rule? It’s hard to look things up by their ending! I’m sure they are coming in future chapters…
BRET
Like θάλασσα is μοῦσα, as in the first verse of the Odyssey: ἄνδρα μοι ἔννεπε, μοῦσα, …. Also μοῖρα and αἶσα.
Nothing goes like θεά except a few proper names. Normally the final long -α becomes -η, e.g. βίη, Τροίη, ἡμέρη (βία, Τροία, ἡμέρα in Attic).
Welcome to Homer!
Thanks!
I like the Pharr learning process of learning along with the Iliad, but it introduces some rarities and oddities early that are not highlighted as exceptions rather than rules. But learning Homeric Greek seems to be about reading Homer, so one takes it as it comes.
BRET
Indeed. The thing to note about Homeric Greek is that it’s an artificial creation, not a language actually spoken by anyone, but a mixture of different dialects that only existed for the purpose of delivering Epic poetry. Just keep on reading Homer!