Expert: Maria - 8/1/2007

Question
Hi,

This isn't for a tattoo, nor any kind of assigned homework, but it is for my own personal studies.  I hope that's alright.  If not, please don't feel obliged to translate!

I'm trying to get the phrase "μαύρος ήλιος", which is modern Greek, put into Attic Greek.  (Is there even a difference in this case?)

Many thanks!

Answer
Hello,

In ancient Greek - which is my field of expertise (please see my profile) - there is the adjective “áìáõñüò“, while the adjective “ìáõñüò“ is not very common.

The adjective “áìáõñüò“ means “dark”, as well as “dim”, “pallid”, “evanescent”, “invisible”.

Therefore the expression “áìáõñüò Þëéïò" would mean, in ancient Greek, “pallid sun” / “dim sun” / “dark sun” / “invisible sun”, according to the context.

Given the fact that I do not know modern Greek, hence I do not know the exact meaning of “ìáýñïò Þëéïò" in modern Greek, I cannot give you the equivalent of “ìáýñïò Þëéïò" in classical Greek - unless you tell me the English translation of it.
Does the modern "ìáýñïò” perhaps mean “dark, pallid, dim”, as in ancient Greek, or does it have another meaning?

Best regards,
Maria
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Note that αμαυρός contains the following Greek letters:
alpha with the smooth breathing- mu-alpha-upsilon-rho-omicron with the acute accent -sigma.

I wrote these letters as I'm not sure you can read the Greek fonts, since the system sometimes does not allow it.