Ἐρυθρὰ θάλασσα

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

• Ἐρυθρὰ θάλαττα (Eruthrà thálatta) — Attic
• Ἐρυθρὴ θάλασσα (Eruthrḕ thálassa) — Ionic

Etymology

Literally, “red sea”.

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /e.ry.tʰràː tʰá.las.sa/ → /e.ryˈθra ˈθa.las.sa/ → /e.riˈθra ˈθa.la.sa/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /e.ry.tʰràː tʰá.las.sa/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /e.ryˈtʰra ˈtʰa.las.sa/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /e.ryˈθra ˈθa.las.sa/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /e.ryˈθra ˈθa.las.sa/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /e.riˈθra ˈθa.la.sa/

Proper noun

Ἐρυθρᾱ̀ θάλασσα • (Eruthrā̀ thálassa) f (genitive Ἐρυθρᾶς θᾰλάσσης); first declension

1. Indian Ocean
   • 93/94, Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, 1, 39, in Henry St. John Thackeray (tr. & ed.), Josephus with an English translation, vol. 4 (Jewish Antiquities, books I–IV), LCL, pages 18-19. Translation by Thackeray, including in square brackets his footnote.

     Εὐφράτης δὲ καὶ Τίγρις ἐπὶ τὴν Ἐρυθρὰν ἀπίασι θάλασσαν·

     Euphrátēs dè kaì Tígris epì tḕn Eruthràn apíasi thálassan;

     Euphrates and Tigris end in the Erythraean Sea: [Greek “Red Sea,” in the wider meaning, found in Herodotus, of the Indian Ocean, including its two gulfs, the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.]

2. Red Sea

Descendants

• → Latin: Erythraeum mare, mare Erythraeum (partial calque)
  • French: mer Érythrée
  • Italian: mare Eritreo
  • → English: Erythraean Sea (partial calque)
  • → German: Erythräisches Meer (partial calque)