RE: What do you know today that you didn't know yesterday?
February 28, 2023 at 6:37 am
(This post was last modified: February 28, 2023 at 7:17 am by Anomalocaris.)
Alexander is the oldest given name in continuous common use. Its earliest attested use dates to 1400 BC, when it was mentioned in Linear B inscriptions used by the Mycenaeans Greeks.
The name was also attested in Cuneiform inscriptions from the tablets in the diplomatic archives of the Hittite Empire, which mentioned a king of Wilusa named Alexandu. Wilusa is believed to refer to none other than the Homeric city of Troy (Illion) from the Iliad.
Incidentally none of the names later mentioned by Homer is actually attested by inscriptions from the Homeric Age. The possibility that Homer made up the names could not be excluded.
The name was also attested in Cuneiform inscriptions from the tablets in the diplomatic archives of the Hittite Empire, which mentioned a king of Wilusa named Alexandu. Wilusa is believed to refer to none other than the Homeric city of Troy (Illion) from the Iliad.
Incidentally none of the names later mentioned by Homer is actually attested by inscriptions from the Homeric Age. The possibility that Homer made up the names could not be excluded.
