Athína
/aˈθi.na/noun
The modern Greek name for Athens, the capital of Greece.
Did you know?The origin of both Ἀθήνα and Ἀθῆναι is uncertain, and many scholars classify the name as pre-Greek rather than deriving it from a known Greek root.
Etymological Timeline
Prehistoric period
Pre-Greek
*Athēn-
“An uncertain place-name element; its original meaning is unknown.”
Mycenaean period
Mycenaean Greek
a-ta-na po-ti-ni-ja
“A Linear B phrase often interpreted as “Mistress of Atana,” possibly an early reference to Athena or her cult, though the identification remains debated.”
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ἀθῆναι (Athênai)
“The name of Athens, traditionally treated as a plural place-name.”
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ἀθήνη (Athḗnē)
“Athena, the goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, crafts, and the city.”
Medieval Greek
Greek
Ἀθήνα (Athína)
“The singular form increasingly used for the city in Greek.”
Modern Greek
Greek
Αθήνα (Athína)
“Athens, the modern capital of Greece.”