Thessalia
/θɛˈseɪliə/noun
The ancient Greek region corresponding roughly to modern Thessaly in central Greece.
Did you know?The name’s ultimate origin is uncertain and may come from a pre-Greek language, making Thessalia one of Greece’s linguistic “mystery names.”
Etymological Timeline
Prehistoric period
Pre-Greek
*Thessal-
“A probable pre-Greek regional name; its original meaning is unknown.”
5th Century BCE
Ancient Greek
Θεσσαλία (Thessalía)
“Thessaly, the fertile central Greek region.”
Classical Greek
Ancient Greek
Θεσσαλός (Thessalós)
“A Thessalian; also used as the legendary eponymous ancestor of the region.”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Latin
Thessalia
“Thessaly, adopted into Latin geographical writing.”
Medieval period
Greek
Θεσσαλία (Thessalía)
“The historical region of Thessaly.”
Modern English
English
Thessalia
“A learned or historical form referring to ancient Thessaly; the usual English name is Thessaly.”
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