Ilium

Meaning

Troy

Synonyms

Ilion

Troy

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɪli.əm/

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin Īlium, from Ancient Greek Ἴ̄λιον (Í̄lion). Metrical evidence from the Iliad and the Odyssey suggests that the name Ἴλιον (Ílion) formerly began with a digamma: Ϝίλιον (Wílion). Compare Hittite 𒃾𒇻𒊭 (Wi-lu-ša, “Wilusa”), usually identified with Troy, and Hittite 𒌑𒂊𒂖𒇻𒍑 (wellu-š, “pasture, meadow”), from Proto-Indo-European *wólnus (“meadow, pasture”). Cognate with English wold.