I was wondering, what do the names of the Phaeaceans named at the games mean? I can make out some of them but some I either have no clue on or don't know how to interpret the particles forming the names lol
Oh boy here we go! Hehehe (again I am sorry for being so late plus sorry if I make mistakes across the list):
Some Phaeacian Names of the competitors
Acroneus (Ἀκρόνεως) -> Of the edge of the ship or Of the Top of the Mast [ἄκρον = edge, end + ναῦς = boat, ship however also: ἄκρον νεώς can also be the tipmast, the top of the mast or the edge of the ship]
Ocyalus (Ὠκύαλος)= Swift in the sea [ὠκύς=fast + ἅλς=sea/salt]
Elatreus (Ἐλατρεύς) -> Rower or "trice forged" Either from the verb ἐλαύνω which stands for "drive forward" or "lead" and in nautical term can be used as "row" or the word itself that refers to iron trice forged
Nauteus (Ναυτεύς) -> Sailor, Boatman, the One who has/makes a boat From Greek ναῦς "boat"
Prymneus (Πρυμνεύς) -> Of the Stern From Greek πρύμνη or πρύμνια which is the stern of the ship
Anchialus (Ἀγχίαλος) -> Near the Sea [ἄγχι = to touch, to be near to + ἅλς = salt/sea]
Eretmeus (Ἐρετμεύς) -> The One Who Leads the Oars or The One who Traverses with Oars From the Greek verb ἐρετμόω which stands for "to furnish the oars" or "to set rowing" but also "to traverse the sea with oars"
Ponteus (Ποντεύς) -> Of the Sea, The One that Plunges in the Sea or The One that Throws in the Sea From either the Greek word πόντος which stands in general for "sea" or potentially even from the verbs ποντίζω which means "to plunge" or ποντόω which means "to throw into the sea"
Proreus (Πρωρεύς) -> Captain The name is basically a title πρωρεύς who is the one on duty to the front of the ship aka πλώρη or πρώρα, the bow. Alternative of the title could be "shipmaster" or "ship owner" but I think Captain fits the best in this case
Thoon (Θόων) -> Swift, Fast The word being used in Homer and comes from the verb θοάζω which means "to move swiftly"
Anabesineus (Ἀναβησίνεως) -> The One that Gets in the Ship Potentially from the verb ἀναβαίνω which means "to climb up" or "to ascend" or in this case "climb up the ship" given that the word ναῦς is also within the text
Amphialus (Ἀμφίαλος) -> Of the Two Seas [ἀμφί = two, of two sides + ἅλς= sea/salt]
Euryalus (Εὐρύαλος) -> Of the Wide Sea [εὐρύς = broad, wide + ἅλς = sea/salt]
The sons of Alcinous himself:
Laodamas (Λαοδάμας) -> The Tamer of People [λαός = people/army + δαμάω/δαμάζω = to tame, to beat, to subdue]
Halius (Ἅλιος) -> Of the Sea from the Greek word ἅλς aka "sea/salt"
Clytoneus (Κλυτόνηος) -> Renounced for his Ships [κλυτός = renounced, famous + ναῦς = boat, ship]
And one or two names of fathers of the participants as an extra
Polyneus (Πολύνηος) -> The One who Has Many Ships [πολύς = much + ναῦς = ship]
Tecton (Τέκτων) -> Builder, Carpenter τέκτων means "builder" and sometimes more specifically "Woodworker" or better "Carpenter"
Naubolus (Ναύβολος) -> The One who Strikes Ships or Ship's Net The word ναῦς = ship already visible. Now the word βόλος can come from the verb βάλλω aka "to throw" or sometimes "to strike". The word "βόλος" sometimes seems to be the fishing net
Bonus
Alcinous (Ἀλκίνοος) -> Of Powerful Mind [ἀλκή = strength, power + νοῦς = mind]
Arete (Ἀρήτη) -> The One who Prays, The Prayed For, The Prayer/Curse from the verb ἀράομαι which means both "to pray" and "to curse"
Nausicaa (Ναυσικάα) -> Burner of Ships, The One Who Burns Ships [ναῦς = ship, boat + κάω (καίω) = to burn]
~~~
So as you see the vast majority of names have something to do with ships or ship-making or the sea in general with some exceptions of the main couple of the royal family like Alcinus, Arete and their son Laodamas, the rest of them do have something to do with the world of the sea or ships. [Now there are some names like "Euryalus" that have alternative meanings such as "of the wide floors" meaning some temple complex or palace but for obvious reasons I chose not to disclose it]
I am really sorry for the wait and for mistakes I might have made for I am not a student of etymology. I hope that helps ^^