Round 13: Tossup 7

Original-language term required. Mait Kõiv (“might koyv”) argued that an oracle in Herodotus that uses this term for the “son of Eëtion” (“ee-EE-tee-on”) indicates his having divine support, in contrast to the predecessors he overthrew. An earlier form of this term transcribed with initial “Q” appears thrice in association (10[1])with bronze in Pylos (“PILL-oss”) texts. The wife of officials known specifically by this term underwent a hieros gamos during the Anthesteria. An official known by this term performed religious functions (-5[1])in a system (10[1])that also included the polemarch (“POL-eh-mark”) and (-5[1])eponymous (10[1])archon (10[1]-5[3])(“ARK-on”). This term for a “big man,” (-5[1])as well as anax, is used for Agamemnon in the opening of the Iliad. Thucydides used (10[1])this term for lawful rulers contrastingly (10[1])with the tyrannos (10[1])(“TIH-ran-oss”) who seized power. (10[1]-5[1])In 629, Heraclius officially adopted (10[1])this term (-5[1])often used besides autokrator. (10[1]-5[1])For 10 points, (-5[1])what Greek word often translated as (10[1])“king” was used by Byzantine (10[1])emperors? (10[1])■END■ (10[6]0[6])

ANSWER: basileus [or basileos; accept qasireu or gwasileus; accept archon basileus; prompt on archon until read by asking “which one?”] (The first line refers to Cypselus of Corinth; the term in the second line is Mycenaean qa-si-re-u, where the q-series in Linear B represents obstruents deriving from PIE labiovelars; the ritual ceremony in the third line is the basilinna’s marriage to Dionysus.)
<Editors, Other History> | M. Playoffs 4 (Editors 4)
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