ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1498 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1498 ************************************ From: "S Friedemann" 15 Mar 1999 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You wanted to know if was an authentic Byzantine feminine name. You also asked for suggestions for arms using red and silver. Here is the information we have found. Your name is perfect for the 13th century onward. We found in Byzantine records from the 6th and 7th centuries and from 1057; it is a fine choice. is the feminine form of the family name , found in the 13th century. [1,2] Family names such as were used by women only from the 13th century on; would be an authentic Byzantine name in the 13th century, but not earlier than that. Earlier in period, a woman would most often have been known simply by her given name. If more identification were needed, she would have used the feminine possessive form of her father's or husband's given name [3]. If you want to set your persona earlier than the 13th century, write us again and we'll send more details of naming practices for that period. Heraldic arms were invented in the 12th century, and were probably carried to Byzantium by 13th century Crusaders. If you set your persona in the 13th century or later, arms would be appropriate; if you choose an earlier time-period, your persona would not have used arms. We have little information on Byzantine arms from the 13th century on. Your best bet would be to look at Byzantine frescos and art, where individuals are often shown with decorated shields. We hope that this letter has been useful to you, and that you will not hesitate to write again if any part was unclear or if you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Arval Benicoeur, Juliana de Luna, Walraven van Nijmegen, AElfwyn aet Gyrwum, and Margaret Makafee. For the Academy, --Aryanhwy merch Catmael March 15, 1999 --------------------------------------- References: [1] Bardas Xiphias, "Common Names of the Aristocracy in the Roman Empire During the 6th and 7th Centuries" (WWW: SCA, Inc., 1997) http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/byzantine/early_byz_names.html [2] Bardas Xiphias, "Personal Names of the Aristocracy in the Roman Empire During the Later Byzantine Era" (WWW: SCA, Inc., 1997) http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/byzantine/introduction.html [3] Cheynet, Jean-Claude, "L'Anthroponymie Aristocratique a\ Byzance" in Bourin, Monique, Jean-Marie-Martin, and Francois Menant, eds., _L'Anthroponymie: Document de l'Histoire Sociale des Mondes Me/diterrane/ens Me/die/vaux_, Collection de l'E/cole Franc,aise de Rome, 226 (Rome: E/cole Franc,aise de Rome, 1996), pp.267-294.