ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 954 http://www.s-gabriel.org/954 *********************************** ************************************************* * * * NOTE: Some of the Academy's early reports * * contain errors that we haven't yet * * corrected. Please use it with caution. * * * ************************************************* From: "S Friedemann" 29 Apr 1998 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked for our opinion on the name , which you wanted to use as a name for an early Byzantine woman of middle to upper class standing. Here is what we have found. In one collection of 6th and 7th century feminine Byzantine names, we find three times. [1] In this same paper, the family name , which would be feminized , is found in 717. [1] This is a rather early example of the use of a family name by Byzantine nobility, but it shows that (with two s) would be a fine 8th century name. [2] 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 Aelfwynn aet Gyrwum, Alan Fairfax, Arval Benicoeur, and Talan Gwynek. For the Academy, Aryanhwy Prytydes merch Catmael Caermyrdin --------------------------------------------------------- References: [1] Bardas Xiphias, Common Names of the Aristocracy in the Roman Empire During the 6th and 7th Centuries (WWW: Privately published, 1997). [2] 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.