Peloponnesus

[pel-uh-puh-nee-suh s]

noun

a peninsula forming the S part of Greece: seat of the early Mycenaean civilization and the powerful city-states of Argos, Sparta, etc. 8356 sq. mi. (21,640 sq. km).

Also Pel·o·pon·nese

[pel-uh-puh-neez, -nees] /ˌpɛl ə pəˈniz, -ˈnis/, Pel·o·pon·ne·sos

[pel-uh-puh-nee-sos, -sohs, -suh s] /ˌpɛl ə pəˈni sɒs, -soʊs, -səs/.

Origin of Peloponnesus

< Latin < Greek Pelopónnēsos (representing phrase Pélopos nêsos literally, island of Pelops with sn > nn)

Also called Morea.

Related formsPel·o·pon·ne·sian

[pel-uh-puh-nee-zhuh n, -shuh n] /ˌpɛl ə pəˈni ʒən, -ʃən/, adjective, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for peloponnesus

Historical Examples of peloponnesus

There were thirty-five ships from Peloponnesus, with the Lacedaemonian admiral Pythagoras on board.
Anabasis
Xenophon
In ancient times this territory was called the Peloponnesus.
The Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to prose. Volume I (of X) - Greece
Various
He resided at Ephyra, in Peloponnesus, and was conspicuous for his craft.
Roman Antiquities, and Ancient Mythology
Charles K. Dillaway
Ar ca' di a, or Arkadia—the central district of the Peloponnesus.
Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca
Homer
Spar' ta—a town in the southern part of the Peloponnesus, on the Eurotas.
Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca
Homer

Word Origin and History for peloponnesus

Peloponnesus

peninsula of southern Greece, late 15c., from Latin, from Greek Peloponnesos, second element apparently nesos "island" (see Chersonese); first element said to be named for Pelops, son of Tantalus, who killed him and served him to the gods as food (they later restored him to life). The proper name is probably from pellos "dark" + ops "face, eye." But the association with the peninsula name likely is folk etymology. Related: Peloponnesian.