Hey Greek Geeks can you tell me what this says?

[TopDog]

Can anyone tell me what the top line on this patch says?
I know what the bottom says Molon Labe "come and take them".
What I am unable to determine by internet research is what the top line says.
I suspect it might be something like, "carry your shield or come home on it".
Thanks in advance if anyone knows what this says...

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Nearest I can get dinking with Google is The (something) Sparta, but that's far from claiming I'm some kind of expert.

 

[Mgderf]

It's all Greek to me...

 

[Slawburger]

The Brave o Sparta?

It looks like English in Greek font.

 

[KittySlayer]

The Power of Sparta?

 

[Bapak2ja]

Η ΤΑΝ Η ΕΠΙ ΤΑΣ is translated as "Come home with your shield or on it." <http://havokjournal.com/politics/come-back-shield-just-leave-behind-yemen/>. But the inscription on the medallion in the OP does not look to be the same.

"Come back with your shield - or on it" (Plutarch, Mor.241) was supposed to be the parting cry of mothers to their sons. Mothers whose sons died in battle openly rejoiced, mothers whose sons survived hung their heads in shame.
Asked why it was dishonorable to return without a shield and not without a helmet, the Spartan king, Demaratos (510 - 491) is said to have replied: "Because the latter they put on for their own protection, but the shield for the common good of all." (Plutarch, Mor.220) <http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/8c_p1.html>.

The text on the medallion appears to be th ebrawe Sparta. The last word may refer to Sparta.

My research and consultation with another who handles Koine Greek far better than I offers two possibilities. First, it may be a reference to "The brave Spartans" or "Sparta the Brave". This fits with the inscription at the bottom of the medallion.

The second possibility suggests it refers to "the Hebrews of Sparta."

I prefer the first possibility because it fits the context.

Waiting for the experts to offer further insights.

 

[hoosierdoc]

I think it is referring to Center Grove having the state football championship and telling the others to come and take it

 

[foszoe]

It doesn't look like Greek. It looks more like a transliteration of English into Greek.

 

[TopDog]

I appreciate all the input from the INGO brain trust. Unless someone else knows for sure what it is, I am going to go with: Sparta the Brave. At least until someone can definatly tell me otherwise. Thanks again for all the input.

 

[IndyDave1776]

It says "TopDog should have paid more attention in Greek class!"

 

[TopDog]

It says "TopDog should have paid more attention in Greek class!"

Ah that is painfully obvious...

 

[chef larry]

 

[jerrob]

Sorry, no help here. My second language is jive, shiiiiiiiiiii.

 

[Bapak2ja]

It doesn't look like Greek. It looks more like a transliteration of English into Greek.

After further reflection, I think you may be correct. There is one problem, though. Typing "the brave sparta" in a Greek font on an English keyboard yields a sigma instead of the omega for the English "v" in brave. If you use the "w" instead of the "v" (it looks like omega), it comes closer to what is given on the medallion. At least that is the way it works on my keyboard.

Bottom line, it looks like someone typed "the brawe sparta" and converted it to a Greek font.

 

[hoosierdoc]

Bottom line, it looks like someone typed "the brave sparta" and converted it to a Greek font.

that is y easier than studying the language. I'm uploading this to LifeHack

 

[Slawburger]

The Brave o Sparta?

It looks like English in Greek font.

It doesn't look like Greek. It looks more like a transliteration of English into Greek.

After further reflection, I think you may be correct. There is one problem, though. Typing "the brave sparta" in a Greek font on an English keyboard yields a sigma instead of the omega for the English "v" in brave. If you use the "w" instead of the "v" (it looks like omega), it comes closer to what is given on the medallion. At least that is the way it works on my keyboard.

Bottom line, it looks like someone typed "the brawe sparta" and converted it to a Greek font.

that is y easier than studying the language. I'm uploading this to LifeHack

Obviously I need to put my posts in bold or explain in more detail.

 

[TopDog]

Obviously I need to put my posts in bold or explain in more detail.

It's all good

 

[foszoe]

Obviously I need to put my posts in bold or explain in more detail.

I should have quoted your response in mine. I was attempting to further support your post. I am sorry.

 

[Slawburger]

Just playing, it made me laugh, carry on.

 

[HoughMade]

Tangentially related...very tangentially.

I was at an antique mall in Chesterton Saturday and my younger girl thinks old typewriters are neat, so se was searching them out, just for fun. She found this nice looking little, old Remington-Rand (maybe late '40s, early '50s), but she was very confused. It was Greek typewriter. very cool in my estimate.

...but as usual, I digress.