Age of Mythology has captivated players with its mythical world of gods and heroes since its release in 2002. As players engage in battles with other civilizations, they may have noticed that the units in the game have their own unique language, often drawing upon rich cultural and mythological references. However, understanding what these phrases mean can be a challenge, as they are often spoken in existing ancient languages of each civilization. In this article, we'll report, translate, and reveal the meanings behind the phrases used by the units in Age of Mythology. By delving into the significance of their language, players can gain a deeper understanding of the game. So get ready to join us in battle and learn what the units actually say when you select them or give them an order in Age of Mythology. Let's go to the etimis and prostagmas!
In Age of Mythology, players can choose to play as one of three main civilizations: the Greeks, the Egyptians, and the Nordics. Each of these civilizations speaks its own unique language, utilizing the ancient tongues of their respective cultures. For example, the Greeks use ancient Greek in the game, while the Egyptians communicate through the use of ancient Egyptian. Meanwhile, the Nordics speak Old Norse. By incorporating these ancient languages into the game, Age of Mythology brings the mythology and culture of each civilization to life in a truly immersive way.
What do the Greeks say?
The Greeks, one of the three main civilizations in the game, use ancient Greek for their unit phrases. These phrases can be a challenge to understand, as they are in the original language of the civilization. Here is a list of some of the most common phrases used by Greek units in Age of Mythology:
Etimos: Ready (masculine)
Etimi: Ready (feminine)
Prostagma?: Orders?
Lege!: 1. Speak! 2. (Archaic) Collect!
Orthos: Right.
Malista: Very well. / Yes, sir!
Ne: Yes
Kalos: Good, well.
Vulome: I want to...
Pame!: Let’s go!
Proseche!: Careful!
Eis Machin!: To the battle!
Eisvoli: Invasion!
As you can see, some of these phrases are quite straightforward, such as "ne" meaning "yes." Others, however, can be more difficult to decipher without prior knowledge of ancient Greek.
What do the Norse say?
In Age of Mythology, the Norse civilization features a unique language that draws upon Old Norse. The units of the Norse civilization speak several phrases that players will likely hear when selecting and commanding them. These phrases include:
Já (yow) - Yes (both question and affirmative)
Ég vil (yer vil) - I will. (I want to)
Skipan? (skeepan?) - Orders / commands?
Samþykkt (samm-thickt) - Agreed.
Tilbúinn! (til-pwin) - Ready!
Veiðimaður (vey-thee-mathur) - Hunter.
Fjósamaður (fyoh-sa-mathur) - Farmer. (literally "Barn man")
Timbursveinn (timber-svait-n) - Woodcutter. (literally "timber-lad")
Grjótsveinn (groht-svait-n) - Miner. (literally "rock-lad")
Satt (saht) - Right. (literally "truly")
Hver er þar? (kwer-air-thar) - Who is there?
Til orrustuslag! (till-orr-ustu-slah) - To battle!
Sækið fram! (sigh-keeth-framm) - Advance forward! / Ride forth!
Atrás! (art-trouse) - Attack! (I believe it's a combination of two words, literally "at" (fight) + "árás" (battle))
What do the Egyptians say?
The Egyptians have their own unique language in the game, drawing upon the ancient tongues of their civilization. While the exact translations are not known and some may be invented by the developers, many of the phrases used by Egyptian units resemble either the ancient Egyptian or Arabic languages. Some of the phrases include:
Antio/intoyou - ???
You-a-ear - ???
Hayoh/taiyoh/taeyu - Good
Ark - ???
Aerifear - ???
Eel-you-refer - ???
Hroengyawet (M) Hroeyatawit (f) - Wood
Endwege/inwedge - ???
Gerrick/geregg/grikk - ???
Baya (f) Beiya (m) - Mine
Most of the unit phrases in Age of Mythology were devised by Greg "DeathShrimp" Street, who was one of the game's designers. Street's main resource for finding appropriate phrases was the early 2000s internet, and he would adapt and modify them to fit the context of the game. If a particular phrase seemed too silly or ridiculous during the recording process, it would be altered or discarded, as the team valued the entertainment factor over strict historical accuracy.
Now we finally know the meanings of words like "prostagma" and we will be able to understand what some units say when playing the game.