Actually, the suffix -ιδας in ancient Greek has the meaning of "the son, or the child, of...". [noted -ed] In this case means "the son of Leon" (Greek word for lion). If Leonidas was an Athenian, he should be called Leonidis (-i- instead of the Dorian -a-). Spartans were Dorian Greeks, Athenians were Ions, and both (Greek) tribes were using their own dialects of the Greek language.
In this case means "the son of Leon" (Greek word for lion). If Leonidas was an Athenian, he should be called Leonidis (-i- instead of the Dorian -a-).
Spartans were Dorian Greeks, Athenians were Ions, and both (Greek) tribes were using their own dialects of the Greek language.