Strolling through the new Greek and Roman galleries, I saw a coin of "Demetrios Polyorketes." The "k" is neither here nor there, but the "y" is unacceptable. He's not Demetrios Many-Orcs; he is Demetrios Besieger of Cities. As you may know, the Greek verb for besieging a city is poliorkeô. Importantly, the Greek word for "city" is "polis." You probably knew that, as well.
It is not "polys." So it cannot be "Polyorketes." It is "Poliorketes" or "Poliorcetes." Indeed, we have an English word: "poliorcetics," the science of besieging cities. It's not over-Latinization. Indeed, "Polyorketes" is over-corrected, misguidedly pretentious, and uneducated.
Get it together, the Met.
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