>plural of helepolis?
In Greek, the nominative plural is helepoleis
But what I assume you're really asking, is how are we as modern English-speakers expected to pluralize it. This declension gives everyone problems, because the Greek plural seems so artificial that we can't bring ourselves to use it. The worst example, because the commonest, is necropolis and you will see these forms:
necropoli (taken from the Italian)
necropoles (incorrect, based on another Greek declension altogether)
necropoleis
and the most usual one because least pedantic and most English:
necropolises
I do tend to prefer this last one, but it ain't great. So... I'd say helepolises but would make every effort, when writing, to bypass the plural by using expressions like
helepolis siege machines
examples of the ancient siege machine known as a helepolis
etc.
Best,
His site has lots more historical information for anyone who is interested. AoEH | EEH | RoNH | IndividualsCAN [This message has been edited by Phill Phree (edited 01-14-2001).]
Bill Thayer
LacusCurtius
My Karma ran over my Dogma