Etymology

The word anax derives from the stem wanakt- (nominative *ϝάνακτς, genitive ϝάνακτος), and appears in Mycenaean Greek written in Linear B script as 𐀷𐀙𐀏, wa-na-ka,^[1] and in the feminine form as 𐀷𐀙𐀭, wa-na-sa^[3] (later ἄνασσα, ánassa). The digamma ϝ was pronounced /w/ and was dropped very early on, even before the adoption of the Phoenician alphabet, by eastern Greek dialects (e.g. Ionic Greek); other dialects retained the digamma until well after the classical era.

The Greek title has been compared to Sanskrit vanij, a word for "merchant", but in the Rigveda once used as a title of Indra. The word could then be from Proto-Indo-European *wen-aǵ-, roughly "bringer of spoils" (compare the etymology of lord, "giver of bread"). However, Robert Beekes argues there is no convincing IE etymology and the term is probably from the pre-Greek substrate.

References

The word anax in the Iliad refers to Agamemnon (ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν, anax andrōn, i.e. "leader of men") and to Priam, high kings who exercise overlordship over other, presumably lesser, kings. This possible hierarchy of one anax exercising power over several local "basileis" probably hints to a proto-feudal political organization of Aegean civilizations. The Linear B adjective 𐀷𐀙𐀏𐀳𐀫, wa-na-ka-te-ro (wanákteros), "of [the household of] the king, royal",^[4] and the Greek word ἀνάκτορον, anáktoron, "royal [dwelling], palace"^[5] are derived from anax. Anax is also a ceremonial epithet of the god Zeus ("Zeus Anax") in his capacity as overlord of the Universe, including the rest of the gods. The meaning of basileus as "king" in Classical Greece is due to a shift in terminology during the Greek Dark Ages. In Mycenaean times, a *gʷasileus appears to be a lower-ranking official (in one instance a chief of a professional guild), while in Homer, anax is already an archaic title, most suited to legendary heroes and gods rather than for contemporary kings.

The word is found as an element in such names as Hipponax ("king of horses"), Anaxagoras ("king of the agora"), Pleistoanax ("king of the multitude"), Anaximander ("king of the estate"), Anaximenes ("enduring king"), Astyanax ("high king", "overlord of the city"), Anaktoria ("royal [woman]"), Iphiánassa ("mighty queen"), and many others. The archaic plural ánakes (aνακες, "Kings") was a common reference to the Dioskouroi, whose temple was usually called the Anakeion (aνάκειον) and their yearly religious festival the Anákeia (aνάκεια).

The words ánax and ánassa are occasionally used in Modern Greek as a deferential to royalty, whereas the word anáktoro[n] and its derivatives are commonly used with regard to palaces.

Roles

The origin role of the wánax may be from warrior roots of migrating Indo-Europeans as a leadership role, eventually leading to the notion of kingship and the formal position and role of the wánax in Mycenaean times.^[9] The wánax during Mycenaean times was at the apex of Mycenaean society, presiding over a centralized state administration with a strong hierarchical organization; a common formula in the Bronze Age Mediterranean and Near East. This is hierarchically likened to a king, and as such much of the duties of the wánax were related to duties of administration, warfare, diplomacy, economics and religion.

Administrative participation

Administratively, Mycenaean political divisions broadly unfolded into a hierarchical division of wánax (king) with a broader structure which existed around the wánax in the form of Mycenaean palatial authority and administration.^[8] The wánax is also identified as the figure able to appoint individuals to rank within the administrative elite.^[8] Much of this administrative body functioned as the limbs by which a wánax exercised authority and action, rather than directly partaking directly in every function of the state; with only two known inscription references on record of the wánax taking direct action within the internal administrative body.^[6] However, much of the records available concerning the role of wánax deal with economic information due to the importance of such scribal records to Mycenaean states, but does not discredit the participation of the wánax directly in other facets of the state.^[6] The wánax would also delegate lands to members of this palatial elite and other hierarchic officials depending on their role, such as with the telestai.^[6][10] Some of these hierarchical positions under the wánax included the lawagetas (he who leads the people, a meaning which remains unclear), varying positions of which the meanings remain unknown (hektai, collectors of commodity and flock), scribes, mayors, vice-mayors, and varying styles of overseer. The term "basileus" is also familiar to the Mycenaean hierarchy as a local chieftain or leader, and would later come to replace wánax as the term for king after the collapse of Mycenaean civilization.^[8]

Linear B tablet from Pylos, an example of Mycenaean administrative records from state administrative bodies under a wánax

This administrative body produced or obtained many artefacts by which they might increase their prestige,^[11] or more practically manage the state of the wánax more effectively. Mycenaean administrative artefacts include tablets which carry inscriptions from a scribal body, among which are tablets of purely administrative work (accounting for state supplies of resources), which would have been designed to support the wánax and state administration, and to be supported by a state administration.^[10] Much of the surviving Mycenaean administrative records which remain primarily deal with economic affairs, and the management of state resources. Mycenaean states were active participants in diplomacy and trade, between their fellow Mycenaean states and the broader interregional bodies which surrounded them.^[12]

Warfare

Fortifications dominate the Mycenaean world, with such structures being erected across the Bronze Age, but particularly during the Late Bronze Age Collapse (where the necessity for such fortifications intensified), before the end of Mycenaean civilization. Being prolific builders of fortifications, wánaxes actively engaged in warlike campaigning in and around their states, though evidence for their direct participation is minimal. Evidence from Pylos suggests that the wánax was in possession of weapons specifically indicated as royal.^[8] Much rather, stronger evidence exists that the wánax assigned military leadership to other members of the palatial elite. At Pylos, a name identified as e-ke-ra-wo is speculated to either be a wánax or another person of importance, and was tasked with managing the rowers of Pylos in particular.^[6]

Ahhiyawa texts

The Ahhiyawa texts include correspondences between unnamed Mycenaean wánaxes and the Hittite kingdom. One such text from the collection, known as the Tawagalawa Letter, was composed from the King of Hatti to an unnamed Mycenaean wánax, and contained diplomatic correspondences regarding a man by the name of Piyamaradu, who had acted against the Hittite King; and that the wánax should either return him or reject him.^[12] The same text informs that the unnamed wánax had previously been in conflict with the Hittites over the territory of Wilusa, though there is no further conflict between them.^[12] The Hittite King refers to the wánax not by title but as "brother" in these texts, a common practice in the ancient Near East in diplomatic correspondences with powers viewed as equal participants in interregional status. Another text which is heavily fragmented was sent by a wánax to the King of Hatti (likely Muwattalli II) concerning the ownership of islands.^[12]

Economic participation

Wánaxes have much heavier evidence of participation in state economics, taking a more direct role rather than the hierarchical allocations and lack of evidence for administrative participation. The lands of the wánax were closely tied to economic output of foods and commodity goods.^[8] Economically, various records exist which refer to wanakteros, royal craftsmen, under the employ of the wánax.^[6][13] These craftsmen came in a variety of roles, from practical purposes to commodity production,^[6][8] though not all craftsmen were exclusively royal in nature in the Mycenaean economic sphere.^[14] Additionally, the royal designation is applied not only to craftsmen within the economy, but to storehouses of jars believed to contain olive oil; indicating the presence of royal products which were circulated within Mycenaean civilization and beyond.^[6] Royal employment would indicate that the wánax acts much more closer to the economy as a sort of overseer or administrator than to many of the other tasks of the state. However, much of the records available concerning the role of wánax deal with economic information due to the importance of such scribal records to Mycenaean states, but does not discredit the participation of the wánax directly in other facets of the state. Mycenaean elite also utilized luxury items to accentuate their status, and placed high value economically and politically on such items.^[11][14]

Another major economic function of the wánax was the participation in and organization of elaborate feasting amongst the Mycenaean elite, and shared with those outside the immediate palatial elite as well. Feasts required extensive planning and organization on the part of the wánax and palatial administration, which needed to mobilize large amounts of resources in order to host such elaborate feasts.^[11] A major feature of these feasts involved drinking, as evidenced by the many prestige drinking vessels recovered.^[11] These processes economically involved the collection and feeding of vast quantities of livestock, luxury items for the elite (feasting equipment like luxury pottery and cups) and politically demonstrated the authority of the wánax with his elite.^[11] One manner in which feasting further secured the wánax economically and politically was the inclusion of lower elites (local leaders and other non-palatial authorities under the wánax) in feasting, both building social connections to the wánax and economically persuading lower elites to dedicate resources to palatial feasting.

Religious participation

The wánax were extensively involved in cultic practice during the Mycenean period of Greek religion, participating and playing a central role in Mycenaean religion.^[8] Much of this was involved in ritual practice from feasting to ceremonies dedicated to the gods, with the wánax being evidenced to perhaps been ritually involved in cultic activities which involve the use of oil and spice. Mention of oil and spice, and mention of the wánax being closely related to religious practice, has led some scholars to speculate the potential of kingship being semi-divine in Mycenaean Greece; however evidence is lacking for this claim, perhaps from an overzealous desire to seek out connections between wánax and goddesses such as Demeter and Persephone. It is more likely the wánax was viewed as a mortal king. Wánaxes were especially involved in feasting, and therefore all religious feasting would've been reliant on the wánax to economically support and participate in.^[8]