Doris

Doris is a Greek name, from Δωρίς meaning “Dorian woman”. The Dorians were one of the most prominent ethnic tribes in ancient Greece. It was the Dorians (Spartans) who fought in the Peloponnesian War against the Ionians (Athenians) in the fifth century B.C. In reference to the Greek tribe, the name Dorian purportedly comes from Dorus, son of the mythological Hellene (the progenitor of the Greek people). The etymology of “Dorian” (Greek: Δωριεύς) is still debated. Some convincing sources suggest that dōris means “woodland”, connected to the Proto Indo-European root “deru-/doru“ meaning "tree” (indicating the wooded, mountainous region of northeastern Greece believed to be their place of origin). A second theory is from the Greek doru meaning “spear-shaft” or “people of the spear” (given the Dorian’s militaristic prowess). Lastly, dōron means “gift” in reference to a poem fragment found written by Tyrtaios in the 7th century B.C. In part, the poem translates to “Zeus the husband of fair-crowned Hera, hath given this city [Sparta] to the children of Heracles.” This supports the mythological belief that the migration of the Dorian tribe down to southwestern Greece was in essence considered “The Return of Hercules”. In this case, the Dorians would be considered the “people of the gift.” No matter which etymology is accurate, we think it’s fair to say that Dorian women were no wilting flowers! They had the spirits of Spartans and the hearts of warriors. Doris is also a name in Greek mythology (see literary references below).