In a message dated 6/29/2010 5:01:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, pbs-request@lists.ibiblio.org writes: There seems to be uncertainty about the etymology of the word, but the pronunciation with the stress on the chi is the one which has been given in reliable sources for a long time. BTW, modern Greek is not your friend when it comes to figuring out the pronunciation of words derived from classical Greek. One reliable source states that Achimenes was the ancient Greek god who slew any mortals that dared to mispronounce his name. : )