The ancient Greeks don't have to have been aware of them for the word to be formed from Greek components.
I don't know if they were.
( Newington, Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:31, archived)

Given that
They are regularly eaten in the Mediterranean I would have thought the Greeks and Romans would have been aware of them.

[Edit] From this Minoan jar and this Roman mosaic I think I can conclude that both civilisations probably were aware of them.
( Lord Gnome, Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:35, archived)

you're taking this much too seriously

( minimum fuss - an all time favourite, Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:41, archived)

Possibly
I'm just intrigued that we use a Latinised Greek word and wondered what word the Romans used.
( Lord Gnome, Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:46, archived)

Stabby swords, pointed sticks, bath houses and colloseumses
NEXT
(Flobby Boris is returned to /talk from the northern wastes., Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:47, archived)

That doesn't make a great deal of sense.

( Lord Gnome, Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:48, archived)