The stories behind many of our words of Greek origin add flavor while aiding and abetting our appreciation of our linguistic heritage. One item of confusion seems to stem from the manner in which proper names migrate in slightly altered form from Greek to Latin. In Roman mythology, for example, Heracles becomes Hercules. Why then do we not speak of Heraclean tasks? After all the original story is in Greek; the Roman version is a rather tame copy of the Greek. The answer is deceptively simple or is it?
Roman influence superceded Greek influence because Rome came to power after the golden era of Greek hegemony had begun to wane. Latin words began to circulate more widely than had Greek words in an earlier age. This should be obvious when one considers that Rome once occupied all of Britain, except for Scotland, which Hadrian had made a half-hearted attempt to pretend never existed by walling it off. It must have been the bagpipes that scared him off. Greek pre-occupation, on the other hand, was eventually confined to the hallowed halls of Oxford and Cambridge where it remains alive and well to this day.
In truth we have a tendency to use Greek and Roman mythological references promiscuously without regard for the niceties that accuracy brings. I suppose at this late date that should be okay. However, it does lead to confusion and difficulty when truly tantalizing traumas, tantamount to torture, are under discussion. It's nice to know the proper proper name of the guilty party, don't you think?
The doings of King Tantalus imbues tantalize with a fresh understanding of what it is to be truly tantalized. The Greek gods would have elevated tantalize, if it weren't so darned dastardly, to what would be considered an art form. The Greek god form of tantalizing fun was absolutely devastatingly dastardly no matter how you slice it. It makes the doings of Big Sib tormenting little Sib, by holding out the last cookie on the plate, appear to be child's play.
It should be said that Greek mythology demonstrates an understanding of the torments that the human psyche can be subjected, an insight that was not equalled until Freud and Jung appeared in the twentieth century and began to speak of the difficulties that one's subconscious entertains in repressing untoward desires. The ancient Greeks would have had none of it. Greek gods, if nothing else, let the offender know just where he stood, which was sometimes in a jacuzzi full of fresh water that persisted in emptying on cue.
Go To Page: 1 2
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Larry Low's Folklore topic, please visit the Discussions page.