Classical Dorkness
Mar. 16th, 2003 11:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
atheneI just found out the coolest thing from the translation of The Odyssey that I'm reading.
In Book 9 when Odysseus tells Polyphemus that his name is "Nobody" he uses the words ou tis (outis). Then after Odysseus blinds the cyclops, he cries out that "Nobody" (outis) is hurting him. But, when the other Cyclopses say "If nobody is hurting you, why are you complaning?" they have to use me because it's a conditional. Therefore they are saying me tis but it sounds just like metis which is the Greek word for cunning and craftiness and often associated with Odysseus. So it really is metis that has gotten Polyphemus in the end.
*G* It's just too cool!!
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classics
In Book 9 when Odysseus tells Polyphemus that his name is "Nobody" he uses the words ou tis (outis). Then after Odysseus blinds the cyclops, he cries out that "Nobody" (outis) is hurting him. But, when the other Cyclopses say "If nobody is hurting you, why are you complaning?" they have to use me because it's a conditional. Therefore they are saying me tis but it sounds just like metis which is the Greek word for cunning and craftiness and often associated with Odysseus. So it really is metis that has gotten Polyphemus in the end.
*G* It's just too cool!!
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classics
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Re: cool!
Date: 2003-03-16 09:26 am (UTC)