Tag Archives: Greek

Fair or Unfair?

Posted on November 5, 2023 by JE

In the course of an ultimately frustrating and pointless conversation online today, I found myself thinking of the multiple meanings of fair in English–at once, “light-skinned/light-haired”, “beautiful”, and “just, even-handed”. The meanings are so different that I wondered if they … Continue reading →

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Eldritch Lore of Lightning, Stars, and Magic

Posted on August 10, 2023 by JE

On Facebook, Michael Swanwick mentioned a historical (or maybe apocryphal) episode when the Pope invited Etruscan seers to use lightning magic to defend Rome against Alaric and his Ostrogoths. It’s a pretty good story, whether or not it’s actually history. … Continue reading →

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Words to Live By

Posted on July 11, 2023 by JE

“When you’re cooking lentils, don’t add perfume” (ὅταν φακῆν ἕψετε μὴ ‘πιχεῖν μύρον). –Strattis Comicus (whoever he was)

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Helianthemumbling

Posted on May 26, 2023 by JE

Typo of the day is sunrose (for intended sunrise). The sunrose sounded like a real thing to me, and Mr. Internet says it is, also known as the helianthemum (from Greek ἥλιος “sun” and ἄνθεμον “bloom”).

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