Questions tagged [etymology]
For questions about the history of a name, including its evolution and the words and language it stems from.
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How is 𐌂𐌀𐌕𐌌𐌉𐌕𐌄, a.k.a Catamite, the Etruscan form of Gadymedes?
It's obvious why 𐌂𐌀𐌕𐌌𐌉𐌕𐌄 is catamite, but not how the Etruscans got it from "Gadymedes".
Is it just "We know they're the same character / name, but we dunno how the Etruscans got ...
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Word to mean unwise/foolish coming from the idea of being untravelled?
I remember reading somewhere that there is a word in old Norse for unwise/foolish that etymologically refers to someone who's not travelled or left home. Any ideas?
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Ancient celtic-iberian deity roughly named "Pecosuosucivo"
I'm looking for the exact name and possible etymology of an ancient celtic-iberian deity roughly named "Pecosuosucivo", as I can faintly recollect. Probably linked with the town Úbeda in the province ...
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What is the relationship between the term 'hermit' and the traditions around Hermes and Hermeticism?
Hermes is a name with a few similar sounding words, all of which (that I'm aware of) are related to traits of Hermes:
Hermeticism: a spiritual tradition based on Hermes as corresponding with Egyptian ...
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Cultural association between directions and colors
Inspired by this question on history.stackexchange about the etymology of "Belarus" = "White Russia"...
@SigueSigueBen writes in a comment:
There is a tradition of giving naming compass directions ...
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Why is easter called 'easter'?
The Christian feast of 'easter' is based on the ancient Yewish religious feast (their main one), is widely spread and was linked to remember the 'Passion of Christ'. Recall that 'Christianity' started ...
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Regarding Centaur's myth and etymology
It's usual to recall that the name Minotaur comes from the name of the king Minos and from the animal Tauros and that makes sense to me, however going a little farther I found the name "Centaur" or "...
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Why is Athena "gray eyed"?
Obviously because her eyes are that color, but I suspect there are deeper, symbolic reasons for that particular color and description.
This is in regard to the epithet γλαυκῶπις, in the lexicon ...
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Why was Europe named after Europa?
I just re-read the story of Zeus and Europa, and in the notes provided by my book, it mentions that the continent of Europe was named after the mythological Europa.
It gave no more explanation, and ...
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What is the origin of the Hippogriff?
The Hippogriff is said to be the symbol of the Greek god Apollo. A Hippogriff is a mixture of a horse and an eagle/griffin. There are some practices that consider the Hippogriff a symbol of love. ...
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Where did the myth about the sword in the stone originate?
Where did the story/myth of the sword in the stone originate?There have been theories of it originating in Rome and England. It is also said to be just a story, but I think otherwise. There is a ...
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Etymology of "charming" ("Encantadora" in spanish) seeing from the Greek mythology point of view
I originally posted this question in the Spanish StackExchange but it seems it fits more in here, even though the significance of the word looks more direct in Spanish than English.
My doubt rose ...
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Is there a deeper meaning to Utgard-Loki, Loki, and Logi?
In the myth of Utgard-Loki, Thor and friends visit the castle Utgard, where several beings have nearly identical names:
Utgard-Loki, a giant and the ruler of Utgard
Loki, an Aesir and the half-...
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