Whats in a Name? by danob
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Some interesting facts regarding names for Butterflies through the ages and countries of the world.. Maybe you know some others?
Psyche ancient Greek
Also meant "soul", and "breath" (now "mind", of course).
Note that the human Psyche was lovers with the god Eros (at least until she did the forbidden, gazing on his sleeping form, invisible save by the oil lamp she lit); compare the sexual butterfly images in Nabokov's _Ada_.
There may also be a connection, based on shape, of butterflies with the Minoan labrys, or double axe of the Labyrinth.
Petaloudia modern Greek
Related to the words for "petal", "leaf", "spreading out".
Note that the priestly garments described in Exodus 28:36 include the petalon or ziz, a plate of gold attached to the miter, which shines with God's approval of a propitious sacrifice.
Possibly derived from "pteroda" by anaptyxis and lambdacism:
p tero da -> petaloudia
where "ptero" of course means wing, and has come home to roost once again in butterflies in the scientific name Lepidoptera.
Papilio/onis Latin
As in ancient Greek, the soul of a dead person is associated with the butterfly.
Our word "pavilion", a tent or canopy spread out like wings, comes from this word as does "papilionaceous". Notice the Grimm's Law of "p"->"f" in many of the words below, and the Hungarian aphaeresis.
Papillon French
Fifoldara Anglo-Saxon
Fifalde Old English
Fifaltra Old High German
Fifrildi Old Norse, modern Icelandic
Farfalla Italian
The pasta, farfalle, often called "bow-ties" in the US, are really butterflies.
Feileacan Irish
"feileacan oiche" is "night butterfly" i.e. "moth".
Mariposa Spanish
From "la Santa Maria posa" = "the Virgin Mary alights/rests"? (Recalling Psyche as butterfly
Comments (19)
Lovely papillon! and great macro so detailed!!! Bravo!!!
Absolutely fabulous Macro Dear Friend!!!!Superb image...bravissimo as usual!V:DDD.Hugsxx
Great image along with linguistics! I'm always up to learning something new. Thanks!
A wonderful photo. Thanks for the interesting info about butty names.
I've never seen one like this before, superb work and thanks for the info!
So very nice and clean. thanx ;-)
Great capture Danny. I love the composition. Wonderful work! John
Excellent profile and detail. You challenged the almost black background and didn't lose a pixel of the outer rim of the dark coloured winds - Superb!
Oh my...someone loves etmology as much as I do...lol.Beautiful photo and wonderful info,Danny.-M :^)
great capture.....
Your focus to the center of this butterfly is very good. I imagine you manually focus. Interesting facts.
Thanks for the interesting information and your great photo!
Such a great shot!
Very beautiful... Excellent. Aloha
In the days when Papillion had a book in print I visited Papillion, Nebraska to discuss B-52 defensive system modellling. The pronunciations were very different. The shoe laces were very white and the pistols shiney on the guards. The classics are the shoulders of a giant buried up to his neck. When we stand on them we are standing on the bare earth. (So much for the opinion of living language folks)
Beautiful photo and great details and colours. and Thank you for your explanation.
A word, fantastic......!!!
such a perfect side shot of this gorgeous butterfly. nice focus, beautiful colors.
I may not have ever viewed a photo of a butterfly that I liked as much as this. Was browsing for butterfly photos with my daughter and came upon this gem!!! Bravo.