Abstract
Simonides (fr. 508 Page) sings of a windless season, "when Zeus pinuskhi twenty-four days". The rare verb pinusso / pinusko refers to giving advice or imparting wisdom, but this does not fit the present context. I argue that pinusko is closely related to pneo, and that both verbs answer to a subtle semantic
unity rooted in the belief that breathing is part of the process of thought. Consequently the verb apinusko (also very rare) refers indeterminately to the loss of
consciousness or of breath. By changing the word-division I read apinuskhi, so
that Zeus "loses his breath for twenty-four days". The proposal is then defended
in both religious and lexical terms.
unity rooted in the belief that breathing is part of the process of thought. Consequently the verb apinusko (also very rare) refers indeterminately to the loss of
consciousness or of breath. By changing the word-division I read apinuskhi, so
that Zeus "loses his breath for twenty-four days". The proposal is then defended
in both religious and lexical terms.
| Original language | English (Ireland) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 135-42 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Glotta |
| Volume | 74 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 1998 |
Keywords
- Greek, lexical reconstruction, embodiment
Authors (Note for portal: view the doc link for the full list of authors)
- Authors
- Clarke, Michael