Achilles' horses: Valios and Xanthos
Etymological dictionary of words derived from Greek. Second Volume. Paris, 1809
Translated from the French by Dimitris Symeonidis
Diverse diverse, adj. in Latin varius, varied. variegated of various colors, derived from the Greek Валиос (balios), a word with the same meaning, changing λ to r and β to v.
From there, the verb vary, and variety, SF variety
Dictionaire étymologique des mots dérivés du Grec.Tome Second.Paris 1809 Varié varié, adj en latin varius ,diversifié . bigarré de diverse couleurs, qui a été fait du grec Balios (balios), mot de même signification,en changeant λ en r et β en v. .
De là , le verbe varier , et variété , SF diversité
The French language has influenced the English language to a great extent and it is logical that the Anglo-Saxons took ancient Greek words from the French
The influence of French on English is mainly related to its vocabulary, including spelling, and to some extent its pronunciation. Most of the French vocabulary in English entered the language after the Norman Conquest in 1066, when Old French, specifically the Old Norman dialect, became the language of the new Anglo-Norman court, government and elites. This period lasted for several centuries until the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453). However, English continued to be influenced by French. Estimates of the percentage of English vocabulary derived from French range from one-third to two-thirds. The English language became an official language in England in the 1500s at the time of Shakespeare. About 40 percent of the 15.000 words in Shakespeare's works were of French origin.
The English Dictionary tells us that the word means variety and that it comes from the Latin Varius but does not continue the correct etymology
Etymological dictionary On Line
Translated from English by Dimitris Symeonidis JP
Various
early 15c., “characterized by variety”, from Latin varius “variable, different” (see vary). The meaning "different from one another, having a variety of characteristics" is recorded from the 1630s. vary (v.)
mid 14th century. (transitional);
late 14th century. (inviolable), from Old French variier "be change, go straray, change, alter, transform" and directly from Latin variare "change, alter, make different," from varius "varied, different, spotted?" perhaps related to varus 'bent, crooked, with the knee' and varicos 'varicose hernia' and, more distantly, Old English wearte 'warts', Swedish varbulde 'pus swelling', Latin verruca 'Ant', chordae (of hands).
On Line Etymology Dictionary
various (adj.) early 15c., “characterized by variety,” from Latin varius “changing, different, diverse” (see vary). Meaning "different from one another, having a diversity of features" is recorded from 1630s. Related: Variously also from early 15c. vary (v.) mid-14c. (transitive); late 14c. (intransitive), from Old French varier “be changed, go astray; change, alter, transform” and directly from Latin variare “change, alter, make different,” from varius “varied, different, spotted;” perhaps related to varus “bent, crooked, knockkneed,” and varix “varicose vein,” and, more distantly, to Old English weare “wart,” Swedish varbulde “pus swelling,” Latin verruca “wart.” Related: Varied? varying.
LIDDELL & SCOTT Dictionary of the Ancient Greek Language
vᾰlios, -a, -on, I. speckled, speckled, splattered, in Eur. II. as parox., Valios, name of one of Achilles' horses, "Pardalis", in Homer. Ill. (dubious origin).
Stef. Koumanoudi: Dictionary of Latin Greek
varius, a, um, (βαλιὸς) aἰolos, variegated, variegated. 2) in the agricultural; terra varia, land above with water, but below dry. 3) varied, multifarious. quales sint dii, varium est, who are the gods, is variously or differently said. 4) varied, immutable, fickle. Mr. if Varius, Uarios, in Greek Aeolos, Polyidos, and Poikilios. 6 varix, icis, ἅ. and i. varicose veins, crissos, ixia (disease of the veins).
Anna Tziropoulou Efstathiou: How Greek Fertilized the World Word
French: Varier meaning to vary Varié variegated (+bariolé) variation (mus.) variety, member variété variété variable variable variante variation variole disease smallpox (due to the spots) variolé variegated Italian: Variare Spanish: Variar English: Variate German: Variieren Latin: Varius From the Greek: Valios=spotted. Variety 7 (valios, name of Achilles' horse, i.e. spotted, spotted) usual change of l to r (opposite: veriete)
Ioan. Stamatakou: Dictionary of the Greek Language
Valios, a, being (vallo). Spotted, variegated, variegated, "valios" (today) = the one with a white spot on the forehead (latin varius) cf. Valios, name of one of Achilles' horses (lit. and I put
The Long History of this Word
From the word Valios we have the name Valios
Valios
One of Achilles' two immortal horses
Parents Zephyros and Podargis
Adelfia Xanthos
Half-siblings: Lust (probably) and Fruit
In Greek mythology, the following two beings are mentioned under the name Valios: One of the two immortal horses of Achilles. His parents, like the other horse, Xanthos, were Podargi and Zephyros. The god Poseidon gave Valio to Peleus, father of Achilles, as a wedding gift. After the 9 death of Achilles, the two horses served Neoptolemus, following the command of the god Zeus. Diodorus mentions that according to tradition these horses were originally Titans, allies of the god Zeus and the god Poseidon, who claimed during the Titanomachy to be transformed into horses.
Homer refers to Valius and Xanthon in the 16th rhapsody of the Iliad: verses 148-159
Performance by Iakovos Polylas
And Automedon begat Xanthon and Valion, a foal of the windfoot, born by Podargi the Arpyi from Zephyron as he grazed in the grass on the walls of the Ocean. He tied to their side Pedason the incomparable, whom Pelides had brought from Hetion's conquered city, and a mortal horse kept pace with immortal foals. The Myrmidons were drawn up and mounted by Pilides from all the tents. And as carnivorous wolves with indomitable strength, after they killed a large horned deer in the mountains and ate it, and their jaws are black with blood.
Ancient Text
And to Automedon he yoked the mighty horses Xantho and Valion, when they breathed, they were blown by Zephyr wind Harpy Podargi 150 grazed pastures by the river Oceanio^^ . And while they were standing still, Pidason said, "When Aetion came to the city, I led Achilles, who, though mortal, died as an immortal horse." Myrmidon did not dare Achilles on the slopes of the mountains; but wolves are ravenous, so are the moose about the golden horn, giving great love to them; but they all see blood ·
Achilles' horses cry for the death of Patroclus
Iliad 17 verses 420-442 Performance by Iakovos Polylas
and because of the war, the horses of Achilles 11 cried when they recognized that the commander was dead from Hector's spear, the androphon. he scolds them softly and bullies them, so he told them, while they were not ursasken each one. ὣs oἳ with marnando, iron d᾽ orymagdὸs ᾽᾽ ᾽᾽ ᾽᾽ ᾽᾽ ᾽᾽ ᾽᾽᾽ ὀρὸὸὀὁ ὀὀὀღღავებებებაბებებაბებება; 425 the horses of Aekidæus from the battle were crying, because the first heniochoius fell in the dust falling under Hektor's manslaughter. If Automedon was the son of Alkimus, many were the plagues of the gods, 430 but many were gentle, many were; is standing a column on the memory of a man or a woman, unshakable and they me, in their beautiful car belted, with their heads resting on the ground. And they shed burning tears because they lack a good ruler. And as the flaming mane fell from the pair on both sides of the yoke, it was polluted on the ground. Zeus saw them and felt their cry, he moved his head and said inside the his mind:
Achilles' horses cry for the death of Patroclus
Iliad 17 verses 420-442
Ancient Text
And so he believed them, as if they were each one of them. ὣs oἳ with marnando, iron d᾽ orymagdὸs ᾽᾽ ᾽᾽ ᾽᾽ ᾽᾽ ᾽᾽ ᾽᾽᾽ ὀρὸὸὀὁ ὀὀὀღღავებებებაბებებაბებება; 425 the horses of Aekidæus from the battle were crying, because the first heniochoius fell in the dust falling under Hektor's manslaughter. If Automedon was the son of Alkimus, he would have been a plague of the gods, 430 but he had been too soft-spoken, too many; Cheers, but like that The column is left, or the fencing tumult NETO MARIA 435 pairs I was scribbled on either side. 13 Myromeno, behold, when I saw him, Kronius had mercy;
Angelos Sikelianos
Achilles' horses
O daffodil;
Near you
two galloping horses
and they ran away...
Like a wave their back shone;
they came out of the field,
they tore up the embankment,
with straight necks, four high,
with white foams, barbata...
In their eyes he was burning
a flash; and they sank
back to the wave, waves,
foam on the foam
and they were lost. And I met
t' atia, which is human
a fortune teller took over.
The hero holds the reins;
hit, pulled forward
his divine youth…
Holy of Holies, indestructible
fate kept you
on the foreheads all black
tying, for the profane
the eyes, once completely white
great avascantira!
Sicilian angel. 1965. Lyrical Life. Edited by: G. P. Savvidis. Volume A. Athens: Ikaros. 1st ed.: Angelos Sikelianos. 1909. Shaded. Athens: typ. P.D. Sakellariou.
The horses of Achilles
Angelos Sikelianos
translated by AE Stallings
O Field of Asphodel, two horses
Whinnied and raced along your edge,
Their backs were shining like a wave
As they came surging out of the tide
And tore across the empty sand,
Their necks were arched like breakers, high,
Stallions flecked with white foam. . .
Lightning kindled in the eye.
They dove back in, wave into the waves,
Foam into the foam of the sea,
And then they were gone. I knew those steeds,
One had taken on human voice,
And prophecy, a sayer of sooth.
The hero gripped the reins and kicked,
Driving onward his godlike youth. . .
Holy horses, fate has kept you
Indestructible, and set
Upon your foreheads black as night
A charm against the evil eye,
A great and blinding blaze of white!
Achilles' horses
By Konstantinos Cavafy
They saw Patroclus slain,
who was so brave, and strong, and young,
the horses began to cry for Achilles;
their immortal nature was outraged
for the death of this work which he was considering.
They shook their heads and waved their long manes,
they stamped the earth with their feet, and mourned
Patroklos who felt lifeless - vanished
a flesh now vile - his spirit lost
defenseless -breathless
to the great Nothing returned from life.
The tears were seen by Zeus of the immortals
horses and was sad. "In Peleus the wedding"
he said "I should not have acted so thoughtlessly;
better not to give you horses my dear
unhappy! What the hell are you doing there?
to wretched humanity the game of fate is played.
To whom neither death nor old age guards
temporary calamities tyrannize you. In their suffering
people got you involved." -But their tears
for the eternal death
the calamity was shed by the two noble animals.
[1897] K. P. Cavafy. [1991] 1995. The Poems. Volume I (1897– 1918). Ed. G. P. Savvidis. 4th ed. Athens: Ikaros.
Analysis of the poem
This poem explores the grief and pity caused by witnessing death, particularly the untimely loss of a young, noble warrior. The poem suggests that even immortal beings cannot escape the sorrow of mortality. Compared to Cavafy's other works, this poem presents a more overt emotional tone and focus on the effect of death on both mortals and immortals. . It also reflects the broader themes of fatalism and the limits of human power that are common in his poetry. Within its time period, the poem aligns with the Hellenistic era's fascination with classical mythology and the exploration of human emotions. It captures the 18 tragic passion of the Homeric epic while adding a touch of philosophical reflection.
The Horses of Achilles
- P. Cavafy (Translation by Kathleen Vail)
When they saw him laid low, Patroklos,
who was so young for one so famed for valiant deeds,
they began to cry, Achilles' steeds,
with their immortal nature contradicting
the specter of Death that they were witnessing.
With raging heads shaking and shining manes streaming
and hooves pounding loudly, they were grieving
Patroklos who lay there silently – annihilated –
a flesh forsaken – a spirit desolate –
sucked dry and stripped naked by the hand of strife
– translated to the silent Void from vivacious life.
Zeus of the Eternals saw the tears
of the horses and sadly said, “At Peleus' wedding
I should not foolishly have done this thing.” He, regretting,
added, “It was better we had not given him my steeds.
Unhappy horses! Why are you trapped there in the hapless deeds
of wretched folk on fields where games of fate are played.
You whom neither death nor old age plagues
are tyrannized by temporary pains. The transient strife and stress
your people have you chained.” But hot tears nonetheless
for the permanently dead
the two noble animals achingly shed.
Ancient Sources:
Etymologicum Magnum, Etymologicum magnum (4099: 001) “Etymologicum magnum”, Ed. Gaisford, T. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1848, Repr. 1 67. Kallierges page 186, line 27 Ενιοι καπτῆρα. <Valios>: Name of Achilles' horse.
Scholia In Homerum, Scholia in Iliadem (scholia vetera) Book of Iliad 8, verse 185b, line of scholion 3 A ex. <Xanthe te kes syê Podarge ><ke Aithon Lampe te die>:> the verse is omitted first ge for sy, eita for the names; for Lampos of Ios is a horse (cf. ps 246), but Xanthos of Achilles (cf. T 400), Podargos Menelaus (cf. Ps 295), Aitha Agamemnon (cf. ib.), ἣn Aithona now said after the generation
Aids:
Dictionaire étymologique des mots dérivés du Grec.Tome Second.Paris 1809
LIDDELL & SCOTT: Dictionary of the Ancient Greek Language
Anna Tziropoulou Efstathiou How Greek Fertilized the World Word
Ioan. Stamatakou: Dictionary of the Greek Language
Homer refers to Valius and Xanthon in the 16th rhapsody of the Iliad: verses 148-159. Rendered by Iakovos Polylas. Achilles' horses cry for the death of Patroclus. Iliad 17 verses 420-442. Rendered by Iakovos Polylas
Sicilian angel. 1965. Lyrical Life. Edited by: G. P. Savvidis. Volume A. Athens: Ikaros. 1st ed.: Angelos Sikelianos. 1909. Shaded. Athens: typ. P.D. Sakellariou. Poem: Achilles' horses
K. P. Cavafis. [1991] 1995. The Poems. Volume I (1897–1918). Ed. G. P. Savvidis. 4th ed. Athens: Ikaros. Poem: The Horses of Achilles .CP Cavafy. (Translation by Kathleen Vail)
Greek Language Thesaurus (TLG)
Theofano F.Polymeris. "Etymology of proper names and toponyms of the Homeric epics." page 644
Vicky Zagavierou-Vourvouli: The contribution of the Greek Language to the Evolution of European Languages.
K. Kerernyi: The Mythology of the Greeks Robert Graves: The Greek Myths. Volume 1. 21
Stef. Koumanoudi: Latin Greek Dictionary
On Line Etymology Dictionary
