| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Fillow |
Posted - 04 Oct 2008 : 18:28:46
Here is the question !
I quite understand why the fang term was chosen but...
An aegis, the mythology reporting term, is a type of shield that Zeus gave to Athena.
I really wonder, for many months and maybe years, why Bruenor (and especially R. Salvatore !) called this hammer with the name of a shield ! |
| 18 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| BEAST |
Posted - 08 Oct 2008 : 19:03:31
quote:
Originally posted by Aureus
Wikipedia states that it ancient Greek it means "violent windstorm" (first meaning), it also refers also to the afore mentioned shield and in last place a goat coat (which Athena apparently wore a armor).
According to the Online Etymological Encyclopedia, <the etymology of the word "aegis"> is:
- ProtoIndoEuropean aig - goat
- Greek aix - goat (common variant aigos)
- Greek aigis - the goatskin-covered divine shield
- Latin aegis - shield, barrier, or means of protection, in general
<A Greek Dictionary entry for a related word> in the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to the Bible confirms this.
However, the dictionary gives <a separate listing for another word> that mentions the verb AISsô (to rush). While it might be tempting to infer that rushing could have originally had something to do with goats, the noun aigos and the verb aissô are probably unrelated. The noun almost certainly derives from the similar PIE and Sanskrit noun, as mentioned in the Encyclopedia.
Interestingly enough, <the etymology of the word "fang"> is:
- PIE pank - to fix or make firm
- ProtoGermanic fango
- Old English gefangen - to capture, catch, grasp, seize, or take; noun fang
Thus, literally "Aegis-fang" would seem to mean "that which firmly catches or seizes upon a shield or means of protection".
quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
Ahh, but there is the spike on the reverse side of the hammer (as seen on the original cover of The Crystal Shard by Larry Elmore). Hence why fang always seemed appropriate to me.
While some of the artwork has given Aegis-fang the appearance of having a spike opposite the rounded striking surface, the text of The Crystal Shard simply says that the hammer is "two-headed":
quote:
The image of a two-headed hammer hidden within the block of mithril had come to Bruenor in a dream earlier that week. (TCSh, P2:C11)
There is no mention of a spike for a peen, which is the term for the class of structures often found opposite a hammer's primary striking face or surface.
Also consider this passage:
quote:
For a long moment, it remained a squared block. Then its sides appeared to round as the image of the marvelous warhammer came clear to the dwarf. (TCSh, P2:C11)
The mention of the sides appearing as round could connote two round striking faces on the hammer, without any peen whatsoever. (Think <sledgehammer>.)
However, this passage might also simply be referring to the fact that a cubic lump of metal would initially need to have its squared-off edges rounded-off in order to begin the crafting process, rather than giving us any indication as to the final shape. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 08 Oct 2008 : 14:27:31
quote:
Originally posted by capnvan
Actually, if you look at the Wikipedia discussion page on Aegis, you'll see that there are a number of people who dissent from the idea that the word derives from "violent windstorm." My Greek dictionary is in storage, but it wasn't familiar to me, either. Certainly, if you use some Google-fu, you're not going to see a lot of mention of that concept under the results.
I would not put any weight on that definition at all.
Nor would I. It was the name of a shield, and nearly all uses of the word are obviously derived from that. |
| Chosen of Moradin |
Posted - 07 Oct 2008 : 21:54:38
I never have thinked about the name... what Icelander and Aureus said makes sense to me.
Thanks for the good info. |
| Jamallo Kreen |
Posted - 07 Oct 2008 : 17:28:05
"Aegis" is also the name of a missile defense system. I suspect that he called the hammer "Aegis-Fang" because he thought that it sounded cool.
|
| Vangelor |
Posted - 06 Oct 2008 : 06:34:57
Or, for that matter, "Ilmater"? 
In the Kalevala, she's female.
Also, Hellene males named for Athena were generally called after an epithet: "Pallas". One famous example was one of the freedmen secretaries of state under Emperor Claudius. |
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 06 Oct 2008 : 04:25:28
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
*snip*
I don't know of any males named Aphrodite, Hera, Athena, Isis, or anything like that...
Heracles ring a bell?
Poking fun at the space hamster is fun sometimes. |
| Arion Elenim |
Posted - 05 Oct 2008 : 22:51:39
Pfft...you guys are nuts. Salvatore doesn't use silly names in his work. His stuff's too mature for that...now...let me just settle in and turn on the TV and watch a little "Live with Regis and Cattie-Brie."
:D |
| Fillow |
Posted - 05 Oct 2008 : 16:13:29
R. Salvatore is not the only one having called a male with the name of the goddess Artemis.
I've already heard about Artemis Fowl, which is the hero of a TV serie and novels from Eoin Colfer. He's a male Irish clever child I believe.
I never read or seen about him so I may make a mistake about what he is but I'm sure he is named Artemis and he is a male !
But, as you wrote Wooly, I never heard about the other goddesses as male characters. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 05 Oct 2008 : 16:01:44
quote:
Originally posted by Neil Bishop
I think it's fair to say that about half of the names that RAS chooses are appalling and completely inconsistent with the world he is writing in. He seems to have a fondness for misuing ancient Greek: Artemis and aegis are two (bad, IMO) examples.
I've seen the name Artemis (usually spelled Artemus) used for one or two other male characters elsewhere, most notably Artemus Gordon from the late 60's TV show (and the bad 1999 movie) Wild, Wild West. I've just never understood why the name of a goddess would be tweaked and/or used as is to apply to a male. I don't know of any males named Aphrodite, Hera, Athena, Isis, or anything like that... |
| scererar |
Posted - 05 Oct 2008 : 15:44:06
quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
Ahh, but there is the spike on the reverse side of the hammer (as seen on the original cover of The Crystal Shard by Larry Elmore). Hence why fang always seemed appropriate to me.
one of my favorite realms covers. |
| Neil Bishop |
Posted - 05 Oct 2008 : 14:35:26
I think it's fair to say that about half of the names that RAS chooses are appalling and completely inconsistent with the world he is writing in. He seems to have a fondness for misuing ancient Greek: Artemis and aegis are two (bad, IMO) examples.
|
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 05 Oct 2008 : 06:29:56
Ahh, but there is the spike on the reverse side of the hammer (as seen on the original cover of The Crystal Shard by Larry Elmore). Hence why fang always seemed appropriate to me. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 05 Oct 2008 : 06:07:56
"Fang" does seem an odd name for any non-piercing weapon, though.
The word "Aegis" is most commonly associated with shields and defense. |
| scererar |
Posted - 05 Oct 2008 : 02:24:37
page 117 of the crystal shard names the warhammer, during a discussion between Bruenor and drizzt, right before he gives it to Wulfgar. No reason or meaning given. |
| Fillow |
Posted - 04 Oct 2008 : 20:11:15
quote:
Originally posted by Icelander
If you must interpret the name in any way, it's possible to translate it as the 'fang of shields'. In other words, the breaker of shields, the bane of protection. The destroyer.
You might be right Icelander.
The main word of the name is indeed Fang and not Aegis. The latter is "just" the qualifier of the noun.
If we add the explanation of Aureus, we get a fang which is as terrible as a viloent windstorm.
I think we have the answer.
Aegis-Fang is a fang whith the power of a violent windstorm.
Thank you so very much to you fellow scribes. |
| Icelander |
Posted - 04 Oct 2008 : 19:58:42
If you must interpret the name in any way, it's possible to translate it as the 'fang of shields'. In other words, the breaker of shields, the bane of protection. The destroyer. |
| Aureus |
Posted - 04 Oct 2008 : 19:54:50
Wikipedia states that it ancient Greek it means "violent windstorm" (first meaning), it also refers also to the afore mentioned shield and in last place a goat coat (which Athena apparently wore a armor).
If dear mister Salvatore thought about the meaning, it likely refers to the windstorm meaning, but it is also possible that he just liked the ring of the word (and it sounds rather powerful, at least to me). I like the name. |
| Purple Dragon Knight |
Posted - 04 Oct 2008 : 19:11:55
Yeah... don't hold your breath on that one...  |
