The Greeks called themselves Hellenes. The Romans invented the word "Greek." Which do you prefer?
My favorite paragraph of my textbook is quoted below. Take note especially of the final sentence:
A word bearing the acute upon the ultima is known as an oxytone, one with the acute upon the penult as a paroxytone, one with the acute upon the antepenult as a proparoxytone. One which bears the circumflex upon the ultima is called a perispomenon, one with the circumflex upon the penult is a properispomenon. These terms, though formidable, will save much laborious periphrasis."This paragraph is written purely for your amusement," Dr. E. assured us.
And yet, we still must learn it.
Accents were invented to
help the barbaros learn the language. Original Greek had no accents, and it was strung together without spaces between words. I wish we could banish accents without banishing the spaces between words, but we can't. Such is the obstinacy of history.
Here are some English names derived from Greek:
(let me figure out the Greek keyboard here...
αβψδεφγηιξκλμνοπ;ρστθωςχυζ)
πετρα--rock (Peter)
ειρηνη--peace (Irene)
γεωργος--farmer (George)
I had them all in the same sentence this week.
ειρηνη γεωργον καν πετραις τρεφει καλως, πολεμος δε καν πεδιω κακως.
Peace deals kindly with a farmer, even among the rocks, while even in good fields, war treats him ill.
You'll admit, it doesn't translate well.
I googled "Write in Greek" and found the instructions on the Internet. :D
Here's the link. These instructions work for any language. It's coolness.
Still, I haven't figured out how to put in the accents. That's a double entendre, dear readers. HOWEVER. Once I've read that abovequoted paragraph over and over, it shall enlighten my understanding, much like the Income Tax Act. And I'll never confuse my properispomenons and paroxytones ever again.
It doesn't have to be a tragedy, I guess.
Since this is a special edition post (it only comes out once a week) , I'm including a bonus, tacked-on because I've been considering it this week.
It's the catechism that John Calvin wrote on Sabbath-keeping. (catechism in its entirety is
here.) I'm interested to hear if you have any conclusions to draw from this, any objections, or things to say:
Scholar. - Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Master. - Does he order us to labour on six days, that we may rest on the seventh ?
Scholar. - Not absolutely; but allowing man six days for labour, he excepts the seventh, that it may be devoted to rest.
Master. - Does he interdict us from all kind of labour?
Scholar. - This commandment has a separate and peculiar reason. As the observance of rest is part of the old ceremonies, it was abolished by the advent of Christ.
Master. - Do you mean that this commandment properly refers to the Jews, and was therefore merely temporary?
Scholar. - I do, in as far as it is ceremonial.
Master. - What then? Is there any thing under it beyond ceremony?
Scholar. - It was given for three reasons.
Master. - State them to me.
Scholar. - To figure spiritual rest; for the preservation of ecclesiastical polity; and for the relief of slaves.
Master. - What do you mean by spiritual rest?
Scholar. - When we keep holiday from our own works, that God may perform his own works in us.
Master. - What, moreover, is the method of thus keeping holiday?
Scholar. - By crucifying our flesh,-that is, renouncing our own inclination, that we may be governed by the Spirit of God.
Master. - Is it sufficient to do so on the seventh day?
Scholar. - Nay, continually. After we have once begun, we must continue during the whole course of life.
Master. - Why, then, is a certain day appointed to figure it?
Scholar. - There is no necessity that the reality should agree with the figure in every respect, provided it be suitable in so far as is required for the purpose of figuring.
Master. - But why is the seventh day prescribed rather than any other day?
Scholar. - In Scripture the number seven implies perfection. It is, therefore, apt for denoting perpetuity. It, at the same time, indicates that this spiritual rest is only begun in this life, and will not be perfect until we depart from this world.
Master. - But what is meant when the Lord exhorts us to rest by his own example?
Scholar. - Having finished the creation of the world in six days, he dedicated the seventh to the contemplation of his works. The more strongly to stimulate us to this, he set before us his own example. For nothing is more desirable than to be formed after his image.
Master. - But ought meditation on the works of God to be continual, or is it sufficient that one day out of seven be devoted to it?
Scholar. - It becomes us to be daily exercised in it, but because of our weakness, one day is specially appointed. And this is the polity which I mentioned.
Master. - What order, then, is to be observed on that day?
Scholar. - That the people meet to hear the doctrine of Christ, to engage in public prayer, and make profession of their faith.
Master. - Now explain what you meant by saying that the Lord intended by this commandment to provide also for the relief of slaves.
Scholar. - That some relaxation might be given to those under the power of others. Nay, this, too, tends to maintain a common polity. For when one day is devoted to rest, every one accustoms himself to labour during the other days.
Master. - Let us now see how far this command has reference to us.
Scholar. - In regard to the ceremony, I hold that it was abolished, as the reality existed in Christ. (Col. ii. 17.)
Master. - How?
Scholar. - Because, by virtue of his death, our old man is crucified, and we are raised up to newness of life. (Rom. vi. 6.)
Master. - What of the commandment then remains for us?
Scholar. - Not to neglect the holy ordinances which contribute to the spiritual polity of the Church; especially to frequent sacred assemblies, to hear the word of God, to celebrate the sacraments, and engage in the regular prayers, as enjoined.
Master. - But does the figure give us nothing more?
Scholar. - Yes, indeed. We must give heed to the thing meant by it; namely, that being engrafted into the body of Christ, and made his members, we cease from our own works, and so resign ourselves to the government of God
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And here I close. Toodles!
