Actually Chris, I do not speak Greek and I cannot dispute what you claim. I made it easy for myself and quoted from
Quote:
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The word comes from the Greek ek and phrasis, 'out' and 'speak' respectively, verb ekphrazein, to proclaim or call an inanimate object by name.
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I daresay there are other interpretations that are close variations on the above definition and the one you contributed.
It is true that I did not read the entire thread before I locked it, but I assure you that it was not the
content that caused me to lock it. I locked the thread, Chris, because of past praxis. On occasions when new members have dug up old threads and given their thoughts on discussions that started and ended six or seven years ago, there has been a hullabaloo. So to protect the nearly-asleeps and half-awakes, I locked it. I don't see anything wrong with that action.
Certainly there was no hinder for you to start a new thread for fresh scholarly comments from members who are currently active.
As regards the Achilles' shield, I don't know if there was a real one or not, and neither do you. It is possible that an actual shield fitting that description once existed, the description of which entered oral tradition and finally the written poem.
I do know that the description of the other shields in the Illiad fit the description of shields I have seen in museums in Greece. I can't quote you the exact section and line, but I remember that there is a passage stating that the shields were made strong by several layers of ox hide. These shields most certainly existed. In fact I have often reflected that regarding certain shields of thin gold which are said to be ritual shields rather than battle shields, it might be that the gold was an overlay of these many layers of ox skins. They would of course have rotted away leaving only the frame and the gold covering. I can't prove it of course, and I don't claim to. My point is though, that a shield similar to that described as Achilles'
might have had a prototype.
Personally, I feel that "dogmatic" is quite an awful thing to be ("
Characterized by an authoritative, arrogant assertion of unproved or unprovable principles.") and I truly hope I am not guilty of it.
Thank you for sharing your pronounciation erudition and preference.