Saturday 28 August 2010
Polythemus
This is a Polythemus Moth. It has a single large eye on each hindwing - hence the name Polyphemus (Antaraea polyphemus). Polyphemus is the gigantic one-eyed son of Poseidon and Thoosa in Greek mythology, one of the Cyclopes. His name means "very famous". Polyphemus plays a pivotal role in Homer's Odyssey. The moth, as you can see, also has a small eye on its forewings so perhaps it shouldn't be named after a Cyclops after all!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
-
▼
2010
(294)
-
▼
August
(33)
- Icons of Englishness
- Happy Monday - Mary had a little lamb...
- Philip Stanhope, Lord Chesterfield
- Polythemus
- Friday My Town Shoot-out
- Three reasons never to be unhappy
- Think of a caption...
- Wednesday Wildlife - Broad-bodied Chaser
- Tuesday's Thoughts
- Gorleston, Nr. Great Yarmouth
- Happy Monday – One-liners
- Trivia Galore
- The Lotty Sleigh
- The War in the Vendée
- Wednesday Wildlife - Ichneumon Wasps
- Lilac-breasted Roller
- Happy Monday - Time for that old person's home?
- How would you like your hair cutting?
- Blogger goofed
- Florida
- Friday My Town - Shoot-out - Roads and pathways
- Manners makyth man
- Wednesday Wildlife - The Caribbean hermit crab
- Sheep Street, Chipping Campden
- Happy Monday - Grandma and Grandpa
- Alexander Beetle
- Pakistan
- Friday My Town Shoot-out - Smells
- A load of old chairs
- Wednesday Wildlife - Tiger Beetles
- Things Mum and Dad said...
- Happy Monday - For all my Women Readers...
- Some old photos
-
▼
August
(33)
Once again, I learnt a new word from your blog! As ethymology and generally looking into the origin and evolution of languages are utterly fascinating (I find), to see how phemus and famous are so obviously related is quite nice.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you know but I have a word blog, Librarian. I used to put up a new word every day but I have been very lax of late. I shall try to be more disciplined and post more regularly.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSorry. I found a typing error in my former comment and therefore deleted it.
ReplyDeleteWhat I meant to say: Thank you for pointing me to your word blog! I guess I'll have to follow that one now, too :-)