VICO AND NOT MUCH ELSE

Still reading a bit of Vico's Scienza Nuova ogni giorno. Greeted by the promising title Del diluvio universale e de' giganti, and it delivers: Vico describes the devolution of the descendants of Cam, Giafet and Sem (i.e. Ham, Japheth and Shem) into "uno stato affatto bestiale e ferino" (a state truly bestial and wild). Basically, Vico says that after Noah's death his sons renounced the "vera religione del loro comun padre Noè" and reverted to a sort of primal state, roaming the "gran selva della terra" which -- and this is Vico in a nutshell -- grew so abundantly after the Flood that man's progeny "crescere vigorosamente robusti, e sì provenire giganti" (they grew vigorous and robust, and became giants) because of their rough-and-tumbles lives in a jungle "che per lo fresco diluvio doveva esser foltissima." He also mentions Caesar and Tacitus' comments on Germanic gigantism, before finally embarking on an extended discussion of Greek and Latin philology that apparently support the existence of these post-diluvian man-giants.

That's Vico for you.

I'd also like to know where the "great forest of the earth" motif first appeared.

UN PO' D'ITALIANO, A SMATTERING OF GREEK, AND VICO

First up, some more Italian gems grazie a Using Italian: A Guide to Contemporary Usage.

1.) la mangiasoldi - lit. money-eater, actually, a slot-machie.

2.) acquascooter - jetski. This word is awesome. Apparently there's a such thing as a "water-scooter," but if all English-speakers referred to jet-skis as acquascooters, the world would be a better place.

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Just a quick link to an interesting article on learning ancient Greek vocabulary, specifically how the unusually small number of high-frequency words makes the Wortschatz easier to learn at a beginner/intermediate level. He claims 1,100 lemmas make up 80% of lemmas in ancient Greek (comp. 80% of English = 2,200-2,300 lemmas). The article's doubly fantastic because it includes lists of the said lemmas w/ English definition (50% list and an 80% list). Once I get over my current Italian binge I may proceed to this, circumstances allowing --- though I could start memorizing 10/day while bagging ice. That shouldn't be hard.

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And, last but not least, a brief update on my current reading of Giambattista Vico's Scienza Nuova. In a nutshell, this book is awesome. It's on par with Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus in that it weds artistry with analytical investigation to such an extent that you can't tell whether it's more poem or more treatise. Vico himself refers to it as "nostra mitologia istorica" and it's basically that: a grand cyclical vision of history across three ages and a final transition in which society reverts back to it's original (or slightly more advanced-than-original) state. But it's the vast amalgamation of stories, anecdotes, myths, legends and linguistic speculation that thrusts the Scienza Nuova into the realm of cosmic epic (like, we're talkin Ovidian, Tolkienian, Homeric, Joycean epic epic). And, lest we forget, Vico was one of the first to argue that myths could be a legitimate historical artifact: an idea that has grown especially fashionable of late (Robert Darnton (of the Great Cat Massacre fame) springs to mind as a fairly well-known example). He also has an interesting-looking bit on Homer in the third bird (Discoverta del vero Omero) but I haven't reached that point yet. More to come surely.*

Toodle pip!

*And of course if some of this sounds familiar, Joyce definitelyprobably used it as a framework for Finnegans Wake. I'll address that at some length eventually. Probablydefinitely.

Frigg's Day: Brief Update on Writing Plans & Phoenician Religion

I've decided to go ahead w/ my (working title) De Inanibus for NaNoWriMo. I've got more than enough material to work w/, so it's just a matter of sitting down and forcing myself to write. Also compiling notes for An Iceman Always Keeps His Cool. Alas, too many ideas and too little motivation.

Enjoying Giambattista Vico's Scienza Nuova. Vico mentions a certain Sancuniate (p. 60 of this edition), also known as Sanchuniathon. To my eternal shame, I was unacquainted with this reticent philological specimen until now, but Wikipedia has shown me the light. He's the purported author of several works on religion in the Phoenician language. Eusebius of Caesarea, quoting (perhaps rather liberally) a Greek translation by Philo of Byblos, provides our only source for the material. So, ancient near eastern cosmogonies FTW! Phoenicia's always had a special aura for some reason. Tyrian purple. Cedars. The Sea Peoples. Swan-prowed ships. Númenor.

Also: Because who doesn't like eggcorns (courtesy of Languagehat).

And...

Nothing Much, or, Doldrums of the Friday Night Mind

a. There's a certain dignity that comes w/ hard physical labor w/ optional shaving. Today my gloves, pants, overshirt and socks were all different shades of green.

b. È venerdi, grazie a Dio. Stanotte dormirò come un ghiro.

Stavo sognando ad occhi aperti...NaNoWriMo?

c. Gonna start Vico's Nuova Scienza in the next couple o' days. Read a bit of Maimonides this evening, but nothing terribly interesting, and really just vado a dormire.

This is the Doldrums of the Friday Night Mind.

1024. Slowly working thru Grecian Urn. Lessee if I can write it out while listening to this:

Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness

Thou foster child of silence and slow time

Sylvan historian, who canst thus express

a flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme.

What leaf-fringed legends haunt about thy shape

of deities or mortals, or of both

in Tempe or the dales of Arcady?

What men or gods are these? what maidens loth?

what mad pursuit? what struggle to escape?

what pipes and timbrels? what wild ecstasy?

Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard

are sweeter, therefore, ye soft pipes, play on

not to the sensual ear, but more endearing,

pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone.

fair youth beneath the trees thou canst never leave

thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare.

bold lover, never, never canst thou kiss

though winning near the goal, yet do not grieve,

she cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss

forever wilt thou love, and she be fair

oh happy happy boughs......and my memory stutterspluttertripfall....

Oh, let's go with this. Had it stuck in my head all day at work. Buona notte, cybervuoto. I'll have something more interesting to say later when I'm not nodding off.