Re: Oedipus

From: tgpedersen
Message: 60293
Date: 2008-09-24

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Arnaud Fournet" <fournet.arnaud@...>
wrote:
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Joao S. Lopes
> To: cybalist@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 9:02 PM
> Subject: Res: [tied] Oedipus
>
>
> Oidipos seems more archaic than Oidipous (through influence of
> "swollen foot"). Since we don't know its origin (Greek, Pre-Greek,
> Dialectal Greek, any IE non-Greek adstratum, or anymore else)
> everything is possible.
> Oidipo(u)s' etymology is so cloudy as Laios and Labdakos, his
> ancestors. I think Oidipos and Melampos shared the same suffix, but
> this *-pos didnt mean "foot", as the folk-etymologies sugested.
> Oidipos was a Labdacid, descending of dragon-teeth-born Spartoi,
> and Melampos was an Aeolid, son of Amythaon.
>
> JS Lopes
>
> ============
>
> What is the reason you reject the traditional analysis of
> Oidipo(u)s as being "swollen foot" (or swollen penis) ?

Because Oidipus' mother, Iocaste, was a decent woman who wouldn't have
given her son a name like that. But on the other hand ... Hm.
Is there something you want to tell us, Arnauld?


Torsten