The Nebraskan and the Nereid

Mo Holkar · 17 Apr 2011, 15:24 · from 2011-April.txt.gz

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From: lists at ukg.co.uk (Mo Holkar)
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:24:28 +0100
Subject: (urth) The Nebraskan and the Nereid
In-Reply-To: <4DAAF5B0.1060701 at web.de>
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Message-ID: <276004.58855.qm at smtp820.mail.ird.yahoo.com>

At 15:14 17/04/2011, Klaus wrote:
>I do have a further question, though, which is: why did the Nereid 
>scratch the letter psi into the sand by the body? (Or is it intended 
>to be read as a trident shape denoting allegiance to Poseidon? But 
>that seems a bit clunky when earlier we've seen Poseidon explicitly 
>symbolized by a letter pi.)
>>
>>I think it represents 'psyche' which means soul or 
>>butterfly.  Various interpretations related to this exist on the 
>>web, and I don't know their authenticity (I don't think anyone 
>>really knows what the ancient Greeks believed), but certainly the 
>>symbology of inscribing it by one who has died seems very plausible
>>
>>- Gerry Quinn
>
>I think her name is Psamathe. See: 
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psamathe>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psamathe
>
>Klaus


That sounds like a great theory -- she supposedly had special 
responsibility for sandy beaches, it seems:
http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/NereisPsamathe.html

best,

Mo


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