names + Typhon

maa32 · 20 Jun 2002, 17:35 · from urth-v0206.mbox · original

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From: maa32 <maa32 at dana.ucc.nau.edu>
Subject: (urth) names + Typhon
Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2002 10:35:31 -0700
Message-ID: <urth-v0206-1273 at digest.urth.net>
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Mr. Borski has recently made the point that Typhon's name is mythological,=20
implying that he should be of alien stock rather than simply of "other",=20
urthly origin.  However, aren't there mythological names, like Talos, that=20
reveal traits rather than place of origin?  Talos is a mechanical man, but =
he=20
is not necessarily extra-terrestrial - indeed, he is from Urth.  It does im=
ply=20
that he is "other" - and while I CAN see a slight difference between=20
Baldanders and the mythological names, I don't find the presence of a=20
mythological name as complete evidence that Typhon must be extraterrestrial=
 -=20
rather, it could be an assumed name that shows his difference and superiori=
ty=20
to his "normal" subjects (much as Karol Wojtyla would choose the name John=20
Paul II or Bullingbrook would name himself Henry IV - it is common to choos=
e a=20
name of distinction to establish the authority of "otherness", and insinuat=
e=20
that you are of uncommon stock).  Just a note - I think we need slightly mo=
re=20
than a mythological name to definitely brand someone as Alien, since I don'=
t=20
think all the characters with mythological names are from the outer reaches=
,=20
especially as evidenced by Dr. Talos.
Marc Aramini



--=20

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