EXPRESSIONS CONCERNING TO OLYMPIC GODS

• the navel of the world, the appel of discord, the horn of plenty, amphitrion, be a panacea   

"THE NAVEL OF THE WORLD"

ENGLISH WORD: “the navel of the world”.

CURRENT MEANING: we use this word to refer to a person or some place that is considered as the center of the world or the universe. Sometimes also involves thinking that someone is more important at the expense of the others. When someone behaves with ego.

ORIGIN: it has the origin in the omphalos, a sacred conical stone venerated in the temple of Apollo at Delphi. According to the legend, it was the stone given by Hera to Cronos instead of his son Jupiter. Delphi was considered as the center of the world and pilgrims from all over the world came here looking for answers.

 

 

 Omphalos at Delphi. Delphi Museum.

 

 "THE APPLE OF DISCORD"

ENGLISH WORD: “the apple of discord”.

CURRENT MEANING: it´s used to make reference to a person or situation that is cause for dispute.

ORIGIN: it alludes to the goddess Discord, the unique goddess who was not invited to the wedding of Peleus and Tetis. In revenge she presented at the banquet and threw to the ground an apple with the inscription “for the most beautiful”. Hera, Athena and Aphrodite compite for this honor and Zeus decides to allow the Prince Paris to judge them.

 

Golden Appel of Discord. Jakob Jordaens. Prado Museum.

 

"THE HORN OF PLENTY"

ENGLISH WORD: “the horn of plenty”, “cornucopia”.

CURRENT MEANING: it´s a symbol of abundance and prosperity.

ORIGIN: this expression refers to the horn of the goat Amalthea that fed Zeus while he was hidden in the Crete Island. One day, playing with his lightnings, Zeus broke the horn of the goat and, in compensation, gave her the divine gift of providing always with food and drink to the owner of the horn.

 

Abundance (abundantia) (1577-1640). Peter Paul Rubens.

 

The Nurture of Jupiter. Nicolas Poussin. Dulwich Picture Gallery.

 

"AMPHITRION"

ENGLISH WORD: “amphitrion”.

CURRENT MEANING: today this name has come to be used with the significance of good host or a generous entertainer.

ORIGIN: while the real Amphitryon was absent in the war, Zeus took his appearance and joined his wife Alcmena. From this union was born Heracles. Later, returned his husband and conceived Ificles, twin of Hercules. In the Molière´s Amphitryon, the servant Sosias said after a few moments of confusion: “the real Amphitryon is who invites us to his table”.

 

Amphitrion proves that Hercules is not a son of his seeing him to kill the snakes. Fresco of the house of the Vettii (Pompeia).

 

 "BE A PANACEA"

ENGLISH WORD: "be a panacea".

CURRENT MEANING: it alludes to something or someone that is able to cure or fix everything. A remedy or solution for all diseases or difficulties.

ORIGIN: Panacea was the daughter of Asclepius, who in turn was the son of Apollo, the god of medicine. She can treat human beings with the help of the plants.

 

  Panacea helping the sick. Part of a woodcut of the Veronese physician J. Gazola. 1716.