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Phrases from Greek mythology

Posted by ESC on October 05, 2002

In Reply to: What do the following phrases mean posted by Scott on October 05, 2002

: 1. A apple of discord
: 2. To fight like a Trojan
: 3. A Sinon
: 4. A Triton among minnows

I'm not sure what "a Sinon" means. Anyone?

APPLE OF DISCORD - This expression comes from Greek mythology. "This story begins at the wedding of the hero Peleus and the water-nymph Thetis, parents of the famous Achilles. All the gods are invited to the party, saving one: Eris, goddess of discord - an understandable omission. Eris, didn't see it that way and resolved to get revenge." She stole one of Hera's golden apples and inscribed it "Property of the Fairest" and tossed it onto a banquet table "where it was squabbled over by every goddess on hand." From "Brush Up on Your Classics!" By Michael Macrone (Gramercy Books, New York, 1999). Page 178.

TO FIGHT LIKE A TROJAN - This comes from the Trojan War, the "legendary war sung by Homer in the 'Iliad' as having been waged for ten years by the confederated Greeks against the men of Troy and their allies." From Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable revised by Adrian Room (HarperCollinsPublishers, New York, 1999, Sixteenth Edition). Page 1203.

A SINON -- The Greeks built a hollow horse, the Trojan Horse, and "fill it with their top warriors." The Trojans "drag this 'gift' into their city.When all is safe, the Greeks jump out of the horse and, without pity, destroy the town." From "Brush Up on Your Classics!" By Michael Macrone (Gramercy Books, New York, 1999). Page 13. "Sinon, a great liar, is the man who was in charge of staying by the wooden horse and lighting a beacon lamp as a signal to the Achaeans for their final assault against Troy." homepage.mac.com/ cparada/GML/Sinon.html Retrieved on October 5, 2002. Sinon, left behind by the Greeks -- he claimed it was because Odysseus is his enemy -- told the Trojans the horse was a sacrifice to Athena. www.uwp.edu/ academic/english/canary/trojans.html#cassandra Retrieved on October 5, 2002.

A TRITON AMONG THE MINNOWS - Triton was the son of . "Poseidon and Amphitrite, represented as a fish with a human head. It is this sea-god that makes the roaring of the ocean by blowing through his shell." The expression means: "A great man among a host of inferiors." From Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable revised by Adrian Room (HarperCollinsPublishers, New York, 1999, Sixteenth Edition). Page 1202.

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