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ArchivesRe: Aravis
in reply to a message by Elise
Apparently, "Aravis" is a name entirely invented by C.S. Lewis. I did find an interesting website which offers a criticism of what the writer perceives as C.S. Lewis' portrayal of the Middle East in his Narnia stories. The writer points out that the names of the Calormenes (the race to which Aravis belongs) all have mock Arabic names, and the Calormenes don't compare favorably with the Narnians (who supposedly symbolize the British, or Western civilization).
The funny thing is (which the writer of this piece doesn't mention) is that Aslan (the Lion/Christ symbol first encountered in Narnia/The West?) means "lion" in Turkish.
http://www.physicsroom.org.nz/log/archive/2arab.htm
-- Nanaea
The funny thing is (which the writer of this piece doesn't mention) is that Aslan (the Lion/Christ symbol first encountered in Narnia/The West?) means "lion" in Turkish.
http://www.physicsroom.org.nz/log/archive/2arab.htm
-- Nanaea
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Replies
Can't nail the poor old boy for being ethnocentric - he'd have been atypical indeed if he wasn't.
Aravis doesn't sound Arab to me - I've always seen it as fake Latin, altar + strength.
Great books, though.
Aravis doesn't sound Arab to me - I've always seen it as fake Latin, altar + strength.
Great books, though.
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You're right -- Aravis doesn't sound Arabic to me, either, and doesn't quite fit in with all the other Calormene names. Well, Aravis, herself, didn't quite fit in with most folks, either, did she? :)
I think *The Horse and His Boy* is my favorite of the Narnia books. Not that I've read that many, mind you. In fact, I think that maybe I've only read *The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe* all the way through, besides *The Horse...*.
I will agree with you that they are great books. And that's quite a compliment to C.S. Lewis, coming from a Satanist such as myself. ;)
-- Nanaea
I think *The Horse and His Boy* is my favorite of the Narnia books. Not that I've read that many, mind you. In fact, I think that maybe I've only read *The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe* all the way through, besides *The Horse...*.
I will agree with you that they are great books. And that's quite a compliment to C.S. Lewis, coming from a Satanist such as myself. ;)
-- Nanaea
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I love the name Aravis. Knowing that Lewis was a very religious man, I am sure that it has some sort of Biblical meaning, or maybe like JRR Tolkien, he invented his own language; each piece of the name having different meanings, then blending them all together.
I plan on naming my child Aravis for the wonderful role she plays in my favorite book series.
I plan on naming my child Aravis for the wonderful role she plays in my favorite book series.
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I am pregnant and also really like the name Aravis and have found no meanings listed anywhere. Have you found anything yet? Oddly enough Shasta is listed in some places.
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