New Post
Search
Help
ArchivesRe: meaning of name (Nanaea?)
in reply to a message by Juliette
We discussed this name in November, but the messages have been archived. The correct German spelling is "Kai", and despite anything else you might see, this German name is most likely a form of the common Roman first name (praenomen) Caius or Gaius (as in Gaius Julius Caesar). I've checked a number of sites that explain Roman naming in great detail, but none give a meaning for "Caius".
Nanaea, do any of your sources have this meaning?
Nanaea, do any of your sources have this meaning?
1
Replies
"Gaius" was perhaps the most common of the ancient Roman praenomens -- probably equivalent to the name "John" in English-speaking countries. I'm not certain what it means, either. Some scholars have said that the name derives from a masculine form of "Gaia", the goddess of earth and mother of the gods.
The names "Gaius" and "Gaia" were of special significance in ancient Roman wedding ceremonies. Immediately following the wedding ceremony, the bridegroom would bring his bride to their home. After the bride had been ceremoniously lifted over the threshold, the bridegroom would then present her with a cup of water and a glowing firebrand, tokens that she was now the "lady of the house" and entitled to the protection of the family gods. The bride would graciously accept these from her husband, and then in a clear voice that all witnesses could hear, announce: "Ubi tu Gaius, ego Gaia", which means: "Where thou art Gaius, I am Gaia."
-- Nanaea
The names "Gaius" and "Gaia" were of special significance in ancient Roman wedding ceremonies. Immediately following the wedding ceremony, the bridegroom would bring his bride to their home. After the bride had been ceremoniously lifted over the threshold, the bridegroom would then present her with a cup of water and a glowing firebrand, tokens that she was now the "lady of the house" and entitled to the protection of the family gods. The bride would graciously accept these from her husband, and then in a clear voice that all witnesses could hear, announce: "Ubi tu Gaius, ego Gaia", which means: "Where thou art Gaius, I am Gaia."
-- Nanaea
1
Thanks Nan,
As usual, very enlightening. The only Roman wedding terminology I've been previously aware of was the word "Talassio!", shouted by onlookers to the wedding procession.
Our 9th-grade Latin teacher reluctantly told us it meant "Ho for the wedding bed!", which set off dirty little guffaws among us students of the pre-Wonder Years. And nobody even considered then that "Ho" could mean something bad...
As usual, very enlightening. The only Roman wedding terminology I've been previously aware of was the word "Talassio!", shouted by onlookers to the wedding procession.
Our 9th-grade Latin teacher reluctantly told us it meant "Ho for the wedding bed!", which set off dirty little guffaws among us students of the pre-Wonder Years. And nobody even considered then that "Ho" could mean something bad...
1
It sounds like you had a livlier high school Latin class than I had! :) Wow, I didn't think there were that many kids who opted for Latin -- it's nice to meet a fellow amo/amas/amat chanter! I had only three years of Latin in high school, because the school eliminated the course due to lack of interest. I think ours was the smallest class in the entire high school -- with as few as four students one year. They would've eliminated our Latin class a whole lot sooner, except my mom fought like a lioness with the District Office to keep the course going for at least 3 years (being somewhat of a pagan, my mom felt that classical studies were vital to a well-rounded education.) That Latin class was one of the best things I ever got out of that otherwise crummy school. :)
I hope you're going to be around more often now, Daividh, now that you're done house-moving. The place isn't the same without you. :)
-- Nanaea
I hope you're going to be around more often now, Daividh, now that you're done house-moving. The place isn't the same without you. :)
-- Nanaea
1
My HS Latin class had 7 people for Latin I, and it went directly downhill from there. By the time I was a junior, I was the only one taking Latin from the school. I loved it, and it was one of the highlights of my day. Most kids took Spanish or German - the only other languages taught at my school. I took Latin to be different...about the same reason I'm taking Russian now!
1
Salve!
If this keeps up, we may eventually wind up with more former Latin students on this message board than any one of us had in any of our high school classes. :)
Always nice to meet a fellow former Latin student, Mel! :)
-- Nanaea
If this keeps up, we may eventually wind up with more former Latin students on this message board than any one of us had in any of our high school classes. :)
Always nice to meet a fellow former Latin student, Mel! :)
-- Nanaea
1
Et tu, Nanaea? Three years of it in high school, and I learned more of it outside the class. My teacher was more interested in getting us to learn derivations (he was writing a book at the time) and, well... Thank the petebes (PTBs) my father took it way back when. Gotta go. My Wicca and Neopaganism class starts in a coupla hours and I haven't read the first chapter in my textbook yet (argh).
1
Another porto-portas-portat-portamus-portatas-portant chanter! What is it about this place that draws the classiscists? (I'm including PriaposLovs in that category, whether or not he's ever taken any Latin or Ancient Greek courses.)
And you're taking a "Wicca and Neopaganism" class? Ask your teacher what he thinks of Satanists, and then I'll tell you if he knows what he's talking about. ;)
-- Nanaea
And you're taking a "Wicca and Neopaganism" class? Ask your teacher what he thinks of Satanists, and then I'll tell you if he knows what he's talking about. ;)
-- Nanaea
1
She (my instructor) is a practicing witch. We are discussing ancient pagans right now, but if I can catch her before or after class, I'll ask. As far as I know, we have druids, hindi, witches, and a few other neopagans in class. I haven't decided on a tradition yet, but I'm drawn in three directions (if I do go neopagan). It's hard when you're surrounded by people trying to "save" you (i.y.k.w.i.m.) :D
1
"I haven't decided on a tradition yet, but I'm drawn in three directions (if I do go neopagan)."
@@@@ Which three directions? I'm curious.
"It's hard when you're surrounded by people trying to "save" you (i.y.k.w.i.m.) :D"
@@@@ Next time one of those annoying religious solicitors asks you: "Have you been saved?", simply answer: "Yes, I have been saved -- I escaped from [whatever religion is being pushed on you] years ago."
-- Nanaea
@@@@ Which three directions? I'm curious.
"It's hard when you're surrounded by people trying to "save" you (i.y.k.w.i.m.) :D"
@@@@ Next time one of those annoying religious solicitors asks you: "Have you been saved?", simply answer: "Yes, I have been saved -- I escaped from [whatever religion is being pushed on you] years ago."
-- Nanaea
1
Nanaea, I spoke with my instructor and a few other people (including a few practicing satanists) and the consensus was that neopaganism and satanism are two separate but equal religious followings. Pagan comes from "paganus" meaning "of the country" (almost like when we say "hick" or "bumpkin"). Interestingly enough, I have to read a translation of a papal bull written by Innocent VIII about what to do when dealing with "devil worshippers" (pagans, jews, and others who didn't accept church doctrine, not just true satanists.) Thank the spirits of whatever that we don't live back then. (Ugh.) :( Gotta go. My "request offering" is waiting for a second round of burning. I hope the first round worked. ;)
1
Well, even though modern-day Satanism is really more of a philosophy than a religion (for instance, Satanists don't "worship" Satan, they emulate the rebellious archtype which is called "Satan"), I would still describe it as being neopagan. That's if you define the word "pagan" as being "an irreligious person". Of course, the original definition of "pagan" was as you described above -- and also a person belonging to a community professing a polytheistic religion.
They've got you reading Pope Innocent VIII? "Thank the spirits of whatever that we don't live back then. (Ugh.)" Phyllis, we're not *that* far removed from the mentality of those times. Not when, within this past year, the current Pope decides to make a "saint" out of Pope Pius IX -- the Pope who condoned the kidnapping of a Jewish child as recently as 150 years ago in order to "save the soul" of that child and give him a "better life" being raised as a Christian. Little 6-year-old Edgardo Mortaro was the Elian Gonzales of his time -- but, unlike Elian, Edgardo was never returned to his father.
Ask your instructor to cover that topic in class sometime. It's not that far removed in history, and it can be directly compared to the arrogance -- both religious and political -- which one sees all around us even today.
-- Nanaea
They've got you reading Pope Innocent VIII? "Thank the spirits of whatever that we don't live back then. (Ugh.)" Phyllis, we're not *that* far removed from the mentality of those times. Not when, within this past year, the current Pope decides to make a "saint" out of Pope Pius IX -- the Pope who condoned the kidnapping of a Jewish child as recently as 150 years ago in order to "save the soul" of that child and give him a "better life" being raised as a Christian. Little 6-year-old Edgardo Mortaro was the Elian Gonzales of his time -- but, unlike Elian, Edgardo was never returned to his father.
Ask your instructor to cover that topic in class sometime. It's not that far removed in history, and it can be directly compared to the arrogance -- both religious and political -- which one sees all around us even today.
-- Nanaea
1
Nan, I shall. Ask, that is. Concerning Innocent VIII, he not only condoned, but seemed to demand that people be tortured and/or killed to make them Christian. If you can find a translation of the "Malleus Maleficarum" (and if you have the time/inclination), you might want to read it. (That's what I have to read for Wednesday). I apologize to any and all Christians for my opinions concerning this topic, but the Inquisition and the progroms are a direct result of this papal bull (bull in both meanings of the word).
Changing the topic, how is P.L.'s little one? Were the offerings successful? :D <
Changing the topic, how is P.L.'s little one? Were the offerings successful? :D <
1
Nanaea, I did better than that (concerning the "saved"). I told them yes. Saved from drowning, saved from electocution, saved from "daytime dramas", etc.
1
Thanks for the kind words! Actually, our high school was brand-new the year I started, so almost all the classes and teachers came on board with no previous reps, good or bad.
Our Freshman and Sophomore Latin classes had about twenty students each, as you had to take two years of the same language in College Prep. By Year Three, the class was down to six. They never did offer a 4th year that I know of.
I'm writing this from my old neighbor's house in NC, as we had to drive back over the mountains and pick up my daughter's car, whose transmission conveniently died two days before our move. I'm struggling with a sticky "Enter" key and a Trackball Mouse, which ranks up there in the Hall of Fame of Crappy 20th Century Ideas along with Debit Cards, Stick Deodorant, Full-Size SUVs, and "Some Assembly Required".
Using a Trackball Mouse is as natural and convenient as picking your nose with a piece of cooked spaghetti. Or maybe I just need more practice at both... :)
Our Freshman and Sophomore Latin classes had about twenty students each, as you had to take two years of the same language in College Prep. By Year Three, the class was down to six. They never did offer a 4th year that I know of.
I'm writing this from my old neighbor's house in NC, as we had to drive back over the mountains and pick up my daughter's car, whose transmission conveniently died two days before our move. I'm struggling with a sticky "Enter" key and a Trackball Mouse, which ranks up there in the Hall of Fame of Crappy 20th Century Ideas along with Debit Cards, Stick Deodorant, Full-Size SUVs, and "Some Assembly Required".
Using a Trackball Mouse is as natural and convenient as picking your nose with a piece of cooked spaghetti. Or maybe I just need more practice at both... :)
1