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ArchivesRe: name niobe
in reply to a message by myobie
Some name sites claim that Niobe means fern in Greek. I am not sure this is true, and have not been able to back it up though of my etymological sources. Another possibility is that Niobe is derived from "neos" (new/young) and "bios" (life).
Niobe was punished harshly by the Gods for her hubris. To spare her frrom the pain, Zeus transformed her into a rock: http://www.akrasion.net/images/niobh.jpg
Niobe was punished harshly by the Gods for her hubris. To spare her frrom the pain, Zeus transformed her into a rock: http://www.akrasion.net/images/niobh.jpg
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I am very much interested in the question, and have not found much information so far.
However, Robert Graves, in his book on Greek Myths, gives the possible interpretation of Niobe as "Snowy". This might be somehow related to latin NIVEUS, which is the color of snow and Nive(m), which is snow. There is an interpretation of the myth as symoblising the destruction of the powers of winter (Niobe and her children) by the powers of the sun (Apollon and Artemis). There could also be some connection with the eternal weeping of Niobe.
However, Robert Graves, in his book on Greek Myths, gives the possible interpretation of Niobe as "Snowy". This might be somehow related to latin NIVEUS, which is the color of snow and Nive(m), which is snow. There is an interpretation of the myth as symoblising the destruction of the powers of winter (Niobe and her children) by the powers of the sun (Apollon and Artemis). There could also be some connection with the eternal weeping of Niobe.
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The term νῐ́φω (níphō) does mean "to snow" or even "to rain," but I'm not an expert on Greek, so I'm not sure how níphō could turn into Niobe. They do sound somewhat similar though so it's a possibility!
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