Message: "Where did this continent get its name from (Antarctica)?"

Where did this continent get its name from (Antarctica)?

by Lu (guest)

8/31/2002, 4:33 PM

What's the meaning of Antarctica? I've always loved the name of this continent, I only didn't manage to find its meaning.

Maybe some of you know?

Regards,

Replies

- Shay (guest) +4

9/1/2002, 1:53 AM

Antarctica

Antarctica is "anti-arctic", that is "opposite to the arctic".

"arctic" means "very very cold", and it reffers, of course, to the North Pole.

- wierd (guest)

11/24/2003, 8:36 AM

how did it get its name?

- Pavlos (guest) +2

9/1/2002, 7:31 AM

More on "Arctic"

"Arctic" is derived from "Arktos" meaning "bear" in Greek. "Arktikos" means "related to the Great Bear" (constellation), hence, "Northern" hence, as Shay noted, very very cold :)

- Shay (guest) +1

9/1/2002, 10:05 AM

Interesting...

So all this cold is the bear's fault!
:)

more trivia:
"artik" is a Hebrew word for "popsicle". I assume it comes from "arctic", and I think the K sound in the middle was dropped because "arctic" is hard to say. At least *I* find it teeth-breaking.
I also say ANTARTICA indtead of ANTARCTICA.

- Pavlos (guest)

9/2/2002, 2:31 AM

Yikes! Keep that bear away from my popsicle!

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