|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
I came across this wonderful word in Michael Quinion's World Wide Words whilst searching unsuccessfully for the origin of a lick and a promise. I am putting it here partly because this category has been underused lately, and also, though I don't do this with serious intent, I think it is fun to do this just to see what you come up with:
"RHAPSODOMANCY
The seeking of guidance through the chance selection
of a passage in literature.
This term goes back to the ancient Greeks, in which verses uttered by the oracles were transcribed for random consultation in the sybilline books, or in which a phrase from one of the poets was picked on for guidance. Another example is the I Ching, an ancient book of wisdom in which hexagrams are consulted according to a random sequence that is generated by throwing sticks. Rhapsodomancy comes from the Greek rhapsoidos, someone who recites epic poems, particularly the Homeric odes; its roots are rhaptein, 'to sew together; stitch' and oide, 'song' (the source of our word ode), so such a person was a 'weaver of songs'. It is closely related to our rhapsody, which originally meant a section of an epic poem suitable for reading at one time, but which later took on the modern sense of some exaggeratedly enthusiastic or self-indulgently effusive piece of writing or music."
World Wide Words is copyright © Michael Quinion, 1996-. All rights reserved.
Page created 1 August 1998.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 444
addict
|
|
addict
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 444 |
I've also heard of a practice of letting the bible fall open at a random page and taking a verse from that page to provide guidance in your life. Presumably this is also rhapsodomancy?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
i do that with songs; i put my favorite CDs on "random" then make a mental note to apply the next song i hear to whatever situation/person/etc i'm pondering. i'll bet there's a name for it. ironically, "rhapso-" would suggest music, to me. melodomancy, maybe? oh, and hi brid#1  glad to see ya posting again!!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460
addict
|
|
addict
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460 |
Jackie -- [useless trivia warning emoticon] -- there's a character called The Rhapsodist in the 'Babylonian' sequence of D W Griffith's splendid film "Intolerance" (1916). I can understand his part better after reading your post. Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 724
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 724 |
Thank you for this thread Jackie.
Coincidentally I have been thinking of the points that you have touched upon - symbols, epics and also Gods of writing.
I have as wall paper on my desk top a picture of the Greek god of writing Thoth. It is an odd looking thing with ugly feet, a long beak, a very small head, wise eyes and a laid back attitude. It has wings but I don't think it can fly.
In the Indian pantheon the compatriot of Thoth would be the elephant God Ganesha - I think - only because he was the one who set down in words the epic Mahabharata (which I am currently reading - hence these thoughts). Ved Vyas was the sage who composed the epic poems of the Mahabharata and Ganesh wrote them down.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Wow, what a great place this board is! I had a feeling this word would strike a "chord" (rhapsodic?) with others as well as it did with me! And in just these few responses we've traveled from the Bible to Louisville to Indian and Greek gods. Thank you, Avy, for those things I had not known before. I laughed at your saying that evil-seeming creature has a "laid-back attitude"! Oh--Louisville, you ask? D.W. Griffith is from here, as I suspect my sweet paulb knows very well. There is a performance theater named for him in our Center for the Arts. Thank you. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
In reply to:
I've also heard of a practice of letting the bible fall open at a random page and taking a verse from that page to provide guidance in your life. Presumably this is also rhapsodomancy?
not surprisingly, there is a unique word for this: bibliomancy (also refers to the use of books in general). there are sixty-some -mancys in the OED, not counting aldermancy, dormancy, etc. divination was big.
-joe (thumomancy) friday
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 819
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 819 |
I have as wall paper on my desk top a picture of the Greek god of writing Thoth.
Greek? I thought Thoth was Egyptian, but perhaps also Greek from the Ptolemaic dynasty on Egypt?
If computer nerds have gods are they Geek Gods?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 328
enthusiast
|
|
enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 328 |
Thoth
Yes, Thoth was an Egyptian god. The Greeks may have "borrowed" him, but I'm not sure about that. He was the god of wisdom and learning, and was associated with the moon. I believe ancient Egyptian scribes regarded Thoth as their patron, since he was associated with writing. He had the head of an ibis.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
If computer nerds have gods are they Geek Gods? I love it! Beware of geeks bearing gifts...
speaking of which, I have to put this riddle I thought up a little while ago:
What do you call a crazy boot-licker?
A Psychophant.
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,350
Members9,182
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
845
guests, and
1
robot. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
