I am very interested in snakes, and in reading my newly-acquired Complete Encyclopedia of Snakes, in the section about feeding habits of various species, I came across this most excellent word, which means "eating oneself" (I'll thank them what's inclined to the smuttier variety of posts to find another outlet for those impulses, unless you've got something really clever).
Apparently, on a few occasions, black rat snakes (and no other species, as far as the encyclopedists knew) have been found attempting to consume their own tails. One tried and failed, and then tried again and died in the attempt.
Can't think of too many creatures that could achieve this, but thought it was a great word.
Actualy, I have come across this word and idea before-- it has been used to define self canabalism-- from the gross-- picking ones nose, and eating it! to people who gnaw and bite their cuticles,(and swallow the bits of flesh,) or bite the insides of their mouths, or in other ways self consume.
Autophagy is not a sign of good mental health-- but some examples are more extreme and unhealth than others.
When I thought about posting this, it occurred to me to mention this connection, but in the heat of the moment while I was posting, I forgot (what if tsuwm had been reading about autophagy too? what if he beat me to it, again? oh wait - he would have known the word and simply continued reading).
In addition to the Ouroboros (or perhaps as a manifestation of it) there's the Midgard Serpent of Norse mythos, who wraps all the way around the earth and holds his tail in his mouth. As I recall the tale, at Ragnarok (the Norse Armageddon) the serpent bites Thor, who then kills him, but the serpent's poison then finishes off the thunder god.
Someone appears to have missed part of my original post:
(I'll thank them what's inclined to the smuttier variety of posts to find another outlet for those impulses, unless you've got something really clever)
addendum
In looking at this reply, and getting a private note or two on the matter, I fear I've come down a bit hard here. I just knew that a post about eating oneself would attract a few such comments (as they occured to me), and I thought I'd try to keep us on topic. If I've come across as prudish, aggressive, or otherwise unkind, it wasn't my intent, and in the future I'll rely on our duly-appointed gutter police.
The Midgard Serpent! That's who I was trying to think of when I made my Easter (What's a nice Christian holiday like you doing being named after a Germanic Goddess?) post. I suspect that the Midgard Serpent and Ouroboros are related, tracing back to some shamanic myth from the old days when we still remembered that we are animals. Do the Oz Aboriginals have a similar myth? I have some vague notion of an important serpent in the Dream Time.
In Organic Chemistry, there is the famous story about the chemist Kekule, who had been trying to discover what made compounds like benzene so different from the others. In a dream, he had a vision of a snake catching ahold of its tail, and forming a ring. Suddenly he realized that benzene could be a ring. And so it turned out to be.
Kekulé von Stradonitz, Friedrich August (1829-1896), German chemist, best known for proposing the ring structure of the benzene molecule. Kekulé was born in Darmstadt. He studied architecture at the University of Giessen but turned to chemistry after he heard the lectures of the German chemist Justus von Liebig. In 1856 he became assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Heidelberg and in 1858 was appointed to a similar position at the University of Ghent. From 1865 until his death, Kekulé was professor of chemistry at the University of Bonn. The results of Kekulé's research on the linking of carbon atoms were of great importance in the development of organic chemistry. He introduced the concept of tetravalent carbon atoms joining with each other and with other atoms to form the molecules of organic compounds. See Aromatic Compounds; Chemistry; Chemistry, Organic.
"Kekulé von Stradonitz, Friedrich August," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
There is an Iroquois story about a lady who eats herself, and then tries to eat her husband, but he escapes because an old man lengthened himself to let the lady's husband across a river. The man does the same thing for the cannibal, but she falls off
And then there was the story of two snakes who fought. And it just so happens that they were black rat snakes. Well, one got a-hold of the otherun's tail and started up. That didn't set too well with th'otherun, so he hauled off and chomped down on the tail of the one whose head was occupied eatin' his tail, and started up. Well, the more those snakes felt themselves being eaten, the madder they got an' the faster they ate, till purty soon there wasn't nothin' left. And that there's a true story. Let that be a lesson to all, that not only do you need to watch what's in front of you, you'd best be lookin' out for what might be coming up behind you...
Hyla, I liked your post the way it was. I can go anywhere and read smut. I really like it when this place stays "clean". Innuendo is so much funnier than having straight dirt shoved down your throat, anyway, and some of the plays on words here have been great!
Surely even Kentucky is not so far gone in sin that every surface is graffittised with jejune or peurile material of a scatological or similar nature?
Since I have rejected that notion (else would be very wary of going to Kentucky for Easter...) I can only conclude that this is like the literary device - the pathetic fallacy - in which nature reflects the mood of the protagonist (thunderstorms when she's angry, gentle showers at times of redemption, sun shining on happy moments when journeys end in lovers' meetings and so on), so that wherever you go you seem to see smut. What's going on in that wonderful mind of yours? Couldn't you in any way change all that smut you see into nice little bunny rabbits hopping about and chewing on carrots?
cheer
the sunshine warrior
ps. For 'on-topic' type stuff, does the root 'phage/phagy' refer to consumption of any sort, or eating only? I ask because, having participated in a collaborative vampire novel (don't ask), I was looking for a scientific-sounding word to describe their condition and could only come up with haematophage (which I promptly contracted to haemophage) - but 'eating' blood doesn't have quite the same feel does it? Haemodipsia anyone?
I'm sorry, Dear One--I should have added four very important words: that I can go anywhere and read smut if I choose to. We tend to find what we're looking for, I think, and virtually all of the time my thoughts are full of the beauty with which I am surrounded.
Of course, Suryaputri, I never expected any but the purest thoughts to hover within your cephalos - like the princess at the Swayamvara, as Kalidasa would say, your passage is reminiscent of the paddy fields at night, with a lone lover, lantern in hand, walking from tree to tree, lighting up each as he passes, so that all we, the viewers, can see is one tree at a time, lit up... then fading, as another picks up the glory of your passing!
cheer
the sunshine warrior
ps. The Kalidasa image is particularly resonant for a Nair (me being one) because according to tradition, Nair husbands and wives did not live together - since their households were always those in which they were born. Brothers would look after their sisters' children in a paternal sense. Thus, for any procreation to take place, husbands had to trek across those verdant paddy fields after dark to the dwelling places of their spouses, there to consummate their marriages. Folklore also says that, if the wife was fed up with her husband and wanted a separation, she would leave his house slippers outside the door - whence he knew that he was not welcome there any more!
[must make at least one postaday....] (what if tsuwm had been reading about autophagy too? what if he beat me to it, again? oh wait - he would have known the word and simply continued reading).
well, actually®, I would have had a slight pause whilst saying to bahself: autophagy? must be eating oneself [yuk]; based on having lots of -phagy in my past; e.g., oligophagous - eating only a few specific kinds of food pantophagous - eating or requiring a variety of foods scatophagous - habitually feeding on dung: coprophagous
Hyla will have to wait his turn. Veterans get first dibs, there are only two us. [Where is Jo? emoticon] Look, I'm the last to complain about all the esophagy on this phagosite, but the word is Poobaphagy Poobahphagy IPee
<<I don't understand what you complaint is?>> Orthography! -- The word is Poobaphogy not Poobahphogy! Has the whole world gone to hell in a handbasket, or is it just me...DON'T ANSWER THAT
'Aven't a clue, mate. Sorry. Mostly, I make this stuff up, and then frantically e-mail Anu and Avy and Manoj begging them not to expose me for the fraud I am!
Actually, this folkloric stuff was gleaned by me on Gran'ma's knee and so on, so there are really no written references. Try a google search - "the Nairs of Kerala" (it seemed to throw up some interesting looking bits and pieces). Also, I heard years ago that the Nairs' matrilineal system was pretty much standard reference for sociologists using the SSSM model who needed grist for the tabula rasa mill.
Try http://www.gotop10.com/KJ/khnairs.html. Seems the best of the google lot - quite detailed. The conclusions drawn, particularly with regard to origins, seem to me to be too speculative to warrant the conviction with which they are presented, but the details of customs seem about right.
cheer
the sunshine warrior
ps. post-Post edit: Also see an interesting page from a discussion forum, http://forumhub.com/tnhistory/2315.24415.07.41.54.html, that nevertheless appears to be one whose primary topic is Tamil. Strange are the ways of South Indians eh?
Sorry bel, but you started me off, and this is what I came across:
KOLLANGODE: Kollangode kingdom lay to the south of Palghat. Its rulers were called Venganad Nambidis. They claim descendancy from an ancient Kshathriya chief named Vira Ravi and hence the chiefs of Kollangode have the name Ravivarma affixed to their names. The principality comprised of eight villages and the Zamorin, during his conquests in South Malabar, annexed it. The Raja of Kollangode lived as a pensioner under the English East India Company.
My great-great-grandfather (paternal grandmother's side - so not in line to any regal inheritance) was Ittapu Thamburan (if the old women inthe village are to be believed), one of the last Rajas of Kollengode (I spell it with the 'e' instead of 'a' - it sounds closer).
Ha ha. I have found out something about my ancestry thanks to you. [thrilled with this internet thingy emoticon]
If aristophagy were the eating of only the best food; plutophagy were the eating of only the richest food; and monophagy were the eating of only one kind of food; then Poohbaphagy would be the eating of only the best, Pooh-bahs! oder?
Look, I'm the last to complain about all the esophagy on this phagosite, but the word is Poobaphagy Poobahphagy
As the coiner, I must disagree - my intent was to put forth a word with the "hph" construction, as I can't think of another word that has it. I pointed out the orthographical pitfalls of the word with that in mind, and now see that I fell into one - it should in fact be Poohbahphagy. Now that's a word - three h's, and not a single h sound.
Note to Jackie and tsuwm: I wish to ensure you that my introduction of the notion of Poohbahphagy was in no way intended to condone, suggest, or otherwise encourage such behavior, any more than posting on autophagy suggested that I was limbering up and eyeing my ankle-bone with a hungry gleam in my eye. But a discussion of the appropriate condiments would be interesting, given the foodies we've got around here.
I'll take Pickapeppa and Pico Pica sauce, perhaps a side of guacamole!
well when it come to some forms of canabalism-- i think i like kama sutra oil best as a condiment--( grape seed oil, with honey and spices)-- but i suspect the gutter police are going to write me up for this---
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to people who gnaw and bite their cuticles,(and swallow the bits of flesh,) or bite the insides of their mouths, or in other ways self consume.
