Defining perirrhanterium
a. a box that allows access through sealed hand apertures so that dangerous substances may be handled safely
Definition by consuelo
Chosen by Alex Williams
b. a broad, shallow tank for demonstrating how ripples and waves are formed
Definition by wofahulicodoc
Not chosen
c. A sanctuary for the spirits of the dead and subsequent séances.
Definition by musick
Chosen by owlbow
d. a visually apparent physical feature of Neanderthals that signaled a significant racial disability which precluded any major integration with Cro-magnon man.
Definition by themilum
Not chosen
e. An animal that is immune to the toxin(s) of another plant or animal and is thereby protected from its predators when in close proximity to the poisonous life form.
Definition by owlbow
Chosen by TEd Remington
f. An instrument for sprinkling holy water, especially upon the newly baptised
Correct Definition
Chosen by Jackie and Tsuwm
g. noun Photography : a person, usually a pedestrian, coincidentally standing in the background of an outdoor photograph who is unknown to both sitter and photographer. [from 'peri-' round + 'rhanter' from 'estrange' see 'stranger' + '-ium' see -ion]
Definition by Homo Loquens
Chosen by AnnaStrophic
h. Rare plant found in Anatolia which is believed to be the wild ancestor of the onion family
Definition by Bingley
Chosen by Faldage
i. spore case
Definition by TEd Remington
Chosen by wofahulidoc
j. That portion of the mouth which immediately surrounds the front teeth.
Definition by Father Steve
Chosen by etaoin and Homo Loquens
k. The area between the back and the front.
Definition by Jackie
Not chosen
l. The border of an area in which no philosophical discourse is allowed.
Definition by Faldage
Chosen by themilum and musick
m. The phlange-like component used to connect lengths of tube in ancient Roman viaducts.
Definition by AnnaStrophic
Chosen by Father Steve
n. The protein capsule of an RNA virus of the bunyaviridae family.
Definition by Alex Williams
Chosen by consuelo
One of the books I'm currently reading is The Complete English Poems of George Herbert. Perirrhanterium is the title he gave to one part of his collection of poems called The Temple.
I copied the definition "An instrument for sprinkling holy water, especially upon the newly baptised" verbatim from the notes provided by the editor of the Penguin edition. However, the only references to this word revealed by googling come from sites about Herbert.
Could our ecclesiastical correspondent shed any light on the matter?
>..not to mention that the -rrh- suggests it's Greek, not Latin...
and indeed, this appears to be one of those Greek/Latin dichotomies where the Latin won out; viz.
aspergillum.
edit hmmmthat looks more like an
aspersory (the bucket) than it does the aspergillum (the wand).
Every good Anglican is a huge fan of George Herbert and thus has read all of his poetry. I think it is required by one of the vows taken at Holy Baptism or some such. Because of this shared literacy, every Anglican knows the term Perirrhanterium and its meaning, but only from the footnotes in the book of Herbert's poems. The utensil in question is more often called aspergillium (Latin), or aspersorium (Latin) or goupillon (French, I think). Even these words are fading in Anglican vocabulary as holy water is so often tossed about using small branches of shrubs and trees rather than a sprinkler.
> using small branches of shrubs and trees
how Pagan!
(hi Elizabeth!)
Quote:
Every good Anglican is a huge fan of George Herbert and thus has read all of his poetry. I think it is required by one of the vows taken at Holy Baptism or some such. Because of this shared literacy, every Anglican knows the term Perirrhanterium and its meaning, but only from the footnotes in the book of Herbert's poems. The utensil in question is more often called aspergillium (Latin), or aspersorium (Latin) or goupillon (French, I think). Even these words are fading in Anglican vocabulary as holy water is so often tossed about using small branches of shrubs and trees rather than a sprinkler.
Dare I ask then why you, our favorite good Anglican, chose my daffynition, misspelled as flange was? 
Anna the implication is that our Father Steve is a bad Anglican. *clucks tongue*
I thought it was cute that Connie and Alex chose each other's.
Perhaps the good Father felt that a display of professional knowledge might spoil the game for others since they would naturally follow his lead rather than try to find the correct answer themselves.
Anna asks Dare I ask then why you, our favorite good Anglican, chose my daffynition, misspelled as flange was?
And the answer is: "peri-" is a prefix which appears in lots of medical terms meaning around or surrounding. A flange/phlange does that. The rest of the term had a nice Greco-Roman ring (no pun intended) to it. So I picked Anna's definition, in part as a feint, a dodge, a crude attempt to deflect respondents to her answer.
Perirrhanterion is a good old pre-Christian Greek word. It was a whisk like utensil for sprinkling water at sacrifices, especially lustral water. It occurs in Herodotus, 5th century BCE. It's parts are two: peri-'around' and rhanterios 'sprinkled'; it's a neuter noun as are many instruments.
Quote:
> using small branches of shrubs and trees
how Pagan!
(hi Elizabeth!)
It is not so odd that the Church would use herbacious branches to sprinkle holy water. Psalm 51:7 says, roughly, "Wash me with hyssop and I shall be pure, cleanse me and shall be whiter than snow." The hyssop used there is more likely the modern oregano than the modern hyssop plant. This was enjoined by the Book of Numbers (Chaoter 19) as a way of cleansing a place or person or object which had been defiled by contact with the dead. From these sorts of ancient Jewish ritual sprinklings, the Church developed its own liturgy of asperges -- sprinkling with holy water -- and even uses the verse from Psalm 51 as part of that liturgy, firming up the connection. The use of a fancy metal aspergillum is certainly one way to do this ritual. The use of an oregano branch is equally meaninful, without being a departure from the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Quote:
Perirrhanterion is a good old pre-Christian Greek word. It was a whisk like utensil for sprinkling water at sacrifices, especially lustral water. It occurs in Herodotus, 5th century BCE. It's parts are two: peri-'around' and rhanterios 'sprinkled'; it's a neuter noun as are many instruments.
so I guess this thing that I found labeled as a perirrhanterium just ain't one.
Quote:
so I guess this thing that I found labeled as a perirrhanterium just ain't one.
You're a fount of knowledge, certainly, but your knowledge of founts is suspect.
I shoulda oughta included this caption from the
source page:
Archaic Perirrhanterion from the sanctuary of Poseidon at Isthmia. 7th. century BCE. Isthmia museum
so I guess this thing that I found labeled as a perirrhanterium just ain't one.
Looks more like what you dipped yer perirrhanterion into, but I could be misinformed. There was also an aporrhanterion. Of course, it might be a two part doohicky, like the Latin aspergillum which consisted of sprinkler / whisk and container for holy water. Maybe not.
Wow, tsuwm, thanks for the link.
The four female figures with long Minoan robes and bare breasts standing in a floral landscape, dated c. 1500 BC, was a delightful jolt to my jaded sensibilities.
Thank you.
this brings to my jaded mind the olde joke about the psychiatrist showing a drawing of a large empty square to a patient, and subsequently dividing the square into smaller and smaller squares... the punchline goes something like this:
"I'm not the one drawing all those filthy pictures, doctor."
Quote:
> using small branches of shrubs and trees
how Pagan!
(hi Elizabeth!)
Hi, etaoin!
Quote:
It is not so odd that the Church would use herbacious branches to sprinkle holy water. Psalm 51:7 says, roughly, "Wash me with hyssop and I shall be pure, cleanse me and shall be whiter than snow." The hyssop used there is more likely the modern oregano than the modern hyssop plant. This was enjoined by the Book of Numbers (Chaoter 19) as a way of cleansing a place or person or object which had been defiled by contact with the dead. From these sorts of ancient Jewish ritual sprinklings, the Church developed its own liturgy of asperges -- sprinkling with holy water -- and even uses the verse from Psalm 51 as part of that liturgy, firming up the connection. The use of a fancy metal aspergillum is certainly one way to do this ritual. The use of an oregano branch is equally meaninful, without being a departure from the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Is that what sprinkling with holy water is about, then, FS, purification before entering the place of worship?
Is that what sprinkling with holy water is about, then, FS, purification before entering the place of worship?
Yes and no. (How's that for a typical theological answer?) When sprinkling with holy water occurs as part of the entrance rite (salutation, song of praise, collect of the day), it can certainly be understood as a rite of purification before (or at the beginning of) worship. When it occurs later in the liturgy (e.g. during the recitation of the Creed), then it functions as a reminder of baptism and the renewal of baptismal vows. There is yet a third function, at some liturgies, where it is a form of blessing.
And one needs to be careful about saying too much about what a symbol "means" in that really good symbols are loaded with more meaning than can be contained in so small a box.
Of course this made me think about the water of life, whisk(e)y, and I'm reminded of the story of Seamus, who is lying on his deathbed. He calls for Michael, his oldest and dearest friend.
"Michael," wheezed Seamus, "I'm close to breathing me last, but before I go I have a dying wish that I'd like you to fulfil."
Michael, with tears streaming down his face, says, "Seamus, for you my oldest friend, I'll do anything."
Seamus smiled. "I knew I could count on you. Under me pillow is an unopened bottle of Bushmills 16-year old malt. When I'm gone from this world, could you sprinkle it over me grave?
Michael pauses. "Of course I can, Seamus, but would it be all right with you if I filtered it through me kidneys first?"
>>symbolic
Understood. But my take on these things is from a talmudic or halachic pov. For example, I've always assumed that the original baptism would have been an immersion in a mikva, or "ritual bath" (a term I destest), which most natural bodies of water are and, so, also a purification. If a purification from transgression, as oppossed to "tuma" (impurity or "uncleanliness" -- such as one aquires by passing over a grave), then this would be consistent with the salvation, or purification, of rebirth in Christ.
Excellent point clearly and carefully expressed!
What may or may not be a cave used for baptisms by John the Baptist:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5724143/