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Re: aposematic
Reminds me of a most popular word we threw aroung indiscriminately in ancient art history/classical archaeology -- apotropaic, Gk apo + trepein, turn (turning away/warding off [evil/bad things/grave robbers, etc.]). Basically, anything ugly, foreign or otherwise inexplicable is considered to be apotropaic. Typical examples are sphinxes, gorgoneia. beasts like lions, esp in an architectural context, protomes (cf. med. gargoyles), phalloi, eyes, etc. It's not always easy to explain how a sphinx drawn on an 8" pot would be meant to turn away [evil], and one suspects that it's often a simplistic, catch-all explanation ...
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Cool word! Welcome, allie.

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What is the theme for this week (16 July 07)? I didn't see it.

Agki

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Originally Posted By: Agki
What is the theme for this week (16 July 07)? I didn't see it.

Agki


Quote:
This week's Guest Wordsmith, Bruce M. Selya, is a senior federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Anu Garg is traveling.

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Welcome alliedog.


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