Indo-European linguistics and classical philology
O. P. Pavlova De Isidori Etymologiarum libri XIX capitis 2 pericope 9 emendanda (pp. 737–739)
Author
O. P. Pavlova (Lomonosov Moscow State University)
Pages\n 737–739
Summary\n
O. S. Pavlova. On Isid. etym. XIX 2, 9: a new conjecture The paper considers a passage in Book XIX of Isidore's Etymologiae sive Origines (Isid. etym. XIX 2, 9). This part of Etymologiae deals with Latin nautical vocabulary. Isidore explains the term carchesium, which refers to some device situated at the top of the mast and, according to text, is F-shaped. The descriptions by Isidore and other Latin writers suggest that carchesium was a kind of block, through which the ship's rigging passed. In such case it remains unclear why such a block should be compared with the letter F, whose form doesn't seem appropriate for such a device. We suggest to read here the Greek letter Ф instead of the Latin F. Such a conjecture can be supported with an ancient bas-relief from Villa Torlonia, in which we can see a Ф-shaped device, which seems to conform to the Isidore's description.
Keywords\n
Isidori Etymologiae sive Origines, Latin nautical term carchesium.
References\n