Anton:
But that says nothing of wood! It says "genus fossilis" and, better still (in the margin) - "lapis"
Yes, actually it was called "linum vivum" (living flax) by Pliny the Elder (AD 23-79), obviously because of its fibrous stucture. The text of Basil of Caesarea (329-379) who lived almost in the same time (a little earlier) as Saint Jerom (347-420), contains description, similar to that that Hieronimus gives concerning the rest.
(English)
...a stone called Amianton, which is of that nature, that in the fyer it becometh as bright as a fierye coale, and taken out, is cleerer then at the casting in, and can not be anye waye stayned or defiled. For their bodyes were not only as golde purged, but more then golde, not so much as dissolued, & came purer out, then they were cast into the fornace...
First of all, I don't assert that "anchiton" is distorted word from "amianton" or "antichiton". I expressed a few thoughts or ways about anchiton and antichiton, how I could explain existing of these rare words. Of course, at first glance, they seem to be Greek, but as you can read, the word chiton has semitic origin. The example of Akheton clearly shows how it can be derived from arabilc "al-qutun". Aramaic keton (arabic kittan) means "flax" or "linen", the word "cotton" is derived from that. So, if I would think that "anchiton" is distorted word, I'd pay attention to "al-qutun" at first.
As for the "lino simile", look at the You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.... where the author Andreas Lucas de Arcones considered and compared amianton of different authors, including Hieronimus, Plinius, Basilius and Valerius Maximus. Lignum, linum and lapis are all mentioned.
All scholars write that Jerome wrote "amianton", not "amiton". So, as that quote belongs exactly to Saint Jerome, I'm inclined to believe them. Amiton is rather one of erroneus words that we saw. It seems no one believed to Jerome, as you do, because, first of all, there was a great confusion as for the amianton, as for the asbestos in medieval times, moreover, they likely were inclined to think that it must be wood (sacred wood Shittim). Maybe, they thought that Jerome made a mistake, maybe, they transliterated it incorrectly, I don't know.
Yes, it was suggested by me. And I must confess, I like it, too.
I didn't write it, but the Greek word anichetos (aniketos, anikitos, etc. - invincible) had a synonym adamastos (ironclad) which both have some similarity to asbestos (unquenchable) by the meaning.
Incredible, but both "speculations" fit the legends.
Quote:Quote:You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
But that says nothing of wood! It says "genus fossilis" and, better still (in the margin) - "lapis"
Yes, actually it was called "linum vivum" (living flax) by Pliny the Elder (AD 23-79), obviously because of its fibrous stucture. The text of Basil of Caesarea (329-379) who lived almost in the same time (a little earlier) as Saint Jerom (347-420), contains description, similar to that that Hieronimus gives concerning the rest.
(English)
...a stone called Amianton, which is of that nature, that in the fyer it becometh as bright as a fierye coale, and taken out, is cleerer then at the casting in, and can not be anye waye stayned or defiled. For their bodyes were not only as golde purged, but more then golde, not so much as dissolued, & came purer out, then they were cast into the fornace...
Quote:Greek "chiton" is not linen or fabric. It is "clothes". As to "lino simile", I don't think it's worth any serious analysis, because it's too obvious a scripting or/and printing error from "ligno". The context leaves absolutely no place for "lino". Who would think that the altar would be made of fabric??
First of all, I don't assert that "anchiton" is distorted word from "amianton" or "antichiton". I expressed a few thoughts or ways about anchiton and antichiton, how I could explain existing of these rare words. Of course, at first glance, they seem to be Greek, but as you can read, the word chiton has semitic origin. The example of Akheton clearly shows how it can be derived from arabilc "al-qutun". Aramaic keton (arabic kittan) means "flax" or "linen", the word "cotton" is derived from that. So, if I would think that "anchiton" is distorted word, I'd pay attention to "al-qutun" at first.
As for the "lino simile", look at the You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.... where the author Andreas Lucas de Arcones considered and compared amianton of different authors, including Hieronimus, Plinius, Basilius and Valerius Maximus. Lignum, linum and lapis are all mentioned.
Quote:The original traced so far (let alone the Septuagint which says "asepton", and this obviously is not linguistically connected with "anchiton") is "amiton", and it is what looks like Latin transliteration of a possibly Greek word, the latter being unknown to us.
All scholars write that Jerome wrote "amianton", not "amiton". So, as that quote belongs exactly to Saint Jerome, I'm inclined to believe them. Amiton is rather one of erroneus words that we saw. It seems no one believed to Jerome, as you do, because, first of all, there was a great confusion as for the amianton, as for the asbestos in medieval times, moreover, they likely were inclined to think that it must be wood (sacred wood Shittim). Maybe, they thought that Jerome made a mistake, maybe, they transliterated it incorrectly, I don't know.
Quote:I would prefer "aniketon", as already suggested by somebody in the forum, which would mean "invincible", and then it would transform from "aniketon" through "anicheton" (kappa to hi) and finally into "anchiton" (being somewhat easier to pronounce) in its Latin version.
Yes, it was suggested by me. And I must confess, I like it, too.
I didn't write it, but the Greek word anichetos (aniketos, anikitos, etc. - invincible) had a synonym adamastos (ironclad) which both have some similarity to asbestos (unquenchable) by the meaning. Incredible, but both "speculations" fit the legends.