Olympiasmos

Dear sistren an brethren in the Olympian faith,

A word like olympiasmos cannot exist in ancient greek, because the syllable -an- is derived from the Romance languages. In ancient greek it would be *olympismos or *olympiasmos (from *opympizo or *olympiazo).

I know a little bit of ancient greek - but my mothertongue is not English. So it is not astonishing, if I make mistakes, and I beg you to correct me.

Greetings from Vienna (Austria)!

Eusebes

A word like olympianismos cannot exist in ancient greek....

Errare etc... :-)

The Hellenic and Roman religions are, for all intents and purposes, two sides of the same coin, and Romanizations of Hellenic words was extremely common, as was the adoption of Hellenic words, such as Hellenismos by Julian.

So, in the bigger picture, it matters little.

Well, on the one hand Olympianismus - or on the other hand Olympiasmos. Olympianismos is simply impossible.

Languages morph and change throughout time and there's always a balance between what is correct and what is understandable.

It simply doesn't matter that much.

I think, leading Christians should be able to read the language of the new testament (Koine), Jews - Hebrew, Hindus - Sanskrit and Hellenists - ancient greek.

Enjoy life!

Eusebes

That kind of requirement seriously restricts the amount of people who would be able to practice the religion. It would be far better for those capable of translating the Ancient Greek into modern languages so those who who desire to know what the Ancients thought but have neither the resources or desire to learn a dead language can do so with sincerity, allowing the sources to remain extant in their original languages so those who truly desire to put forth the effort of learning an entirely new language can do so.

Eusebes wrote:I think, leading Christians should be able to read the language of the new testament (Koine), Jews - Hebrew, Hindus - Sanskrit and Hellenists - ancient greek.

Enjoy life!

Eusebes

While I recognize the impracticality of this, as a teacher of Classical languages, I rather agree. There is a certain way of thinking and seeing things that is just not translatable. Text, particularly Classical text, has just a different flavor and perspective in its original language, that is, for better or worse, only accessible if one understands the source language.

Translations are often, from my experience, just not quite there.

venerari and colere would both be translated as 'worship' into English, but there is a subtle meaning difference between the two – colere entails more than the semantic field of English 'worship' does.

Erodius wrote:

Eusebes wrote:I think, leading Christians should be able to read the language of the new testament (Koine), Jews - Hebrew, Hindus - Sanskrit and Hellenists - ancient greek.

Enjoy life!

Eusebes

While I recognize the impracticality of this, as a teacher of Classical languages, I rather agree. There is a certain way of thinking and seeing things that is just not translatable. Text, particularly Classical text, has just a different flavor and perspective in its original language, that is, for better or worse, only accessible if one understands the source language.

Translations are often, from my experience, just not quite there.

venerari and colere would both be translated as 'worship' into English, but there is a subtle meaning difference between the two – colere entails more than the semantic field of English 'worship' does.

I would agree, too.

Additionally though I would make a clear distinction: on the one hand the more or less ordinary follower of a religious tradition/traditional religion, who can be anyone -- and no special skills are required, only Eros to the Gods and Arete of heart and conduct in life; a religious teacher on the other hand should either be able to read the primary religious scripture in their original language, or at least are being taught themselves by such a teacher.

And in regards to translation: I personally favour translations by someone who is a believer over someone who might from a purely academic point of view be more qualified, yet shows no due respect. Regardless of all the academic decorum, we still read from most academic scholars of the Gods as small-case gods, and in past tense. Translations from such a source I treat with caution and suspicion; whereas I afford a certain level of trust and acceptance to someone who is genuinely pious.

Eusebes wrote:I think, leading Christians should be able to read the language of the new testament (Koine), Jews - Hebrew, Hindus - Sanskrit and Hellenists - ancient greek.

Enjoy life!

Eusebes

I think the world needs a new Alexander to spread Hellenic paideia.