Peter Gainsford
@kiwihellenist.bsky.social
Kiwi Hellenist, Homerist, classicist, NZ. He/his/him/ia.
Greek chorus vs Oompa-Loompas.
October 1, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Greek chorus vs Oompa-Loompas.
Lately my teenage son and I have been playing chess just before bedtime. Tonight I got the first ever en passant mate in my life. After ..Bh5, the final moves were g4 hxg4#.
September 26, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Lately my teenage son and I have been playing chess just before bedtime. Tonight I got the first ever en passant mate in my life. After ..Bh5, the final moves were g4 hxg4#.
Some days are just like this.
September 22, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Some days are just like this.
Favourite take of the day, as a reaction to seeing some really dumb stuff in classic Who:
September 13, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Favourite take of the day, as a reaction to seeing some really dumb stuff in classic Who:
Oof. Made it past the winter solstice. More daylight, here we come.
Kia pai te Matariki!
Kia pai te Matariki!
June 21, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Oof. Made it past the winter solstice. More daylight, here we come.
Kia pai te Matariki!
Kia pai te Matariki!
Simpsons did i-- er, I mean, not them... some other people I guess...
May 6, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Simpsons did i-- er, I mean, not them... some other people I guess...
It's fascinating to watch the popular reputation of the 'library of Alexandria'.
The biggest shift came in 1980: Carl Sagan's largely fictitious account in 'Cosmos'. But the subsequent history is intriguing too.
A superb article on the library's pre-1980 reputation: www.jstor.org/stable/2709356
The biggest shift came in 1980: Carl Sagan's largely fictitious account in 'Cosmos'. But the subsequent history is intriguing too.
A superb article on the library's pre-1980 reputation: www.jstor.org/stable/2709356
April 25, 2025 at 12:23 AM
It's fascinating to watch the popular reputation of the 'library of Alexandria'.
The biggest shift came in 1980: Carl Sagan's largely fictitious account in 'Cosmos'. But the subsequent history is intriguing too.
A superb article on the library's pre-1980 reputation: www.jstor.org/stable/2709356
The biggest shift came in 1980: Carl Sagan's largely fictitious account in 'Cosmos'. But the subsequent history is intriguing too.
A superb article on the library's pre-1980 reputation: www.jstor.org/stable/2709356
'Marvin' traced it to a 1933 article in Schweizerisches Archiv für Volkskunde, 32: 172, 'Zum Osterhasen' by one 'E. H.-K.' www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=s...
'Marvin' ascertained that the quotation doesn't appear in Fischart. Why E. H.-K. thought it was there is anyone's guess.
'Marvin' ascertained that the quotation doesn't appear in Fischart. Why E. H.-K. thought it was there is anyone's guess.
April 15, 2025 at 9:06 AM
'Marvin' traced it to a 1933 article in Schweizerisches Archiv für Volkskunde, 32: 172, 'Zum Osterhasen' by one 'E. H.-K.' www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=s...
'Marvin' ascertained that the quotation doesn't appear in Fischart. Why E. H.-K. thought it was there is anyone's guess.
'Marvin' ascertained that the quotation doesn't appear in Fischart. Why E. H.-K. thought it was there is anyone's guess.
The article dates the earliest appearance to 1572 (below).
As 'Marvin' pointed out to me a few years ago, this quotation actually comes from Christian Levin Sanders' "Gargantua und Pantagruel", vol. 3 (1787).
The bunny's earliest appearance is actually from Georg Franck von Franckenau in 1682.
As 'Marvin' pointed out to me a few years ago, this quotation actually comes from Christian Levin Sanders' "Gargantua und Pantagruel", vol. 3 (1787).
The bunny's earliest appearance is actually from Georg Franck von Franckenau in 1682.
April 15, 2025 at 8:02 AM
The article dates the earliest appearance to 1572 (below).
As 'Marvin' pointed out to me a few years ago, this quotation actually comes from Christian Levin Sanders' "Gargantua und Pantagruel", vol. 3 (1787).
The bunny's earliest appearance is actually from Georg Franck von Franckenau in 1682.
As 'Marvin' pointed out to me a few years ago, this quotation actually comes from Christian Levin Sanders' "Gargantua und Pantagruel", vol. 3 (1787).
The bunny's earliest appearance is actually from Georg Franck von Franckenau in 1682.
There's just one bit of Latin in the film 'Conclave': the speech that the Dean (Ralph Fiennes) makes right before the final vote.
This won't be obvious to people who can't hear the difference between Italian and Latin, and the subtitles don't indicate it.
This won't be obvious to people who can't hear the difference between Italian and Latin, and the subtitles don't indicate it.
March 1, 2025 at 11:19 PM
There's just one bit of Latin in the film 'Conclave': the speech that the Dean (Ralph Fiennes) makes right before the final vote.
This won't be obvious to people who can't hear the difference between Italian and Latin, and the subtitles don't indicate it.
This won't be obvious to people who can't hear the difference between Italian and Latin, and the subtitles don't indicate it.
Just one major new element arrived in 1939, when the company Montgomery & Ward commissioned an employee, Robert L. May, to devise a Christmas story. May's story was a poem about a ninth reindeer, the red-nosed Rudolph. Ten years later Johnny Marks turned May's story into the well-known song. 16/
December 24, 2024 at 11:36 AM
Just one major new element arrived in 1939, when the company Montgomery & Ward commissioned an employee, Robert L. May, to devise a Christmas story. May's story was a poem about a ninth reindeer, the red-nosed Rudolph. Ten years later Johnny Marks turned May's story into the well-known song. 16/
Most of the rest of Santa's iconography was invented in the 1860s by Thomas Nast, a German-born New Yorker.
Nast's cartoons, designed to reflect Northern optimisim in the Civil War, created Santa's workshop; his list of children's behaviour; and a postal address at the North Pole. 15/
Nast's cartoons, designed to reflect Northern optimisim in the Civil War, created Santa's workshop; his list of children's behaviour; and a postal address at the North Pole. 15/
December 24, 2024 at 11:36 AM
Most of the rest of Santa's iconography was invented in the 1860s by Thomas Nast, a German-born New Yorker.
Nast's cartoons, designed to reflect Northern optimisim in the Civil War, created Santa's workshop; his list of children's behaviour; and a postal address at the North Pole. 15/
Nast's cartoons, designed to reflect Northern optimisim in the Civil War, created Santa's workshop; his list of children's behaviour; and a postal address at the North Pole. 15/
The influence reached America, leading Charles Clement Moore to claim authorship of 'A Visit from St Nicholas'. Christmas books published in Pennsylvania now fully identified the Christkindl -- now 'Kriss Kringle' -- with St Nicholas/Santa Claus. 14/
December 24, 2024 at 11:36 AM
The influence reached America, leading Charles Clement Moore to claim authorship of 'A Visit from St Nicholas'. Christmas books published in Pennsylvania now fully identified the Christkindl -- now 'Kriss Kringle' -- with St Nicholas/Santa Claus. 14/
An 1821 report from North Carolina has the Christkindl coming at Christmas, anglicised as 'Christkinkle'. He isn't identified with St Nicholas yet, but he does bring gifts to good children, and rods to naughty children, just like St Nicholas. 12/
December 24, 2024 at 11:36 AM
An 1821 report from North Carolina has the Christkindl coming at Christmas, anglicised as 'Christkinkle'. He isn't identified with St Nicholas yet, but he does bring gifts to good children, and rods to naughty children, just like St Nicholas. 12/
This was the first ever appearance of a reindeer in connection with Santa.
In 1823, most of the rest of Santa's apparatus appeared, thanks to the anonymous poem 'A visit from St Nicholas'. This poem adds the _eight_ named reindeer, the jolly laugh, the big belly, and the motif of flying. 9/
In 1823, most of the rest of Santa's apparatus appeared, thanks to the anonymous poem 'A visit from St Nicholas'. This poem adds the _eight_ named reindeer, the jolly laugh, the big belly, and the motif of flying. 9/
December 24, 2024 at 11:36 AM
This was the first ever appearance of a reindeer in connection with Santa.
In 1823, most of the rest of Santa's apparatus appeared, thanks to the anonymous poem 'A visit from St Nicholas'. This poem adds the _eight_ named reindeer, the jolly laugh, the big belly, and the motif of flying. 9/
In 1823, most of the rest of Santa's apparatus appeared, thanks to the anonymous poem 'A visit from St Nicholas'. This poem adds the _eight_ named reindeer, the jolly laugh, the big belly, and the motif of flying. 9/
The Northern Hemisphere experienced very cold weather in the 1810s. In 1817-1820 New York, the Hudson River was closed by ice for over 100 days each year.
In 1821 'Santeclaus' first appears in a fur suit and a sleigh pulled by one reindeer -- no longer a bishop in a horse-drawn wagon. 8/
In 1821 'Santeclaus' first appears in a fur suit and a sleigh pulled by one reindeer -- no longer a bishop in a horse-drawn wagon. 8/
December 24, 2024 at 11:36 AM
The Northern Hemisphere experienced very cold weather in the 1810s. In 1817-1820 New York, the Hudson River was closed by ice for over 100 days each year.
In 1821 'Santeclaus' first appears in a fur suit and a sleigh pulled by one reindeer -- no longer a bishop in a horse-drawn wagon. 8/
In 1821 'Santeclaus' first appears in a fur suit and a sleigh pulled by one reindeer -- no longer a bishop in a horse-drawn wagon. 8/
The history of Santa proper begins here.
The modern elements were mostly invented in 1820s New York:
- the sleigh
- the reindeer
- flying in the air
- the fur suit
- the big wobbly belly
- coming at Christmas instead of 6 December. 7/
The modern elements were mostly invented in 1820s New York:
- the sleigh
- the reindeer
- flying in the air
- the fur suit
- the big wobbly belly
- coming at Christmas instead of 6 December. 7/
December 24, 2024 at 11:36 AM
The history of Santa proper begins here.
The modern elements were mostly invented in 1820s New York:
- the sleigh
- the reindeer
- flying in the air
- the fur suit
- the big wobbly belly
- coming at Christmas instead of 6 December. 7/
The modern elements were mostly invented in 1820s New York:
- the sleigh
- the reindeer
- flying in the air
- the fur suit
- the big wobbly belly
- coming at Christmas instead of 6 December. 7/
...St Nicholas' importance to New York, and depicts his visits at his saint's day, no longer riding a hose, but a horse-drawn wagon -- though he still rides on treetops and rooftops. He also smokes a pipe, and has a characteristic gesture of laying his finger along the side of his nose. 6/
December 24, 2024 at 11:36 AM
...St Nicholas' importance to New York, and depicts his visits at his saint's day, no longer riding a hose, but a horse-drawn wagon -- though he still rides on treetops and rooftops. He also smokes a pipe, and has a characteristic gesture of laying his finger along the side of his nose. 6/
In 1770s New York, we hear of 'St. a Claus' bringing gifts to children on the Monday after his saint's day (6 December).
Dutch influence was strong there: St Nicholas was the patron saint of both Amsterdam and NYC. Washington Irving's satirical A History of New York (1809-1812) highlights... 5/
Dutch influence was strong there: St Nicholas was the patron saint of both Amsterdam and NYC. Washington Irving's satirical A History of New York (1809-1812) highlights... 5/
December 24, 2024 at 11:36 AM
In 1770s New York, we hear of 'St. a Claus' bringing gifts to children on the Monday after his saint's day (6 December).
Dutch influence was strong there: St Nicholas was the patron saint of both Amsterdam and NYC. Washington Irving's satirical A History of New York (1809-1812) highlights... 5/
Dutch influence was strong there: St Nicholas was the patron saint of both Amsterdam and NYC. Washington Irving's satirical A History of New York (1809-1812) highlights... 5/
So far St Nicholas was normally depicted as a Catholic bishop.
Dutch colonists brought this tradition to the eastern USA. Christmas, and a Catholic saint, didn't go down well in Puritan New England. But Christmas celebrations in 1700s Virginia and North Carolina could be impressive. 4/
Dutch colonists brought this tradition to the eastern USA. Christmas, and a Catholic saint, didn't go down well in Puritan New England. But Christmas celebrations in 1700s Virginia and North Carolina could be impressive. 4/
December 24, 2024 at 11:36 AM
So far St Nicholas was normally depicted as a Catholic bishop.
Dutch colonists brought this tradition to the eastern USA. Christmas, and a Catholic saint, didn't go down well in Puritan New England. But Christmas celebrations in 1700s Virginia and North Carolina could be impressive. 4/
Dutch colonists brought this tradition to the eastern USA. Christmas, and a Catholic saint, didn't go down well in Puritan New England. But Christmas celebrations in 1700s Virginia and North Carolina could be impressive. 4/
By the Early Modern period, folklore had sprung up around him in much of Europe. By the 1600s in the Netherlands, there was a tradition that he brought gifts to children on the eve of his saint's day (6 December), riding a miniature horse on rooftops and coming down the chimney. 2/
December 24, 2024 at 11:36 AM
By the Early Modern period, folklore had sprung up around him in much of Europe. By the 1600s in the Netherlands, there was a tradition that he brought gifts to children on the eve of his saint's day (6 December), riding a miniature horse on rooftops and coming down the chimney. 2/
The invention of Santa Claus in 1800s New York: a history.
St Nicholas was a Christian bishop who lived in Anatolia in the 200s-300s. Historically he's best known for his involvement in the Council of Nicaea in 325, and for an incident there where he punched the heretic Arius in the face. 1/
St Nicholas was a Christian bishop who lived in Anatolia in the 200s-300s. Historically he's best known for his involvement in the Council of Nicaea in 325, and for an incident there where he punched the heretic Arius in the face. 1/
December 24, 2024 at 11:36 AM
The invention of Santa Claus in 1800s New York: a history.
St Nicholas was a Christian bishop who lived in Anatolia in the 200s-300s. Historically he's best known for his involvement in the Council of Nicaea in 325, and for an incident there where he punched the heretic Arius in the face. 1/
St Nicholas was a Christian bishop who lived in Anatolia in the 200s-300s. Historically he's best known for his involvement in the Council of Nicaea in 325, and for an incident there where he punched the heretic Arius in the face. 1/
The Christmas market at the Munich Residenz is looking nice, and the air smells of sugar. (Though I must say the Feuerzangenbowle is better at the medieval market - here it isn't even on fire)
December 18, 2024 at 1:07 PM
The Christmas market at the Munich Residenz is looking nice, and the air smells of sugar. (Though I must say the Feuerzangenbowle is better at the medieval market - here it isn't even on fire)