03-17-2012, 12:23 PM
The fault lies not in the stars, but in you and me,
it seems we both with the bard do agree!
I would think it common assumption as it was capped. Had I used the "sylva" varient, I think most would recognize it for wood, and deduct that it was used as forest, but it would not be a correct usage, as that would change the name.
If you do a search on "Hercynian Silva" there are a number of articles about that forest, one of the most prominent features being it's denseness, "The impenetrable nature of the Hercynian Silva hindered the last concerted Roman foray into the forest...". "Hercynian" is probably derived from the word "oak", as there are cognates in both the Greek and the Old Celt, although it can also be related to mountains or mountainous. So if we trace it back to it's PIE (proto-indo european) meaning it probably translates as something like "mountainous oak forest". I think it holds a place in most Westerners consciousness, as it is the setting of many fairy tales such as "Hansel and Gretel", and "Little Red Ridding Hood". Just about any description of a "dark" forest (think Tolkien) in fantasy stories is based on past descriptions of "Hercynian Silva", which in a greatly reduced state became the "Black Forest", or "black-wood" (Schwarzwald). "Black" denoting the denseness of the forest, which let little light in, making the forest appear "dark", even during the day. I suspect the opening scene in "Christabel" derives from it's description. Certainly if one were going to look for old growth Oak trees, the Black Forest is where one would go.
Dale
it seems we both with the bard do agree!
I would think it common assumption as it was capped. Had I used the "sylva" varient, I think most would recognize it for wood, and deduct that it was used as forest, but it would not be a correct usage, as that would change the name.
If you do a search on "Hercynian Silva" there are a number of articles about that forest, one of the most prominent features being it's denseness, "The impenetrable nature of the Hercynian Silva hindered the last concerted Roman foray into the forest...". "Hercynian" is probably derived from the word "oak", as there are cognates in both the Greek and the Old Celt, although it can also be related to mountains or mountainous. So if we trace it back to it's PIE (proto-indo european) meaning it probably translates as something like "mountainous oak forest". I think it holds a place in most Westerners consciousness, as it is the setting of many fairy tales such as "Hansel and Gretel", and "Little Red Ridding Hood". Just about any description of a "dark" forest (think Tolkien) in fantasy stories is based on past descriptions of "Hercynian Silva", which in a greatly reduced state became the "Black Forest", or "black-wood" (Schwarzwald). "Black" denoting the denseness of the forest, which let little light in, making the forest appear "dark", even during the day. I suspect the opening scene in "Christabel" derives from it's description. Certainly if one were going to look for old growth Oak trees, the Black Forest is where one would go.
Dale
How long after picking up the brush, the first masterpiece?
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.