[ilds] Query re 'Tunc'

[Bruce Redwine]

Richard,

Fascinating problem!  I ran a key-word search on naos.  My i-Book library of Durrell's oeuvre is not complete, but I find the word appearing only in Revolt (with numerous references).  I do not have The Greek Islands in electronic format.  The word might appear there, given the many descriptions of Greek ruins.  But Durrell does not use it in Sicilian Carousel, which also has many ruins.  So, let's assume LD used naos in one context.  That would argue for some special significance.  Naos is very interesting.  It is a technical term used frequently in archaeology, particularly Egyptology and Mediterranean archaeology, and has a specific referent.  It refers to the innermost part of a temple, the sanctum sanctorum, the holy of holies.

Bruce




On May 30, 2014, at 9:15 AM, Bruce Redwine <bredwine1968 at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Very good question.  But I can't answer — I haven't read Revolt!  I will say, however, that Durrell's allusions (or maybe symbols, in this case) are rarely, if ever, casual.  They are there for some very good reason.
> 
> Bruce
> 
> 
> 
> On May 30, 2014, at 2:51 AM, Richard Pine <rpinecorfu at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
>> For the past 45 years I have for some unimaginable reason overlooked the fact that in Tunc Hippolyta's country house is named 'Naos', which in classical Greek means 'temple' or 'dwelling of a god' and, in modern Greek, 'temple' or in current usage 'church'. Does anyone have any comment on the significance of this name in this context?
>> Richard Pine
>> 
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