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<pre wrap="">James Wynn-
So...we agree that he's is the god of the "vine", not just grape vines.
I do not believe specific species of vines mattered to Wolfe for this
association one little bit.</pre>
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Andrew Mason-
I find that most improbable. The title 'god of the vine' is a
translation of Greek and Latin phrases which referred to the grape
vine. Dionysus was the god of wine and of grapes and so of the plant
from which they come, the vine, in the historic sense of that term. He
is not the god of climbing plants generally. [snip]
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<br>
You know, these objections *might* possibly carry more weight with
me if BEFORE I read The Book of the Short Sun, I had NOT noted that
Quetzal tracked nicely with Dionysus and argued that the word
"inhuma" was probably chosen for the semantical association between
the bird called variously "inhuma", "unicorn bird", and "horned
screamer" with the horned god known as the Screamer. <br>
<br>
As it is, I then took up the Book of the Short Sun and discovered
that inhumi are associated with vines and they are possessed by a
spirit when they feed on blood and the text is packed with overt
Dionysian references. So, frankly, balking at "gosh, you know those
lianas are not really *grape* vines, you know" is sorta silly.
Especially since "liana" is a term that can be applied to ANY
climbing plant including grape vines. <b>It's called an allusion.
Human's are the grapes of this Dionysus.</b> <br>
<br>
An alzabo is really a hyena, but that didn't stop Wolfe from
borrowing the name from animal said to dig up graves and sob with a
human-like voice. It's like complaining that Pas was "killed" by the
other gods while Zeus was only bound to a chair. So what?<br>
<br>
u+16b9<br>
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