Finish Line of Solar Marathon

[Otter]

Yes, I think that is right. Latro is writing for nobody but himself, so his language really is perilously close to a private language.

=mantis=

You know, this translation of place names is a tricky business. Take for example, an excerpt from Mr. Wolfe's Weird Tales interview explaining Latro's translation of Athens into Thought:

“Latro calls Athens Thought because that’s what he thinks it means. As it turns out, he’s right. That is what it means, although his derivation of it is incorrect. He’s connecting Athens with athanatos, which anybody with a superficial knowledge of Greek would do – immortal. What’s immortal is thought…"

I don't, as yet, see how Latro makes a connection between thought and immortality, do you? Given Latro's condition, "thoughts" are anything but immortal (at least autobiographical memories)! The body dies, the thoughts stop. Perhaps Latro is thinking about some form of divine thought (as opposed to the fleeting thoughts of mortals)... he refers to Athens as "Deathless Thought" in the second sentence of Chapter 13. I wonder what immortal thoughts are? Is this just a link to the immortal Athene (mind)? Or to some deeper religious belief regarding the soul?

[mantis]

I don't, as yet, see how Latro makes a connection between thought and immortality, do you? Given Latro's condition, "thoughts" are anything but immortal (at least autobiographical memories)! The body dies, the thoughts stop.

But still, we have the thoughts of Xenophon, among others. Maybe "memes" or idea-products (thoughts) rather than idea-production (thinking)?

To be clear, "athanatos" is "a-" (not) plus "thanatos" (death). And Athene is a goddess of wisdom, presumably immortal, too.

Perhaps Latro is thinking about some form of divine thought (as opposed to the fleeting thoughts of mortals)... he refers to Athens as "Deathless Thought" in the second sentence of Chapter 13. I wonder what immortal thoughts are? Is this just a link to the immortal Athene (mind)? Or to some deeper religious belief regarding the soul?

On the mundane side there is also a sort of Ode to the Library, similar to the sort of thing that Ultan says to Severian.

=mantis=

[Otter]

Mantis,

That is an excellent disctintion between thought-as-product that is recorded in written text and passed down across the generations, versus thought-as-process that is tied to the mortality of the thinker. Athens is the birth-place of Western thought (e.g., philosophy, mathematics, politics, tragedy), and the Athenians pondered "universal" problems that transcend time.

All makes sense.

Well done, sir!

[Jack]

FWIW, to me "Tower Hill" sounds like a description of an acropolis, and it seems that ancient Corinth had one at its center.

=mantis=

I've been to Corinth and "Tower Hill" would be a good literal description. The acropolis of Corinth dwarfs the more famous one of Athens.

[Otter]

I've been to Corinth and "Tower Hill" would be a good literal description. The acropolis of Corinth dwarfs the more famous one of Athens.

Thanks for the input, Jack. I think we have hit upon the best explanation for Latro's translation of Korinthos. He could not translate the Pelasgian name, and so went with a literal description of the most prominent feature of the town, the towered hill of the Acrocorinth.