derivatio nominis

[Dijkstra, K.D.B.]

Odonata - http://www.listbot.com/cgi-bin/subscriber

Dear Constantino and others,

Fliedner (1997, Die Bedeutung der wissenschaftlichen Namen europäischer
Libellen - Libellula Supplement 1) explains the names of all European
dragonflies. He also discusses the origin of the popular suffix "-themis".
It is introduced by Hagen in 1861 (see Mr. D'Antonio's list). The Greek word
itself means as much as "what has been established", which could be
interpreted as "rule" or "law" or in our case "category". "Themis" is also
the name of the goddess of order and justice. On the other hand, Hagen based
three of his names (Orthemis, Plathemis and Lepthemis) on Newman's existing
names Orthetrum, Platetrum and Leptetrum. If he had wanted to replace the
suffix "-etrum" by "-themis" correctly, it should have become Orthothemis
etc. Coincidentally Newman's three names all have a "t" at the end of the
prefix. So the "t" in "themis" could be an artifact in a suffix that was
supposed to be "-hemis" (perhaps derived from the Greek word for half?) or
"-emis". Perhaps Hagen merely made up a nice suffix that gave some
indication of relationship between the genera carrying it. However it be,
the suffix has come to lead a life of its own. The attached prefixes have
never had a meaningful relation with their suffix and have had all sorts of
origins. Brachythemis is short-bodied, Tetrathemis has a four-sided
discoidal cell and Crocothemis has saffron-coloured marks in its wings. In
all these examples "-themis" is nothing more than a label. Suffixes leading
lives of their own, regardless of their original meaning, are as abundant in
odonatology as they are throughout taxonomy. Take for instance "-cnemis"
(from the word for shin, introduced for the broad-shinned Platycnemis) or
"-gomphus" (pin, nail or wedge). Such suffixes are extremely useful as they
give us some idea of what we're talking about, although the erection of
"another libelluloid ending on themis"  does lose its charm after a while
(but it would almost be rebellious not to call a new gomphid
Somethingorothergomphus).

Best wishes, KD Dijkstra

	-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
	Van:	Costantino D'Antonio [SMTP:cosdan@tin.it]
	Verzonden:	woensdag 3 november 1999 7:31
	Aan:	dragonflies@listbot.com
	Onderwerp:	derivatio nominis

	Odonata - http://www.listbot.com/cgi-bin/subscriber

	Celithemis Hagen, 1861 
	Dythemis Hagen, 1861 
	Erythemis Hagen, 1861 
	Orthemis Hagen, 1861 
	Perithemis Hagen, 1861 
	Neurothemis Brauer, 1867 
	Rhyothemis Hagen, 1867 
	Brachythemis Brauer, 1868 
	Crocothemis Brauer, 1868 
	Lyriothemis Brauer, 1868 
	Macrothemis Hagen, 1868 
	Nannothemis Brauer, 1868 
	Onychothemis Brauer, 1868 
	Tetrathemis Brauer, 1868 
	Trithemis Brauer, 1868 
	Urothemis Brauer, 1868 
	Synthemis Selys-Longchamps, 1870 
	Orchithemis Brauer, 1878 
	Antidythemis Kirby, 1889 
	Dasythemis Karsch, 1889 
	Hypothemis Karsch, 1889 
	Neodythemis Karsch, 1889 
	Protorthemis Kirby, 1889 
	Pseudothemis Kirby, 1889 
	Thermothemis Kirby, 1889 
	Paltothemis Karsch, 1890 
	Pentathemis Karsch, 1890 
	Amphithemis Selys-Longchamps, 1891 
	Hadrothemis Karsch, 1891 
	Selysiothemis Ris, 1897 
	Pornothemis Kruger, 1902 
	Eusynthemis Forster, 1903 
	Aethiothemis Martin, 1908 
	Argyrothemis Ris, 1909 
	Austrothemis Ris, 1909 
	Celebothemis Ris, 1909 
	Eothemis Ris, 1909 
	Gynothemis Calvert, 1909 
	Hylaeothemis Ris, 1909 
	Indothemis Ris, 1909 
	Oxythemis Ris, 1909 
	Rhodothemis Ris, 1909 
	Thalassothemis Ris, 1909 
	Choristhemis Tillyard, 1910 
	Eleuthemis Ris, 1910 
	Cyanothemis Ris, 1915 
	Notiothemis Ris, 1919 
	Palaeothemis Fraser, 1923 
	Chalybeothemis Lieftinck, 1933 
	Phyllothemis Fraser, 1935 
	Pacificothemis Asahina, 1940 
	Ypirangathemis Dias dos Santos, 1945 
	Monardithemis Longfield, 1947 
	Tapeinothemis Lieftinck, 1950 
	Boninthemis Asahina, 1952 
	Congothemis Fraser, 1953 
	Anectothemis Fraser, 1954 
	Porpacithemis Fraser, 1954 
	Epithemis Laidlaw, 1955 
	Nesciothemis Longfield, 1955 
	Viridithemis Fraser, 1960 
	Elasmothemis Westfall, 1988 

	But what's means -themis? Where does it derive from?

	Costantino D'Antonio
	Via A. Falcone, 386/b
	I-80127 Napoli


	
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