Though perhaps not as significant as yesterday’s exegetical insight, I put myself to the task of translating Jacob’s tapestry from last night’s lost (that pause button is wonderful, isn’t it!).
So here goes. First I transcribed it into miniscules:
θεοι τοσα δοιεν οσα φρεσι σησι μενοινας
So it’s two clauses:
θεοι τοσα δοιεν
οσα φρεσι σησι μενοινας
The latter clause is a relative clause, with μενοινας as the main verb. It’s a standard progressive active indicative, 3nd singular from μενοινάω, “to desire eagerly, be bent on a thing” according to Middle Liddell. The adjective σησι is just a possessive, with φρεσι as its head noun. So the phrase is something like “whatever/as much as you desire for your heart.”
Now to the main clause. δοιεν took me awhile because it’s an optative (not used to those in the NT). But the root δο is your clue, and it’s listed in Great Scott: Aor. act opt. 3rd plural from διδωμι. I think τοσα is nueter plural, the antecedent of οσα.
So here is my translation
May the gods give [to you] as many things as you desire for you heart.
Or more idiomatically (removing the repetitive relative pronoun and treating the dative of advantage as idiomatic):
May the gods give to you all your heart’s desire.
Or you could just search on the transliteration in the Perseus Project (I assumed it was a quote from something). It’s from Homer, Od. 6.180. Here.
Update: The bottom line, by the way, is the following
θεοι δε τοι ολβια δοιεν
This one is much easier. ὄλβιος, α, ον, used substantively here, means “blessing,” or “riches”. This line is actually listed in Middle Liddell as an example, and is also from the Odyssey. So the translation:
And may the gods give you riches/blessing.
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I think this is significant. I am now convinced that Jacob is the good force on the island, locked in a battle with Mr. Black Shirt/"Locke." The outcome of this battle will be not only the fate of the island, but that of the world. I think "white shirt" Jacob is the one who has tried to bring blessing and fruitfulness to the island (from himself, or from the "gods"?), but he has been thwarted by Black Shirt. I shouldn't have been so surprised that Locke turned out to not be Locke
I was totally surprised by Locke not being Locke, but yeah, now that I know it all fits.
I was very impressed with this episode. Just the artistry and planning required was phenomenal, especially when you consider that it is basically a two hour explanation of what happens in the first 3 minutes, but you don't know that's what's going on until the last 3!
I said, "I am NOW convinced that Jacob is the good force…"
And IntenseDebate's screwed up login procedure lost the rest of my comment.
Continued…"I shouldn't have been so surprised that Locke turned out to be not Locke because for some time they've had characters emphasize that to be dead is forever, and that resurrection is the one miracle no one had ever seen the island do before.
Also, wasn't it great that we first see Jacob eating a red herring. Turns out, we've all been eating one the entire second half of this season: that Locke was back from the dead.
Back to your translated Homer quote. On Jacob's tapestry, we see the sun god bestowing blessings on the people. Below that, there are images of plenty and harvest. I think this was Jacob's mission: to bring healing and fruitfulness through the island to the world. But whoever Black Shirt is, he was thwarting that, bringing death and infertility.
The big question for next season is: who are "they"? Jacob's last words are "They are coming." I think it is the Oceanic 6. It is their destiny to fulfill Jacob's mission, defeat Black Shirt, and avert the destruction of the world predicted in the Valenzetti Equation (the Numbers).
Oops, sorry. Yes, I think you are right. The tapestry furthers the "positive vibes" you get from Jacob, as opposed to the negative ones from Black shirt (good name, by the way).
And yes, I too think the Oceanic 6 are the "they". And whether by changing the past or creating it (that is, whether the bomb causes the incident, or miraculously prevents it), that it is their destiny to fulfill the purpose of the Island (and/or Jacob). Though Jack thinks he is undoing everything, I think his purpose is bigger. As we all know, eschatological stories are better than cyclical ones.
Ooooh. I think I'm right about that little "eschatological" bit. Jacob does Black Shirt that there is only One End, and everything else is just getting there. Or something like that. Jacob is the eschatologist, Black Shirt the Greek cyclicist.
On a seperate note, I have been getting frustrated with IntenseDebate of late. Thinking of switching to Disqus. How do you like the latter?
On a separate note, I have been getting frustrated with IntenseDebate of late. Thinking of switching to Disqus. How do you like the latter?
Added an update. Translated the middle line as well, which is much easier.
Well, I think it's more like: Gods (do) give whatever your heart desires. I don't think its a wish, because in Homer no wish is expressed through the next two words.Despite that, I might be wrong. Forgive for the terrible english, I m Greek.
Oh fun! An exegetical discussion!
If it is not a wish, then what is the force of the optative?
I prefer Esau to blackshirt. I think he is probably another manifestation of smoke monster/Cerebrus or smoke monster is his guardian or something to that effect. That explainsvwhy he took form of Christian Shepherd and also why he told Ben to follow Locke/Esau. Season 5 was beat yet in my estimation
Good points, and I agree that whoever this is he has been leading people astray through Christian, etc (seems he can take on the form of those who have died on the Island…), and probably in cahoots with the monster as well.
Lostpedia says that he was cast as "Samuel" . http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Jacob's_enem…
That's my point. I don't think it;s optative, since the next word in Homer is ''ανδρα'' (accusative) and not ''ανερ'' (I think the english word is vocative, I m not sure if I m using it right, it's when you call someone like: Don't do this, man! The word ''man'' is in vocative.) Anyway, I don't think it's really important staff!
On second thought, the verb is in optative, so I m a little bit confused…
Ok, my mistake. I Found what was wrong, but i can't translate it. It's too complex for my english. Sorry for all those comments. It was good though, I ve made some research!
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I think you've hit upon the point of the entire show
It's ancient Greek. I wouldn't be able to translate Old English. Or Modern Greek, for that matter. To each his own….