[CALIBK12] significance of butterflies

[Jill Detweiler]

Hi,

Everyday it seems I am confronted by some obscure (to me) and interesting
question like this from a teacher or student.

I  have found more references to butterflies in culture than in history per
se, but I would try digging more into lepidoptery searches. Maybe try the
Journal of the Lepidopterists Society if you have access (I don¹t), or even
contacting some enthusiastic subject matter experts in lepidoptery if the
teacher is serious about  digging something up.

I found this, which was new information to me:
"Butterfly" in other languages:
PSYCHE -  ancient Greek
Also meant "soul", and "breath" (now "mind", of course). Note that the human
Psyche was lovers with the god Eros (at least until she did the forbidden,
gazing on his sleeping form, invisible save by the oil lamp she lit);
compare the sexual butterfly images in Nabokov's _Ada_.

There may also be a connection, based on shape, of butterflies with the
Minoan labrys, or double axe of the Labyrinth.
(found http://www.insects.org/ced4/etymology.html)

Good Luck with that question!
Jill

-- 
Jill Detweiler Clemens
Windrush School Library
1800 Elm Street 
El Cerrito, CA 94530
510-970-7580 ext. 208
jdetweiler at windrush.org



On 1/10/08 12:53 PM, "ladysnflwr at aol.com" <ladysnflwr at aol.com> wrote:

> My dear research experts,
> 
> I have a teacher who is trying to discover "the significance of butterflies
> throughout history."   For example, she thinks that if butterflies were
> sighted by explorers, possibly land was near.  She wants to know how to go
> about finding a source.  She hasn't had any luck on the Internet. So  if any
> of you know of a resource,  or if you know how or where we can look (other
> than universities) please let me know.
> 
> Thanks,
> Leslie Caldarera, Teacher Librarian
> Edison Middle School, LAUSD
> 
> 
> 
> More new features than ever.  Check out the new AOL Mail
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