Re: Fiat Lux

On Fri, 22 Jun 2001, Christian Thalmann wrote:

>Matthew Kehrt wrote:
>>
>> Fiat lux = 'Let there be light' in Latin.
>> I am confused how this statement works.  Lux is obviously light, but
>> what is fiat?
>
>I've only had a mandatory two-year skid on the surface of Latin before
>dedicating myself to the scientific/mathematic class type, but I believe
>this particular structure is the subjunctive form of the verb esse "to
>be" in its optative function (which I'm quite fond of, note the optative
>mood in Obrenje).
>
>A more literal translation would be "That there may be light!".
>
That would be "Siat lux".

Padraic.

>-- Christian Thalmann

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