Re: CHAT: RPGs (was Re: Wargs)

"Grandsire, C.A." wrote:

> > The 'gam-' root in Greek is not sex-specific, as far as I remember.
> > For instance, gamete is the common word for egg and sperm.
>
>         Exactly. But strangely polygamous is used only to refer to a man with
> various wifes. Maybe it is because the examples of polygamy that are
> nearest to Europe are all polygyny (mostly in Mid-Eastern and African
> countries), and that the patriarchal character of Europe made polygyny
> more likely to be witnessed than polyandry when the word was coined.
I dunno.  FWIW, I remember reading about some Sumerian
reformer who, to clean up the town (Ur or Uruk, I can't remember
which), threatened to bash out any polyandrous woman's teeth
with a brick.  Apparently, it was a problem, or there wouldn't be a
law against it.

(I hereby apologize if any have just eaten!)

======================================
Tom Wier <artabanos@...>
ICQ#: 4315704   AIM: Deuterotom
Website: <http://www.angelfire.com/tx/eclectorium/>
"Cogito ergo sum, sed credo ergo ero."

Non cuicumque datum est habere nasum.
It is not given to just anyone to have a nose.
        -- Martial
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