18:59 Sep 16, 2017 |
French to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Archaeology / mirror assemblage | |||||
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| Selected response from: Nikki Scott-Despaigne Local time: 18:23 | ||||
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Summary of answers provided | ||||
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4 | paws grasping the disk of the mirror |
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3 | two tabs/attachments side by side... that grip the disc |
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Discussion entries: 2 | |
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deux pattes juxtaposées ... qui mordent le disque two tabs/attachments side by side... that grip the disc Explanation: Although "mordre" can mean to encroach upon, to overun a certain limit (e.g. "mordre la ligne centrale" when driving), I think that here there may be an idea of them holding, gripping something in place. I see you have considered that idea already. I suppose you either have attachments holding something in place or tabs extending beyond a particular edge to hold something in place. Do you have an illustration? -------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 day15 hrs (2017-09-18 10:10:35 GMT) -------------------------------------------------- Or if it is "mordre" in the sens of overunning a limit, then perhaps an idea of "overlapping onto the disc" may work. |
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paws grasping the disk of the mirror Explanation: The first question is, is the phrase "deux pattes juxtaposées" to be taken literally (i.e., two animal "paws") or figuratively (two tabs/elements)? I'm inclined to believe the former is the case --the Egyptians were so imaginative in their ability to impart "organic" elements to non-living entities, thus "animating" them in a remarkable fashion. Think of the (very frequently found) ANKH sign equipped with a pair of arms with hands, which allows it to interact in the world; or the ends of the rays emanating from the solar disk which terminate in little hands which caress the devotees of the Aton. I take "juxtaposée" to imply that the paws were symmetrically placed on each side of the disk --probably extending from the handle (which, note, appears to be lacking) -------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 day18 hrs (2017-09-18 13:39:49 GMT) -------------------------------------------------- As usual, B. does not venture a date for this exemplar, but here's a (surely much later) mirror from Greece which --interestingly enough-- has the disk being held in the paws of two griffins: http://tinyurl.com/yd9g2kro http://tinyurl.com/y9mupgsd The missing(?) handle on our #44061 might have been in something more perishable (like ivory) or more valuable (silver/gold), and might have been in the form of an animal or hybrid creature. Or the "tang" might have been much simpler in form http://tinyurl.com/ybps7nhw the "paws" being the only decoration (much as the "claw feet" are the only vestiges of an animal to be seen on a chair or table). Whichever might have been the case (and we really can't tell, without seeing the damned thing), I'd go for a literal translation of "pattes" as "paws," with "mordent" implying "gripping firmly" or "grasping." Clearly, a picture would be worth a thousand words --in any language. |
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