James.G wrote:
> Hi.
> I've been studying Arabic for a little over a year now, and I'm
enjoying it
> immensely.
>
> I have a tattoo of a dragon and a phoenix, and I was hoping someone
out
> there could tell me if there is an Arabic translation for Phoenix - I
have
> Dragon already - as I wish to have both words tattooed next to their
> respective images.
>
> I tried using a translation website, but when I showed my tutor the
results,
> ???????
I can't read it but I'll guess you have 3anqa:'
>
> she said the word only implied a creature with a long neck, such as a
as an adjective that's what it means, "long necked".
> giraffe. However, my Elias dictionary translates this as Griffon.
The
so does Wehr, but Enc. of Islam II "Anka" says that the `Anqa:' was
identified with the greek Phoenix and the ancient greeks had identified
their mythical bird with Arabia. al-Mawrid dictionary uses `Anqa:' as a
translation of phoenixs and I have heard the equivalence myself used in
connection with describing modern heraldry. acc. to EI2 the medieval
descriptions of the bird were based on herons, not raptor like as
griffons are. it's not impossible though that say modern arab museums
call ancient mesopotamian griffons "3anqa:'" . al-mawrid gives
*gh*ari:f (a trascription or arabization)for "griffon" but I don't know
if this is traditional, european lore was less known to medieval arabs.
> Elias dictionary also mentions what I take to be Ta'ir Maj'hul
(unknown
> bird?), but I was hoping for something a little more specific.
>
> Any help would be much appreciated.
>
>
> James Galloway
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