A third use is in circumstances where a person has gone too far in avoiding one extreme and has tumbled into its opposite. The name Silas may also be a Hellenized version of any of the many names that had to do with highways and highway making. In this context Erasmus quoted another line that had become proverbial, incidit in Scyllam cupins vtre Charybdem (into Scylla he fell, wishing to avoid Charybdis). There had famously been no place for Jesus at the inn (Luke 2:7), but the rise of the Word in Human Flesh had always been a global affair (John 21:25), and despite the attempts of evil men to stump out the knowledge of the ancients, the ancients deposited their vast knowledge safely in the manger of its most cherished texts: Beside the basic structure of the atom as depicted by Luke in the Book of Acts, the ancients knew about the fractal nature of creation, the vastness of space and the standard model of elementary particles (see our article on the noun , aster, star). Silas is the No. Literally nobody in the original audience of Luke would have missed this drum-roll pun. [10][23] (Compare Bona Dea for a Roman deity from whose worship men were excluded.) Many of these saints have even died as martyrs for their dedication. Ala 2 f African Mythology [4] According to Iraqi historian, Mahmud Shukri al-Alusi, Arabs refer to si'lats as women who are said to be slim, witty, powerful and accused of being unloyal seductresses. A wise man would rather be envied than miserable. Byron concludes that although we dont know what happened to the python-girl, her story can motivate us to help others who are still being exploited. As noted above, Silas can be regarded (and usually is) as short for Silvanus, and Silvanus comes from the Latin noun silva, meaning forest or woodland (the suffix -anus means "from" or "of the"). The Latin words for she-wolf, lupa, and wolf, lupus, relate to the verb (lupe), meaning sorrow. Still searching for the perfect baby name? Greek mythology, and its ancient stories of gods, goddesses, heroes and monsters, is one of the oldest and most influential groups of legends in human civilization. And fools will not wander on it" (Isaiah 35:8). The Second Epistle to the Corinthians mentions Silas as having preached with Paul and Timothy to the church in Corinth (1:19), and the First Epistle of Peter describes Silas as a "faithful brother" (5:12). We'll get into the details below. Your email address will not be published. Luke again switches to a first person narration in Acts 20:5 to 21:18 and again from 27:1 to 28:16, but the point is made that Luke inserts his own character ostensibly at the start of the Paul & Silas cycle. Its important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best. [3], Because of such stories, the bad result of having to navigate between the two hazards eventually entered proverbial use. It's important to select a name that you feel suits . The two pillars of the gentile church are Paul and Peter, and both these men obtained their names through a dramatic name-change. The other Barsabbas mentioned in Acts is Joseph Barsabbas, who rivaled Matthias as candidate to replace Judas Iscariot. Stanisaw Lem adopted these characters in his 1957 non-fiction, philosophical book, Dialogi (Dialogues). Sila (mythology) Sila ( Arabic: alternatively spelled Si'la or called Si'lat literally: "Hag" or "treacherous spirits of invariable form" pl. As an English name it was not used until after the Protestant Reformation. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. A little forest was known as silvula.The adjective silvestris or silvester means wooded or overgrown with forests, or simply denoted anything growing wild and uncultivated; hence the names Silvester . A change of name is an important element in the narrative of the Torah, and marks the patriarch cycle: both arch-parents Abraham and Sarah attained the names of their fame through a dramatic name-change (see our article on the verb , gamos, to marry), and their grandson Jacob had his name changed to Israel, after "wrestling" with the angel of YHWH. Doppleganger mythology exists in our world too. [16], In the provinces outside of Italy, Silvanus was identified with numerous native gods:[17], The Slavic god Porewit has similarities with Silvanus. The name Saul, and thus possibly the name Silas, comes from the verb (sha'al) meaning to ask, inquire, borrow, beg: The verb (sha'al) means to ask. And of course: "A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God" (Isaiah 40:3. The name has also been used in literature, with Silas Marner being a famous novel by George Eliot. In this context, the name is derived from , the classical Greek word for "matter." its internal complexity). Comments Off on Orthodox Saint Silas History and Name Day Information. Byron notes that the slave girl in the story is not named; rather, she is known by her ability to tell the future: We are never told the slave-girls name, only that she has a gift for fortune-telling. It mostly refers to wood, since wood was a primary building material (and our noun derives from a PIE root for wood). Silas (Latin) - "Woods" or "forest" Rare Boy Names From Mythology Abraxas (Greek name) - "Supreme deity" Achelous (Greek) - "Shape-shifting river god" or the "Greek god and personification of the Achelous River" Atlas (Greek) - Mythical Titan and the strongest Greek god who had to carry the world on his shoulders Silas is often said to be derived from "Silvanus," who was the Roman god of the countryside. Family Tree Details. "[6] Erasmus too had associated the proverb about choosing the lesser of two evils, as well as Walter of Chtillons line, with the Classical adage. They were in great detail aware of the mammalian reproductive cycle plus nucleic DNA and all that (see our article on Stephen). Scylla and Charybdis were mythical sea monsters noted by Homer; Greek mythology sited them on opposite sides of the Strait of Messina between Sicily and Calabria, on the Italian mainland. Saul, Paul's old name, or perhaps a.k.a. As noted above, Silas can be regarded (and usually is) as short for Silvanus, and Silvanus comes from the Latin noun silva, meaning forest or woodland (the suffix -anus means "from" or "of the"). Demigods were the offspring of a deity and mortal, half-gods, who were invariably renowned for their courage, leadership and great strength. Acts 16:1624 is full of violence and exploitation. They knew about relativity theory (see our article on the verb , nahar, to shine or flow). Something comparable happens with the Hebrew name (Yehudah), or Judah, which became transliterated into Greek as (Iouda), but also attained its own Greek version, namely as (Ioudas) or Judas. He is consistently called "Silas" in Acts, but the Latin Silvanus, which means "of the forest," is always used by Paul and in the First Epistle of Peter; it is likely that "Silvanus" is the Romanized version of the original "Silas," or that "Silas" is the Greek nickname for "Silvanus." Biblical Views: Paul, the Python Girl, and Human Trafficking/strong>. Peter's original name was Simon, and while at the house of his deliberate namesake Simon (a , burseus, skinner) at Joppa (Acts 9:43), he saw the vision of the Great Sheet, that clearly embodied the principle of Passover, and that directly inspired Peter to go see to Cornelius. Written by Greek Boston in Greek Orthodox Religious Information [10] These references to Silvanus as an aspect of Mars combined with his association with forests and glades, give context to the worship of Silvanus as the giver of the art (techne) of forest warfare. [1][2][3] The Latin name "Silvanus" may be derived from pre-Roman Italian languages. 14. Anne Catherine Emmerich recounts in her visions that Silas' original name was Sela, and that he was one of the three "secret disciples," along with Hermas, who had later accompanied Jesus on his trip to the Three Kings' homeland near Ur, and thence to Heliopolis, and whose parents had come with the caravan of the Three Kings.[7]. Somewhat similar to the story of Saul of Tarsus and Sergius Paulus of Roman Cyprus, the historian Josephus (Joseph son of Matiyahu, or Matthias), assumed the name of his Roman host, the emperor Vespasian, whose son Titus had sacked Jerusalem in 70 AD. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Based on the episode from Acts 16 in the Bible, the painting dates to c. 1860 and appears outside the Basilica of St. Paul in Rome. [3][14] Later speculators even identified Silvanus with Pan, Faunus, Inuus and Aegipan. They were regarded as maritime hazards located close enough to each other that they posed an inescapable threat to passing sailors; avoiding Charybdis meant passing too close to Scylla and vice versa. [citation needed], Accordingly, Si'lat are said to live in the desolate parts of the desert where they lead travellers and nomads astray, leading them to their deaths. (From Acts 16:19-22). Heres more information about Saint David: Silas is one of those Apostles who was around in the early days of the Christian church. Demigods in Greek Mythology. His abduction by water nymphs was a theme of ancient art, and has been an enduring subject for Western art in the classical tradition. The difficult noun (she'ol) refers primarily to the grave and by extension to death and decomposition. They treat her as a Queen because of her great beauty. If you're looking for an equally cool and strong name for your baby boy, you can't go wrong with Silas. That the dilemma had still to be resolved in the aftermath of the revolution is suggested by Percy Bysshe Shelley's returning to the idiom in his 1820 essay A Defence of Poetry: "The rich have become richer, and the poor have become poorer; and the vessel of the state is driven between the Scylla and Charybdis of anarchy and despotism. Saint Silas is celebrated in the Calendar of Saints of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and that of the Episcopal Church (United States) with a Lesser Feast[8] on January 26 with Timothy and Titus, and separately on July 13 by the Roman Catholic Church and February 10 by the Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod. "The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms" by Christine Ammer. After Paul casts the spirit of python out of her, we are told that she loses this ability. Antoninus Liberalis says that the nymphs changed him into an echo which again and again echoed back the cries of Heracles.[5]. Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. He was definitely a respected figure there. They were later localized in the Strait of Messina. He is often depicted as a bearded man with a shield full of hail-stones. The Greeks had mixed feelings about Ares, approving of his bravery and courage but wary of his brutality. Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: Encyclopedia Britannica. Sa'aali adj: su'luwwa) is a supernatural creature assigned to the jinn or ghouls in Arabian [1] folklore. He represented the distasteful aspects of brutal warfare and slaughter. Siren s were creatures from Greek mythology that enticed sailors to their destruction with their irresistibly beautiful singing. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks that way. Silas Was Imprisoned With Paul (Acts 16:16-39) A most obvious discussion of this root and its methods and effects is found in the New Testament, as the various accounts of the miraculous "feeding of the multitude.". In Greek mythology, Silas was a god of trees and forests. Silas is first mentioned in Acts 15:22, where he and Judas Barsabbas (known often as 'Judas') were selected by the church elders to return with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch following the Jerusalem Council. [21], The sacrifices offered to Silvanus consisted of grapes, ears of grain, milk, meat, wine and pigs. His 'wyld woodgods' (Stanza 9) save the lost and frightened Lady Una from being molested by Sans loy and take her to him. Expand Links. Simon was named after Simeon, one of the twelve patriarchs of Israel. The latter died of grief, and was metamorphosed into a cypress.[30][31][32]. The verb (sela) is only used in the imperative form, and as a musical term that commands people not simply to rise up but to settle their verbal expressions into a harmonious whole. Other Languages & Cultures Silvanus ( Ancient Roman) Silas, Silvanus ( Biblical) Silas, Silouanos ( Biblical Greek) Silas, Silvanus ( Biblical Latin) Silvijo ( Croatian) Silas ( Danish) Sylvain ( French) Silas ( German) Silvan ( German (Swiss)) Silas ( Greek) Silvano . He is considered to be one of the Seventy Apostles. Located in eastern Greece, the city of Philippi was the setting of the meeting of Paul and the slave girl, possessed with a spirit of python, in the Bible. Midas was a mythical king of Phrygia in Asia Minor who was famous for his extraordinary ability to change anything he touched into gold. Many of the ancient gods, like Zeus, had children as a result of their romantic involvement with mortals. And every wood, and every valley wyde Silvanus or Apollo according to other versions[28][29] was in love with Cyparissus, and once by accident killed a pet hind belonging to Cyparissus. As we discuss more elaborately on our article on the noun (hodos), meaning way (hence the term Ex-Hodos or Exodus, meaning Way Out), the followers of Christ were known as the People of the Way (Acts 9:2, 19:9, 19:23, 22:4, 24:14, 24:22), in obvious resonance of Jesus' declaration that he was the Way (John 14:6), and Isaiah's prophesies: The verb (salal) primarily means to cast or heap up, and is mostly used in relation to building highways. Fictional character in Greek mythology; young companion to Heracles, This article is about the Greek mythological figure. Therefore, it is considered to be a great honor to be named after on of these saints. The troubling elements in this passage can serve as a caution today. The Greek rendering of this name, namely (pascha), looks like an offshoot of the verb (pascho), to experience. It has been suggested that Silas is the Greek version of the Aramaic "Seila," a version of the Hebrew "Saul". The name and its variations have also popped up on the big and small screens. Sila (Arabic: alternatively spelled Si'la or called Si'lat literally: "Hag" or "treacherous spirits of invariable form" pl. He traveled with Saint Paul and Saint Barnabas to Jerusalem to spread the news that Christ is the Messiah. By the time of Nicholas Monsarrat's 1951 war novel, The Cruel Sea, however, the upper-class junior officer, Morell, is teased by his middle-class peer, Lockhart, for using such a phrase. [2][6][22][23][24] In Cato's De Agricultura an offering to Mars Silvanus is described, to ensure the health of cattle; it is stated there that his connection with agriculture referred to only the labour performed by men, and that females were excluded from his worship. Joseph is the name of the only full-blooded brother of Benjamin (their mother was Rachel, the most loved wife of Jacob), and Israel's first royal, (albeit a viceroy, albeit over Egypt), as well as the father-by-law of Jesus, who, ostensibly like his ancient namesake, was an accomplished oneirocritic (see , onar, dream), who likewise survived in Egypt (Matthew 2:15). Silas, along with Paul and Timothy, is considered to be one of the coauthors of the Book of Ecclesiastics in the Bible. Hence Silvani were often referred to in the plural. Paul refers to him as Silvanus in his epistles, though it is possible that Silas was in fact a Greek form of the Hebrew name Saul (via Aramaic). When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe. The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. It is a cognate of Silvanus. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. In the words of Luke: "The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom" (Luke 2:40), and "Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52). Social Security Administration. His disappearance greatly upset Heracles, who, along with Polyphemus, searched for him for a great length of time. FREE ebook: Paul: Jewish Law and Early Christianity. The poet Theocritus (about 300 BC) wrote about the love between Heracles and . Our Latin noun stems from a Proto-Indo-European root "swel-", meaning both wood in the sense of forest, and wood the material. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour. Her owners exploit her fortune-telling ability. Several other idioms, such as "on the horns of a dilemma", "between the devil and the deep blue sea", and "between a rock and a hard place" express similar meanings.The mythical situation also developed a proverbial use in which . The temple for Apollo, set up at Delphi, housed an oracle possessed with the spirit of the god and able to see the future. OrthodoxWiki Apostle Silas (Also Source for Photo Credit for Image Above), Categorized in: Greek Orthodox Religious Information, on Orthodox Saint Silas History and Name Day Information, Orthodox Saint Pelagia History and Name Day Information, Getting to Know the Altar in a Greek Orthodox Church, Orthodox Saint Pachomius History and Name Day Information, St. Mariana Orthodox Saint History and Name Day Information. [14] Nevertheless, the idiom has since taken on new life in pop lyrics. The apostle Peter too mentions Silvanus as having helped him write his first letter. According to Greek mythology, Apollo killed the massive snake Python at Delphi. [1] Several other idioms, such as "on the horns of a dilemma", "between the devil and the deep blue sea", and "between a rock and a hard place" express similar meanings. The Olympian goddess is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, twin sister of Apollo and queen of the mountains, forests and hunting. After Heracles killed Theiodamas in battle, he took on Hylas as his arms-bearer and taught him to be a warrior. Erasmus recorded it in his Adagia (1515) under the Latin form of evitata Charybdi in Scyllam incidi (having escaped Charybdis I fell into Scylla) and also provided a Greek equivalent. Being between Scylla and Charybdis is an idiom deriving from Greek mythology, which has been associated with the proverbial advice "to choose the lesser of two evils". Pauls dual roles as a Christian missionary and a Pharisee. This verb (or an identical other) is also used to describe the heaping up of gold bits in order to weigh them against a standard weight. Byron draws parallels between the story of the python-girl and those trapped in modern-day slavery: The slave-girls situation is not all that different from those trapped in the modern slave trade, exploited by what they have, quite often their bodies. "[7] Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable also treated the English proverb as an established equivalent of the allusion to falling from Scylla into Charybdis. For a while Paul & Barnabas and Silas & Barsabbas stick together (perhaps in some vague way somewhat resembling the four rivers of Eden; compare Genesis 2:10 with Exodus 27:2 and 20:24) but then break up. Paul, the Python Girl, and Human Trafficking,, Paul, the Python Girl, and Human Trafficking. [4] Acts 16:25-37. Subsequently, certain particles distinguished themselves from the herd by being receptive to the strong force (these particles, known as quarks, went on to build atomic nuclei, which store the vast majority of mass and data in the universe), whereas others distinguished themselves by being receptive to the electro-weak force (among which leptons, from which came the electrons that allow nuclei to support a soul and bind with other nuclei and form molecules; Genesis 2:7 and 2:22). (1 Samuel 8:7-8). Victor Hugo uses the equivalent French idiom (tomber de Charybde en Scylla) in his novel Les Misrables (1862), again in a political context, as a metaphor for the staging of two rebel barricades during the climactic uprising in Paris, around which the final events of the book culminate.