In our language there is stable expression, which are used unchanged for many years.For such turns of speech - historical facts and events of the past, even real people.These expressions are combinations of words that individually represent often quite different and have a different meaning.Such phraseology is called momentum.Sometimes they use proper names.Often in our speech are such momentum, "Pandora's Box", "Achilles heel" or "meal of Tantalus."Phraseologism value of this type can be understood only if you know the events that led to the expression.Most of these revolutions is taken from the ancient Greek culture.
Myths - source phraseology
In ancient Greek culture has accumulated a huge reservoir of myths and legends about the deeds of gods and heroes.They are the source of many centuries of stable expressions.One of them - "flour Tantalus."Phraseologism value becomes clear if you know the mythology.The ancient Greek gods lived on Mount Olympus.They had the same defects as people spent much time in feasting and merriment.At these meetings we invited sometimes death - the children of the gods and the common people.Such an honor has been awarded and the Phrygian king Tantalus.He was the son of Zeus and the nymph of Pluto, and the gods loved him, was often invited to Olympus and visited his luxurious palace.He was very rich and lived happily ever after.Why it is preserved only in the history of the term "flour Tintin"?Its importance becomes clear if you study the future fate of the king.Tantalum became arrogant, proud and committed several indecent acts for which he was punished by the gods.He was thrown into Tartarus, and subjected to terrible tortures.
What Tantalus was punished?
1. According to one version he was so proud that many people brag to his friendship with the gods, and even betrayed their secrets.
2. According to another view, Tantalum wanted to steal from Olympus ambrosia and divine nectar to give them to people.But since they are granted immortality, Zeus could not let that happen.
3. The most common version of the appearance of the phrase "Tantalus flour" - the murder of his son to them.Gods often dined with him at the palace.And once the king wanted to test vsevidenie gods and stabbed his son, he gave it to them for lunch dish of his meat.But the gods did not have it, they loved Pelops, so spice it up, and the most severely punished Tantalus.His banished to hell, that he suffering atone.
Torment of Tantalus
How then subjected to the tests a former favorite of the gods to Tartarus?He felt excruciating thirst, hunger and fear of creepy.Therefore idiom "flour Tantalus" is not much different from its initial value.Phrygian king stood up to his neck in the clear water, but was very thirsty.After all, when he wanted to drink, water is rapidly leave.Above his head hung Tantalus lot of ripe fruit, but he had a terrible famine.It cost him a helping hand, branches moved away from him.In addition, he was in constant fear because over his head hung a huge rock, is about ready to collapse.That's described in the myth of Tantalus flour.
value phraseologism today
penalty Phrygian king was so brutal and revealing that the story is instructive now.People find it very cruel torments of Tantalus.Meaning phraseologism in modern speech - a different experience or suffering due to the inability to achieve the cherished goal, and so close.So they say about a man who suffers cruel torture, endless suffering.Often, the expression "flour Tantalus" is used with a shortage of some vital things - for example, food or sleep.But sometimes the idiom used to refer to phenomena are not very important, but for a person with a great value.It seems that just to reach the goal, but it is impossible.The expression "tantalizing" can be used in a figurative sense to give a speech ironic sense.
Most phraseology, originating in ancient Greek mythology, used mainly in literature and journalism.No exception and the expression "flour of Tantalus."Meaning it is not clear to many people, in ordinary conversations, it is almost never used.But every cultural and educated person should know what it means.
