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What is the common bond between the Greek words "Phoenician" and "phoenix"?

Question #149680. Asked by BigTriviaDawg.
Last updated Aug 20 2023.
Originally posted Aug 20 2023 7:37 PM.

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psnz star
Answer has 3 votes
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psnz star
5 year member
1007 replies avatar

Answer has 3 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
They share the same etymological root.
The Greek word ["phoinix"] is first attested in the Mycenaean Greek po-ni-ke, which probably meant "griffin", though it might have meant "palm tree". That word is probably a borrowing from a West Semitic word for madder, a red dye made from Rubia tinctorum. The word Phoenician appears to be from the same root, meaning "those who work with red dyes". So phoenix may mean "the Phoenician bird" or "the purplish-red bird".
link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_(mythology)

While the following site is a little difficult to read, it does provide useful background to the Phoenician dyeing industry:
link http://www.pheniciens.com/articles/pourpre.php?lang=en

Response last updated by psnz on Aug 20 2023.
Aug 20 2023, 7:39 PM
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