Tuesday 30 March 2010

Chryselephantine


On Radio 4 the other day, the statue of Athene in the Parthenon was described as being "made of gold and ivory", which neatly avoided one of the most beautiful words in the English langage: chryselephantine. Chrys for gold, elephantine for ivory.

Chryselephantine Athene goes rather well with Callipygian Venus. The word can also be used to describe any pale blond.

Chryselephantine morituri te salutant

3 comments:

  1. I'll be asking for that shade when next I visit the hairdresser. Thank you , Inky.

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