For this one dear to her

English translation: For this girl who was dear to her/whom she cared about/had affection for and..Mace is

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English term or phrase:	For this one dear to her
Selected answer:	For this girl who was dear to her/whom she cared about/had affection for and..Mace is
Entered by:	Anna Maria Augustine (X)

20:46 Mar 16, 2007

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature

English term or phrase: For this one dear to her

This is the same ancient poem about the Sumerian goddess Inanna, who changes a cursed woman into a man to lift her status. Here is the other line I would like to ask you about:

Over the maiden's head
she makes a sign of prayer
hands then folded at her nose
she declares her manly/woman

In sacred rite
she takes the broach
which pins a woman's robe
breaks the needle
consecrates the maiden's heart as male
gives to her a mace
**for this one dear to her**
she shifts a god's curse
a blight reversed

Could this "mace" be a phallic symbol? Does the line "for this one dear to her" mean something like "for this girl who was dear to her" or I am absolutely wrong? Thank you very much for your contribution.
Stefano

Stefano77 KudoZ activity Questions: 615 (none open) (15 without valid answers) (16 closed without grading) Answers: 318
Local time: 13:35

For this firl who was dear to her/whom she cared about/had affection for and..Mace is

Explanation:
*

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Note added at 6 mins (2007-03-16 20:53:39 GMT)
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a ceremonial staff or rod carried as a symbol, and sorry about the typo which should be girl, not firl:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Mace

Selected response from:

Anna Maria Augustine (X)
France
Local time: 13:35

Grading comment

Thank you for your help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

5 +5

For this firl who was dear to her/whom she cared about/had affection for and..Mace is

Anna Maria Augustine (X)

5 +1

for the maiden (cursed woman) she cared for

Mike Gogulski

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

4 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

for this one dear to her

For this firl who was dear to her/whom she cared about/had affection for and..Mace is

Anna Maria Augustine (X)
France
Local time: 13:35
Native speaker of:

English,

French
PRO pts in category: 52

Grading comment

Thank you for your help!

5 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

for this one dear to her for the maiden (cursed woman) she cared for

Explanation:
Anna Maria's comment is exactly right, I just wanted to add something which would not fit in the 255 character limit for a reply to an answer.

The mace is/was both a symbolic device representing rule and authority AND an actual weapon by which that authority might be exercised. Depending on the surrounding context (and how much has inevitably been lost in translation from ancient Sumerican to English, and possibly by way of yet a third language), the mace may well have been less a symbolic token than a magic weapon imbued with some aspect of Inanna's power.

In answer to the other question, "Could this "mace" be a phallic symbol?", well, of course. Isn't every long blunt weapon a phallic symbol? :) The second link below shows a photo of a Sumerian stone mace head, which is engraved with images of grain... fertility symbol atop phallic symbol, one might suggest.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mace
Reference: http://www.theartnewspaper.com/iraqmus/foto.asp?cartella=sum...

Mike Gogulski
Slovakia
Local time: 13:35
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

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For this one dear to her

English translation: For this girl who was dear to her/whom she cared about/had affection for and..Mace is

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For this one dear to her

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