The literal translation of Les Champs-Elysées is Elysian Fields.According to Greek mythology, there are three divisions of Hades. At the trivium, where three roads meet, souls are judged, returned to the Fields of Asphodel if they are neither virtuous nor evil, sent by the road to Tartarus if they are impious or evil, or sent to Elysium (Elysian Fields) with the heroic or blessed.
"Men lead there an easier life than anywhere else in the world, for in Elysium there falls not rain, nor hail, nor snow, but Oceanus breathes ever with a West wind that sings softly from the sea, and gives fresh life to all men." —Homer's Odyssey, Book III
9 comments:
And I thought I was random.
There's a town in East Texas right before you cross into Louisiana that is named Elysium Fields. I am always been tempted to stop by, but have never been virtuous enough.
And there's a streetcar called Elysium Fields in A Streetcar named Desire, I think.
My first thought was of Ogden Nash's little effusion:
Speaking French is easy.
At speaking French I am the champ of the Champs d'Elysees.
[That's easy for HIM to say!]
I know it's true! If you manage to cross the Champs Elysées, you are heroic or blessed. If however, you are more like me, you fall as you attempt to cross the bouchon from hell, and a charming young French policeman will catch you. Oh OK, blessed. Yes.
@Tal E Wacker, she's just eyeing up the French policemen. They look a bit comme-ci comme-ça today.
@Descartes - That's interesting. I've only been through East Texas once and that was on the way to Shreveport and points east. I don't remember the town. It is probably on a different road. Pity, because I am so virtuous I could have visited with no problem. :)
@Lidian - I remember going under an overpass with the name of the street above me on a sign, "Desire" and it made me think of the Tennessee Williams play. I don't know about the other streetcar destinations. There's only two now, I think, and St. Charles is the only street with tracks that link to Canal. So who knows? But I believe you, that there were more back then. (Why would you or Tennessee lie?)
An effusion, eh? Hmmmmm. The only thing I can remember from Ogden Nash is his seduction advice: "Candy is dandy but likker is quicker."
Can anyone tell us the plot behind "A Streetcar Named Desire"?
@A. - Would you stop with the French? This is a family blog. Plus you just spoke to the evil one. Go take a shower. Cum see coom saa indeed.
The bouchon from hell. We are just full of Gallic wit today, aren't we? Maybe one of those cumsee gendarmes will play Charon for you and stop traffic. It's happened to you before. Never can tell. :)
More like Moses. He parted the sea of traffic, all that traffic....
Moses was never in Hades. I think you are losing track of the theme here. :)
Oh picky, picky, picky. What's mixed metaphor between friends?
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