And is there a reason for why it's known by a Latin name and not the Greek name?
2006-06-27 04:46:02 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
Poop
Poop
Poop!
2006-06-28 03:29:04 · answer #1 · answered by hectortuba 3 · 3⤊ 4⤋
Are you asking about "Deus ex machina" as a plot device or as a literal aspect of a performance?
As a plot device -- the unexpected appearance of a God (or similar figure) at the end of a play who resolves all things-- that's been used by playwrights who got themselves into a pickle for millenia.
As an actual machine -- Something that flies in at the end of the play to disgorge the divine being that answers everything -- I think that may have been a Roman invention. Sounds like them, anyway -- canny mechanical types, rather than the more theoretical Greeks....
In whatever sense,I imagine it's retained a Latin name because Latin was a much more common language than Greek during most of Western Civilization ... and it uses the same alphabet as English and other Western languages.
2006-06-27 09:00:59 · answer #2 · answered by Cranach 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
according to wikipedia, the greeks may have used it first, but the romans were the first to name it.
2006-06-27 04:54:03 · answer #3 · answered by alis volat propriis 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Spana kopita" which means "spinach pie" and if that doesn't explain why people use the latin instead of the greek, I can't really help you.
2006-06-28 17:25:46 · answer #4 · answered by bubbacornflakes 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not entirely certain, but it was a good album though!
2006-06-27 21:06:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋