Hippogriff

🏷 Greek hidden ruler horse mythical creature pun · symbol — by Gerry · Jan 2021 · 176 words

The hippogriff is officially an animal that’s half griffin & half horse. However, horses are usually grammar prefixes in Greek, so the hippo-gryph could be a pun with επικρυπτω epi-krypto for “disguised”, with επικρυφος epi-kryphos for “unknown”, and with Latin apocryphus for “not meant for the public”. The spook rulers never appear to us in their true form, but are always disguised or unknown, a fact that’s not meant for the public!

Greek epi-krypto = disguised, secret

ἐπικρύπτω epikrypto : throw a cloak over, conceal; disguise; secrecy; to disguise oneself, conceal one’s purpose — Ancient Greek (LSJ.gr)

ἐπίκρυφος epikryphos : unknown, inglorious; concealed, secret — Ancient Greek (LSJ.gr)

Greek, Latin, English apo-kryphos = secret, untrue, not approved for the public

apocryphal : of doubtful authenticity, or lacking authority; of dubious veracity; of questionable accuracy or truthfulness — English (Wikt)

apocryphus : secret, not approved for public reading; apocryphal — Latin (Wikt)

ἀπόκρῠφος apókruphos : hidden, concealed, secret, unknown; obscure, recondite — Ancient Greek (Wikt)

Greek hippo = horse; grupos = hook-nosed

ἵππω híppō : horse, mare, horsemen (nominative/accusative/vocative dual) — Ancient Greek (Wikt)

γρυπός grupos : hook-nosed, aquiline; generally: hooked; curved — Ancient Greek (LSJ.gr)

🏷 Greek hidden ruler horse mythical creature pun · symbol