Regarding Latin malum: people often have the impression that the word specifically means “apple” due to a bunch of crappy Latin textbooks. It’s messier though, and the video is correct - it could be used to refer to any type of fruit, although in the absence of context you’d “default” to apples. This can be shown through synchronic evidence, like Apicius 4.3.4:
- MINUTAL MATIANUM. […] Media coctura mala matiana purgata intrinsecs concisa tessellatim mittes. […]\
- Matian’ Mince. […] While cooking, add [to the pot] Matian fruits (=apples) that had their cores removed and cut into pieces.
If “mala” was enough to refer to apples, why is the author specifying that those need to be “mala matiana”?
Diachronic evidence shows the same. Using Portuguese for the examples:
- mala matiana “Mattius’ fruit(s)” → maçã "apple"
- mala romana “Roman fruit(s)” → romã “pomegranate”
CaptainSpaceman@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Interesting stuff!
Theres early christian iconography revolving around mushrooms as well, so ive wondered if the “forbidden fruit” aka “fruit of knowledge” was originally a psilocybin mushroom.
specialistdrunk@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Sounds like a JRE episode
bionicjoey@lemmy.ca 10 months ago
Nobody calls mushrooms fruit
WhiteHairSuperSaiyan@lemmynsfw.com 10 months ago
The head of a mushroom is a fruiting body. I know that is a huge distinction but could be confused pretty easily. Especially if there is some translation fun between.
CaptainSpaceman@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Metaphors exist.
Unless youre trying to tell me everything in the bible is literal?