Naming magic, also known as the magic of names or name magic, is a form of arcane practice in which the manipulation and understanding of names is used to channel and control magical forces. This ancient and powerful form of magic revolves around the belief that names hold significant power and resonance, and by invoking or altering a person or object's true name, a magician can exert influence and command over it. In many cultures and mythologies, the concept of naming magic is deeply ingrained. It is believed that knowing someone's true name gives you a deep understanding and connection to their essence, allowing you to manipulate their thoughts, actions, or even their physical being. Similarly, knowing the name of a specific plant or object is thought to grant the ability to control or interact with it in magical ways. The practice of naming magic is not limited to personal names or objects, but extends to concepts, natural elements, and even abstract ideas.
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Many of us know that Maori belief in makutu is a serious matter, that if a native believes that he has been bewitched then there is little hope of his surviving, he will, page 140 as it were, kill himself, will himself to death. 16, 2009, astronomers discovered two moons around the asteroids with the temporary names S 2009 93 1 and S 2009 93 2 from direct imaging with the 10 m Keck II Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii.
The practice of naming magic is not limited to personal names or objects, but extends to concepts, natural elements, and even abstract ideas. By understanding and using the true name associated with a particular concept, a magician can tap into its inherent power and affect change in the world around them. For example, invoking the name of a specific deity or elemental force may grant the practitioner the ability to draw upon their power and perform extraordinary feats.
Asteroid Minerva finds its magical weapons in the sky
The International Astronomical Union has chosen the names Aegis and Gorgoneion for the two moons of the asteroid (93) Minerva. My team discovered the small moons in 2009 using the W. M. Keck Telescope and its adaptive optics system. We proposed the names after receiving input from the public.
Artistic view of the Triple Asteroid System (93) Minerva. The 150km primary at the center is surrounded by its two moons S/(93) 1 Aegis and S/(93) 2 Gorgoneion.
Astronomer J.C. Watson discovered (93) Minerva, a large 150 km diameter asteroid located in the main belt, on Aug. 24, 1867 and named the body after the Roman equivalent of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom. On Aug. 16, 2009, astronomers discovered two moons around the asteroids with the temporary names S/2009 (93) 1 and S/2009 (93) 2 from direct imaging with the 10 m Keck II Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. A follow-up study published this year in Icarus Journal revealed that the moons are small, with an estimated diameter of 2 to 5 km, and orbit at 375 and 625 km from the primary.
The convention for naming asteroidal moons is to pick a child or close relative of the historical figure after whom the asteroid is named. For example, the moons of the triple main-belt asteroid system (87) Sylvia are named Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome and twin sons of the Rhea Sylvia. Minerva was a virgin goddess who did not have descendants, however, which makes it impossible to follow this rule.
That’s why I asked the public for help naming the moons after announcing their discovery and presenting his analysis of the data at meeting of the European Planetary Science Congress and the Division of Planetary Science in Nantes, France in Oct. 2011.
The decision to crowd-source the names caught the attention of the public, so whenever I had the opportunity I repeated the request when giving presentations to groups of amateur astronomers and in interviews to astronomy magazines. Over the following year, I received a lot of emails with suggestions. Interestingly, several of them used mythological attributes of the goddess Minerva as potential names for the moons.
Several space aficionados proposed naming the moons after magical weapons used by goddess. Athena was the favorite daughter of Zeus, and that’s why he let her use his insignia, his terrible shield, the aegis, and his devastating weapon, the ray. Gorgoneion was a special apotropaic amulet showing the Gorgon head, and was used as a protective pendant. The Aegis was the shield worn by Athena, bore Medusa’s head, and could paralyze any enemy who looked at it.
We submitted a formal proposal with the names Aegis and Gorgoneion to the International Astronomical Union, which is in charge of naming comets, asteroids and their moons. In Dec. 2013, the names were officially accepted by the organization and published in the Minor Planet Center MPC batch. “S/(93) 1 Aegis” the outer, larger 4 km moonlet, was the first one spotted by the observers. “S/(93) 2 Gorgoneion” orbits closer to the primary and may be smaller (3 km). The pendant is normally smaller than the shield, and held closer—a tool for remembering which moon is Gorgoneion.
It is a great privilege for astronomers to name celestial bodies such as the moons of an asteroid. We wanted to share this privilege with members of the public, who as taxpayers fund our research and consequently play an essential role in it. Plus, it is reassuring to find out through emails sent by people around the world that astronomy gets a lot of attention.
Thanks for my colleagues and co-discoverers Pascal Descamps, Jerome Berthier and Frederic Vachier from IMCCE-Obs de Paris.
Additional references if you want to know more:
Guidelines for the names of Minor Planets, Committee on Small Body Nomenclature, IAU Division III, 2000, http://www.ss.astro.umd.edu/IAU/csbn/mpnames.shtml
James Craig Watson:
Marchis et al., Icarus, Volume 224, Issue 1, May 2013, Pages 178–191, 2013. Characteristics and large bulk density of the C-type main-belt triple asteroid (93) Minerva http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019103513000808
Gorgoneion
Aegis
WikiAnswer
The encyclopedia of Goddess Athena
The older Tuhoe folk told me that if a learner of black magic simply made gifts to his teacher instead of offering the human sacrifice, then his own spells would never be effective. Tutakangahau explained that a person was slain, hai pupuri i nga korero, to enable the pupil to retain the teachings of the experts. This authority also maintained that to utilise a slave as a human sacrifice would be quite useless, such an act would nullify the powers of all charms etc., acquired by the pupil. Evidently in at least some districts public opinion, or expert opinion, demanded the death of a near relative, and the expert teacher had the privilege of naming the person to be sacrificed. The body of a relative so slain was, of course, buried, not consigned to the family oven.
While the specifics of naming magic vary across different mythologies and magical traditions, the underlying principle remains the same – the power of names is fundamental to the practice and understanding of magic. Many ancient rituals, spells, and incantations revolve around the careful selection and invocation of specific names and words, as well as the understanding of their hidden meanings and connotations. However, naming magic is not without its limitations and dangers. The true names of powerful beings or forces are often closely guarded secrets, as their knowledge in the wrong hands could lead to chaos and destruction. Additionally, using someone's true name without their permission is considered a breach of privacy and is generally frowned upon in magical communities. In conclusion, naming magic is a form of magic that revolves around the concept that names hold significant power and resonance. By invoking or altering the true names of people, objects, or concepts, practitioners of this ancient art can exert control and manipulation over them. However, caution must be exercised when dealing with the power of names, as their misuse can have dire consequences..
Reviews for "Unleashing the Power of Words: The Art of Name Magic"
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