What is the meaning of the word echidna? So are some types of animals. And they also denote a mythical character. And sometimes, they say so about an evil and acrid person, although this word is now in the Russian vocabulary among the outdated. From this noun, the adjective "malicious" is formed, as well as the verbs "malicious" or "malicious" (meaning "mock someone").
So, the word "echidna" has more than one meaning. In this article, we will consider all of them and give small explanations for each of them.
Snake woman
Without a doubt, the first echidna (or Echidna) appeared among the ancient Greeks. Yes, and the word itself came from the ancient Greek eχιδνα, which means "viper" in translation.
Echidna is a half-woman-half-snake of great growth. In ancient Greek mythology, there were several such snakes of a female gender and of divine origin (they were also called Drakeins): these are Kampa, Keto, Dolphin, Skilla, Lamia, Pan and sometimes Pifon.
A woman with a serpentine body with a beautiful face, that was the meaning of the word "echidna." According to myths, her character was distinguished by ferocity and anger, for which, as you might guess, the snake essence of this monster was responsible. In some images she has a hundred goals.
According to the testimony of historians and folklorists, it was the ancient Greek Echidna that owed its appearance to the mysterious creature Vuivre, which later could be found in old French folk traditions. In any case, it was described very similarly:
By the waist, the image of the person is like a damsel, and from the belt down the image of the crocodiles is the image of the person.
Unless there was a slight difference - in the forehead of the vuivra burned an unprecedented beauty gem "carfunctions".
Bible character
In both the Old and New Testaments, the meaning of the word "echidna" comes down to a dangerous poisonous snake - an adder or, possibly, a cobra. Later, this word migrated in its use to designate people who are evil, unrighteous and evil, whose disposition made them afraid. Hence the ancient expression “offspring of vipers” - this is how, for example, Jesus Christ addresses the Pharisees (Gospel of Matthew).
Echidna - representatives of the fauna
Strange, but for some reason, the zoologists decided with a word that has long been attributed the "snake" meaning to call it the oviparous marsupial animal living in Australia. Distantly echidna resembles a hedgehog with a rather large beak. This unique species of fauna is a bird animal, which is also a mammal. In addition, the Australian echidna is the closest relative of the platypus, as well as one of the oldest living creatures that inhabit the Earth.
The same word refers to the genus of Black snakes or Aspids living in the same Australia and New Guinea. These are poisonous snakes whose bite is dangerous to humans.
Echidna is also a genus of marine ray-finned fish, which are also called moray eels. They are found off the coast in the eastern waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Echidna moray eels are quite colorful creatures and are not particularly demanding of care, therefore they are popular as inhabitants of home aquariums.
We told you what echidna means.