Post No. 15,002
Date uploaded in London – 19 September 2025
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Dionysius dances best with three nymphs – Greek proverb
When celebrating the cult of Dionysius in springtime in Athens, many of the worshippers became hysterical. Later they emigrated to Rome and became followers of Bacchus.
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To go to monkey for justice – Dayak proverb in Borneo ,Indonesia
This proverb originated in the story of two men who disputed about ownership of some bananas and took their case to a monkey for judgement, who ordered the fruits to be divided. When one suitor cried that the other had received too large a share the monkey, to make matters even, ate some of the bananas himself. Then the second suitor complained, so the monkey took a few more. Thus the case went on until there was not one banana to wrangle about.
Similar story is in Panchatantra in Sanskrit language.
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It takes nine tellers to mark a man- English proverb
An old Dorset custom, to strike the passing bell when a death takes place to indicate the age and sex of deceased- thrice for a girl, four times for a boy, six for a spinster, seven for a matron, eight for a bachelor and nine for a married man.
This old custom was in use even fifty years ago.
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Seven thou shall not neglect – Arabic proverb
Thy wife as long as she lives in peace with thee;
thy livelihood as long as it provides for healthy ornament as long as it adorns thee;
thy friend as long as he is just to thee;
thy table companion as long as he understands thee;
thy son as long as he cannot take care of himself; and
thy guest as long as he does not molest thee.
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My life is set upon her- from Southern Nigeria
Literally my liver.in many parts of Western Africa and Western Asia, the liver is generally said to be the seat of affections- the liver being looked upon as the intellectual viscus. The Efik speak of ‘a word from the liver’ (sincere opinion). No liver means no courage. In danger , ‘a man’s liver never fails him.’
(Efik- a member of a people of southern Nigeria).
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There are four kinds of tempers- Hebrew proverb
He whom it is easy to provoke and easy to pacify- his loss disappears in gain; he whom it is hard to provoke and hard to pacify- his gain disappears in loss; he whom it is hard to provoke and easy to pacify is a saint; he whom it is easy to provoke and hard to pacify is a wicked man.
In Tamil Tirukkural says,
குணமென்னும் குன்றேறி நின்றார் வெகுளி
கணமேயும் காத்தல் அரிது- 29
The anger of those who have ascended the mountain of goodness, though it continues but for a moment, cannot be resisted- Kural 29.
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If a paisa be placed on a dead man, he will rise up -Kashmiri Proverb
Paisa is like Penny , Cent; lowest denomination.
Money will bring people back from the dead. It shows the power of money.
Another meaning: Hindus like Greeks, place a metal coin in the mouth of dad body, saying that it will help the person to cross the River Vaitarani (similar to Styx in Greek). It is to pay for the ferry.
In Greece, ancient people believed the dead man’s soul has to cross Styx, Acheron or Cocytus. They placed a small piece of money in the mouth of the dead to pay the Stygian ferry man to row the corpse across the river Styx.
In Tamil, Panam endraall Pinamum Vaaythirakkum பணம் என்றால் பிணமும் வாய்திறக்கும்.
to be continued……………………
Tags- Proverbs, stories, Greek, Hebrew, Hindu, Greek, Nigeria ,Dionysius, monkey justice
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