#ancient Greek games

[jeannereames]

I am a bit late, but I just saw your post about the "Copper Mosquito" (Blind Man’s Buff) game in Ancient Greece and you got me thinking about the origin of the name, too.

Here's a bit of what I found: "It is clear that the warning cry before the pursuit is like the φυλάττου in μνΐνδα, and also that the pursued are the “bronze flies.” From Eustathius we gather that the χαλκῆ μυῖα was a sort of bronzecoloured cockchafer, which boys let go in the dark after they had tied a small lighted wax taper to it."

This is absolutely awesome. I have saved this into my DwtL folder. But am posting publicly in case others are also interested.

Thank you!

[jeannereames]

Copper Mosquito

Just discovered, quite by accident, that Blind Man's Bluff goes back at least to ancient Greece, were it was called "copper mosquito."

Alas that I did not know this when writing Dancing with the Lion, of the boys at school.

But it WILL make an appearance somewhere in future volumes. These are the sort of titbits I adore. Now, I must find out (if we know) why that was its name.