{"id":3012,"date":"2014-03-18T20:03:13","date_gmt":"2014-03-18T20:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/?p=3012"},"modified":"2014-06-06T17:46:52","modified_gmt":"2014-06-06T17:46:52","slug":"10-similarities-between-star-trek-and-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/10-similarities-between-star-trek-and-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Similarities Between Star Trek and Ancient Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whilst trying to decide what to write for this week’s article, I was torn by many different avenues that inspire me. I\u00a0am personally an avid fan of gender\u00a0studies and societal transgressions, but these\u00a0topics seemed a bit…heavy for this week. So, if you are by chance excited to see a blog on gender studies; please look forward to next\u00a0week’s article on “Ancient Women in Modern Film.”<\/p>\n

However, for this week I am interested to examine\u00a0Star Trek and the depths\u00a0within it that are of the Classical Tradition.\u00a0 By “Classical Tradition,” I mean to show the\u00a0degrees in which this science fiction world has drawn from antiquity to create a universe that has a\u00a0large and loyal fan base.<\/p>\n

Let’s start off with the most obvious.<\/p>\n

1. Romulus and Remus<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Capitoline<\/a>

Capitoline Wolf suckles the infant twins Romulus and Remus. Courtesy of Wikicommons & Jean-Pol GRANDMONT.<\/p><\/div>\n

In Roman mythology, they are the twin sons of Mars and Rhea. Romulus is fated to find Rome (which is hence named after him), while Remus is destined to be killed at the hand of his brother.<\/p>\n

In Star Trek mythology, Romulus and Remus were “twin planets” which revolved around the same star. However, their inhabitants and terrain were polar opposites. Romulans were related to Vulcans and came from a planet very similar to Earth or Vulcan (Class M planet); while Remus was a harsh planet whose inhabitants\u00a0were considered of a lower class.<\/p>\n

2. Vulcan <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Courtesy<\/a>

Courtesy of the page below and Tom Allred.<\/p><\/div>\n

In Roman mythology, Vulcan was another name for the god Hephaestus. He was the god of crafting, blacksmithing, and even volcanoes.<\/p>\n

In Star Trek mythology, Vulcans came from a planet, Vulcan, which was\u00a0full of volcanoes.\u00a0Vulcans were known for\u00a0being skilled with crafting and creating new technology. One writer touches upon the subject very nicely (here<\/a>).<\/p>\n

3. Planet Names<\/strong> <\/span>[which do not have connecting features between the name and terrain\/inhabitants]<\/p>\n

Many of the planet names in Star Trek derive from mythological characters or beings; these include (but are not limited to)<\/p>\n

-Nausicaa, Cerberus, Gaia, Isis III, Janus VI, Kronos, Minos, Oceanus IV, Persephone V, Pollux IV, Sarpedion V,…<\/p>\n

4. Orion(s)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Orion\"<\/a>

Courtesy of Wikicommons, Till Credner & AlltheSky.com<\/p><\/div>\n

In Roman\u00a0mythology, he was a skilled hunter and friend of Artemis. But when Artemis felt herself tempted by his prowess she sent a giant scorpion to kill him. Thus the constellations Orion and Scorpio were formed.<\/p>\n

In Star Trek mythology, Orion was a planet. It\u00a0inhabitants were known as Orions and were a race of green (or blue) skinned humanoids. They were an animalistic and primal race in which the women used the men as slaves. (This is somewhat reminiscent\u00a0of the mythical Amazons and mirror Artemis’ nature more so than Orions.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

5. Magna Roma<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/youtu.be\/8qzEjVbn6WE<\/a><\/p>\n

In Roman mythology, this was the Latin phrase for “Great Rome.” It referred to both the city of Rome and the female entity that was consider Rome.<\/p>\n

In Star\u00a0Trek mythology, it was the name of a planet (or\u00a0892-IV)\u00a0that is visited in the episode “Bread and Circuses.” The planet is almost identical to Earth and therefore referred to as a” parallel planet.” It\u00a0was classified as\u00a0a parallel planet, because it showed what Earth may have become if the Roman Empire had not fallen. The presence of gladiatorial game, slaves, the Senate, and even the Praetorian Guard\u00a0were present in the 23rd century.<\/p>\n

6. Klingons<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In accordance to ancient history, the Klingons seem to mimic the famous Spartans and their militaristic society. One argument (although weak) attributes the Klingon name to the ancient Greek \u03ba\u03bb\u03af\u03bd\u03c9 (kiln-o) [Latin form inclinare]\u00a0meaning “to incline, to bend, to lean,\u00a0to turn” (perhaps in reference to the Klingon forehead), but \u03ba\u03bb\u03af\u03bd\u03c9 can also have the\u00a0meaning “to turn the ride of war.” Both meanings would serve the Klingons accurately.<\/p>\n

You have seen the film 300, <\/em>but have you heard of 300 Klingons? Watch on…<\/p>\n