Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 13:25:44 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jennifer McCabe <jmccab01@emerald.tufts.edu>
Subject: Re: Heraldic help needed
In-Reply-To: <3.0.32.19990428130238.006b10f4@po8.mit.edu>
To: "Patrick M. Pittman" <elvnshae@MIT.EDU>
Cc: nyx@MIT.EDU, Mark Schuldenfrei <schuldy@abel.MATH.HARVARD.EDU>,
        Bethard M Laura <lbethard@juno.com>, carolingia@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU
Reply-To: nyx@MIT.EDU
Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.96.990428131103.14132D-100000@emerald.tufts.edu>
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On Wed, 28 Apr 1999, Patrick M. Pittman, SKA Marcus wrote:

> >"MITgaard" is usually called just that, not "Borough of MITgaard".
> >(Oh yes, some names are based on puns. "MITgaard" is MIT :)
> 
> Personally, I am shocked that anyone would consider the thoroughly
> researched and documented name of our beloved borough a mere "pun."  It
> does, after all, mean something about a bishop.  Or his hat.  Or something.
> . .  We think. . .
> 
> Tongue firmly in cheek,
> 
> Marcus Primus Peregrinus
> Treasurer, MITguard

You mean I know more about your borough name than you do??!! (I was told
it was a pun. By a MITgaardian, no less.)

For those poor souls who don't know:

First : A bishop's hat is a "mitre".

More Importantly:
In Norse Mythology, Mitgaard = Earth, Asgaard = abode of the gods and of
Valhalla where heros go (aka heaven); and I think Utgaard (possibly some
other -gaard) = the nether realms (Hel's domain -goddess of the non-heroic
dead).

Notice: even the MITgaardian treasurer spells the name with MIT in
capitals- not just the M. :)

Tsk.  Oh, and there's no "u" in "gaard" - as far as I know, it's spelled
variously with either one or two a's. "Guard" is something else
entirely...  :)

(Sorry, Marcus: you pushed my Mythology Button.:) 

Tongue equally in cheek.... but the mythology stuff is accurate -
-Eleni of IK of C.
*********************************************
 Eleni of Carolingia   :    nyx at mit dot edu
*********************************************