Talk:Indus worm

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Article name[edit]

I'm not sure what the appropriate name for this should be, but think the name "Indus worm" has any currency and I assume user:Pfhreak invented this on the spot. The single source that was used, theoi, called it "Indian worm", which certain has appeared in print a few times, and we learn "the horrible Indian Worm" was used by Edward Tyson.

I cant find any insances of theoi's Greek form "Ἑλμις Ινδικος" (helmis indikos) at all. The word used in text is σκώληξ, and "skolex" or "scolex" is indeed used in quite a few printed sources in referring to this creature, so my candidate for renaming would be skolex (giant worm), skolex (Ctesias) or skolex (India). --Kiyoweap (talk) 08:57, 5 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

When the article was originally written in 2008, Theoi did indeed call it the Indos/Indus worm, as can still be seen in the Legendary Creatures index page ("WORM, INDOS"), as well as in the name of the HTML file itself: WormsIndos.html. Since Theoi's English translation has been updated sometime in the intervening eight years to better match other sources, I agree it would be a good idea to update the name here. I'd suggest something like Skolex (legendary creature) or Indian worm (legendary creature) similar to a number of other creatures from bestiaries like Hydrus (legendary creature) and Seps (legendary creature). Pfhreak (talk) 22:32, 5 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the correction, pointing out that was the name theoi used earlier.

I think Skolex (legendary creature) might be the way to go then, because a few sources does use this term, I wouldnt be too keen on Horrible Indian worm or Indian worm.

It seems skolex is an ordinary Greek word refering to a worm, especially an earthworm. scolex currently exists as a redirect, and seems to be an anatomical term for the head portions of certain worm-like creatures.--Kiyoweap (talk) 22:30, 7 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Philostratus's river[edit]

The theoi web source[1] says "Hydroates of India".
But is it Hydraotes → Ravi River or, as the translations seem to say, Hyphasis → Beas River. --Kiyoweap (talk) 09:43, 5 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]