NPPF Comm2: Parents, part 2

[Jasper Fidget]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org] On
> Behalf Of Jasper Fidget
> 
> > From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org] On
> > Behalf Of Don Corathers
> 
> > Uranograd. For its remoteness, after the planet? Two choices
> > in Greek mythology (from www.theoi.com) : Urania (Ourania):
> > the Muse of astronomical writings. Uranus (Ouranos): the
> > ancient personification of the sky, which was thought to be a
> > solid dome of bronze. He was the first ruler of the universe
> > but was castrated and deposed by his son Cronus.
> >
> 
> When Cronus castrated Uranus, the blood gave birth to nymphs and giants
> (in
> one version anyway).  Also, Uranus was both son and husband to Gaia.
> 
> Urania is invoked by Milton in Book 7 of PL, and by Wordsworth in
> "Prospectus to The Recluse."
> 

I'm informed by Dr. Johnson (of the Nabokov-L) that VN often uses the "uran"
root in regard to homosexuality, which is common in Russian.  Therefore,
with "grad" meaning "town," Uranograd means "Gay-town."

I was wondering about Kinbote's phrasing there: "dubbing *my* capital
Uranograd" (emphasis mine) instead of *the* capital or Onhava.  It helps to
resolve a question I've had regarding Zembla and homosexuality, whether it's
the norm there or just normal for Charles.  This would imply that the latter
is the case, and that other locals have taken note (assuming Amphitheatricus
is local to the Zemblan narrative column).

Jasper