Why Illyria?

POSTED BY: Delia
UPDATED: Saturday, May 8, 2004 01:47
VIEWED: 5350
PAGE 1 of 2

1 2 NEXT PAGE

DELIA

Thursday, April 22, 2004 1:55 PM

I wonder if I could get other fan's opinions on this. I've read in a number of places that Joss is a Shakespeare fan (holds play reading parties at his house, and all), which I think is terribly, terribly cool (but a subject for another thread). With that in mind, I've been trying to make some sort of meaning out of Illyria's name, since Illyria is the setting of the play 12th Night. I can't come up with much of anything, and I wondered if any other Joss/Shakespeare fans had theories. (Actually, I'm fairly certain lots of Joss/Shakespeare fans have theories, I'm really wondering if they'd be willing to share them.) I know I may be looking for meaning where none exists, someone may have just thought it was a cool name, but this is Joss, so somehow, I doubt it.

Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions for courses of therapy?

RUXTON

Friday, April 23, 2004 5:05 AM

You may get some clues if you put "Illyria" into Google. The name, among many other things, applies to an open-air touring theatre company in the UK, begun in 1991,and based near Stratford-upon-Avon.

Also, it seems to harken to the Balkans, tho I didn't read much of what I found.

Good luck.

.........Ruxton

RUXTON

Friday, April 23, 2004 5:07 AM

Here's more from the "Encyclopedia" google link:

Updated: Apr 16, 2004

Encyclopedia: Illyria
This article is about the ancient civilization related to present-day Albania. See also Illyria (software), Illyrian (television). ---- {{msg:histalbania}} In classical history, Illyria or Illyricum was a country on the Balkan Peninsula, approximately where modern Albania and Bosnia are now. The main towns were Lissus and (probably) Epidamus. The area had been settled by two groups that would later be known as the Pannonians and the Dalmatians in Roman Empire times. The inhabitants were Indo-European language speakers, called Illyrians and are believed to be the main ancestral group of modern Albanians. The Albanian transliteration ''i lir

'' translates to a free person. The name Albania is derived from the name of an Illyrian tribe called the Arber, or Arberesh

, and later Albanoi, that lived near Durr s.

The ancient Illyrians, like other Balkan peoples, were subdivided into tribes and clans. The Illyrians were Indo-European tribesmen who appeared in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula about 1000 BC, a period coinciding with the end of the Bronze Age and beginning of the Iron Age. They inhabited much of the area for at least the next millennium. Archaeologists associate the Illyrians with the Hallstatt culture, an Iron Age people noted for production of iron and bronze swords with winged-shaped handles and for domestication of horses. The Illyrians occupied lands extending from the Danube, Sava, and Morava rivers to the Adriatic Sea and the Šar Mountains. At various times, groups of Illyrians migrated over land and sea into Italy....[Etc. There's more at the link.]

Onward.
........Ruxton

HOWDYROCKERBABY1

Friday, April 23, 2004 9:25 PM

Maybe he read that play and just really liked the name Ilyria, and thought it sounded mystical and all-powerful or something like that.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Here's to Jayne, the box dropping man-ape-gone-wrong-thing"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

LISSA

Monday, April 26, 2004 4:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by howdyrockerbaby1:
Maybe he read that play and just really liked the name Ilyria, and thought it sounded mystical and all-powerful or something like that.

i don't know...that doesn't really seem like joss...

~lissa, spwhore

DELIA

Monday, April 26, 2004 5:00 PM

Illyria, in 12th Night, is a country ruled by duke who is in love with the notion of being in love. It's a country where a characters wander in disguises, and artiface is as important as truth. It's a country where a man presumed drowned turns out to have lived. And it's a country where just when you think you've a happy ending coming, an oath of revenge is sworn.

And I think all that's important. I just can't quite figure out WHY.

DELIA

Monday, April 26, 2004 5:02 PM

Ruxton,

Hmmmm. I never realized William Shakespeare hadn't made it up. Worth looking into. Thanks!

Delia

LISSA

Monday, April 26, 2004 5:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Delia:
Illyria, in 12th Night, is a country ruled by duke who is in love with the notion of being in love. It's a country where a characters wander in disguises, and artiface is as important as truth. It's a country where a man presumed drowned turns out to have lived. And it's a country where just when you think you've a happy ending coming, an oath of revenge is sworn.

And I think all that's important. I just can't quite figure out WHY.

it kinda sounds positive for Fred, doncha think? hmm, interesting...

~lissa, spwhore

CAPTAINCDC

Thursday, April 29, 2004 7:48 PM

Not sure why Joss is using the name Illyria, but Angel is not the only show using the name. On Star Trek: Enterprise episode 71 Damage, the enterprise crew encounter a ship full of Illyrians who they ultimately steal their warp coil from.

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

MAUGWAI

Thursday, April 29, 2004 7:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Delia:
Illyria, in 12th Night, is a country ruled by duke who is in love with the notion of being in love. It's a country where a characters wander in disguises, and artiface is as important as truth. It's a country where a man presumed drowned turns out to have lived. And it's a country where just when you think you've a happy ending coming, an oath of revenge is sworn.

And I think all that's important. I just can't quite figure out WHY.

I was thinking maybe it's because everything in Illyria is backwards. Olivia loves a woman dressed as a man. Orsino loves a woman who doesn't think she can love men, but then he loves a woman who has been a man the whole time. So maybe it all has something to do with relationships and dishonesty and disguise. Illyria is conflicted emotionally and doesn't belong in her body, much like Viola was trying to be something she wasn't. Every person on that island was confused about where they belonged.

Then again, maybe Rcokerbabe is right.

"Dear diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy."

1 2 NEXT PAGE