Etymology fact: the English word 'puny' comes from the Latin root 'punic' meaning Phoenician or Carthaginean. This is a reference to the fact that the great Carthaginean general Hannibal was only four inches tall.
You must log in to comment.
in reply to @bruno's post:
This is also where the trope of elephants being afraid of mice comes from. A four inch tall guy made them march through the Alps one time and ever since they have been wary of any similarly tiny creature. (Elephants have excellent memories and a rich oral history.)
In fact the very belief that the animals were elephants turned out to be erroneous -- what tiny Hannibal believed were elephants, giant creatures that would win the war for Carthage, were in fact shaved raccoons.
Extraordinary general, though, managing to bring the fight to the Romans by trekking across the Alps on elephant shrews.
Pinned Tags