Revision History

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5/29/2020, 9:30 PM Mike C update #108
11/16/2019, 11:04 AM Mike C update #105
1/22/2019, 10:01 AM Mike C update #101
12/8/2017, 12:41 PM Mike C update #97
7/27/2015, 11:23 PM Mike C update #90
9/1/2013, 10:30 PM Mike C update #87
2/12/2007, 1:03 AM Mike C earliest recorded revision

Gender Feminine
Scripts Φιλομήλη(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced Pron. fil-ə-MEE-lə(English)

Meaning & History

From Greek Φιλομήλη (Philomele), derived from φίλος (philos) meaning "lover, friend" and μῆλον (melon) meaning "fruit". The second element has also been interpreted as Greek μέλος (melos) meaning "song". In Greek myth Philomela was the sister-in-law of Tereus, who raped her and cut out her tongue. Prokne avenged her sister by killing her son by Tereus, after which Tereus attempted to kill Philomela. However, the gods intervened and transformed her into a nightingale.