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http://ancientstandard.com/2010/12/17/how-greenland-got-its-name/ http://ancientstandard.com/2010/12/17/how-greenland-got-its-... Greenland was not named Green
by TheEzEzz 13y ago
http://ancientstandard.com/2010/12/17/how-greenland-got-its-name/ http://ancientstandard.com/2010/12/17/how-greenland-got-its-...
Greenland was not named Greenland for being green. The most common etymology is that the name was a marketing ploy to convince settlers to come to a hostile and bitterly cold land.
- sigzero 13y agoI was just looking up that link! :)
- 001sky 13y agoSo instead, Erik (according to popular legend) called the island Greenland and instead painted the island as being a wonderful place to settle. There are other theories as to how Greenland got its name So, "this is a popular legend" is the most scientific link on the subject? The second best answer is "translation error"? Um. ok. He purposely chose the pleasant name Grænland ("green land") to attract settlers, but the choice wasn't exactly misleading. Some parts of Greenland, especially the parts the Norse settled, really are green, as these pictures from the tourist board attest (www.greenland-guide.dk/outdoor_life_photo.htm). He may have been a killer, but at least he wasn't a real-estate scam-artist.
- TheEzEzz 13y agoI agree, not the most solid etymological evidence =). I was mainly countering the idea that Greenland used to be more green, which the etymology does not suggest.
- Jtsummers 13y agoAnd the Norse settlers were only in a few limited regions. We could call Nevada "Lake State" if we only lived near Lake Mead or Lake Tahoe, but it'd be a misnomer.