Hello Dunedin (ντανίντν) in New Zealand! Welcome to the family! A city with great architecture and history but most importantly, rent prices so affordable that artists can thrive there! From what I’m reading it’s an artistically vibrant city, Galleries, live music and theatre ! Oh I’m certainly visiting. Thank you for listening Dunedin.

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(Piano music) Hello, and welcome to Your Greek Word On A Sunday, a weekly, bite-size podcast for anyone curious on language, etymology and connections. I am your host, Emmanuela Lia and wherever you are in the world, if you want to entertain your brain for a few minutes, this is the podcast for you. Let's Go!

The oldest verified writing we have of this plant is in ancient Mycenaean. However, those syllables together can be found in other languages too and it’s led linguists to believe that the original name is Sumerian. Ancient Greeks used this herb as a staple. You had your salt, your pepper and this on the table and of course they used it medicinally. Digestive and respiratory problems as well as bleeding were some of the problems that plant helped with. Cultivated originally in Iran but the name in English came from the Roman version of the Greek word. The Romans also brought it in the UK. In America it arrived from the Spanish and the Portuguese and in Morocco you can still find it on the table next to salt and pepper . ΚΥΜΙΝΟ/CUMIN

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Welcoming Payakumbuh in Indonesia today! The city with a long tradition of a secret negotiation for livestock trades. The Marosok Tradition: Buyers and sellers hide their hands under a cloth and communicate the price by touching. It’s a whole different language of touching and tapping and squeezing different parts of the hand and it means something different depending on which is used . Isn’t that fascinating? Thank you for listening Payakumbuh!

If you like what you hear in this podcast you can subscribe, download and review it wherever you listen. A click and a few nice words go a long way! On with our episode!

(Piano music) Hello, and welcome to Your Greek Word On A Sunday, a weekly, bite-size podcast for anyone curious on language, etymology and connections. I am your host, Emmanuela Lia and wherever you are in the world, if you want to entertain your brain for a few minutes, this is the podcast for you. Let's Go!

Ancient Greek incense as part of sacrificial ceremonies for the gods was comprised of several herbs. The most prominent was one that got its name from the fumes it was creating when burning . Now, that’s one version, the other is that it got its name because of its resilience; and the Ancient Greeks lit it in temples to inspire courage. In medicine, its oil was used as an antibiotic and in gastronomy as an Ancient Greek wine infuser or an ancient Roman cheese herb. Speaking of the Romans, they were the first to bring it to the UK and it became incredibly popular so much so that many knights would get it as farewell present before battle and people would put it under their pillows to ward off nightmares. From the Ancient Greek verb Θύω (Theo) meaning ‘creating smoke’ and Latin ‘Thymum’ this herb can be found everywhere in Greece and it’s delicious! ΘΥΜΑΡΙ/THYME

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Happy July everyone, welcoming Houston in Texas this week. The city that was built on a scam. Oh yes, in the 19th century the Allen brothers bought very cheap land in Houston because it was, literally, a swamp. They started a campaign describing Houston as a Mediterranean paradise. Hills and breeze and a port that ships can travel to and fro. You have to remember, it was a different time so, people bought into it and then, moved into a reality that had nothing to do with what was advertised to them. When they tried to leave, the Allens bribed officials and made Houston the capital of Texas and promised progress and infrastructure. Nothing happened of course until the oil boom and then, the brothers had to wait for over two years to see their scam pay off. There’s much more to this story so, go ahead and have a read when you can. It’s fascinating. Thank you for listening Houston!

If you like what you hear in this podcast you can subscribe, download and review it wherever you listen. A click and a few nice words go a long way! On with our episode!

(Piano music) Hello, and welcome to Your Greek Word On A Sunday, a weekly, bite-size podcast for anyone curious on language, etymology and connections. I am your host, Emmanuela Lia and wherever you are in the world, if you want to entertain your brain for a few minutes, this is the podcast for you. Let's Go!

July is the last month for this season and I have another series of linked words for you. Greece has been the connection between the east and the west since its birth. From big ideas and language to... spices! And this month I will focus on those . A beautiful plant that has divided taste buds for eons because of its strong flavour and smell. Native to southern Europe, North Africa and northwest Asia, its Greek name comes from the word Κοριός (korios) meaning ‘bedbug’ because the unripe seeds smell like crushed bedbugs. The word passed to Latin and French, as usual, but in the UK was brought by the Romans and used ever since, with a slight pause during the influx of other spices during the renaissance. From ancient times it’s been used as a digestive herb but also a perfume and an offering to the gods . From Ancient Mycenaean Korijadana to Ancient Greek Κορίανδρον (koriandron) to Latin Coriandrum and a mixed pronunciation of both the seeds and the leaves in modern Greek ΚΟΛΙΑΝΔΡΟ/CORIANDER

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