The web pages of Stephen Penney


Ucalegon?


Ucalegon lives in our town.
"I hear that your house had burnt down.
The one with the porch on it?
Hun, how unfortunate.
All you have left is that gown?"

- Ove Ofteness

What's a Ucalegon?


According to the OED, a Ucalegon is a neighbour whose house is on fire. It comes from the Greek for "What-Me-Worry?" and is used in Homer's Iliad to tell how the Gods punish those "who heed not the (warning) eye of the gods."

The group Idyll Sword have a track on their album 'II' called 'Ucalegon Blues'. I don't know what it's like (guitars and sitars apparently), so if you've heard it (or you wrote it!) then let me know.

So why have you called your website ucalegon?
Well I had to call it something! And it's good practice to have an original name!