Engl. “ford” always piques me to reflect upon Hell. Βόσφπορος and even more familiar “Oxford” both of which share absolutely nothing in common, except for this semantic relationship: because it turns out those mythohistoric straits that separate two great continents, distinctly the European from Asian landmass, just may herewith celebrate in name alone, the allegorical rape of yon chaste maiden, known chiefly as Εὐρώπη (pallid offspring of the fair “portesan” Ἀρετή and royal issue too, right alongside dear belly-dancing Ἀσία) by none other than Heaven’s pre-Christian monarch, almighty Zeus himself, who once assumed the deceitful guise of a congenial “ox” and gingerly transported our frail virgin yea straight across the sea’s wine-dark arm unto her new abode, far away in horse-nurturing Hellas! Not until a later time, however, did this maritime toponym at length undergo some etymological revision, and consequently to be thus misrepresented by sophomoric Βόσφορος meaning lit. “Oxfreight” but then on account of neophyte dilettantes and comical jongleurs only.
