VALENTINE’S VAULT

Which is the greatest love story ever told? 10 great contenders revisited

Image: Laura Ockel

Love is the greatest adventure, weaving human lives together through the ages. An unending stream of timeless tales of love inundate our history and our mythologies, captivating us with their beauty and enduring power.

From real-life romances to fictional epics, these 10 legendary love stories continue to inspire and enchant us with their universal allure.

Image: Simone Baldo

The tale of Romeo and Juliet, as penned by William Shakespeare, remains one of the most iconic love stories ever told. Set in Verona, Italy, the young lovers’ forbidden romance unfolds amidst a bitter feud between their families, the Montagues and Capulets. Their untimely deaths ultimately unite the warring households but serve as a poignant reminder of the power of love and the consequences of hate.

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A love story so epic that Shakespeare couldn’t resist making it into a play, the legendary romance between Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, and Mark Antony, a Roman general, has fascinated historians and poets alike. Their powerful union challenged the might of Rome, and their love endured until their tragic end when the Roman emperor Octavian defeated their combined forces in Alexandria.

Image: Ann Fossa

The two main characters from Jane Austen’s classic novel "Pride and Prejudice" navigate misunderstandings and societal expectations on their journey to love. Austen’s genius captivates readers and hearts with a timeless love story that is also a tale of personal growth and overcoming prejudices amidst the conservative 19th-century England.

Image: Jovyn Chamb

Behind the ivory white walls of the Taj Mahal, there is a love story so great that, almost four hundred years later, it continues to inspire poets and lovers everywhere in the world. The majestic structure was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, following her death during childbirth. The Taj Mahal, a "poem in stone," is now a place of pilgrimage for travelers and devoted lovers.

Image: Ricardo Cruz

A story of forbidden love, betrayal, and tragedy within the mythical court of Camelot, the legend of Lancelot and Guinevere continues to captivate audiences to this day. Queen Guinevere was the wife of King Arthur, and Lancelot was one of his bravest and most trusted knights, but despite their loyalty to their king, they could not help but fall madly in love with each other. Their passionate but tragic love led to the downfall of Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table.

Image: Wade Lambert

The infamous duo of bank robbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow captured the public’s imagination during the Great Depression with their crime spree across the United States. Bound by love and a shared thirst for freedom, Bonnie and Clyde’s exploits made them folk heroes to some and public enemies to others. Their tumultuous romance ended in a hail of bullets, but they are remembered as a timeless symbol of rebellious love.

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With roots in Celtic mythology and medieval romance, the tragic love story of Tristan and Isolde has inspired countless artistic interpretations. Tristan was a Cornish knight tasked with escorting Isolde from Ireland to marry her uncle, the King Mark of Cornwall. However, during their journey, they unintentionally consume a love potion, which leads them to become deeply enraptured with each other. Their forbidden affair is marked by passion and, ultimately, heartbreak.

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The tumultuous love affair between Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine de Beauharnais captivated Europe during the early 19th century. In the midst of political turmoil and the pressures of war, their bond endured. And even after their marriage was annulled due to her inability to bear Napoleon an heir, he still declared, "Josephine, my destiny is linked to yours."

Image: K. Mitch Hodge

James Cameron's epic film "Titanic" brought to life the fictional romance between Jack Dawson, a poor young artist, and Rose DeWitt Bukater, a wealthy young woman, aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Their ardent but short-lived romance defied social barriers and allowed spectators to grasp the profound tragedy of the sinking. Through their passionate connection, we are reminded of the terrible human cost of the disaster.

Image: Vidar Nordli-Mathisen

In Homer's ancient epic, after attaining victory in the Trojan War, the cunning hero Odysseus embarks on the long and perilous journey back home to his faithful wife, Penelope. Facing dozens of obstacles and temptations along the way, Odysseus remains steadfast in his love for Penelope and his homeland. Meanwhile, Penelope does not give up hope that her husband, whom most believe to be dead, will return home.

FANTASTIQUE!

Bonjour! Discover Ten English Words Derived From French!

Image: Jossuha Théophile

Oh, la France! From Nobel-Prize-winning authors to delicious dishes and mouth-melting desserts, France's contributions to the world can’t be denied. However, you might be surprised to learn how deeply French culture has influenced the world we live in today. Sure, we are all aware of what the birthplace of baguettes is, but are you aware that everyday words like "scarlet" and "mortgage" come from France as well?

We have selected ten common English words that come straight from the elegant streets of Paris. Keep on reading and celebrate this wonderful exchange between our two languages. Bon voyage!

Image: Jay Wennington

We’ll begin with what’s probably the most well-known entry in this article. You don’t need us to tell you that "restaurant" comes from France: If English speakers were asked to say a French-sounding word on the spot, most of us would probably go straight to "restaurant". However, do you know the gorgeous, poetical meaning hidden in this everyday word?

"Restaurant" comes from 16th century France, in which this word first meant "food that restores". In French, restaurant is derived from the word restaurer, which means "to restore or refresh". Therefore, this word can literally be interpreted as a place that serves food so good that it can restore you.

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Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is an American classic and an argument could be said that the sharpness of its title adds to the gravitas of this novel. Do you think we would remember Hester Prynne’s troubles and tribulations if the novel was called "The Bright Red Letter"? No, "scarlet" definitively is a better fit, and we can thank the French language for this colorful word.

The word "scarlet" comes from escarlate, an Old French word that means "a type of cloth". Interestingly, escarlate itself comes from scarlatum, a Medieval Latin word of unknown origin that translates to "a scarlet cloth".

Image: Dan Dennis

The addition of "cushion" to this list might come as a surprise, but let’s try something: say the word "cushion" out loud. Doesn’t it vaguely resemble a French-sounding word? Try repeating the word a few times, perhaps while pretending you are enjoying a warm drink in a cozy French cafe.

This bit of roleplaying notwithstanding, "cushion" comes from the Middle English word quysshyn, which in turn comes from the Old French word coissin. In turn, this word evolved into coussin, currently used by French speakers everywhere.

Image: Eric TERRADE

Considering the world’s most famous portrait calls the Louvre Museum its home, it seemed only fair that we included this word on our list. "Portrait" comes from the Old French portraire, which means "to portray". However, it should also be noted that the word "portrait" has evolved rather similarly in both English and French, up to the point that currently both words are spelled in the exact same way.

The root behind both the English and French words is the Latin prōtrahō. As any Latin scholar could tell you, understanding the inner workings of this ancient language can be rather tricky: At first glance, prōtrahō means "I drag". However, another definition of this term could be translated as "to reveal" or "to expose", which seems a more faithful root behind our modern understanding of what a portrait is.

Image: Kind and Curious

We placed this item in the exact middle of this article for a reason: Time to take a little detour. Well, not really, we are still going to focus on etymology, but let’s think about this middlepoint as a breather of sorts. After all, while having to take a detour on your way to work is certainly annoying, some changes in direction offer a whole different scenery for us to enjoy, and sometimes, a new road might bring a whole new meaning to the trip we find ourselves on.

Feeling refreshed? Great! Now let’s go back to the subject at hand. The word "detour" was borrowed from the French word détour, which in turn comes from the verb détourner (turn away). Our English word is practically identical to its French counterpart, although its pronunciation is definitively different.

Image: Marten Bjork

Paris is famous for its elegant, world-class hotels. From the Ritz to the Plaza Athenee, visitors everywhere know that a night spent in one of these hotels is a night spent in comfort and luxury. In that regard, the hospitality world has a lot to thank France for, besides setting the bar on splendid accommodation. How about, for starters, we thank the French language for providing the word "hotel" itself?

The French word **hôtel**is one of the most borrowed words in modern history, considering that several countries use this word with little to no variations. In that regard, hôtel comes from the Latin word hospitālis, which can be translated to "hospitable" or as "guesthouse".

Image: Pawel Czerwinski

While this word is obviously French, the story of how this peculiar color got its name is particularly interesting. The French word "turquoise" has remained practically unchanged since its adoption by the English-speaking world: only its pronunciation has slightly changed. Not only that, turquoise is the same term used in Old French for this color, during the time period this word was first introduced.

Interestingly, the etymology of this word doesn’t describe anything related to the tones or characteristics of this color, but it does focus on its origins.Turquoise is derived from the Old French words turc and ois, and it roughly translates to "Turkish stone". This relates to the fact that turquoise stones were brought over to Europe through Turkey.

Image: Tierra Mallorca

Not every word in this list can be pleasant. Let’s try to push through this one, we promise that the last two entries are way more fun. The mere mention of the word "mortgage" is enough to keep millions of English speakers awake at night, as if this common bank loan was some kind of adult version of the boogeyman. In any case, if you happen to be one of those unfortunate souls terrified by the mere mention of a pending mortgage, you should know you can blame the French language for this awful-sounding word.

Even the etymology of this word is slightly creepy: it comes from the Old French termmort gage, which roughly translates to "dead pledge". Luckily, it doesn’t involve any morbid subjects: the dead part of the term is derived from the fact that any interest would be paid to the lender and not deducted from the loan owed.

Image: Mohammad Asadi

Parachuting is one of those things that took a fear as primal as falling and turned it into something fun. While definitively not for everyone, it is highly recommended to anyone who feels at least a little bit like a daredevil, looking for that adrenaline rush that only these types of activities can provide.

For such an exciting hobby, the etymology of this French word is rather straightforward: It comes from the combination of para (protection against) and chute (fall). Just like with "restaurant", this word remains relatively unchanged in the English language, with only the pronunciation varying.

Image: Jake Hills

We’ll end with one of the world’s favorite pastimes. Going to the movies is a universally beloved experience, and one that has transcended decades ever since its invention. From your children to your grandparents, every single generation in modern history has at least a few treasured memories that took place in front of a silver screen.

In that regard, the word "cinema" is as old as movies themselves: it comes from cinématographe, a term coined by the groundbreaking French filmmakers the Lumiere Brothers. Cinématographe comes from the amalgamation of the Ancient Greek words kínēma, which means "movement, and gráphō, meaning "to record" or "to write".