Arktos

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Arktos, Greek αρκτος, means 'bear', from the Proto-Indo-European root *h2r̥tkos. The Arctic is named from this Greek word in reference to the northern constellations of Ursa Major, Great Bear, and Ursa Minor, Little Bear.

Arktos was a centaur who fought against the Lapith spearmen.[1]

Arktos is also one of the The Hours, known as Horai - Greek tutelary goddesses of the time of day; Arktos is last light.[2]

Arktos is the name of an offshore double-tractor which can travel over both ice and sea. It is used for emergency services, primarily for saving people from burning oil rigs as an alternative to helicopters. It can carry up to 50 passengers on each of the tractors, can sustain extreme heat and also has a spray system to reduce fire spreading.[3]

Arktos was a 1888 cold chamber for preserving food, developed by Loftus Perkins. It used an early ammonia absortion system.[4]

Arktos is also name of an evil snowman in the German animated Tabaluga series.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Stewart, Michael (2005). People, Places & Things: Arktos. Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant. Retrieved on 2006-08-17.
  2. ^ The Pagan Book of Hours. Cauldron Farm (2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-17.
  3. ^ Offshore Technology. SPG Media Group PLC (2007). Retrieved on 2007-03-09.
  4. ^ McConnell, A. (2004) "Perkins, Loftus (1834–1891)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, accessed 21 Aug 2007 (subscription required)
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