It’s two jokes. Firstly, “Barbarian” was a ancient Greek-“invented” term for people who don’t speak Greek (or heavy dialects of Greek). The generally accepted theory is that “Barbar” is them imitating sounds they don’t understand, similar to a modern “blabla”. Secondly, Hercules is the Roman name for the Greek Heracles.
It’s two jokes. Firstly, “Barbarian” was a ancient Greek-“invented” term for people who don’t speak Greek (or heavy dialects of Greek). The generally accepted theory is that “Barbar” is them imitating sounds they don’t understand, similar to a modern “blabla”. Secondly, Hercules is the Roman name for the Greek Heracles.
Ah, yes, of course… I had heard both of those little factoids before, but I needed this reminder, as it turns out 😅
wouldn’t it be more like a racist stereotype? like calling Chinese (Using as an example not come at me) ching chongs? ie making fun of their language.
It’s still in use today when people talk of the Berbers, in north Africa, that’s the origin of the name.