i did some research and came up with a few more names of some signifigance. a couple of the name backgrounds are inconclusive and are only vague extrapolations. but hey, at least i learned somthn!
palpatine: at first i thought the name refered to the word 'palpable', but i dont think that really fits. more likely, it is derived from 'palatine'. as in the most important of seven hills around which rome was founded. palatine is where we get our word palace, indeed, it was the site of many imperial palaces, including ones built by tiberius, nero, domitian, and i think augustus. palatine later become a title for various executives, including sovereign feudal lords.
mace: a mace is a well known weapon (usually blunt). but is also can be a type of scepter, a staff displayed as a sign of authority in a legislative body. this suites mace windu since he is clearly the first or second highest 'ranking' jedi on the council.
plo koon: in the book
making of ep I, creature design effects supervisor nick dudman is quoted as saying. "I decided to call one of the jedi plonkoon, becuase we called my son that during the first year of his life...george crossed out the 'n' and plo koon was born!"
shaak-ti: in hinduism, a shakti is a female incarnation of divine power. shakti is a mother goddess, the creator of the universe. the shakti are the polar opposites of the 'male-concrete' divine powers. they are the abstract element of the cosmos. the term shakti can be used to refer to the spiritual partner a spiritual leader. a relationship often without the emotional/sexual aspects of marriage (this idea suits the jedi code).
sebulba: this is a stretch, but the name sounds like xibalba (SHEE-BAL-BAH), the name of the mayan underworld. according to some accounts, xiabalba is filled with wierd, impish creatures...like dugs?
ki-adi-mundi: in
star wars and philosophy, walt (ritoku) robinson writes, "one jedi master is named 'ki-adi-mundi', which seems to be inspired by the name 'aikido'." another stretch, but no one can deny the martial qualities of the jedi nor the spiritual connotations of the martial arts.
well, i hope everyone is enjoying this topic as much as me. is it perhaps too dull or tedious? let me know what you think!
This post has been edited by xenduck: 18 June 2005 - 01:30 PM