Herostratos

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Ἡρόστρατος (Hēróstratos).

Proper noun

Herostratos

1. Alternative form of Herostratus.
   • 1919, Francis Sullivan, “Other Things We Forgot”, in The Will of the People, Los Angeles, Calif.: The Ray Publishing Co., page 56:

     Let us suppose that, struck like Herostratos with the idea of perpetuating his name by some strange extravagance, he should decide to distribute his treasure equally amongst his countrymen.

   • 1941, Halvdan Koht, “Quisling and other Traitors”, in “The War in Norway”, in Norway: Neutral and Invaded, London; Melbourne, Vic.: Hutchinson & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., page 97:

     Of course the arch-traitor was Major Quisling, who has, like Herostratos, made sure that his name will go down to posterity, since it has become the generic term for a traitor.

   • 2005, Albert Borowitz, “Introduction”, in Terrorism for Self-Glorification: The Herostratos Syndrome, Kent, Oh.; London: The Kent State University Press, →ISBN, page xv:

     The elusive Osama does not seem bent on surrendering his life for the cause, but even suicide bombers may be moved, like Herostratos, by a wish to enhance and perpetuate their own sense of importance.