First Name Terms: Elizabeth Genealogy

In English, Elizabeth is pronounced: i-LIZ-e-beth. Ελισαβετ is written Greek Cyrillic form, from which the English name is taken. Elizabeth is one of the most archaic feminine names, yet incredibly popular throughout history and still today. Originally, it's an Old Testament name, written in Hebrew. This was transcribed into Greek. It means "I swear in God's name."

Leonardo da Vinci, in two variants of one of his best paintings, depicts Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist (named in the New Testament). She is pictured in dramatic propinquity, a symbolically loaded pose, along with her baby son, baby Jesus and Mary. (See: Madonna of the Rocks, Virgin of the Rocks.)

She is one of the most notorious Elizabeths in history, and fails to show up on the nice Liz-lists: Elizabeth Báthory. Variously referred to as Countess Dracula, most prolific female serial killer or the most evil woman in history; the Blood Countess, The Bloody Lady of achtice (1560-1640)...

Her body count rating varies from just 80, to possibly 650. She lived in Hungary, her native name: ecsedi Báthory Erzsébet; was learned, fluent in four languages, married and had five children. But her husband and two eldest children all died prematurely.

She lived in a castle and engaged four of her servants to assist in her morbid lifestyle. Local adolescent girls were lured to her abode with promises of work or cash. Others were abducted.

At her trial, four defendants and thirteen witnesses alleged Elizabeth enjoyed sexually molesting and torturing her victims. Girls were stripped and restrained, for protracted periods, while the mistress would bite and tear flesh from their faces, sexually abuse and beat to death. Freezing or starving victims, sticking flesh with needles or play-performing armature surgery.

When mutilated corpses began turning-up in the vicinity, some dumped in graveyards, suspicion and vicious rumors began to circulate. Eventually an investigation was opened, which pointed towards Liz. However, she was Hungarian aristocracy, so officials were reluctant to act.

While there's little doubt she possessed sadistic tendencies and sometimes behaved badly, the trial delay amidst a frenzied climate of mass hysteria caused the situation to become exaggerated and spiral out of control; it was alleged she bathed in blood to keep her skin young! The death penalty was called for. But a fair trial was now impossible.

Finally, it was decided she must be bricked up in her own castle, incarcerated until she died. Four years later, she died there, alone.

Lisa, is an English, short version of Elizabeth. Lisa Simpson is eternally eight-years old. Her mother is Marge (née Bouvier) and father, Homer. She has one brother, Bart, and a baby sister named Maggie. Lisa is smart, plays cool jazz-sax and is a Buddhist, by conversion. She always does the right thing - your social conscience.

The Simpsons is a family show - the best-animated television show ever. Cartoonist Matt Groening based Lisa's character on his real sister. Yeardley Smith does the voice.

Chris Barber, Mowbray Publishing