Definition of Arctic

The word "Arctic" originates from the Greek adjective "αρκτικός" (arktikós), meaning "belonging to Arktos," the Greek mythological name for the bear that dwells in the northern skies. In ancient Greek culture, the bear represented the northern wilderness, and the region where it was said to live was called "Arktike." This term referred to the northerly lands beyond the known world, which were believed to be inhabited by wild, ferocious creatures. The Roman historian Pliny the Elder adopted the Greek term "Arktike" to describe the land around the Arctic Circle, which remained uncharted and unfamiliar to most ancient civilizations. In closely-related languages, such as Old Norse and Old English, similar words for "Arctic" also stemmed from this ancient Greek root, including the Norse "arktisgarni" ("bear-skin girdle") and the Old English "rectorne," ("bear-region"). Over time, the Latin name for the region, "Arctica," was particularly favored in scientific and cartographic contexts, including the writings of prominent Arctic explorers such as Richard Chancellor and Sir Francis Drake in the early modern period. The name "Arctic" subsequently prevailed as the current geographic term for the region surrounding the Earth's northernmost pole.