the wave

The ancient Greeks had three words to describe the sea. One of them carried the meaning of "the sea of adventures," "the open sea," or "the sea of life." It was often used in dramatic works of art to convey a hero's thirst for life, for the "open sea" of existence.

This word emphasized the hero's inner world: he would wake up in the morning and feel that a new, beautiful day lay ahead, full of new events, people, and achievements. He longed for it, allowing the waves of life to carry him forward.