Why are they called avatars?

Just wanted to share:

Word of the Day for Friday February 20, 2004

avatar \AV-uh-tar\, noun:

1. The incarnation of a deity -- chiefly associated in Hinduism with the incarnations of Vishnu.
2. An embodiment, as of a quality, concept, philosophy, or tradition; an archetype.
3. A temporary manifestation or aspect of a continuing entity.

In 1517, the year of their first contact, the Aztecs took the Spaniards to be avatars of Quetzalcoatl, the plumed serpent, god of learning and of wind.
--Paul Theroux, [1]Fresh Air Fiend

People . . . believe he was some sort of avatar of peace and love, the ultimate hippie.
--Edna Gundersen, "For $60, a ticket to read," [2]USA Today, October 5, 2000

It would seem that no definitive identification can be made (Rimbaud the symbolist, the surrealist, the Bolshevik, Rimbaud the bourgeois, the crook, the pervert, Rimbaud the prophet, the superman, the mystic, Rimbaud the Catholic, the cabalist, the atheist, etc.); the latest "proved" avatar is forever recycled as evidence -- faulty or secure -- on which to base the next.
--Richard Howard, "There Was Only One Rimbaud," [3]New York Times, November 19, 2000
__________________________________________________ _______
Avatar is from Sanskrit avatara, "descent" (of a deity from heaven), from avatarati, "he descends," from ava-, "down" + tarati, "he crosses, he passes over."

References
1. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0618126937/ref%3Dnosim/lexico (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0618126937/ref%3Dnosim/lexico)
2. http://www.usatoday.com/usafront.htm (http://www.usatoday.com/usafront.htm)
3. http://www.nytimes.com/ (http://www.nytimes.com/)
(http://dictionary.reference.com/premium/?r=9)

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some further info:

Neal Stephenson (author of Snow Crash) is credited with applying the term to the internet (as in the avatars that we use on this board).

You should tell the dictionary people that. You could get meaning 4 added...

hmmmm.... I never really wondered were the word came from. Now that I know, I still dont care :p

"an embodiment" could sorta describe the use of the internet avatars. It's kind of like.. we use them as our guise, and.. so you, i totally lost my train of thought :doh:

I can rest easy now. Whew.

I'm with Yogs...

Just figured it was a name like any other slang internet name but...ok

synonymous with 'icon'

fancy word for symbol.

Great,thanks for sharing,where's the next thread?

...cool

dont let them get ya down jay, its good info. :grinyes: