E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Ivory Gate of Dreams (The).
Dreams which delude pass through this gate, those which come true pass through the Gate of Horn. This fancy depends upon two puns: ivory in Greek is elphas, and the verb elephairo means “to cheat with empty hopes;” the Greek for horn is keras, and the verb karano means “to accomplish.”
phas, and the verb elephairo means “to cheat with empty hopes;” the Greek for horn is keras, and the verb karano
means “to accomplish.”
