Ephemera zettana

The etymological origin of Ephemera (ἐφήμερα) is the Greek epi (ἐπί) – "on, for" and hemera (ἡμέρα) – "day". This combination generated the term ephemeron in neuter gender; the neuter plural form is ephemera, the source of the modern word, which can be traced back to the works of Aristotle. The initial sense extended to the mayfly and other short-lived insects and flowers, belonging to the biological order Ephemeroptera. In 1751, Samuel Johnson used the term ephemerae in reference to "the papers of the day". This application of ephemera has been cited as the first example of aligning it with transient prints. Ephemeral, by the mid-19th century, began to be used to generically refer to printed items. Ephemera and ephemerality have mutual connotations of "passing time, change, and the philosophically ultimate vision of our own existence". The degree to which ephemera is ephemeral is due in part to the value bestowed upon it. Over time, the ephemerality of certain ephemera may change, as items fall in and out of fashion or popularity with collectors. Comic books, for example, were once considered ephemera; however, that perception later faded. As a conceptual category, ephemera has interested scholars. …