Why did George call that first movie "The Phantom Menace" and who or what do we assume is the "Phantom"?

I was reading this fascinating book last night called "Word Origins" (recommend you check it out) and I came across an entry for the word Fantasy.

As it turns out, this word is from the Greek "phantasia." This concept was used by Greek philosophers to describe the mind's ability to put something before itself. Could be a visualization, could be a concept, could be a person.

From that, we get the word "phantom." Originally, the word phantom described something which was not real. It was only imagined. Usage in the 20th century has expanded to include something which is unconfirmed-- could be real, could be unreal. For example: when "a phantom shape sneaks through the hall" we often assume the "phantom" is real but unidentified.

In the case of the "Phantom Menace," I think we assume that the "Phantom" is a mysterious but very real character. Most of us figure it's a reference to Darth Sidious.

But let's take the word back to its origin for a moment. Maybe the "Phantom" menace truly is a phantom-- it is unreal. Sidious' attack on Naboo and corruption of the government is really just a phantom. Although the Dark Side is at work, who is really the menace?

Anakin Skywalker.

Without Anakin, would any of Sidious' plans have come to fruition?

I suggest that we can take the title as a double-meaning. On the surface, the "Phantom" is Darth Sidious, manipulating events behind the scenes. But the second meaning exposes the entire scheme as a smokescreen, a ruse. The real battle is for the soul of Anakin Skywalker-- the battle for Naboo, the Clone Wars, all just a distraction.

And so the "menace" to the galaxy is truly a "phantom." Just an imagined fear in the mind of the galaxy.