tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509912169323205122024-03-06T01:52:04.139-05:00Writing the PastAncient and Medieval History and Historical FictionAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.comBlogger183125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-92034065462821091092014-07-31T21:04:00.001-04:002015-04-20T21:20:39.925-04:00Writing the Past has Moved!<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Readers, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Writing the Past blog has moved to a new website!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Click the link below to be redirected:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/blog-writing-the-past-2/">http://eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/blog-writing-the-past-2/</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Be sure to subscribe for e-mail updates to get all the latest blog posts on ancient and medieval history and historical fiction!</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Adam Alexander Haviaras</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-45002099745237509742014-07-30T22:18:00.001-04:002014-07-30T22:18:48.462-04:00Writing the Past is Moving Camps!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Q5HCwxANCMKRVjEUr_UtXVTUK_SQ-5mxbwaH_IKIMfuDZQNkWrtsdug6Rl5PBqTiZfIJzvhHcUJPlQrWpMUTAFouxrbZ70yCDr-dvYaOsf1JCpowXvaCXMYm-9wU6DOpYdB8gdm45Q/s1600/Aegean+Sunset.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Q5HCwxANCMKRVjEUr_UtXVTUK_SQ-5mxbwaH_IKIMfuDZQNkWrtsdug6Rl5PBqTiZfIJzvhHcUJPlQrWpMUTAFouxrbZ70yCDr-dvYaOsf1JCpowXvaCXMYm-9wU6DOpYdB8gdm45Q/s1600/Aegean+Sunset.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Hello everyone! I hope your summer is going
well and that you are all getting the chance to travel to some amazing places
and read some amazing books. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">A lot has been happening on my end of
things, lots of writing, new ideas, and some summer travelling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The biggest thing I wanted to share with
all of you today is that the Writing the Past blog will be moving to a new,
more permanent outpost. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">These past weeks I’ve been building the
Eagles and Dragons Publishing website and now, it’s finally complete. The
ditches are dug and now surround the solid stone walls and buildings where the
legion will muster. The new link is:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/</span></a></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DmQ_kdkWWhHM8ZO_WtIRamF_Z-2JKcdzcpnCyRjRvtUmcsi6A-WQeFezXNOr7g4m-hLJrZ9L3eXFt280zBZSuknYKdIX4KqeDgb6nu2toHUN5jjrCQfb4JLsZVEARbhCizqeVD3BcQ/s1600/EA+Header+6+Final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DmQ_kdkWWhHM8ZO_WtIRamF_Z-2JKcdzcpnCyRjRvtUmcsi6A-WQeFezXNOr7g4m-hLJrZ9L3eXFt280zBZSuknYKdIX4KqeDgb6nu2toHUN5jjrCQfb4JLsZVEARbhCizqeVD3BcQ/s1600/EA+Header+6+Final.jpg" height="110" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I’ve enjoyed my Blogger site. I’ve actually
been on it for over 5 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But you can only do so much with Blogger,
and I wanted to create something that looks a little less cluttered. I also
wanted my own domain. Google owns Blogger, and in the terms that are set out,
they own all of your content too. If Google ever wanted to pull the plug on
Writing the Past, there wouldn’t be anything I could do about it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Mainly, I want the flexibility a proper
website with different pages has to offer. I wanted a better experience for
you, as readers and visitors, and for me as the owner and administrator. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The good news is that the Writing the Past
blog will remain the same. I’ll stick to the same schedule for posts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Comments should be easier too on the new
site, so please do comment when you feel the urge. I do love our interactions!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3Vd4ox5Cs8ojwPMln4VFQDfi5rZdl3qDCI0RMAc5iokNFxM63Wk5WJ_t8Ry_MfG1v1XHeCdkx62i7QFP8yHqgpzf-mqlQ4qddcwX6rlIIQxzMANaUew6yRDThVm9CSyQkjVr_uPwvg/s1600/Olympia+Apollo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3Vd4ox5Cs8ojwPMln4VFQDfi5rZdl3qDCI0RMAc5iokNFxM63Wk5WJ_t8Ry_MfG1v1XHeCdkx62i7QFP8yHqgpzf-mqlQ4qddcwX6rlIIQxzMANaUew6yRDThVm9CSyQkjVr_uPwvg/s1600/Olympia+Apollo.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">For those of you who are subscribed to the
mailing list, you won’t need to do anything. If all goes well, the RSS feed to
your inboxes should transfer seamlessly from the old site to the new.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">If you do stop receiving blog posts to your
inbox, please let me know ASAP and we’ll remedy the situation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">On the new website there is a <a href="http://eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/contact/">Contact Form</a> where
you can fill in the details to e-mail me about anything any time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I would like to hear from all of you about
what sort of content you would like to see on the blog. Tell me what historical
topics you would like to know more about, and whether you would like to hear
more about my research and writing processes, or more frequent updates on works
in progress. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The new website has a special excerpts page
where large excerpts of my books can be read. In future, I’ll also post some
sneak peeks of works that have not yet been released. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It’s all very exciting, but the move from
this site is, I suppose, bitter sweet. After five years here, there is a lot of
content that will be hanging about. I will repost some of it on the new site,
such as the World of Children of Apollo, which many of you more recent
subscribers may not have read. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/blog-writing-the-past-2/">Writing
the Past <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> going to live on at
Eagles and Dragons Publishing.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">So, for now, thank you for sticking with me
for so long on Blogger. I’m very much looking forward to welcoming you, and
interacting with you, at the new Eagles and Dragons website!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Cheers, and thank you for reading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">See you on the other side!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-71478322369149373412014-07-23T03:06:00.000-04:002014-07-23T03:06:00.520-04:00Greek Mythology for Kids – A Lesson and a Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79Cr-2pp9x-_espcU8Ys4tV2VnORdhb0ucNMmh2oFnEpjnDigM1C9ZR4_lfCJ0v5T5NrU0tQL1IpcLd7DtSXBwL0tXkCxUwl1571t6QISnzfTK2PDQKka_A2eDeV7XYITsS5Xhk24AQ/s1600/Athena+and+Poseidon+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79Cr-2pp9x-_espcU8Ys4tV2VnORdhb0ucNMmh2oFnEpjnDigM1C9ZR4_lfCJ0v5T5NrU0tQL1IpcLd7DtSXBwL0tXkCxUwl1571t6QISnzfTK2PDQKka_A2eDeV7XYITsS5Xhk24AQ/s1600/Athena+and+Poseidon+2.png" height="193" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A
few weeks ago, I was asked by a Greek school teacher at the Toronto District
School Board to come to her Saturday morning Greek language class to teach her
kindergarten and grade one students about Greek Mythology.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At
first I thought “Wow! Sure! That’ll be great.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then
I started thinking about it. “Uh oh!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
had no idea what I was going to talk about. The teacher knew I was an author
and said she wanted me to tell a story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ok.
But which story? Most of the stories in Greek Mythology, let’s face it, involve
brutal killing, rapine, incest, and revenge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Not
really tales for the kiddies!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Oh
dear…</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
began flipping through some kids’ books from the public library and my own
collection, serching for something that would work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
knew I wanted to incorporate a little history lesson first. I mean, hey, I
always try and get in the history! So, for that I thought I would try and get
them to name the 12 Olympian Gods of ancient Greece. That would be fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When
it came to the story, I decided on one that was clean, fun, and short. I also
wanted one that involved names they might know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYY-gJS7hnYPgrqJ6wbaHFRsPRRhXjlfXgcG5adeHIB9AaV1CvJ89A8zoejfj9ktQGdMyyobIChO6DgnE1dmaF97M1p2HhxAM9bg90Blfcc_R9DGAIAGod9yev1a4dB-W7E0-a9DhkZA/s1600/Contest+for+Athens.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYY-gJS7hnYPgrqJ6wbaHFRsPRRhXjlfXgcG5adeHIB9AaV1CvJ89A8zoejfj9ktQGdMyyobIChO6DgnE1dmaF97M1p2HhxAM9bg90Blfcc_R9DGAIAGod9yev1a4dB-W7E0-a9DhkZA/s1600/Contest+for+Athens.png" height="225" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
decided on the story of Athena and Poseidon’s contest for patronage of the city
of Athens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Phew.
What a relief!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now,
I won’t lie. I was nervous. Yes, yes, I know. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But their just kids!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">True.
But I’ve taught history to kids at museums and other places in previous jobs,
and let me tell you, kids do not mince their words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“This
is BORING!” or “When’s snack time?” are common phrases that some kid in any
given group will inevitably call out, no matter how exciting the subject. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whether
I still wanted to do it or not, Saturday arrived and I set off for the school.
I had shaved, so as not to look scary, and I wore blue because it is soothing and
chills people out. One hopes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
was my strategy: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 38.7pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do a small intro<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 38.7pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ask them to name ancient Greek gods they know until we hit
all twelve<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 38.7pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tell them the story in animated fashion, using the chalk
board to draw pictures<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 38.7pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Have them work on the fantastic colouring sheets I had found
of Athena and Poseidon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 38.7pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m
happy to say, it all went well. At first the kids were like “Who is this
stranger person standing at the back of the room?” But once I started talking
about the gods and goddesses whose names were familiar, they began to warm to
me. Referring to Disney’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hercules</i>
certainly jogged their memories!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
was going to find my way! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgnHF2CwrPs&feature=kp" target="_blank">I was going to go the distance!</a> Erm, sorry…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLOGjGs_26s6UgAPR-wjqs3DT3GU-woPh7QVz_LJgXQfo1SQZ5exzHD6QA0Lw_U-sopCy6n0rOk7-0bz8-5lsHknJLvIlRZ_0T3hijmUbi0XeVVCnRQYnJTKIjPsEtOCU0hshYdrLeQ/s1600/Athena.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLOGjGs_26s6UgAPR-wjqs3DT3GU-woPh7QVz_LJgXQfo1SQZ5exzHD6QA0Lw_U-sopCy6n0rOk7-0bz8-5lsHknJLvIlRZ_0T3hijmUbi0XeVVCnRQYnJTKIjPsEtOCU0hshYdrLeQ/s1600/Athena.png" height="320" width="172" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anyway,
if they didn’t know the names of a particular god, they certainly related to
the trait of that god. Hestia may have been strange to them, but they could
certainly understand her as Goddess of the Family (hearth). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So,
we got through that, and because there were a couple kids in the audience who
were named after Greek gods, they were quite chuffed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then
I got a “When’s it snack time?” question which the teacher quickly stomped out.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">When
I told them it was time for a story, they hushed up and bent forward. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ah,
the power of storytelling!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
had written a retelling of the story of the contest for Athens beforehand, but
reading from the paper would not have done it. I had memorized it, and told it
loud and clear, with sound effects (if you grew up playing with Star Wars toys
(as I did), there are always sound effects!). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Their
little faces beamed with wonder and I knew I was doing all right. Thank you,
Muses!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimM69RG7ReAiuRMiMJqc6mYg1UHSIGpijv44mExqDNOIkOX_hkUm9Gde_XcSICrZKKuF5uTmhCoLzQ288AVvOwR0JOX_ELC7oFIem3XXZIzeQvoNl2ZAi5Pg9b3vRnDbcFtGXDChtjnA/s1600/Poseidon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimM69RG7ReAiuRMiMJqc6mYg1UHSIGpijv44mExqDNOIkOX_hkUm9Gde_XcSICrZKKuF5uTmhCoLzQ288AVvOwR0JOX_ELC7oFIem3XXZIzeQvoNl2ZAi5Pg9b3vRnDbcFtGXDChtjnA/s1600/Poseidon.png" height="191" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They
even loved my rubbish drawings of the Acropolis, Poseidon’s trident, and
Athena’s olive tree as I told the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Afterward,
I passed around a book from the library on the Parthenon so that they could see
the temple that was built on the Acropolis so very long after the events of
that story, in honour of the winner of the contest, Athena Parthenos. They
loved the visual!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When
I mentioned colouring sheets, they all cheered, each wanting to colour both of
the gods who were in the story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
had to run down the hall to make more photocopies!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When
the class was finished all the children smiled and thanked me, ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kyrios Adam Alexandros’</i>, for coming and
talking to them about Greek mythology. A few of the kids were indeed going to
Greece this summer and said that they were going to tell their parents the
story at dinner that day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnT9j2CVqJJiJQ0uxt_tSaEtW0yVfGzOdEXciF-WLuXN7Q-zZmEOL476k8ikVRHclOwiNf2YaZoT-9S87_wWfMzB-ACpg0JnLTArWROL_T28W81fU-Q7qEYr96V7REhel1RtKa2HbZog/s1600/Kyrios+Adam+Alexandros.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnT9j2CVqJJiJQ0uxt_tSaEtW0yVfGzOdEXciF-WLuXN7Q-zZmEOL476k8ikVRHclOwiNf2YaZoT-9S87_wWfMzB-ACpg0JnLTArWROL_T28W81fU-Q7qEYr96V7REhel1RtKa2HbZog/s1600/Kyrios+Adam+Alexandros.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In
my few experiences teaching children about history, whatever the period, it has
always been a joy to have even a couple children leave the lesson happy,
intrigued, and wanting more information. They’re small, but they’re like
sponges, and if you teach it in an exciting way, you will reach them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On
this occasion, almost all the children, even the very quiet ones, left happy
and excited, eager to show their parents their colouring sheets of Athena and
Poseidon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
needn’t have worried. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
tales of Greek mythology are indeed bloody and explicit, but there are some
that can be related safely to a younger audience. There are also many kids’
books that contain tamed-down versions of the stories. One of my favourites is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Atticus-Storytellers-100-Greek-Myths/dp/1842552791/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405319978&sr=8-1&keywords=atticus+the+storyteller%27s+100+greek+myths" target="_blank">Atticus the Storyteller’s 100 Greek Myths</a></i>
by Lucy Coats and Anthony Lewis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rDs3ADYEiK13Hyrf2oCzF_y6zVblBfvlFhE3cK9yp_mGrXsiYxiGsmof0smlju2N1-GIwycGLj_vl_WPjM3ZexYMZaXdBosW3qgMuLgCKRdLtrtBnCLfw7moK-PW-TjLuW0n_4g76w/s1600/at+the+school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rDs3ADYEiK13Hyrf2oCzF_y6zVblBfvlFhE3cK9yp_mGrXsiYxiGsmof0smlju2N1-GIwycGLj_vl_WPjM3ZexYMZaXdBosW3qgMuLgCKRdLtrtBnCLfw7moK-PW-TjLuW0n_4g76w/s1600/at+the+school.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So,
this summer, if you’re looking to entertain your children, grandchildren,
nieces or nephews, with some stories from ancient Greece, don’t be afraid. Give
it a go!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If
you like, you can use my full retelling of the Contest for Athens story which
I’ve put at the bottom of this post. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You’ll
be amazed at how much these tales grab children’s attention. After all, they’ve
done so for thousands of years!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank
you for reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If
you are interested in the ancient Greece colouring sheets, the best ones I
found are at <a href="http://www.hellokids.com/r_1032/coloring-pages/countries-coloring-pages/greece-coloring-pages/greek-mythology-coloring-pages">http://www.hellokids.com/r_1032/coloring-pages/countries-coloring-pages/greece-coloring-pages/greek-mythology-coloring-pages</a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re free!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here are a few of the students' colouring pages that went up on the classroom wall:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCW3fQKk-p8uRqVWXiwpGttUZazUsqcaES2sKcswNc6zwB6JMpJGMXvxaA_K5pAsLOPrJSbzzq7DM-nprhThfnG3UbGmoaV6A81fTfwZT4hQXJ8Zw_D8AJKtguOpp9rxzj-w7ferl0MQ/s1600/student+pages+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCW3fQKk-p8uRqVWXiwpGttUZazUsqcaES2sKcswNc6zwB6JMpJGMXvxaA_K5pAsLOPrJSbzzq7DM-nprhThfnG3UbGmoaV6A81fTfwZT4hQXJ8Zw_D8AJKtguOpp9rxzj-w7ferl0MQ/s1600/student+pages+1.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRa_k4Tdt7orRtcXoq4Yc5VHqbT-0P9kUaROVwvwRyd3NsPkBMjcRFioRA1o1sw36L-W0v0C5lGYLwIxo0NJ-gOP72NwF49ZrEDFz7VKsN23g1vp_P366jXN2-ujgYfM_mRNLOjd8dw/s1600/student+pages+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRa_k4Tdt7orRtcXoq4Yc5VHqbT-0P9kUaROVwvwRyd3NsPkBMjcRFioRA1o1sw36L-W0v0C5lGYLwIxo0NJ-gOP72NwF49ZrEDFz7VKsN23g1vp_P366jXN2-ujgYfM_mRNLOjd8dw/s1600/student+pages+2.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here
is my retelling of The Contest for Athens:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">The Contest for Athens </span><span lang="EN-CA">(a story of Athena and Poseidon)</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once,
a long, long time ago first king of Athens, King Cecrops (who was part man and
part snake!) wanted to find a god who would be the protector of his beautiful
city. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two
gods came forward to be the city’s protector: Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom,
and Poseidon, the God of the Sea. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They
almost fought over it, and just as they were about to attack each other,
Athena, being the Goddess of Wisdom, suggested that they should hold a contest
for the city. With King Cecrops as the judge, they set up the contest and
decided that whoever gave the best gift to the city would win.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A
huge crowd of people gathered with King Cecrops as the judge, and they went up
to the <u>Acropolis</u> to present their gifts to the city. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Poseidon
went first. He lifted his massive <u>trident</u> (three pointed spear) and
struck the earth with it. Where the spear struck the ground, a spring of water gushed
out of the rock. The people loved it, but as they went closer to taste the
water, they discovered that it was salty. Don’t forget that Poseidon was ruler
of the sea and the water he controlled was salty, just like the seas he ruled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then
it was Athena’s turn. She quietly knelt on the rocky ground and buried
something. Everyone watched. Everyone was silent. Then, a brilliant green shoot
began to grow out of the rock. It grew, and grew, and branches and leaves
appeared. It was an <u>olive tree</u>, full of beautiful silver-green leaves,
and plump purple olives. The crowd gasped.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This
turned out to be a much more useful gift. It gave the people of the city, not
only the olives themselves as food, but also the olive oil for their lamps and
for cooking their food, as well as the wood from the olive tree to build their
boats and houses. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">King
Cecrops declared Athena the winner of the contest, and the protector of the
city which became known as Athens, or in Greek, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Athina</u></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many,
many years later, a <u>Temple of Athena</u> was built on the Acropolis. It is
called the <u>Parthenon</u>. This temple had statues of the contest as
decoration, and showed Poseidon with his trident, and Athena with her olive
tree. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: red; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>IMPORTANT NOTICE</b></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I'm glad so many of you decided to take advantage of this Summer offer!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-7122348875937836892014-07-14T02:28:00.000-04:002014-07-14T02:28:13.350-04:00The Timelessness of Arthurian Tales<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx15ivpiHd12tq9QmLArYpVTS5Qb6S12r3tgDD_-r9HKo0CP45PRpqEeNeqxxkj-kNIGkwmjdUbkfqPCIOqiQu0EcDsReDs3THZcfS0EzQhz8WhWZJE-K0Qa8SjII9GeOwb10fcIv_wg/s1600/death+of+Arthur+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx15ivpiHd12tq9QmLArYpVTS5Qb6S12r3tgDD_-r9HKo0CP45PRpqEeNeqxxkj-kNIGkwmjdUbkfqPCIOqiQu0EcDsReDs3THZcfS0EzQhz8WhWZJE-K0Qa8SjII9GeOwb10fcIv_wg/s1600/death+of+Arthur+2.png" height="143" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">A couple of years ago, I wrote about a new
series I had started watching called <a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2012/01/keeping-history-and-legend-alive.html">MERLIN</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As I said then, I was shocked by what I
perceived as the ridiculous aspects of the show and how much they had changed
the Arthurian cycle. However, after the first few episodes of the show I began
to see its qualities and the wonderful ways in which it revived the Arthurian
legend for a new generation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This past weekend, I finished watching the
fifth and final season of this <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1199099/">BBC
Series</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I’m actually a little sad that the series
is done. I’m also surprised at how attached I became to many of the characters,
especially the characters of Merlin and Arthur whose bantering, odd, loyal
relationship is the central theme and strength of the series. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMiyfxIhKvSGCD6U7b9GjFuDzJJ1WI9t0_J_SwYkP0bjr4-CpsHNCtljCG4tpTOr9r4RzqBIVavrRpkx3rzqSajs0iUx8onbrbC1Eb3gx1-T25e852AL1ahU8kTo4NUDXfILTvWCgag/s1600/Arthur+and+Mordred.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMiyfxIhKvSGCD6U7b9GjFuDzJJ1WI9t0_J_SwYkP0bjr4-CpsHNCtljCG4tpTOr9r4RzqBIVavrRpkx3rzqSajs0iUx8onbrbC1Eb3gx1-T25e852AL1ahU8kTo4NUDXfILTvWCgag/s1600/Arthur+and+Mordred.png" height="160" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA">We all know that Arthur dies in the end. Of
course he does. But I found myself hoping that maybe, just maybe, Arthur would
survive. I wanted him to! The series had changed so many other aspects of the
legend, why not change that? End things on a positive, uplifting note, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">No. The death of Arthur in story is something
that is inevitable, even for a modern interpretation. It’s the death of Arthur
that shows the essential elements of tragedy, sacrifice, and hope for the
future that are so crucial to Arthurian tales. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In MERLIN, the actors Colin Morgan and Bradley
James manage to pull off an emotional, gut-wrenching final episode that is, to
me, a worthy addition to the Arthurian canon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzJSx_ULDS_EoIZUUo-gUHljacB352mpEREAgvTfS0jkQJJh2pBgdoXKdrau9iJeS_4H32mOKWVGxKaI-ZRdbrYqhrbRDtilmAO-w5sRZnkgGbDlcqjd6YZQFqll-TEYA-D5c8Wp_0w/s1600/death+of+Arthur.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzJSx_ULDS_EoIZUUo-gUHljacB352mpEREAgvTfS0jkQJJh2pBgdoXKdrau9iJeS_4H32mOKWVGxKaI-ZRdbrYqhrbRDtilmAO-w5sRZnkgGbDlcqjd6YZQFqll-TEYA-D5c8Wp_0w/s1600/death+of+Arthur.png" height="115" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">After watching that final episode, I found
myself dealing with a familiar feeling of sadness and longing in the pit of my
stomach. It’s something I always feel when I finish watching or reading the
story of Arthur and his knights. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This experience reminded me why I love
Arthurian stories so much, and why I will never tire of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I grew up with the stories of Arthur. In
fact, they are a big part of the person I have become, the ideals I hold to be
true and important. They speak to me on many levels.
They are timeless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Historically, those few decades straddling
the 5<sup>th</sup> and 6<sup>th</sup> centuries A.D gave rise, in my opinion,
to some of the most important and moving literature and literary traditions
since Homer composed the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iliad</i> and
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Odyssey</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUN6ZEOl9U8F6ZHSNvB95nhB8ysCNRkfZ1r54fYAntoU5y3XU4Q1LeAQGqc9Cu9h33eW7-m_zrMZiwN2XX0LorAlzySBXVusTdKHxAesKYH_7GjC7SDCv6FfUlPXDTtlAxf5WvRQKqQ/s1600/Arthur.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUN6ZEOl9U8F6ZHSNvB95nhB8ysCNRkfZ1r54fYAntoU5y3XU4Q1LeAQGqc9Cu9h33eW7-m_zrMZiwN2XX0LorAlzySBXVusTdKHxAesKYH_7GjC7SDCv6FfUlPXDTtlAxf5WvRQKqQ/s1600/Arthur.png" height="183" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA">Whether ‘Camelot’ was a late medieval
castle, or a re-fortified Iron Age hill fort at South Cadbury doesn’t matter.
It’s irrelevant if the sword Excalibur rose out of the water in the hand of an
ancient priestess or water nymph, or if it was cast as a solid piece of iron in
a stone mould by a highly skilled smith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">What matters in the Arthurian cycle are the
people, and the journeys that they take. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When I think about Arthurian legend, I
think about a young boy facing his destiny, I think of lovers facing
insurmountable odds, I think about brave and gifted people working to better
the land they love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uQpAk6chH_jbc2ub-JSVWbqZAOAtgIRPCRcIMEIRpggUOeiPRYhwAjtX7MMsmVnXKUN7vo-66Yj1vHHHlcjA6A1iDCwUooPCrOqdl7Lvr8hmp7XY3p1nmXN0vux42xfSs6o_Ug_gXA/s1600/Tristan+and+Isolde+%2528Waterhouse%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uQpAk6chH_jbc2ub-JSVWbqZAOAtgIRPCRcIMEIRpggUOeiPRYhwAjtX7MMsmVnXKUN7vo-66Yj1vHHHlcjA6A1iDCwUooPCrOqdl7Lvr8hmp7XY3p1nmXN0vux42xfSs6o_Ug_gXA/s1600/Tristan+and+Isolde+%2528Waterhouse%2529.png" height="200" width="146" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When I think of these stories I think about
ideals of chivalry that, real or imagined, are a bright light in a world that
seems to be crumbling apart, pinioned as it is between the classical and early
medieval worlds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When I travelled to Glastonbury, Cadbury
Castle, Birdoswald, Wroxeter, Dinas Emrys, Tintagel, or Caerleon, I wasn’t
focussed so much on the archaeology and whether it supported the legends of
those places. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">What pulled me into those places, what
grabbed my imagination and would not let go, were the stories and people
associated with those places. Therein lies the true magic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I’ll never forget the names of Balin and
Balan, Eric and Enide, Sir Gawain and Sir Perceval, Tristan and Isolde, The
Lady of Shalott, Lancelot, Guinevere, Uther, and Arthur, and so many more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAN9-2Ti-eutZB9keJIa8NJQLV_W4WwmAlKS3V51od4y_8OMvog8uLKp5XTfOlMqwqunkwJhgktEGMtFLjFSb350sdN_V3Y_3Jq7fnpR_tc4UpYotC3HElzWD-99q67t0cSOo_Zvu8GQ/s1600/Lady+of+Shallot.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAN9-2Ti-eutZB9keJIa8NJQLV_W4WwmAlKS3V51od4y_8OMvog8uLKp5XTfOlMqwqunkwJhgktEGMtFLjFSb350sdN_V3Y_3Jq7fnpR_tc4UpYotC3HElzWD-99q67t0cSOo_Zvu8GQ/s1600/Lady+of+Shallot.png" height="152" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA">If my heart were a book shelf, there would
be a scroll with a special space dedicated to every chapter of the Arthurian
cycle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I feel like I’ve watched the barge carrying
Arthur’s body sail to Avalon countless times, and yet the cycle is always
reborn inside of me, my mind, and my imagination. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Someday, when I’m ready, I’ll write my own
version of the cycle in as historically accurate a way as possible. This has
always been my goal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But, even more so, I will write my own
offering to the traditions in a way that the most inspiring aspects of the
tales come to the fore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It feels like an impossible task, but then,
no quest is intended to be easy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Thank you for reading. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Which are your favourite Arthurian tales? Share
yours in the Comments box below!</span></span><!--EndFragment-->
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vwp5meBd0-jLQCBZeMIEe5HdJCK1US3OyqZ9AtODMdKlZsvMrxzV7xDDqpBMcLJRU48SVI8sxuV5uCMpcsUGHnAFyRs3aOgaFJlwrafrP7tRcoPnNkWe-osoz-s08pMkA8w5QPQ6_Q/s1600/Merlin+and+Vivian+%2528Gustave+Dore%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vwp5meBd0-jLQCBZeMIEe5HdJCK1US3OyqZ9AtODMdKlZsvMrxzV7xDDqpBMcLJRU48SVI8sxuV5uCMpcsUGHnAFyRs3aOgaFJlwrafrP7tRcoPnNkWe-osoz-s08pMkA8w5QPQ6_Q/s1600/Merlin+and+Vivian+%2528Gustave+Dore%2529.png" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-5298699855019865702014-07-03T20:02:00.000-04:002014-07-03T20:02:49.296-04:00The World of Killing the Hydra - Part III - Sarmatian Horse Warriors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxYM4LuqnMoQHFz1gKfrzjSL8TcWkk0e9Y2R7aeD_i7cHYOfrAtEyCGkq6ssHerDYI2-OG5VKPA_8DcB0QwpabAs2QdNjuZDpd6fRYfW9tGCUHh6EXT9c2GyK_mzl_KQfKj-2_u8UMA/s1600/hydrakindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxYM4LuqnMoQHFz1gKfrzjSL8TcWkk0e9Y2R7aeD_i7cHYOfrAtEyCGkq6ssHerDYI2-OG5VKPA_8DcB0QwpabAs2QdNjuZDpd6fRYfW9tGCUHh6EXT9c2GyK_mzl_KQfKj-2_u8UMA/s1600/hydrakindle.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It’s been a while since we last visited The
<a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2014/04/the-world-of-killing-hydra-part-ii.html" target="_blank">World of Killing the Hydra</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I’ve been caught up in writing posts about <a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2014/05/the-tragedy-of-herakles.html" target="_blank">Herakles</a>
and <a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2014/06/argonautica-part-i-epic-storytelling-in.html" target="_blank">Jason and the Argonauts</a> which, I’m happy to say, have been receiving a lot
of great feedback.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The myths have great appeal, so I can see
why those posts are so popular. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Today, in this third installment of The World
of Killing the Hydra, we’re going to look at a group of warriors who also have
ties to myth, and who, as a fighting force, became legendary in the Roman
world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I want to talk about the Sarmatians. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Killing
the Hydra</i>, Lucius Metellus Anguis finds himself getting to know the men of
the cavalry ala of Sarmatians who have been sent to join the III Augustan
Legion at Lambaesis, in Numidia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYvRRwYSgnxOvDDb-nBETryHzT16mSCf8m5uGutMPnPcM7TPuRgZwewOstOAmez2irVApf_l8m-BW2ZVlSpqCsx8iSXOqxziTWedBMElZK2jBS6HyPYN9j1Zf_jWYi8raC3IfwqP4Xw/s1600/Sarmatian+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYvRRwYSgnxOvDDb-nBETryHzT16mSCf8m5uGutMPnPcM7TPuRgZwewOstOAmez2irVApf_l8m-BW2ZVlSpqCsx8iSXOqxziTWedBMElZK2jBS6HyPYN9j1Zf_jWYi8raC3IfwqP4Xw/s1600/Sarmatian+1.png" height="165" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artist impression of Sarmatian Cavalry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The leader of this fighting force is Mar, a
king of his people who led them against Rome in the wars with Emperor Marcus
Aurelius. Mar is joined by his royal nephew, Dagon, and both men play a key
part in the story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But who were the Sarmatians?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The average person has not heard about this
group of warriors that came to form the elite heavy cavalry of the Roman
Empire. Most people probably know of them only from the role they play in the
movie <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">King Arthur</i>, with Clive Owen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Researching Sarmatian warrior culture was a
fascinating part of the research for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Killing
the Hydra</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Sarmatians were a Scythian-speaking
people from north of the Black Sea, and the high point of their civilization spanned
from the 5<sup>th</sup> B.C. to the 4<sup>th</sup> century A.D. when they
eventually went into decline because of pressure from the Huns and Goths. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-wUyiiY1E6C9no8zucsHC5szurY1uL1AQJu4TO33LQjRAXjqR7bOJkPoG78COAxc7K9hZStt6SFBG2-Zzx9zoWC98Og6tPlDhqwSoum6CMpPgSlMTlm1adRZEMrK_7oy6D5HQmnywQ/s1600/Contos+lance+head.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-wUyiiY1E6C9no8zucsHC5szurY1uL1AQJu4TO33LQjRAXjqR7bOJkPoG78COAxc7K9hZStt6SFBG2-Zzx9zoWC98Og6tPlDhqwSoum6CMpPgSlMTlm1adRZEMrK_7oy6D5HQmnywQ/s1600/Contos+lance+head.png" height="50" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lance head of a Sarmatian 'contos', a 16 foot lance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Sarmatians were a nomadic Steppe
culture whose lands extended from the Black Sea to beyond the Volga in western
Scythia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Herodotus believed the Sarmatians (or
‘Sauromatae’) were descended from intermarriage between Scythian men and Amazon
women, and that ever since the two peoples joined:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><i><span style="color: #990000;">"the women of the Sauromatae have kept their old ways, riding to the hunt on horseback sometimes with, sometimes without, their men, taking part in war and wearing the same sort of clothes as men… They have a marriage law which forbids a girl to marry until she has killed an enemy in battle; some of their women, unable to fulfill this condition, grow old and die unmarried." </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">(Herodotus, The Histories, Book IV)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Indeed Sarmatian grave discoveries have
revealed armed women warriors, so it seems likely that such tales would easily have
given rise to the Greek perception that the Sarmatians were descended from the
Amazons, those beautiful and terrible daughters of Ares. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPF9WKws8Tap8LPswQHxJzMul4qGxyALYZ-sGz3R-y1bXN6UvbdCOjCGFN_LC7EEJUkj5e1OLsE12X5rxKNb1Te_nomaCxkDWhsAAkT9Q9fBIHayzAf74mEy40nQBd0Xgj-d8kEZWYg/s1600/amazons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPF9WKws8Tap8LPswQHxJzMul4qGxyALYZ-sGz3R-y1bXN6UvbdCOjCGFN_LC7EEJUkj5e1OLsE12X5rxKNb1Te_nomaCxkDWhsAAkT9Q9fBIHayzAf74mEy40nQBd0Xgj-d8kEZWYg/s1600/amazons.jpg" height="145" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazons in Battle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Killing
the Hydra</i>, Mar, in conversation with Lucius, relates to the young Roman how
the women of their people also fought: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><i><span style="color: #990000;">"The women of our land are brave souls. We do not lock them up before the hearths of our homes. They are free to ride with us and wield the sacred sword. Some are priestesses and others have been gifted by our gods with foresight. Sarmatian women are nobler than what your Latin word 'noble' implies."</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">(Mar, in <i>Killing the Hydra)</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">And what of the men? Sarmatian men were
fierce warriors and skilled horsemen, and according to the Roman writer Ammianus Marcellinus, they:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000;">“...<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">have very long
spears and cuirasses made from smooth and polished pieces of horn, fastened
like scales to linen shirts; most of their horses are made serviceable by
gelding, in order that they may not at sight of mares become excited and run
away, or when in ambush become unruly and betray their riders by loud neighing.
And they run over very great distances, pursuing others or themselves turning
their backs, being mounted on swift and obedient horses and leading one, or
sometimes even two, to the end that an exchange may keep up the strength of
their mounts and that their freshness may be renewed by alternate periods of
rest.</i>” </span>(Ammianus Marcelinus, Roman History, Book XVII)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrBCsABv2AF8Apm-LDeaSfbEfC7lLjkKYearYBmtepYQypm-C3Ne3yQrP5YWg4PjkuxB6sR87MOvdx1ViWT1a7eRfRpqP6H6JSQ3hApm95t9Z_vyiXt_TAr6NYsNnHfJzJ3B1xqBW2A/s1600/Sarmatian+crown+%2528Wikimedia+commons%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrBCsABv2AF8Apm-LDeaSfbEfC7lLjkKYearYBmtepYQypm-C3Ne3yQrP5YWg4PjkuxB6sR87MOvdx1ViWT1a7eRfRpqP6H6JSQ3hApm95t9Z_vyiXt_TAr6NYsNnHfJzJ3B1xqBW2A/s1600/Sarmatian+crown+%2528Wikimedia+commons%2529.png" height="181" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarmatian Crown</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarmatian art and culture is also very rich. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Animal imagery was common in their artwork
and often included such totem animals as dragons, griffins, eagles, sphinxes,
snake women, and of course, horses. Often, these images were tattooed on their
bodies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The characters of Mar and Dagon are
naturally curious about the dragon imagery on Lucius’ armour and weapons. They
see it as a sign. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Also, if you remember the Sibyl’s prophecy
from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2012/07/world-of-children-of-apollo-part-vi.html" target="_blank">Children of Apollo</a></i>, you will
know that Lucius’ meeting with the Sarmatians is no coincidence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Sarmatians take their gods very
seriously, but the one they most revered was their war god who was represented
by the Sacred Sword. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlnuuPTSZi8UiwN4yCGkpdoaz1IsLzwMhfZHV4iKRga1hhJLcBQyOmsSBzMibb8i-JaSyeBpRB31vJg1XJVD4mxf-5uVgIC-KaiCQ7I-ptdnU_K8smt-UfSN1zx7rHIee_x5O-STGBw/s1600/Relief+of+Sarmatian+Warriors.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlnuuPTSZi8UiwN4yCGkpdoaz1IsLzwMhfZHV4iKRga1hhJLcBQyOmsSBzMibb8i-JaSyeBpRB31vJg1XJVD4mxf-5uVgIC-KaiCQ7I-ptdnU_K8smt-UfSN1zx7rHIee_x5O-STGBw/s1600/Relief+of+Sarmatian+Warriors.png" height="199" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarmatian Warriors on<br />
Trajan's Column</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Sarmatians’ favourite trial of strength
was single combat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">They believed that there was mystical power
in battle, and when they defeated their enemies, it’s said they often took the
heads, scalps, and beards of the vanquished, drinking blood from the skulls of
the slain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Ancient cultures often did have what we
might perceive as barbaric rituals, but it’s sometimes difficult to detect
truth in the midst of Greek and Roman propaganda or storytelling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The picture painted does make for a
wonderfully colourful group of warriors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Despite the tales of fighting women, magic
swords, scalping, and the drinking of blood, there is one fact that remains
certain – the Sarmatians were some of the best cavalry the world had ever seen.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">They were sometimes known as ‘lizard
people’ because of their scale armour which covered both the horse and rider
almost completely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Sarmatians were heavy cataphracts, the
shock troops that were used to ride down the enemy while wielding their long
swords, and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">contos</i>, a lance of
about five meters, or sixteen feet long. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sFDEdQV0PBnNwDVkh8LVQlYo66YqnWUqKqNa5beD-VPrNvfEWjwWPQzl3P33Aw-qJmAOxxJmcab5sm3XKrR1iuzQfn7ubkqz-eCwfue61XhkGVEtQ7OAJPmdXekcHMCx-bI95gVxtA/s1600/Roman+Cavalry+with+Draconarius+%2528Peter+Conolly%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sFDEdQV0PBnNwDVkh8LVQlYo66YqnWUqKqNa5beD-VPrNvfEWjwWPQzl3P33Aw-qJmAOxxJmcab5sm3XKrR1iuzQfn7ubkqz-eCwfue61XhkGVEtQ7OAJPmdXekcHMCx-bI95gVxtA/s1600/Roman+Cavalry+with+Draconarius+%2528Peter+Conolly%2529.png" height="176" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artist impression of a<br />
<i>Draconarius</i> carrying a <i>Draco</i> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The image that the Sarmatians are probably
most known for, however, is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">draconarius</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This was their war standard which they
carried into battle. It consisted of a bronze dragon’s head with a long wind
sock attached to it. It was held on a pole and carried at a gallop. When the
wind passed through the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">draco</i>, it
made a loud howling sound that was to terrify the enemy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">draco</i> was adopted as a standard by all Roman cavalry in the 3<sup>rd</sup> century A.D.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It’s amazing that, as a highly disciplined
fighting force, the Sarmatians remained active for as long as nine centuries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When Marcus Aurelius won a decisive victory
of the Sarmatians in A.D. 175, he obtained a force of heavy cavalry for Rome
that would make the auxiliary forces much more of a force to be reckoned with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqg6ZQnFxN6GyIJHGTJs_iKuPk2IDv2VoAy3byfCzQqT3wuXlDBUSN-bb3SLd8PvxJNY48YOMwstxIc-qysG_cxlLYBRxlbyuWcaoG7LAT3wpuYWpAqcMqSmWg__cX-jiiRLfTEwW15Q/s1600/Coin+of+Marcus+Aurelius+showing+Sarmatian+captives.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqg6ZQnFxN6GyIJHGTJs_iKuPk2IDv2VoAy3byfCzQqT3wuXlDBUSN-bb3SLd8PvxJNY48YOMwstxIc-qysG_cxlLYBRxlbyuWcaoG7LAT3wpuYWpAqcMqSmWg__cX-jiiRLfTEwW15Q/s1600/Coin+of+Marcus+Aurelius+showing+Sarmatian+captives.png" height="153" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coin of Marcus Aurelius showing Sarmatian captives</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-CA">As ever, the Romans knew a good thing when
they saw it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">In the aftermath of Rome’s victory, Marcus
Aurelius obtained 8000 heavy Sarmatian cataphracts which became the most
skilled cavalry of the age. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">It is these warriors, descended from the
Amazons and mighty Scythians of the Steppes, who now step into The World of
Killing the Hydra. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Mar, Dagon, and their warriors turn the
tides of war against the nomads in Numidia, and become an important new force in the
life of Lucius Metellus Anguis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IJ3mT7KsDPvNsYjhnDNPKPKCm3iwJnQd0ZpLIGFKJKXVmlyP5B-MGhH1QqCJxDDyacYCsyVE3FteGF-d8LZBAraKNCws8NW6IzIzxMVflzk0HXi4ty13rda3uG8KOWTfu2ehFgAFBA/s1600/Draconarius+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IJ3mT7KsDPvNsYjhnDNPKPKCm3iwJnQd0ZpLIGFKJKXVmlyP5B-MGhH1QqCJxDDyacYCsyVE3FteGF-d8LZBAraKNCws8NW6IzIzxMVflzk0HXi4ty13rda3uG8KOWTfu2ehFgAFBA/s1600/Draconarius+2.png" height="248" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Draco</i> standard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The Dragons are now in the thick of it with
the Eagles of Rome.</div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you for reading. </span></span><!--EndFragment--><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-60432797677906132192014-06-23T20:09:00.000-04:002014-06-23T20:09:10.985-04:00Writing the Return – The Warrior’s Homecoming <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BKE_u9gyudjhKDC0zcZaV8S99qNdP0o2PqJ9KKWYHNQamrey_0_SaPUfp0K3pilCxQPyewwRWw0H4BDr35qmgqs5jQkf6uICxgTky0W5UUM0lBggRVIdf7G25s8Y6vu_Qz8SiiQFmg/s1600/Roman+troops.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BKE_u9gyudjhKDC0zcZaV8S99qNdP0o2PqJ9KKWYHNQamrey_0_SaPUfp0K3pilCxQPyewwRWw0H4BDr35qmgqs5jQkf6uICxgTky0W5UUM0lBggRVIdf7G25s8Y6vu_Qz8SiiQFmg/s1600/Roman+troops.png" height="137" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I’m nearing the end of the first draft of
Eagles and Dragons, Book III – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Warriors
of Epona</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This has been a very different book to
write. The characters are farther along their path, and there are many new ones
that have come onto the scene. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I’ve also left the marble of Rome, and the
sands of North Africa behind for the fog-choked hills of Caledonia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">War has come. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">My protagonist has fought a long hard
campaign with his men, the most bloody and savage of his career. He’s been on
campaign incessantly for about a year without the comforts of civilization or
of Mediterranean warmth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">He faces an enemy that will not come out
into the open most of the time, and supposed allies that he really cannot
trust. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">For him, life has been a constant cycle of
fighting for survival. He has led his warriors, and killed for Rome, all for
the purposes of advancing the Empire’s plans for conquest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWsTNxr6clmpXS0VErln_070SsS1Z40Z1PAwCi9qvwgIpOTqc7rAA1gtiSr0rxrAKJIL0aEny5DO2Do_iTgw9gy1ixdkUkz3voVNpqsv_874WVmXzlrIz6IP7eSt5dt47OtmpAov_eA/s1600/Modern+Soldiers.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWsTNxr6clmpXS0VErln_070SsS1Z40Z1PAwCi9qvwgIpOTqc7rAA1gtiSr0rxrAKJIL0aEny5DO2Do_iTgw9gy1ixdkUkz3voVNpqsv_874WVmXzlrIz6IP7eSt5dt47OtmpAov_eA/s1600/Modern+Soldiers.png" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern Conflict</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Indeed, one of the themes running through
all books is that of the powerful few sending many to die on the battlefields
of the Empire. The soldiers are at the whim of those roaming and ruling the
corridors of power. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Sound familiar? My, how history does repeat
itself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Always at the back of my protagonist’s mind
is the family that he misses. But if he thinks on them too much, if he loses
his focus at any time, his enemies will tear him apart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The warrior’s life has never been an easy
one, especially when you have something to lose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I find myself in an interesting position
now, as I write the last few chapters of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Warriors
of Epona</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLKt_ArfT1bndrMzo-R40XwwhvNowOjGNVDPNNPirmBEKJGGKKV7vmlqs7i9cD8iw444F0-WoyvGV8o_ZeebDNtr0bIaUR5V44lo7BN6y1g5EOy2noiswwTAVNV8dniGNR5MO0Zm-5A/s1600/HOmecoming+parade.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLKt_ArfT1bndrMzo-R40XwwhvNowOjGNVDPNNPirmBEKJGGKKV7vmlqs7i9cD8iw444F0-WoyvGV8o_ZeebDNtr0bIaUR5V44lo7BN6y1g5EOy2noiswwTAVNV8dniGNR5MO0Zm-5A/s1600/HOmecoming+parade.png" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homecoming Parade in the UK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It’s time, in a sense, for my protagonist
to ‘come home’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But how is that even possible after the
life he has led? Can he really ‘come home’?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">How have warriors, men and women, dealt
with the aftermath of war?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In his book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://shop.blackirishbooks.com/products/the-warrior-ethos" target="_blank">The Warrior Ethos</a></i>, Steven Pressfield asks a pertinent question: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">“All of us know brothers and sisters who
have fought with incredible courage on the battlefield, only to fall apart when
they came home. Why? Is it easier to be a soldier than to be a civilian?”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In one way, perhaps life at war is more
straightforward. Every day, every moment perhaps, your thoughts, your purpose, are
focussed on the objective – take that position, hold that region, protect your
brothers and sisters in arms, stay alive. In some cases, it’s kill or be
killed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSLzWtEOIp8s5KgsUC3gNDMdfLTzWYfr9fPqaBy0EICIM6ZLl1McsD73YEQgj8Lfbvj1Pk11WL0dioHMiM5QLYoBbQXxMwek3JLooX3jJ8cUli5flVnKX4T_E5qxpva9hJBwa_-Qe1w/s1600/Modern+Soldier+on+campaign.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSLzWtEOIp8s5KgsUC3gNDMdfLTzWYfr9fPqaBy0EICIM6ZLl1McsD73YEQgj8Lfbvj1Pk11WL0dioHMiM5QLYoBbQXxMwek3JLooX3jJ8cUli5flVnKX4T_E5qxpva9hJBwa_-Qe1w/s1600/Modern+Soldier+on+campaign.png" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern Conflict in Afghanistan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">We’re back to primal instincts here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Today, we have any number of soldier’s aid
societies and government programs and guides that are intended to help veterans
of wars reintegrate into society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">These groups do good work that is
much-needed, but is it enough? How can non-combatants in civilian society
understand the physical and emotional trauma that is experienced by warriors
after the battle?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In the ancient and medieval worlds, there
were no societies or organizations whose purpose was to help returning warriors
reintegrate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFV2PM-74BdGDUogZa9ZOMD7ZZbFF3KhY9s0PzC_HuGHHwlvNL6s4766QZ3MxcOz0ZE71nTHpIO8-oNsiP3ZuMHkVo3Vdz1MBlV_EYHm4kluLMCCOS_trBRgSXKysvf9UMGV0sM-Cjw/s1600/Spartans.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFV2PM-74BdGDUogZa9ZOMD7ZZbFF3KhY9s0PzC_HuGHHwlvNL6s4766QZ3MxcOz0ZE71nTHpIO8-oNsiP3ZuMHkVo3Vdz1MBlV_EYHm4kluLMCCOS_trBRgSXKysvf9UMGV0sM-Cjw/s1600/Spartans.png" height="178" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spartan Warriors<br />Art by Peter Connolly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Granted, in warrior societies such as
Sparta and Rome, the majority of warriors probably enjoyed the fighting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Sparta, I should point out, is a unique
example. All Spartan men were warriors. That was their purpose. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But in the Roman Empire, returning warriors
would have had to reintegrate in a way similar to today, rather than ancient
Sparta. Later Roman society valued not just fighting prowess, but also
political acuity, the arts, rhetoric, skill at a trade, generally being a good
citizen in society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In some ways, the Roman Empire combined the
best of both Spartan and Athenian societies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjwNIE6a11bhfbdQNON4n89SwR5XDJ_AvDYxpjrvGNXvB5_Z6Pwz1v4QUzHhP7lktzSnuZlHir36q4ZgvJ6iOXACxkZEa4r3HpkSolEoqOpTc7zTdsfhTZRhW4jm6QisbYC2oFo9LRg/s1600/Soldiers+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjwNIE6a11bhfbdQNON4n89SwR5XDJ_AvDYxpjrvGNXvB5_Z6Pwz1v4QUzHhP7lktzSnuZlHir36q4ZgvJ6iOXACxkZEa4r3HpkSolEoqOpTc7zTdsfhTZRhW4jm6QisbYC2oFo9LRg/s1600/Soldiers+2.png" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern Warriors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">However, going back to peace time in a
civilian society after the straightforward survival life of a prolonged
campaign on the battlefield would have been tough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">We read about legionaries coming back to
Rome and getting into all sorts of trouble, their days and nights taken up with
gambling, brawling, and whoring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It’s no wonder that generals and emperors
created <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">coloniae</i> of retired soldiers
on the fringes of the Empire. In these places, veterans would not be able to
cause trouble in Rome, but they would also be given the opportunity to have
some land and make a life for themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPZL9HRQ2TwVNYDPyedhSdtFrqMewJmm6j6Mwv0RorsLdntAC_7CFyGMxF3nWkq7HvFCIq8mrXVUyXHe7RRHcgzNPxuNrRObucNqoxcmD5s8s0vTe0OE9JjzZlO6SzW7as9LyFj7Pdg/s1600/Reunion.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPZL9HRQ2TwVNYDPyedhSdtFrqMewJmm6j6Mwv0RorsLdntAC_7CFyGMxF3nWkq7HvFCIq8mrXVUyXHe7RRHcgzNPxuNrRObucNqoxcmD5s8s0vTe0OE9JjzZlO6SzW7as9LyFj7Pdg/s1600/Reunion.png" height="155" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family Reunion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Warriors
of Epona</i>, my protagonist will soon be reunited with his family. He’ll be
facing peace time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">How will he deal with this? How will his
family deal with him? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">War changes a person, whether it is in the
past or the present day.</span> It’s an experience unlike any other and I salute
anyone who faces the conflict that comes with stepping from the world of war
into the world of peace.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In the Roman Empire, they were two very
different battlefields, as they are, I suspect, today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">How will my own character deal with the
transition?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Only the next couple of chapters will be
able to tell me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Thank you for reading. </span><!--EndFragment--></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgldGdVNh1bVbclRuy2Jafp8bFF-SnjWD4A4nGNCpoBFlvojf31KQHWtgYNfvmwK1kivxmqVi84LmICFSIPH5t_d9IkByS5hLkq84nAdYg4c4ERYNGtkrwqfItxeNw_bpB4ahNbI3HCA/s1600/WOunded.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgldGdVNh1bVbclRuy2Jafp8bFF-SnjWD4A4nGNCpoBFlvojf31KQHWtgYNfvmwK1kivxmqVi84LmICFSIPH5t_d9IkByS5hLkq84nAdYg4c4ERYNGtkrwqfItxeNw_bpB4ahNbI3HCA/s1600/WOunded.png" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #741b47;">Today, there are numerous organizations
whose sole purpose is to help veterans, young and old, to make the transition
from war zone to home front.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #741b47;">If you know someone returning from one of the many conflicts going on the world, here are a few resources: </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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US Department of Veterans’ Affairs guide to
reintegration: <a href="http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/reintegration/guide-pdf/smguide.pdf">http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/reintegration/guide-pdf/smguide.pdf</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: <a href="http://iava.org/">http://iava.org/</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Soldiers’ Angels: <a href="https://soldiersangels.org/">https://soldiersangels.org/</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">List of other Military and Veteran
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-9800418049580746052014-06-15T21:11:00.000-04:002014-06-15T21:11:10.698-04:00Argonautica - Part II – Heroes’ Deeds, Not Words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGhNSgBGL71e544kTz4pAfDWgrPw_5FkwV5VgHMB66pl18bjtWbuPVmeSuWdwL7WZjaKCYD_5Pl7JoZaH5vsWIczOZ7Na3seGNRnLfPO1D9OVysNDR0kOmDOx5o65cIUFyl2ZeMbISA/s1600/Argo+replica.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGhNSgBGL71e544kTz4pAfDWgrPw_5FkwV5VgHMB66pl18bjtWbuPVmeSuWdwL7WZjaKCYD_5Pl7JoZaH5vsWIczOZ7Na3seGNRnLfPO1D9OVysNDR0kOmDOx5o65cIUFyl2ZeMbISA/s1600/Argo+replica.png" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When Jason and the Argonauts left Lemnos,
they were feeling pretty good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Who wouldn’t after spending time on a
beautiful island making love to women who hadn’t seen in man in years? The
young heroes would have been feeling pretty positive as the Argo cut through
the sea once more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But, for men, happiness can be fleeting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Argo plies the sea through the
Chersonesus and along the Dardanian coast. Again, Apollonius shows his
knowledge of geography by detailing the many places and peoples that the
Argonauts pass on their way through the Hellespont. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">There are so many episodes along the way to
Colchis that are ignored by modern productions. Of course, one film or two-part
series can’t hope to capture them all. But they are wonderful and, I think,
would make for a fantastic HBO series. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Six Arms Are Not Better Than Two</span></span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">One such episode is when the Argonauts
encounter the Doliones and their king, Cyzicus. The Doliones, descendants of
Poseidon, are friendly and welcome the Argonauts with feasting and supplies. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Jason builds an altar to Apollo on the beach, in thanks. The gods must be given
their due.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70Jhg5L2mB1dYmWOr4WN6kJCsVUp_z3d88zoaYOL3aiikCr3Lm3T9f3JRxeR5Vcu8_TQ3F9ffLqrIQfcAfJz0Nj01jRH5pcvHAcOR63J0C4yFhjKW0DbRk84Of5iBpmY0sjHlgTOUVg/s1600/The+Earthborn.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70Jhg5L2mB1dYmWOr4WN6kJCsVUp_z3d88zoaYOL3aiikCr3Lm3T9f3JRxeR5Vcu8_TQ3F9ffLqrIQfcAfJz0Nj01jRH5pcvHAcOR63J0C4yFhjKW0DbRk84Of5iBpmY0sjHlgTOUVg/s1600/The+Earthborn.png" height="165" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Earthborn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">However, the Doliones’ neighbours, a
vicious race of six-armed men, known as the Earthborn,</span> seek to block the
Argonauts’ way. Jason and most of the men are not there when the attack comes,
but Herakles and a few others hold the Earthborn off with bows and spears until
the others arrive. They slaughter the Earthborn on the beach.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When the Argo leaves the Doliones, great
winds rise up and take them back to the island of the Doliones without them
knowing it. This is where the tragic reality of Greek tales hits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Doliones take the returned Argonauts
for Macrian enemies and soon a huge battle takes place between the two armies
in which Jason kills King Cyzicus, his former host. Many Doliones die. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Both sides realize their error and they
mourn and hold games for three days. Cleite, Cyzicus’ new young bride, hangs
herself in her grief. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Argonauts are held there for twelve
days because of high winds and it is only after Mopsus, the crew’s seer, tells
Jason that he must propitiate the great goddess that they are able to calm the
winds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">They set sail, less happy than the last
time they left the Doliones. The journey continues, and there are more storms,
until they come to the land of the Mysians who welcome them with provisions,
sheep and wine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dangerous Beauty</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">At this point we come to an episode that, I
admit, I did not know was a part of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i>.
I’d known it from famous paintings, even recreations in movies such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sirens</i>. So, when I read this passage, I
was pleasantly surprised, despite the tragedy it entails. Here's what happens.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">During the storms, Herakles had broken his
mighty oar, and so during the feasting he heads into the forest to look for a
tree that will serve as a new oar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">While he is gone, his friend Hylas goes
into another part of the wood to fill a pitcher with water so that he can
prepare a meal. Hylas comes to the spring of Pegae where the nymphs are
beginning their dances in honour of Artemis. The nymphs…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">“<span style="color: #0b5394;">…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">who
held the mountain peaks or glens, all they were ranged far off guarding the
woods; but one, a water-nymph was just rising from the fair-flowing spring; and
the boy she perceived close at hand with the rosy flush of his beauty and sweet
grace. For the full moon beaming from the sky smote him. And Cypris [Aphrodite]
made her heart faint, and in her confusion she could scarcely gather her spirit
back to her. But as soon as he dipped the pitcher in the stream, leaning to one
side, and the brimming water rang loud as it poured against the sounding bronze,
straightway she laid her left arm above upon his neck yearning to kiss his
tender mouth; and with her right hand she drew down his elbow, and plunged him
into the midst of the eddy.</i>”</span> (Apollonius of Rhodes, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4NG20muihz3sVRhdokn2bk0Bzr2-U7AxJDOdBjCmSVnq8RBip_dEY7dA1CMaD4pe_SZ5uAukvPqJA9hMkELShRvoC_pp0RG-uQXK3twYuHZt8hz1y9llio0ByFSBJtCc-rsp2D3znw/s1600/Hylas+and+the+Nymphs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4NG20muihz3sVRhdokn2bk0Bzr2-U7AxJDOdBjCmSVnq8RBip_dEY7dA1CMaD4pe_SZ5uAukvPqJA9hMkELShRvoC_pp0RG-uQXK3twYuHZt8hz1y9llio0ByFSBJtCc-rsp2D3znw/s1600/Hylas+and+the+Nymphs.png" height="245" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hylas and the Nymphs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Hylas cries out, but he is gone. Some of
his comrades think a wild beast is attacking him and they go searching for him.
While searching, they find Herakles who is overcome with wrath when he hears
what has happened to his friend. The hero refuses to continue on the journey
with the rest of the Argonauts, opting instead to remain in Mysia and search
for Hylas whom he never finds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukWL2f7sC3r3DRIyL39HKUbEtUSj1gUO7gj93oTwjzQRc9iC6oZYUGcBrRx3oI1CWxE0hNJSEETNm76Gr9i_X0EgvUhjz4hDe00tt1LQQ9gdF9dEwkPAaUxKxSPj8EiOuxk-wJ6X5DA/s1600/Herakles+mourning.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukWL2f7sC3r3DRIyL39HKUbEtUSj1gUO7gj93oTwjzQRc9iC6oZYUGcBrRx3oI1CWxE0hNJSEETNm76Gr9i_X0EgvUhjz4hDe00tt1LQQ9gdF9dEwkPAaUxKxSPj8EiOuxk-wJ6X5DA/s1600/Herakles+mourning.png" height="200" width="120" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herakles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Amidst much quarrelling, the Argo sails
without its greatest hero. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This is certainly an interesting turn of
events. In the Hallmark production, Herakles goes all the way to Colchis where
he dies in battle, and in the Ray Harryhausen version, he stays to look for
Hylas on the island of Thalos, who does not make an appearance in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i> until the homeward voyage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">We discover that it is the will of Zeus
that Herakles not accompany the Argonauts to Colchis since he has yet to finish
his Labours. As soon as the heroes discover this, their quarrelling ends and
they press on. The Gods’ will must be respected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Boxing the Bebrycians</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The next part of their adventure is another
that is often ignored, but I think it is a great part of the story that speaks
to the power of youth and the Argonauts’ sense of adventure and optimism. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggA88ncoQlgw2-s0KvYM6Gy8himStxUHeXSQA6yydG1-Na1ZPM0xfd3T9278bEzZXMxhXau4nsy9RPXifB_Yp3abcyRP0hqUq2Y-yoRUD3pPHheB5X3-WGF0EYN_dRgSGszH767PipQA/s1600/boxing.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggA88ncoQlgw2-s0KvYM6Gy8himStxUHeXSQA6yydG1-Na1ZPM0xfd3T9278bEzZXMxhXau4nsy9RPXifB_Yp3abcyRP0hqUq2Y-yoRUD3pPHheB5X3-WGF0EYN_dRgSGszH767PipQA/s1600/boxing.png" height="200" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient Boxers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When the winds die down, the Argo is forced
to beach itself in the lands of Amycus, king of the Bebrycians. Amycus is a
violent, arrogant man, and where the Argonauts have been well-received before,
they now get anything but a warm welcome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Amycus, a monster of a man according to
Apollonius, tells the heroes that they will never be allowed to leave until one
of them faces him in a boxing match.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Amycus is no slouch when it comes to
fighting – he has killed many men with his challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Polydeuces, the twin brother of Castor, and
son of Zeus, steps forward to accept the challenge. He is young and powerful
and known for his skill in boxing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Amycus stands by, still and confident,
watching the young Polydeuces step forward. Polydeuces carefully removes an
ornate cloak that was given to him by one of the Lemnian maidens. He folds it,
and begins warming up his body before tying the rawhide gauntlets to his fists.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #0b5394;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
one seemed to be a monstrous son of baleful Typhoeus or of Earth herself, such
as she brought forth aforetime, in her wrath against Zeus; but the other, the son
of Tyndareus, was like a star of heaven, whose beams are fairest as it shines
through the nightly sky at eventide. Such was the son of Zeus, the bloom of the
first down still on his cheeks, still with the look of gladness in his eyes.
But his might and fury waxed like a wild beast’s; and he poised his hands to
see if they were pliant as before and were not altogether numbed by toil and
rowing.</i>”</span> (Apollonius of Rhodes, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The two men begin to circle each other,
Amycus taunting Polydeuces. But the latter does not give in to the taunts. Rather, he observes Amycus’ style, testing him, trading blow for blow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanAaee-C4UFMw_IpTCFB-eFlGlfR-PDe_SHB-BIBfWq2tmYFPWiAhb1NHDLwyc7SpNxMt3QTMuEFGK7Z_pwTG730riRXGyhsKZWQZMGNNPtU2L48z4jnjLUV41TdSq7bZgSS-d42Mug/s1600/Castor+and+Pollox.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanAaee-C4UFMw_IpTCFB-eFlGlfR-PDe_SHB-BIBfWq2tmYFPWiAhb1NHDLwyc7SpNxMt3QTMuEFGK7Z_pwTG730riRXGyhsKZWQZMGNNPtU2L48z4jnjLUV41TdSq7bZgSS-d42Mug/s1600/Castor+and+Pollox.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castor and Polydeuces</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The youth is fast and gives as good as he
gets before a break is called and the two step back. When they return to the
ring, the fight is much more ferocious, and Polydeuces takes his chance to land
a punishing blow on the side of Amycus’ head, crushing the side of the king’s
skull and killing him instantly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Bebrycians rush to attack Polydeuces,
but the Argonauts come to his aid, his brother Castor first, and they beat and
kill many of the Bebrycians. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Another thing I noticed in this episode is
that even though <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i> is about
Jason’s journey as a hero, to this point, he has not yet performed any great
deeds. Though he has fought in battles and killed enemies, the king he did kill
was his one-time friend and host, Cyzicus. It was a mistake. The glorious set
pieces such as this fight with Amycus, are the deeds of others in his company. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Apollonius is building to something I
think, by leaving Jason on the side. Perhaps the listener, or reader, is meant
to begin doubting the youth as others do, the expectation built up?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But Jason’s time is coming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Obeying the Gods</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Another set piece that has received much
attention in film and television is the Argonauts’ visit to Phineus, the blind
prophet tormented by the Harpies. After leaving the land of the Bebrycians with
spoils, the Argonauts come to the place where Phineus lives by the sea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBQqSB3Qbzc8mOI44MMf4jjpTlYEaTYr5Huk1-yiPqYNM9WN44BM5YvDtE4e9TSlnpGMOxbCHreuRhWdio83kDNW37zWersLCkEegu3RuwGEorxhHJy0KkcMnNosTznF1qxsLvzXuyA/s1600/Calais+and+Zetes.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBQqSB3Qbzc8mOI44MMf4jjpTlYEaTYr5Huk1-yiPqYNM9WN44BM5YvDtE4e9TSlnpGMOxbCHreuRhWdio83kDNW37zWersLCkEegu3RuwGEorxhHJy0KkcMnNosTznF1qxsLvzXuyA/s1600/Calais+and+Zetes.png" height="200" width="158" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason and Phineus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Phineus was given the gift of prophecy by
Apollo himself, but after he slighted Zeus by revealing too much to people, he
was cursed with permanent old age and the loss of his eyes. He was also cursed
with Harpies who would not let him eat anything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When Jason arrives, we discover that
Phineus is expecting him and knows of their mission for the Fleece. When they
hear his tale, the young pity the old man and want to help him. In exchange,
Phineus shares his wisdom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When the Harpies come to attack, it is not
Jason who attacks them, as in the Hallmark production, but rather
fascinatingly, the sons of Boreas, Zetes and Calais, who take to the air to
attack the Harpies. They come close to killing them, but Iris, a goddess of the
sky and a messenger, as well as the Harpies’ sister, stops Boreas’ sons from
carrying out the killings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Iris swears on the waters of the Styx (the ‘water-tight’ oath feared even by the gods) that the Harpies will no longer
bother Phineus. In the films, the Harpies are killed or caged. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGNbCfFdGtDly1rD5xiDwr0iCfCJIY03ZVxfL1SrBRqtrRfkGfhOfqNaxj3QBv7p8ANXMoivkGMFz5Sms2iZweIHOaudbNCs01DkBy2JkQTBkvxhIeQuuV0jheSyX1wkqLcDtzG1OIg/s1600/The+Boreads.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGNbCfFdGtDly1rD5xiDwr0iCfCJIY03ZVxfL1SrBRqtrRfkGfhOfqNaxj3QBv7p8ANXMoivkGMFz5Sms2iZweIHOaudbNCs01DkBy2JkQTBkvxhIeQuuV0jheSyX1wkqLcDtzG1OIg/s1600/The+Boreads.png" height="157" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Boreads and the Harpies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Argonauts make sacrifices to the gods
and prepare a feast for the old man who devours enough food to sate his
incredible hunger. Then it is time for him to tell Jason and his men what they
can expect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But he cannot tell them everything, having
learned his lesson in revealing too much. To get to Colchis, he tells them that
they must pass through the Cyanean Rocks, and how they can use a dove to help
them get through. When they pass into Pontus, they are to keep Bythinia on
their right. They must stop in the land of the Mariandyni. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This is where Apollonius continues to show
off his geographical knowledge. Phineus goes through all the peoples and places
they will see on their way – the land of the iron-working people, Amazons along
the River Thermodon etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Co5ZaSsDu2GtRupFVIZSfnFohjljXrcHz35n-AwFaU-VC6ZjfN1nXCclLIqHecCmlSmhMe1gfHE-iwAkqzm_u1mOIZCHZcQPqXkoW7cie3GBTG6s7csRDDbLGNqdasNjR6geEFIWDQ/s1600/Cyanean+Rocks+(1676).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Co5ZaSsDu2GtRupFVIZSfnFohjljXrcHz35n-AwFaU-VC6ZjfN1nXCclLIqHecCmlSmhMe1gfHE-iwAkqzm_u1mOIZCHZcQPqXkoW7cie3GBTG6s7csRDDbLGNqdasNjR6geEFIWDQ/s1600/Cyanean+Rocks+(1676).png" height="200" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cyanean Rocks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">They are to travel until they come to the
River Phasis which will lead them to Aeetes’ capital in Colchis, and the Grove
of Ares where a terrible dragon watches over the Golden Fleece where it hangs
on an oak tree. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This impending danger strikes fear into the Argonauts’
hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Jason asks if they will see Hellas again,
and Phineus replies that they will, but with the help of many guides. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">He does give one striking piece of advice.
Phineus tells Jason that he must heed Aphrodite’s aid most of all, since the
success of their entire quest depends on her!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This is where the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i> stands apart from all other stories, indeed it breaks
new ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The theme of Love, and the romantic
treatment of Love, was new to epics when Apollonius of Rhodes composed the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As we shall see in Part III of this series,
Love will play a major role in the development of Jason as a hero. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you for reading.</span></span><!--EndFragment-->
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWmP2d3JmzVeLFF1c2Hs5oDlmSKK4y7_83yUN-19z4Y_Bkuo3TcpVcuCpqF1dVF0NQ5t_-QBo0rdma43tqftbcTwSv_p-yesHB7Co1wmVjm3-bC-k_A9BBs-5fXEIt8g0qeFM14gT5g/s1600/Argonautica+map+(by+Abraham+Ortelius+1527-1598).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWmP2d3JmzVeLFF1c2Hs5oDlmSKK4y7_83yUN-19z4Y_Bkuo3TcpVcuCpqF1dVF0NQ5t_-QBo0rdma43tqftbcTwSv_p-yesHB7Co1wmVjm3-bC-k_A9BBs-5fXEIt8g0qeFM14gT5g/s1600/Argonautica+map+(by+Abraham+Ortelius+1527-1598).png" height="276" width="400" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-67240005563868153502014-06-08T20:09:00.000-04:002014-06-08T20:09:01.947-04:00Argonautica - Part I - Epic Storytelling in the Age of Heroes <div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55L1_XqDshE9fFvq7bxGFEMm4kuF2n4X96697T-Or5C8e6_ZkGqtFkiJhIf_ssmPHsJ2QMvggK5UKkti0WrzW-BEJnIQxZnZmgqijv8ecg6R1yqNQN0Jjer1nZAyWkYYmftqateiEbw/s1600/Argo+Oracular+Branch.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55L1_XqDshE9fFvq7bxGFEMm4kuF2n4X96697T-Or5C8e6_ZkGqtFkiJhIf_ssmPHsJ2QMvggK5UKkti0WrzW-BEJnIQxZnZmgqijv8ecg6R1yqNQN0Jjer1nZAyWkYYmftqateiEbw/s1600/Argo+Oracular+Branch.png" height="200" width="159" /></a></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Beginning
with thee, O Phoebus, I will recount the famous deeds of men of old, who, at
the behest of King Pelias, down through the mouth of Pontus and between the
Cyanean rocks, sped well-benched Argo in quest of the golden fleece.</span></span></i><span lang="EN-CA"> (Apollonius of Rhodes, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Thus begins one of the most famous and
influential stories to come out of ancient Greece. The story of Jason and the
Argonauts has captured peoples’ imaginations for ages, and to this day it is
held up as the supreme example of ancient epic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Today, the story has been retold in
cartoons, comics, movies, and television adaptations. Its grip on the popular
psyche is firm, and its archetypes reverberate throughout western culture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i>
isn’t just another fanciful story, it’s a well thought-out tale, carefully
crafted, enriched with geographic, ethnographic, and religious details that
other ancient stories lack. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">And to the ancient world, this WAS history!
The lines of this tale are a who’s who of gods, goddesses and heroes whom the
reader (or listener) meets in unusually candid moments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGJwR1ZDlJpCMaSEv3IeKecHmgEvXMEP5fuqJ6huZFNL1SCAcoiHNPTpeAariAmtZ1yEYjcTU958tnC-NMmuXh0V0jGfzXzNJe-di26jmXedqp492QJKAls3bzGTiZo4QJqIBC_ikOA/s1600/Harryhausen+movie.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGJwR1ZDlJpCMaSEv3IeKecHmgEvXMEP5fuqJ6huZFNL1SCAcoiHNPTpeAariAmtZ1yEYjcTU958tnC-NMmuXh0V0jGfzXzNJe-di26jmXedqp492QJKAls3bzGTiZo4QJqIBC_ikOA/s1600/Harryhausen+movie.png" height="197" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA">Before I go any further, I have a
confession to make.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Until just a few weeks ago, I had never
read the text of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/830" target="_blank">Argonautica</a></i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Like most people, I suspect, my knowledge
of the tale of Jason and the Argonauts came from popular movies, mainly the Ray
Harryhausen and Hallmark productions of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jason
and the Argonauts</i>. Those two film and television movies were fantastically
entertaining and I highly recommend them both.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">However, they differ from the original text
in many ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLTnnMb1o-jfLjqa1WOFm4wsawVpEu-sKKznOGKMJBP7gY2v9NkHD6OKukxnXOWZjRfS9RRfd9QENkR7M3-j__Ieh1KGYTWHwIOxZIsniPJKddHWU8wN8C1bHCSjzXgMcd8s_bxcc2w/s1600/Hallmark+prod.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLTnnMb1o-jfLjqa1WOFm4wsawVpEu-sKKznOGKMJBP7gY2v9NkHD6OKukxnXOWZjRfS9RRfd9QENkR7M3-j__Ieh1KGYTWHwIOxZIsniPJKddHWU8wN8C1bHCSjzXgMcd8s_bxcc2w/s1600/Hallmark+prod.png" height="200" width="160" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-CA">In this series of blog posts, I’m going to
talk a bit about my experience reading the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i>
of Apollonius of Rhodes, what elements stand out for me, and how it differs
from the popular image of the story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Before we get started, who was Apollonius
of Rhodes?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A Hellenistic Bestseller<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Apollonius was actually born in Ptolemaic
Alexandria sometime between 296 and 260 B.C. He was a student of Callimachus, a
famed poet and scholar at the Library of Alexandria. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Alexandria, during the Hellenistic age, was
the centre of the world as far as education, research and the scholarly
pursuits. Anyone who was anyone wanted to be there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Apollonius composed and recited the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i> when he was a youth in
Alexandria. Unfortunately, the poem was condemned on the Alexandrian scene, and
some say that Callimachus was one of its slanderers, for he and his student,
Apollonius, had a massive falling out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iiGjoxRHBY_2QYRU2qVGDavgtmqzeVeNNLKcoo_VpCvyjR3tAdCrSvizaB40hT7a5F9o0gU7ItN0K1zJHr0ZDs8R0kh_HS0UJd0p3NzX3cNEO9FqGIQvOck-wgPW3IfHr-jua_oH4g/s1600/Alexandria%2527s+Canopic+Way.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iiGjoxRHBY_2QYRU2qVGDavgtmqzeVeNNLKcoo_VpCvyjR3tAdCrSvizaB40hT7a5F9o0gU7ItN0K1zJHr0ZDs8R0kh_HS0UJd0p3NzX3cNEO9FqGIQvOck-wgPW3IfHr-jua_oH4g/s1600/Alexandria%2527s+Canopic+Way.png" height="173" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alexandria's Canopic Way</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-CA">In Alexandria, it seemed that poetics was
much more highly regarded than epics, which is what the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i> is. Kind of like the battle today between literary and
genre fiction. Apollonius probably couldn’t stand his academic critics any
longer, and so he moved to Rhodes where the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i>
received much acclamation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">From then on, Apollonius considered himself
a Rhodian. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Some other sources say that later in life,
he returned to Alexandria where the poem received the credit it deserved, and
that he even became head of the Alexandrian Library. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Like many writers, Apollonius had his own
sources, oral and written, for his story. It seems that he may have drawn
mainly on <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10717" target="_blank">Pindar</a>’s fourth Pythian Ode. But that is a much shorter work than the
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Being from a more academic school,
Apollonius did a lot of research and indeed he had access to a lot of sources
in Alexandria.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When I set out to read the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i>, my main question was this:
How does it differ from the modern film and television interpretations that had
captivated me so?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I had my answer almost right away. It’s
quite different. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pelias in the Wings<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLc4bJq1hrrM27BJcAGzfs9mQmnNu_ZpjHVg0g6PG9cv_kO-2FUzSdQXNhFnK7YRWtajJdmZ75j1jn5MhlJwAabwU0jkF2oLdf5Hyirt8TDOOQB3ciNFXI3_mSuavcPbglYUvCXP9Vmg/s1600/Pelias.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLc4bJq1hrrM27BJcAGzfs9mQmnNu_ZpjHVg0g6PG9cv_kO-2FUzSdQXNhFnK7YRWtajJdmZ75j1jn5MhlJwAabwU0jkF2oLdf5Hyirt8TDOOQB3ciNFXI3_mSuavcPbglYUvCXP9Vmg/s1600/Pelias.png" height="200" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pelias</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-CA">The movies (film and TV) make much of the murder
of Jason’s father, his fostering with Chiron the centaur, and of his return to
Thessalian Iolclus to reclaim his birthright from his treacherous uncle,
Pelias. He shows up at Pelias’ court wearing one sandal, fulfilling the
prophecy Pelias so fears. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">Argonautica</span></i><span lang="EN-CA"> makes very little of these things. There is only passing reference.
The same is true of Pelias’ obsession with the Golden Fleece; in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i> the search for the Fleece is
more of an impossible task that Pelias hopes will end in Jason’s death, so that
he never comes back to Iolclus. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Pelias’ real motive is to destroy Jason,
not to obtain the Golden Fleece.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A Ship Full of Heroes<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As with most ancient and medieval heroic
epics, there is a list of the men involved at the beginning of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i>. But this is no ordinary
list of heroes, and Apollonius gives not just the names of the men, but also
their lineage and deeds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGM18-utpQOu8PzI_2NuuQTteHxzbWfEOVh2fIRnPsfF_O8RjAj-rOsQTF-HhRVUYRl5oEgh69FxVXV70-Fhn71MtAW7KPNMoj1UowJBsRs710AxHZfCkjNRoo7mMY3EvwAtigV0ikg/s1600/argo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGM18-utpQOu8PzI_2NuuQTteHxzbWfEOVh2fIRnPsfF_O8RjAj-rOsQTF-HhRVUYRl5oEgh69FxVXV70-Fhn71MtAW7KPNMoj1UowJBsRs710AxHZfCkjNRoo7mMY3EvwAtigV0ikg/s1600/argo2.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the Argonauts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-CA"></span><br /><span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I won’t go through all fifty-odd names but
there are some you might recognize…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"></span><br /><span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">First mentioned is Orpheus, the son of the
Muse, Calliope. There is Polyphemus who had fought bravely in the war between
the Lapiths and Centaurs, and Erytus and Echion the sons of Hermes. Mopsus is
there to play a role, as he learned augury from Apollo himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Peleus, the father of Achilles, is a part
of the crew, as well as Telamon and Argus, the ship builder whom the Argo is
named after and who received help from the goddess Athena in building it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Phlias the son of Dionysus is there, and
Nauplius, Erginus, and Ancaeus, all three the sons of Poseidon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGySLxjHq0Si3x8vryA7leahXVEhPzcQBqWm19q_lJ6vuwqJI8c0XdDsKpkofu-UJvY8nEuahWqKQMSe7tKFEp0OGhh1N_b6LcmmZZq4dhI3HNwlRpPAE2_DhY8WW3_ukd584pNw_sw/s1600/Herakles+in+Hallmark+prod.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGySLxjHq0Si3x8vryA7leahXVEhPzcQBqWm19q_lJ6vuwqJI8c0XdDsKpkofu-UJvY8nEuahWqKQMSe7tKFEp0OGhh1N_b6LcmmZZq4dhI3HNwlRpPAE2_DhY8WW3_ukd584pNw_sw/s1600/Herakles+in+Hallmark+prod.png" height="148" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian Thompson as Hercules<br />Hallmark production</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-CA">Most famously of all perhaps, is that
Herakles is a part of the crew. He is accompanied by his good friend and
bow-carrier, Hylas. Other sons of Zeus that are there include Polydeuces and
Castor from Sparta; they are the Dioscouri, or the Gemini, who were later
remembered in the stars. Their mother is Leda.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"></span><br /><span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Augeias, the son of Helios, Lernus, the son
of Hephaestus, and Zetes and Calais, the sons of the wind Boreas, are all a
part of the crew too. Jason is also joined by Acastus, the son of Pelias. Much
is made of the latter in the movies, but in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i> he is one of the lesser characters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"></span><br /><span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">These are just a few of the heroes who make
up the crew of the Argo. You can see that their lineage is nothing to spit at,
and it’s no wonder the people of Iolclus (modern-day Volos) are in awe of them
as they assemble on the strand beside Argo where they “shone like gleaming
stars among the clouds”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tn3VGgpJuW5wYNk0uAcYVdOWOsogViv6sgM6fZ2YA3GvjLbcq4kMqo7RjMWgt-JRJ9jBbY7WQlkTUJyfrNprSk_E_ocNLq7EIWctk96l4XAdyKK4c_529DLzGT6n5dKms6DYK0maQA/s1600/Volos+Greece.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tn3VGgpJuW5wYNk0uAcYVdOWOsogViv6sgM6fZ2YA3GvjLbcq4kMqo7RjMWgt-JRJ9jBbY7WQlkTUJyfrNprSk_E_ocNLq7EIWctk96l4XAdyKK4c_529DLzGT6n5dKms6DYK0maQA/s1600/Volos+Greece.png" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iolclus - modern Volos, Greece</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-CA">This is a story of the glory of youth, and
of valour. When these heroes are setting out, there is a sense of excitement,
anticipation, and of danger. The men are keen, but the women of Iolclus are
weeping and praying to the gods, foreshadowing the potential doom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The thing that really strikes me, and
perhaps this is the genius of it, is that among all these heroes who are proven
in battle and skill, divine descendants or not, Jason seems to be the only one
(apart from Acastus) with no deeds to his name. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Jason <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i>
youth. Though he is surrounded by proven men, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i>, to my mind, is mainly about his own personal hero’s
journey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When all the supplies are loaded and the
expedition is ready to sail, Jason turns to the men and says that all that
remains is to choose a leader:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #0b5394;">…and
the young heroes turned their eyes towards bold Herakles sitting in their midst,
and with one shout they all enjoined upon him to be their leader; but he, from
the place where he sat, stretched forth his right hand and said: “Let no one
offer this honour to me. For I will not consent, and I will forbid any other to
stand up. Let the hero who brought us together, himself be the leader of the
host.” Thus he spake with high thoughts, and they assented, as Herakles bade;
and warlike Jason himself rose up, glad at heart… </span></span></i><span lang="EN-CA">(Apollonius
of Rhodes, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As is common throughout the tale, the
heroes pay their respects to the gods, in this case Apollo, by sacrificing and
building an altar before finally leaving the land of Hellas behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lemnian Women are Lovely<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0y_w-gMuYQqHflamp0NeVTNyE_FmAYEfwgu7CJK9sasdHaCqM8zo6usnazfTpwX27qYBg_mWbDVEIacPHd8j2uA7Q1-gekFrpXGOAi1N49Gr51SHziOZNC9_MQs1q4PiydWxXepYuWA/s1600/Hypsipyle.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0y_w-gMuYQqHflamp0NeVTNyE_FmAYEfwgu7CJK9sasdHaCqM8zo6usnazfTpwX27qYBg_mWbDVEIacPHd8j2uA7Q1-gekFrpXGOAi1N49Gr51SHziOZNC9_MQs1q4PiydWxXepYuWA/s1600/Hypsipyle.png" height="200" width="153" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hypsipyle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-CA">Apollonius displays his knowledge of
geography, detailing the sights that the crew sees as they sail east, past the
peninsula of Athos and the Thracian coast on the way to their first port –
Lemnos. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The episode on Lemnos is one that popular
retellings often include. It is the island of Queen Hypsipyle who, along with all her female subjects, has killed all the men. But that is where the commonalities
between the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i> and Hollywood
end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In popular culture, Hypsipyle and her women
are demonized, portrayed as savage man-haters who seek to trick and kill the
Argonauts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">However, Apollonius portrays the Lemnian
women as more sympathetic. Turns out they killed their war-mongering husbands
who shunned them all in favour of the slaves they had taken on raids. The
Lemnian women live in fear of retribution if word should get out as to what
happened to their men – they do all the work required to live, including
ploughing the fields. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When the Argonauts arrive, Hypsipyle
welcomes them, offering food and supplies so that they can leave the island.
They have no wish to kill the Argonauts. Hypsipyle falls in love with Jason and
wonders if she could get him and his crew to stay so that they could have children again, and be protected against the Thracians. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Argonauts linger for a time until
Herakles chides them for hanging about with women instead of pursuing their
quest. Jason decides they should leave and tells Hypsipyle that should she have
a son by him, she should send him to Iolclus to be raised by his own parents,
both of whom are still alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It’s actually a touching parting, without
animosity, and the Argonauts set sail once more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Stay tuned for the next post as we continue
our epic journey through the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Argonautica</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Thank you for reading. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpXot8YiQKaNMREOXnJS0ZXCTqSbkAmyT_0FAByO8zoyE6oNVuJMhVvZxCHoxt58fszX0nfOmLpM_o_hqFngOz_rGTpKYwwimHUhf-6W-9yB1bnP0aGKv8Tny4Py7KklR_jJzKzlwDA/s1600/Argonautica+map+%2528by+Abraham+Ortelius+1527-1598%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpXot8YiQKaNMREOXnJS0ZXCTqSbkAmyT_0FAByO8zoyE6oNVuJMhVvZxCHoxt58fszX0nfOmLpM_o_hqFngOz_rGTpKYwwimHUhf-6W-9yB1bnP0aGKv8Tny4Py7KklR_jJzKzlwDA/s1600/Argonautica+map+%2528by+Abraham+Ortelius+1527-1598%2529.png" height="276" width="400" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-27512116386667009182014-05-24T22:36:00.000-04:002014-05-24T22:36:07.977-04:00The Nine Muses – Creativity and the Higher Realm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDThONGQoBuj86S3oaboANtJCzjVZOmgjgp28a_CTI4MtETbEfTbY_GUkruIkKJkSgfFif4ph5Khv9CKAJGUtk_faBMGem1LIDHX7bFIgb9iwXvKe8RBkj6GUL8aq1ZaGvapXksxG-6A/s1600/Apollo+and+the+Muses.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDThONGQoBuj86S3oaboANtJCzjVZOmgjgp28a_CTI4MtETbEfTbY_GUkruIkKJkSgfFif4ph5Khv9CKAJGUtk_faBMGem1LIDHX7bFIgb9iwXvKe8RBkj6GUL8aq1ZaGvapXksxG-6A/s1600/Apollo+and+the+Muses.png" height="145" width="400" /></a></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></span></i>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #674ea7;">And one day they
taught Hesiod glorious song while he was shepherding his lambs under holy
Helicon, and this word first the goddesses said to me – the Muses of Olympus,
daughters of Zeus who holds the aegis: "Shepherds of the wilderness,
wretched things of shame, mere bellies, we know how to speak many false things
as though they were true; but we know, when we will, to utter true things.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></span></i>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #674ea7;">So said the
ready-voiced daughters of great Zeus, and they plucked and gave me a rod, a
shoot of sturdy laurel, a marvellous thing, and breathed into me a divine voice
to celebrate things that shall be and things there were aforetime; and they
bade me sing of the race of the blessed gods that are eternally, but ever to
sing of themselves both first and last.</span></span></i><span lang="EN-CA"> (Hesiod, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Theogeny</i>)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWVsItn48K3fGb4QgUt17Gkbp8LF97V4E-8UDDBgAjbrmO3n5pxwcYpJk6SfXj-PRyFySQpnrMrLGtukUZg5UZH-JiUJvdQJNPp3ejzz_mh7PkFKSSWP2cc6irP_hM5DA-RiFkmJ1Sw/s1600/Hesiod.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWVsItn48K3fGb4QgUt17Gkbp8LF97V4E-8UDDBgAjbrmO3n5pxwcYpJk6SfXj-PRyFySQpnrMrLGtukUZg5UZH-JiUJvdQJNPp3ejzz_mh7PkFKSSWP2cc6irP_hM5DA-RiFkmJ1Sw/s1600/Hesiod.png" height="200" width="163" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hesiod</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Sometime between the eighth and seventh
centuries B.C. the poet Hesiod created his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Theogeny</i>,
a work outlining the birth and genealogy of the Gods. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">At the beginning of this epic poem, Hesiod
talks about how, as a shepherd, he was caring for his flock on the slopes of
Mt. Helicon, in the region of Boeotia. While there, Hesiod says that the Muses
came to him and inspired him to create the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodTheogony.html" target="_blank">Theogeny</a></i>,
a work that to this day provides the basis for ancient Greek religion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Hesiod, before that, had not discovered his
artistic self. He was a shepherd, the son of a farmer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">And yet, while on the slopes of this sacred
mountain, the goddesses, the Muses, came to him and inspired him to bring forth
his great first work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHW6QvBSOhsBOlLwEU2D2CjBm6ZGrGxIM5Pzgiy-T7r3oB435fzjw2vu38gPrT_QjQjLpbJjZZnd809nEQmAlHufJDbQbdMX0xUTwZh_08VdKR0HF_5CeeZKo2J1TP-uZHpSKA3iHKoA/s1600/Mt.+Helicon+%25281829%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHW6QvBSOhsBOlLwEU2D2CjBm6ZGrGxIM5Pzgiy-T7r3oB435fzjw2vu38gPrT_QjQjLpbJjZZnd809nEQmAlHufJDbQbdMX0xUTwZh_08VdKR0HF_5CeeZKo2J1TP-uZHpSKA3iHKoA/s1600/Mt.+Helicon+%25281829%2529.png" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Helicon (1829)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Hesiod does not say he invented the
contents of his work, or that he gathered existing tales from all over the
Hellenic world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Gods gave him that song to sing. They
inspired it in him, and he heard them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">We may scoff at this sort of thing today,
our modern, media-driven minds too dense and distracted to hear anything beyond
the ping of a mobile, but in the ancient world, and later ages of faith, the
greatest artists and creators were those that paid attention to divine
inspiration. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In the ancient Greek and Roman worlds,
creativity and artistic endeavour were the realm of the Nine Muses, the
daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, or ‘Memory’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Tell
me, Muse, the story of that resourceful man who was driven to wander far and
wide after he had sacked the holy citadel of Troy. He saw the cities of many
people and he learnt their ways. He suffered great anguish on the high seas in
his struggles to preserve his life and bring his comrades home. But he failed
to save those comrades, in spite of all his efforts. It was their own
transgression that brought them to their doom, for in their folly they devoured
the oxen of Hyperion the Sun-god and he saw to it that they would never return.
Tell us this story, goddess daughter of Zeus, beginning at whatever point you
will.</span></span></i><span lang="EN-CA"> (Homer, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Odyssey</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I’ve just finished reading a book called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/1936891026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1400786362&sr=1-1&keywords=The+War+of+Art" target="_blank">The War of Art</a></i>, by historical fiction
author, <a href="http://www.stevenpressfield.com/" target="_blank">Steven Pressfield</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This is a wonderful book that every person
with a measure of artistic inkling should read and re-read. It is about doing
the things that you love and were meant to do without giving in to any excuses,
or ‘Resistance’, as Pressfield calls the artist’s enemy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFvhEU9epNlOZYHWD-ggYT3Xutu_Dkx2ycXnH4pEfbGV92aMh3lUiBxxYUD3PIjD9aDIY84dUS4b_wGkfv-gj_K-vICpqtZKkihHIVqTrqmlAlATDclcPj_xCICf24zOrE6oDlxhhew/s1600/Aegean+Sunset.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFvhEU9epNlOZYHWD-ggYT3Xutu_Dkx2ycXnH4pEfbGV92aMh3lUiBxxYUD3PIjD9aDIY84dUS4b_wGkfv-gj_K-vICpqtZKkihHIVqTrqmlAlATDclcPj_xCICf24zOrE6oDlxhhew/s1600/Aegean+Sunset.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA">But Pressfield also reminded me of
something that I forget from time to time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Creativity should never be taken for
granted. If you feel that there is something creative you want to do, or be, it
is your sacred duty to do or become that. When you feel those urges, you have
to fight ‘Resistance’ and rationalization with all of your might so that you
can bring those things you were meant to create to fruition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Those urges are the Muses speaking to you,
telling you it’s time. If you ignore them, it’s to the detriment of your own
soul. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Because
when we sit down day after day and keep grinding, something mysterious starts to
happen. A process is set into motion by which, inevitable and infallibly,
heaven comes to our aid. Unseen forces enlist in our cause; serendipity
reinforces our purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #674ea7;">This
is the other secret that real artists know and wannabe writers don’t. When we sit
down each day and do our work, power concentrates around us. The Muse takes
note of our dedication. She approves. We have earned favor in her sight.</span></span></i><span lang="EN-CA"> (Steven Pressfield, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The War
of Art</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7W-YWQDcTG7D0kGuS2marj0H0hm8PpX2eg7EdM8sQEQr5Wplc6Nd1skXwntakUt4fZNWBEhKUFj3IWCyUlBHvHGZIvsW58oP-EYOUuSJR_ZvuqGm2cZV_t-XxKSQA-NB4aJiq8pgJkQ/s1600/Homer.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7W-YWQDcTG7D0kGuS2marj0H0hm8PpX2eg7EdM8sQEQr5Wplc6Nd1skXwntakUt4fZNWBEhKUFj3IWCyUlBHvHGZIvsW58oP-EYOUuSJR_ZvuqGm2cZV_t-XxKSQA-NB4aJiq8pgJkQ/s1600/Homer.png" height="200" width="158" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In ancient eyes, those who ignored the Gods
didn’t do too well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Hesiod and Homer knew that it was their
duty to honour the Muses, they knew that they could not have created the works
that they did without the goddesses’ help. Hubris was not a good thing in the
ancient world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But it was not just Hesiod and Homer who
called on these goddesses for help. Throughout history, some of the greatest
poets and other artists did so too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Tell
me, Muse, the causes of her anger. How did he [Aeneas] violate the will of the
Queen of the Gods? What was his offence? Why did she drive a man famous for his
piety to such endless hardship and such suffering? Can there be so much anger
in the hearts of the heavenly gods?</span></span></i><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span>(Virgil, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Aeneid</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWXuRZ3Q-O7u061_MiNofLuf4kURFDsFqsgdjdDdx_r9roWGwiAGFXiY-vi-cLNIzWLp5gNt8Tb5pLnBaVND-iHcPbcLesmD5VSKs4m-CJzfJDZSz_HgBIHRyyob7f_ykurQndYY4Lw/s1600/Praxiteles%2527+Hermes+and+Dionysus.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWXuRZ3Q-O7u061_MiNofLuf4kURFDsFqsgdjdDdx_r9roWGwiAGFXiY-vi-cLNIzWLp5gNt8Tb5pLnBaVND-iHcPbcLesmD5VSKs4m-CJzfJDZSz_HgBIHRyyob7f_ykurQndYY4Lw/s1600/Praxiteles%2527+Hermes+and+Dionysus.png" height="200" width="98" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Praxiteles' Hermes<br />and Dionysos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The artist who called on the Muses for aid
and blessing was the one that was listening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">We know of writers and poets who have
called on the Muses in their work because they have been written down, but I
imagine that painters and sculptors would have done so too. What might
Praxiteles have done before he broke the surface of a piece of marble? Or
Michelangelo before he put his brush to the ceiling of the Cappella Sistina?
What went through Mozart’s head before the first heavenly notes of his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcIyTiKwDvU" target="_blank">Clarinet Concerto in A major</a> came to him?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Before an ancient singer breathed those
first notes, or before the lyre player plucked that first string at the
Panathenaea or the Pythian Games, you can be sure that some inner prayer,
conscious or unconscious, was sent up to their own Muse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">You can also be sure that for the artist
whose heart was open to this, the Muses spoke back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #674ea7;">…and
I alone was there, Preparing to sustain war, as well Of the long way as also of
the pain, Which now unerring memory will tell. Oh Muses! O high Genius, now
sustain! O Memory who wrote down what I did see, Here thy nobility will be made
plain.</span></span></i><span lang="EN-CA"> (Dante, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Inferno</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But who were the Muses? Early traditions
said there were three, but that eventually turned to nine, and that is the
number that has been given for ages. Their leader was Apollo, the God of Art,
Light and Prophecy, and in this particular capacity he was known as ‘Apollo
Mousagetes’, or ‘Apollo Muse-leader’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Each one of these goddesses was responsible
for a particular art form, and so, individual artists may have called on
certain Muses. The names of these goddesses and their assigned art are as
follows: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVGRJyt1yOPv3XETD5ovM37X0mq7d96S1EcbUpXuP-QYfLpDR6wTjzhlDX9oL_zDCmeLbubeOyyFLaeSO3-pWqylZE4ktIBhx585lm-N0lXvmyq4BoXUSLsiXlK9YFf_AZAUJgOPcJQ/s1600/Calliope+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVGRJyt1yOPv3XETD5ovM37X0mq7d96S1EcbUpXuP-QYfLpDR6wTjzhlDX9oL_zDCmeLbubeOyyFLaeSO3-pWqylZE4ktIBhx585lm-N0lXvmyq4BoXUSLsiXlK9YFf_AZAUJgOPcJQ/s1600/Calliope+2.png" height="320" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Calliope – Epic Poetry</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTogf1J6c51X4Du1QFuGmPHRKZFr4CPOoyP6LlYTQzH4GoTOTUETG-d0XlQg0wUFT1g1PxOvDsJ4uT6cfBc1eU5z_WUUjYUFkirL41mZv6VgF2W5Lcxzzj3r9sED92IV7gXvSvPoJDlQ/s1600/Clio.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTogf1J6c51X4Du1QFuGmPHRKZFr4CPOoyP6LlYTQzH4GoTOTUETG-d0XlQg0wUFT1g1PxOvDsJ4uT6cfBc1eU5z_WUUjYUFkirL41mZv6VgF2W5Lcxzzj3r9sED92IV7gXvSvPoJDlQ/s1600/Clio.png" height="400" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Clio – History</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t1iIxICwe04YHem6zLtVozLQQPOSgOHyHDpmaHDCrL3q8EySox_liq3BsuZcF9AUo1dA3TwhPqevqN15eHZBHRxNiYFB63W7tmsxhMNjPHDs7iluK26tLETuNqapBUkOVv9szIqHFw/s1600/Erato.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t1iIxICwe04YHem6zLtVozLQQPOSgOHyHDpmaHDCrL3q8EySox_liq3BsuZcF9AUo1dA3TwhPqevqN15eHZBHRxNiYFB63W7tmsxhMNjPHDs7iluK26tLETuNqapBUkOVv9szIqHFw/s1600/Erato.png" height="320" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Erato – Lyric Poetry</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzKj79KhVA3NDoCCBakTzS9FkjYNsHiuqt_lgW9clzJef2teNDlO9cuKASfEtXTI4IYzZJIxUMkBSKWyYttgr5xQdbh8tzRzj8bEU_PfgraFmQJxv18M307y9K2t_oXZ68nahEuK15g/s1600/Euterpe.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzKj79KhVA3NDoCCBakTzS9FkjYNsHiuqt_lgW9clzJef2teNDlO9cuKASfEtXTI4IYzZJIxUMkBSKWyYttgr5xQdbh8tzRzj8bEU_PfgraFmQJxv18M307y9K2t_oXZ68nahEuK15g/s1600/Euterpe.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Euterpe – Song and Elegaic Poetry</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP77U4KRnQneM70kT2iWizlhWoQiwYmwMNRuH1Mz2t7GowKz03MNkixxT8uaKjCtW-9JLBxm_wrJJDOA0aSZBU59ZKS_fMAOeZ0HqUYnN5jf0k8HbXc9sXRX_rRvb39YgVPWmlJjydWQ/s1600/Melpomene.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP77U4KRnQneM70kT2iWizlhWoQiwYmwMNRuH1Mz2t7GowKz03MNkixxT8uaKjCtW-9JLBxm_wrJJDOA0aSZBU59ZKS_fMAOeZ0HqUYnN5jf0k8HbXc9sXRX_rRvb39YgVPWmlJjydWQ/s1600/Melpomene.png" height="320" width="188" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Melpomene – Tragedy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFOQmKUEPOTfQ8VXFK2llYwDOmJJS4zXRHfjjOMxaP82CkRqCe8QOGS3g5KcpmTwlHZaxVjkVsEPgC-KDkVkTtPlx4QH4Uz0Uaf6XVaSYLf6ep0bWHdrjQcISeiDVUD2GF0ThyphenhyphenT1l6Q/s1600/Polyhymnia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFOQmKUEPOTfQ8VXFK2llYwDOmJJS4zXRHfjjOMxaP82CkRqCe8QOGS3g5KcpmTwlHZaxVjkVsEPgC-KDkVkTtPlx4QH4Uz0Uaf6XVaSYLf6ep0bWHdrjQcISeiDVUD2GF0ThyphenhyphenT1l6Q/s1600/Polyhymnia.png" height="320" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Polyhymnia – Hymns</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dE-Ma4giizh2OZsS7iTbRVCVhktFEQ_Sedzn5t_LwAh4A7VNYlaYPLUVPJa09oj-FqWzIzpmq9FMzsm5epQi512GyMYF5ga6Bugm1OKJLoKIWlwPcraD2gpA6nR_05jWut8Bjt-57A/s1600/Terpsichore.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dE-Ma4giizh2OZsS7iTbRVCVhktFEQ_Sedzn5t_LwAh4A7VNYlaYPLUVPJa09oj-FqWzIzpmq9FMzsm5epQi512GyMYF5ga6Bugm1OKJLoKIWlwPcraD2gpA6nR_05jWut8Bjt-57A/s1600/Terpsichore.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Terpsichore – Dance</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8g82YzPtUlsrZ7oeqH_Q2f6I5sPTkxG8F0-Xz_4fIht1-B7EdQvLvFSnHlWM0_ivgDL1bhNvEt0DXiYREXGc-AL5mXbiRbEWJniMuMjdaa_CPOi8b60IlkzbBhU2f1lklx6SNs2cXxQ/s1600/Thalia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8g82YzPtUlsrZ7oeqH_Q2f6I5sPTkxG8F0-Xz_4fIht1-B7EdQvLvFSnHlWM0_ivgDL1bhNvEt0DXiYREXGc-AL5mXbiRbEWJniMuMjdaa_CPOi8b60IlkzbBhU2f1lklx6SNs2cXxQ/s1600/Thalia.png" height="320" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Thalia – Comedy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjdnY8LIj7of1JRtRgSPld58g3Qq-rhiSwJEcj57grM9FZH-4qe1uJNE1cWih2CWj_Af0bL4vhq1cjtX1jW4FsGJRzWWpOlsr-1lHUb78QBjPzvGLF4W26lsRQiHDxPXui6TrLTXjVA/s1600/Urania.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjdnY8LIj7of1JRtRgSPld58g3Qq-rhiSwJEcj57grM9FZH-4qe1uJNE1cWih2CWj_Af0bL4vhq1cjtX1jW4FsGJRzWWpOlsr-1lHUb78QBjPzvGLF4W26lsRQiHDxPXui6TrLTXjVA/s1600/Urania.png" height="320" width="186" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Urania – Astronomy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #674ea7;">I
will begin with the Muses and Apollo and Zeus. For it is through the Muses and
Apollo that there are singers upon the earth and players upon the lyre; but
kings are from Zeus. Happy is he whom the Muses love: sweet flows speech from
his lips. Hail, children of Zeus! Give honour to my song! And now I will remember
you and another song also.</span></span></i><span lang="EN-CA"> (Homeric Hymn to the
Muses and Apollo)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Some of the arts assigned to the Muses
might not seem like ‘art’ to us today – I’m thinking of Astronomy and History
in particular. However, to the ancients, this made perfect sense. Astronomy
involved philosophy and the understanding of the Heavens; it required great
imagination and thought. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6QLApKFp6bWq5PEWtJOrfP67zDpJomGhdP8BPq2m425FFPXkSbWsMV1WJxMvF74E5ttmwMs66YBG_QvIn4uocQKVi1b_Sz06k2etYmMhfoWxizQSjurdCgmckr5BsNH0mHfeoY91Cw/s1600/Gabriel_Dante_Rosetti%252C_Mnemosyne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6QLApKFp6bWq5PEWtJOrfP67zDpJomGhdP8BPq2m425FFPXkSbWsMV1WJxMvF74E5ttmwMs66YBG_QvIn4uocQKVi1b_Sz06k2etYmMhfoWxizQSjurdCgmckr5BsNH0mHfeoY91Cw/s1600/Gabriel_Dante_Rosetti%252C_Mnemosyne.jpg" height="320" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mnemosyne - 'Memory'<br />by Rosetti</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">And History? Well, to me that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> ‘Mnemosyne’. History is the record of
human achievement in all areas, including art. History, poetry, and storytelling
go arm in arm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It must have been a humbling experience for
ancient artists to know that the Muses were looking over their shoulders as
they carried out the work they were inspired to do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It must also have been a wonder-full experience
to feel that, to know that you were not alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">My hope is that we have not totally lost
this today – artists, writers, athletes, inventors, creators of all kinds will
find themselves in what we call ‘The Zone’. Many will thank ‘God’ for their successes,
they will be exhilarated after a good session.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As a writer, I know that when I sit down
and have a fantastic writing time, even after the worst of days, there must be
something more at work. I feel like I’ve had help that day. I feel like I have
done justice to the art that I love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">If you are a creator of something,
anything, it behoves you to acknowledge the help that you have had, especially
if that help is Heaven-sent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #674ea7;">O for
a Muse of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention! A kingdom
for a stage, princes to act, And monarchs to behold the swelling scene!</span></span></i><span lang="EN-CA"> (William Shakespeare, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Henry V</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-70386920627743767922014-05-19T09:37:00.000-04:002014-05-19T09:37:32.228-04:00The Tragedy of Herakles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ob-MvFD8I51MaUlAZDBjfW84bXCzhJnLiDP2_aCKVPBnrGwBew5eqi5tCqh1Wb2qqU9K_xlexl92c4-fN9s9tNXD68FfC_PHl5DFTtjZ6684PDdoUXHvTmxxoog5CLGYTNV3IfiVrw/s1600/Herakles+statue.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ob-MvFD8I51MaUlAZDBjfW84bXCzhJnLiDP2_aCKVPBnrGwBew5eqi5tCqh1Wb2qqU9K_xlexl92c4-fN9s9tNXD68FfC_PHl5DFTtjZ6684PDdoUXHvTmxxoog5CLGYTNV3IfiVrw/s1600/Herakles+statue.png" height="320" width="178" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000;">Alas!
alas! lament, O city; the son of Zeus, thy fairest bloom, is being cut down.
Woe is thee, Hellas! that wilt cast from thee thy benefactor, and destroy him
as he madly, wildly dances where no pipe is heard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000;">She
is mounted on her car, the queen of sorrow and sighing, and is goading on her
steeds, as if for outrage, the Gorgon child of Night, with hundred hissing
serpent-heads, Madness of the flashing eyes. Soon hath the god changed his good
fortune; soon will his children breathe their last, slain by a father's hand.</span> </span></i><span lang="EN-CA">(Euripides – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Herakles</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In <a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2014/03/the-triumph-of-herakles.html" target="_blank">Part I</a> of this series on Herakles, we
looked at his triumphs, the Twelve Labours that set him down on the papyrus
pages of ancient history as the greatest hero. He was a man of great strength,
appetites, perseverance, and emotion. He traveled the world achieving feats
that would have defeated any other man of his time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The
tales of Herakles’ heroics have inspired for centuries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But, as with all tales from ancient Greece,
triumph and tragedy go arm in arm in the hero’s life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3RkoyuPPJvH8RE5q0c7AdxVtiNpeLBez2alIe-4tlsjpI-_ztZiMTjXMRkYoARrDXV_WigV_9hjhciq7BUrLYLMFNLZi1ncMC6v0nQJbsbtXoY3BZ6_YNQnGkaJULK4NVsG8n-FUaA/s1600/Madness+of+Herakles.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3RkoyuPPJvH8RE5q0c7AdxVtiNpeLBez2alIe-4tlsjpI-_ztZiMTjXMRkYoARrDXV_WigV_9hjhciq7BUrLYLMFNLZi1ncMC6v0nQJbsbtXoY3BZ6_YNQnGkaJULK4NVsG8n-FUaA/s1600/Madness+of+Herakles.png" height="200" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Madness of Herakles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The tragedy of Herakles’ life actually
began, as mentioned in <a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2014/03/the-triumph-of-herakles.html" target="_blank">Part I</a>, before his twelve labours, when he was driven
mad by Hera and ended up killing his wife, Megara, and their children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000;">Ah
me! why do I spare my own life when I have taken that of my dear children?
Shall I not hasten to leap from some sheer rock, or aim the sword against my
heart and avenge my children's blood, or burn my body in the fire and so avert
from my life the infamy which now awaits me? </span></span></i><span lang="EN-CA">(Euripides
– <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Herakles</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The twelve labours were a part of his
atonement for this horrifying crime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">One would have thought that with the
Labours he had paid the price, but that would be too easy. As we shall see in
this brief post, Herakles would be made to suffer and live a life of rage and
pain till the end of his days. There would be no sitting on his laurels. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As the following passage shows, even in the
fiery realm of Hades, Herakles’ shade is dark and menacing, someone even the
dead are afraid of: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000;">Next
after him I observed the mighty Herakles – his wraith, that is to say… From the
dead around him there arose a clamour like the noise of wild fowl taking off in
alarm. He looked like black night, and with his naked bow in hand and an arrow
on the string he glanced ferociously this way and that as though about to
shoot…</span></span></i><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000;"> </span>(Homer - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Odyssey</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Herakles is often known as ‘Alexikakos’,
the ‘averter of evil’, but this proved impossible when it came to himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCO2W7ntkEWaJl1LjjyPB8OyF_US1GcHKqGMzBnp2drUQ8zWOmRMO115M9tjNctVuSMX9y5YdML3xHgko5muwBxqdKOf8Lkl494Y7BwGF4KGMbOZip7uW528oKSgYfuCHAXWB2mfG-Q/s1600/Delphic+Tripod+fight.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCO2W7ntkEWaJl1LjjyPB8OyF_US1GcHKqGMzBnp2drUQ8zWOmRMO115M9tjNctVuSMX9y5YdML3xHgko5muwBxqdKOf8Lkl494Y7BwGF4KGMbOZip7uW528oKSgYfuCHAXWB2mfG-Q/s1600/Delphic+Tripod+fight.png" height="194" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fight for the Delphic Tripod</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">He was often helping others, such as when
in Hades, he found Theseus, another hero, in his punishment, and raised him up
to be free back on Earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Did others often help Herakles?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Sometimes. During his labours, he did
receive aid from Athena, Atlas, Helios, and from his cousin, Iolaus, but most
of the time, he had to go it alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">After the Twelve Labours, Herakles seems to
have become a sort of fallen hero. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When he kills Iphitus, the son of Eurytus
who had refused to give the hero the hand of his daughter, Iole, he becomes
diseased because of the murder; this is a punishment from the Gods. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Herakles goes to the Oracle at Delphi, but
the Oracle refuses to answer him this time. In a rage, Herakles attempts to
steel the sacred tripod which Apollo tries to take back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgquYoOyjW7sVnEOGS_d-IL52G4EThp9AsxKv5fUnC29PgQXCUDxNNn6DP2XbY9gCPYvQgqhrwUBwQQ5y1g-t2MGZgWilG1iN9W3X96i1lqvq6Rx6SWuixyMty-3jXOu5bfwFJAdktg/s1600/Herakles+and+Omphale+%2528Gustave+Boulanger%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgquYoOyjW7sVnEOGS_d-IL52G4EThp9AsxKv5fUnC29PgQXCUDxNNn6DP2XbY9gCPYvQgqhrwUBwQQ5y1g-t2MGZgWilG1iN9W3X96i1lqvq6Rx6SWuixyMty-3jXOu5bfwFJAdktg/s1600/Herakles+and+Omphale+%2528Gustave+Boulanger%2529.png" height="200" width="138" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herakles and Omphale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Zeus steps in to stop the quarrel between
his two sons and the Oracle complies in giving Herakles an answer; he must sell
himself into slavery for three years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">He is ‘bought’ by Omphale, a Queen of
Lydia. It is during this time of servitude that Herakles joins the Argonauts,
one of the most famous crews in history, in their search for the Golden Fleece.
Even here, the hero is not allowed to be a part of the Argonauts’ success as he
is left behind in Mysia to search for his friend, Hylas, who was abducted by
water Nymphs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Once his service to Omphale was settled,
Herakles seems to have set out on a fit of vengeance to settle some old debts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">He raised an army with Telamon and sailed
to Troy where he captured the city and killed King Laomedon. He also killed all
the Trojan princes except Priam. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicE1rzwCO8819s_zD28FFM2OjN8Ia49gMJcvcVxqT2yWt-KLpR8WvnH6yuY7MrmOPob2Cpaj0cAZ0_3KIdWe8gzHTCMV91lQPTnCuVvaiZ-UiNK-RWTzd2xUWQqad-8RibBdc3tMsUKg/s1600/Attacking+Troy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicE1rzwCO8819s_zD28FFM2OjN8Ia49gMJcvcVxqT2yWt-KLpR8WvnH6yuY7MrmOPob2Cpaj0cAZ0_3KIdWe8gzHTCMV91lQPTnCuVvaiZ-UiNK-RWTzd2xUWQqad-8RibBdc3tMsUKg/s1600/Attacking+Troy.png" height="200" width="116" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laying siege to Troy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Other acts of revenge included killing King
Augeas of Ellis, and his sons, who had refused to pay up for the cleaning of
his stables. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Herakles then marched to Pylos to face
Neleus who had refused to purify him of the murder of Iphitus who was a guest
of Herakles’ in Tyrins at the time. Herakles slew Neleus and all twelve of his
sons except Nestor who was away at the time, and who would be a part of the
later Trojan War. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">On top of all this, Hera did not relent in
her persecution of Herakles. She sent storms to pursue the hero, but it is at
this point that Zeus finally says enough is enough. The king of the gods
suspends Hera from Mt. Olympus with anvils tied to her feet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Then the Gods themselves need Herakles’
help at Phlegrae, in Thrace. The Battle of the Gods and Giants is one of the
most widely depicted events in ancient Greek art. It is here that Herakles
played a key role in aiding the Gods to victory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But, exhaustingly, sadly, that is not the
end for Herakles. It is not time to rest. He continues with his acts of
vengeance, among them the sacking of Sparta, and the killing of Hippocoon and
all his sons. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Our fallen hero has much blood on his hands
at this point, but finally, after so much turmoil, he finds a measure of
happiness in Calydon where he marries Deianeira, the daughter of King Oeneus.
She is also the sister of Meleager, whom Herakles had spoken with in Hades on
his twelfth labour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgng9FLUfGsAY6d67YCuKarj_a1dwmo6SczFFGDVo54_e1bNBtUqSmk6hh7TWDO2iAuHE07QxoQUJWDbWYMHj-Nn3t7Cmvss3UoDWBoZMHXZQObjyDAVB5RRxspEFNMKeQdOaK_bLxGEw/s1600/Herakles+and+Nessus+%2528Florence%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgng9FLUfGsAY6d67YCuKarj_a1dwmo6SczFFGDVo54_e1bNBtUqSmk6hh7TWDO2iAuHE07QxoQUJWDbWYMHj-Nn3t7Cmvss3UoDWBoZMHXZQObjyDAVB5RRxspEFNMKeQdOaK_bLxGEw/s1600/Herakles+and+Nessus+%2528Florence%2529.png" height="200" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herakles fights Nessus<br />
Florence </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">While in Calydon, Herakles helps his
father-in-law to defeat his enemies. He and Deianeira have several children
together. She is beautiful, virtuous, and loves her husband dearly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But the idyllic time is short-lived. At one
point, Herakles accidentally kills King Oeneus’ cup bearer, and so he,
Deianeira, and their children are forced to leave Calydon. They settle in
Trachis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">On one part of their journey, they must
cross the river Evenus. While he is crossing the river, it seems that Herakles
entrusts his wife to the centaur, Nessus, who tries to rape her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Herakles’ rage takes over and he kills
Nessus with one of his arrows dipped in the blood of the Hydra. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-PakjHN-iG-fz1HwXc-PZIoLS9n-pKJjiQilHeNFWmQnvoDZENS99UQC8uixlJS7vCRyhf3Q3fAoW5N3ZaSsS4DWjTQ1vXvTJ6AqWnP-Yf6jRexZb0G3LNQhmlAGCFXoPPlA27-RZA/s1600/Iole.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-PakjHN-iG-fz1HwXc-PZIoLS9n-pKJjiQilHeNFWmQnvoDZENS99UQC8uixlJS7vCRyhf3Q3fAoW5N3ZaSsS4DWjTQ1vXvTJ6AqWnP-Yf6jRexZb0G3LNQhmlAGCFXoPPlA27-RZA/s1600/Iole.png" height="200" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iole</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As Nessus lays dying, he whispers to
Deianeira that his own blood is a powerful love charm, and that she should take
some and keep it hidden if ever she needed it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Deianeira saves some of the centaur’s
blood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">While in Trachis, Herakles helps his host
King Ceyx, to defeat his enemies. It seems that kings were happy to host
Herakles if he helped them to defeat their foes. Herakles then helped Aegiaius
to fight and defeat the Lapiths, and in that conflict, he killed Cycnus, the
son of Ares, in single combat, as well as wounding Ares himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Bent on vengeance once more, Herakles
raises an army and marches against Eurytus who had refused him the hand of
Iole. Herakles takes the young girl as his concubine and, along with many
prisoners, brings her back to Trachis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000;">The springs of sorrow are unbound, <br />
And such an agony disclose,<br />
As never from the hands of foes<br />
To afflict the life of Heracles was found.<br />
O dark with battle-stains, world-champion spear,<br />
That from Oechalia’s highland leddest then<br />
This bride that followed swiftly in thy train,<br />
How fatally overshadowing was thy fear!<br />
But these wild sorrows all too clearly come<br />
From Love’s dread minister, disguised and dumb.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA">(Sophocles<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> – The Women of Trachis</i>)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTMKnLE1gRoaRiUGXJQ7WzyKV4Z5oE6gmT6La_e599myTreIHLbMVuD6jtDOedEwlDPO_2-OBbWm6SttI5eO1IEE5MTagbL4-y0K-Pf-VJJFeAKHE4XHlNJxDKDK-C8EYuAecvxrTMg/s1600/Deianeira+mourning.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTMKnLE1gRoaRiUGXJQ7WzyKV4Z5oE6gmT6La_e599myTreIHLbMVuD6jtDOedEwlDPO_2-OBbWm6SttI5eO1IEE5MTagbL4-y0K-Pf-VJJFeAKHE4XHlNJxDKDK-C8EYuAecvxrTMg/s1600/Deianeira+mourning.png" height="200" width="126" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deianeira in mourning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Deianeira realizes that her husband loves
the quiet, beautiful Iole, and decides to use the supposed ‘love-charm’ of the
centaur’s blood.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">At this time, Herakles was in Euboea
sacrificing to Zeus for his many triumphs over his enemies. He sent to
Deianeira for his finest robe for the ceremonies. With this act of piety,
Herakles seals his doom, for Deianeira smears the blood of Nessus on the robe
thinking that it will make Herakles love her again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The blood begins to eat into Herakles’
flesh like acid, killing him slowly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When Deianeira hears from their son,
Hyllus, what she has done, she kills herself in despair. The nurse to the
Chorus:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000;">When all alone she had gone within the gate,<br />
And passing through the court beheld her boy<br />
Spreading the couch that should receive his sire,<br />
Ere he returned to meet him,—out of sight<br />
She hid herself, and fell at the altar’s foot,<br />
And loudly cried that she was left forlorn;<br />
And, taking in her touch each household thing<br />
That formerly she used, poor lady, wept<br />
O’er all; and then went ranging through the rooms,<br />
Where, if there caught her eye the well-loved form<br />
Of any of her household, she would gaze<br />
And weep aloud, accusing her own fate<br />
And her abandoned lot, childless henceforth!<br />
When this was ended, suddenly I see her<br />
Fly to the hero’s room of genial rest.<br />
With unsuspected gaze o’ershadowed near,<br />
I watched, and saw her casting on the bed<br />
The finest sheets of all. When that was done,<br />
She leapt upon the couch where they had lain<br />
And sat there in the midst. And the hot flood<br />
Burst from her eyes before she spake:—‘Farewell,<br />
My bridal bed, for never more shalt thou<br />
Give me the comfort I have known thee give.’<br />
Then with tight fingers she undid her robe,<br />
Where the brooch lay before the breast, and bared<br />
All her left arm and side. I, with what speed<br />
Strength ministered, ran forth to tell her son<br />
The act she was preparing. But meanwhile,<br />
Ere we could come again, the fatal blow<br />
Fell, and we saw the wound. And he, her boy,<br />
Seeing, wept aloud.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA">(Sophocles
– <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Women of Trachis</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Back on Euboea, Herakles, in great pain,
knows it is his time and has a pyre built for himself on Mount Oeta. He climbs
up onto the pyre and asks for help lighting it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But no one will help the hero. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Poor Herakles…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Finally, a passing shepherd by the name of
Poeas, who is looking for his sheep, decides to help Herakles. As a gift,
Herakles gives Poeas his great bow and arrows. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000;">Now
my end is near, the last cessation of my woe. </span></span></i><span lang="EN-CA">(Sophocles
– <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Women of Trachis</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As the pyre burned, thunder raged in the
sky, and Herakles is taken to Mt. Olympus to join the ranks of the Immortals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYiXndDykSKEF5I4hAv_mSPcXUROvYuTkmT_KhGWcLEDGNSjhJUqMElDNHDxZw7SWlUauYhTcGpsCiOnMgdZFUhRXo67_4IwJny2R6OWO1Szfbz0wE6hc67Tl1UE8KndpXwZvnQTk6w/s1600/Apotheosis+of+Herakles+%2528Francois+Lemoyne%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYiXndDykSKEF5I4hAv_mSPcXUROvYuTkmT_KhGWcLEDGNSjhJUqMElDNHDxZw7SWlUauYhTcGpsCiOnMgdZFUhRXo67_4IwJny2R6OWO1Szfbz0wE6hc67Tl1UE8KndpXwZvnQTk6w/s1600/Apotheosis+of+Herakles+%2528Francois+Lemoyne%2529.png" height="320" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Apotheosis of Herakles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">After all the pain and hatred, he and Hera
are finally reconciled, and he is married to Hebe, the Goddess of Youth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As an eternal monument to his
long-suffering son, Zeus sets Herakles in the stars where he kneels to this
day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Before I had written these posts, I had
never looked at the triumph and tragedy of Herakles as a whole. I had grabbed
at bits and pieces of his life for inspiration, for short story, for
entertainment, like a literary carrion crow. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But the epic life and journey of Herakles,
as a single life lived, leaves me breathless and shaking with emotion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">After his initial madness and the slaying
of Megara and his children, death and the burning halls of Hades might have
been an easier path than the one he took. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I don’t think immortality was ever
Herakles’ goal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">How might Herakles have felt, remembered as
he is after his apotheosis?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">To have travelled so far, to have lived,
and loved, and fought, and conquered, and suffered enough for many lifetimes…
is a thing unimaginable to this mere mortal as he types these words. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Herakles’ life is not only the stuff of
legend, it is the essence of art, and poetry, of lesson, and of inspiration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As Theseus, in Euripides’ play, says to
Herakles when he finds his friend mourning his dead wife and children:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Yea,
even the strong are o'erthrown by misfortunes.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Thank you for reading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3M_fTvfAsAZ81IrK-NvlJhgdHnI9MN_-QJo6YvvflL-91-thpWvvhy5j_SB6A-T6B5p_EaITAbFjrtxeFabJhgsAcSCC0-uZF6YbTvvBdXIeeiN4qR4bH_6kShVCQaxFBPxOokIJwAg/s1600/Herakles+Constellation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3M_fTvfAsAZ81IrK-NvlJhgdHnI9MN_-QJo6YvvflL-91-thpWvvhy5j_SB6A-T6B5p_EaITAbFjrtxeFabJhgsAcSCC0-uZF6YbTvvBdXIeeiN4qR4bH_6kShVCQaxFBPxOokIJwAg/s1600/Herakles+Constellation.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Herakles Constellation </td></tr>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14484" target="_blank">The
Women of Traches</a></span></i><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14484" target="_blank"> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Philoctetes</i> by Sophocles</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15081" target="_blank">Alcestis</a></span></i><span lang="EN-CA"> and <i><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://classics.mit.edu/Euripides/heracles.html" target="_blank">Heracles</a></span></i> Euripides<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">For coherent histories of Herakles’ life
you can view the works of both <a href="http://www.theoi.com/Text/Apollodorus2.html" target="_blank">Apollodorus</a> and <a href="http://www.theoi.com/Text/DiodorusSiculus4B.html" target="_blank">Diodorus Siculus</a> on theoi.com.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-24679371146875916202014-05-12T20:12:00.001-04:002014-05-12T20:12:38.849-04:00Sailing the Wine Dark Sea - An Interview with Author, Glyn Iliffe<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've got a real treat for </span>everyone<span style="font-family: inherit;"> this week. </span></span></div>
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Over the years, I've read a lot of historical fiction/fantasy novels set in the ancient world. I've enjoyed most of them, but there is one series of books that makes me say 'Yes! That's how it's done!'</div>
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I first picked up <i>King of Ithaca</i> while roaming my public library's stacks looking for some new fiction. I thought the take on Odysseus' well-known story sounded intriguing, so I took it home and gave it a try. </div>
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I'm so glad I did! It's one of the best historical fantasy novels I have EVER read (and I don't say that lightly). The male and female characters were so real, the world of Mycenaean Greece so vivid, that I was just drawn into the tale. From there, I went on to devour the other books. </div>
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And now, there is a new book in the series entitled, <i>The Oracles of Troy</i>. </div>
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Today I'm very happy to have author Glyn Iliffe on Writing the Past to talk about history, writing, and the fantastic world of <i>The Adventures of Odysseus</i>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiIyPNqlcO6O6dATv9p2ryJZRnUDRGBhBsr7ZPRJE64CuWoyDorBcsayc89U6FYS4yK7Jjq48ubY7wUmHkSBvjbQg14SEb2AQ_KnVxd4UrqiEMRkv0K0LJdLl0wshbnMcyfKyeY1Xpg/s1600/Glyn+web+Banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiIyPNqlcO6O6dATv9p2ryJZRnUDRGBhBsr7ZPRJE64CuWoyDorBcsayc89U6FYS4yK7Jjq48ubY7wUmHkSBvjbQg14SEb2AQ_KnVxd4UrqiEMRkv0K0LJdLl0wshbnMcyfKyeY1Xpg/s1600/Glyn+web+Banner.png" height="96" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WP: What got you interested in
historical fiction in the first place? Was it a particular book?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">GI: Writing
historical fiction is just a marriage of two of my favourite things: writing
and history. I’ve wanted to be an author since primary school. Nothing else
appealed then or has since. The love of history comes from my dad. He was in
the army before I was born, but he had shelves full of books about military
history. I read these enthusiastically and it’s probably still my preferred branch
of history to this day, even ahead of ancient Greece. In my younger days I was
more a fantasy fiction fan (Tolkien and Edgar Rice Burroughs were top of my
list), but I still remember the first histfic novel I read was <i>The Happy
Return</i> by C S Forester. As far as characters go, Hornblower is a
masterpiece.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WP: You really bring a place to life in
your writing. Have you travelled to all the places you have written about, and
how important do you think travelling is for writing historical fiction/fantasy?
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue;">GI: I’ve travelled to
most of them - Ithaca, the Peloponnese, Mycenae, Delphi and so on - and I found
it a real help to get an understanding of the lay of the land. But it still
needs a lot of imagination to describe these places as they might have appeared
in the Bronze Age. One difficulty is that the Trojan War occurred a very long
time ago and the geography, flora, fauna and weather have changed somewhat in
the three thousand or so years since then. The great bay in front of Troy
silted up hundreds of years ago, for example. Another issue is that I’m trying
to recreate the mythological/historical world described by Homer. If you read
his descriptions of Troy you get the impression of a vast city housing many
thousands of people. He fills you with a sense of awe. The actual site of Troy,
though, is quite small and doesn’t lend much to the imagination. So I tend to
exaggerate all the towns and cities I describe to give them the glory and
majesty they would have been viewed with at the time. If I didn’t most modern
readers would be a little underwhelmed. </span><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WP: There are so many larger-than-life
characters in the <i>Iliad</i> and <i>Odyssey</i>. What made you pick Odysseus
from among the rest? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue;">GI: Several reasons,
all of them good. The original plan was to tell the story of the Trojan War in
its entirety, from cause to conclusion. It wasn’t intended to be a series about
one character, I just wanted to help people form a wider and deeper understanding
of the whole tapestry of myths rather than the best known elements such as
Helen of Troy, Achilles and the Trojan Horse. As with most series, though, I
needed a character to tell the story through. Odysseus was the best choice for
this. He was there when Helen was married, he was one of the key players
throughout the ten years of the war and - very importantly - Homer gives him an
epic poem all to himself for his journey home. No other character is present
for the whole thirty-year span of the Trojan myth cycle. Besides that, he’s
more complex than the likes of Agamemnon, Ajax or Achilles: a lowly king who
has to work hard to earn his place at the top table; a thinker, schemer, orator
and a warrior with more depth than some of his glory-seeking peers; a family
man driven reluctantly from his home into a war he doesn’t want to fight; a
character of dubious morality and yet somehow more humane than his
contemporaries. All in all, with his strengths and weaknesses he is much more
“modern” than the other Homeric characters, and that is key to engaging the
reader. </span><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WP: Academia often frowns on the
popularization of history through movies, books and other media. How do you
reconcile your academic background with your writing?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">GI: Greek mythology
carries a lot of baggage. On the one hand there’s a good deal of snobbery about
it. I’ve had feedback from people on Amazon who are disappointed that I don’t
take a high-brow approach to these stories. That doesn’t bother me, as I want
my books to be accessible to anyone, not just those people who love ancient
Greece. The most important thing is the story itself, and that’s where academic
criticism falls down. Like all mythology, the original tales were designed to
convey essential messages about the real world in a format that was engaging
and entertaining. If I aimed my books at the academic level I think I’d be
missing the true essence of what these myths are about. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue;">On the other hand, I
think Hollywood approaches Greek mythology at an angle that is far too
low-brow. <i>Clash of the Titans</i> and the recent film about Hercules, for
example, just want to project muscles, explosions and over-the-top monsters on
to the screen. The sad thing is their multi-million dollar CG extravaganzas
completely overlook the intelligence, emotion and basic humanity of these
fantastic tales.</span><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WP: What is your favourite historical
fiction/fantasy novel (and why)?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue;">GI: You said
favourite, so I’m going to be honest. It has to be <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>.
A boring answer, I know, especially for anyone looking for a new book to read.
But it’s true. I re-read it every two or three years and I’m just drawn into a
complete fantasy world that never disappoints (except for the fact they’re too
short - after the Grey Havens I just want to keep reading). </span><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WP: Do you envision yourself writing in Bronze
Age Greece only, or are there other periods you would like to explore? Is there
a historic person in particular whose story you would like to tell?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue;">GI: I’m tempted by
Heracles, but maybe not for a while. The historical period I’d most like to
write about at the moment is the Great War. For much too long I’ve turned aside
from studying this vital period in history because of the common perception
that all the death and suffering was for nothing. There isn’t the same sense of
futility with the Second World War. But a couple of years ago I started to
explore the Great War a little more and now I’ve become hooked on it. Almost
all the stereotypes I knew have been exploded and to be honest I feel I’ve been
cheated for too long by modern interpretations. Worse still, I think the men
who fought that war have been cheated. What I’d like to do is write a series of
novels that attempts to honour the memory of those men and the reasons for
their sacrifice. So instead of portraying a single historical person, I’d like
to do justice to the soldiers who fought on the Western Front and perhaps
dispel some of the purely negative mythology attached to them. The problem is
that the market will be saturated with Great War novels for some time, so it
might be difficult to find a gap.</span><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WP: Many authors struggle for years to
break out or get noticed, and from what you say on your website, you had just
such an experience. In hindsight, is there anything you would do differently?
Do you have any advice for new historical fiction/fantasy authors?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">GI: Yes it took a
while. I started writing <i>King of Ithaca</i> in 1999 and it was rejected 38
times before I was offered a contract in 2006. It hasn’t been much easier
since, either. If I could go back to 1999 (or earlier) and give myself some
advice, I would say “have more faith”. Writers need to believe in themselves to
succeed. When sending a synopsis and sample chapters to a publisher or agent,
they’re much more likely to pay attention if the writer sounds upbeat about the
book and their own talents. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first bit of
advice I would give any historical writer is to remember that plot should be
secondary to character. An exciting storyline can only go so far in engaging
readers; it’s more important they care about the people you’ve created if
they’re to continue to the last page. When a reader invests emotionally in your
characters then, as an author, you’ve succeeded.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue;">Another thing is that
research is vital and takes time, but don’t feel the need to include everything
you’ve learned in your story. You should do enough to feel comfortable with the
place and era you’re describing, which will then come through in what you
write. But don’t be tempted to bog the reader down with historical facts -
leave that to the textbooks. Little details here and there should be enough to
draw the reader in without hindering the flow of your story.</span><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WP: Do you ever see your work being made
into a movie? Who would play Odysseus and Eperitus?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue;">GI: See my earlier
comment about Hollywood. Obviously I’d be mad to turn down a movie offer, but
judging by what has been done so far with Greek mythology I dread to think what
Hollywood would do to my characters and storyline. I <i>would</i> love the
books to be made into a US TV series, though. You just have to look at the
quality of <i>The Wire</i>, <i>Game of Thrones</i> and <i>The Walking Dead</i>
to realize the storytelling power of this medium. As for actors, that’s a tough
one. I can’t think of anyone who just fits either role. Damian Lewis is a good
actor and a natural redhead so might be an interesting choice for Odysseus. And
maybe Norman Reedus (Daryl in <i>The Walking Dead</i>) would be a good Eperitus
- quiet, thoughtful and mean.</span><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WP: Do you have any writing rituals that
you would like to share? What is a typical ‘writing day’ like for you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue;">GI: Over the years
I’ve learned I have a writing ‘sweet spot’ that occurs in the middle of the
afternoon. I average around 2,500 words a day, most of which get written
between 2pm and 6pm. Knowing that, I usually start my writing day (which is
Friday - I have another job the other four days of the week) with a cooked
breakfast at a café in town. It’s a very old fashioned place with high
ceilings, sash windows and listed wallpaper from the 1920s, but it’s got a
great atmosphere and serves wonderful food. I usually sit there until 11am
drinking tea with a couple of friends, then head home to start the day’s
writing. It still takes me a while to get settled and one pitfall I have to
avoid is the temptation to look at e-mails, the internet or play games. It’s
always best to jump straight in - the sooner I force my brain into writing mode
the better. My worst writing days are when I haven’t had enough sleep. My best
are when I have a clear outline of what I’m going to write, so I can just slip
straight into it and let the pistons of my imagination get pumping.</span><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WP: What is your next project?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue; line-height: 115%;">GI:
I’m busy sorting out a paperback version of <i>The Oracles of Troy</i>, the
fourth in my Odysseus series. I’m also a third of the way through the fifth
book, currently entitled <i>The Voyage of Odysseus</i>. That’ll take me into
2015, with editing and so on, and then it’ll be on to the final episode in
Odysseus’s adventures. I’ve also written a teenage novel set in the modern era,
which I’m hoping to send out to agents and publishers soon. Then there’s
another teenage novel rattling around my head that I’m quite excited about,
but, as ever, it’s a matter of finding the time to get it on to paper.</span><!--EndFragment-->
</span><br />
<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">I'd like to thank Glyn for taking the time to answer all my questions and give us some insight into his love of history and his writing life. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk3XllqI1TMxT7slwaWP3vtF1G3ZSVAINmPZSmDJRCFoh0xWaWp0uh_-7vVFxEuAxCfbVQ3wwvQkvv7_EeeHQevXOwccNC3ybibsGsbQr7ZNZl-zUKM2NADWz59KDsqk3fi1uL-dJJw/s1600/Glyn+Author+Photo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk3XllqI1TMxT7slwaWP3vtF1G3ZSVAINmPZSmDJRCFoh0xWaWp0uh_-7vVFxEuAxCfbVQ3wwvQkvv7_EeeHQevXOwccNC3ybibsGsbQr7ZNZl-zUKM2NADWz59KDsqk3fi1uL-dJJw/s1600/Glyn+Author+Photo.png" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">I highly recommend <i>The Adventures of Odysseus</i>! The series will inspire you, make you rage, make you cry, and make you want to get stuck in there with sword, and shield, </span></span><span style="line-height: 17px;">and spear alongside all the heroes that have haunted story and myth since that long-ago war beneath the walls of Troy. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 17px;">Be sure to check out Glyn's <a href="http://www.glyniliffe.com/" target="_blank">website</a> to find out more about the series. You can also connect with him on <a href="https://twitter.com/GlynIliffe" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 17px;">His books are available on both <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Glyn-Iliffe/e/B0034OB6ZC/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1395342902&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/Search?Query=GLyn+Iliffe" target="_blank">Kobo</a>. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 17px;">As ever, thank you for reading. </span><br />
<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-76016493403415107922014-05-01T21:06:00.001-04:002014-05-01T21:06:52.914-04:00In Insula Avalonia - Glastonbury Abbey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz24Qb3vvLLM_nPvJjGU62KzOBO0YAaQpxE0u1guF8wkRLy3GHiaPikKJrSQbgnvczZepgLZSZx8SUhDww7ARwsKkWt6_iAShtGzh_zyQW5kFa_ncji5maOGp0fduDrT7tRimPZ8UKrQ/s1600/abbey+grounds.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz24Qb3vvLLM_nPvJjGU62KzOBO0YAaQpxE0u1guF8wkRLy3GHiaPikKJrSQbgnvczZepgLZSZx8SUhDww7ARwsKkWt6_iAShtGzh_zyQW5kFa_ncji5maOGp0fduDrT7tRimPZ8UKrQ/s1600/abbey+grounds.png" height="123" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Springtime, as elusive as it is this year
in Toronto, always reminds me of Glastonbury. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">From my days <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In Insula Avalonia</i>, I can still recall refreshing walks along the
crest of <a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2013/11/in-insula-avalonia-wearyall-hill-and.html" target="_blank">Wearyall Hill</a>, along the dragon’s back of the <a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2013/10/in-insula-avalonia-glastonbury-tor.html" target="_blank">Tor</a>, and down Paradise
Lane through the squelching mud to the giants, <a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2014/01/in-insula-avalonia-gog-and-magog.html" target="_blank">Gog and Magog</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Spring is still a time of rejuvenation in
this place. After the rains have stopped, the magpies and blackbirds are out,
flitting from fence post to hedge row, squawking at passers by. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Everywhere you look, snow drops and
bluebells are peaking out of the ground in satisfying clusters, the dew still
thick on their tiny flowers if you happen to be out in the morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Nestled between Wearyall Hill, <a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2013/12/in-insula-avalonia-chalice-well.html" target="_blank">Chalice Hill</a>, and the Tor, is another sanctuary – Glastonbury Abbey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOstuDvKQWqSYphC3YIXxmNOUo7kzaAVODFuOyZLG2_bOO0ndhFzP7SydA04b2uT3HXYtM-GRf17lW-c0CU7DA4HZGK8BB2mEXfd00_UfX1U-1dlkjmJkvdxBWbOHmNKIqcor93PlGQ/s1600/abbey+model+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOstuDvKQWqSYphC3YIXxmNOUo7kzaAVODFuOyZLG2_bOO0ndhFzP7SydA04b2uT3HXYtM-GRf17lW-c0CU7DA4HZGK8BB2mEXfd00_UfX1U-1dlkjmJkvdxBWbOHmNKIqcor93PlGQ/s1600/abbey+model+2.png" height="190" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Model in the Abbey Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Abbey grounds, like other sancturaries
in town, are a place to get away to. You have to pay to get in, but once you
walk through the arch, past another desendent of the Holy Thorn, and onto the
green lawns surrounding these magnificent ruins, you are set to experience a
whole new aspect of Glastonbury. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The ruins of what was once one of the
largest abbeys in England rise up from the soft ground, sentry-still,
surrounded by mist. ‘Majestic’ is a word I would use to describe the ruins, and
‘sad’. When you see the model of what the place looked like at its height of
power and prominence, you understand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">Glastonbury
abbey was not always such a soaring monument of Christianity. The lovely ruins
that can be seen today are a medieval creation, the remains of which date from
the twelfth to sixteenth centuries. But the place itself is said to be the site
of the first Christian church and oldest religious foundation in the British
Isles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">According to
tradition, Joseph of Arimathea and his followers built a wattle church on the
site on land he was given by the local king, Arviragus, around the middle of
the first century A.D.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">Circa A.D. 160,
two Christians named Faganus and Deruvianus are supposed to have added a stone
structure on the site of what is the Lady Chapel. It is here that there is an
ancient well dedicated to St. Joseph.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1SucyF7Yhbv5HiuUkN1lvCz4HTuc-PMLRMAHPZSUk1he_pVX4wdnNrxXTF18F31No0xu_KVy4PewKQmNehRXcIwc7yqX0rxJ7Xhz_nLxbUoDUrXFuwF40bwu8TNKN857GKnJ7kBKRg/s1600/Lady+Chapel+c+1900+%2528wikimedia+commons%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1SucyF7Yhbv5HiuUkN1lvCz4HTuc-PMLRMAHPZSUk1he_pVX4wdnNrxXTF18F31No0xu_KVy4PewKQmNehRXcIwc7yqX0rxJ7Xhz_nLxbUoDUrXFuwF40bwu8TNKN857GKnJ7kBKRg/s1600/Lady+Chapel+c+1900+%2528wikimedia+commons%2529.png" height="146" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lady Chapel c.1900</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">In the early
days of Christianity in Britain, this first chapel and the well were the
predecessors of the magnificent ruins of the abbey we see today. The Lady
Chapel was the site of the first Marian cult in Britain, and in the words of
Geoffrey Ashe “there is no rival tradition whatsoever. When all of the
fantastic mists have dispersed, ‘Our Lady St. Mary of Glastonbury’ remains a
time-hallowed title.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">In one of the
Welsh Triads, Glastonbury is given the distinction of having a ‘perpetual
choir’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">It was a place
that Christians gravitated to. Indeed, several Celtic saints are said to have
come here, including St. Bridget, St. David, St. Columba, and even St. Patrick
whom some stories name as the first abbot of Glastonbury. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Walking the
grounds of Glastonbury Abbey is a contemplative activity, like so many other
spots <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In Insula Avalonia</i>. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Wt5rMd36fwyh9BT_QtDZGTYIVz6OgioXYTtvjIxjR2sqCardJ0YIWtUE_fCeoHCQeqS4d3uclVvODJAT6TXT_NlAy8Qwcuyae4rQr4DHD85_Bg1hkZb6v0SQlSuDM0BJDyDQ-Ph8VA/s1600/Cloisters.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Wt5rMd36fwyh9BT_QtDZGTYIVz6OgioXYTtvjIxjR2sqCardJ0YIWtUE_fCeoHCQeqS4d3uclVvODJAT6TXT_NlAy8Qwcuyae4rQr4DHD85_Bg1hkZb6v0SQlSuDM0BJDyDQ-Ph8VA/s1600/Cloisters.png" height="162" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abbey Cloisters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">It is supremely
peaceful and there are all manner of flora in the gardens to add to the calm.
Great trees shiver overhead when a breeze blows into town from across the
Somerset levels. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">You can stroll
the scant remains of the cloisters and up the nave with the abbey’s stone
titans looming over you. In a couple spots, you can lift a wooden cover to
reveal some of the colourful tiles of the abbey floor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">And then toward
the transept you come to an unassuming outline in the grass with a plaque
marking it. </span>This is where
you meet with one of Glastonbury Abbey’s most mysterious connections. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUKl-oftt5MBPIu5XwDHWPli8kqIJLdvUuv9FCkQaEErbGLvGOWqizH78tMc5ULff15dxW5pJ0aG_nUk0NhT0-KzWHlfvxVDzocAI5kvfLAHqWs76ValyiQ_Pq8IpuV5d0DMb0wxpXw/s1600/floor+tiles.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUKl-oftt5MBPIu5XwDHWPli8kqIJLdvUuv9FCkQaEErbGLvGOWqizH78tMc5ULff15dxW5pJ0aG_nUk0NhT0-KzWHlfvxVDzocAI5kvfLAHqWs76ValyiQ_Pq8IpuV5d0DMb0wxpXw/s1600/floor+tiles.png" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Floor Tiles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">In 1184 a fire
ravaged the abbey and the monks needed to rebuild. Around the time of the fire,
a Welsh bard is supposed to have revealed to King Henry II that King Arthur
himself was buried within the abbey grounds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">The king passed
this information on to the Abbot of Glastonbury who later ordered excavations
to be carried out. In 1191, it is said that the monks found the bones of a man
and a woman in a hollowed out tree trunk who were none other than Arthur, and
his queen, Guinevere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzI7tjfBxela4cjRm5Y1D0o4adJlrhd3zqZcBrO8N_GTotfGuB8fInfRsas_95tTYPy07hRvIbqygkTVBqfbr8Ae5oyOx1L_DPphkeHlpKlUTFzsfFRVqxBcvMzbAFY1ds-xxmq4D5Q/s1600/1191+sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzI7tjfBxela4cjRm5Y1D0o4adJlrhd3zqZcBrO8N_GTotfGuB8fInfRsas_95tTYPy07hRvIbqygkTVBqfbr8Ae5oyOx1L_DPphkeHlpKlUTFzsfFRVqxBcvMzbAFY1ds-xxmq4D5Q/s1600/1191+sign.png" /></a><span lang="EN-CA">With the remains
was a lead cross with the words ‘Hic Jiacet Sepultus Inclytus Rex Arturius in
Insula Avallonia’ which translates as ‘Here lies buried the renowned King
Arthur in the Isle of Avalon’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY694CV9dGBrylEyeI6l3Su1LMswOsRrd77v3LwUH_WSCvTMmKKp7KHWU-QxofiQ9-pQpkdKUuBGBvcHNmvVCYaM2P9jF3DQMuMDdQotNIzGCrC7PA4zQqQl1JJz_rE8tutl0ZbX_VEw/s1600/The+Arthur+Cross.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY694CV9dGBrylEyeI6l3Su1LMswOsRrd77v3LwUH_WSCvTMmKKp7KHWU-QxofiQ9-pQpkdKUuBGBvcHNmvVCYaM2P9jF3DQMuMDdQotNIzGCrC7PA4zQqQl1JJz_rE8tutl0ZbX_VEw/s1600/The+Arthur+Cross.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Arthur Cross</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Elizabethan
antiquarian, William Camden, did a sketch of the Arthur cross in the early 17<sup>th</sup>
century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">A lot of doubt
has been cast on the monks’ discovery with many believing that it was a hoax
created by the monks to boost tourism through pilgrimage. The remains were
treated as relics and later moved within the abbey during the reign of Edward I
in the early 13<sup>th</sup> century. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">It is important
to note that the archaeologist who excavated the abbey in the 1960s, Dr. Ralegh
Radford, indicated that the monks’ story might not have been that far-fetched,
and that there was indeed a person of great import from the correct period
buried in the graveyard just south of the Lady Chapel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfH_O4wKnNUHvqTgHFqxcV9MljT6k5c0GuwLcaSeR0nOVNUhSIoxF-KkeggVUD43cFvvpbfIiSTjdqCyubPgyLZIhGEhZ0NCv5Z-adOyF0GGtpNRZ3eSbLSmk0F-OfFgiaNXZSwyQ9g/s1600/The+Abbot%2527s+Kitchen.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfH_O4wKnNUHvqTgHFqxcV9MljT6k5c0GuwLcaSeR0nOVNUhSIoxF-KkeggVUD43cFvvpbfIiSTjdqCyubPgyLZIhGEhZ0NCv5Z-adOyF0GGtpNRZ3eSbLSmk0F-OfFgiaNXZSwyQ9g/s1600/The+Abbot%2527s+Kitchen.png" height="200" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Abbot's Kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">As with all
things <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In Insula Avalonia</i>, belief is
always a part of the great equation.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">There are other
buildings associated with the abbey too, including the Abbot’s Kitchen where
the Benedictine brothers would have prepared meals, and the Abbey Barn which is
now home to the Somerset Rural Life Museum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">The site is
lovely and inspiring. Tradition on the abbey grounds goes back ages to the very
roots of Christianity in Britain and beyond. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">As I would sit
on a bench, listening to the birds and the breeze, gazing upon the ruins, I
would imagine St. Joseph arriving with his followers and picking out the spot
for that first chapel. Perhaps they had something in common with the druids and
priestesses of the goddess who might have already been there? Perhaps a common
yearning for peace and truth?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">It is sad that
Henry VIII robbed us of the physical beauty of Glastonbury Abbey in the great
Dissolution. The last abbot was dragged to the top of the Tor and beheaded by
the King’s henchman, Cromwell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA">For this place
to function peacefully and unmolested from its earliest time, through Saxon
incursions and Norman invasions, speaks to its agreed importance over the ages.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">The majesty of
this place may lie in ruins now, but its spirit and mystery certainly remain
intact. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-41075140197620533462014-04-26T17:34:00.000-04:002014-05-05T19:56:24.476-04:00And History for All<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WAnjqYCVin9mO7qsrWGurHlYVweZfrRIRi9zsquNjlTrtJoAk-MORg0kUotOJSrBmHR5UBZJCC2ozDgsV2YvPJ4Vkss7hJeiYiwq2vxMbEf1SsgobwI8D2mWFV14LJWyokw6aF7MYA/s1600/Ouroboros-fist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WAnjqYCVin9mO7qsrWGurHlYVweZfrRIRi9zsquNjlTrtJoAk-MORg0kUotOJSrBmHR5UBZJCC2ozDgsV2YvPJ4Vkss7hJeiYiwq2vxMbEf1SsgobwI8D2mWFV14LJWyokw6aF7MYA/s1600/Ouroboros-fist.jpg" height="200" width="193" /></a></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">“To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is
to remain always a child. For what is the worth of human life, unless it is
woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history?” </span>(Cicero)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
I<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>ve
run into a few history haters of late. Yes, they DO exist!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
Someone recently said to me that ‘history is just
boring. What<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s the use? I
live in the present, not the past.<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’ </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
After a few deep breaths, I got control of my outrage.
How could someone say such a thing? To me it<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s such an obviously ignorant statement. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
But then I asked myself ‘What turned that person (like
so many others) so completely off of history in the first place?<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’ </span>I<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>ll bet that anyone who hates history loves a good story, loves to
watch movies set in the past, likes to hear about people<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s victories, defeats, great love affairs,
suffering, loss, adventures, beliefs etc. etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s not to like?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">“History isn't about dates and places and wars. It's
about the people who fill the spaces between them.” </span><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;">(Jodi Picoult, The Storyteller)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><br /></span></div>
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History IS about people. It<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s about the reasons and motivations behind
all those dates, and wars, and places. And because it<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s about people, there is always something
that other people, in any age, can relate to and learn from. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
think the root of the problem for all those folks who despise history is that
it was badly taught or presented. When you think about it, we<span lang="FR">’</span>ve all had a bad
teacher in one subject or another, history being no exception.</span><!--EndFragment-->
</div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
In high school, I had one good history teacher. The
others, I don<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>t even
remember. That history teacher told us those personal anecdotes of people
during the periods we were studying. He brought history to life using not only
stories, but also props, movies, and artifacts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
Isn<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>t
history a record of human life as it has been played out?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #741b47;">“If history were taught in the form of stories, it would
never be forgotten.”</span> </span>(Rudyard Kipling, The Collected Works)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
Mr. Kipling hit the nail on the head there. If history
were taught in an interesting way, the number of naysayers would be far less. I<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>ve always believed that good
historical fiction should be a part of every history curriculum. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
Sadly, not one of my elementary, high school, or
university history courses ever included historical fiction on the reading
list. On the contrary, the teachers often slammed historical fiction,
especially at the university level. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="border: none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWIlpS5Puye_TROUGbRLVIQ73vWG5u1BK0SObfEC5ZT4hw8Rsm9h5I1npWoofaujDuKNOqFfNzvQO-vhSc80np2bLihMQ840IspS2ko1jPwHovcZLoPHu18NU23eFi4a9Qoz1KlZIzg/s1600/slavery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWIlpS5Puye_TROUGbRLVIQ73vWG5u1BK0SObfEC5ZT4hw8Rsm9h5I1npWoofaujDuKNOqFfNzvQO-vhSc80np2bLihMQ840IspS2ko1jPwHovcZLoPHu18NU23eFi4a9Qoz1KlZIzg/s1600/slavery.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="Body">
Big mistake! Imagine the possible classroom conversations about
an historical person or topic that the students might have read about in a
fascinating or gut-wrenching novel! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
That would have been much better than “This general marched with
his army in such and such a date to such and such a place,” or “On such and
such a date, such and such a tyrant was defeated in this battle.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Honestly, that sounds like the history of nowhere to me. Every
era taught the in the same boring way, oftentimes without any passion for the
subject. How are you supposed to hook your audience?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">“The past is a source of knowledge, and the future is a source of
hope. Love of the past implies faith in the future.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">(Stephen
E. Ambrose)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggjnng5WUCvv3cTlWSgBlwC4zB8j26Ici0HrcFddgUviR1JLGKE0Pf3r1Xneb-oaEKKAzLI1FpkczoOucQXomF5zOATb8Vi75J5iR-He3I5ssFYYAOhQE2oXlHowaI80RaFzgP5geYw/s1600/Young-Napoleon-on-Horse-by-David.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggjnng5WUCvv3cTlWSgBlwC4zB8j26Ici0HrcFddgUviR1JLGKE0Pf3r1Xneb-oaEKKAzLI1FpkczoOucQXomF5zOATb8Vi75J5iR-He3I5ssFYYAOhQE2oXlHowaI80RaFzgP5geYw/s1600/Young-Napoleon-on-Horse-by-David.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>I think it<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s
also important to encourage diversity of interest in various periods of
history, and what better way to do that than through fiction.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Among history lovers<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’ </span><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;">circles, I</span><span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>ve also run into what can only be called
‘period snobbery<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
If history is really about people, and people of the past are how
we can most easily relate to history, then there is something to be learned or
gained from every period of history, in every place. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">“That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is
the most important of all the lessons that history has to teach.”</span> <span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">(Aldous Huxley)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVayp0sja31cDLLv5UDdnxPUHhvlj_Oiiuzx-YLJyV0_tvS9OCMmaVBpLs-YDKkrJ-CEp-d5uaQbaACc_HI4JCXh7YrVLnzTvB_FRm9jx-KWoo8ApjGhtjowCCK92B625cvIETU8vekg/s1600/Atlas_Typhoeus_Prometheus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVayp0sja31cDLLv5UDdnxPUHhvlj_Oiiuzx-YLJyV0_tvS9OCMmaVBpLs-YDKkrJ-CEp-d5uaQbaACc_HI4JCXh7YrVLnzTvB_FRm9jx-KWoo8ApjGhtjowCCK92B625cvIETU8vekg/s1600/Atlas_Typhoeus_Prometheus.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a>In my studies, I found something interesting in every period of
history to clamp onto. Again, the common denominator of the ages is people -
flawed, impassioned, messy people. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
The Gods must truly be having a laugh, or a good cry, when they
watch us mortals. History is an eternity of entertainment. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
It<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s not to say
that history lovers don<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>t
have their favourite periods to which they gravitate. I love the ancient and
medieval worlds; these span thousands of years, so I suppose that my tastes are
pretty varied. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
However, I can still remember being rapt by my American history
course when it came to the Civil War, or the Civil Rights movement in the
1960s. I never thought industrialization could be interesting, or Regency
England for that matter, until I studied them a little. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Medieval Japan? Very cool. Learning about cuneiform in
Mesopotamia? Brilliant!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Another good example is movies or Television shows. Of course, I
loved <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gladiator</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fall of The Roman Empire</i> and other ancient-themed movies. I
also enjoy watching <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Tudors</i>, and
the BBC<span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pride and Prejudice</i> alongside <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Claudius</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">“If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are
a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree.”</span> <span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">(Michael Crichton)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGuGSfs5ByFPegz0A1FuASXDVRv5wEi8ORaZme0pEuFY1uQTXwJ0OxOVo_lh5OLSCvvPda-GeLhlAr5THCnUO9JElOFRcWcXKXLdpek-tg1svhs0HOvtKmVXfZsakmlK54Zlw8LG2EA/s1600/Love+-+Tristan+and+Isolde.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGuGSfs5ByFPegz0A1FuASXDVRv5wEi8ORaZme0pEuFY1uQTXwJ0OxOVo_lh5OLSCvvPda-GeLhlAr5THCnUO9JElOFRcWcXKXLdpek-tg1svhs0HOvtKmVXfZsakmlK54Zlw8LG2EA/s1600/Love+-+Tristan+and+Isolde.png" height="200" width="145" /></a>Myth and Legend are also a part of history, a deep-rooted part of
human existence.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
What I find amazing and unfortunate is that there are some people
who make a career for themselves out of trying to disprove what i<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">s</span> history and culture to
others. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Often I</span><span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">’</span>ll read a quote from one of these
folks that belittles even the greatest beliefs or achievements of the ancients,
be it about their gods, their rituals, their cures, and <span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">their stories. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
I think history and the people of the past require and deserve a
bit more respect and attention than that. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">“Fiction is written with
reality and reality is written with fiction. We can write fiction because there
is reality and we can write reality because there is fiction; everything we
consider today to be myth and legend, our ancestors believed to be history and
everything in our history includes myths and legends. Before the splendid
modern-day mind was formed our cultures and civilizations were conceived in the
wombs of, and born of, what we identify today as "fiction, unreality,
myth, legend, fantasy, folklore, imaginations, fabrications and tall
tales." And in our suddenly realized glory of all our modern-day
"advancements" we somehow fail to ask ourselves the question
"Who designated myths and legends as unreality? " But I ask myself
this question because who decided that he was spectacular enough to stand up
and say to our ancestors "You were all stupid and disillusioned and
imagining things" and then why did we all decide to believe this person?”</span> <span lang="SV" style="mso-ansi-language: SV;">( C. JoyBell C.)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="SV" style="mso-ansi-language: SV;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I love this
quote, and it's so true. In man's search for scientific reasoning and
advancement, he has, at the same time sought to explain away so many rich
aspects of our actual history.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8E0K6IbOmnYgCspeVaduXvn7p_qaAMDqktIr8-avCJmT9mmXTS4HH61SRy7Ll4XT4-JLD-T8muNjZc4N7P2-1es0WLLxgfC3jZuA9UeSGxtlX2Ms2SV2J64OyvJUlkgVDhl8YBP12Yg/s1600/Ahura+Mazda+-+from+the+ruins+of+Persepolis.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8E0K6IbOmnYgCspeVaduXvn7p_qaAMDqktIr8-avCJmT9mmXTS4HH61SRy7Ll4XT4-JLD-T8muNjZc4N7P2-1es0WLLxgfC3jZuA9UeSGxtlX2Ms2SV2J64OyvJUlkgVDhl8YBP12Yg/s1600/Ahura+Mazda+-+from+the+ruins+of+Persepolis.PNG" height="131" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Myths and
legends ARE history. They were not mere fireside tales intended to entertain
the drunken masses, or stories whose sole purpose was to lull children to sleep
after suckling at their mothers' breasts. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Perhaps this is
one reason that history classes today tend to be so boring for many students?
If myths and legends were taught as history and not as pure fabrication that is
so easily explained away, those classes would be riveting. We would be inspired
by the past, and not bored by it.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">If history is
about people, then we would do well to try and look at things as those people
did if we really want to understand them. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Hindsight can be
useful when studying the past, but it can also be a poison that leads our
modern minds to think we are superior to all that has gone before. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">History is for
all - every person, every period, every aspect has value. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">“Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine
what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas in
antiquity.”</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"> </span>(</span><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;">Niccolò Machiavelli</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Thank
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDv6d2KORCflZ8sBrxDWrX3XoUKWiqP02xNUj4p7tVeKGNAJXY967uYIcdtQ5j1S0Qhe8XX8qtNTSNpI4yiWtGhKhQ1Yxs3yAat1mvD0bFDwvc3Ob8owII439eyB8cQXO3CNqKb02Fg/s1600/Trojan+horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDv6d2KORCflZ8sBrxDWrX3XoUKWiqP02xNUj4p7tVeKGNAJXY967uYIcdtQ5j1S0Qhe8XX8qtNTSNpI4yiWtGhKhQ1Yxs3yAat1mvD0bFDwvc3Ob8owII439eyB8cQXO3CNqKb02Fg/s1600/Trojan+horse.jpg" height="289" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-33012430190133472072014-04-16T19:17:00.000-04:002014-04-16T19:17:03.356-04:00Medicus! – Physicians in the Roman Empire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZTf4eTnBzM_8hrW9yMNXlf0tvfxZqw66Vq1ccbQgQqUxe4UrUYhhOe4-Llx2z0lm3OwE1JKBRKMb6_k4iLjQaOK9y1YKji4J6B5GTW7k6jsN6ZoYY7Vy236JOhWpyX_yl5kZceqyrw/s1600/Battle+medic+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZTf4eTnBzM_8hrW9yMNXlf0tvfxZqw66Vq1ccbQgQqUxe4UrUYhhOe4-Llx2z0lm3OwE1JKBRKMb6_k4iLjQaOK9y1YKji4J6B5GTW7k6jsN6ZoYY7Vy236JOhWpyX_yl5kZceqyrw/s1600/Battle+medic+2.png" height="200" width="153" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Going to the doctor’s office is never
something one looks forward to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">For most, me included, it gets the heart
rate and stress levels up to step into a building that’s full of ‘sick people’.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Sitting around in a waiting room with a group
of scared, nervous, fidgety folks, is enough to drive you mad, and the sight of
a white coat and stethoscope makes one want to run screaming from the building.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It was probably the same for our ancient
Greek and Roman ancestors. Most civilians would have been loath to visit with a
physician. It might not have been someone you wanted around, in case they
looked at you and thought your colour was a little off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">‘Oh dear. That cough doesn’t sound good, my
dear Septimius!’</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXQ1Fzh4YhedMa05a-XdcdNCR6KQn188BREMoiNqvZ63YXL-fXuB8GQKG561lho4s4hX_7qUumjUxLCDdVEgxmy-bM_sy5XAFjHbnX3su30xnwofkEr7pH90HpphVDcuAwrU2TlsVUw/s1600/In+the+field.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXQ1Fzh4YhedMa05a-XdcdNCR6KQn188BREMoiNqvZ63YXL-fXuB8GQKG561lho4s4hX_7qUumjUxLCDdVEgxmy-bM_sy5XAFjHbnX3su30xnwofkEr7pH90HpphVDcuAwrU2TlsVUw/s1600/In+the+field.png" height="128" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA">Not so for the soldiers in the field. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I’m not an expert in ancient medical
history, but I do know that the level of injury on an ancient battlefield would
have been staggering. The sight or sound of your unit’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">medicus</i> would have been something sent from the gods themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Imagine a clash of armies – thousands of
men wielding swords, spears and daggers at close quarters. Then lob some
volleys of arrows into the chaos. Perhaps a charge of heavy cavalry? How about
heavy artillery bolts or boulders slamming into massed ranks of men? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQIewe3FQ6NxtYiLL59fEvrI7p6liSqriKSnl1DtnUXvXAITU-V6bKwn5Qdh0syui2DN8p-Wye72Z76id2nreX3cK6ZpOyLS3QIBwPMB30PmRFGhkVQAY9OGlyq0zNS_TUwQ8zsT2SQ/s1600/Forceps.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQIewe3FQ6NxtYiLL59fEvrI7p6liSqriKSnl1DtnUXvXAITU-V6bKwn5Qdh0syui2DN8p-Wye72Z76id2nreX3cK6ZpOyLS3QIBwPMB30PmRFGhkVQAY9OGlyq0zNS_TUwQ8zsT2SQ/s1600/Forceps.png" height="200" width="85" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forceps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It would have been one big, bloody, savage
mess. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Apart from the usual cuts, slashes, and
puncture wounds, the warriors would have suffered shattered bones, fractured
skulls, lost limbs, severed arteries, sword, spear and arrow shafts that pushed
through armour on into organs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">If you weren’t dead right away, you most
likely would have been a short time later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This is where the ancient field medic could
have made the difference for an army. He would have been going through numerous
patients in a short period of time. He would have had to decide who was a lost
cause, who could no longer fight, and who could be patched up before being sent
back out onto the field of slaughter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">medicus</i>
of a Roman legion was an unsung hero whose skill was a product of accumulated
centuries of knowledge, study, and experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic60aahSEL0SEdO_IsQ3EnwoFuFNXIkCyG0FZPmpNLbv5TbLFtLhR91WVIpT8NosT2-5Uk4MOaMhSUmdUCbK4XCDSd5cHFBhKOb26xbXHZZZ4jcvUGSGgfwDh71f3MysQuuC1mkf6FHg/s1600/Asklepios+and+Igia.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic60aahSEL0SEdO_IsQ3EnwoFuFNXIkCyG0FZPmpNLbv5TbLFtLhR91WVIpT8NosT2-5Uk4MOaMhSUmdUCbK4XCDSd5cHFBhKOb26xbXHZZZ4jcvUGSGgfwDh71f3MysQuuC1mkf6FHg/s1600/Asklepios+and+Igia.png" height="200" width="187" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asklepios and Igeia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Many of the physicians in the Roman Empire
were Greek, and that’s because Greece was where western medicine was born.
Indeed, the ancient Greeks had patron gods of health and healing in the form of
Asklepios, Igeia, and sometimes Apollo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The greatest medical school of the ancient
world was in fact on the Aegean island of Cos, where students came from all
over the Mediterranean world to learn at the great Asklepion. Hippocrates
himself, the 5<sup>th</sup> century B.C. ‘father of medicine’, was from Cos and
said to be a descendant of the god Asklepios himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When it comes to Roman medicine, much of it
is owed to what discoveries and theories the Greeks had developed before, but
with a definite Roman twist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyt8stnvNi_2Z5hxDV-TGkVRjqPj3vng7GldTqL22WzGyZAc-DnGXRVOtOEDchb6JF0ib79Y4CfBi8Y60QFHEHKXSjcVssEPgdh6egOv2yL_wf_2GRvNFkTYDxjuXK3FsxrGfEUmDPfQ/s1600/Hippocrates+of+Kos.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyt8stnvNi_2Z5hxDV-TGkVRjqPj3vng7GldTqL22WzGyZAc-DnGXRVOtOEDchb6JF0ib79Y4CfBi8Y60QFHEHKXSjcVssEPgdh6egOv2yL_wf_2GRvNFkTYDxjuXK3FsxrGfEUmDPfQ/s1600/Hippocrates+of+Kos.png" height="200" width="135" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hippocrates</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The fusion of Greek and Roman medicine in
the Empire consisted of two parts: the scientific, and the religious/magical. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The more scientific thinking behind ancient
medical practices is a legacy owed to the Greeks, who separated scientific
learning from religion. The religious aspects of medicine in the Roman Empire were
a Roman introduction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Because of this fusion of ideas and
beliefs, you could sometimes end up with an odd assortment of treatments being
prescribed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">‘To alleviate your hypertension over your
new business venture, you should take three drops of this tincture before you
sleep. You should also sacrifice a white goat to Janus as soon as possible.’ </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Many Roman deities had some form of healing
power so it depended on one’s patron gods, and the nature of the problem, as to
which god would receive prayers or votive offerings over another. Amulets and
other magical incantations would have been employed as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJ2gR0HGB87yxcCWARHk_EyXC0KYSAyGL3M2Of-h7MbZRs2nBK9bRQ4uEASBApcr3OOS8eDnyZGbWTLQlwszQvdTbKc2nZrzNBol2fsu-wqjRihDXAlZd-X4tj62YH8QaaFGZNsPk2g/s1600/re-created+surgical+instruments.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJ2gR0HGB87yxcCWARHk_EyXC0KYSAyGL3M2Of-h7MbZRs2nBK9bRQ4uEASBApcr3OOS8eDnyZGbWTLQlwszQvdTbKc2nZrzNBol2fsu-wqjRihDXAlZd-X4tj62YH8QaaFGZNsPk2g/s1600/re-created+surgical+instruments.png" height="120" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient surgical instruments</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Romans had a god for everything, and
soldiers were especially superstitious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Greek medical thought rejected the idea of
divine intervention, opting more for practicallity in the treatment of wounds,
and injuries; cleaning and bandaging wounds would have been more logical than
putting another talisman about the neck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">All the gods were to be honoured, but in
the Greek physician’s mind they had much better things to look after than the
stab wound a man received in a Suburan tavern brawl. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">For the battlefield <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">medicus</i>, things must have been much simpler than for the physician
who was trying to diagnose mysterious ailments. They were faced mostly with
physical wounds and employed all manner of surgical instruments such as probes,
hooks, forceps, needles and scalpels. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Removing a barbed arrowhead from a
warrior’s thigh must have required a little digging. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTaiIbDbrBdCfJcuncmN1UySzujigWE0PQ2_JzpqdBCYmxiEd7sa4S1ncAnQFbolDPXvAa2GZMBKY6-3tbcp1DCkSkLRfAeyhnxuCupcSjjKhj8JGdF43m_oS284YqJoANU11qsSFzQ/s1600/battle+medicus.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTaiIbDbrBdCfJcuncmN1UySzujigWE0PQ2_JzpqdBCYmxiEd7sa4S1ncAnQFbolDPXvAa2GZMBKY6-3tbcp1DCkSkLRfAeyhnxuCupcSjjKhj8JGdF43m_oS284YqJoANU11qsSFzQ/s1600/battle+medicus.png" height="200" width="138" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Of course, in the Roman world, there was no
anaesthetic, so successful surgeons would have had to have been not only
dexterous and accurate, but also very fast and strong. Luckily, sedatives such
as opium and henbane would have helped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When it came to the treatment of wounds, a
medicus would have used wine, vinegar, pitch, and turpentine as antiseptics.
However, infection and gangrene would have meant amputation. The latter was
probably terrifyingly frequent for soldiers, many of whom would end up begging
on the streets of Rome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It is interesting to note that medicine was
one of the few professions that were open to women in the Roman Empire. Female
doctors, or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">medicae</i>, would also have
been mainly of Greek origin, and either working with male doctors, or as
midwives specializing in childbirth and women’s diseases and disorders. When it
came to the army however, most doctors would have been male. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvy0ENlcBu8ohyYKkiG9oD10RwZq0n6q-8hk_Y2d1nZu5uwOA_udY_jYh8zqKlnOPkGGNWMi3DqDjt4swcHjzh3WGbluzvMXbWHoRK5oEMx_6OOmvp7UuReePDZ7GIkuXQcfOluuRPA/s1600/Roman+Shears.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvy0ENlcBu8ohyYKkiG9oD10RwZq0n6q-8hk_Y2d1nZu5uwOA_udY_jYh8zqKlnOPkGGNWMi3DqDjt4swcHjzh3WGbluzvMXbWHoRK5oEMx_6OOmvp7UuReePDZ7GIkuXQcfOluuRPA/s1600/Roman+Shears.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shears</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Army surgeons played a key role in
spreading and improving Roman medical practice, especially in the treatment of
wounds and other injuries. They also helped to gather new treatments from all
over the Empire, and disseminated medical knowledge wherever the Legions
marched. Many of the herbs and drugs that were used in the Empire were acquired
by medics who were on campaign in foreign lands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Early on, physicians did not enjoy high
status. There was no standardized training and many were Greek slaves or
freedmen. This did<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>begin to improve
however when in 46 B.C. Julius Caesar granted citizenship to all those doctors
who were working in the city of Rome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This last point really hits home when it
has become common knowledge that foreign doctors who come to our own countries
today find themselves driving taxis or buses because they are not allowed to
practice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Modern governments, take your cue from
Caesar!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37ee4W8v9W-0mXAN_2vaV1Rh451c2YhFzZe58yPVC27RfnD5f6oi-H58co9OP7tJRtMcXiymRlNkd0g2h1vb8jKBEN1dVdxzKDE38FFyfejIGf8GzeXo7AcVf6aWVXbiYoiFTGsUhcA/s1600/Galen.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37ee4W8v9W-0mXAN_2vaV1Rh451c2YhFzZe58yPVC27RfnD5f6oi-H58co9OP7tJRtMcXiymRlNkd0g2h1vb8jKBEN1dVdxzKDE38FFyfejIGf8GzeXo7AcVf6aWVXbiYoiFTGsUhcA/s1600/Galen.png" height="200" width="147" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galen of Pergamon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">One of the most famous physicians of the
Roman Empire is Galen of Pergamon (A.D. 129-c.199). Galen was a Greek physician
and writer who was educated at the sanctuary of Asklepios at Pergamon in Asia
Minor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">After working in various cities around the
Empire, Galen returned to his home town to become the doctor at the local <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ludus</i>, or gladiatorial school. He grew
tired of that work and moved to Rome in A.D. 162 where he gained a reputation
among the elite. He subsequently became the personal physician of the Emperors
Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, and for a short time, Septimius Severus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Galen’s work and writings provided the
basis of medical teaching and practice on into the seventeenth century. No
doubt many an army <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">medicus</i> referred
to Galen’s work at one point or another. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWcawgK2P0TXkVzf2Ogpa0gUdXnkEDduE-iJe4WSD2S-Pi_FRmJANGSTahrdI5u8laOYmkSunYGJ8nJYJcAiDlkl9NOIZgRXZCiUOrakHpGpWkyyfcylNU1V1bY4XzC5jVxqS_LOqsw/s1600/Surgical+instruments+3+from+Pompeii.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWcawgK2P0TXkVzf2Ogpa0gUdXnkEDduE-iJe4WSD2S-Pi_FRmJANGSTahrdI5u8laOYmkSunYGJ8nJYJcAiDlkl9NOIZgRXZCiUOrakHpGpWkyyfcylNU1V1bY4XzC5jVxqS_LOqsw/s1600/Surgical+instruments+3+from+Pompeii.png" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient surgical instruments</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I’ve but barely scratched the vast surface
of this topic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">For some, there is this assumption that
ancient medicine was somehow false, crude and barbaric. The truth is that
modern western medicine owes much to the Greeks and Romans, civilian and
military, who travelled the Empire caring for their troops and gathering what
knowledge and knowhow they could. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The fusion of science, religious practice,
and magic provides for a fascinating mix. In truth, medical practices in
medieval Europe might have been more barbaric that their ancient predecessors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you for reading, and may Asklepios,
Igeia and Apollo grant you good health!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxH-cc39qLPlZuWEU15GXJUarY-sdG9eyfTMB_4cccrhitnU7mZbz_nM7edko_N3wFIIRHtNU2oxMyjWuhmk_s539J1epUJXS7sgJF_4UNXJedy2zcmMCQk6LoLSoDXXTjjjnCXlJEA/s1600/12th+century+mural+of+Galen+and+Hippocrates.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxH-cc39qLPlZuWEU15GXJUarY-sdG9eyfTMB_4cccrhitnU7mZbz_nM7edko_N3wFIIRHtNU2oxMyjWuhmk_s539J1epUJXS7sgJF_4UNXJedy2zcmMCQk6LoLSoDXXTjjjnCXlJEA/s1600/12th+century+mural+of+Galen+and+Hippocrates.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12th century medieval fresco of<br />
Galen and Hippocrates talking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-5533205383610937562014-04-05T13:12:00.000-04:002014-04-05T13:12:16.489-04:00The World of Killing the Hydra - Part II - Prostitution in the Roman Empire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35LaZ3lJhivK1HGkFme62CNr9VJYGoNIktZi3Uqm06heoNnSQnDUf_Cdw6xvzs7Bk08O1Aj85Pe-c7EnFgnnIT9O5LqmLf9Tt2B0FfGM4zeKSa_YzhqN7sTK9ayY1ABh678r7i5QsbA/s1600/hydrakindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35LaZ3lJhivK1HGkFme62CNr9VJYGoNIktZi3Uqm06heoNnSQnDUf_Cdw6xvzs7Bk08O1Aj85Pe-c7EnFgnnIT9O5LqmLf9Tt2B0FfGM4zeKSa_YzhqN7sTK9ayY1ABh678r7i5QsbA/s1600/hydrakindle.jpg" height="200" width="129" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">We’re going to a different sort of place in
this instalment of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The World of Killing
the Hydra</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In <a href="http://www.writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2014/03/the-world-of-killing-hydra-part-i.html" target="_blank">Part I</a>, we explored the beauty of Leptis
Magna which is where the book begins, but which was also the home of Emperor
Septimius Severus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But the Roman Empire was not all about
beautiful monuments, lavish banquets, and the adoration of the people for the
ruler of the time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In fact, the Roman Empire had its own maze
of back streets and alleyways where life was seedier, and more visceral. It
wasn’t all polished marble, but rather slick brick and stinking cells. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: red;">WARNING:</span></b><span lang="EN-CA"> If you are easily offended, some of the pictures of frescoes in
this post might be a bit too saucy for you. Just a word of warning for the
innocent-minded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">We’re going to take a very brief look today
at prostitutes and brothels in the Roman Empire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Now, if you’re suddenly hoping that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Killing the Hydra</i> is my attempt at
historical erotica, well, you’re looking in the wrong place. The book is not an
orgy extravaganza. If you want that, check out the film <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj0BnsF1FXs" target="_blank">Caligula</a></i> with Malcolm McDowell in the title role.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">However, you can’t really write about the
Roman world without touching on the long-standing part that prostitution and
brothels had to play in society.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_CPoPNtwFwpdc6Nab3TLX0wEw6ktaLpfZ6cFv0PokOmWNsOa4jbdhNby8S5vfv4K84C7DAp5gWnp4B6NHXysVOpvttxUN-J0S94p-d0rQfTYo7yu4xS1zSqa3wg7-h4mTPAQV__Ljw/s1600/Eroticpair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_CPoPNtwFwpdc6Nab3TLX0wEw6ktaLpfZ6cFv0PokOmWNsOa4jbdhNby8S5vfv4K84C7DAp5gWnp4B6NHXysVOpvttxUN-J0S94p-d0rQfTYo7yu4xS1zSqa3wg7-h4mTPAQV__Ljw/s1600/Eroticpair.jpg" height="200" width="198" /></a><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">They existed, and they most certainly
flourished. People of all classes, mostly men, made it a normal practice to
visit their favourite brothel from time to time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">If you liked the HBO show <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVgInLlYF-0%20" target="_blank">ROME</a></i>, you might have an image of Titus
Pullo whoring his way through the Subura with his jug of wine in hand.
Certainly, this sort of behaviour was not uncommon, especially for troops fresh
back from the wars and looking for a good time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The flip side might be the richer, upper
class nobility who may have believed visiting prostitutes was fine, as long as
it was done in moderation and didn’t cause a scandal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The prostitution scene in the Empire was as
large and varied as the workers and clients who kept it running. There was
something for everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But let’s look at things a bit more
closely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdo2Eo8Ixl51ke9S2wO9G8F6DiSf4eeVrtpOk9e5nG2zuo1GaO8ow2JOrXE-2YtLdWJkXckQqtlBA5d-kqUTS5iWReYBNcOqlZyww_5nbRW9i1xgvrrjoMUajfCktqZ4JgcwYlb13MxA/s1600/She-Wolf+and+R+and+R.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdo2Eo8Ixl51ke9S2wO9G8F6DiSf4eeVrtpOk9e5nG2zuo1GaO8ow2JOrXE-2YtLdWJkXckQqtlBA5d-kqUTS5iWReYBNcOqlZyww_5nbRW9i1xgvrrjoMUajfCktqZ4JgcwYlb13MxA/s1600/She-Wolf+and+R+and+R.png" height="141" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Romulus, Remus and<br />the 'Lupa'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">One could say that prostitution has ties to
the founding of Rome itself. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">You may have read about Romulus and Remus,
the brothers who founded Rome and were suckled by the She Wolf, or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lupa</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">We have heard of lost children being raised
by wolves before, but in the instance of Romulus and Remus, many believe that
they were actually raised by a prostitute who found them on the banks of the
Tiber. The slang word for prostitute in Latin was <i>lupa</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRP0hpj6GUCsiHdLfue9GYDRKw8_oEWQfs5niqm9z_ed1SdKZWUoMvzQTo_WZE83hWhbFvEI7Z6QnxCW0oYc_wLxICadYKQ1aL2wJJodj8aHP-3VE8GaGQU8_tWaRGjOABIlbF8mesQ/s1600/Nude_couple_in_bed__Roman_fresco_from_the_Casa_del_ristorante__room_f__western_wall__in_Pompeii__c__62-79_AD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRP0hpj6GUCsiHdLfue9GYDRKw8_oEWQfs5niqm9z_ed1SdKZWUoMvzQTo_WZE83hWhbFvEI7Z6QnxCW0oYc_wLxICadYKQ1aL2wJJodj8aHP-3VE8GaGQU8_tWaRGjOABIlbF8mesQ/s1600/Nude_couple_in_bed__Roman_fresco_from_the_Casa_del_ristorante__room_f__western_wall__in_Pompeii__c__62-79_AD.jpg" height="188" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA">And the word for brothel was in fact <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lupanar</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lupanarium</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Clients were drawn in by the sexual allure
of displayed ‘wares’, sometimes lined up naked on the curbside, and the various
experiences to be had within. The latter were sometimes illustrated in frescoes
or mosaics on the walls of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lupanar</i>.
These were intended to add to the atmosphere, or were a sort of menu of
pleasures to be had. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">There were of course ‘high-class’
prostitutes who catered to wealthy and powerful patrons, women who were skilled
at conversation, music and poetry. These high end <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lupae</i> provided an escape, or a feast with friends, in lavish
surroundings coupled with a sort of blissful oblivion. Some might have been
purchased by their wealthy clients to keep for themselves, and if that was the
case they might have ‘enjoyed’ a relatively easy life compared to the
alternative. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLFRtSHDBRjNHEFkDDNRtA-8ouuejFs1zQZQrw7brpj2GS3ODzIaWPVmOYKXLZTaG3TOme4XshyGxnKtv-fBJeMzCAIKiSsMntEs57Kln2Fq25gdgK5JxIBDcUwsL3vVzPfiTSzoqzw/s1600/Lupanar+bed.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLFRtSHDBRjNHEFkDDNRtA-8ouuejFs1zQZQrw7brpj2GS3ODzIaWPVmOYKXLZTaG3TOme4XshyGxnKtv-fBJeMzCAIKiSsMntEs57Kln2Fq25gdgK5JxIBDcUwsL3vVzPfiTSzoqzw/s1600/Lupanar+bed.png" height="191" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lupa's 'office' a cement bed<br />covered with a mattress and pillows</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-CA">The truth for most, however, was that they
were slaves. And slaves in ancient Rome, as we all know, were objects, property
to be used and disposed of on a whim. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Prostitutes – women, men, boys, girls,
eunuchs etc. – were at the bottom of the social scale, along with actors and
gladiators. They could be adored by clients one moment, and shunned the next.
And if a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lupa</i> was no longer
profitable, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">leno</i> (pimp), or the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lena</i> (madam) might sell them off as a liability,
sending them to a life that was possibly even worse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In ancient Rome prostitution was legal and
licensed, and it was normal for men of any social rank to enjoy the range of
pleasures that were on offer. Every budget and taste was catered to, and
because of Rome’s conquests, and the length and breadth of the Romam Empire in
the early 3<sup>rd</sup> century, there would have been slaves of every
nationality and colour. Clients of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lupanar</i>
would have had their choice of Egyptians, Parthians and Numidians, Germans,
Britons, slaves from far East and anywhere else, including Italians. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEb5ZX7PFRQCbSuH1Y5ei3bW8fK6kl2q8ry33w2i4pELz79i_rDTIWxgfwD_X4pccrMhWOxdjbVW_uGkd0dAbc4h61qFDlI3RASpxFMUCiOjxtK7Y1AY12KT_asysnXHrvYiAAjdpBsw/s1600/Pompeii_-_Casa_del_Centenario_-_Cubiculum_-_detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEb5ZX7PFRQCbSuH1Y5ei3bW8fK6kl2q8ry33w2i4pELz79i_rDTIWxgfwD_X4pccrMhWOxdjbVW_uGkd0dAbc4h61qFDlI3RASpxFMUCiOjxtK7Y1AY12KT_asysnXHrvYiAAjdpBsw/s1600/Pompeii_-_Casa_del_Centenario_-_Cubiculum_-_detail.jpg" height="160" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">However, even though prostitution was
regulated, don’t kid yourselves. This was not a question of morality, or
curbing venereal diseases. This was about maximizing profit – prostitution was
also taxed! </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In Pompeii, prostitution became a sort of
tourist trade. On the street pavement you just had to follow the phallus’ to
find the nearest brothel! There were something like thirty-five brothels in the
town, and that’s not counting the small curbside cells or niches where the
cheapest <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lupae</i> provided quickies to
passers-by. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIxBGmPh_AJ6cCe4OLhFohZiwF6eFKp1v7R7uINApi44NTdb_qFg4lnQHS502wTe5j0HCgDvSEuzov3XbBSALXuMLijnwCoc5Pz4Cv-N_pwb_H7lj_Un4BdKKtu4ap4PKHlPrL5CmoQ/s1600/Lupanare_grande.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIxBGmPh_AJ6cCe4OLhFohZiwF6eFKp1v7R7uINApi44NTdb_qFg4lnQHS502wTe5j0HCgDvSEuzov3XbBSALXuMLijnwCoc5Pz4Cv-N_pwb_H7lj_Un4BdKKtu4ap4PKHlPrL5CmoQ/s1600/Lupanare_grande.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'Great Lupanar'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-CA">The biggest brothel in Pompeii however, was
the ‘Great Lupanar’ located at a crossroads two blocks from the Forum. Many of
the frescoes pictured here are from that building which had ten rooms, where
most lupanars had just a few. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But we’ve only been looking at prostitution
and brothels in Rome and Pompeii. What would they have been like on the fringes
of the Empire?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Killing
the Hydra</i>, Lucius finds himself alone and in trouble in the Numidian town
of Thugga. This is where he meets one of the secondary characters of the book,
Dido. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Dido is a Punic girl who has lost her
family and is all alone in the world. She is beautiful, and kind-hearted. But
in a world where people were desperate to survive, those who didn’t have
protection had few choices. For a young beautiful Punic girl on the North
Africa frontier, there would not have been many places that offered a roof, a
bed, food and clothing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjni6KAeQ6u81bH5TmnqmnepeIrfOqsOiCGwjiFlxCMCpeP71geRriGH34eM_KfGCsYmY2Nt8jBEDjWPvSLuLbo4fzqlIyTGFTKrUTe_T8MF0eAIANBez79L5B7jsQq93O8mjwYUSEPjg/s1600/Thugga+street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjni6KAeQ6u81bH5TmnqmnepeIrfOqsOiCGwjiFlxCMCpeP71geRriGH34eM_KfGCsYmY2Nt8jBEDjWPvSLuLbo4fzqlIyTGFTKrUTe_T8MF0eAIANBez79L5B7jsQq93O8mjwYUSEPjg/s1600/Thugga+street.jpg" height="135" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The streets of Thugga</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Dido is a prostitute in the Thugga brothel
known as the ‘House of the Cyclops’, and she spots Lucius, a young,
good-looking Roman walking by himself – a sure bet in her eyes, and perhaps
better than her usual clientele. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But she doesn’t know Lucius yet. He’s not
the average man out for a good time. He has much more pressing issues on his
mind as he walks the streets of Thugga. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw5PC9-q9r4PfFI6WK_lTooE8gkxtZKEh2AQOrzdYngRbLbi8bBOzQZepS9pUA0sB5ePlCJsElWt6Yh6gcJHMHxvYfLQNVIZpyyI8AwAYdTk73HcD_EPi8sKuhQ6adFzq60zZrGR7Og/s1600/Thugga+Brothel+House+of+the+Cyclops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghw5PC9-q9r4PfFI6WK_lTooE8gkxtZKEh2AQOrzdYngRbLbi8bBOzQZepS9pUA0sB5ePlCJsElWt6Yh6gcJHMHxvYfLQNVIZpyyI8AwAYdTk73HcD_EPi8sKuhQ6adFzq60zZrGR7Og/s1600/Thugga+Brothel+House+of+the+Cyclops.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'House of the Cyclops' in Thugga</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-CA">When I was doing my research for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Killing the Hydra</i> in Thugga (in central
Tunisia), Lucius and Dido’s meeting played out in my mind as if they were
walking alongside me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Without giving too much away, Lucius ends
up needing this young <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lupa</i>’s help
because he has no one else he can trust. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Can he trust this unknown, Punic girl? Will
he go into the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lupanar</i> and seek her
behind the curtain of her tiny <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cubiculum</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">You have to read the book to find that part
out. But, if you are interested in an excerpt, I posted one describing the
moment when Lucius and Dido meet in a previous post which you can read <a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2014/02/sneak-peek-killing-hydra-eagles-and.html%20" target="_blank">HERE</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuvqGkSgQqZe8xBT0zJYNpcn-GejdLvem_6SDV5hYIy_VKubsarYTNkaSXCd_MQ9Y5MfZfC6TWLnNCVvW1yQlOm3plIy0krOstivtCeuiYtnSYI7HLisqRMQFtLKmcfhC7S9j2EGAhw/s1600/Two_men_and_a_woman_making_love__Pompeian_wall_painting__from_one_of_the_Therms__baths___the_south_wall_of_the_changing_rooms_-_painted_around_79_BC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuvqGkSgQqZe8xBT0zJYNpcn-GejdLvem_6SDV5hYIy_VKubsarYTNkaSXCd_MQ9Y5MfZfC6TWLnNCVvW1yQlOm3plIy0krOstivtCeuiYtnSYI7HLisqRMQFtLKmcfhC7S9j2EGAhw/s1600/Two_men_and_a_woman_making_love__Pompeian_wall_painting__from_one_of_the_Therms__baths___the_south_wall_of_the_changing_rooms_-_painted_around_79_BC.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA">One might think that the subject of this
particular post was rather fun to write, that the images above are titillating.
And sure, they are to an extent. I don’t mind a bit of risque material on
occasion. Why not?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But then, I can’t help thinking of the
lives that these female and male prostitues had to endure. Very few enjoyed the
favour of kind wealthy clients, and lived in luxurious surroundings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Prostitutes were slaves and most were
probably pumped and beaten for a bronze<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>coin<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>or two before having to receive their
next tormentor. These people were objects to the rest of the world, not human
beings. They were people’s daughters and sons, mothers, fathers, sisters and
brothers. In many cases they’d been taken from their homes on the other side of
the world. Perhaps they were all that was left of their family?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgWUqI8uXQgRuALP9NSv55Wg0o4_4kRhNBg9TlG4ZXwLE_7hm4XSoy-UhwjF10MJZQ6VKH1CqzreNKnBSN9PJGl3T2pcnEHqN2fKvSr7IcdXDmEjE51cSNod9iQ7EKZv94P74bByrCQ/s1600/Erotic_Scene__c_1-50AD__venereum__private_building__Pompeii__MAN__Naples__pd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgWUqI8uXQgRuALP9NSv55Wg0o4_4kRhNBg9TlG4ZXwLE_7hm4XSoy-UhwjF10MJZQ6VKH1CqzreNKnBSN9PJGl3T2pcnEHqN2fKvSr7IcdXDmEjE51cSNod9iQ7EKZv94P74bByrCQ/s1600/Erotic_Scene__c_1-50AD__venereum__private_building__Pompeii__MAN__Naples__pd.jpg" height="200" width="187" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">For most prostitutes in the Roman Empire,
life was a living Hades – just something to remember when looking at this
aspect of the larger world of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Killing the
Hydra</i>. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Thank you for reading…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">Killing
the Hydra</span></i><span lang="EN-CA"> has been doing very well in the Ancient
History and Historical Fantasy categories on the Kobo and Amazon charts the
last couple of weeks, so my sincere thanks to all of you who have gone out and
purchased a copy. If you enjoyed it, please do leave a review. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In a few weeks I’ll post the next installment
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The World of Killing the Hydra</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are interested in learning more about
prostitution in the Roman Empire, especially in Pompeii, the video below is an
excellent documentary that will give you an inside look at the <i>Lupanare Grande</i> in that ancient city. </span></span><!--EndFragment--><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6kha6ccnBvo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 18px;">For those reading on mobile, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kha6ccnBvo&list=PLaGnq8H7GaVLH-dDaUlKHpy-JcMqwmI5F&index=25" target="_blank">HERE</a> for the video. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-59413305202961207742014-03-27T22:40:00.000-04:002014-03-27T22:40:52.944-04:00The Triumph of Herakles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1DPiGB2IXwpnhRMinr8sJpwVXdAJvwPO9NUPFn3bN9dp-ZL2qaGevZP2xxcMqx9fBEeKHxGzmaVKTDr1tCtm5Fuv2EhwKgDKUcysvOlB6RmlMhPcwGO6nOFXkExgiTt15nveN26EQQ/s1600/young+Herakles.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1DPiGB2IXwpnhRMinr8sJpwVXdAJvwPO9NUPFn3bN9dp-ZL2qaGevZP2xxcMqx9fBEeKHxGzmaVKTDr1tCtm5Fuv2EhwKgDKUcysvOlB6RmlMhPcwGO6nOFXkExgiTt15nveN26EQQ/s1600/young+Herakles.png" height="200" width="178" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Some of the most timeless stories in
western literature are about the heroes of ancient Greece. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">For millennia people have been inspired by
Perseus, Jason and the Argonauts, Theseus, Achilles and Odysseus. Many an
ancient king and warrior has tried to emulate the actions and personae of these
heroes, and even claimed descent from them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Far and away, the greatest hero of all was
Herakles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">There are so many stories related to
Herakles (‘Hercules’ of you were Roman) in mythology that it’s impossible to
cover all of them in a simple blog post. A book would be required for that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">So, this post is going to be the first in a
two-part series on the hero. There are countless triumphant deeds associated
with Herakles, but for our purposes here I’m going to cover the most famous of
all – The Twelve Labours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Twelve Labours of Herakles have been
the subject of art, sculpture and song for ages. Their portrayal decorated the
ancient world from the images on vases to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">metopes</i> on the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. In our modern age, we’ve
seen him in comics, television shows, and movies, two of which are coming out
this year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGTrhpgCi9IJqAdoJuJ8pB_h6IMjKNNTs-YBV77XBjJkuj1or22JT07cRehY3jggPUaPifYNr5KhLvInK2c7JhVZbX9L7t4HILphHzRwljR12fCdiN1PQYu2Mr44dMqUFeCPnzDbe6g/s1600/Tiryns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGTrhpgCi9IJqAdoJuJ8pB_h6IMjKNNTs-YBV77XBjJkuj1or22JT07cRehY3jggPUaPifYNr5KhLvInK2c7JhVZbX9L7t4HILphHzRwljR12fCdiN1PQYu2Mr44dMqUFeCPnzDbe6g/s1600/Tiryns.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyrins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But who was Herakles? Where did he come
from?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Herakles was born in the city of Thebes. He
was the son of Zeus who begat him on Alcmene, a granddaughter of Perseus and
Andromeda. Zeus came to her in the guise of her mortal husband, Amphitryon, and
so Herakles was born. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">From the beginning, Herakles showed that he
was not a ‘normal’ person. Out of jealousy, Hera, Queen of the Gods and wife of
Zeus, sent two snakes to kill the baby Herakles in his cot. Herakles strangled
the snakes with his bare baby hands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When he was 18 years of age, Herakles began
to really make a name for himself by slaying a lion on the slopes of Mount
Cithaeron after hunting it for fifty days. During that time, he stayed with the
king of Thespiae who was so impressed with the youth that he had him beget
children on all fifty of his daughters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Herakles was a man of extreme prowess,
deeds, emotion and appetites. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">King Creon of Thebes rewarded Herakles for
helping him against his enemy, Erginus, king of the Minyans by giving him the
hand of his daughter Megara with whom the hero had several children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This is where things sour for the young hero.
After all, this is a Greek story, and tragedy is never far behind to bring even
the mightiest of heroes back to Earth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBBe_hVenUU1HwXSVLYrlCGMv9fNV2GP42wUq6YO1L5s1_GV17-SJFIgUFE48YyUaTdZA2VQKZJcAhmnSH726BhVzy9MtWgMyhOQqUt15fqiQlXC4i3ZcMLbbdUtt9FV2OB8dJPHPMw/s1600/Delphi+Temple+of+Apollo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBBe_hVenUU1HwXSVLYrlCGMv9fNV2GP42wUq6YO1L5s1_GV17-SJFIgUFE48YyUaTdZA2VQKZJcAhmnSH726BhVzy9MtWgMyhOQqUt15fqiQlXC4i3ZcMLbbdUtt9FV2OB8dJPHPMw/s1600/Delphi+Temple+of+Apollo+1.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temple of Apollo - Delphi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Hera stepped in to afflict Herakles with
madness, causing him to kill his wife and children. When his sanity returned,
he was overcome with grief and went to the Oracle at Delphi for advice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Oracle told him to go to Tyrins and
serve its king, Eurystheus, for twelve years as punishment for his brutal
crime. He had to complete all tasks set for him by the king, and this is the
origin of The Twelve Labours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It’s curious that the name ‘Herakles’ means
‘Glory of Hera’, since she persecuted him so much throughout his life. Then
again, perhaps as Hera is the root cause of his Labours, his triumphs reflect
on her?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">I – The Nemean Lion</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINsfeImcTJZFOXX4Lv8a0IwYOvo6OM4cNTzxmaD06NhPrtnvBlvb5PgZhnoaV9XbRLglVUg-dATKnKCajM6ik1gsqXCG_EuZK5X4Tx0LmiYqng4MF3W7WXdXx9kab2W9XAs5vxije1Q/s1600/Nemean+Lion.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINsfeImcTJZFOXX4Lv8a0IwYOvo6OM4cNTzxmaD06NhPrtnvBlvb5PgZhnoaV9XbRLglVUg-dATKnKCajM6ik1gsqXCG_EuZK5X4Tx0LmiYqng4MF3W7WXdXx9kab2W9XAs5vxije1Q/s1600/Nemean+Lion.png" height="134" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This first labour is probably his most
famous, and takes us to the ancient land of the Argolid peninsula. The lion
that was terrorizing the hills about Nemea had skin that was impenetrable to
weapons and so Herakles, when he faced it, choked it to death with his brute strength
and then used the claws to skin it. It’s this skin, which he used as a hooded
pelt, that the hero became known for in art. If you see someone with a lion’s
head on their own, it’s likely Herakles, or someone trying to emulate him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQuKtYU2pJF9TT5KDak60NaDVQr5mNtLxwiU3D16v11s3A1P7nlQfulloTGCv3sLp7oAJMsGwUy_mGoEVPvtgdlhV9zHgwPWFYAZgvjRan6mGv2uLJ2p8vmpeThJFizdaXhyRNJ6GDQ/s1600/Nemea+countryside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQuKtYU2pJF9TT5KDak60NaDVQr5mNtLxwiU3D16v11s3A1P7nlQfulloTGCv3sLp7oAJMsGwUy_mGoEVPvtgdlhV9zHgwPWFYAZgvjRan6mGv2uLJ2p8vmpeThJFizdaXhyRNJ6GDQ/s1600/Nemea+countryside.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valley of Nemea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As a side note, Nemea was thereafter the
site of the Nemean Games, one of the four sacred games of the ancient world,
which also included the Isthmian Games, the Pythian Games, and the Olympic
Games.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">II – The Lernean Hydra</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxf8r75H9zmHo8AAajBRwVNLOXVjYDTThgSzi535o5BjCXMr7oUL60sfHhux6iaKspOYGYXYe0aIuO1SCQREGh0n_ztzAcGVTf5Pa2dp3unyKi5Z1PuiLPgyMfQq2d4xZCYh2p4oZqNA/s1600/Lernean+Hydra.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxf8r75H9zmHo8AAajBRwVNLOXVjYDTThgSzi535o5BjCXMr7oUL60sfHhux6iaKspOYGYXYe0aIuO1SCQREGh0n_ztzAcGVTf5Pa2dp3unyKi5Z1PuiLPgyMfQq2d4xZCYh2p4oZqNA/s1600/Lernean+Hydra.png" height="200" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When he faced the Hydra in the
Peloponnesian swamps of Lerna, it’s a good thing that Herakles brought along
his nephew and companion, Iolaus. Facing the monster, he discovered that when
he cut one head off, two more grew back in its place. And so, after each head
was cut, Iolaus would cauterize the stump before it could grow again. When the
Hydra was dead, Herakles dipped his arrows in the blood which was poison, even
to Immortals. These arrows would come in useful in later episodes of the hero’s
life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjLrzcomuxFyt1pYv4L-9Rz4QwgQPJV9E5U1HEP_ptbZECqMjrqWY6Grqws0ohToY0UUWr1R1mbSgkRKd3DaHGR_EoFVLJJW-2QAHhBs766pMgBmzo3zEc-mbLwtOee_UBKGFsMj2-w/s1600/Lerna+Greece.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjLrzcomuxFyt1pYv4L-9Rz4QwgQPJV9E5U1HEP_ptbZECqMjrqWY6Grqws0ohToY0UUWr1R1mbSgkRKd3DaHGR_EoFVLJJW-2QAHhBs766pMgBmzo3zEc-mbLwtOee_UBKGFsMj2-w/s1600/Lerna+Greece.png" height="122" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lerna, Greece</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"></span><br /><span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">III – The Ceryneian Hind</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHJePQV62Eu4V2mQW0AiCJBNxkwqeJVMLDvi6S49GYvkYVKHxanV7kyef4hcGKPWjPkuaBSIUkRirBQxb3q3nxmHqOywmX8L6FiEoRvt_3bUXjEUFRLdtpyU6U9I4I_JXcY0yUyyLWA/s1600/Cyreneian+Hind.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHJePQV62Eu4V2mQW0AiCJBNxkwqeJVMLDvi6S49GYvkYVKHxanV7kyef4hcGKPWjPkuaBSIUkRirBQxb3q3nxmHqOywmX8L6FiEoRvt_3bUXjEUFRLdtpyU6U9I4I_JXcY0yUyyLWA/s1600/Cyreneian+Hind.png" height="192" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Eurystheus, this time, thought he would set
Herakles against Artemis with this third labour by telling him to capture a
deer with golden horns that was sacred to the goddess. But Herakles pursued the
hind for a whole year until he finally captured it and brought it before
Eurystheus who, by this time, was always hiding in a jar whenever his cousin
would return. The hind was allowed to go once it was brought before the king
and so Herakles was able to avoid Artemis’ wrath. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3E38o6Ejf1SPsXG2GZkkbxSy_AK59I3mUAJRTZCpIf50rsIe_blBSsuk6p2xA3XYLNjgHUlaFbFfkkJPmmCBpsqix3CASeHJxF8Kd5Q40HXR0X-n6u9PPRVT4fwP8s-nW9SpYDBHKqw/s1600/Erymanthian+Boar.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3E38o6Ejf1SPsXG2GZkkbxSy_AK59I3mUAJRTZCpIf50rsIe_blBSsuk6p2xA3XYLNjgHUlaFbFfkkJPmmCBpsqix3CASeHJxF8Kd5Q40HXR0X-n6u9PPRVT4fwP8s-nW9SpYDBHKqw/s1600/Erymanthian+Boar.png" height="171" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giving the Boar to Eurystheus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">IV – The Erymanthian Boar</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Around Psophis, in the Arcadian region of
the Peloponnese, a massive boar had been giving the locals trouble and so
Herakles was sent to capture it. He did so by pursuing it through deep snow in
the mountains until it was so exhausted that he was able to capture it. Such a
massive specimen would have made quite a sacrificial feast!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">V – The Stables of Augeas</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FXUnmX6v1eNIkX10uKvPL6VZKXIrgUD4muBEdH4DKpPqHnv9Lhx-l1AoHDdkDMLRCZilwVtTUeFK8D7_cA__hcQBwOZTCivXuu9XjZRqCsasjyBHQvbh7iRAZHpQjIquzVj5x4PQ8A/s1600/Augean+Stables.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FXUnmX6v1eNIkX10uKvPL6VZKXIrgUD4muBEdH4DKpPqHnv9Lhx-l1AoHDdkDMLRCZilwVtTUeFK8D7_cA__hcQBwOZTCivXuu9XjZRqCsasjyBHQvbh7iRAZHpQjIquzVj5x4PQ8A/s1600/Augean+Stables.png" height="200" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Athena helping Herakles to<br />clean the stables</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Augeas was the King of Elis, and he had a
cattle stable that had never been mucked out, EVER! In this case, it was not a
monster that terrorized the locals, but rather the monumental stench. In this
very different<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>labour, Herakles was told
he had to clean out the stables. So, what did he do? What all heroes would do,
he diverted the rivers Alpheius and Peneius so that they flowed through the
stables and washed the titanic stink away. It’s no wonder the land thereabouts
is so fertile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">VI – The Stymphalian Birds</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZwxrJmq4azQdtS85XAYVDZB5V36JbAaLq_8o8ZV0bEkXfgP2J8qlnNtlleemh8SKM5OV-X87BP_bJnsj0YeDcNL_zVY5gBwjAmqSZBCwOXqtP-ltcr9X8OnFkkw3iaFkLWvbjsrGBw/s1600/Stymphalian+Birds.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZwxrJmq4azQdtS85XAYVDZB5V36JbAaLq_8o8ZV0bEkXfgP2J8qlnNtlleemh8SKM5OV-X87BP_bJnsj0YeDcNL_zVY5gBwjAmqSZBCwOXqtP-ltcr9X8OnFkkw3iaFkLWvbjsrGBw/s1600/Stymphalian+Birds.png" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">In Stymphalia, there were flocks of
man-eating birds with bronze beaks that infested the woods around the Lake of
Stymphalus, again in Arcadia. Herakles was told he had to get them out. So, he
scared them all from their hiding places and then shot them down with his great
bow. No more birds.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvlXukCtT7ic-V62peONY6-oDoDakZeZRJxFWtjxSO2w-0lr7owHCE4kSvFDbTC1S_5EJMhd4riMlsi0OiSnc64sHrr1jr3VmtJRRYE_6bCBrpMfjylpeG5BA3YFtyMZkf5pFzKO8zQ/s1600/Lake+Stymphalos.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvlXukCtT7ic-V62peONY6-oDoDakZeZRJxFWtjxSO2w-0lr7owHCE4kSvFDbTC1S_5EJMhd4riMlsi0OiSnc64sHrr1jr3VmtJRRYE_6bCBrpMfjylpeG5BA3YFtyMZkf5pFzKO8zQ/s1600/Lake+Stymphalos.png" height="166" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Stymphalos, Greece</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">VII – The Cretan Bull</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHf-GdR7G4XEt-2Jo5G5nwqM0PdE0J7DU5rNq_8PsH8_f2l7s8BAF2ptzIJzBAPjWYResP-w0G507rn75j-O6vq1amjLevGVl2gZSYnp9N3-iLp-fxS3rJHHdlPvkHSzpG7BsVMlH9w/s1600/Cretan+Bull.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHf-GdR7G4XEt-2Jo5G5nwqM0PdE0J7DU5rNq_8PsH8_f2l7s8BAF2ptzIJzBAPjWYResP-w0G507rn75j-O6vq1amjLevGVl2gZSYnp9N3-iLp-fxS3rJHHdlPvkHSzpG7BsVMlH9w/s1600/Cretan+Bull.png" height="155" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">For his seventh labour, Herakles had to
leave the Peloponnese for the Island of Crete to capture and bring back the
Cretan Bull. This was no ordinary bull. This was the bull that Poseidon sent to
Crete for King Minos to sacrifice. When Minos refused, Poseidon made his wife,
Pasiphae fall in love with it and from that union was born the terror that was
to become the Minotaur. The Cretan Bull rampaged all over Crete until Herakles
arrived, wrestled it to the ground, and brought it back to Greece. The hero’s
friend, Theseus, would come back to Crete years later to take care of the
Minotaur. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1OnPtabAONMWmA-CJ4lJndt9Wi6Hs2ckFJSvJR2uXjAjcNXEhENRW9YTZpYje0nue2J6rcJpff6eJhTEM2CsgkcKWS3WVVYvkIWWKT3YnKTONXk4FqKwIUnJaCABBARYakcl9QrHQw/s1600/Mares+of+Diomedes.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1OnPtabAONMWmA-CJ4lJndt9Wi6Hs2ckFJSvJR2uXjAjcNXEhENRW9YTZpYje0nue2J6rcJpff6eJhTEM2CsgkcKWS3WVVYvkIWWKT3YnKTONXk4FqKwIUnJaCABBARYakcl9QrHQw/s1600/Mares+of+Diomedes.png" height="182" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">VIII – The Mares of Diomedes</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Once more, Herakles was forced to deal with
another group of man-eating animals. But this time they were not birds, but
rather horses! The mares of Diomedes were in Thrace and so Herakles travelled
there. He had a run-in with Diomedes himself and so, to tame the horses,
Herakles fed them their own master. After that, the mares followed him back to
Eurystheus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">IX – The Girdle of Hippolyte</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYI-8Mj5RSfo1of-aastYwOC1qNqzQmArgR6wzZXP8VvXpddtfOr4omoanSnlTde5UFrzlw_6dhu6cfZTgLBCUtEeTa3pVmDXGtL87srAa8pTR_GjOOFduzlxPIbWZploQ1l_3l38POg/s1600/Hippolyte.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYI-8Mj5RSfo1of-aastYwOC1qNqzQmArgR6wzZXP8VvXpddtfOr4omoanSnlTde5UFrzlw_6dhu6cfZTgLBCUtEeTa3pVmDXGtL87srAa8pTR_GjOOFduzlxPIbWZploQ1l_3l38POg/s1600/Hippolyte.png" height="163" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Near the River Thermodon, just off the
Black Sea, Herakles and his followers, including Theseus, went to the Amazons
and their Queen, Hippolyte. The story goes that Herakles just asked this lovely
daughter of Ares for her girdle, or belt, and she said ‘Yes’. Hera decided to
step in and whispered to the rest of the Amazons that their queen was being
abducted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">The Amazons attacked Herakles and his men
who fought back, and in the bloody engagement, Hippolyte herself was killed.
Herakles managed to get the girdle, but the cost of this labour was indeed
heavy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fkt9Pm4MPPK6YKOBhVN58J9D5cSMoJhpREdqOTIxcDnpKiHEN5ER8fDoZB8WBP3zIaol3thkoOtHoOVh_gLf6Wqv2IKcKfJs5HyPG_RQezZXwXvOPyPgQrxhXHKSdoHLUYpalyfnxA/s1600/Thermodon+River.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fkt9Pm4MPPK6YKOBhVN58J9D5cSMoJhpREdqOTIxcDnpKiHEN5ER8fDoZB8WBP3zIaol3thkoOtHoOVh_gLf6Wqv2IKcKfJs5HyPG_RQezZXwXvOPyPgQrxhXHKSdoHLUYpalyfnxA/s1600/Thermodon+River.png" height="137" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The River Thermodon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">X – The Cattle of Geryon</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrh7k3E08uKpO4mi1q6oZ7Nb2kI6oFLXpMXjWTdqZl-YNZ029T3fjm0BR3iJh8NlAnYb7nNASS52vVBWt3pZVAYqqhnDI704vBgNW_9eVIk3DrUlknj7x0KZ67A2YLAxLuv1raIEG9Vw/s1600/Geryon+Cattle.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrh7k3E08uKpO4mi1q6oZ7Nb2kI6oFLXpMXjWTdqZl-YNZ029T3fjm0BR3iJh8NlAnYb7nNASS52vVBWt3pZVAYqqhnDI704vBgNW_9eVIk3DrUlknj7x0KZ67A2YLAxLuv1raIEG9Vw/s1600/Geryon+Cattle.png" height="200" width="131" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">The tenth labour is a sort of epic cattle
raid. Herakles was told he had to bring back the red cattle of the three-bodied
giant, Geryon, from the Island of Erytheia which was far, far to the west. This
took the hero on a long journey into the Atlantic. On his way, he set up the
Pillars of Hercules to mark his way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">But Herakles began to grow weary with the
heat, and so Helios, God of the Sun, lent Herakles his great golden bowl or
boat so that he could sail the rest of the way to Erytheia. Herakles succeeded
in raiding the cattle and sailed in Helios’ boat back to Spain. From Spain he
travelled to Greece and had many adventures on this mythic cattle drive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">There is a whole list of adventures he had
on his way home, but the one I would like to highlight brings him in touch with
the Romans. When Herakles arrived in Rome he came into conflict with a monster
named Cacus after the beast killed some of the cattle. Herakles killed Cacus in
what must have been a great battle of strength. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrxC10Lg29204DFCXhyNohH79Vf55PeES1iYQsberGRTUB9pqIWSu-ULWkW2xCw2cugS3z7h-ybY2d1ensvC2SSzP_IccYP53Qn15XLWB7IR5oeFN0iU0McqR_dXNlawMqMQN3P4xYw/s1600/Forum+Boarium+and+Temple+of+Hercules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrxC10Lg29204DFCXhyNohH79Vf55PeES1iYQsberGRTUB9pqIWSu-ULWkW2xCw2cugS3z7h-ybY2d1ensvC2SSzP_IccYP53Qn15XLWB7IR5oeFN0iU0McqR_dXNlawMqMQN3P4xYw/s1600/Forum+Boarium+and+Temple+of+Hercules.jpg" height="134" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Temple of Hercules in<br />the Forum Boarium in Rome</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-CA">It’s interesting that in Rome, there are
some steps leading off of the Palatine Hill called the Steps of Cacus which is
where the monster is said to have lain in wait for passers-by. In the Forum
Boarium, or cattle market, near the banks of the Tiber, there is a round Tholos
temple dedicated to Hercules, commemorating the hero’s time in Rome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">XI – The Golden Apples of Hesperides</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYucLlUXzgeS-pjETsd2ii5BOUJpWcm4rG7e2_RxfbnCJR9doaEGEtPOXPRI7RpglFgDEggs78RviN3aCozQXAa1q5UFuseNUtzRCkBpN0e-P8IEC_M0I2ji_lbfVBLQ2AqjCxFsLZTg/s1600/Hesperides.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYucLlUXzgeS-pjETsd2ii5BOUJpWcm4rG7e2_RxfbnCJR9doaEGEtPOXPRI7RpglFgDEggs78RviN3aCozQXAa1q5UFuseNUtzRCkBpN0e-P8IEC_M0I2ji_lbfVBLQ2AqjCxFsLZTg/s1600/Hesperides.png" height="200" width="146" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Hesperia was the garden of the gods and
Herakles must have been exhausted when he discovered that he had to go back to
the Atlantic. Some believe Hesperia was located on the Atlantic side of the
North African coast. The garden was said to be beyond the sunset, where Atlas,
the Titan, was holding up the sky. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa_g8yBSh4z78Ath25AOU7KUznTESjFQN5v-lW0TK-f9Yi8ryMMwFR9hyp4WUSi3vxotL6tNPkbFIncmxmigAxV78FYdGmwc3UdmJwpe4EZO6i-xt1GKlX8Hw-m-djLxwMXZa80on9w/s1600/Atlas+and+Herakles.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa_g8yBSh4z78Ath25AOU7KUznTESjFQN5v-lW0TK-f9Yi8ryMMwFR9hyp4WUSi3vxotL6tNPkbFIncmxmigAxV78FYdGmwc3UdmJwpe4EZO6i-xt1GKlX8Hw-m-djLxwMXZa80on9w/s1600/Atlas+and+Herakles.png" height="200" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holding the Heavens for Atlas</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-CA">The labour was to pick the golden apples
that were guarded by a giant snake. In some stories, Herakles asks Atlas to
pick the apples for him while he holds the heavens in his stead. In others,
Herakles picks the apples himself and kills the serpent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">XII – Cerberus</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2S1V2Y7kz0__D6-1Fu14BQh-GZUzUiaCn3J_r6LNcCq5KqipV5OMrkGOn9sM8S9a8oPnnGXK4N4o3YOPrWpl5ns-yNbj8ddlWzkoztBwAvTx6wAVq9_b9yrQyDPrm4WUPM0_ks6vrjA/s1600/Cerberus.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2S1V2Y7kz0__D6-1Fu14BQh-GZUzUiaCn3J_r6LNcCq5KqipV5OMrkGOn9sM8S9a8oPnnGXK4N4o3YOPrWpl5ns-yNbj8ddlWzkoztBwAvTx6wAVq9_b9yrQyDPrm4WUPM0_ks6vrjA/s1600/Cerberus.png" height="99" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">There is one archetype that is common to
most hero stories, and that is the journey to the Underworld.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this is where Herakles must go in his
final labour to bring the three-headed hound of Hades back to Eurystheus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">To get to the Underworld, Herakles gets
help from the god Hermes, who travelled there regularly. Supposedly, they
entered through the gate at Taenarum, in the southern Peloponnese. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">There is a fascinating episode when they
arrive in Hades’ realm. The shades of the dead flee from Herakles who wounds
Hades himself with one of his poison arrows. The only shades who do not flee
are Meleager, famed for bringing down the great Calydonian Boar, and Medusa,
the Gorgon slain by Perseus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9xTSPvySMWWTyaVAUGPmId5jYCmVdba2Mj33LUlG-7N0Bv-eiFs5woVU6nOhimvOrqr5xSlAuobkCxWjPhj8i83npEyl7szSibsSxkdVkWMpvxZOvE5bLP3AhhqcSZRHbSpu3Jx61Q/s1600/Taenarum+Gate+to+Hades.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9xTSPvySMWWTyaVAUGPmId5jYCmVdba2Mj33LUlG-7N0Bv-eiFs5woVU6nOhimvOrqr5xSlAuobkCxWjPhj8i83npEyl7szSibsSxkdVkWMpvxZOvE5bLP3AhhqcSZRHbSpu3Jx61Q/s1600/Taenarum+Gate+to+Hades.png" height="119" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gate to Hades<br />at Taenarum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Herakles drew his sword against Medusa but
Hermes told him to leave her be. But Meleager told the hero his sad tale. Herakles,
inspired by Meleager, said that he would marry the sister of such a noble man.
And so, the shade of Meleager named his sister, Deianaira, to be Herakles’
wife. This at the end of his long penance for killing his family. Was it a new
beginning? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Hades told Herakles that he could take
Cerberus if he could bring him to heel without using his weapons. In true
Heraclean fashion, he wrestled the hell hound and then brought it to
Eurystheus. Afterward, Hades got his dog back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Labours of Herakles are not just
adventure stories. They are stories of atonement, of courage, of strength of
mind and body. Over and over, the hero is taken to extremes until he attains
his final triumph, and his debt is paid. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">But this is a Greek story. There is no celebration. For laurels dry out on the brow of even the greatest of
heroes. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6CYwqLDMEDM__gcXFyDO5INwAbrlOYskSLxVSqN5Ij3C38kzECmv3LcywSiuUQx93QgrwgHHVZcbZHm7XaMINxpVzAgY5f2dY-NZciW5ShK8bnUe2sR2emcSPqaQIBjvRlxLgOjyog/s1600/Herakles+after.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6CYwqLDMEDM__gcXFyDO5INwAbrlOYskSLxVSqN5Ij3C38kzECmv3LcywSiuUQx93QgrwgHHVZcbZHm7XaMINxpVzAgY5f2dY-NZciW5ShK8bnUe2sR2emcSPqaQIBjvRlxLgOjyog/s1600/Herakles+after.png" height="320" width="163" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herakles - older and tired<br />after his Labours</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">There is much more to Herakles’ story, and
I for one have a lot more reading to do. In fact, I don’t think I’ll ever tire
of these tales.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In the coming months, I’ll post the second
part of this series – The Tragedy of Herakles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Until then, I’m looking forward to the two
movies that are coming out this year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Sure, they’ll be the usual Hollywood
interpretations of the legends. And that’s ok! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The legends of Herakles’ triumphs should live on
in any form, so long as they are remembered…</span></span><!--EndFragment-->
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">----------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">If you are interested in the upcoming movies, here are the trailers for both. I especially like the first one which seems to focus on the actual Labours. Looking forward to these!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/GFqY089piQ4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Hercules (with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson looking the part!)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/3jMixikBl90?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Hercules: The Legend Begins (with Kellan Lutz)</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-34480360186165824702014-03-20T20:27:00.001-04:002014-03-20T20:27:24.731-04:00In the House of the Muses<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVe_S-B4GSojt7Ef4ggIC4o7BjXIcAuUghQVUfzWtj061Jvi2wAzzstWUABgfWBFAf8hXgM4vmgBG8G6pQl5wOUk1KJ9Sw0tfUhNDPlZBfTqN5I3IkSlt7vq5mi78VvxfjcpeC3GElg/s1600/The+9+Muses.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVe_S-B4GSojt7Ef4ggIC4o7BjXIcAuUghQVUfzWtj061Jvi2wAzzstWUABgfWBFAf8hXgM4vmgBG8G6pQl5wOUk1KJ9Sw0tfUhNDPlZBfTqN5I3IkSlt7vq5mi78VvxfjcpeC3GElg/s1600/The+9+Muses.png" height="195" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Nine Muses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">We’re going to a very special place today.
It’s one of the only places where you can meet the past, step into it, whisper
to it, and sometimes even touch it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">To the curious among us, to the lovers of
history, and those who sometimes feel out of place in the present day, this can
be a sanctuary, a place of pilgrimage, or a second home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I’m talking about the Museum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Have you ever walked among the displays or
cabinets of a museum and paused to listen, to look, because some artifact
grabbed your attention, because it whispered something to you from its niche?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I have, many times. I love walking among
history’s ghosts. They teach, they inspire, they speak to us in ways that books
don’t. These ghosts are our direct link to the people of the past, be it a
mirror or piece of jewellery, dagger or even a nail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlpbl0aBy_oG_F1B990S58YeWKfyszf6S4nWlUIrwFHpqEvVd1h4ApMt9T5_Jf_vPX-Hb4qtxpbrXZs77i0Z4M8DN2vrMAWU078A79EWp0N_XxLn_YOCIc9yrUYA7S-2riM7HgA1n7g/s1600/Samian+bowl+from+Vindolanda.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlpbl0aBy_oG_F1B990S58YeWKfyszf6S4nWlUIrwFHpqEvVd1h4ApMt9T5_Jf_vPX-Hb4qtxpbrXZs77i0Z4M8DN2vrMAWU078A79EWp0N_XxLn_YOCIc9yrUYA7S-2riM7HgA1n7g/s1600/Samian+bowl+from+Vindolanda.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Samian bowl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"></span><br /><span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Someone hundreds or thousands of years ago
touched the objects you see in a museum, held them dear, or created things with
them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Today I want to introduce you to some of
the museums that have meant a lot to me. I’m not talking about those bastions
of cultural heritage like the British Museum, the Louvre, or the Athens
Archaeological Museum. We know all about those.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">What I want to look at are the smaller site
museums that often fly under the popular radar, but which contain the hidden
gems that have fueled my academic research, and my novels. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">The word ‘museum’ comes from the Greek
‘mouseion’ which means ‘House of the Muses’, or more literally ‘Place of the
Muses’. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">That is where I want to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Many of these museums are located on
archaeological sites, and others hold artifacts of nearby places. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">A lot goes into researching and writing an
historical novel. You want to become acquainted not only with the big events
and people of the day, but also the average person and his or her everyday
items and routines. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It’s always a given when I’m doing research
or travelling that my footsteps always lead me to the local museum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wQZjEIK7heDCRsiPotDcePF4LFpdlDmWYEQ1jKsPJkGIZ-uPGlgoCE1IjV8K1T0ePxu7Bnb-k7yIfBPZDJRj89ELxJY2plc7mfKtTVJh7_CKJ11ajVDUmG6gULYJwImu-bz-9bhlYA/s1600/Caerleon+museum+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wQZjEIK7heDCRsiPotDcePF4LFpdlDmWYEQ1jKsPJkGIZ-uPGlgoCE1IjV8K1T0ePxu7Bnb-k7yIfBPZDJRj89ELxJY2plc7mfKtTVJh7_CKJ11ajVDUmG6gULYJwImu-bz-9bhlYA/s1600/Caerleon+museum+2.png" height="200" width="88" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When it comes to Roman Britain, one of my
main stops is usually the <a href="https://www.museumwales.ac.uk/roman/">National
Roman Legion Museum</a> at Caerleon, just outside of Cardiff, Wales. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Caerleon was the base of the II Augustan
Legion in Britannia, and if you visit you can <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>see the remains of barrack blocks, a
magnificent amphitheatre, and a wonderful bath complex where the men of the
legions washed, socialized and exercised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The National Roman Legion Museum itself is
small but contains a wealth of interesting finds with which you can get right
up close and personal. You can check out original pieces of armour and weapons,
as well as re-creations, the all-important stone inscriptions that tell us so
much about the Roman period, mosaics, amphorae and all manner of items such as
the intaglio gemstones that the troops had set in rings but which were lost in
the drains of the baths. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDM6j8ixf-yJn6eLd8lYcD-XhyphenhyphenyVe5USR13Zw0q_8Uut8bZxtrdhlAF5L-L5OAi5ck4D0mwd0pdRn73gb7LhkSecCc_qmsi24s0UhEaR_dh0yt5fGdeDyaqCL8VHclL7jLovXx6z0Jsw/s1600/Caerleon+museum+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDM6j8ixf-yJn6eLd8lYcD-XhyphenhyphenyVe5USR13Zw0q_8Uut8bZxtrdhlAF5L-L5OAi5ck4D0mwd0pdRn73gb7LhkSecCc_qmsi24s0UhEaR_dh0yt5fGdeDyaqCL8VHclL7jLovXx6z0Jsw/s1600/Caerleon+museum+1.png" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caerleon's Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">All of these items give some precious
insight into the life of Roman legionaries at the edge of the Empire. The
museum even has (last time I was there, at least) a re-created barracks room
where visitors can see how troops lived together in the real blocks down the
street. This museum and the site on which it is located are a great resource
that should not be missed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">We’ll head north now to the <a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/wroxeter-roman-city/">Wroxeter
Roman City</a> site and museum. In Roman times Wroxeter, then Viroconium, was
the fourth largest Roman settlement in Britain with about 5000 people. The site
itself has impressive remains of a bath complex and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">palaestra</i>, and the visual interpretations really help to give a
sense of what it would have looked like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdZZNn3PgB7xLMbvxWnuZKEKO2ZPhSNa7CvC7GwgGeBMm022C6SetUoLxg7j15U98gaK4q1G32JLglLInCKL4ch_ce8jAMEA_QvtxrX7q5bVPFgOPe8BHAgU050pi9JVPGbSVPgiJXg/s1600/Wroxeter+bath+hypocausts+and+paleastra+wall.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdZZNn3PgB7xLMbvxWnuZKEKO2ZPhSNa7CvC7GwgGeBMm022C6SetUoLxg7j15U98gaK4q1G32JLglLInCKL4ch_ce8jAMEA_QvtxrX7q5bVPFgOPe8BHAgU050pi9JVPGbSVPgiJXg/s1600/Wroxeter+bath+hypocausts+and+paleastra+wall.png" height="200" width="155" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wroxeter's hypocausts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">When I was there, it was for research into
the Dark Age occupation of Wroxeter, mainly the villa that had been built there
and which may have been used by the warlord Vortigern. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But for Roman history, the site museum
contains several artifacts that would have been a part of citizens’ everyday
lives. A recent addition to the site is the re-created Roman villa, or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">villa urbana</i>. I love these sorts of
re-created buildings because they can really give you a sense of the
surroundings and bring a period to life. At sites like these, be sure to look
out for days when demonstrations are being put on by re-enactment groups such
as the Ermine Street Guard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTPN5VkGcEkbT65qRaq2zg-6SFJXVmTKPcWrTULPvS7cBNYhFjY3Sw_-qrbhKLkD8BwOoSCtttChv4dkd9JtUX_F3Pm5oHbu_4RsY45q8GC0SQZsMcQNp_00nEtnbnvex8Ywgjcz-9w/s1600/Wroxeter+Roman+Town+house.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTPN5VkGcEkbT65qRaq2zg-6SFJXVmTKPcWrTULPvS7cBNYhFjY3Sw_-qrbhKLkD8BwOoSCtttChv4dkd9JtUX_F3Pm5oHbu_4RsY45q8GC0SQZsMcQNp_00nEtnbnvex8Ywgjcz-9w/s1600/Wroxeter+Roman+Town+house.png" height="100" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wroxeter's recreated<br /> Roman Townhouse </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Now we’ll push on to <a href="http://www.visithadrianswall.co.uk/">Hadrian’s Wall</a>. There are a
number of sites and museums along that 73-mile-long monument. Any one of those
is worth a visit – the scenery and history never disappoint!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Of the sites along Hadrian’s Wall, there
are three that I would recommend: <a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/birdoswald-roman-fort-hadrians-wall/">Birdoswald</a>,
<a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/corbridge-roman-town-hadrians-wall/">Corbridge</a>,
and <a href="http://www.vindolanda.com/">Vindolanda</a> (just south of the
Wall). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBma2ZLsvnZ7LYg03cRUq-j_eemgo-W6iWC-dAsUOVmQlfBrBX-r_2ekKcIrsQik2o_K4vQL7KhuxmQolbYFyr7ThZnratXmItklCPqzmAWXA_sC4tKYftWJ7Ou9MjCxtbhy02zydEw/s1600/Birdoswald+site+and+museum.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBma2ZLsvnZ7LYg03cRUq-j_eemgo-W6iWC-dAsUOVmQlfBrBX-r_2ekKcIrsQik2o_K4vQL7KhuxmQolbYFyr7ThZnratXmItklCPqzmAWXA_sC4tKYftWJ7Ou9MjCxtbhy02zydEw/s1600/Birdoswald+site+and+museum.png" height="159" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birdoswald site and Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I went to Birdoswald to study its Dark Age
occupation during the post-Roman period, but as ever, I was pleasantly
surprised by the Roman history of the site. Birdoswald, or ‘Banna’ as it was
known, is one of the best preserved of the 16 forts along Hadrian’s Wall. It is
located in Cumbria at the western end of the wall, and has the foundations of
barracks, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">horrea</i> (granaries), a
basilica and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">principia</i> (headquarters
building). This was a base for auxiliary forces until about A.D. 400 after
which it was used by a local warlord as a power center.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">On site is a museum with artefacts,
interactive displays and, most interestingly, a very good model of the entire
site during the Roman period, including the Wall itself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2yEwnZ2ZzenWL9qQiknHhbjCGrnSUJO66MRS9STtYoxozOGlK73si_hNew3WPFvQh_TEKxLXZurbFk_67NNHsHzh7N8hvqxtb4rlSvSocwtybczKkw12I0cK2Zb9lko8qplXEJKpkg/s1600/Birdoswald+interpretation.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2yEwnZ2ZzenWL9qQiknHhbjCGrnSUJO66MRS9STtYoxozOGlK73si_hNew3WPFvQh_TEKxLXZurbFk_67NNHsHzh7N8hvqxtb4rlSvSocwtybczKkw12I0cK2Zb9lko8qplXEJKpkg/s1600/Birdoswald+interpretation.png" height="148" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birdoswald drill hall interpretation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">For a unique view of Birdoswald, check out
the episode of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY0kTN_5aOM">Time Team</a>,
in which the archaeologists excavate over their usual 3-day period. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Corbridge (Roman ‘Coria’) is a different
site from Birdoswald. This was not fort, but rather a town and supply base for
the troops along Hadrian’s Wall where they could mingle and trade with the
civilian population. The ruins are extensive and include more <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">horrea</i>, town streets, fountains, sewage
systems and markets. The museum, as expected, has numerous small finds that were
part of the everyday life of the military and civilian populations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corbridge museum artifacts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESJqLutu7NpbztaM0fLTRzxAfnvldtSaAWBHreL2trtCtKTX3mNO93xV0xZEb9fwVjZBe80DFOyL5xIPNJPFD8X04DgwsxLNIgocVFV8dBs0LAA8ZqprtZN8gh7HmIopI5xo2mc2zwQ/s1600/Corbidge+Roman+Town+site.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESJqLutu7NpbztaM0fLTRzxAfnvldtSaAWBHreL2trtCtKTX3mNO93xV0xZEb9fwVjZBe80DFOyL5xIPNJPFD8X04DgwsxLNIgocVFV8dBs0LAA8ZqprtZN8gh7HmIopI5xo2mc2zwQ/s1600/Corbidge+Roman+Town+site.png" height="161" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Site of Corbridge Roman Town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Roman Vindolanda, just south of Housesteads
Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall, is a fantastic site where history and archaeology
come vividly to life. This was the site of a fort and civilian settlement that
predated the Wall, and the remains are vast, including a fort, a commanding
officer’s residence, a barracks, a bath house, and some reconstructions of a
Roman wall and a Romano-British residence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFESo0YJOOAmOa8KAUpNDdutjHprA-qbFEi6Ugr1-ZPxfnSW9Up1hOPvmnn2DOcG2B1OWMIHypnKLxJ4r6arTosRtuggJoJyHCLHYcJHJ-7ipiJf1t2fV8WGiEjqUhVOhdeMSYVUJsA/s1600/recreated+walls+at+Vindolanda.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFESo0YJOOAmOa8KAUpNDdutjHprA-qbFEi6Ugr1-ZPxfnSW9Up1hOPvmnn2DOcG2B1OWMIHypnKLxJ4r6arTosRtuggJoJyHCLHYcJHJ-7ipiJf1t2fV8WGiEjqUhVOhdeMSYVUJsA/s1600/recreated+walls+at+Vindolanda.png" height="140" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vindolanda ruins and recreated walls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The best part however, is in the museum.
One of the most interesting and important finds to be unearthed at Vindolanda
are the series of ‘<a href="http://vindolanda.csad.ox.ac.uk/">Vindolanda
Tablets</a>’ as they are known. These are the oldest surviving hand-written
documents in Britain. These wafer-thin pieces of wood with delicate ink scrawls
provide a precious window into the lives of the people who lived and worked at
this remote frontier of the Empire. They include a wonderful letter from one
lady inviting another to a birthday celebration at her home. It’s a wonderful
snap-shot of life on the frontier which must indeed have gotten lonely at times.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8kGgBvjivuPG3i92EZIXqyHhyphenhyphenC8kKl2zMiMu-W1n6pFHTQBK_zM4pEiYRVjiZMyYOZhouxDq0jWNSPzP2HPJJiQb0OV1caj1y6hIgfbLVurnzSE_hEBTOjvj84-pLOMtMhNRkN51bw/s1600/Vindolanda+Tablet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8kGgBvjivuPG3i92EZIXqyHhyphenhyphenC8kKl2zMiMu-W1n6pFHTQBK_zM4pEiYRVjiZMyYOZhouxDq0jWNSPzP2HPJJiQb0OV1caj1y6hIgfbLVurnzSE_hEBTOjvj84-pLOMtMhNRkN51bw/s1600/Vindolanda+Tablet.png" height="171" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Vindolanda Tablets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">If you ever do make your way to Vindolanda,
be sure to watch for the archaeologists at work. At this site, you can see
excavations going on and I must say it’s fantastic when that happens. When I
was there, every shovelful that I saw the archaeologists pull up had an
artifact it in, a shoe, a piece of fabric, some glass etc. etc. It was amazing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Our last stop on this small tour of museums
profiling Roman collections and sites is the <a href="http://www.trimontium.org.uk/wb/pages/museum.php">Trimontium Museum</a>
in Melrose, Scotland, in the Borders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpwRNGIc_dlH8uZQzCLPkcDaAeSxFbU05qoDmQloIurFvZFQxrdQ1VKejx1XfC9K57vaUMqfpFIkBqTIM4IgkSDyeXCx7XU7Yu3ggQz04Vr0z-A40u77AeJXH1Zw2KX4TEhZf0EyrcQ/s1600/Trimontium+Museum.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpwRNGIc_dlH8uZQzCLPkcDaAeSxFbU05qoDmQloIurFvZFQxrdQ1VKejx1XfC9K57vaUMqfpFIkBqTIM4IgkSDyeXCx7XU7Yu3ggQz04Vr0z-A40u77AeJXH1Zw2KX4TEhZf0EyrcQ/s1600/Trimontium+Museum.png" height="171" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trimontium Museum, Melrose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This site itself was used as a marching
camp by Agricola’s troops c. A.D. 80 and had eight subsequent phases of Roman
occupation all the way to the time of Septimius Severus’ campaigns into
Caledonia in the early 3<sup>rd</sup> century. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Trimontium is so-named because of the three
peaks of the Eildon Hills that overshadow it. It was on the marching route to
the north and provided a visible meeting place for the legions and auxiliaries.
Some of the most important finds to come from the area are the horse harness
and ornamental cavalry armour of the troops that were stationed there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPO1eQYo8rY9Jjk-8eVMgpLOrOVUE3CEZfQg2G3ty8jfulGF8stnnGhESwKmlpk6b5bR8vJTeNpXH_BUDlcz-u1XWGbFQaNRAfQ3VNlWZ8qwDa5OR8nLxJu_dhczS49CympNhHCEuipw/s1600/Trimontium+exhibit+advert.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPO1eQYo8rY9Jjk-8eVMgpLOrOVUE3CEZfQg2G3ty8jfulGF8stnnGhESwKmlpk6b5bR8vJTeNpXH_BUDlcz-u1XWGbFQaNRAfQ3VNlWZ8qwDa5OR8nLxJu_dhczS49CympNhHCEuipw/s1600/Trimontium+exhibit+advert.png" height="200" width="92" /></a><span lang="EN-CA">These finds are wonderful and some can be
seen in the museum in Melrose. Some other fun things that the museum had when I
visited were some recreated Roman arms and armour that visitors could try on.
It was good to heft a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">scutum</i> and
unsheathe a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gladius</i>! A very helpful
item for research was the four-horned Roman cavalry saddle that I was able to
sit in. This gave me a sense of what it was like to sit atop a horse in an age
before stirrups. Great insights all around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">This post has turned into a look at museums
dealing with the Romans in Britain, but in truth, there are many more little museums
that have added a great deal to my knowledge and enjoyment of the ancient
world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/museumofsomerset">Taunton Museum</a> in Somerset
was where I got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Cadbury Castle artifacts, as
well as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shapwick_Hoard">Shapwick Coin
Hoard</a> which showed me the faces of Emperor Severus, Julia Domna and Caesar
Caracalla up close and personal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In Greece and Italy, the <a href="http://www.olympia-greece.org/museum.html">Olympia Archaeological Museum</a>,
and the <a href="http://archeoroma.beniculturali.it/en/archaeological-site/roman-forum-and-palatine-hill">Palatine
Hill Museum</a> in Rome, are places that I long to return to, for all the gifts
they gave to me. The <a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2013/06/mosaic-masterpieces-treasures-of-roman.html">Bardo
Museum</a> in Tunisia holds some of the most important Roman mosaics in the
world, and it was there that I got a good look at life in Roman North Africa. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">There are so many!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I’ve really enjoyed this bit of
reminiscence, and I hope this post tempts you to take the time to step into <span style="font-family: inherit;">the
local ‘House of the Muses’ next time you are visiting an ancient or medieval
site. They’re everywhere and they all hold some gems.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you’re lucky, you’ll hear those ghosts
whispering in your ear as you pass by. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes! That's me having a bit of fun<br />in Trimontium.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-46165319478313752022014-03-15T10:21:00.001-04:002014-03-15T10:21:48.003-04:00Site Visits and Writing Historical Fiction<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-jDVUyzqsGHx25yjPWof0k_ST_cgZTSrf-90F39riP8HKB75KCVD4OvBy6DnTLzbVWvLa4LlK1dtItFYZDeEOfQd94WpPtnFKWM-CCJnhdnK81KYV9pOE_Kv9SAXaSbeh6Q7C-ItLw/s1600/Sahara+landscape+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-jDVUyzqsGHx25yjPWof0k_ST_cgZTSrf-90F39riP8HKB75KCVD4OvBy6DnTLzbVWvLa4LlK1dtItFYZDeEOfQd94WpPtnFKWM-CCJnhdnK81KYV9pOE_Kv9SAXaSbeh6Q7C-ItLw/s1600/Sahara+landscape+7.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunning myself in the Sahara<br />In January!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As you can probably tell from many of the
posts on this blog, travelling is one of my biggest inspirations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I truly believe that travel is the best
education you can get, and if it weren’t for the need to have academic degrees
to achieve a measure of acceptance when looking for work, I’d say you would be
much better off putting all that university tuition money toward travelling
around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The experiences and knowledge you gain from
travelling are invaluable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Not long ago, I was a guest on the site of
my good friend and fellow historical fantasy author, Roberto Calas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In the post, I talk about travel and the
importance of site visits when writing historical fiction. If that sounds
interesting, you’ll want to read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://robertocalas.com/?p=1322" target="_blank">Get thee to a Castle (if you can)! – Historical Fiction and Site Visits</a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRFnE3j4rZ6D5Yfty8q2JLkNKhlnTKqALfRb5LKHqP6Eedn9ce1zU-U0ZPgJK2MIOOGkkPyBwU7dKLTO0_m_zMjQQLagg_aj2khfI3_a8SGzrO2njWzGclIkXg-5JZx0cptzhsDDWvA/s1600/Adam+on+Roberto+Calas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRFnE3j4rZ6D5Yfty8q2JLkNKhlnTKqALfRb5LKHqP6Eedn9ce1zU-U0ZPgJK2MIOOGkkPyBwU7dKLTO0_m_zMjQQLagg_aj2khfI3_a8SGzrO2njWzGclIkXg-5JZx0cptzhsDDWvA/s1600/Adam+on+Roberto+Calas.png" height="260" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Roberto has been a guest on Writing the
Past before. You can read his post <a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2013/12/guest-post-learning-lessons-by-roberto.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">If Medieval historical fantasy is your thing,
you’ll definitely want to check out Roberto’s series <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Scourge-Kindle-Serial-ebook/dp/B009VIC33O/ref=la_B008V27J62_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352602590&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Scourge</a></i>. It’s an action packed adventure with knights, ladies,
an apocalyptic plague, and loads of accurate historical research by the author.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Finally, a note of thanks to all of you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">Killing
the Hydra</span></i><span lang="EN-CA"> has been out for just over a week now and
(as I write this) it is at #16 in Ancient History on Kobo, and in the Top 100
(#49) on Amazon in the category of Greek and Roman Fantasy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsafgyww8Z0SRdAHKqVelArTG2Duuu6KcHYZdlG8guKB0y0SEqDNhBEGMmVmrJPjK-Z-lWCgVWJpHh1Z1wOw_1jmznoy33Ox022QNJqzleBf78YNAcj-3c1qx_yT_L5kt3DfYUblD0bA/s1600/Killing+the+Hydra+%252316+on+Kobo%2521.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsafgyww8Z0SRdAHKqVelArTG2Duuu6KcHYZdlG8guKB0y0SEqDNhBEGMmVmrJPjK-Z-lWCgVWJpHh1Z1wOw_1jmznoy33Ox022QNJqzleBf78YNAcj-3c1qx_yT_L5kt3DfYUblD0bA/s1600/Killing+the+Hydra+%252316+on+Kobo%2521.png" height="183" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Kobo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCEQOsPBtdJ9sqG5lP_RrWIsuChcNn6N6x8aRaYusBT7MBU2wCFjEoaKTAkCAVGCetpvrV6Tyug32B9MzOpafrH_EciYW9n7GGR0aWOENNh4xRSaPF6Xd1MdKva6BOEDgpKtb_VMgow/s1600/Killing+the+Hydra+%252349+in+Amazon+Greek+Roman+Fantasy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCEQOsPBtdJ9sqG5lP_RrWIsuChcNn6N6x8aRaYusBT7MBU2wCFjEoaKTAkCAVGCetpvrV6Tyug32B9MzOpafrH_EciYW9n7GGR0aWOENNh4xRSaPF6Xd1MdKva6BOEDgpKtb_VMgow/s1600/Killing+the+Hydra+%252349+in+Amazon+Greek+Roman+Fantasy.png" height="20" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Those numbers will
likely change by the time you read this, but it is nice to see nonetheless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">So, thank you for the fantastic support,
for spreading the word, and, as ever, thank you for reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next week I’ll have a very interesting post on
some special site museums that have made a big difference to my research over the
years.</span></span><!--EndFragment-->
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-74715130508899763112014-03-06T20:31:00.000-05:002014-03-06T20:31:08.759-05:00The World of Killing the Hydra - Part I – Leptis Magna: The Jewel of Roman North Africa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeX7Ps2eSov6HSA60NGrds4L4tOwUg8GXmWIvBuN04Iig-QdvAMGTsN9-ecaaGjG0HVQlrbuJN0sgRiXu8pp-cK8ImCllf35ZyRxdbms-YaOz_GcyEyEG6u7KgEXEQ2aYxUAoEwHdXJQ/s1600/hydrakindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeX7Ps2eSov6HSA60NGrds4L4tOwUg8GXmWIvBuN04Iig-QdvAMGTsN9-ecaaGjG0HVQlrbuJN0sgRiXu8pp-cK8ImCllf35ZyRxdbms-YaOz_GcyEyEG6u7KgEXEQ2aYxUAoEwHdXJQ/s1600/hydrakindle.jpg" height="200" width="129" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">Killing
the Hydra</span></i><span lang="EN-CA"> – Eagles and Dragons Book II has been
unleashed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">In honour of the occasion, I’m going to be
writing a series of posts called ‘The World of Killing the Hydra’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As I did with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Children of Apollo</i>, this blog series will take a look at many of
the people and places that the series protagonist, Lucius Metellus Anguis,
encounters throughout his journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">So, let’s step back in time to the early 3<sup>rd</sup>
century A.D., and explore the first place Lucius comes to in Book II. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">The ruins of Leptis Magna are located at
what is now Khoms, a site by the Mediterranean Sea at the northwestern corner
of Libya. As a Roman city and archaeological site, it is not really familiar to
the average person. Mainly academics have studied it, and excavated its wealth
of cultural treasures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAy1LhvX7eNq0amLr8Qn6ekV6hZSbvzk6NRkcvmtzjaaxWsnb1MZpzjetaFteIFibXd11jlL4mOCTRLnZyXGdoVv65kiu7m0QYFPrtz-uF0qHZUNjp5q5RxvFt3KsSxqlZiHf_QIFbHQ/s1600/Aerial+view+of+Leptis.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAy1LhvX7eNq0amLr8Qn6ekV6hZSbvzk6NRkcvmtzjaaxWsnb1MZpzjetaFteIFibXd11jlL4mOCTRLnZyXGdoVv65kiu7m0QYFPrtz-uF0qHZUNjp5q5RxvFt3KsSxqlZiHf_QIFbHQ/s1600/Aerial+view+of+Leptis.png" height="123" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aerial view of the site</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It was founded around 1000 B.C. by Berbers
and Phoenicians. Later, Carthage held sway over the polis until that great
civilization finally succumbed to the Roman war machine at the end of the Third
Punic War in 146 B.C. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It was during the reign of Emperor Tiberius
(A.D. 14-37) that the city was officially incorporated into the Empire’s
province of Africa Proconsularis. In A.D. 110, the Emperor Trajan (reigned c.
A.D. 98-117) made Leptis Magna a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">colonia</i>,
an official settlement for retired men of the Legions and Roman citizens. From
then on, the city experienced a period of growth and success, making it the
third largest city of Roman North Africa after Carthage and Alexandria. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2uiqDT4_Ah_-NvLOMkAow_bAJ8mKAIJzyhD_MNMJNQEOGgXk3ogHLq1U9odim4nua_gjQtPRdZ1gMJbYnOWLLnIA12E6rH0AqTe514lTYXp7lfHbwUvjFpTqC6SQFV1mL6Hud51lNg/s1600/Leptis+Theatre+arial.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2uiqDT4_Ah_-NvLOMkAow_bAJ8mKAIJzyhD_MNMJNQEOGgXk3ogHLq1U9odim4nua_gjQtPRdZ1gMJbYnOWLLnIA12E6rH0AqTe514lTYXp7lfHbwUvjFpTqC6SQFV1mL6Hud51lNg/s1600/Leptis+Theatre+arial.png" height="130" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The theatre and surrounds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-CA">It had a theatre that was built during the
reign of Augustus (27 B.C. – A.D. 14), and one of the most flourishing North
African markets of its day. In Leptis Magna, you could buy slaves, exotic
animals, olive oil from the rich estates that surrounded the city, garum
(Romans’ favourite fish sauce), salted fish, ivory, precious gems, spices, etc.
etc. etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">There was also a forum, the heart of every
city, which had a curia, a basilica, a Temple of Liber Pater, a Temple of Hercules,
and a Temple of Rome and Augustus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Finally, what’s a Roman city without a bath
complex? In A.D. 126, on his tour of the Empire, Emperor Hadrian had a huge
bath complex with a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">palaestra</i>
(exercise field or hall) built for the city. It certainly seemed like the
emperors paid attention to this hot, wind-kissed settlement on the south side
of the Middle Sea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JHyWHwvDi4UL_KnS-rvZpYZBEHNF0OGymNCcIrS5cvVWxhA2YGpUgQh4uycFBWnsdMBPzlK139Lr7LBupGmQBzNCE8DzQadACIlYpQYwPa5B9v-x2A8yeVoSwNzjr7-XUT6gJbNJ1w/s1600/Septimius+Severus.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JHyWHwvDi4UL_KnS-rvZpYZBEHNF0OGymNCcIrS5cvVWxhA2YGpUgQh4uycFBWnsdMBPzlK139Lr7LBupGmQBzNCE8DzQadACIlYpQYwPa5B9v-x2A8yeVoSwNzjr7-XUT6gJbNJ1w/s1600/Septimius+Severus.png" height="200" width="196" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emperor Septimius Severus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">But the real heyday for Leptis Magna came
when her own favoured son, Lucius Septimius Severus, became Emperor (reigned
A.D. 193-211). It was through this half-Punic (Carthaginian), and half-Roman
ruler that the city truly felt the warmth of the sun on its face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">You can read more about the Severus and his
family <a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/world-of-children-of-apollo-part-iii.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Septimius Severus did what most rulers will
do for their favourite cities – he gave it infrastructure, and he gave it
beauty. Give a city these two things and it will attract population, trade, and
the Empire’s attention. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Around A.D. 203 the imperial family and
court descended on Leptis Magna; the Emperor had returned home and there were
festivals, banquets, and the unveiling or dedication of monuments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6nSJOUae9VLzWLXJjosy4pCttCb-nP0owLzfPXtQ91WaJSiukfdrAs2y_uvAJDAuJ9StOL6M1sdLllZwD5XI7Kqp4re6-9MphhsjREXApZwb3kvdFPfoOxWnafUWDanSpom1PWSe9Q/s1600/Severan+Basilica+Leptis+Magna.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6nSJOUae9VLzWLXJjosy4pCttCb-nP0owLzfPXtQ91WaJSiukfdrAs2y_uvAJDAuJ9StOL6M1sdLllZwD5XI7Kqp4re6-9MphhsjREXApZwb3kvdFPfoOxWnafUWDanSpom1PWSe9Q/s1600/Severan+Basilica+Leptis+Magna.png" height="125" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Severan Basilica </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The ruins that have been uncovered in
Leptis Magna reveal an ancient city that was wealthy, efficient, and enjoying
the good life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Among the things that Severus built in
Leptis Magna were a new harbour and docks, complete with a lighthouse,
warehouses and a Temple of Jupiter. For a city involved heavily in trade, this
was a big bonus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Leading from the docks to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nymphaeum </i>(a monument, spring, or
fountain dedicated to the Nymphs), Severus ordered the building of a long
colonnaded street that was sixty-five feet wide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtY5-_0MoO9Xpp-sCFNN1rVEtmDP8NXXgCK8AmwUM9XToKo7Ubh_BOL-2jSJT9Ecpc7xplttygNLXU08jIaj4XNlTq8tyMVWhyphenhyphenwFkZoLYHreOVrmRrAdUD_X3YsZqJkw18nWjSFx1EQ/s1600/Gorgon+Head+form+Severan+Forum.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtY5-_0MoO9Xpp-sCFNN1rVEtmDP8NXXgCK8AmwUM9XToKo7Ubh_BOL-2jSJT9Ecpc7xplttygNLXU08jIaj4XNlTq8tyMVWhyphenhyphenwFkZoLYHreOVrmRrAdUD_X3YsZqJkw18nWjSFx1EQ/s1600/Gorgon+Head+form+Severan+Forum.png" height="200" width="172" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Medusa Head from Forum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">He added many new public buildings too,
including a large basilica which was decorated with red granite columns with
white marble capitals. And even though Leptis Magna already possessed a forum,
Severus built a new one that was graced with the enormous Medusa heads that
remain to this day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">One of the most interesting pieces of new
architecture that appeared in the city during Severus’ reign was the four-sided
Arch of Severus. Its design was something new, the friezes and political and
religious scenes displaying an artistic style that had not been seen before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It must have felt like a true ‘Golden Age’
to the citizens of Leptis Magna. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx15P4mcA6EO8tkSUkTydwNwWNKIGH4A_lkA3N8E6mx3FFpa58oiX9_i7Yy-8-JfkZpCg6-nvkYVCJJndwYujjVPGz1-riTnus-T2BqJVOfkz1p24WEf6cDg_JpzcM2cOrGLNs3_JuAA/s1600/Arch+of+Septimius+Severus+%2528Leptis+Magna%2529+Wikimedia+commons.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx15P4mcA6EO8tkSUkTydwNwWNKIGH4A_lkA3N8E6mx3FFpa58oiX9_i7Yy-8-JfkZpCg6-nvkYVCJJndwYujjVPGz1-riTnus-T2BqJVOfkz1p24WEf6cDg_JpzcM2cOrGLNs3_JuAA/s1600/Arch+of+Septimius+Severus+%2528Leptis+Magna%2529+Wikimedia+commons.png" height="320" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four-sided Arch of Severus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">You can imagine the palpable excitement
among the people in the streets as the Emperor, Empress and their sons
disembarked from their ship in the harbour and processed to their palace. The
entourage would have been enormous, as well as the force of Praetorians who
would have followed the Emperor. </span>After all, Gaius Fulvius Plautianus, Prefect
of the Praetorian Guard, was also a son of Leptis Magna.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It is in the midst of all this excitement,
among all these powerful and wealthy people, that Lucius Metellus Anguis’
journey in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Killing the Hydra</i> begins. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">There is a lot going on in the world, and
many dangers lurking in the shadows about Lucius.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">He will have to tread very carefully
indeed…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Thank you for
reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">----------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">Killing
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Eagles and Dragons Publishing is running a
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can get <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Killing the Hydra</i> for a discounted price at the following places: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Amazon (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Killing-Hydra-Eagles-Dragons-Volume/dp/0987762435/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1394133425&sr=8-2&keywords=adam+alexander+haviaras" target="_blank">paperback</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Killing-Hydra-Eagles-Dragons-Book-ebook/dp/B00IT9VP4Y/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394154890&sr=1-2" target="_blank">e-book for Kindle</a>)</span><!--EndFragment-->
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/killing-the-hydra" target="_blank">Kobo(e-book for all other devices)</a><!--EndFragment-->
</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As ever, if you read and enjoy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Killing the Hydra</i> (or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Children of Apollo</i>) I’d appreciate it if
you left a short review wherever you purchased the book. These reviews are
incredibly useful in helping new readers to find the series.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks again, and if you have any questions
at all, just contact me!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">In the meantime, here are a few more stunning photos of the magnificent artwork discovered at Leptis Magna:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-j9FcOGy2o6jUbBEU7N0WPtImTZD-mRgR_107XKFC5K9S3aUrko2v-Nbr165GJmcPx3n9d6dJYWQ-CdymWtVwhkveaY7S0dt-i5LsDTAMl9vgD8Q4ex9Fg4bYOlXFQz1DqdJhfIKHg/s1600/Libyan+and+Italian+archaeologists+uncover+chariot+race+mosaic+at+Roman+Villa+%2528National+Geographic%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-j9FcOGy2o6jUbBEU7N0WPtImTZD-mRgR_107XKFC5K9S3aUrko2v-Nbr165GJmcPx3n9d6dJYWQ-CdymWtVwhkveaY7S0dt-i5LsDTAMl9vgD8Q4ex9Fg4bYOlXFQz1DqdJhfIKHg/s1600/Libyan+and+Italian+archaeologists+uncover+chariot+race+mosaic+at+Roman+Villa+%2528National+Geographic%2529.png" height="262" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Libyan and Italian archaeologists excavating a superb mosaic (National Geographic)<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8Vt09qBP_UFYiJPsclLCJLBiuNnrQ7GylQaXT1SFYK3ymCt0I7zXndtfj6lwKnuY75LfxHccnfFp1pcRZCrwM9DVkJUUbNYgzh8uCiDoLLr66raVowJRTpkXG8_0lE_Ow-OHl0MrfA/s1600/Leptis+Mosaic+examples.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8Vt09qBP_UFYiJPsclLCJLBiuNnrQ7GylQaXT1SFYK3ymCt0I7zXndtfj6lwKnuY75LfxHccnfFp1pcRZCrwM9DVkJUUbNYgzh8uCiDoLLr66raVowJRTpkXG8_0lE_Ow-OHl0MrfA/s1600/Leptis+Mosaic+examples.png" height="238" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An magnificent array of more Leptis Magna mosaics<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYz3XQ-dU1ITu-lPIJQ6KaNoF9vgaVDB8-OWqQKnVZyN6Sanb85dMA83QdiDegyuzmPNS6etyLd562UKqz7EMkcVnLVtEqrSjIvVC0sVr7ACL7ttQ2oBQHqpuvxMkjpDdqcVwN-5CIFg/s1600/Leptis+Magna+map+%2528wikimedia+commons%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYz3XQ-dU1ITu-lPIJQ6KaNoF9vgaVDB8-OWqQKnVZyN6Sanb85dMA83QdiDegyuzmPNS6etyLd562UKqz7EMkcVnLVtEqrSjIvVC0sVr7ACL7ttQ2oBQHqpuvxMkjpDdqcVwN-5CIFg/s1600/Leptis+Magna+map+%2528wikimedia+commons%2529.png" height="338" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Site map of Leptis Magna ruins (Wikimedia Commons)</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-23683786535870751522014-03-02T10:14:00.000-05:002014-03-02T10:14:24.152-05:00Eagles and Dragons - The Mixed Bag Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFoHKh55IU3yYSK4HVXeiYD6GE9Bjxus-VElWORBd31ZOhQ8n2HlP5cbKMpszXAzdBnUODL4OYH7eTNbHnWPoJVlTs_HPXXOumS7xFrGkDizNG539Sai5tPAyzrqd6o00SifGlZqlRw/s1600/A16+Zaino+tattico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFoHKh55IU3yYSK4HVXeiYD6GE9Bjxus-VElWORBd31ZOhQ8n2HlP5cbKMpszXAzdBnUODL4OYH7eTNbHnWPoJVlTs_HPXXOumS7xFrGkDizNG539Sai5tPAyzrqd6o00SifGlZqlRw/s1600/A16+Zaino+tattico.jpg" height="200" width="156" /></a></div>
The last few weeks have been like prep for a military campaign into the wilds of Dacia, or some such place.<br />
<br />
Releasing a new book can be exhausting, a logistical nightmare. But it's also exciting, especially when early input from beta readers has been so favourable. I know it has been a long time since the launch of <i>Children of Apollo</i>, so I am grateful that you have stuck with me. It won't take as long for the release of Book III, I can tell you.<br />
<br />
There are a few things I wanted to update you on.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><i><b>Killing the Hydra</b></i></span><br />
<br />
First of all, last week I released the book trailer for <i>Killing the Hydra</i> - Eagles and Dragons Book II. You can watch it right here:<br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/G-wzxQIa6W8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
If you are saying to yourself that 'most of those paintings are representations of scenes from Homer', you are correct. It is not completely unrelated to the story as you will find out if you read <i>Killing the Hydra</i>.<br />
<br />
<i>Killing the Hydra</i> will be released this coming Friday, March 7th, in e-book and paperback on both Amazon and Kobo at an introductory special. More details to come on that…<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><i><b>Children of Apollo </b></i></span><br />
<br />
In the run-up to the release of Book II, I've put the e-book of <i>Children of Apollo</i> - Eagles and Dragons Book I on special offer until March 6th.<br />
<br />
If you haven't read it, and if your curiosity is piqued, do be sure to take advantage and download your copy.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhne2WGoAACLRmRtAPtkgHb8MPx0kLaHYlltnGVXJVnFBYkCoF8gfBC0UzIlikltDS8c0tUpxq03O-SLYF-JNuEZGs9_DBVkmSBMyUZBrwert491GZpC6yhH0x2kiqzJInXgHI2T49yxg/s1600/3d1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhne2WGoAACLRmRtAPtkgHb8MPx0kLaHYlltnGVXJVnFBYkCoF8gfBC0UzIlikltDS8c0tUpxq03O-SLYF-JNuEZGs9_DBVkmSBMyUZBrwert491GZpC6yhH0x2kiqzJInXgHI2T49yxg/s1600/3d1.jpg" height="320" width="222" /></a>Is is available for FREE from Kobo at the following link: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/children-of-apollo-1<br />
<br />
Kobo e-books can be read on their own e-readers as well as iPads, iPhones, Android devices, <br />
computers and any other tablets. You can also get the free Kobo reading apps here: http://www.kobo.com/apps?___store=ca-en&style=onestore<br />
<br />
<i>Children of Apollo</i> is also discounted to .99 cents on Amazon for Kindle e-readers <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Children-Apollo-Dragons-Alexander-Haviaras-ebook/dp/B00CTBUBXY/ref=sr_1_3_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393683970&sr=1-3&keywords=adam+alexander+haviaras" target="_blank">HERE</a>. I should also note that I've ensured that whenever someone purchases the paperback of any of my books from Amazon, they can get the e-book version as well, for free.<br />
<br />
I'm really proud of this series and how it is evolving. I'm also very grateful to those who have taken the time to write a review on-line, which is always very important in helping other readers to find the books.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>English Historical Fiction Authors</b></span><br />
<br />
For the blog post this week, I was invited to write a guest post for a wonderful website called <a href="http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">English Historical Fiction Authors</a>.<br />
<br />
This is a site that is well worth subscribing to if you are a fan of various periods in history. They are always posting new content by a wide range of wonderful authors. So, it is definitely an honour for me to have been invited to post.<br />
<br />
If you are curious about the research for Eagles and Dragons Book III, you'll want to read my post called<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><a href="http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.ca/2014/03/from-sands-of-africa-to-hidden-frontier.html?showComment=1393772891533" target="_blank">From the Sands of Africa to a Hidden Frontier in Roman Britain</a>.</i></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">In it, I discuss the research for <i>Warriors of Epona</i> and how the archaeology of a </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">little-known Roman frontier in Scotland must play a part in the story. This is a sort of work-in-progress sneak peak. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 18px;">The folks at English Historical Fiction Authors have asked me back for another post in April, so I am looking forward to that too.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
That's all for now. Thank you, as ever, for reading and I'll see you on the other side of launch week!<br />
<br />
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<!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-16054211155185116252014-02-22T11:08:00.000-05:002014-02-22T11:08:44.712-05:00Ancient and Medieval Helmets – Utility and Beauty through the Ages<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApZA-BJbwOspwAWyu0tq_3oWEfwlLwp8avsYFTZle-TrtoRtrcZMBL5fT7BrpA7iWmp6W6_2IRyXRNY3ND3R6uIArof6mfZcuK-UYlN2JbxMw4LB3A6Z4Ua2Qivit86I125RtVPG6JA/s1600/Mycenaean+Boar%2527s+Tusk+helm.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApZA-BJbwOspwAWyu0tq_3oWEfwlLwp8avsYFTZle-TrtoRtrcZMBL5fT7BrpA7iWmp6W6_2IRyXRNY3ND3R6uIArof6mfZcuK-UYlN2JbxMw4LB3A6Z4Ua2Qivit86I125RtVPG6JA/s1600/Mycenaean+Boar%2527s+Tusk+helm.png" height="200" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mycenaean Boar's Tusk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Some of the very first things that interested me in history as a young boy were weapons and armour.<br />
Boys will be boys, and so it’s no surprise that this is what drew me into the ancient and medieval worlds.<br />
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I remember getting a used book called <i>The Art of Chivalry</i>, which I flipped through over and over again. I was mesmerized by the images of broad swords and gothic armour, the shields, the lines, and the hack marks from various weapons.<br />
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Over time, I began to look past the shell of that armour, the cool brutality of those weapons, to the reasons behind their creation. I learned more about the warrior code over the ages, the path that lead to the ideal of chivalry that we would come to know so well in medieval romance.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiky-eOa5GxhZmsV0SvvwEpqgAJZngvqiCKNZeTrJ35wuHhCwhDPr6x8vAb564sO90XMFk1wvo0ibm27JHC1rQvfg04jdSaVfeXOGnUbAYk1rwvwPd5sUSghR3lGnmEIzF8-0sxabpxpA/s1600/Corinthian+horsehair.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiky-eOa5GxhZmsV0SvvwEpqgAJZngvqiCKNZeTrJ35wuHhCwhDPr6x8vAb564sO90XMFk1wvo0ibm27JHC1rQvfg04jdSaVfeXOGnUbAYk1rwvwPd5sUSghR3lGnmEIzF8-0sxabpxpA/s1600/Corinthian+horsehair.png" height="187" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crested Corinthian helmet replica</td></tr>
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Ancient and medieval warfare has always been a focus throughout my studies. I wanted to know why people fought. Warfare, no matter how romanticized, is awful. It’s also a part of human existence that will, sadly, not go away.<br />
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However, warfare has produced, to my mind, some of the most interesting, beautiful and utilitarian art that I have ever seen.<br />
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In a world of violence, when the threat of battle was very real, warriors needed to protect themselves. Arms and armour have evolved a great deal in design, the metals used, and the weapons they were meant to protect the wearer against.<br />
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Today, I wanted to take a look at the helmet over the ages because it, more than most other bits of armour, seems to have changed the most. After all, if you lose your head in battle, well, you’re pretty much finished.<br />
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The following helmets are a sample of my personal favourites over time. We’re going to start in the Mycenaean period and work our way into the late Middle Ages.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Marching to Troy</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sUyx9DtlGf1d4KGY7Ra9i8ZygYOVdtVa2zxg7IPMK_TUAGpamboIhMsyjJqmVhDeE6PBt6SETKFm_uHg15ZImWaxqYl5OOZrYbn1Kbii7ylWmd6OJJQwHVOFzFRe7N7HXkGqfsk6BQ/s1600/Mycenaean+Warriors+vase.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sUyx9DtlGf1d4KGY7Ra9i8ZygYOVdtVa2zxg7IPMK_TUAGpamboIhMsyjJqmVhDeE6PBt6SETKFm_uHg15ZImWaxqYl5OOZrYbn1Kbii7ylWmd6OJJQwHVOFzFRe7N7HXkGqfsk6BQ/s1600/Mycenaean+Warriors+vase.png" height="91" width="200" /></a></div>
One of the most interesting finds from Mycenaean Greece is the boar’s tusk helmet (pictured above). This isn’t quite what we imagine when reading Homer, but this helmet was what would have been used. And don’t kid yourself, boar’s tusk is hard and could have deflected a glancing bronze blade. It would have taken a lot of dead boar to make these helmets!<br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Golden Age Head</span> <span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Gear </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGOnd3GygPrJhy8tqETDd-0HN2FUzUazkhrQqThHvBq3dY8nEcIEj7_kaIDXfLDx_pB2QqQBFT5U2CklMG0V1coGwFPmxxclG1N00zyikSLDqeAhWBf4ubxjmDuKjPXj_ZXH3gW4bqg/s1600/Corinthian+helmet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGOnd3GygPrJhy8tqETDd-0HN2FUzUazkhrQqThHvBq3dY8nEcIEj7_kaIDXfLDx_pB2QqQBFT5U2CklMG0V1coGwFPmxxclG1N00zyikSLDqeAhWBf4ubxjmDuKjPXj_ZXH3gW4bqg/s1600/Corinthian+helmet.png" height="200" width="121" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conrinthian Helmet</td></tr>
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When it comes to ancient Greece, the helmet that most people imagine is the Corinthian helmet. To me, this is a supremely beautiful helmet, my favourite for looks. It was used for several centuries, sometimes with a crest, sometimes without. These were made of bronze and would have been great at deflecting, spear thrusts, sword swings, and whizzing arrows.<br />
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I’ve tried on this helmet at re-enactor fairs and I must say that this is a comfortable helmet that does indeed rest easily on the top of the head. Hey, if it’s good enough for the goddess Athena, it’s good enough for me! The one downside of the Corinthian helmet is that it would have been difficult to hear everything that was going on because there were no holes for the ears. Also, in the Mediterranean heat during the summer campaign season, it would have been hot!<br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Hellenistic Heroes </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5gpci-cefQr7oqrQAcIUYN6Tt4bMHqg_aAQCpPkNdLNL4ws5Q60lya-_acXiPnbNRBk_MXXI4DmPqPJWPwscYtFM6V7Ehm-RS2RwlO8QAxJZfIjHFofUJdKST-bcRUgIvDYukstv9w/s1600/Hellenistic+helmet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5gpci-cefQr7oqrQAcIUYN6Tt4bMHqg_aAQCpPkNdLNL4ws5Q60lya-_acXiPnbNRBk_MXXI4DmPqPJWPwscYtFM6V7Ehm-RS2RwlO8QAxJZfIjHFofUJdKST-bcRUgIvDYukstv9w/s1600/Hellenistic+helmet.png" height="200" width="143" /></a></div>
When you get to the time of Alexander the Great and the successors, they begin to add a bit more pizazz to their headgear. Alexander would have had special helmets outfitted just for him, made to look like a lion head which you can see on the coins.<br />
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But the regular infantry had a much simpler helmet that had better vision and hearing than the previous age’s Corinthian favourite. There were a few types of helmet from this period, but this one would be my pick for something more utilitarian.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oFoj9xbcNx6Uum6YMvwrILFd38Ll34vJrKpm7gUvIg2iDpgics1AyuryYMLRwCw8M3vg7XSRqegB0BG3iOP7RCs4u6sufyRynuqJ-Bj73Z_KDW8BavMLpgvAJ1YOOSx2kgPWuE8tWA/s1600/Alexander+riding+into+battle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oFoj9xbcNx6Uum6YMvwrILFd38Ll34vJrKpm7gUvIg2iDpgics1AyuryYMLRwCw8M3vg7XSRqegB0BG3iOP7RCs4u6sufyRynuqJ-Bj73Z_KDW8BavMLpgvAJ1YOOSx2kgPWuE8tWA/s1600/Alexander+riding+into+battle.png" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Men of the Roman War Machine</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVg_hFdUsdhRU1eWbvy_l3xl-onuvMEu6HjzGUBIAwarqJ-z7YkWx3-WvK9dileVkZFhjuMDijJaTxsAJIU05n18pxmPJR6GDBV5X3-rBKnApQYKRx4aCPn5O5pCY-ckDi9L_fc9LQw/s1600/Tribune+crest+or+optio.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVg_hFdUsdhRU1eWbvy_l3xl-onuvMEu6HjzGUBIAwarqJ-z7YkWx3-WvK9dileVkZFhjuMDijJaTxsAJIU05n18pxmPJR6GDBV5X3-rBKnApQYKRx4aCPn5O5pCY-ckDi9L_fc9LQw/s1600/Tribune+crest+or+optio.png" height="200" width="187" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imperial Gallic with crest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Romans knew their warfare and their weapons. They also knew how to adapt, and how to adopt when they saw a good thing.<br />
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By far, my favourite Roman helmet has to be the Imperial Gallic helmet. If you look closely at the design, it makes perfect sense. They thought of everything – good vision and hearing for the legionary, protection for the back of the neck from downward slashes by those Celts, a visor in the front for the same thing, and massive cheek pieces that protected the side of the face without hindering vision.<br />
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This was a warrior’s helmet, and it was worn by tribunes, centurions, optios, and regular troops. A crest could also be attached depending on the rank of the person wearing it. But regular legionaries wore it without decoration and just went at it with the enemy in front of them. This is my pick for most utilitarian!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-5nJDwrJoCVKu3Blm7UocVtLV-gl0s4scqMbeIfesKGiecRl6tK6J_3d_FDsgdhQaVtLga2FtDLEat8Mi8SaGdl40QqwmEKs3nitikzeve32Vw-PozW6Ja4eaDtUC6p3rFgEMpaiVQ/s1600/Centurion%2527s+helmet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-5nJDwrJoCVKu3Blm7UocVtLV-gl0s4scqMbeIfesKGiecRl6tK6J_3d_FDsgdhQaVtLga2FtDLEat8Mi8SaGdl40QqwmEKs3nitikzeve32Vw-PozW6Ja4eaDtUC6p3rFgEMpaiVQ/s1600/Centurion%2527s+helmet.png" height="200" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Centurion's helmet with<br />transverse crest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGToJNI0l1o-NkLOPXwsqHo6b_aWIPrN1jZfTbIW84Z56ldKo359SN6n6vLKUXPIASAnW0Dl7hrGrvUjvM4LqjUViAV0vYdDFsO-x3Tzs_dhxN2iff6S9Hkkj00kmOxv-2rtAYsqD47Q/s1600/Roman+Imperial+Gallic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGToJNI0l1o-NkLOPXwsqHo6b_aWIPrN1jZfTbIW84Z56ldKo359SN6n6vLKUXPIASAnW0Dl7hrGrvUjvM4LqjUViAV0vYdDFsO-x3Tzs_dhxN2iff6S9Hkkj00kmOxv-2rtAYsqD47Q/s1600/Roman+Imperial+Gallic.png" height="173" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imperial Gallic legionary issue helmet<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Gladiator Games</span><br />
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The Romans didn’t just like violence on the battlefield. They also enjoyed it on a Saturday afternoon, just for fun!<br />
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Some of the most enduring images of ancient Rome that we have are of gladiatorial combat in the amphitheatre. Gladiators were slaves, but they were also showman, and some reached unprecedented heights of popularity, almost as high as the charioteers of Rome.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxkPc1-V7p9dY7RFqZdc7NSOUaeDmDQrUDwwbpU2XDwNFV_hxLqEJ4cao00claGLssO8Y3Z1AYv3k4aHvrRzBXd-Cx0duXnYCEWacvopUsY6iw5pB8d1h6KxWByh3jqPOvg0aLYPidw/s1600/Thraex+or+Thracian+helmet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxkPc1-V7p9dY7RFqZdc7NSOUaeDmDQrUDwwbpU2XDwNFV_hxLqEJ4cao00claGLssO8Y3Z1AYv3k4aHvrRzBXd-Cx0duXnYCEWacvopUsY6iw5pB8d1h6KxWByh3jqPOvg0aLYPidw/s1600/Thraex+or+Thracian+helmet.png" height="200" width="168" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thraex helmet</td></tr>
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Because it was a show, the gladiators played the roles of mythological beasts or ferocious, long-defeated enemies from past campaigns. But they didn’t wear masks, they wore elaborate helmets.
Two of my favourite gladiatorial helmets are the <i>murmillo (</i>a sort of sea creature) and the <i>thraex</i> (or Thracian). Both helmets are big and could be very elaborate with scenes embossed on them. During the early Empire, these two were the most common pairing in combat. When they clashed, you can bet the crowd was baying for blood!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmU41wDeE5pXHq9zSWaBpNsfhmZIPXKNZh7cOsAI4hUAnMrzNK-P5r9AnUQb0uNv3uYDjhEvpHQq4m3hoMABeHdfJ5ERvcGFw_CrRYGME0myVfM9zH7ltop8pVgXJ-c6BZxKhrPjtHQ/s1600/Murmillo+helmet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmU41wDeE5pXHq9zSWaBpNsfhmZIPXKNZh7cOsAI4hUAnMrzNK-P5r9AnUQb0uNv3uYDjhEvpHQq4m3hoMABeHdfJ5ERvcGFw_CrRYGME0myVfM9zH7ltop8pVgXJ-c6BZxKhrPjtHQ/s1600/Murmillo+helmet.png" height="200" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Murmillo helmet</td></tr>
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These helmets are works of art intended to dazzle, but also to protect. If the gladiators died too quickly, the crowd would not be satisfied!<br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Horse Warriors</span><br />
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Whereas the men of the Legions had solid functional helmets when they went into battle, the cavalry <i>alae</i> of the Empire went in for something a bit more dashing and terrifying.<br />
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There is a lot of differentiation among the auxiliary units attached to the Legions because many of them were not Roman, and brought their own cultural style to the mix.<br />
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However, my favourite cavalry helmets are those with masks attached. They're ornate on top, often with mythological scenes or beasts, and then have a mask of the same metal protecting the wearer but also striking fear into the enemies they were riding down.<br />
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There is some debate as to whether or not the actual masks were used only for demonstrations or parade, that they were perhaps removed for actual battle. But it's not entirely unlikely that they were not worn into battle. After all, some medieval helmets, as we shall see, provided much less visibility than a masked Roman cavalry helmet.<br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Getting Medieval </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sutton Hoo helmet</td></tr>
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Now we move into the medieval period and Anglo-Saxon England. The Anglo-Saxons were fantastic artists and there is no better example of their armourers’ skill than the famous Sutton Hoo helmet.<br />
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In the late 1930s, archaeologists excavated two sixth and seventh century ship burials which contained some wonderful artefacts that have come to define the height of Anglo-Saxon artwork. The helmet that was discovered at Sutton Hoo possibly belonged to Raedwald, the ruler of the Kingdom of East Anglia. <br />
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We can see similarities with the Roman helmets in that it has cheek pieces and a neck guard at the back, as well as a face mask. But this helmet is much more ornate with various beasts displayed on it, with gold and gemstones. Whether Raedwald, or another, wore this in battle is doubtful, but it was meant to make a statement that the wearer stood out from the rest.<br />
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This was the king’s helmet!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sutton Hoo Helmet recreation<br />Anglo-Saxon art at its best</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Those Norman Invaders </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKWtS84U-e9doNpDmXRs4OwaNMpNY0Y5Tx4ntHPzor4ZAZDOT-AY6EZZG8kPePJXk6Kdlc2LWjRSSjxS-0kdYKqW37OIN-bAMaP5_U6uBfs3NQQUcpo4Ru3h-__O0U2j29KbuAS9U5Q/s1600/Bayeux+Tapestry+Norman+Cavalry.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKWtS84U-e9doNpDmXRs4OwaNMpNY0Y5Tx4ntHPzor4ZAZDOT-AY6EZZG8kPePJXk6Kdlc2LWjRSSjxS-0kdYKqW37OIN-bAMaP5_U6uBfs3NQQUcpo4Ru3h-__O0U2j29KbuAS9U5Q/s1600/Bayeux+Tapestry+Norman+Cavalry.png" height="131" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bayeux Tapestry</td></tr>
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1066 is a year that many of you will be familiar with. This is the year that William the Conqueror and his Norman army invaded England and killed the last Saxon King, Harold, at the Battle of Hastings. The Normans changed the face of England, some might say not for the best.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0wd_YIiveQ8ZZkc0HIpr1Kfp2YwvzsDgR1-O-mmYBeGhhVP5Ckz6BW6Xwi_T2XO4q0mWwPc-0S8LskJPNB4DcW7eVhSBSNo91UQNqTgsabJs0ffoe0yuiCp1duS_SHoxvcgoX5BV7w/s1600/Norman+Cone+helmet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0wd_YIiveQ8ZZkc0HIpr1Kfp2YwvzsDgR1-O-mmYBeGhhVP5Ckz6BW6Xwi_T2XO4q0mWwPc-0S8LskJPNB4DcW7eVhSBSNo91UQNqTgsabJs0ffoe0yuiCp1duS_SHoxvcgoX5BV7w/s1600/Norman+Cone+helmet.png" height="200" width="149" /></a>But they were a fighting force to be reckoned with. And their arms and armour reflect a more functional, militaristic culture that is immortalized in the Bayeux Tapestry.<br />
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When I think of the Normans, I think of kite shields, chain mail, and the conical helmet. This may not be the most dashing or even protective of warlike head gear, but its silhouette is unmistakably Norman. It was basically two bits of steel held together by a spine with a big nose guard. That’s it. There was no neck protection unless chain mail was attached to the lower rim, and the face was exposed apart from the nose. It would have had great visibility and some deflective traits because of it pointed shape. It would not be my pick for personal use, but I’ve included it because there’s just something about it.<br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">The Cross and the Crescent </span><br />
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The Crusades figured largely in my study of medieval warfare, and so it is no surprise that the one helmet from the time that should be included here is the medieval ‘Great Helm’.<br />
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This cylindrical helmet would have been worn over a chain mail headpiece, or <i>coif</i>, and was the standard for most knights going on Crusade to the Holy Land. Designs by way of the puncture holes for breathing varied, but they were all big with narrow eye slits and cross-like seems on the face.<br />
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When I see this helmet, I also tend to think of Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail. ‘None shall pass!’<br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">I’ll see you in the Lists! </span><br />
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If gladiators were the entertainment of the Roman world, jousting was the equivalent of the Middle Ages.<br />
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From the time I was a boy, this is what I was drawn to. Two knights in armour careening toward each other with their lances couched. I could see their horses’ trappings fluttering as they came closer and closer and then the tremendous impact of splintered lances and shattered shields.<br />
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Fantastic! But wow, so dangerous. Tourney knights may have donned colourful ribbons and head dresses for the tilt, but there were certainly not wussies. These guys were tough as nails!<br />
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And they did this with little to no visibility! The tourney helms were thick and heavy and were intended to deflect a lance point at speed. It must have been absolutely suffocating inside one of those.<br />
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But how imposing they looked, how fantastic with the colourful tourney crests affixed on the top. I think of the knights who took the tourney circuit, and the ladies, by storm. Men such as William Marshall or Ulrich von Lichtenstein (not Heath Ledger, the real one!), made a name for themselves in the European lists and helped to shape the chivalric ideals we see in art and story.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jDreXx4eZWH-JI4frQe_mi3tvvwE2FsqC-TJgWxjaOUmnK6Jv0GC8zWvx9GvyGVvd_sPxMkSXJs3QhJuEgCSEk6ZcXoOQwGZOewxvFUsIDKgd0mIzAO79OA4LNeTuUA4ebWsAXdeYA/s1600/Ulrich+fon+Lichtenstein+the+tourney+knight.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jDreXx4eZWH-JI4frQe_mi3tvvwE2FsqC-TJgWxjaOUmnK6Jv0GC8zWvx9GvyGVvd_sPxMkSXJs3QhJuEgCSEk6ZcXoOQwGZOewxvFUsIDKgd0mIzAO79OA4LNeTuUA4ebWsAXdeYA/s1600/Ulrich+fon+Lichtenstein+the+tourney+knight.png" height="320" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ulrich von Lichtenstein</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Re-enactor with crested tourney helm.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Going out with a Gothic Bang </span><br />
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Some of the most complete and beautiful armour ever comes from the late middle ages and was, in large part, a reaction to new weapons technology, namely firearms.<br />
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This was really the last hurrah for full armour and helmets that matched beauty with defensive intent. We know it as Gothic armour, and there are plenty of well-preserved examples in museums and castles around the world where you can get up close and personal with it.<br />
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There are many styles but they all share one thing in common: they seek to encase the wearer as much as possible against sword, mace, axe, arrow, and of course firearm shots.<br />
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Early firearms were notoriously inaccurate, but knights would have been extremely vulnerable when charging into spray from a bunch of arm cannons. The English longbows at Agincourt and Crécy destroyed the French knights, and this just took things one unfortunate step further.<br />
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The Gothic age of helmets and armour in general is a bit of a swan song.<br />
<br />
Warfare had changed and the sight of fully armed knights tilting on battlefields such as Bosworth was soon to become a thing of the past, a thing of romance. Perhaps it is fitting that this was some of the most beautiful, functional armour all rolled into one. It was indeed the end of an age.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74FlhErK5MDLH6tjV-qs4hqrDHZNp7mCFnr3DT1LgGk0EwUKHAdhqo0R0voG3zN1inxJIIFjOKsfMD_V-H25gvwsrZgmPr5CTvGYBRgpxYVOahVYf3H087ncO4izqTIJZ6V3pyXBY8A/s1600/Battle+of+Bosworth+Cavalry+charge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74FlhErK5MDLH6tjV-qs4hqrDHZNp7mCFnr3DT1LgGk0EwUKHAdhqo0R0voG3zN1inxJIIFjOKsfMD_V-H25gvwsrZgmPr5CTvGYBRgpxYVOahVYf3H087ncO4izqTIJZ6V3pyXBY8A/s1600/Battle+of+Bosworth+Cavalry+charge.png" height="235" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth 1485</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">End of an Age </span><br />
<br />
This was by no means an exhaustive list of each era in history. These were just a few of my favourite pieces, and there were likely variations on each of them.<br />
<br />
I have always felt very strongly that the invention of gun powder was a low point in human and military history. It meant that any coward could pick up a gun and, from a distance, take down the most skilled, well-trained warrior without breaking a sweat. It meant that the scale of casualties would increase. It is something we feel painfully to this day.<br />
<br />
A lot of people might disagree with that. They might say that guns are the great leveller.<br />
<br />
But somehow, in an age of cold black steel and bullets, I don’t really think we’ll hear about heroes like Hector or Achilles meeting face to face. Alexander won’t be charging King Porus’ elephant on Bucephalas any time soon. The Spartan shield wall is lost to history and the lists of medieval Europe are long silent but for a few scattered bands of Renaissance Festival enthusiasts.<br />
<br />
But the art of war does remain, and it serves of a reminder of the past and the reasons for it.<br />
<br />
Next time you are at a replica shop, re-enactor fair, or Renaissance festival, be sure to slip an ancient or medieval helmet replica over your head. You’ll be taking one step closer to understanding and feeling the past.<br />
<br />
Thank you for reading.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3NlCGU0eboRms8RcijXmMftQgW8fjLDuFrTbMw05dkQzF8Yt7v6fShGmJ0fagQg7RW83PP1X_la71qZJmDaqH71tcRZeG1PyE2-HG8SJA8aANaF_nhGNzNfVz1BimpomoUzhLrWh6w/s1600/Greek-helmet-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3NlCGU0eboRms8RcijXmMftQgW8fjLDuFrTbMw05dkQzF8Yt7v6fShGmJ0fagQg7RW83PP1X_la71qZJmDaqH71tcRZeG1PyE2-HG8SJA8aANaF_nhGNzNfVz1BimpomoUzhLrWh6w/s1600/Greek-helmet-.jpg" height="400" width="321" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-13260045024536569212014-02-16T20:18:00.000-05:002014-02-16T20:18:03.263-05:00IMMORTUI - Carpathian Interlude Part I<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHJcjaiNSvr1-fQ_mwRxJ2BFFYLY9xKgu-1Mc3pI9pNHgdDh9BqL2i1V9SxOKtGtxRyxUOm9_9TcDabTd1m_bjNRuiXNS2CoXemG_XaI_1A6KYVWqR3z4ZDL5SkkeH-7b4Se-93jXsA/s1600/IMMORTUI+Final+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHJcjaiNSvr1-fQ_mwRxJ2BFFYLY9xKgu-1Mc3pI9pNHgdDh9BqL2i1V9SxOKtGtxRyxUOm9_9TcDabTd1m_bjNRuiXNS2CoXemG_XaI_1A6KYVWqR3z4ZDL5SkkeH-7b4Se-93jXsA/s1600/IMMORTUI+Final+Cover.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<div>
A while ago, I wrote a post detailing all of the upcoming historical and literary treats that I was planning on releasing in 2014. </div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One of those items was a re-release of IMMORTUI, Part I of the Carpathian Interlude series.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you haven't read this novella yet, it's a cross between historical fiction and horror.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As usual, I've paid a lot of attention to the history of the age (i.e. the reign of Emperor Augustus). I never cheat on the history!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Also, the cult of Mithras plays a big part in this story, so if ancient mystery religions fascinate you, you'll like this. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here is the fantastic new cover design for IMMORTUI by <a href="http://www.llpix.com/" target="_blank">LLPix Photography and Design</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If ancient history and zombies are your thing, be sure to check it out and tell others about it! It's available on <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/immortui-1" target="_blank">Kobo</a> and <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/immortui-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This series is a joy to write and the second part is on the way! For now, here is the outline of IMMORTUI:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The
Legions of Emperor Augustus have returned victorious from putting down a
massive revolt among the Germanic tribes of the Danube frontier. While Rome
basks in its success, a new foe is gathering in the darkness of the Carpathian Mountains.
When a young boy shows up at the distant fortress of Troesmis, it falls to
Optio Gaius Justus Vitalis and his centurion to investigate the horrors
described by the young refugee. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is
just the beginning of a struggle between the Eagles of Rome and the undead
forces of an enemy that could halt the Empire’s northern advance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s
Romans vs. Zombies in this first novella of the Carpathian Interlude series.
Get ready for action, mystery and blood in this clash between Light and Dark. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you have read and enjoyed this novella do be sure to leave a review wherever you purchased it as this always helps other readers to discover the series. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Finally, so that I can get a bit more history into this post, here are some pictures related to the story. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
As ever, thank you for reading!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdWyf7DiqCO8Q4EGVAGy9zs3q1c9sMsZMqBTqOWapv3MKIQYyIZeLbxKMifCAhmBV6a_8K-VP-bcDnWZ6VGCxhF4wpZTPxve0yi1_zyiM385JjQGb8HRsZtFTr5jjnUraF2F-IX3WlQ/s1600/Troesmis+Remains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdWyf7DiqCO8Q4EGVAGy9zs3q1c9sMsZMqBTqOWapv3MKIQYyIZeLbxKMifCAhmBV6a_8K-VP-bcDnWZ6VGCxhF4wpZTPxve0yi1_zyiM385JjQGb8HRsZtFTr5jjnUraF2F-IX3WlQ/s1600/Troesmis+Remains.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remains of the Legionary base of Troesmis,<br />
where the story begins on the Danube frontier<br />
in modern Romania.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_M6ZN06Dd3WD-3hkCA_T1NZ7UuihEG6iq9huyakh0mD1rHRjLmMcLJIDayaqEEfODz0bcQHrp2qUseoaa2r1FZ4XVu4eQJgoybMF3g1dRgB1prmPnn76pgYU_oqn_tiuST10aq-vOg/s1600/Mithraic+symbols+and+the+Tauroctony.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_M6ZN06Dd3WD-3hkCA_T1NZ7UuihEG6iq9huyakh0mD1rHRjLmMcLJIDayaqEEfODz0bcQHrp2qUseoaa2r1FZ4XVu4eQJgoybMF3g1dRgB1prmPnn76pgYU_oqn_tiuST10aq-vOg/s1600/Mithraic+symbols+and+the+Tauroctony.PNG" height="358" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image of the 'Tauroctony' - Mithras slaying the Bull.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipf7F1xIvcqFJ4w8aZE3aH8zbLiQUkdRJT9Ze9jOo7WW4FlNDA_MMqLUiEV1oL5Zu2yiM36EYB5rYX7pithV6ekjTd_7eKLG4yPlXkGjY5FQ1-jfPg03YSoFMK6RS_g65lEk3irM5AA/s1600/Mithraeum+-+San+Clemente%252C+Rome.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipf7F1xIvcqFJ4w8aZE3aH8zbLiQUkdRJT9Ze9jOo7WW4FlNDA_MMqLUiEV1oL5Zu2yiM36EYB5rYX7pithV6ekjTd_7eKLG4yPlXkGjY5FQ1-jfPg03YSoFMK6RS_g65lEk3irM5AA/s1600/Mithraeum+-+San+Clemente%252C+Rome.PNG" height="272" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An ancient Mithraeum.<br />
Mithraic rites took place in caves such as this, where<br />
the worshipers reclined and shared a sacred meal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you missed the previous posts called 'IMMORTUI - Fighting the Undead', you can still read them. There are three posts on:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2012/11/immortui-fighting-undead-roman-weapons.html" target="_blank">Roman Weapons</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2012/11/immortui-fighting-undead-roman-armour.html" target="_blank">Roman Armour and Clothing</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://writingthepastblog.blogspot.ca/2012/12/immortui-fighting-undead-mithras-lord.html" target="_blank">Mithras, Lord of Light</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
LYKOI - Carpathian Interlude Part II will be coming this Spring, so stay tuned!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-59296437621465992192014-02-08T21:28:00.000-05:002014-02-08T21:28:19.283-05:00Sneak Peek - Killing the Hydra - Eagles and Dragons Book II <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_I3n0_2LjuDdOiVDi3_xtpYzsGiqro1wJDdCjcLydNsRHpsohNdJurbccnyDBf4i1-5AqvygayuUKh2D0el0HqiQNnrrwHAzgTpju119fG1HxucspUsuJ-p-dqgKZjwwLqjNocLb3A/s1600/hydrakindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_I3n0_2LjuDdOiVDi3_xtpYzsGiqro1wJDdCjcLydNsRHpsohNdJurbccnyDBf4i1-5AqvygayuUKh2D0el0HqiQNnrrwHAzgTpju119fG1HxucspUsuJ-p-dqgKZjwwLqjNocLb3A/s1600/hydrakindle.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<i>Salve</i> fellow history lovers!<br />
<br />
A couple of posts ago, I told you that I would be posting short excerpts of Killing the Hydra prior to the official launch.<br />
<br />
And so, as promised, here is the first one. I've tried to pick something that won't have any spoilers in it.<br />
<br />
In this scene, Lucius is back in North Africa. He is travelling incognito (for a very good reason!) to the legionary base at Lambaesis in Numidia, where his men are stationed.<br />
<br />
On the way, he must stop for a night in the town of Thugga. This was a massive Roman settlement in what is now central Tunisia. It contains some of the most impressive and intact remains that I have ever seen.<br />
<br />
When Lucius arrives in Thugga, he finds himself in trouble and it is then that he enlists the help of a very unlikely person.<br />
<br />
This is from Chapter V - 'On the Road to Cirta':<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">A day later, after another damp night out of doors, Lucius passed the milestone indicating that Thugga was a mere eight miles away. The sun was somewhat blotted out due to the low clouds that encircled the surrounding hills as he drew near to the city. It seemed odd that such a large and prosperous settlement should be found in so remote and quiet a region. The road was extremely well-kept and was flanked with many impressive shrines and tombs the closer he came to the settlement. Finally, the city came into full view, its vast array of bright buildings cutting through the cloud, foremost among them the tall peak of the Capitol with the image of an eagle soaring above the streets.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Thugga overlooked vast olive groves that blanketed the rolling land. It was a prosperous city with many new buildings in evidence; it even had an arch recently dedicated to the Emperor through which Lucius passed as he entered the city on the Carthage road. As he looked up, he was struck by how the buildings radiated from the Capitol at the top to cover the sloping hill like the surrounding olive groves. To the south of the city limits stood a lonely Punic mausoleum jutting out among the trees.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The streets were densely packed and Lucius could hear noise from the theatre at the top of the hill and the hippodrome to the north. Beautiful temples stood all around the walls providing the citizens with pockets of peaceful silence away from the forum and places of entertainment. Just inside the eastern gate, along the main road, Lucius spotted a large inn with stables in the rear and decided it might be a good place to spend the night as he could not take the wagon further into the city.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The inn was at the corner of two streets. Lucius left the wagon with the slave out front to whom he gave a denarius to watch his belongings. The man nodded, planted himself next to the horses and held the reigns tightly in his hand while Lucius went inside. He was welcomed by a man of Punic origin who was gaudily dressed in purple, gold and orange robes. His bangled arms clanged as he raised them in greeting to the traveller.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Come, come inside, oh weary traveller!” he said in what must have been a completely new version of Latin. Lucius struggled to understand him. “You need a room for the night, two nights, a week?” His groomed eyebrows pointed upward curiously as he looked for a money pouch at Lucius’ waist.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Just one night.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Very well, very well. I have a room for you. Only twenty denarii!”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Twenty!” <i>He must be putting me on?</i> Lucius wondered.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Thugga is a prosperous city, citizen, and very expensive during the games.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Very well.” Lucius laughed to himself as the man continued looking for a money pouch. “I’ll take it as long as you stable my horses and wagon for the night. I set out early in the morning.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Very good! Excellent!” The man clapped his hands and rubbed them together briskly. “You do have coins, do you not?”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Something better, my good man!” Lucius reached into his satchel.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Gold!” The proprietor was practically jumping up and down like a child awaiting honeyed sweets. “You have gold! Oh, may the Gods bless you!”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“No. Not gold. Here.” Lucius produced the Imperial pass and handed it to the man whose giddiness soon vanished as if he had lead weights tied to his feet. He frowned and huffed. Evidently, he had seen this sort of thing before and was clearly disappointed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Not another!” he said to himself. “I knew I should have opened an inn in the area closer to the forum! Everybody has coin there. But here? No! Travellers passing through with Imperial passes!”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I can go elsewhere if you do not wish to honour the Emperor’s seal,” Lucius said sternly. The man lightened up slightly.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“No! It is fine. I honour the Emperor’s seal.” He knew that if he did not, he would have trouble from the local magistrate. “Come with me to your room.” Lucius followed him up some stairs to a small room with a single bed and a small table. Not the most luxurious room in the house, but good enough for one night. “Here it is. The stables are around back. I keep them guarded all the time, so do not worry about any belongings,” he said curtly.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Good. Are there baths in the town?” Lucius asked.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Of course there are baths in the town!” The man looked greatly insulted. “Thugga has three baths! There is the large one down the road you came in on, there is the one at the brothel up the street in front of this inn if that is to your taste…” He winked at Lucius who ignored him. The man cleared his throat and stepped back. “Or, if you prefer, the family of the Licinii has recently constructed a beautiful bath complex toward the centre of town. Very nice, that one!”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“That sounds good.” Lucius then followed the man downstairs and took his wagon to the rear of the building where he stabled the horses and hid the wagon as best he could, covering the trunks with some loose planks of wood so that they were not evident in the dark. They had locks on them, but one never knew who was about at night.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>With a change of clothes in his satchel, Lucius left the inn and walked up the street. At the second intersection, he found himself in the shadow of a giant marble phallus that protruded, very erect, from the front of a small complex. The brothel.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“By Bacchus!” Lucius laughed. He could hear giggling from within, mingled with moans and pitched screams of some form or another. A half-dressed man came running out into the street smiling and entered the next door where the public latrines were located. Soon after, he emerged quite relieved and re-entered the brothel beneath the giant phallus. Lucius moved on to the new baths. Just as he turned, a woman appeared in the doorway of the brothel.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Hellooo!” she said in a feigned sultry voice. “Looking for company, Roman?” She was of an average height, dark and slender. She would have been beautiful if not for the thick layer of stibium around her eyes, the scent of previous<i> </i>customers<i> </i>and a musky oil that emanated from her body.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“No, erm, thank you,” he said politely as he turned to go.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Don’t leave so soon!” She skipped after him, her silver anklets and bracelets jingling as she went. “I’m only being friendly!”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Sorry, but I really must go now. Thanks for the offer.” Lucius continued walking, embarrassed by the unwanted stares he received by passing locals. The girl was unperturbed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“My name’s Dido,” she said.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Of course it is.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“What’s yours?”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Aeneas.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Ha! You’re playing with me, Roman! What’s your real name?” she persisted.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Titus.” Lucius did not want to give his real name to her. He walked faster to escape her strong smell but she was fleet-footed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Oooo. I like that name. Titus, how would you like to play with me? Half price for the entire night. You look like you could do that.” She poked Lucius in the side and he stopped.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Look here, <i>Dido</i>! I’ve been travelling for two days, I’m tired and there’s only ever one woman on my mind or in my bed: my wife! So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to be alone, understand?” He continued walking and she followed him up the wide marble avenue that curved around the baths up the hill.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Oh ho! You’re a feisty one! I like that. But since when is being married something to prevent a man travelling by himself from having a little fun?”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Since <i>me,</i> woman! All right?” He stopped outside the doors to the baths. Dido lowered her head a little, either in disappointment or embarrassment. “Look,” said Lucius, feeling badly he had raised his voice to her so loudly. “I’m tired, filthy and otherwise extremely happy with my situation. Thank you again for your offer, but I’m sure that there are plenty of other men who would welcome a night immersed in your pleasures. Just not me.” Dido raised her head and smiled understandingly, her eyes glistening behind the dark stibium. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 14.4px;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Forgive me, Titus. It’s rare that a man like you passes through Thugga. I respect your situation and though my offer still stands, I understand your reasoning. Good evening to you and may Baal protect you on your journey.” With that, she turned and went back down the white street, her bare feet smacking on the marble to the tune of her jingling jewellery.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4px;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIDM64IZz1muipyn8cYqLNSxNjC2L4wJvWJb7uqGZuD-Z8oNpDOMT2m9XYReFOor9wjtDRWPHXkB-OW5ck3Lq_s8Tw2A6crqa3b3RLzpyqBdqMQlVPezQ_BecrlKFkZnxX6vAYGlzSQ/s1600/Thugga+Capitol+-+Tunisia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIDM64IZz1muipyn8cYqLNSxNjC2L4wJvWJb7uqGZuD-Z8oNpDOMT2m9XYReFOor9wjtDRWPHXkB-OW5ck3Lq_s8Tw2A6crqa3b3RLzpyqBdqMQlVPezQ_BecrlKFkZnxX6vAYGlzSQ/s1600/Thugga+Capitol+-+Tunisia.JPG" height="208" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Capitol of Thugga</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNiniHTuvjLBEB51_BKA8YKPqMnbpg69vmkJvhR3HOtIMMzx5sLow4Z_q8G5Z5OL0B5BlohjncE_8OWv2Dp7il4hNjPXserVJhceu601qDpzSS-wSWFI7cpCqIo8XWdsY_TygEG86HA/s1600/Thugga+street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNiniHTuvjLBEB51_BKA8YKPqMnbpg69vmkJvhR3HOtIMMzx5sLow4Z_q8G5Z5OL0B5BlohjncE_8OWv2Dp7il4hNjPXserVJhceu601qDpzSS-wSWFI7cpCqIo8XWdsY_TygEG86HA/s1600/Thugga+street.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An average street in Thugga</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqcObLxTZ2uocmkqfInqRjbfaeHRl6Lj8U4k33w2hr4H0x35GffnnQ_65qBeemfk0wZ8hq3XvKa5t_R2Q4Xi42yqw8U4UjlzshkeZ7q2mlZNpF2TNhsoE54oRVUScwKaqvZCCdSUaFw/s1600/Thugga+Brothel+House+of+the+Cyclops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqcObLxTZ2uocmkqfInqRjbfaeHRl6Lj8U4k33w2hr4H0x35GffnnQ_65qBeemfk0wZ8hq3XvKa5t_R2Q4Xi42yqw8U4UjlzshkeZ7q2mlZNpF2TNhsoE54oRVUScwKaqvZCCdSUaFw/s1600/Thugga+Brothel+House+of+the+Cyclops.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'House of the Cyclops'<br />Thugga's brothel<br />(draw your own conclusions about the name)</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-36070558384517863212014-02-01T10:02:00.000-05:002014-02-01T10:02:15.635-05:00Learning from Historical Fiction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblKTQarOqnaYP6BcauHM55PcvQ3eJWMH2Vlq9X06GZL5K3WTbPGaZ_NREpeuDjG_iOzcVCYkxRqncCc2D57I_sURpdAXnehQVRVH_pujVd4LXbTtFOSQmLi2eo0SuW2Sn1eZRDib9mw/s1600/Classical+writer.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblKTQarOqnaYP6BcauHM55PcvQ3eJWMH2Vlq9X06GZL5K3WTbPGaZ_NREpeuDjG_iOzcVCYkxRqncCc2D57I_sURpdAXnehQVRVH_pujVd4LXbTtFOSQmLi2eo0SuW2Sn1eZRDib9mw/s1600/Classical+writer.png" /></a></div>
This week I spent three days at a fantastic event known as the Ontario Library Association Super Conference with 5000 delegates, mostly librarians, and all of them lovers of the written word. It was brilliant.<br />
<br />
I was there in my capacity as a 'day-jobber'. However, one of the perks of my work is that once a year I can shrug my cubicle for a few days to interact with a group of people whom it is a privilege to know.<br />
<br />
Librarians know their stuff and are some of our most precious community resources. They help patrons of all ages with an infinite number of valuable things like research, job search, small business startup info, early learning etc. etc. The list goes on.<br />
<br />
One thing they are very good at is readers' advisory. Sometimes people just don't know what to read, so they ask the librarian.<br />
<br />
That seems like a regressive statement in the face of all they do, but to a writer and lover of fiction it's highly relevant.<br />
<br />
While sitting in one of the crowded corridors between sessions, I bumped into someone who also happens to be an Eagles and Dragons fan and avid reader of historical fiction.<br />
<br />
Big shout out to Jim!<br />
<br />
We got to talking about historical fiction, of course, and some of our favourite reads. During our talk, he reminded me of something that I sometimes take for granted.<br />
<br />
He said that historical fiction a wonderful way to learn about, and teach, history.<br />
<br />
EUREKA!<br />
<br />
This stuck with me afterward, resonated in my mind for the rest of the day. I remembered that this was one of the reasons I began writing historical fiction.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Historical Fiction is, if done well, the BEST way to learn about history. I believe that.</span><br />
<br />
Take the Roman world, for example. I've been researching that period and writing in that world for years now. I think in that space and time so much that the lines between present and past become a little blurry.<br />
<br />
And I love it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzcNEwn3HAJNV2x7qKC3wn_0bUMF0ML63nnENp6HlBXPO5Gah6dWMIj-x3VsLFySv986RLwMe3iYcS5eRM5W4hmBANiUC4SqeqBBODl1DOcCnF6jWuLlNXdfPk8sqAuV7K6iHwo7jHQ/s1600/ancient+Greek+Writer.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzcNEwn3HAJNV2x7qKC3wn_0bUMF0ML63nnENp6HlBXPO5Gah6dWMIj-x3VsLFySv986RLwMe3iYcS5eRM5W4hmBANiUC4SqeqBBODl1DOcCnF6jWuLlNXdfPk8sqAuV7K6iHwo7jHQ/s1600/ancient+Greek+Writer.png" height="200" width="148" /></a></div>
<br />
But for the average person who doesn't know much about the Roman world, or the lives of people in ancient Rome, reading a work of historical fiction can be a very rich, rewarding and entertaining experience.<br />
<br />
It can be far more engaging that the sad dry lectures of, I'm sorry to say it, far too many school and university educators who only end up turning students off of history.<br />
<br />
Reading a well-researched work of historical fiction can teach the reader about everything from home life and food to politics, warfare and the events that shaped the world. You can get inside the head of a Caesar, or a slave.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">The fact that historical fiction helps to connect you with the past on a visceral or emotional level, only helps to cement your knowledge even more. </span><br />
<br />
But therein lies the great responsibility of the author of historical fiction - the author has the power to shape people's vision of the past, especially if their book is the reader's only exposure to history.<br />
<br />
However, ancient and medieval history have come down to us with more holes than a gladiator's sparring post. So there will always be a need for the author to fill in the gaps.<br />
<br />
I always try to do that honestly and make sure to say so in the author's note.<br />
<br />
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One of my greatest joys has been when a reader told me they learned so much about Roman history and life by reading one of my books. That made me feel fantastic.<br />
<br />
I also felt good because I could rest easy in the knowledge that I had done my research so that someone could learn about the past in an accurate and entertaining way.<br />
<br />
Historical fiction is indeed the best way to learn about the past. I know that owe much to authors such as Steven Saylor and Colleen McCullough for their brilliantly researched and written work. For those, and other novels like them, I'm grateful.<br />
<br />
So, if ever there has been a historical fiction novel that helped to enlighten you and switch you on to history, no matter the period, be sure to let others know.<br />
<br />
As ever, thank you for reading.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-650991216932320512.post-65895665497577331382014-01-25T09:37:00.002-05:002014-01-25T09:37:54.258-05:00Cover Reveal! Killing the Hydra - Eagles and Dragons Book II <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let the <i>cornu </i>and <i>draconarius</i> sound!<br />
<br />
I'm happy to say that <i>Killing the Hydra</i>, Eagles and Dragons Book II, is going to be released in the next few weeks.<br />
<br />
It's been a long haul and I'm grateful to those who have hung in there with me. I know many of you who enjoyed <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Children-Apollo-Eagles-Dragons-Volume/dp/0987762486/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390660428&sr=8-1&keywords=adam+alexander+haviaras" target="_blank">Children of Apollo</a></i> have been more than patient. Thank you for that.<br />
<br />
For those of you who have not read <i>Children of Apollo</i>, but are interested, there is going to be a special offer on that around the launch of <i>Killing the Hydra</i>. So stay tuned.<br />
<br />
This week I received the final cover designs from artist Derek Murphy at <a href="http://bookcovers.creativindie.com/" target="_blank">Creativindie</a>. There is a lot going on in this book, so finding the right images to convey the story proved challenging.<br />
<br />
I love the process of cover design, and it's always a treat to get that final version in your inbox.<br />
<br />
Today, I wanted to share the cover images with you (e-book and paperback). First, here is the story outline:<br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Killing the Hydra – Eagles and Dragons Book II</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Killing
the Hydra</i>, Lucius Metellus Anguis returns to North Africa, determined to
investigate the death of his centurion and root out the treason that has
infiltrated the ranks of his cohort. With his wife, Adara, safe in Athens,
Lucius finds himself alone on a dangerous road back to the legionary base at
Lambaesis. Praetorian spies and other unknown enemies are hunting him, and it
is only with help from the Empress, a Punic prostitute, and an ancient group of
warriors that Lucius is able to survive. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But the Sibyl’s prophecy haunts Lucius’s
dreams, and he clings desperately to the hope that he is making the right
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As his world is ravaged by pain on all
fronts, Lucius Metellus Anguis must decide whether or not to make his move
against the enemies that have plagued his family for far too long, including
the most powerful man in the Roman Empire. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How far will the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dragon </i>go to protect his family and avenge the spirits of the dead?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Only the Gods know…</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDXOK6a0V4rXcdOiIvhiuQjI4to9Alp06gFccqJzHAVlBiNno3y4fzN2Mspc3N11PZ1nqzVKVQE5NZ8tOBKsvK9wEiryf8vfjOxVovKLOJDva2Uj8neTC10UvlxkKY1UK0HftbKwg2A/s1600/B-5_25x8_Cream_730.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDXOK6a0V4rXcdOiIvhiuQjI4to9Alp06gFccqJzHAVlBiNno3y4fzN2Mspc3N11PZ1nqzVKVQE5NZ8tOBKsvK9wEiryf8vfjOxVovKLOJDva2Uj8neTC10UvlxkKY1UK0HftbKwg2A/s1600/B-5_25x8_Cream_730.png" height="261" width="400" /></a></div>
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There you have it! For me, as an author, sharing this for the first time is very exciting. It is also nerve-wracking because, in a sense, the die is cast. I'm crossing my Rubicon. </div>
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In the description you'll notice that a lot is happening to Lucius. The Empire is in turmoil and two of the main political forces are the people whose faces you see in the clouds on the book cover - the Empress, Julia Domna, and the Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, Gaius Fulvius Plautianus. Once again, Lucius is back in Africa to investigate the death of one of his centurions, while his heart is on the other side of the Middle Sea. </div>
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I won't say anything else because I don't want to spoil things for those of you who have not read Book I. Suffice it to say, that <i>Killing the Hydra</i> will throw you headlong into the passion and pain of the Roman world. </div>
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Prior to launch day, I'll post some short excerpts from the book. In the meantime, if you would like to read an excerpt of Book I, you can do so <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/story/10568386-children-of-apollo-eagles-and-dragons-book-i" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">As ever, thank you for reading. Do spread the word about the series, and keep watching this space. There is a lot more coming in 2014!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Ave!</i></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461952469118723268noreply@blogger.com0