The World of Children of Apollo - Part VI - Cumae and the Sibyl

"…from her shrine the Sibyl of Cumae sang her fearful riddling prophecies, her voice booming in the cave as she wrapped the truth in darkness, while Apollo shook the reins upon her in her frenzy and dug the spurs into her flanks. The madness passed. The wild words died upon her lips…" (Aenied, Book VI)

In this series of posts on The World of Children of Apollo we have been through the sands and cities of Roman North Africa, trod the marble-clad streets of Imperial Rome and wandered the lush, ancient land of Etruria. We have met the imperial family and had a hint of the dangers that can come of an association with them.

In this post, we set off on a slightly different path into the realm of mystery and legend, and visit the cave of the Cumaean Sibyl, Apollo’s ancient oracle on the Italian peninsula. It is in this cave of the Sibyl that Lucius Metellus Anguis learns of a cryptic prophecy concerning his future.

Cumae

Legend has it that Cumae was founded by ancient Greeks as early as 1050 B.C. and was, according to Strabo, the oldest of the Greek colonies on mainland Italy or Sicily. Cumae survived many years of war and attack until, under the Empire, it was seen as a quiet, country town in contrast to the very fashionable Baiae nearby. The acropolis of Cumae is a mass of rock rising two-hundred and sixty-nine feet above the seashore which lies one hundred yards away. The acropolis contains three levels of caves with many branches and it is within these caves that the Cumaean Sibyl had her seat.

Cumaean Acropolis and Cave

One can approach the rock from the south-east. It is steep on all sides with remnants of the original Greek fortifications. The acropolis is an ancient place, a place where myth and legend can, if you manage to block out modernity, come alive. Within the acropolis stood the Temple of Apollo, God of Prophecy. Tradition has it that Daedalus himself built the temple. This was restored by the Romans who had great reverence for that god and the Sibyl who had prophesied the future of Rome to the last king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, in the Sibylline Books.

           

The Sibyl
Andrea del Castagno

As the story goes, Tarquinius would not pay the Sibyl her extortionate price for all nine books. The Sibyl burned three and yet he refused to pay. She burned another three and the king relented, paying the original price for the remaining three books. A lesson there, to be sure! The Sibylline Books were kept in the Temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill until c. 80 B.C. when it burned down. The books were so valuable, having been referred to in times of great crisis for Rome, that a re-collection of Sibylline prophecies was undertaken in all corners of the Empire. Augustus finally had the prophecies moved to the Temple of Apollo on the Palatine Hill where our main character, Lucius Metellus Anguis spends much time in Children of Apollo.

Entrance to the Cave

But who was the Sibyl? Her person is surrounded by the haze of legend. She was mortal, but she lived for a thousand years. In the Aeneid, it was the Sibyl who guided Aeneas to the underworld so that he could visit his dead father, Anchises, in Hades. Her story is a sad one too. When Apollo met her, the god offered her a wish in exchange for her virginity. The Sibyl then picked up a handful of sand and asked that she live as many years as the number of grains of sand she held in her palm. The old adage, ‘Careful what you wish for,’ certainly rings true in the Sibyl’s case. Tragically, she did not wish for eternal youth as well and as a result, over the centuries, her young, once-beautiful body withered until all that remained was her prophetic voice. In Children of Apollo, this is a voice that Lucius Metellus Anguis will not soon forget.

The Sibyl's Inner Chamber

The traditions of ancient Greece and Rome are of full of tales of tragedy, choices wrongly-made, beauty, love, hate and deception. The tales are heroic and terrifying, inspiring and thought-provoking. And oftentimes, there is a physical place associated with a particular tale, a place you can visit and hear the voices of the past. You can stand in a spot where once a Trojan hero stood, as well as emperors and caesars, or common soldiers. It may be a place or tale that shook the foundations of the world, of a people, or of a solitary individual trying to find his way.

For Lucius Metellus Anguis, the Sibyl’s cave is a place that will haunt him for a long time to come. 

View to the Light
from Inside

Ancient Festivals and Games

A Roman Festival

Days off are something that we all look forward to. Who doesn’t? In Canada, we’ve just celebrated Canada Day with a barrage of red-and-white maple leaf flag waving, walks in the park, lazy lattes and roasting meat. And on tomorrow’s 4^th of July, I suspect many will be celebrating Independence with even greater pomp.

Festival days are few and far between in modern society but they still serve social cohesion and provide the populace with a sort of release, a chance breather from the everyday doldrums most of us experience.

It was the same in the ancient world, except there were far more festivals throughout the year, each usually tied to a particular deity or event such as the harvest. In fact, there were so many religious festivals in ancient Greece and Rome that it is near impossible to keep track of them all, of the practices and rituals that accompanied each. It went far beyond the guzzling of beer and the overhead burst of pyrotechnics.

Ruins of Elefsina

Whether it was something as big and mysterious as the Elefsinian Mysteries in honour of Demeter and Persephone or something as seemingly small as celebrating a tiny shrine, these festivals and celebrations were essential acts in the life of ancient societies. Ancient Rome in particular had a never-ending agenda of sacred festivals. The imperial event planners must have been hard workers! What is fascinating for me is that even today, we have the rough dates of many festivals in ancient Rome due to the vast array of primary sources.

Statue of Apollo, Olympia

Traditionally, from about July 6-13, for instance, ran the ancient Roman festival of the Ludi Apollonares or, the Games of Apollo. The Games of Apollo, first held when Sulla was Praetor in 212 B.C., had been intended as a one-time event but became an annual celebration after the plague of 208 B.C. to honour Apollo who was also a god of healing. The games included equestrian competitions and stage performances which were followed by special markets and fairs. However, from a popular point of view, they were of somewhat less interest than other games because they only included one day of races in the Circus. Less popular meant less funding from a political point of view, but they were certainly no less important from a religious point of view.

The Pythia

Not only was Apollo the god of light and art, he was also the god of healing and of prophecy. It was his oracle, the Sibyl of Cumae, who uttered a series of prophecies on the future of Rome and its people in what is known as the Sibylline Books. These prophecies were sacred to Rome, stored in the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter and then in the Temple of Apollo, built by Augustus, on the Palatine Hill.

The celebration of festivals in the ancient world is extremely interesting to look at and, indeed, to write about. Festivals can provide a vivid backdrop to any novel or short story.

This weekend, on July 7 and 8, in honour of the god of art and prophecy, and to mark the Ludi Apollinares, there will be a special promotion of Children of Apollo, Book I of the Eagles and Dragons series. Stay tuned!

For those among you interested in prophecy and the Sibyl of Cumae, you won’t want to miss the next instalment of The World of Children of Apollo. Coming this weekend.

For now, here’s to health and light, creativity and all that might be. 

Olympic History Lives On!

Well, the Summer Olympiad is almost upon us and for me, this is a time for getting into the spirit of Olympic competition. The greatest athletes in the world will push themselves to the limits of physical and mental strength and endurance in honour of their gods, their countries, their people, and themselves.

Sure, every athlete may not be making an offering to Olympian Zeus prior to competing – times have changed as the wheel of history and belief has turned over the centuries – but, aside from the wonderful array of cultures competing, there are some Olympic aspects, events, that have survived the passage of time.

A recent article by the BBC (click here to read the article) compares the ancient and modern Olympic games, looks at the aspects of the games that are different, and those that are the same. For one thing, in the ancient Olympics, women were not permitted to watch or compete in the games. One of the unfortunate realities of ancient Greece was, of course, the low position of women on the social scale. If there had been a Celtic Olympiad however, the women would have been right in there bloodying the men! Interestingly, one exception in which women were permitted to be involved was in the equestrian events as owners of horses. The article references the first mention of a victorious team being owned by a Spartan princess. Now that sounds like a fantastic story!

Artist Impression of
the Statue of Zeus
Olympia

The original footrace was the 200M dash which, of course, carries on to this day. Having been a competitor in that event when I was in school, it might have been cool to know the history behind it. Gym teachers, take note! Other events that have stood the test of time are the javelin, the discus, standing long jump and wrestling. Pankration has gone the way of UFC rather than the Olympics and no longer do we see runners in hoplite gear running down the stadium lanes. The historian in me thinks that would be a great one to reinstate. If not that, how about bringing back chariot racing? Tell me the crowd wouldn't thrill to see teams of four-horse chariots thundering past!

Olympic history is one of the most fascinating topics of ancient Greek studies. Should you ever get the chance to visit ancient Olympia, do it. It is a site unlike any other, a truly ancient place that is blanketed in peace. When the games were on, wars stopped, and competition honoured the gods that watched over them all.

This month, when the Olympiad returns to us, when the athletes of the world come together in friendly competition, I doubt that the wars of the world will cease, at least of the space of the Games. It is however, a thing to hope for. 

Theoi (An In-Dreams Story)

Greetings short story lovers. I just wanted to draw your attention to a new short story that I have written and which you can read for free on Wattpad. Just click the link for Theoi on the right side of this blog under 'Free Short Stories'. While on Wattpad, be sure to check out my two previous stories, The Sea Released, and Nex (or, The Warrior Named for Death). All are a bit different but folks seem to have enjoyed them a fair bit. Thanks for all the great feedback! Happy reading.

Raise the Bones!

A relic in Rome

Last week I read about an interesting discovery in Bulgaria. Apparently, archaeologists believe they may have found skeletal remains belonging to St. John the Baptist. The bones were discovered in the crypt of a church on the island of Sveti Ivan (St. John).

DNA and radio carbon tests have shown the date of the bones to be from the early 1^st century A.D. and confirmed that the bones are of a middle-eastern man. Now, apart from gender, geographical region and approximate historic period, there is no other reason to assume the bones belong to St. John the Baptist. There is talk that the knucklebone was from the very hand that baptized Christ. To read the full article, click Here.

Cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria where
supposed remains of St. John the
Baptist reside

Now this got me to thinking about how big a role holy relics, or other items associated with inspiring people throughout history, have played. Indeed, wars have been fought for such things, people have overcome illness, paralysis, have completely turned their lives around after having touched or seen a relic, stood in a place associated with a specific religious figure, god, goddess or hero.

What is it about these associations that inspire people so?

Whether it is in creating art or doctrine, leading a people or helping oneself overcome adversity, inspiration is something that exists, happens, on many levels. There are those who believe firmly in relics and their power, or the power of place. And there are those who have profited without remorse over the ages. In the medieval period, saints’ relics were big business. Relics were a huge medieval driver for tourism – pilgrims meant customers, and that meant money. Souvenirs were always available; it is said that there were enough pieces of the true cross to create a small forest!

The Jesus Grilled Cheese

But, does it really matter? That is not for me to say. What I have observed in my studies is that if inspired by something as little as a knuckle bone, or something as big as an entire church, people have turned from evil to good and sometimes, sadly, the other way around. The history of the Crusades is full of such contrasts.

Perhaps it is human nature to want to be, feel, closer to one’s idols, to want to feel less small, less alone and insignificant in this world?

We all hold different things sacred in our hearts and that often comes through in our actions, our desires, our art. Some of it is odd to outsiders. I confess that I did not understand the appeal one person felt when they spent $25,0000 on William Shatner’s kidney stone. Granted, it was for charity. Others have seen the Christus in a grilled cheese sandwich. Be it a saint’s bone, a lonely rock on the side of a mountain, a cave or a grove of trees, sanctity often is in the eye of the beholder. It is no wonder that so much art reflects this very thing.

William Shatner's Kidney Stone

How Soldiers Die - Ancient vs. Modern Warfare

Artist Impression of Spartan Warriors
Battle of Thermopylae

As an author of historical fiction set in the ancient world, I write a lot about soldiers. I also write about and research the things that might tie a group of men together or cause dissention in their ranks. There is always an element of the good and heroic, the bad and hateful. Soldiers are humans who have been placed in extreme circumstances and the behaviours that arise out of those circumstances are fascinating, inspiring and trying. The horrors and glories of war in the ancient world provide a rich canvas to be sure.

I listened to an interview recently with author, Michael Stephenson, whose new book, How Soldiers Die, A History of Combat Deaths, was discussed recently on NPR. Because writing is largely a study in human nature and the behaviour of characters, I was particularly interested in Mr. Stephenson’s views of how soldiers fight and die and how they deal with the experience of combat.

Artist Impression of
Celtic Warriors in Battle

When I compare war in the ancient world to war in the age of gun powder, the romantic in me tends to think of the former as much more heroic. How brave it was to stand in the front ranks with your brothers, shield to shield against the front ranks of an enemy. They would have been a sword’s length away and you would have been able to see the facial features of the man you were trying to kill, the man who was in turn, trying to kill you. With the invention of gun powder (something I still see as a tragic turn of events in world history), it meant that truly brave, heroic warriors were able to be killed by enemies at a distance.

Tank in Afghanistan

Mr. Stephenson highlights this as a central difference between combat in the ancient and early medieval worlds to combat in the age of firearms and then to combat involving modern technologies where soldiers rarely see their enemies. It is the discussion of fighting an impersonal, faceless war that is particularly intriguing and telling. The question of how fighting a faceless war affects the soldiers is one with various answers, depending on who you are talking to. In the radio interview, some Viet Nam, Gulf War and Afghanistan veterans call in to give their perspectives, including on the rituals, abhorrent or not, that can keep a unit of men closely knit.

Hector and Achilles
in Single Combat

I do not pretend to know the feelings of those fighting in modern wars, as most of what I know comes from the media, like most people. I do know people who have lost loved ones who served, who have felt the resultant pain. In the past, songs would have been sung of heroes who faced down their enemies sword to sword on the battlefield before thousands of others. Whether it is Hector and Achilles, or Leonidas and the 300 Spartans, songs are still sung of them, stories told. But who will sing songs or tell stories of the individuals who are blown away by a roadside bomb or taken out by a drone controlled by a joystick hundreds or thousands of miles away?

As the title of Mr. Stephenson’s books says, soldiers die. I believe it is important in fiction to relay that. It does not need to be overly graphic in my opinion but, neither should it be bloodless. George R.R. Martin shows us that war in a medieval setting is anything but bloodless and he describes it to good effect to the point where you can smell the terror of battle and its aftermath. Men are maimed and do not always emerge from battle as shining as when they entered it.

'Faceless' Drone

Soldiers are human beings and when it comes to historical fiction they should entail all sorts, from the truly chivalrous to honourless scoundrels and everything in between. In the end, the heroes and their deeds, and those who perform acts of selfless courage, will stand out.

It is important to remember, whether tales from Thermopylae and Marathon to the Somme, Normandy and Afghanistan. Soldiers deserve support for their acts of courage, not for the crimes of a few or the extremely poor decisions of the politicians who sent them into battle for their own greed.

Artist Impression of
Armoured Knight

I look forward to reading Mr. Stephenson’s book and gaining some more insight and a new perspective on what soldiers face in combat. Take five minutes to listen to the interview in NPR, here, and check out the book. I know I will.

My fiction recommendations for ancient and medieval war and the warrior ethic are many indeed so, here are a few authors and ancient works that spring to mind immediately: Glyn Iliffe (Odysseus series), Steven Pressfield (Gates of Fire), David Gemmel (Troy series), The Song of Roland (Medieval text about the brave rear guard action of Charlemagne’s army) and, Aneirin’s Y Gododdin (heroic poem about the about the Britons’ last stand against Saxon invaders). There are, of course many more. Happy reading and glory to the brave!

10 Tips for Surviving in the Roman Empire

Lucius Metellus Anguis shares some important survival tips in this guest post on the Writing Daze web site. Head on over and check it out. It could save your life!

10 Tips for Surviving in the Roman Empire