tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27792688873595544142024-03-05T19:01:00.271-08:00Chicken ScratchBecause that's what my handwriting looks like. Bummer.Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-41705509191872181852020-10-30T11:30:00.000-07:002020-10-30T11:30:52.937-07:00The Shrinking Bikini<p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>A Short Short Story</b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3YfyCIb4D5pnkaakFWFmu4koyA61yG1C0gYk9_te8Xpa-7F6SyGGv_xu94vOQPubQ5OxYdzF8mPJCrgxi1flfWdUF9BtZSGopIRffkLEYTW5oZ4bbECJaW9LamcJXOjtV5-ZcRN9oic/s266/Bikini+rear+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3YfyCIb4D5pnkaakFWFmu4koyA61yG1C0gYk9_te8Xpa-7F6SyGGv_xu94vOQPubQ5OxYdzF8mPJCrgxi1flfWdUF9BtZSGopIRffkLEYTW5oZ4bbECJaW9LamcJXOjtV5-ZcRN9oic/s0/Bikini+rear+view.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">She said she never went to the beach, so why was she standing over me dripping salt water on my <i>don't</i> <i>get it wet 'cause it'll shrink</i> designer bikini? <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>I looked past her to the water's edge where Kevin waved and started up the beach toward us.</span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>She'd warned me to leave Kevin alone and I'd convinced her I wasn't seeing him any more. She had a vicious temper and she'd kill me once she learned I'd lied.</span><br /></span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>So I did the only thing I could. I jumped up off my beach towel and sprinted past an open-mouthed Kevin. I hit the surf, knowing my darned bikini would only be fit for a Barbie doll when I came out of the water.</span><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">But I was a coward and I left Kevin to face the wrath of his mother on his own.</span></span><br /></span></span></p>Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-9407241131132354702015-10-03T17:12:00.001-07:002015-10-04T11:37:27.017-07:00Book Review of A LONG TIME GONE by Karen White<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie03eyrtAsTZXuTbvV67wsqwiHGYTJ2xvD-HlaM-08ShMG7F3U31TCgHcwrjZfQYg-mcWKBUbls59KAEdr7V4aMxh6q3AjMp2jygvLdfyHh_LJG658XUSaLXYhDngasWSHHpktew9M-BA/s1600/a+long+time+gone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie03eyrtAsTZXuTbvV67wsqwiHGYTJ2xvD-HlaM-08ShMG7F3U31TCgHcwrjZfQYg-mcWKBUbls59KAEdr7V4aMxh6q3AjMp2jygvLdfyHh_LJG658XUSaLXYhDngasWSHHpktew9M-BA/s400/a+long+time+gone.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<em><u></u></em><br />
<br />
<em><u>a long time gone</u></em> is the story of the Walker women of Mississippi. It centers<br />
around present day Walker woman, Vivien, childless and abandoned by her husband, and 1920s Walker woman, Adelaide, Vivien's great grandmother.<br />
<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/AVvXsEhwamg6zSVGUvaQuuha4LBZkrKVmuR93EhYft-mSCnfEFN7egR7iFHFb8N-oVhu7DWBS63P3jAdKmRcbQevWHDVuMZ8xVBmVnv2O6kOU0_Hfci0Ebq6QUJ_EJdPpjz9kLJcF6codCSrvz0/s1600/Upper+Mississippi+River.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwamg6zSVGUvaQuuha4LBZkrKVmuR93EhYft-mSCnfEFN7egR7iFHFb8N-oVhu7DWBS63P3jAdKmRcbQevWHDVuMZ8xVBmVnv2O6kOU0_Hfci0Ebq6QUJ_EJdPpjz9kLJcF6codCSrvz0/s400/Upper+Mississippi+River.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Upper Mississippi River</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Everyone has their own reasons for choosing a book. I love a mystery and was first attracted to the puzzle found in the back blurb. When an ancient cypress growing toward the rear of Walker property is hit by lightning, the old tree keels over exposing roots with a grisly secret tangled amongst them - the long buried body of an unknown woman. I wanted to find out who she was and why she was buried there. And so I began to read.<br />
<br />
I was drawn in by the setting - where it took place and when it took place. I looked up the area to learn something about Indian Mound, Mississippi. After a bit of research I found that Indian Mound was a fictional town. (correct me if I'm wrong) However, I also learned that Mississippian culture had been a <em>mound-building</em> Native American civilization from about 800 to 1600AD. Clever.<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/AVvXsEhG6Zkd82bFoiPe7t7k4Ky9zFleUD-NNLaBvHK6PgeqZF8ikciw7TKvBk6yEsm6KP3i9vRS-y_ZcROZCPmZ6MVLy_4fl8DspVwUx604H4-FiPQaXM9gmxiGOzEx-Y86YkaZ0Kjrf-vUJwc/s1600/Monks+Mound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6Zkd82bFoiPe7t7k4Ky9zFleUD-NNLaBvHK6PgeqZF8ikciw7TKvBk6yEsm6KP3i9vRS-y_ZcROZCPmZ6MVLy_4fl8DspVwUx604H4-FiPQaXM9gmxiGOzEx-Y86YkaZ0Kjrf-vUJwc/s320/Monks+Mound.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Monks Mound</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The roots to the identity of the unknown woman buried on Walker land stretched all the way back to the 1920s and prohibition. The 18th Amendment banned the sale, production, importation, and transportation of intoxicating liquors. Prohibition was supposed to reduce crime but it backfired horribly. Tell people they can't have something and they suddenly develop an insatiable desire for it and will get it any way they can.<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/AVvXsEgYxkEtCOn4zNfSFPgym85pSsY7uF7f6fmniEtXD49fWtvjduMHHLvQDaERJ2BemMKJaHtMQZMEhAVdBDMWPDjAsiSbTFCsAyzjaNybtLkqQuLwD15DnTgNRAL7TU4E2qcy7D_KlS3b68w/s1600/prohibition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxkEtCOn4zNfSFPgym85pSsY7uF7f6fmniEtXD49fWtvjduMHHLvQDaERJ2BemMKJaHtMQZMEhAVdBDMWPDjAsiSbTFCsAyzjaNybtLkqQuLwD15DnTgNRAL7TU4E2qcy7D_KlS3b68w/s320/prohibition.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Prohibition</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Rebellion against prohibition gave rise to bootlegging. Smuggling the illegal alcohol became big business and bootleggers used bribery, armed guards and medical licenses to circumvent the law.<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/AVvXsEg5DZJkXz335JGEO1Q9926Qq7pWr08Eaw4Yn5b70Tzh9-rPDzQytFXM-Y7PU24su3EHgogDSjD28nNjPamv9lTHnZUhbECyzaHoFLoKTVeFbHFoCNw29mKUc-LWj3ef2WtHnk4AB-Z0Yro/s1600/bootleggers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DZJkXz335JGEO1Q9926Qq7pWr08Eaw4Yn5b70Tzh9-rPDzQytFXM-Y7PU24su3EHgogDSjD28nNjPamv9lTHnZUhbECyzaHoFLoKTVeFbHFoCNw29mKUc-LWj3ef2WtHnk4AB-Z0Yro/s320/bootleggers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bootleggers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
With fortunes to be made, bootlegging attracted a huge criminal element and gangsters fought to control local bootlegging activities. Ruthless criminals like Al Capone did not stop at intimidation and murder to maintain dominance in this lucrative business. <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/AVvXsEjh61y7n0cJq14QnTfbZGraSMcqi6XtvAr3Zn2DMLUkYb_dlxVvjs_y-oUS49I42PzX7GIOUx__nOFA9DK_v-TuZFFtaafVK-0RfE7rWmYPgwxUMKXJya9AZy2enriWgzOAFs_dqmCiEr0/s1600/Al_Capone_in_1930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh61y7n0cJq14QnTfbZGraSMcqi6XtvAr3Zn2DMLUkYb_dlxVvjs_y-oUS49I42PzX7GIOUx__nOFA9DK_v-TuZFFtaafVK-0RfE7rWmYPgwxUMKXJya9AZy2enriWgzOAFs_dqmCiEr0/s320/Al_Capone_in_1930.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Al Capone</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
As if that weren't bad enough, the KKK broadened its message of hate to include Catholics, Jews, foreigners and bootleggers. Their membership surged upwards to almost 8,000,000.<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/AVvXsEhhQr3vm1mZTUkXvf1urtlhv8tAgxG0HvLBjRRRGMTf22k15HAqpl5QgaacWWGEpaLjL-OVipSmeq1j8pu1jKc3ITfuwlj_ovMYTqWjUE5XbRoeMhaWm59QvSRruv7Qvs5lVfaCMhhJZDc/s1600/Klu+Klux+Klan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQr3vm1mZTUkXvf1urtlhv8tAgxG0HvLBjRRRGMTf22k15HAqpl5QgaacWWGEpaLjL-OVipSmeq1j8pu1jKc3ITfuwlj_ovMYTqWjUE5XbRoeMhaWm59QvSRruv7Qvs5lVfaCMhhJZDc/s320/Klu+Klux+Klan.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Klu Klux Klan</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_1299656820"></span><span id="goog_1299656821"></span><br />
<br />
Bootlegging, gangsters and the KKK invaded the lives of normal law-abiding men and women with disastrous results and the characters in <em><u>a long</u></em> <em><u>time gone</u></em> were no exception.<br />
<br />
The more time I spent in the 1920s, the more attached I became to Adelaide and her story and the more concerned I was that events from this dangerous period had spread their pernicious roots into the present.<br />
<br />
When the identity of the woman under cypress tree was revealed I'd either be relieved or despondent. My anxiety kept me turning pages.<br />
<br />
If you've enjoyed Kate Morton's, <em>the Secret Keeper </em>and<em> the Forgotten Garden</em>, you will enjoy <em><u>a long time gone</u></em> as well. Although a quicker read, <em><u>a long time gone</u></em> is a poignant story that will stay with you well after you've said goodbye to the Walker women of Indian Mound, Mississippi. A five star read for sure.Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-31836784610881041932014-05-21T10:37:00.001-07:002014-05-21T10:48:08.963-07:00Trials and triumphs of growing grapes in a cold climate<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/AVvXsEgXke40sN4McGB9BJhWEeqlgYLacQFBv4L_iEZUr6ssG13QFeMpPB9atv5xe7MUYJogz0vJN_o07f-H41Dw1kebpTs9sLH_pD04s4aiJYVEc-r-jk8U7Up-ZdaTtqp6F-qXJ4D9bIyyqe8/s1600/Valiant+grape+cluster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXke40sN4McGB9BJhWEeqlgYLacQFBv4L_iEZUr6ssG13QFeMpPB9atv5xe7MUYJogz0vJN_o07f-H41Dw1kebpTs9sLH_pD04s4aiJYVEc-r-jk8U7Up-ZdaTtqp6F-qXJ4D9bIyyqe8/s1600/Valiant+grape+cluster.jpg" height="400" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valiant grape cluster. Don't they look yummy!<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">attribution: </span><a href="http://www.sdstate.edu/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">www.sdstate.edu</span></a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I started testing this variety in our cold climate because I was assured they'd be fine. My husband made a trellis system for me and I planted them at the end of our horse field then surrounded them with some chicken wire. I was concerned the horses might try nibbling on the grape vines but I could have saved myself the trouble. They weren't all that interested.<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/AVvXsEjwxNEcrhIx7vtmhqhM0OedY3IMDp1PKjsKtwdnu0vyKEfX3D4agV3kHTDszcP1q_ftRckheEVscMixV95xBz9faqBN_rxi_8PH9nzchhqFg0KNSwrbCrzsSqIa1jCCVxoj4eZaCq6I-P4/s1600/P6150017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxNEcrhIx7vtmhqhM0OedY3IMDp1PKjsKtwdnu0vyKEfX3D4agV3kHTDszcP1q_ftRckheEVscMixV95xBz9faqBN_rxi_8PH9nzchhqFg0KNSwrbCrzsSqIa1jCCVxoj4eZaCq6I-P4/s1600/P6150017.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom doesn't like grapes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The grapes didn't do very well. Between pests, and what I later learned was a cold 'well' right where I'd planted them, they were pretty pitiful. So I took some cuttings and started more in the greenhouse. These did very nicely and produced a respectable number of sweet clusters. They really <em>do</em> taste a lot like a Concord grape.<br />
<br />
Well, to make a long story short, our house burned down, we rebuilt but just couldn't live there with the bad memories, so moved. The place we moved to had a limited growing area and I didn't bother with any grapes the first year. The next year I couldn't stand it any longer and planted a vine outside (didn't have a greenhouse this time). I protected it a bit and thinned the plant to only 3 clusters as per most grape grower instructions. They were nice and sweet when I sampled them but when I came out a few days later to reap my <em>bounty</em> all the clusters were gone.<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/AVvXsEhrRmzQNB3sjk5UZaqOvKRgeWXzS21kEcOpgilsn3cHvirCmsVHUJoGmQzGAwZFivAFJ1Dh5rdiZMz60UE4t8OYaRBxgL1Wwp3vjmutmfuNsKUhQmotIDu91jgfLqNFdkG4tS9L5POLeb0/s1600/foxes+eating+grapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRmzQNB3sjk5UZaqOvKRgeWXzS21kEcOpgilsn3cHvirCmsVHUJoGmQzGAwZFivAFJ1Dh5rdiZMz60UE4t8OYaRBxgL1Wwp3vjmutmfuNsKUhQmotIDu91jgfLqNFdkG4tS9L5POLeb0/s1600/foxes+eating+grapes.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foxes Eating Grapes<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">attribution: </span><a href="http://www.redfoxes.org/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.redfoxes.org</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We live in a fairly rural area so likely a fox or coyote helped themselves. They were nice and neat about it. The vine wasn't damaged in any way so I guess they just sucked off the grapes. Stinkers.</div>
<br />
Before last winter I thought I'd try a light pruning and gave the plant a heavy cover for winter protection. We'll get warm days for a couple of days and then it plunges down as much as 20 degrees the following day - all with no snow cover. I mounded the vine with grass clippings and wood chips as high as I could and then, after attaching the vine pretty solidly to its trellis, I wrapped the unmulched part of the vine in four layers of floating row cover cloth.<br />
<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/AVvXsEg7MWBy5F8CAw3uCsj9MPqfOuNTAJJ5-4-OSkkHNGW7CKlemFWnxwLRBxQy6wFYrvoipW5yN7Ql7TPx0CaDGjVzrdJzwuX5PnHcoX-r2Vh4n4H81d-w-Tap20vHc-V07qNrxCa1tBK7BAI/s1600/Valiant+bud+break.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MWBy5F8CAw3uCsj9MPqfOuNTAJJ5-4-OSkkHNGW7CKlemFWnxwLRBxQy6wFYrvoipW5yN7Ql7TPx0CaDGjVzrdJzwuX5PnHcoX-r2Vh4n4H81d-w-Tap20vHc-V07qNrxCa1tBK7BAI/s1600/Valiant+bud+break.png" height="481" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And...We're Off!<br />
Sadly I'm a lousy photographer so these aren't mine but they look exactly like this.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(attribution: </span><a href="http://www.dakotagarden.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">www.dakotagarden.com</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span><br />
<br />
<div align="left">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Man, did that ever work. I've got over 40 clusters growing on a single, small vine, mostly between 2 and 3 feet off the ground. Now I don't know what to do about thinning the clusters. How far apart should I thin? Ack.</div>
<br />
Guess I'll do a bit of reading to make sure I do it right. Knowing that I can easily grow great vines with just a bit of fuss at the end of the year, I'm going to take as many cuttings as I dare and get my vineyard started!<br />
<br />
Of course, now the vine will be <em>really</em> attractive to the beastie that ate the grapes last year. I've purchased one of those motion detector sprinklers though, so we'll see how they like a squirt of water in the face when they try to steal them.Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-81249322386573527532014-04-27T14:30:00.001-07:002014-04-27T14:44:07.647-07:00When Your Dog is Dumber Than a Bag of Hammers<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/AVvXsEiphD2sJ6XOxKqKmzfOiqwric-WtgIKvJP5TIWdb_WOPHD_GuCWyZlKUj-mGFbAkJyQnKV_I4LJ_c_acBhtbQP7Xt8fGschGcM9Xwk2oq_Py-zQDNuk9taxa0Z_D-f7Yes8COd70hziLto/s1600/2014-04-12+11.38.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphD2sJ6XOxKqKmzfOiqwric-WtgIKvJP5TIWdb_WOPHD_GuCWyZlKUj-mGFbAkJyQnKV_I4LJ_c_acBhtbQP7Xt8fGschGcM9Xwk2oq_Py-zQDNuk9taxa0Z_D-f7Yes8COd70hziLto/s1600/2014-04-12+11.38.43.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Okay, so Spencer is basically a pretty smart little dog. He can send a text just as well as the next guy and he knows how to give you the 'ain't I the cutest thing' look to get pretty much anything he wants.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TYKmVIMfQTLQL9vcUDczyQMMg82vnhUt8gzhmhZdj_jgm3E9mLb410Y2lj08aOnK3TDfJaq8RLoAmA_EJcb5f8-VMmvnlRJSQ-7Hyn4YMz_pduSfIJLjpjfnJ2oEMYhc8-Hqanu7Iiw/s1600/20140328_174152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TYKmVIMfQTLQL9vcUDczyQMMg82vnhUt8gzhmhZdj_jgm3E9mLb410Y2lj08aOnK3TDfJaq8RLoAmA_EJcb5f8-VMmvnlRJSQ-7Hyn4YMz_pduSfIJLjpjfnJ2oEMYhc8-Hqanu7Iiw/s1600/20140328_174152.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
But he's a chewer. Generally he saves his chewing for the appropriate chew toy but he branched out when no one was looking and went on to bigger and better choices. I USED to have a pair of slippers something like this. Got them for Christmas last year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSV-NBkoVMF9Mk2BQwGJ6Iwf6YSrfRsteMXEdn4m-yA5nv6C9NclYLvwwPCfARTe5LQ-0kGf3-VAO_qS2bt4HkksEHZC-uUnUnH1xAdCoOsEfMPEGubxdCCwuXl92xXKyPq0N6HLM4Jk/s1600/slippers+with+pom+poms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSV-NBkoVMF9Mk2BQwGJ6Iwf6YSrfRsteMXEdn4m-yA5nv6C9NclYLvwwPCfARTe5LQ-0kGf3-VAO_qS2bt4HkksEHZC-uUnUnH1xAdCoOsEfMPEGubxdCCwuXl92xXKyPq0N6HLM4Jk/s1600/slippers+with+pom+poms.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Note the pom poms. A couple of months ago my daughter said, "Hey mom, what happened to your slippers?" I looked down and a pom pom was missing off of one of them. I was pretty sure I knew who the culprit was. Spencer's the only dog in the house and neither my husband nor I had taken to secretly eating pom poms. We waited to see what would happen. Spencer didn't get sick and didn't seem to rid himself of the pom pom in the normal way so I forgot about it, after taking the precaution of removing the rest of the pom poms.<br />
<br />
About a month ago Spencer started throwing up. He was miserable. Took him to the veterinarian. She x-rayed him and found the pom pom stuck in his intestinal tract. Three days and $2,000.00 later he came home minus the pom pom (which the vet put in a baggie to show us - ick) plus a long batch of staples on his stomach. We took to calling him 'zipper belly'.<br />
<br />
He was healing up nicely and all seemed well but about two weeks after that we noticed that his Kong Wubba, exactly like these, was missing a leg. Now these toys are extremely durable. I can barely cut off the legs with heavy-duty scissors when they get a bit tattered.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oUxCHfyNt39brfGJ__MbkylE8OPlZVSdP85cggCV15duZUnbUuiVEvmDiqxsgMUIFTy2byYwLFBDeODEWG94PRTXJdbOgKm2izr5a6Te3U7f7yWM9E4DCDfmTaa3jpNwDgktqforecs/s1600/Kong+Dog+Toy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oUxCHfyNt39brfGJ__MbkylE8OPlZVSdP85cggCV15duZUnbUuiVEvmDiqxsgMUIFTy2byYwLFBDeODEWG94PRTXJdbOgKm2izr5a6Te3U7f7yWM9E4DCDfmTaa3jpNwDgktqforecs/s1600/Kong+Dog+Toy.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Again we waited. We couldn't believe Spencer had managed to get off one of the legs and if he had, how on earth had he swallowed it? But once again he became lethargic and stopped eating and drinking. Back to the vet we went and he had another x-ray. Sure enough the thing was in there. It made it through the stomach and past the first turn on its way out then got wedged and wouldn't budge. So another three days at the vet and another $2,000.00. <br />
<br />
My husband said, that's it. If he does anything like this again, it'll be the last thing he does. But hubby is as big a push-over as I am so I'm not too worried.<br />
<br />
Spencer's back to normal now, with more scar tissue on his belly than a major organ transplant patient. And because I doubt he's made the connection between swallowing things he shouldn't and suffering through the ordeal of an operation, he has no toys at all except for a hard rubber ball that can't be swallowed and can't be punctured. His scar is all covered over with hair so no one but us and his groomer know his shame. And he's a still a pretty handsome fellow after all his problems even if he's somewhat lacking in the brains department.<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/AVvXsEhk7i-Qz-Th-oVSrS4AeSTJC847xUNaBOzefa7qeqSIwW3RZujcyCWs_gU2RBEujN5JNYXZU1mxt0hosMHRmJgIByXpITw04ifbNMgbMXuefYIepWyB9c-VKZoYsvB-CdmJ3RWVmH5agpo/s1600/20131116_075508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7i-Qz-Th-oVSrS4AeSTJC847xUNaBOzefa7qeqSIwW3RZujcyCWs_gU2RBEujN5JNYXZU1mxt0hosMHRmJgIByXpITw04ifbNMgbMXuefYIepWyB9c-VKZoYsvB-CdmJ3RWVmH5agpo/s1600/20131116_075508.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Man, this bow tie is <strong>strangling</strong> me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-12382334486151257632014-03-31T15:34:00.002-07:002014-03-31T15:34:54.798-07:00Positive Affirmation Babylonian Style<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/AVvXsEit7eTJ0zMhIFp-Q2AATn4Q3XajPsz8gfrE-jXJlaQoJyJOLDYO-ts4v45HiC0AZb3iWzcokvOO_zvlcHQz7Es1hJ_KoqSDzK0ugMxpz9TaItdXKpytgIGWo3gaRQRi1rYpG7HVclSMDBk/s1600/ruins+of+ancient+Babylon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7eTJ0zMhIFp-Q2AATn4Q3XajPsz8gfrE-jXJlaQoJyJOLDYO-ts4v45HiC0AZb3iWzcokvOO_zvlcHQz7Es1hJ_KoqSDzK0ugMxpz9TaItdXKpytgIGWo3gaRQRi1rYpG7HVclSMDBk/s1600/ruins+of+ancient+Babylon1.jpg" height="301" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ruins of ancient Babylon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Part of late twentieth century 'New Age' thinking, positive affirmation refers to a positive mental attitude accompanied by a carefully worded written statement or 'affirmation', spoken confidently to one's self repeatedly. For example, one can think, write down and say over and over - "I am confident my environment is safe and divinely guarded". According to this thinking, doing so makes the words true.<br />
<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/AVvXsEgKU_5-LNZVu3yFAQ3Lq-R3TaIF3C-GEbxI9IbLIXAdq1I0dVAc_i-FOLBa3MFC9ghafwWeKI0mJIGDbOiFbgC2-zGEtSHHeMrbO5h9pJQvd5eMJTVeMeEe8P9LMOoFjW55xV7dy7W9U6c/s1600/Processional+Way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKU_5-LNZVu3yFAQ3Lq-R3TaIF3C-GEbxI9IbLIXAdq1I0dVAc_i-FOLBa3MFC9ghafwWeKI0mJIGDbOiFbgC2-zGEtSHHeMrbO5h9pJQvd5eMJTVeMeEe8P9LMOoFjW55xV7dy7W9U6c/s1600/Processional+Way.jpg" height="299" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Processional Way, <em>Aibur-shabu</em>: attribution: Jackie Craven</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
But there's nothing new about positive affirmation. The ancient Babylonians practiced positive affirmation to an even greater degree. The 'doctrine of the name' asserted that as long as anything had no name, it didn't exist. Once named, the name of the object or person was an image or representation of it much like a shadow or reflection is a representation.<br />
<br />
Speaking the name <em>can evoke the almost perpetual power that the knowledge of the name confers, though it is limited in practice by the impossibility of perpetual repetition.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (1)</span></em><br />
<br />
Since giving the name and speaking the name wasn't sufficiently powerful, writing it down could project the name indefinitely, giving it perpetuating power. That is why a single proper name came to be <em>the god Ningirsu, in the temple of Uruk, spoke favourably on the subject of Urukagina with the goddess Baba. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(1)</span></em><br />
<br />
Anyone who repeated his name reinforced the action described, causing benefit to the man himself. City gates and walls in Babylon would have names designed to ensure good influences for the city, like, <em>Bel hath built it, Bel hath shown it favour.</em> <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/AVvXsEggJQqRHqAZlGVqFQHnMiAUFo8SQFeh7gkedcbHx0i7eciqqrsiEIKLo5L21VV0OTlw3K2l04A41LuC2t8eBXS5YW_J2atnVUr6rn81jeRoTjTDAvxp53wpvLX_Jc-H4m52ib7cfg6BZ18/s1600/god+Marduk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJQqRHqAZlGVqFQHnMiAUFo8SQFeh7gkedcbHx0i7eciqqrsiEIKLo5L21VV0OTlw3K2l04A41LuC2t8eBXS5YW_J2atnVUr6rn81jeRoTjTDAvxp53wpvLX_Jc-H4m52ib7cfg6BZ18/s1600/god+Marduk.jpg" height="400" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">god Marduk: attribution Templodeapolo.net</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The famous Processional Way in Babylon bore the name <em>Aibur-shabu</em> which meant 'the enemy shall never pass'. King Nebuchadrezzar's own name meant 'O god Nabu, preserve/defend my firstborn son'. Nabu is the Babylonian diety of wisdom and son of the god Marduk, Babylon's patron god. Powerful stuff.<br />
<br />
Every time a person used the proper names for people or objects they reinforced the positive affirmation so not only could an individual benefit himself by speaking his own affirmation, so could anyone using the name, affirmation being built right into the name.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, positive affirmation wasn't too effective for the Babylonians. The confident positive affirmation given to the Processional Way by King Nebuchadrezzar, <em>the enemy shall never pass</em>, proved unsuccessful. In 539 BC the enemy definitely passed over the Processional Way, overthrew the government of Babylon and took the city, putting an end to the neo-Babylonian empire.<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/AVvXsEhGAz7d_jzs8Sgrky2QmKhO76d8Ovz9Z1QOk-mzY8yxeSTLQianR4erCfzGOR9Dji1_7pG4VeRuS5WtsPgJxUsPlMziimEyeLQrjxHhxRJ2XqShSAq_D241l0_08-V0btjlgWwIFNHKL8Y/s1600/Pazuzu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAz7d_jzs8Sgrky2QmKhO76d8Ovz9Z1QOk-mzY8yxeSTLQianR4erCfzGOR9Dji1_7pG4VeRuS5WtsPgJxUsPlMziimEyeLQrjxHhxRJ2XqShSAq_D241l0_08-V0btjlgWwIFNHKL8Y/s1600/Pazuzu.jpg" height="400" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Demon Pazuzu: Although himself an evil spirit, he drove away other evil spirits and was frequently buried beneath household threshholds for protection: Wikimedia Commons</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<em>(<span style="font-size: xx-small;">1) Everyday Life in Babylon and Assyria</span></em><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> by Georges Contenau</span>Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-40496753445955901942014-03-24T15:11:00.000-07:002014-03-25T08:16:53.676-07:00Marriage in Ancient Babylon<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/AVvXsEiNF0lgvw7-8PD4bkjAkdfXH0m3z2aBZNZfdcOFRLRJGMJdMIRzrMuGGo27WnJXoq4gV59e7n_GLfRsARmKXtZFC3bN02Wyx89wko02jZe_TRNfy_vEc-ltxL0KX26CbaPx26hwGCoB58o/s1600/selling+women+in+ancient+babylon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNF0lgvw7-8PD4bkjAkdfXH0m3z2aBZNZfdcOFRLRJGMJdMIRzrMuGGo27WnJXoq4gV59e7n_GLfRsARmKXtZFC3bN02Wyx89wko02jZe_TRNfy_vEc-ltxL0KX26CbaPx26hwGCoB58o/s1600/selling+women+in+ancient+babylon2.jpg" height="353" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">selling women in ancient Babylon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Generally, marriage in ancient Babylon was monogamous, although secondary wives could be chosen from among the slaves, particularly if the first wife was barren or too ill to satisfy her marital obligations. Both custom and law allowed the barren wife to supply a slave-girl as her surrogate to bear children. The resulting children were legally considered the wife's children. A childless wife could also adopt a second woman as her sister and permit her to marry her husband.<br />
<br />
Until the time of her marriage a girl was under the protection of her father. He was free to marry her to whomever he thought fit and she was dependent on him for getting married. If her father died, her brothers took over his responsibility. If she was in service in another household as security for a debt of her father's, the creditor was only free to dispose of her as he liked if she had neither father nor brothers. In theory, wives were not bought and sold but there are texts which make it clear that purchase in a disguised form did in fact take place. One would think a girl would prefer to remain single rather than be forced into marriage, particularly marriage with an undesirable partner. But, according to the thinking of the time, it was a woman's 'destiny' to marry and provide sons to perpetuate the male line of her husband's family and it was a duty most women took seriously.<br />
<br />
Marriage was preceded by a ceremony of betrothal. The girl's future husband poured perfume on her head and brought her presents. After this small ceremony, although she could remain in the home of her parents if young, she was considered a full member of her future husband's family; so much so that if he died she would marry one of his brothers or if he had no brothers, one of his near relatives. <br />
<br />
Both families brought a financial investment to the table - the groom's family were contracted to provide a bride-price in silver and the bride's family were contracted to provide a dowry of equal value. The dowry consisted of household items, silver rings, slaves and even fields. It could also include furniture, textiles and jewelry. Not infrequently the dowry included the bed used to consummate the marriage. Both the bride-price and the dowry could be paid in installments until the first child was born, at which time the balance of both payments was due and the marriage was legally finalized.<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/AVvXsEh7rRFGl8OMuj3ZRXAjgp5g2aDZYBM0kn7RSyfey4cGAXLr8dJ4gkoGCMu1zcp5T8-kS-340zhs6t3xpPFEX7vE4DstjC2C6hPaM41q-f3OUF6KFy8UefyNyPF98xYQ3btXjGnrkizKUqw/s1600/prostitute+in+ancient+babylon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rRFGl8OMuj3ZRXAjgp5g2aDZYBM0kn7RSyfey4cGAXLr8dJ4gkoGCMu1zcp5T8-kS-340zhs6t3xpPFEX7vE4DstjC2C6hPaM41q-f3OUF6KFy8UefyNyPF98xYQ3btXjGnrkizKUqw/s1600/prostitute+in+ancient+babylon.png" height="640" width="545" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">prostitute in ancient Babylon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The virginity of the bride was a matter of concern. The 'best men' of the bride were a group of friends who protected her and were responsible for her chastity. After the wedding night it was their responsibility to display 'the bloody sheets'. If the virginity of the bride were in dispute, expert female witnesses were called upon to offer testimony. In one letter from Mari a betrothed girl was pursued by another man. There had been some kissing and intimate touching but the young woman insisted that she did not sin against her betrothed because she had denied the man intercourse. This seemed to be the criteria for establishing whether a woman was raped or seduced, in order to determine culpability.<br />
<br />
The actual marriage was simply a delivery of the wife to her husband. The husband declared, 'she is my wife', in the presence of witnesses and that was that.<br />
<br />
There were, of course, 'specialists' who engaged in what we would call prostitution. Taverns run by alewives were houses of pleasure where men drank, listened to music and had intercourse with prostitutes. The walls of the taproom were decorated with clay plaques of naked women or other erotic scenes. Married women took lovers but it was a dangerous business. While a husband's sexual escapades were punishable only if they seriously harmed a third party, those of the wife and her lover were dealt with much more harshly. If the lovers were caught they were bound together and thrown into the water. The husband could be granted permission to have both parties killed or mutilated. He could cut off his wife's nose and make her lover a eunuch. If the wife told her husband she no longer wanted him, once again, death by drowning and if it were proven that she had been disobedient or a manhunter, breaking up the home and bringing discredit on her husband, you guessed it, she was thrown into the water. Drowning seemed to be a popular judgment.<br />
<br />
There is little to glean from the personal correspondence of ancient Babylonian literature, as they seem to have been fairly modest in expressing their most intimate feelings in letters. However, I don't want to leave you with the idea that marriage was simply a passionless contract so I'll close with a 'medical' text and a poem composed around 1750BC.<br />
<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/AVvXsEj-RabFJ45ol0-uVE7RjFhpCKXoV1vdaLtmR1Dk2ENxUm3QfLRjoG6GlNLNQlYqDcQ9-_4uSO569dgmYv63DMz7lEmhwfhJy_EV2fYgfHzVwuj7s8irF8m0PYxgFmlKQppUmNzO3QsoKrU/s1600/Sumerian+couple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-RabFJ45ol0-uVE7RjFhpCKXoV1vdaLtmR1Dk2ENxUm3QfLRjoG6GlNLNQlYqDcQ9-_4uSO569dgmYv63DMz7lEmhwfhJy_EV2fYgfHzVwuj7s8irF8m0PYxgFmlKQppUmNzO3QsoKrU/s1600/Sumerian+couple.jpg" height="640" width="409" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sumerian couple</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Medical text.<br />
<em>When the patient is continually clearing his throat; is often lost for words; is always talking to himself when he is quite alone, and laughing for no reason in the corners of the fields; is habitually depressed, his throat tight, finds no pleasure in eating or drinking, endlessly repeating, with great sighs, 'Ah! my poor heart! - he is suffering from lovesickness.</em><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<em>Everyday Life in Ancient Mesopotamia</em> by Jean Bottero, pg 102)</span><br />
<br />
Poem of a man who returns to a loving woman he'd previously abandoned.<br />
<em>Yes! You are the only one who matters! Your face is as beautiful as ever! It is as it used to be,</em><br />
<em>When I held you close to me</em><br />
<em>And you rested your head on me! </em><br />
<em>I shall never call you anything but 'Enchanting'</em><br />
<em>And 'Wise' shall be your only title for me!</em><br />
<em>May Ishtar be my witness:</em><br />
<em>Henceforward your rival shall be our enemy!</em><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>(Everyday Life in Ancient Mesopotamia</em> by Jean Bottero, pg 105<em>)</em></span>Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-34914887068083464482014-03-15T16:08:00.000-07:002014-03-15T16:14:29.744-07:00The Great Dragon Dilemma: Should I or Shouldn't I?<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/AVvXsEgfxj-gcLiAmk10Scv1PfQaXNaQPo6hcdsl7jD3u4SFP7E0BjCRuZVGh-CEStBfOeBi3y7H6xAL-8HMzZRTWqJZGKIjsxRNTa-5nQ9WBVEQvPeeICYrSL4hZRpY7_mL8n2z73-q_dRpyE8/s1600/leviathan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxj-gcLiAmk10Scv1PfQaXNaQPo6hcdsl7jD3u4SFP7E0BjCRuZVGh-CEStBfOeBi3y7H6xAL-8HMzZRTWqJZGKIjsxRNTa-5nQ9WBVEQvPeeICYrSL4hZRpY7_mL8n2z73-q_dRpyE8/s1600/leviathan.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm in a bit of a pickle. I'd like to include a dragon of the sea serpent variety in my historical novel set in ancient Babylon. But will readers accept a dragon in historical fiction or will that push it over the edge into fantasy?<br />
<br />
In the Bible, the book of Job has an entire chapter devoted to a sea monster, a leviathan. This enormous creature was a lethal fire-breathing snake-like apex predator without equal and without fear. But did such a beast ever exist?<br />
<br />
Every country has dragons in their mythology and stories of dragons have been passed down through millennia. They must have some basis in reality.<br />
<br />
The <em>Aberdeen Bestiary</em>, written in the early 16th century, describes the dragon as <em>'bigger than all other snakes or all other living things on earth'</em>.<br />
The third century historian, Flavious Philostratus, said about dragons in India and Ethiopia that <em>'the marshes are full of them'</em> and that they were <em>'thirty cubits long'.</em> Pretty darned big. Depending on how you measure a cubit, (18" makes a royal cubit while usual measurement was the length of a forearm) the creature could be as much as 45 feet long!<br />
<br />
Now before you say, not possible, keep in mind that the blue whale runs around 98 feet in length, an African bush elephant measures about 35 feet from trunk to tail and the largest confirmed crocodiles are 20 - 23 feet long. One of my favorite apex predators, the almost extinct Barbary lion, is pretty small in comparison at only 11 feet long but he has a guaranteed spot in my novel.<br />
<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/AVvXsEiJRVKptyzd-o_MKCmSIYLKcj3BOgTFcYcnp0NvARout9F3TP8ziVlj0dndqdDZjWNNiHwqGdVpfB3KkfbDCXsl13H3iiTSs7vAHJEZBja4xqH7N57bd_QQp8TEjmaOqK2XEjpXXQc05_8/s1600/lion+jumping-hunting.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRVKptyzd-o_MKCmSIYLKcj3BOgTFcYcnp0NvARout9F3TP8ziVlj0dndqdDZjWNNiHwqGdVpfB3KkfbDCXsl13H3iiTSs7vAHJEZBja4xqH7N57bd_QQp8TEjmaOqK2XEjpXXQc05_8/s1600/lion+jumping-hunting.png" height="358" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">African Lion</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Dragons are incorporated into much of ancient Babylon's artwork. The Ishtar Gate is ornamented with some pretty cool dragons in glazed-brick relief but they're rather fanciful affairs not actually meant to depict living animals, well at least not as far as we know anyway. They seem to have scaly bodies and snake heads, scorpion tails, the feet of a lion and the talons of a bird of prey.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLy0bYSEQX3uVNRKzxxx6m3hp96XFeBZ56xLgBuDOGSWvO5KpZv-eqaGfiXFDtbYuH1LXDF_jZi040ftm48B3wWB22OGeSnQhFZ5ioDZ-vBInjX8IovZyYVW0YuK8OdjFSkLPv-FT6ghs/s1600/Dragon+head+from+Ishtar+Gate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLy0bYSEQX3uVNRKzxxx6m3hp96XFeBZ56xLgBuDOGSWvO5KpZv-eqaGfiXFDtbYuH1LXDF_jZi040ftm48B3wWB22OGeSnQhFZ5ioDZ-vBInjX8IovZyYVW0YuK8OdjFSkLPv-FT6ghs/s1600/Dragon+head+from+Ishtar+Gate.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
But one of the best 'proofs' I found for water dragons in ancient Babylon is this white limestone boundary-stone housed in the British Museum and recording certain privileges granted to a chariotry captain by Nebuchadrezzar I. This is the front of the stone. You can't see the dragon very well from this view.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwZixqKCJA96S_TS38Faw5jdERcDVKWqefIssuzi-VGFS2mcpJ9KW2392wJvSkSyVGZobikd89B2aZcAglR4DgxehoM750sYE1uKl75cugcwcmv82nRMVBcZ7mB1XNEMYIIpgvBOpBCo/s1600/boundary-stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwZixqKCJA96S_TS38Faw5jdERcDVKWqefIssuzi-VGFS2mcpJ9KW2392wJvSkSyVGZobikd89B2aZcAglR4DgxehoM750sYE1uKl75cugcwcmv82nRMVBcZ7mB1XNEMYIIpgvBOpBCo/s1600/boundary-stone.jpg" height="400" width="233" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
But here's a side view and you can clearly see a thick giant serpent dragon running the length of the stone.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJl7kKGftjCoqGMRTfRtFlihWJACswdXUKbOUEWSivbwQF-N_oAFEgto1Hz2KbIrqqtJtKUoBe0AybKhC59o3IkS5Vv8f22NEpz55ARvoaq2MRm3dfkV2ygHBhK5TXvDPZphMNDDVQAE/s1600/side+view+of+boundary-stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJl7kKGftjCoqGMRTfRtFlihWJACswdXUKbOUEWSivbwQF-N_oAFEgto1Hz2KbIrqqtJtKUoBe0AybKhC59o3IkS5Vv8f22NEpz55ARvoaq2MRm3dfkV2ygHBhK5TXvDPZphMNDDVQAE/s1600/side+view+of+boundary-stone.jpg" height="400" width="290" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Cool, right? So, I'm thinking - maybe a dragon isn't such a far-fetched idea after all.Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-33916027782458097762014-02-06T17:54:00.001-08:002014-02-06T17:54:16.258-08:00Getting the Green Thumbs Ready!I love growing vegetables. Just ordered my seeds for this year and I'm pumped! Can't wait to get them started. I live in a zone 3 short growing season area so have to start a lot of plants indoors and then transplant good-sized seedlings outside after the last frost date. Depending on the plant, I'll sprout my seeds anytime after the beginning of March. I like to sprout them first 'cause I don't like wasting space in seedling trays with seeds that might be duds. I just put the seeds between damp paper towels, seal them in a Ziploc bag and leave them on top of the fridge until they sprout.<br />
<br />
I bought this combo of trays, 12-cell plug insets and 7" high vented dome covers from <a href="http://www.westcoastseeds.com/">West Coast Seeds</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6t58UQHLV8u_tETCOVphZiK28_ualEqusyPGsYtBEpxvUcbodkOe-EPlElA8-VBrfyXWWqttAjTVMktiMkXezYXoYqK3Nx3ltUM_NETrGo2vmBJS0ktwbVt738P5DOEiDosFZiz0moY/s1600/domed+seedling+tray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6t58UQHLV8u_tETCOVphZiK28_ualEqusyPGsYtBEpxvUcbodkOe-EPlElA8-VBrfyXWWqttAjTVMktiMkXezYXoYqK3Nx3ltUM_NETrGo2vmBJS0ktwbVt738P5DOEiDosFZiz0moY/s1600/domed+seedling+tray.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I like these dome covers because they have vents on either end to allow for moisture control. I'm also going to use them out in the garden over any tender young plants that might get too chilly early in the season.<br />
<br />
Last year my husband made me a log raised bed. Mine's buried under several feet of snow but it looks pretty much like this one at <a href="http://www.organicgardening.com/">www.organicgardening.com</a> , just longer and wider. We have a lot of trees on our property and some of them had to be taken down so this was the perfect solution for a couple of the larger ones.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1Tu2i9qwBp_xw-a_z9IniZmbOWuRPwGuxzhK1snf7BTca3EP22sr-wA4W2exeEe4-ZJcgJqP6yszj1uydF2AyVwKRqXB18toS_gf0cI760_B5fOrYPz5DAE3WIP82BZtRGL3yOqGuG0/s1600/log+raised+bed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1Tu2i9qwBp_xw-a_z9IniZmbOWuRPwGuxzhK1snf7BTca3EP22sr-wA4W2exeEe4-ZJcgJqP6yszj1uydF2AyVwKRqXB18toS_gf0cI760_B5fOrYPz5DAE3WIP82BZtRGL3yOqGuG0/s1600/log+raised+bed.png" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Last year I experimented with using ramial wood chips as soil in the raised bed but I was too impatient and didn't let them rot long enough so my poor little plants didn't grow much. The chips use up a lot of nitrogen while they're rotting. Toward the end of the season my vegies perked up and I could tell by their rapid growth (before frost took them) that this method was going to work really well. I have access to plenty of wood chips and will help speed up the rotting process by layering the chips with fresh cut grass so they've got lots of nitrogen to use.<br />
<br />
Hubby's building me a greenhouse too. He built me a beauty at our last place (where our house burned down) This is the only picture I have of it now. All the interior pictures were on the old computer that burned down with the house.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dtziUSP4-BHdHMe8WaxmB7N8nxOP8xFOZ0_I690lpVAJwT7MvY722qYOdRrJslO3PtN8mEkZAhnpUX3cgmq1HNjwEYkBkctkUhM6oJrIqppbZmqUDkuNOk9iEb60jZqr8ID85u4L-Yc/s1600/greenhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dtziUSP4-BHdHMe8WaxmB7N8nxOP8xFOZ0_I690lpVAJwT7MvY722qYOdRrJslO3PtN8mEkZAhnpUX3cgmq1HNjwEYkBkctkUhM6oJrIqppbZmqUDkuNOk9iEb60jZqr8ID85u4L-Yc/s1600/greenhouse.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
It was a great greenhouse. This was taken before the extra bits of plastic were cut out so there's a piece hanging inside. The roof was made of twin-walled polycarbonate panels.The back north wall was solid wood and I grew my grapes on that wall and up over a trellis I made for them so they didn't shade any of the other plants growing in front. The back wall also had automatic vents on either side that opened when the air got too hot inside. It slanted toward the south which was all open pastureland so it got tons of sunlight.<br />
<br />
We've got a less than ideal growing area at our new place. Last year I watched the sun travel across the sky all season so I could figure out where best to put the new greenhouse. Best place is in the dog yard so he'll have to share.<br />
<br />
One of the fun new vegies I'm going to try this year are lemon cucumbers. They look interesting, don't you think?<br />
<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/AVvXsEhiNgouFpn3ackQTEaKG1R60aH-4ElZyzm8plNe3xexEU5Kb8qiS4Doy-6J1nap7C3duWa5CzVIKWfEYxX9s6VlbN_Pvsq1pyK4uh5jYAKdSGgV-HsUJ5riKk5zTzYXaruv25NHolwKQAA/s1600/lemon+cucumber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNgouFpn3ackQTEaKG1R60aH-4ElZyzm8plNe3xexEU5Kb8qiS4Doy-6J1nap7C3duWa5CzVIKWfEYxX9s6VlbN_Pvsq1pyK4uh5jYAKdSGgV-HsUJ5riKk5zTzYXaruv25NHolwKQAA/s1600/lemon+cucumber.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">from Wikimedia commons</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-41766477489821667762014-01-24T15:18:00.002-08:002014-01-24T15:27:12.657-08:00Emergency Power OutageSorry I haven't posted for awhile but we've been going crazy around here. We're contractors for BC Hydro and some severe storms left about 37,000 homes without power farther north of us. So began a mad scramble to restore their power. The downed lines covered a lot of territory, some of it cross country and only accessible with snowmobiles and snowshoes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8gUBr6ODLS0ypuBqwGiJqBkcB02S9e5EOOnknD2jer4g_v9nd9MofXwrYuf9fEVv6vs7G_IeCoNnw4RXjSVpx2B7QVG7tEB9ogNMtYhX9ICAqNGpjqOwP1vQzyjVL7oE4sDcQ5XfT20/s1600/snowstorm3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8gUBr6ODLS0ypuBqwGiJqBkcB02S9e5EOOnknD2jer4g_v9nd9MofXwrYuf9fEVv6vs7G_IeCoNnw4RXjSVpx2B7QVG7tEB9ogNMtYhX9ICAqNGpjqOwP1vQzyjVL7oE4sDcQ5XfT20/s1600/snowstorm3.png" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Where possible aerial lift trucks were used to get certified workers close to the power lines so they could use insulated trimmers to cut away broken limbs or snow-pressed branches. Fortunately there were enough trucks up there so we didn't need to take ours. All we had to bring along was our crew and snowmobiles. There were crews from all over the province. Crews put in 16-hour days for as long as necessary and the cost to restore power will be in the millions.<br />
<br />
Our crew told us about being out at midnight one night and walking almost an hour up a hill to take down a single huge tree that had fallen across a line. By the time they got up there they realized they couldn't just cut it down but would have to climb it in order to take off some of the top before cutting down the rest of the tree. It's always dangerous climbing a partially downed tree as you can't tell how much damage it's sustained and there's a risk it could snap while you're in it. Also, once you free up the top branches that are now bending way, way over, there's a risk of being boomeranged out of the tree and killed. Thankfully, all went well and they got the tree down without incident.<br />
<br />
My part is the paperwork. Ugh. And let me tell you there's a lot of it. Every person and every piece of equipment has to be accounted for every day plus our meal and motel costs. One department wants things accounted for one way and another department another way. Payroll isn't done the normal way either so I had to figure out how they wanted overtime taken care of and recorded. I've been immersed in paper!!!<br />
<br />
I'm glad to say that the crisis is now over, power is restored and my emergency paperwork is almost cleared up. Yippee, I can breath again. Well, sort of. Now I have to get back to doing our maintenance audit for the BC Forest Safety Council. It's due in a little over a week and I've lost so much time. Then there's the year-end accounting stuff to take care of and T-4s to send out.....<br />
<br />
Sigh. I'm living in this office and haven't written a word on my novel the whole time. It will probably be March before I can begin working on it again. Oh well, fresh eyes and all that.Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-63583748029979106142014-01-12T16:46:00.002-08:002014-01-12T16:57:03.430-08:00What Ancient Babylonians Did For Fun: Entertainment in Ancient MesopotamiaDid they have any free time to enjoy themselves? You bet. In ancient times the working classes had twelve days off each month. In general, our modern society has only eight days off each month, four days less than the ancients. Huh.<br />
<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/AVvXsEgezeGOFRE7SXCd6-XnwyuDbwndP87U_bF71KjHHrKQ6_gIKSPZo0WONXyYOoPLKYOVRV34vk0chUV9p4gT6utYiDLLmKBIKWjCD6K01_K8MxxSrF9Lj_e1WJUe5t78UW081arBUECdFfM/s1600/Assyrian+Royal+Lion+Hunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezeGOFRE7SXCd6-XnwyuDbwndP87U_bF71KjHHrKQ6_gIKSPZo0WONXyYOoPLKYOVRV34vk0chUV9p4gT6utYiDLLmKBIKWjCD6K01_K8MxxSrF9Lj_e1WJUe5t78UW081arBUECdFfM/s1600/Assyrian+Royal+Lion+Hunt.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Assyrian Royal Lion Hunt, from Wikimedia Commons</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The most widely recognized recreation was that of the ancient kings and their love of big-game hunting. They preferred to hunt large, aggressive animals as a successful royal hunter could prove his kingly power to be legitimate. Archaeologists have discovered many bas-relief panels depicting lion hunts and it is plain that the lions weren't given much of a 'sporting' chance. Kept in game reserves, the big cats were driven by servants into wooden cages and then released to be attacked by dogs and beaters. The job of the beaters was to hit the lions with sticks and drive them toward the king, waiting in the safety of his chariot to kill them using a bow or spear. Occasionally a king is pictured on foot, apparently grasping a lion by the mane before thrusting his sword into the beast. Even if this were true, I doubt the lion had much fight left in him by that time. I chose one of the less graphic scenes above as some were pretty disturbing. It was an ugly sport.<br />
<br />
Lavish banquets were also held and bas-reliefs show kings and queens receiving guests in lush gardens entertained by musicians and waited on by servants at tall tables of four. One of the most extravagant affairs was held by King Assurnasipal II to celebrate the construction of his new capital city. There were over forty-seven thousand guests and tens of thousands of animals were slaughtered to feed the huge crowd along with ten thousand loaves of bread, ten thousand jars of beer, ten thousand skins of wine and crates of vegetables, sweet fruits, nuts, honey and cheese.<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/AVvXsEjmIrSwriDgtBVeRSIwUUhrzPkK5OhCphdra9Amw7BQlU9AJDhlqs962xuCIl2E9mPNlsPDksrbzj52AOH9SFE2EJD785BsJE6TzLvnxmB1N98zIXcUAvQeJtxQlmxTW30CL94mxFsLj_U/s1600/Ancient+Mesopotamian+Boxers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIrSwriDgtBVeRSIwUUhrzPkK5OhCphdra9Amw7BQlU9AJDhlqs962xuCIl2E9mPNlsPDksrbzj52AOH9SFE2EJD785BsJE6TzLvnxmB1N98zIXcUAvQeJtxQlmxTW30CL94mxFsLj_U/s1600/Ancient+Mesopotamian+Boxers.jpg" height="640" width="505" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ancient Mesopotamian Boxers from ejams.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
But enough of kings. Boxing was a popular sport, as was wrestling. They also played a form of polo but instead of sitting on the backs of horses, men sat on one another's shoulders. In the <em>Epic of Gilgamesh</em> "there is a reference to Gilgamesh oppressing his subjects by tiring the young men with endless contests of this polo and then taking sexual advantage of the young women." <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(1)</span><br />
<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/AVvXsEiMnyLEWIw7A2ssX54-ajGN0sHxR3Hj_bp59E7kkQtEeqAiB5_ifPGHfQZkwkI7eDmN2I-j2D8RITOylTv_6ia9_8XNvCenGYEJ2AOhMABA08FQs373mwvnCHnoRnNjKwpU2FAO42tjC-U/s1600/Ancient+Game+from+Ur1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnyLEWIw7A2ssX54-ajGN0sHxR3Hj_bp59E7kkQtEeqAiB5_ifPGHfQZkwkI7eDmN2I-j2D8RITOylTv_6ia9_8XNvCenGYEJ2AOhMABA08FQs373mwvnCHnoRnNjKwpU2FAO42tjC-U/s1600/Ancient+Game+from+Ur1.png" height="172" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ancient game from Ur, Ancient Encyclopedia History</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Board games were popular too and archaeologists have recovered a couple of types. One was a game of twenty squares. Players raced using button-like pieces that moved according to rolls of the dice. Everyone, from the very rich to the very poor, played this game. Boredom must have accounted for some archaeological finds. Unearthing the huge statues of bulls that guarded either side of King Sargon's palace at Khorsabad, excavators found this very board game scratched into the pedestal of one of the enormous statues, much as we might do with a game of tic-tac-toe. Probably by guards. The second type of board game contained fifty-eight holes, an early model for cribbage. Still another game board was found that contained instructions on the back for playing the game using game pieces shaped like various birds. The word for game pieces was 'doll, figurine', just like we use the word 'man' in chessman. There were also dogs, cones, pyramids and other shapes. Most games were played by throwing dice and moving game pieces. The dice that have been found were cubes made from bone, clay, stone or glass with the numbers one through six scored on them.<br />
<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/AVvXsEjt5lNfdv0JKlnjKMeVVbEZhTNZTAg3aWVj89oDy3J4OZErKny954-_t6E0zS2v8K8mC6sNG0QiFM8DtHuGfoMKXxzqThEd70Uj0NOO1xPIxF-a5lyM_7wpv1dy-YZ0IW8IQAEs_qNEKy4/s1600/Toy+Lion+and+Hedgehog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5lNfdv0JKlnjKMeVVbEZhTNZTAg3aWVj89oDy3J4OZErKny954-_t6E0zS2v8K8mC6sNG0QiFM8DtHuGfoMKXxzqThEd70Uj0NOO1xPIxF-a5lyM_7wpv1dy-YZ0IW8IQAEs_qNEKy4/s1600/Toy+Lion+and+Hedgehog.png" height="226" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lion and Hedgehog, from BAS Library</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Children played with miniaturized weapons of the time such as slingshots, bows and arrows, boomerangs or throw sticks much like today's children might play with toy guns. There were also spinning tops, rattles, jump ropes, pucks and mallets, hoops, balls, and the buzz or button - a disc piece of pottery with holes for string. Children played 'house' or 'grown-up' and used miniature furniture for role playing - tables, beds, stools, dolls and small-sized animals. They also played with miniature carts, wagons, chariots and ships. A little hedgehog on wheels and a lion on wheels were found at Susa, dating back to around 1250 BC. It's unclear whether or not they were toys or offerings to the gods. They look like toys to me.<br />
<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/AVvXsEgnLtts-KvDFm0Ffyoi3xbn8bKl6hBt5kSIivV1daogIw3n8r4tPscZAreviKj-AknR5RfQkW2-_9RCV4Tqzl1GBmTOsGsGq_zOTLk3XT8qH9_B3r6RANodd48Rqa7X5TSmo9uU6M1R0CA/s1600/Ancient+Lyre+from+grave+of+Queen+Puabi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLtts-KvDFm0Ffyoi3xbn8bKl6hBt5kSIivV1daogIw3n8r4tPscZAreviKj-AknR5RfQkW2-_9RCV4Tqzl1GBmTOsGsGq_zOTLk3XT8qH9_B3r6RANodd48Rqa7X5TSmo9uU6M1R0CA/s1600/Ancient+Lyre+from+grave+of+Queen+Puabi.jpg" height="400" width="279" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ancient Lyre, from </span><a href="http://www.britishmuseum.org/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">www.britishmuseum.org</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Singers and musicians entertained at festivals. Stringed instruments, pipes and a clay whistle have been recovered from excavations. Lyres and harps have been found throughout the Near East and an elaborate lyre inlaid with shell and trimmed in gold was found at the Royal Cemetery of Ur.<br />
<br />
Finally, men and women were entertained by the performance of literary works, sometimes set to music and sung, sometimes recited by more than one person like actors in a script. For a price, a 'teller of tales' would regale you with a story in the market place.<br />
<br />
So, there you have it. Like the old French proverb says, "The more things change, the more they stay the same".<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(1) Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia by Karen RheaNemet-Nejat</span>Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-3057132991749619672014-01-02T17:16:00.001-08:002014-01-02T17:26:05.086-08:00What is it about the New Year...that brings out our compulsion to make resolutions?<br />
<br />
Maybe it's hope. <br />
<br />
A fresh year brings fresh hope - hope that we'll make smarter choices, accomplish our goals <em>this</em> time. In the middle of the dullness of winter we give ourselves a bright future to look forward to. We've sung Old Lang Syne, we've oo'd and aa'd over the fireworks, we've given and received the midnight kiss. Now it's on to a better year!<br />
<br />
Unfortunately our resolve seldom lasts.Talking to a fitness instructor, he said that the new year brings hordes of people out to buy equipment and start exercise programs. By February many are still going strong but by March enthusiasm is waning and by April all but the most determined have dropped it altogether. Dieting follows the same downward trend. So does the resolution to quit smoking, etc.<br />
<br />
Yet year after year we doggedly continue to make those same resolutions - and hope. The blogger at <a href="http://hardhobbittobreak.com/?page_id=1248">Hard Hobbit to Break</a> has made 365 resolutions! Must be some kind of a record. Isn't the human spirit resilient? I sure think so. We intend to hope again, and this time, this time, we <em>will</em> triumph. Ha ha!<br />
<br />
Hubby and I haven't gotten off to a very good start. Today was our anniversary. We'd planned to have a nice evening out, just the two of us, something we don't do nearly enough and had resolved to do better this year. So, why am I at the computer instead of out with hubby? Well, he's a contractor for BC Hydro and we had a huge snowfall today, there are tons of power outages and he's had to take out a crew to help clean things up. He'll be gone all night. Perfect.<br />
<br />
Okay, so starting <strong>tomorrow</strong>....Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-19813394786816233752013-12-29T19:25:00.001-08:002013-12-29T19:29:22.426-08:00Nabonidus, Ancient Babylonia's Last King : End of the Chaldean Empire<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/AVvXsEi3d90JqezqUyw-ly6Vt8AkJYdz6LQYqYoZ-TipDYi8uMehhZDVZx9jiMfJoVzsaE5QJPnOWn1Juqs7Eb8MV6EKEIacqDNhZAtbwLGu5myKk8MPXM5G9uQAmwEl5Xj10Flrybk5TQnT4_w/s1600/Esagila.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d90JqezqUyw-ly6Vt8AkJYdz6LQYqYoZ-TipDYi8uMehhZDVZx9jiMfJoVzsaE5QJPnOWn1Juqs7Eb8MV6EKEIacqDNhZAtbwLGu5myKk8MPXM5G9uQAmwEl5Xj10Flrybk5TQnT4_w/s1600/Esagila.jpg" height="348" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Esagila Temple Complex : Ziggurat commonly referred to as Tower of Babel on left and temple of <em>Bel-Marduk</em> on right</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
A contributing factor in the Persian defeat of Babylon was likely Nabonidus's undeniable unpopularity. While researching my current historical I learned that one of Nabonidus's own governors conspired against him and actually joined the Persian army in their attack on Babylon. This cropped up in almost every place I looked yet nowhere could I learn the why of it. Why would a high ranking official betray his king? Finally, in an obscure text that unfortunately burned in our house fire a few years ago, I learned that either Nabonidus or Belshazzar had killed the governor's son. The circumstances were not given, just the fact of his death at the hands of the king. Suddenly it made perfect sense.<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/AVvXsEjj-27aW5oZIIFj5bBFEwx0rgwhBr_tunvOlavyG_LYpFGOlptsZt3jH8HoK8i5PNmd80WQWPY6QDve9OOa5k9eRRddz8NoMsLEx-QUrUhVKmd3d0GrP3yl_kqiZJ81dDezsA4c5O3QITM/s1600/Babylonian+moon+god,+Sin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-27aW5oZIIFj5bBFEwx0rgwhBr_tunvOlavyG_LYpFGOlptsZt3jH8HoK8i5PNmd80WQWPY6QDve9OOa5k9eRRddz8NoMsLEx-QUrUhVKmd3d0GrP3yl_kqiZJ81dDezsA4c5O3QITM/s1600/Babylonian+moon+god,+Sin.png" height="337" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Moon god '<em>Sin</em>' generally represented as an old man with a flowing beard and his crescent moon symbol - from </span><a href="http://www.worldslastchance.com/"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">www.worldslastchance.com</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Many of Nabonidus's decisions did not endear him to the populace either. He threatened to elevate the moon god, <em>Sin</em>, to a place of pre-eminence, removing <em>Bel-Marduk</em>, the supreme god of the land and patron god of Babylon, from his own temple with the intention of installing <em>Sin</em> in his place.<br />
<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/AVvXsEgxJBzVPuxkbWMHsRJHv-GVk_wRl6fu20F1f7XsaIzwNacxqbNOVwoSiFUxsnOMA_QYIy6ARGfKD0IhVoxemBlVvzUyY1B_ETqnEGgPWp7Wv6lqsMa9JiQ7B8k4e_Wp7d-0VKoY-OswbAQ/s1600/Excavations+of+temple+of+Bel+at+Nippur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJBzVPuxkbWMHsRJHv-GVk_wRl6fu20F1f7XsaIzwNacxqbNOVwoSiFUxsnOMA_QYIy6ARGfKD0IhVoxemBlVvzUyY1B_ETqnEGgPWp7Wv6lqsMa9JiQ7B8k4e_Wp7d-0VKoY-OswbAQ/s1600/Excavations+of+temple+of+Bel+at+Nippur.jpg" height="545" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Excavations of Temple of Bel at Nippur - </span><a href="http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11551-nippur"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11551-nippur</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Nabonidus left Babylon and remained in Tema for ten years. During his absence from Babylon the annual New Year Festival, necessary for the continued prosperity of both the city and the empire, could not be held. The king was supposed to enter the temple of <em>Bel-Marduk</em> to take part in a ritual in which he would declare that he had cared for Babylon, not neglected the Esagila temple complex nor forgotten its ritual, etc. Unfortunately, Nabonidus <em>had</em> left Babylon, <em>had</em> neglected Esagila and according to cuneiform texts, mixed up the rituals, confused the oracles and uttered unnamed 'blasphemies'. His contemporaries considered him dangerous to the stability of the country and unfit to be ruler of Babylonia.<br />
<br />
As Cyrus and the Persian army advanced into Babylonia, the gods were brought to Babylon, ostensibly for protection. However, <em>Nabonidus ensured the loyalty of the Babylonian cities by keeping their gods in Babylon. A city's loyalty to Nabonidus was guaranteed as long as its gods were held hostage to him in the capital. Put another way: if a god showed support for Nabonidus by fleeing to Babylon, his priests (no matter who appointed them) could not be true to the god and at the same time support Cyrus. A city could not switch outward allegiance from Nabonidus to Cyrus as long</em> <em>as Nobonidus held its gods in his power. (1)</em> Some cities saw through this subterfuge and refused to relinquish their gods.<br />
<br />
All in all it is small wonder that the Babylonians may have given little resistance to the incursion of the Persian army.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(1) The Priest and the Great King by Lisbeth S. Fried</span></em></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/AVvXsEg92zZ6PX9AXHV_-d0KRG7enTbeoqpKYPWLtRDA4sUUqRiBRXVF7qqwBL6PKQVWIZwcFSTPdqlW1odGD-6QDX_BQ_mGwVjFka-lc-mYe7D2PsWzEx_gVZDYPPcdPvCLBZ-du0c9h-39wnA/s1600/Outside+Ishtar+Gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92zZ6PX9AXHV_-d0KRG7enTbeoqpKYPWLtRDA4sUUqRiBRXVF7qqwBL6PKQVWIZwcFSTPdqlW1odGD-6QDX_BQ_mGwVjFka-lc-mYe7D2PsWzEx_gVZDYPPcdPvCLBZ-du0c9h-39wnA/s1600/Outside+Ishtar+Gate.jpg" height="414" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Citizens gathering outside Ishtar Gate for procession to <em>Akitu</em> festival house</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-23386497213240801822013-12-22T15:03:00.000-08:002013-12-22T15:07:46.564-08:00Spencer's First Christmas....With Us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzi7df0kLwPTobHpLG3jxc45VQERbGLfYbmdXf7qgTStfVLuOzYpTWeG34fkXeJlm0wsKMjrj2VAuvkACYKgD2grMdBPWj4HzAa23J_JVEI-EoSPRyWZviksuX1kzcgaS-DjR49Za37Ts/s1600/Spencer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzi7df0kLwPTobHpLG3jxc45VQERbGLfYbmdXf7qgTStfVLuOzYpTWeG34fkXeJlm0wsKMjrj2VAuvkACYKgD2grMdBPWj4HzAa23J_JVEI-EoSPRyWZviksuX1kzcgaS-DjR49Za37Ts/s1600/Spencer.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
When you buy a shelter dog you never know what you're getting. You don't know who their previous owners were or how they were treated. You don't know if they've had a good life or a bad life. You don't know what will trigger a panic attack that sends them running for cover.<br />
<br />
Spencer is a shelter dog. We got him this past May. He was found wandering the streets and in need of urgent veterinary care. The day we went to the shelter to look at dogs he'd just completed a course of antibiotics and was cleared for adoption. They judged his age to be around five years old and his breed is mixed, as you can tell - miniature poodle/cocker spaniel.<br />
<br />
Spencer fits into our family perfectly. Introducing him to a harness and leash had him wiggling with excitement so we knew he was used to going for walks. He'd never seen a dog door before but, with some assistance, had it down pat after only a few tries. We weren't sure whether or not he'd ever been to a groomer and the groomer come to our home so we could be on hand in case she got into trouble. He was as good as gold, so another tick mark. He'd obviously been to the groomers.<br />
<br />
The longer we had him the more we wondered what had happened to him. He's well-behaved and house trained, likes to go for walks and loves people. We're sure someone misses him. Not that we'd give him up now. We figure he probably got loose when tourists were passing through and they couldn't find him so had to leave without him.<br />
<br />
When the Christmas season arrived and we took the tree out of the shed (I have asthma so can't have a real tree), we weren't sure how he'd react to it. Some dogs are petrified at this big thing looming high over their heads, some attack it or bark at it. We put it up, got the lights working and draped the skirt around the bottom, all without incident. Spencer just watched. When it was time to start hanging the decorations we realized that not only was he not the least bit apprehensive, he figured it was his. He grabbed his toys and brought them under the tree, where they stayed until we screwed things up for him by laying presents under it.<br />
<br />
Now that the decorations are up and there are presents under the tree, he's careful not to step on the gifts. But he races around just under the edges when he's playing and sets the balls swinging and the lights twinkling and rocking.<br />
<br />
Yup, Spencer loves Christmas just as much as we do.Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-90743655782032110932013-12-15T15:58:00.002-08:002013-12-15T16:19:39.008-08:00Babylon and Babylonia : Has Babylon Always Existed?A couple of days ago someone asked this question on my post, <a href="http://chickenscratchbc.blogspot.ca/2013/10/writing-and-scribes-in-ancient-babylon.html">Writing and Scribes in Ancient Babylon.</a><br />
<br />
<em>Babylon & Babylonia. Has Babylon always existed or did it come out of nowhere when Hammurabi came to rule it? And was it here Babylonia happened? When was Babylon established and when was Babylonian established?</em><br />
<em></em><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/AVvXsEiVweTEOjc1lxeomjRxw701oC4IDflI9UzmZ5KBdC5osI7X5C6enZaAf2Y2UVeVw2dUCsk996GSsKL2clmfolX2Le5YkQgdSVsyZ2lHB34u9d7f14TKKQpsJteCSH45Q5VmmyF6XqfbMIc/s1600/Hammurabi's+Babylonia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVweTEOjc1lxeomjRxw701oC4IDflI9UzmZ5KBdC5osI7X5C6enZaAf2Y2UVeVw2dUCsk996GSsKL2clmfolX2Le5YkQgdSVsyZ2lHB34u9d7f14TKKQpsJteCSH45Q5VmmyF6XqfbMIc/s1600/Hammurabi's+Babylonia.png" height="555" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hammurabi's Babylonia - from Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<em></em><br />
<em></em><br />
<strong>The city of Babylon</strong>, according to the Bible, was established after the flood by Noah's great grandson, Nimrod. Genesis 10:10 says about Nimrod, "And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel (Babylon), and Erech (Uruk) and Accad (Akkad) and Calneh, in the land of Shinar."<br />
<br />
There is little evidence that Babylon was much more than a small town before the Old Babylonian period (approx. 2000BC - 1600BC) . Sargon of Akkad ruled the whole Euphrates Valley between 2334BC and 2279BC. Texts say he enlarged Babylon and built a palace there.<br />
<br />
It was likely only after the collapse of the UrIII empire ( 2112BC - 2004BC) that Babylon became a city. An Amorite chief called Sumu-abum (1894BC - 1881 BC) built the city walls and fortifications and made it the center for his operations. He founded a dynasty which ruled Babylon for 300 years. His aim was to gain control over cities in the immediate neighborhood but the real building program that was to propel Babylon into a major city was begun by Sin-muballit (1812BC - 1793BC) and then, most notably, by his son Hamurabi (1792BC - 1750BC).<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/AVvXsEjJ5k_IglZvFrWkdIbu9_z3bU0wobyclvqOEsPXeblivXQu-punfnWdEbxoNjCCTJIdcB3SM2hUQ6blBX3_W_g6alrrbMWiZ533IcBp0HnQookLrRdQ4U8cRHasqLEJ5IEyvVcXgtua9ow/s1600/Residents+visit+ancient+city+of+Babylon+near+Hilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5k_IglZvFrWkdIbu9_z3bU0wobyclvqOEsPXeblivXQu-punfnWdEbxoNjCCTJIdcB3SM2hUQ6blBX3_W_g6alrrbMWiZ533IcBp0HnQookLrRdQ4U8cRHasqLEJ5IEyvVcXgtua9ow/s1600/Residents+visit+ancient+city+of+Babylon+near+Hilla.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Residents visit ancient city of Babylon near Hilla - from <a href="http://rt.com/">http://rt.com</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<strong>Geographically, Babylonia</strong> refers to the southern portion of the modern country of Iraq, ancient Mesopotamia, encompassing the land roughly between Baghdad (close to the site of ancient Opis) at its northern limit and the head of the Arabian Gulf at its southern limit.<br />
<br />
<strong>Historically, the term Babylonia</strong> reflects a relatively late unification of the country under Babylon's First Dynasty (1894BC - 1595BC), although the word itself is of later origin. You might say Babylonia became an independent state around 1894BC with Babylon as its capital city during Sumu-abum's reign. From very early times, the northern part of Babylonia was referred to as Akkad and the southern as Sumer.<br />
<br />
As to Babylonian, if you're referring to the <strong>Babylonian language</strong>, it was a dialect of Akkadian, an extinct Semitic language replaced by Aramaic some time during the 8th century BC.<br />
<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/AVvXsEgzJSMNcVhCVYnJy-Oojh05IgGk0Qj9TVTxnMjD0wfSa-HdKOANIyObBJDSooSWb7v97CmLSJ6dHsW3fTD_YS6_EcgoCxcStkHMTRE0tavHN88eeeuQvKH5ba8cyiksSAG0HPyCAEnj53k/s1600/aerial+view+of+babylon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJSMNcVhCVYnJy-Oojh05IgGk0Qj9TVTxnMjD0wfSa-HdKOANIyObBJDSooSWb7v97CmLSJ6dHsW3fTD_YS6_EcgoCxcStkHMTRE0tavHN88eeeuQvKH5ba8cyiksSAG0HPyCAEnj53k/s1600/aerial+view+of+babylon.jpg" height="438" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aeriel view of ancient city of Babylon - from <a href="http://arabiangazette.com/">http://arabiangazette.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Hope that's been of some help to you, Rose.Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-14097140038465044512013-12-12T19:47:00.001-08:002013-12-12T19:47:27.514-08:00Losing the Christmas Tree WarsThis post is a continuation of the <a href="http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=281114">December 2013 Blog Chain</a> at <a href="http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums">Absolute Write. </a>This month's prompt is "250-Word Story Chain, or, The Blog-O-Phone."<br />
<br />
<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/AVvXsEhPFg0dzz1OeJP04nLiYWJiIgofUDMWlgmb-whNSeubF3Crvv_Sa9ptuxjuqwNhe7PoEZHTp-T9Pj5JFVfM-QTPL9jUABJGeDXgDPQCyEkagpUxigz6FcnyJAIg6sJkkipg92Hd0vE59fI/s1600/Snowy+Road+in+Forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFg0dzz1OeJP04nLiYWJiIgofUDMWlgmb-whNSeubF3Crvv_Sa9ptuxjuqwNhe7PoEZHTp-T9Pj5JFVfM-QTPL9jUABJGeDXgDPQCyEkagpUxigz6FcnyJAIg6sJkkipg92Hd0vE59fI/s1600/Snowy+Road+in+Forest.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowy Road in Forest - <a href="http://www.culut.com/"><span style="color: black;">www.culut.com</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Wiggins ignored the loud 'whump' behind him and continued to give chase, brandishing his empty gas can.<br />
<br />
"Nussbaum! Ostafinski! Just wait 'til I get my hands on you!"<br />
<br />
Cal decapitated the snowman with a single swing of his axe and leaped over the white heap, Alan close on his heels.<br />
<br />
"Stop. Following. Me." Cal panted. "Split up. Can't chase us both."<br />
<br />
Alan veered off, stumbled and fell face first into a snowdrift.<br />
"All I wanted was a tree." he moaned, clawing snow out of his eyes and nose.<br />
<br />
Cal wove his way around tree after tree, going deeper into the woods. A quick glance back confirmed Wiggins still doggedly floundering in his footsteps.Why did that lousy Wiggins have to follow <em>him?</em> <br />
<br />
Cal ducked under a densely branched tree and started backing out of sight. He was about to congratulate himself on outsmarting Wiggins when a low rumbling growl froze him in his tracks.<br />
<br />
<br />
The other participating bloggers are:<br />
<br />
orion_mk3 - <a href="http://nonexistentbooks.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: black;">http://nonexistentbooks.wordpress.com</span></a><br />
<span style="color: black;">Ralph Pines - </span><a href="http://ralfast.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: black;">http://ralfast.wordpress.com</span></a><br />
<span style="color: black;">Angyl78 - </span><a href="http://jelyzabeth.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: black;">http://jelyzabeth.wordpress.com</span></a><br />
<span style="color: black;">MsLaylaCakes - </span><a href="http://www.tarquan.com/"><span style="color: black;">http://www.tarquan.com</span></a><br />
<span style="color: black;">meowzbark - </span><a href="http://www.lizzylessard.com/"><span style="color: black;">http://www.lizzylessard.com</span></a><br />
<span style="color: black;">BBBurke - </span><a href="http://www.awritersprogression.com/"><span style="color: black;">http://www.awritersprogression.com</span></a>Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-40562251097264129362013-12-08T12:05:00.000-08:002013-12-08T12:05:04.303-08:00When Life Paralyzes Creativity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VeZN4jLkGr2J5BMfMC1xVlKfYqVIlqM2LCOVj7rbAoQ_XGRrIoiNVlQCxlVzWi6muu18gnNGsuiuBX-8hrwSZ8B6103mDDqKkF4wv_NHQD6b57nGApPcQlqxD3R2r6jus5eSFn1HsQM/s1600/Scotty+and+Patrick+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VeZN4jLkGr2J5BMfMC1xVlKfYqVIlqM2LCOVj7rbAoQ_XGRrIoiNVlQCxlVzWi6muu18gnNGsuiuBX-8hrwSZ8B6103mDDqKkF4wv_NHQD6b57nGApPcQlqxD3R2r6jus5eSFn1HsQM/s1600/Scotty+and+Patrick+1.jpg" height="387" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I'd planned to write a rather fun post about dragons and ancient Babylon but my heart just isn't in it. My cousin, who usually paints in oils but did this water color for us last year, is dying of cancer and her days are fast coming to an end. I'm heartbroken. Although other cousins have been in and out of my life over the years, Janet and I have stayed in touch and visits were special times. <br />
<br />
She had a big, big heart. When her own mother passed away and she inherited the family home she took in all the strays - people who had nowhere else to go or not enough money to pay rent, had health problems or mental problems. In all the years she housed sometimes dangerous folks, not one of them stole from her or injured her physically, as many of them easily could have done. <br />
<br />
Earlier in the year she was diagnosed with liver cancer. After the normal round of chemotherapy she was put on a new treatment option in June. It promised to give her six more good months and it did, practically to the day. <br />
But she won't be with us for much longer and in fact, isn't with us now. Her body is still functioning but her mind is gone. Thankfully she has no pain as they have her constantly on morphine to combat the pain she's unable to articulate.<br />
<br />
She will likely be gone before Christmas which is hard to think about. I'm so glad I have this horse painting as well as one she's done of a wolf. She loved animals and was particularly fond of these big guys of ours. It will be a good memory.<br />
<br />
I'll post again when I can but right now I need a bit of time to grieve.Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-25354165591065319632013-12-04T18:54:00.000-08:002013-12-05T21:34:32.970-08:00Christmas Tree Wars!Here is the <strong>third </strong>scene of the <a href="http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=281114"><span style="color: red;">December 2013 blog</span></a> chain at <a href="http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums"><span style="color: red;">Absolute Write</span></a><span style="color: black;">.</span> This month's prompt is "250-word story chain" or "the blog-o-phone".<br />
The opening scene, <a href="http://nonexistentbooks.com/2013/12/03/from-into-mossfallow-wood-by-loomis-wolf-stanwood"><span style="color: red;">Into Mossfallow Wood</span></a>, is written by orion_mk3. The second scene, <a href="http://ralfast.wordpress.com/2013/12/04/december-2013-blog-chain-into-the-woods"><span style="color: red;">Into the Woods</span></a><span style="color: red;">,</span> is written by Ralph Pines.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
"Hey! Ozzy! Waddya think yer doin?"<br />
Carl Ostafinski bore down on the much smaller man wielding his axe like a medieval claymore. Rooster style, he shoved his size XXX chest against Oswald's. "I saw that tree first and it's mine!"<br />
<br />
Ozzy stuck out his chin and got in Carl's face.<br />
"I don't think so Ostafinski."<br />
"Oh yeah?" Carl bellowed.<br />
"Yeah." <br />
<br />
Carl shoved and held Ozzy against the disputed tree with the head of his axe. "Look Ozzy. If you don't back away from my tree you'll be sorry."<br />
Ozzy snorted. "What're you gonna do about it?"<br />
"You know where I work dontcha?" Carl challenged.<br />
"Doll assembly line. Big deal." Grinning, Ozzy added. "You gonna chuck Barbies at me?"<br />
"No." Carl paused for dramatic effect. "<em>Snowmen</em>."<br />
<br />
Ozzy blanched. Now some people were petrified of clowns but Ozzy - snowmen gave him the heebyjeebies. Those phoney stick smiles and cold coal eyes creeped him out. The toy snowmen Carl made were the worst. Their high-pitched maniacal laughter sent chills down his spine.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzp5tM0-1T33q5a2twWUe_IdV8VRg_TqEIYnZsHOsCn2adAGRpnc3uSxt0uPmVyCRNdDCNFj7oN_HXSXBYlfg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ozzy stepped away from the tree and swallowed hard. "It's all yours." he said in strangled tones.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Carl grunted. "I thought so."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He swung the enormous axe with all his strength and sunk it deep into the trunk. The huge tree shuddered and the two men stared upward at the crashing sound that came closer and closer as tree branches began falling all around them.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Carl pointed, eyes wide and staring. "Look! It can't be!"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Further scenes are or will be written by the following bloggers:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://jelyzabeth.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: black;">Angyl78</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.taraquan.com/"><span style="color: black;">McLaylaCakes</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black;">pyrosama</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.awritersprogression.com/"><span style="color: black;">BBBurke</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.lizzylessard.com/"><span style="color: black;">meowzbark</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<em>Note: maniacal snowmen courtesy of my daughter and son-in-law</em></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-73850958117330851532013-12-01T15:54:00.003-08:002013-12-01T16:35:01.537-08:00Ancient Babylon: A Hedonistic SocietyThe idea of ancient Babylonians being a society of pleasure seekers, devoted primarily to sensual self-indulgence, appears well supported.<br />
<br />
One of the principal deities of ancient Babylon was the goddess Ishtar who presided over all aspects of sexuality. According to a line in an ancient Mesopotamian poem, <em>the Erra Epic</em>, Ishtar's sacred prostitutes 'frequently do abominable acts to please the heart of Ishtar'. A hymn dedicated to Ishtar declares her to be the supreme Woman, beautiful, desirable, 'with a fondness for sensual pleasures and delights, full of seduction, charm and voluptuousness'. Licentious activities were common in and around her temple precincts and such 'worship' of Ishtar was encouraged. The goddess is usually pictured naked, supporting her breasts with her hands.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UjOG5nohiGt1pP1nAjHikmcaCgpuvcmeDwbAAWf6J_KoWiWYYMr7vSCgLDssx9dDFd0DNHhWvQzwoc2tPGp_oZyWTwUJfmFVpBVByzfF8IU-zsFLGUwX4D_rZoZq6zb64bqXZc3dfks/s1600/105563079_amazoncom-ishtar-inanna-mesopotamian-goddess-home-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UjOG5nohiGt1pP1nAjHikmcaCgpuvcmeDwbAAWf6J_KoWiWYYMr7vSCgLDssx9dDFd0DNHhWvQzwoc2tPGp_oZyWTwUJfmFVpBVByzfF8IU-zsFLGUwX4D_rZoZq6zb64bqXZc3dfks/s1600/105563079_amazoncom-ishtar-inanna-mesopotamian-goddess-home-.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Goddess Ishtar</span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left">
That the ancient Babylonians saw nothing unusual about the shocking activity of Ishtar's prostitutes, transsexual performers and acts of more or less public copulation, puzzled me a fair bit. It seemed like an almost frenzied attempt to wring as much physical pleasure from life as they could. But why? A bit of research into the society provided possibilities.</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
First of all, they worshipped a vast number of gods who created man to take over their work so the gods could rest. <em>The gods are almost morbidly ill-tempered, are incapable of gathering together without drinking ...to excess..are violent, gluttonous, uncontrolled, faithless and vindictive.(1)</em></div>
<div align="left">
A person's well-being was tied to the correct worship of these fickle deities and they were lousy role models.</div>
<div align="left">
<em></em> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LiaExSf-FhM_Wz8p4HeFV-sG_BdqfOxKZRM_bkjMxJw9HY58FiOAxXIZ_kgu7J0ww_mkvNPO8laLmNnJ8IQ9qb9iZno4AWhEKfgMakI26WYi1b2-ZrUlU9gRbYYzbBDl3HlxgYVuzto/s1600/Tiamet+dragon+goddess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LiaExSf-FhM_Wz8p4HeFV-sG_BdqfOxKZRM_bkjMxJw9HY58FiOAxXIZ_kgu7J0ww_mkvNPO8laLmNnJ8IQ9qb9iZno4AWhEKfgMakI26WYi1b2-ZrUlU9gRbYYzbBDl3HlxgYVuzto/s1600/Tiamet+dragon+goddess.jpg" height="370" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Tiamet, dragon goddess</span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> </div>
<div align="left">
Secondly, the Babylonians believed their world to be populated by vast numbers of ghosts and demons. Demons were invisible enemies, deformed monsters that compassed them on every side, lying wait for them by day and night, for if a person angered his god through disobedience he would be without any protection from them. There were incubi and succubi whose embraces no man could escape, she-demons who prevented children from being born or killed new-borns, or the 'evil eye' under the influence of which nothing could prosper. There were also spirits of those whose lives had been unhappy, who had been cheated of an expectation, died a violent death or had not enjoyed the happiness they craved. They were much feared as dangerous, vengeful ghosts who haunted the living.</div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXS6RlZ6M-aGAfQwaqGxqFYUFyxQ8dkjIQZZqa3S_dcj2G75CFMKZgGKLfjaIGeUOg3O6MKv3sEJ0Y6CIE4G6aNYzReJJlUrd9XoFYaXn6jv9VGTw7xTnMpWcA52Drcd7Up0mDp9-HJxI/s1600/humbaba-head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXS6RlZ6M-aGAfQwaqGxqFYUFyxQ8dkjIQZZqa3S_dcj2G75CFMKZgGKLfjaIGeUOg3O6MKv3sEJ0Y6CIE4G6aNYzReJJlUrd9XoFYaXn6jv9VGTw7xTnMpWcA52Drcd7Up0mDp9-HJxI/s1600/humbaba-head.jpg" height="400" width="385" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Humbaba, Babylonian demon</span><br />
<div align="left">
<br />
Thirdly, the gods reserved eternal life for themselves and decreed death to be man's fate. The Babylonians had no hope of anything being better in the afterlife, no matter how well they'd behaved in this life. Man had to enjoy life on earth while it lasted since life in the underworld was, for the most part, miserable for all. The realm of the dead was described as a dreary place:<br />
<br />
<em>"To the gloomy house, seat of the netherworld,</em><br />
<em>To the house which none leaves who enters,</em><br />
<em>To the road whose journey has no return,</em><br />
<em>To the house whose entrants are bereft of light,</em><br />
<em>Where dust is their sustenance and clay their food,</em><br />
<em>They see no light but dwell in darkness." (2)</em><br />
<br />
The most they could expect in death was a bit to eat and drink in this dark place, provided by family members at their gravesite. Food was set near the burying place and liquids were poured through a pipe in the ground. The Babylonians were in constant dread of angering a host of unstable gods and being harassed by multitudes of demons and ghosts relentlessly dogging their footsteps. I think it's fairly easy to understand why they might prefer to live by a motto similar to <em>Eat, Drink and Be Merry, For Tomorrow We Die!</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaaqp8KM7HIxK8vBzPuThsAaYxTBHCDJSEwQK-rPmpayp4leezKgWgEz_6KG1aR1XQz2d3B06PtWYXuysZ_XFQDImRBbhXPRNzCBEfqFPLHJ_stOwxbuVXfGh3wJT8-5CI2_BSNdtN0I/s1600/Ereshkigal,+goddess+of+underworld.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaaqp8KM7HIxK8vBzPuThsAaYxTBHCDJSEwQK-rPmpayp4leezKgWgEz_6KG1aR1XQz2d3B06PtWYXuysZ_XFQDImRBbhXPRNzCBEfqFPLHJ_stOwxbuVXfGh3wJT8-5CI2_BSNdtN0I/s1600/Ereshkigal,+goddess+of+underworld.png" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ereshkigal, goddess of underworld and sister of Ishtar</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">www.newworldencyclopedia.org</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(1) excerpted from<u> Everyday Life in Babylon and Assyria</u> by Georges Contenau </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(2) excerpted from<u> Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia</u> by Karen Rhea Nemet-Nejat</span></div>
Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-32693709655222989822013-11-24T17:47:00.001-08:002013-11-27T09:32:47.770-08:00Miranda's Folly: Part 2 - Steampunk Short Story continuedIt has been suggested that I continue Miranda's misadventure with the bathing machine's 'spatial dilation portal' so here it is. You'll want to read the<a href="http://chickenscratchbc.blogspot.ca/2013/09/mirandas-folly.html"> first part</a>, well, first, because it won't make much sense otherwise. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<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/AVvXsEj7E8NVw4mPJxh0IcfJuC4ox9ymCemgvJiNjFZtaGMqve50jiYTkFDJH9K85Of77ZE5twp-FEtYAgjJQMz6YZb9bRmu08G8Vv0hOHYO5IIwy3AukqMAl4PrhVhSmwOglhgo-Oetd_MzgqE/s1600/victorian_attic_by_ookamikasumi-d49z46j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7E8NVw4mPJxh0IcfJuC4ox9ymCemgvJiNjFZtaGMqve50jiYTkFDJH9K85Of77ZE5twp-FEtYAgjJQMz6YZb9bRmu08G8Vv0hOHYO5IIwy3AukqMAl4PrhVhSmwOglhgo-Oetd_MzgqE/s1600/victorian_attic_by_ookamikasumi-d49z46j.jpg" height="416" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Victorian Attic by OokamiKasumi</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Although her bedroom was comfortably situated on the first floor, Miranda often avoided Madam by retreating to the privacy of the attic. And she needed time alone, time to consider the difficult position in which she found herself.<br />
<br />
Think Miranda, think. If Madam Hamilton questioned her, what should she say? What <em>could</em> she say? It took her well nigh half the night to settle on a course of action but when summoned by the bell the following morning she'd settled on an excellent response.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5bQMQKB6wJEWmSimLcSavLooWaDwYvVo8PORcqyWIXRWe0fkSROu8ExfWSP4Gfzlerdy6uYG_AcYjP7IeYrnxwruUC_doMJMLLuabDjGDOS7dHVU-dQyO1cG8J5K7wdM-6Kf-QzKS-g/s1600/Tyntesfield+servants+bells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5bQMQKB6wJEWmSimLcSavLooWaDwYvVo8PORcqyWIXRWe0fkSROu8ExfWSP4Gfzlerdy6uYG_AcYjP7IeYrnxwruUC_doMJMLLuabDjGDOS7dHVU-dQyO1cG8J5K7wdM-6Kf-QzKS-g/s1600/Tyntesfield+servants+bells.jpg" height="371" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Tyntesfield servants bells</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Miranda carried the hot tea into Madam's bedroom carefully. She used the gilt tray specially set aside for the purpose and was ruefully reminded that she was as skinny as a barber's cat with her small bosom. After all, didn't Mrs. Chatterton, unknowingly implicated in Miranda's scheme, boast such an enormous bosom that she could carry two cups of tea upon them without spilling a drop? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiC-tVp_7W827gDjn-_ZsSGIfaL8qK0S4p8-KJpBrMKWCLYt-7j_EhPvBx-yM2Pn7WYfQSocW7-9Ta5d5jFvBdIhxhIURfOuedrgPuPlbibTo327hJjMELJdNw7HxdvKvxr18Z5PmIVo/s1600/Mary+Chatterton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiC-tVp_7W827gDjn-_ZsSGIfaL8qK0S4p8-KJpBrMKWCLYt-7j_EhPvBx-yM2Pn7WYfQSocW7-9Ta5d5jFvBdIhxhIURfOuedrgPuPlbibTo327hJjMELJdNw7HxdvKvxr18Z5PmIVo/s1600/Mary+Chatterton.jpg" height="400" width="281" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mrs. Mary Chatterton from </span><a href="http://connect.everthingzoomer.com/profiles/blog/show"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">http://connect.everthingzoomer.com/profiles/blog/show</span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Miranda opened the heavy drapes to let in a little sunshine then jostled Madam to awaken her. Her mistress stirred, yawned and sat up, accepting the tea without a word. While Madam sipped the hot brew, Miranda laid out her morning clothes and waited to see if anything would be said about yesterday's bathing incident. She didn't have long to wait.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"Miranda, I have a somewhat indelicate question for you." Madam Hamilton began. "It seems that a woman wearing a bathing dress identical to my own - which is impossible as you well know - appeared suddenly near the gentlemen's swimming area. Miranda, I am forced to ask. Did you use Mr. Pastorini's portal?"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Miranda was ready and quickly whipped up a few tears as she dropped her head and nodded in as miserable a fashion as she could manage.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"Oh, Madam," she wailed, quite impressed with the pitiful sound of her own voice. "Oh, I did. I did. I am horribly sorry for my brazen act but oh, Madam, I was in such a state I hardly knew what I was doing."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
She peeked up through her lashes to gauge Madam Hamilton's reaction. Satisfied, she went on, keeping her tone bleak.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"It's my Wendell, madam. We are engaged and well, I am afraid he may be playing me for a fool with a ladies' maid in service at Chatterton House."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Madam gasped. "<em>Mary</em> Chatterton's, in the Queen's Hotel alleyway?"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"Yes, Madam, the very one."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Madam Hamilton frowned. "But what has that to do with ...?"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"Well, Madam." Miranda plunged on, warming to her subject. "I recognized Wendell farther along the beach drawing up horses behind Mrs. Chatterton's bathing machine - you know, the one with the pink door? I wanted to see if he was there with <em>her</em> and thought I might catch them out while Mrs. Chatterton was swimming. But I couldn't think how I could do that and yet remain unseen. Then it came to me. If I used the portal - I know it was wrong of me but I was desperate - I could turn the dial a bit more and be instantly farther along the beach out in the sea, close enough to get a proper view and judge for myself if he was being true to me or not."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ewZWkLBJv0tfVJij7AjsTV0jC0JesEVDUSXdr95q7yozNgikz5oysZkaTRmjfE8tseIx01AZbLJrYO6X2b3fQ0bDpIbLAIDDpf5gc9SWNz4eQt3Am9dh0FvovL0ZcBn-TsDjk-4JbPo/s1600/man,woman,bathing+machine.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ewZWkLBJv0tfVJij7AjsTV0jC0JesEVDUSXdr95q7yozNgikz5oysZkaTRmjfE8tseIx01AZbLJrYO6X2b3fQ0bDpIbLAIDDpf5gc9SWNz4eQt3Am9dh0FvovL0ZcBn-TsDjk-4JbPo/s1600/man,woman,bathing+machine.png" height="411" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Madam raised her eyebrows in understanding and motioned for Miranda to continue, thankfully asking nothing further about the nonexistent Wendell.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"But it all went wrong. I turned the dial too far and the portal shot me out as far along as the gentlemen's beach. Once I realized my appalling mistake I instantly pressed the dial to return through the portal into the bathing house."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"And it worked? You came back unhurt?"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"Yes, Madam. Well, not quite, Madam. I had gone out so far that my return was quite brutal and the portal threw me against the back wall with terrific force. I was severely bruised." </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"I see," Madam said slowly, and then, "You could show me how you turned the dial? So that I don't repeat your error." she added quickly.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Miranda brightened. "Oh yes, Madam. To be sure, Madam."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The next time Miranda accompanied Madam Hamilton to the beach, wisps of steam drifted gently from the brass tubes of the portal's vent holes and she was surprised to see the back wall of the bathing machine heavily reinforced with layers of padding.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"Madam?"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Her mistress had the good grace to redden slightly, then recovered and said in as severe a tone as any good teacher instructing a dull pupil. "Spatial dilation is an imprecise science, Miranda, and mistakes must be anticipated. Now, show me the dial position on the circlet."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-29575219393537901552013-11-14T15:47:00.001-08:002013-11-15T08:25:36.976-08:00Tower of Babel in Babylon : What Did it Really Look Like?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvlrigINdUSI9Fp-MyEHV91vaBZQ2bOfl_kwjxnVyIjMBBNgb7ePqWtEHaq6CdP8VJR-1eMwN52cBsgcRfu8XmUXmTwvgqdRtZehmEEm3Nxfmsgstlqijljg9YmlUWlQrNOzqifc7RU0/s1600/Brueghel-tower-of-babel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvlrigINdUSI9Fp-MyEHV91vaBZQ2bOfl_kwjxnVyIjMBBNgb7ePqWtEHaq6CdP8VJR-1eMwN52cBsgcRfu8XmUXmTwvgqdRtZehmEEm3Nxfmsgstlqijljg9YmlUWlQrNOzqifc7RU0/s1600/Brueghel-tower-of-babel.jpg" height="482" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The precise age of the original Tower of Babel is unknown. When Gertrude Bell visited the archaeological site of Babylon in 1914 she wrote in her diary, <em>"So across the Sahn to the Tower of Babel. We sat on the edge of the pit, looked at it - Etemenanki. The outer brick is all gone - some robbed by Alexander who piled up Hommera with it. They have found half a cylinder here and the other half in Hommera. The sundried brick core is there in part</em>. <em>Within it a core not yet of bricks. I call that old said K</em> (Koldewey, archaeologist responsible for many of the discoveries in Babylon) <em>How</em> <em>old? said I. 10,000, 20,000 years how can I tell. It is one of the oldest temples in Babylonia."</em><br />
<br />
Depictions for The Tower of Babel are similar to the one painted above by Pieter Brueghel the Elder in 1563 - a cone-shaped structure with each tier of reducing size as you ascend. But did it really look like that fanciful creation ? As my novel-in-progress is set in ancient Babylon I looked at what evidence I could find and this is what I learned.<br />
<br />
Founder of the neo-Babylonian dynasty, Nabopolassar (625-605 BC) restored the Babylonian tower during his reign. <em>"The lord Marduk commanded me concerning Etemenanki, the staged tower of Babylon, which before my time had become dilapidated and ruinous, that I should make its foundations secure in the bosom of the nether world, and make its summit like the heavens."</em><br />
<br />
A tablet giving the dimensions of Etemenanki, the ziggurat, dates from <em>'the</em> <em>twenty-sixth day of the ninth month of Seleucus king'</em> , being December 12, 229 BC. After careful study by expert Assyriologists, the cryptic language was interpreted and the first storey calculated to be 295 feet long by 295 feet wide by108 feet high; a perfect square with each of the stages continuing on up in perfect squares of diminishing size. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GBjjeF3K88yyq2Y-M4qNBBvaO19gY_OjYciFFOappXPA45vYy455RDyZ0VpoyHAe159sVGxf9wTFtpE_uXe2Vefcoa-vIg8klgE0_b_JtJBIo9cDMJyk1rnEc7yFAa2Qf9Bj8sIQ3SI/s1600/aerial+view+of+babylon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GBjjeF3K88yyq2Y-M4qNBBvaO19gY_OjYciFFOappXPA45vYy455RDyZ0VpoyHAe159sVGxf9wTFtpE_uXe2Vefcoa-vIg8klgE0_b_JtJBIo9cDMJyk1rnEc7yFAa2Qf9Bj8sIQ3SI/s1600/aerial+view+of+babylon.jpg" height="438" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(aerial view of Babylon - ruin of Etemenanki below arrow - Saddam Hussein's modern palace on top left circular mound, directly across from partial restoration of Nebuchadrezzar's ancient palace complex)</span><br />
<br />
I couldn't think how to envision the actual scale of the thing so I tried to consider it in terms of an average house. The base of the tower was 87,025 square feet so using a 1,500 square foot house as a template you could fit 58 houses in the area taken up by the first stage of the structure. The second level would contain 43 houses, the third 26 houses, the fourth 19 houses, the fifth 12 houses, the sixth 8 houses, the seventh around 4 houses.<br />
<br />
The first stage rose to a height of approximately 5 houses and all seven stages added up to a height of 295 feet, just 5 feet shy of the height of the city walls. However, that was still roughly the height of a 15 storey building. But there was an eighth level without any recorded measurements that would have been the crowning glory of the edifice, a great temple richly appointed in gold. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWROrGJE5rds20U-4wlSU-Wh9fSW6bQru8bNy8wS6-PKbLQi5VZA0-q6cYcjaCLfdtvAlx-saMw8FVlL5Z8bvUnwupAPNGiSI61XJwhglXhPlmh4FLOUT8m_YuLRsmWSkxYmwWlloYMs/s1600/aerial+view+of+ziggurat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWROrGJE5rds20U-4wlSU-Wh9fSW6bQru8bNy8wS6-PKbLQi5VZA0-q6cYcjaCLfdtvAlx-saMw8FVlL5Z8bvUnwupAPNGiSI61XJwhglXhPlmh4FLOUT8m_YuLRsmWSkxYmwWlloYMs/s1600/aerial+view+of+ziggurat.jpg" height="640" width="472" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(closer view of ruins. projecting arm likely the indentation left by a walled road leading up to the structure, probably a ramp-like stairway given the top of the first tier was at a height of about 5 houses! And no elevators.)</span></div>
<br />
But was their interpretation of the measurements correct? Herodotus viewed the ziggurat tower in about 450 BC and he said it was <em>"a solid tower measuring a furlong both in length and breadth, and on this tower another tower has been erected, and another again upon this, and so on up to the number of eight towers. An ascent to these has been built running outside round about all the towers: and when one reaches about the middle of the ascent one finds a stopping-place and seats to rest upon, on which those who ascend sit down and rest:"</em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcf14SGWWgFeNEp0Vfryw9M94PgVxNkdbWnWcQEHwWt5Lo8A96pP1lD2IDZAyfDm9OqcRVcaThxlhT7c3NykB9gsoXdfjDojp7M-SDdmWfhKSF3p7K8MJvEswFReQOo0Lc-j-kxCJrNg/s1600/ruins+of+tower+of+babel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcf14SGWWgFeNEp0Vfryw9M94PgVxNkdbWnWcQEHwWt5Lo8A96pP1lD2IDZAyfDm9OqcRVcaThxlhT7c3NykB9gsoXdfjDojp7M-SDdmWfhKSF3p7K8MJvEswFReQOo0Lc-j-kxCJrNg/s1600/ruins+of+tower+of+babel.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
Now a furlong is 660 feet, not 295 feet, or about an eighth of a mile so Herodotus thought it was much larger. Still square though. Who is correct? We may never know. All in all the thing was massive and easily visible over the city walls by any traveler approaching Babylon. Pretty cool.<br />
<br />
Above is the ruin of The Tower of Babel as seen from ground level. Not very impressive. The rubble at the bottom right <em>could</em> be the remains of a walled walkway leading into the tower's precinct or, if Herodotus is to be believed, possibly into an enormous temple that enclosed the tower, but don't quote me on that. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh163jweqk7YdkokrcbbwR1SWnD41bWn514y4fRxd3fX_QvMiur3Dh_2kT3nsfEhXgaIKsMpuA9OR2X40Ci3CogqNMbEg3f60PgEqiZSfd22MTorRs3Dgt9oZo__YkKCsTNtSkyZyzmVQg/s1600/Ur+ziggurat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh163jweqk7YdkokrcbbwR1SWnD41bWn514y4fRxd3fX_QvMiur3Dh_2kT3nsfEhXgaIKsMpuA9OR2X40Ci3CogqNMbEg3f60PgEqiZSfd22MTorRs3Dgt9oZo__YkKCsTNtSkyZyzmVQg/s1600/Ur+ziggurat.jpg" height="448" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Ur Ziggurat)</span><br />
<br />
The ziggurat at Ur is probably closer to the design of The Tower of Babel, Etemenanki. While only the foundation survived, Saddam Hussein partially reconstructed its façade and staircase. Hussein's intention was to rebuild it with three terrace levels but it was never completed. You can see the original ruin projecting out of the rebuilt portion at the top. The Ur ziggurat's foundation was only 31,500 square feet - enormous but less than half the footprint of the Babylon tower. It is speculated that it would have been around 100 feet high so again, not nearly as lofty.Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-14628324547437864002013-11-09T17:06:00.002-08:002013-11-13T08:37:00.220-08:00Hanging Gardens of Babylon: Did They Exist?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahYA_shy4e1MmvT63Bkik-IuHIqYxKgYm5DPHsKDRaloNvvOJlzMZpG-7sAMf8H8_cGrt1ExGIxwGtwB_Y8qnxaVhKnveH4L2a94Tgyhr0OqrUU1VRih7sYHnDMC6kZY7tcmmGa4qN_4/s1600/hanging_gardens_of_babylon_by_batkya-d3d1mxr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahYA_shy4e1MmvT63Bkik-IuHIqYxKgYm5DPHsKDRaloNvvOJlzMZpG-7sAMf8H8_cGrt1ExGIxwGtwB_Y8qnxaVhKnveH4L2a94Tgyhr0OqrUU1VRih7sYHnDMC6kZY7tcmmGa4qN_4/s1600/hanging_gardens_of_babylon_by_batkya-d3d1mxr.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">digital art by Sergy Lekhachev</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
Elevated gardens probably did, but likely not in Babylon. Too bad because I wanted to include the gardens in the novel I'm currently writing set in ancient Babylon. Sadly research not only confirms the things we've always 'known', it also destroys some of our romantic notions.<br />
<br />
Early in my research I came across the diary of Gertrude Bell, a British writer and adventurer who accompanied Robert Johann Koldewey, the German architect and archaeologist who became famous for excavating much of Babylon.<br />
<br />
On March 31, 1914 Gertrude wrote, <em>"So we went to Esagila (</em>temple of Marduk, patron god of Babylon<em>). The outer lines of the temple have been found by subterranean diggings. They have left the inner cella which K (</em>Koldewey<em>) wants to dig out completely. So down to the Parthian houses which he would very much like to dig. <strong>The very long colonnade is possibly an agora. The Hanging Gardens were built by Nebuch. for a Susan. wife to remind her of her mountains! But the gardens were not planted high up. They were low down beneath the vaulted substructures. It is still possible that they may be found in the Babil mound."</strong></em><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADvFa3L_GFBNlzUk3CXQXxwdNBb9Gf7j2JjCNj-psWrrjkZFjCfO3_JYMhBGBkUGeXfoRp_rIN4TJd8-tu3FaUq4NoKwTFUJ_a99LiumZ7XvnZJG1T89Y4eyEismIPmw6c8KFZYnvJ1Q/s1600/supposed+site+of+hanging+gardens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADvFa3L_GFBNlzUk3CXQXxwdNBb9Gf7j2JjCNj-psWrrjkZFjCfO3_JYMhBGBkUGeXfoRp_rIN4TJd8-tu3FaUq4NoKwTFUJ_a99LiumZ7XvnZJG1T89Y4eyEismIPmw6c8KFZYnvJ1Q/s1600/supposed+site+of+hanging+gardens.jpg" height="640" width="632" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">supposed site of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon - photo by Raymond Kleboe</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Although a vaulted structure was found at the northeast corner of Babylon's massive southern palace, its fourteen large rooms and thick walls probably housed a royal storehouse. A Babylonian ration list was found within the structure, confirming its logical use. Instead of being the underpinnings for the magnificent Hanging Gardens it was likely merely a giant storage facility</span>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
The Greek historian, Herodotus, supposedly visited Babylon around 450BC but in describing all the amazing buildings and sites of the city he did not mention the Hanging Gardens, which according to legend would have been magnificent and higher than the city's soaring walls.<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
So, how did the story start? Where did it come from? Stephanie Dalley in <em>The Mystery of the</em> <em>Hanging</em> <em>Gardens of Babylon: An Elusive World Wonder Traced</em>, posited an interesting theory. That Josephus, the first century historian, may have been misled by a novelist! How cool. A writer living in south-west Turkey in the first century wrote a novel containing the theme of a woman abroad, crossing the Euphrates from the west and homesick for her native land.<br />
<br />
The theme of homesickness is unknown and unlikely in Babylonian and Assyrian literature and Babylonian gardens were described as being set in flat areas. However, the description <em>does</em> match a type of elevated garden made in Nineveh at the palace of Khorsabad by Sargon II, father of Sennacherib. He said, <em>"a high garden imitating the Amanus mountains in which are planted all the aromatic trees of northern Syria, all the mountain's fruits, I created alongside (Khorsabad)"</em><br />
<em></em><br />
A stone panel carved in bas-relief and found in the palace of Sargon at Khorsabad, shows such a garden, possibly even the very garden he described. Here it is below. The carving is difficult to make out so I've also included a drawing I found that makes it easier to see and enjoy.<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnroJK-P01pQFUaDUkwpccbCNR40eqQByBHnEGUQLktr6N1YwNy1T-MAOM0OrPfu8nuAoCxOle2yVt5Fv5_BnPw3NLHvz_kWBtKk7GkCM05PXDdJPVbAtbjtqvT-oLSpw5dFBnninyqY/s1600/hanging+garden+relief.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnroJK-P01pQFUaDUkwpccbCNR40eqQByBHnEGUQLktr6N1YwNy1T-MAOM0OrPfu8nuAoCxOle2yVt5Fv5_BnPw3NLHvz_kWBtKk7GkCM05PXDdJPVbAtbjtqvT-oLSpw5dFBnninyqY/s1600/hanging+garden+relief.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOC-7OU427vpUeDQ56KuQZV4CRctotoHDWTQAFSUz5l9xtwHYssEXIvntb5xER5u4elnzHFRfC6LfLoI4ku7CFmA8Fxi07dcbTWszDP1sSJkYbR4q-58A0Cy3KeFsCxvwHzP8eB5p2Ccc/s1600/Assyrian+interpretation+of+garden.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOC-7OU427vpUeDQ56KuQZV4CRctotoHDWTQAFSUz5l9xtwHYssEXIvntb5xER5u4elnzHFRfC6LfLoI4ku7CFmA8Fxi07dcbTWszDP1sSJkYbR4q-58A0Cy3KeFsCxvwHzP8eB5p2Ccc/s1600/Assyrian+interpretation+of+garden.gif" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
But what did Nebuchadnezzar have to say about it? Nothing. Nothing at all. Found by Sir Harford Jones Bridges in Babylon, an engraved column of black basalt bears Nebuchadnezzar's own description of his building efforts. And while he mentions the walls he rebuilt and fortified, the gates, temples, shrines and palaces he built, there is no mention of any garden. Discovered to the north of the palace was an enormous elevated reservoir. For the garden? Evidently not. After detailing his rebuilding of the <em>palace of My Royalty for the land of Babylon</em> he simply says, <em>and a depth of waters I collected</em>.<br />
<br />
Below is a photo of a vaulted water conduit next to the palace taken by Gertrude Bell while she was in Babylon. This conduit likely carried the water from the reservoir into the palace buildings.<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV071f3jz81EJwCszHxQTdJiwYS00-4W6cNpLGxywCQbu-pWmn4y_3V8jfQkYs3szh3PKw3eEDCf5J6MYPSGOVozAY72-WXx9V9RpE3MWJPswz5Xw5s_aPRhRPFTd46FLtq7qae5y_rGU/s1600/vaulted+water+conduit-palace+of+Nebuchadnezzar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV071f3jz81EJwCszHxQTdJiwYS00-4W6cNpLGxywCQbu-pWmn4y_3V8jfQkYs3szh3PKw3eEDCf5J6MYPSGOVozAY72-WXx9V9RpE3MWJPswz5Xw5s_aPRhRPFTd46FLtq7qae5y_rGU/s1600/vaulted+water+conduit-palace+of+Nebuchadnezzar.jpg" height="640" width="534" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
The legend of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon is no doubt untrue, as it is unsupported by archaeology or the kings of Sumer and Akkad. Disappointing but I guess it's better to get your facts straight before attempting to write historical fiction. Fictitious characters are fine, fictitious history not so much.Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-83171116515873840792013-11-01T12:48:00.001-07:002013-11-13T08:38:28.791-08:00UNICORN DROPPINGS - A Short StoryI'd become a pretty good thief. I started slow, testing the waters so to speak. A wallet here, a wallet there. At parties small valuables disappeared but I was never suspected. It wasn't that I needed the money for myself. It was my wife. Now there was a girl who needed money, and lots of it. Magenta. Who names their kid Magenta?<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong. She was a beautiful woman and beautiful women are high maintenance. I just hadn't realized how high. I made a fairly decent living but she was draining me pretty good. Once the bloom was off the rose I realized I'd made a huge mistake.<br />
<br />
But to satisfy Magenta's demands and keep us out of the poorhouse, my life of crime began. And I would have gladly continued if she'd spent the money on something normal - clothes, jewellery, even cosmetic surgery. But no. She had this ridiculous obsession with unicorns. A unicorn picture hung over our bed. I had to sleep under that thing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXjQBTGbMW43poGE3tkQCbbsi8uwG7-VpNQy9bGpLi1FhKLbmOQrqoLb4bw5cQUoHTyHNK5RRJfxbTpFzE41X5WPUhAPk-MAgQy_FgbTwg3GmQ0sukU2_cqclVmsV-J7thfHlKYlncAo/s1600/Unicorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXjQBTGbMW43poGE3tkQCbbsi8uwG7-VpNQy9bGpLi1FhKLbmOQrqoLb4bw5cQUoHTyHNK5RRJfxbTpFzE41X5WPUhAPk-MAgQy_FgbTwg3GmQ0sukU2_cqclVmsV-J7thfHlKYlncAo/s1600/Unicorn.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">image from </span><a href="http://www.bingebehavior.com/"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">www.bingebehavior.com</span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left">
She painted her nails with something called 'unicorn droppings'.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHrYpiZIdgnnA2Bmf7uAVuUajg802P8eKeJRFFHbukJrq4zs5I0VBZOHxL7fzFxU48BrjxtiOhOFt7nNY74T7X6SiT0qinfpBGLf1Mz-1wjd0PIGC4c-zxPD4BHnOOg8GNcjh_lNHRDs/s1600/unicorn+droppings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHrYpiZIdgnnA2Bmf7uAVuUajg802P8eKeJRFFHbukJrq4zs5I0VBZOHxL7fzFxU48BrjxtiOhOFt7nNY74T7X6SiT0qinfpBGLf1Mz-1wjd0PIGC4c-zxPD4BHnOOg8GNcjh_lNHRDs/s1600/unicorn+droppings.jpg" height="300" unselectable="on" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">image from </span><a href="http://www.nailedobsession.com/"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">www.nailedobsession.com</span></a><br />
<br />
She chewed 'unicorn poop' bubblegum. She doesn't even like gum.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNnR9zHAwoODabtiWqZg3xkCMKUDmBCLARMkJiu9zOMULF4btRgQM30O2lpWiyWYhGVIG9l3-7NXnD4WPtt-h0R-0aVc7OUhFO5w7_-GYpkRDWqJB9oke3mZwyjY_h3i4brxgGb64r8U/s1600/unicornpoop-bubblegum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNnR9zHAwoODabtiWqZg3xkCMKUDmBCLARMkJiu9zOMULF4btRgQM30O2lpWiyWYhGVIG9l3-7NXnD4WPtt-h0R-0aVc7OUhFO5w7_-GYpkRDWqJB9oke3mZwyjY_h3i4brxgGb64r8U/s1600/unicornpoop-bubblegum.jpg" height="320" width="316" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">image from </span><a href="http://www.baronbob.com/"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">www.BaronBob.com</span></a><br />
<br />
<span id="goog_834379223"></span><span id="goog_834379224"></span> </div>
<div align="left">
When she started on the statuary though, I knew I was in trouble.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHen8RTCQa5kq3P6Z-fH2cdTDJaES5zOJa2bZk0YeYPM594UcgpbSReHChd2WZ4BvCIUBlLNcb1_mXSufgMLtKWJxi5VzdSvkImEyMuYAraR5F2SYPVOW5OIUxs6v5TKazxY5d5JEvBA/s1600/Unicorn+statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHen8RTCQa5kq3P6Z-fH2cdTDJaES5zOJa2bZk0YeYPM594UcgpbSReHChd2WZ4BvCIUBlLNcb1_mXSufgMLtKWJxi5VzdSvkImEyMuYAraR5F2SYPVOW5OIUxs6v5TKazxY5d5JEvBA/s1600/Unicorn+statue.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> image from </span><a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;">www.dreamstime.com</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"Dahling", she said. She never pronounced the 'r'. I don't know why.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"Dahling", she said, "I simply must have this. The garden absolutely cries out for such a magnificent beast. Don't you think?"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I didn't think but I plastered a brave smile on my face and vowed that this was going to be over - and soon. I just couldn't take it any longer. So I upped my game, began hitting jewellery stores. Magenta had no idea that while I dutifully doled out money so she could buy her crazy unicorn stuff, I was also accumulating a small fortune for myself. I fantasized about leaving her high and dry with her bizarre unicorn collection. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And my plan was going great. I had a pile of cash and unset gems crammed into my office wall safe. I could taste freedom. I was daydreaming in front of the open safe when the unthinkable happened. Magenta walked into my office. She<em> never</em> came into my office. She said watching me work made her head hurt.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"What do you have there, dahling?" Magenta's voice was smooth and honeyed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was speechless. Horrified.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
She reached out a spotty-nailed hand to the gemstones spilling from the safe's top shelf. "Wasn't Braemar's Jewellers robbed last night?" she asked, idly sifting through the colorful, glittering pile.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'd forgotten how to put words together and I gibbered unintelligibly.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
She looked at me. "What did you say? What <em>are</em> these?"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At last I found my voice and blurted out."They're unicorn droppings." </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I grinned foolishly. Who would ever buy that? What an idiot.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dumbly I watched as Magenta scooped up a handful of gems. I followed her out the door and into our bedroom where she crossed to the bedside table sitting under that stupid unicorn picture. She opened her purse, exposing a short stack of twenty dollar bills, then sprinkled the stones over the cash.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was confused and I guess it showed on my face for Magenta gave me a slow, long-lashed wink and said, "Fertilizer, dahling. Fertilizer." </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span id="goog_1086479615"></span><span id="goog_1086479616"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This short story is in response to the Absolute Write November blog chain prompt 'unicorn droppings'.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My fellow participants are:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
orion_mk3 - <a href="http://nonexistentbooks.wordpress.com/">http://nonexistentbooks.wordpress.com</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
sweetwheat - <a href="http://gomezkarla.blogspot.com/">http://gomezkarla.blogspot.com</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
skunkmelons - <a href="http://www.jenniferponce.com/skunkblog">http://www.jenniferponce.com/skunkblog</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
BB Burke - <a href="http://www.awritersprogression.com/">http://www.awritersprogression.com</a><br />
julzperri - <a href="http://fishandfrivolity.blogspot.com.au/">http://fishandfrivolity.blogspot.com.au</a><br />
Sudo_One- <a href="http://sudoone.wordpress.com/">http://sudoone.wordpress.com</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_1460685708"></span><span id="goog_1460685709"></span> </div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
<span id="goog_1420392891"></span><span id="goog_1420392892"></span> </div>
<div align="left">
</div>
Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-82886773055303119012013-10-26T15:09:00.000-07:002013-10-26T15:14:38.742-07:00Out of the Mouths of BabesRecently, after reading Jenny Schoberl's blog post at <a href="http://holdinholden.com/">Holdin' Holden</a> about her kids' restaurant antics I started thinking about my own children in similar situations. Our daughter, Kimberly, loved going to restaurants. Mind you, something must have gone very wrong when her bladder was forming because it seemed to be the size of a grape seed. Eventually I became suspicious of the never ending trips to the bathroom when the four year old spent more time dawdling past tables smiling and flirting with male patrons than she did using the facilities.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxXgLW0taucQn5taFrDhpOGwUlB0JM0o2YaNSXYuyGNVIjYiSMHQzvbyR4HKNtVO1P7EuKXc5me5eeLz2_N5zT-H8QYfzFgnPRinp23Bu7nh7xW_dylTmB9mAkJFeFOFssPAhYa-pdx4/s1600/busy+restaurant.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxXgLW0taucQn5taFrDhpOGwUlB0JM0o2YaNSXYuyGNVIjYiSMHQzvbyR4HKNtVO1P7EuKXc5me5eeLz2_N5zT-H8QYfzFgnPRinp23Bu7nh7xW_dylTmB9mAkJFeFOFssPAhYa-pdx4/s1600/busy+restaurant.png" height="299" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
At six years old,our son Ryan was an extremely sophisticated diner. While his sister ordered regular kid meals like cheese pizza or fries and a glass of pop, Ryan eschewed such pedestrian fare in favor of Szechuan shrimp and bottled mineral water. Imagine his disgust then, when we went for a quick bite at a local fast food restaurant with only burgers on the menu. He detailed his choice explicitly, what he wanted and what he didn't want.<br />
<br />
We no sooner sat down to eat in the crowded restaurant than Ryan whipped the top bun off of his burger, pointed an accusing finger and yelled loud enough to be heard a mile away. "What is<em> that</em>?"<br />
Conversation stopped and all eyes turned our way. What horrors lay beneath that innocent-looking bun? Mouse terds? Giant spider legs? Nope. A slice of tomato. Did I say? He loathed tomatoes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhao5nVIg3etqkalnXZ2xVxAvpYNgCAoQkVqpC_ecf74GaZ8vgQ3G-AnJoYoBZwpHuqDzCRiEk09ci-KdhuP0pfTq39tMM3Ewls8e59ZETGZMrf_AgN6EPPjjCicaG79k1Yze-oTDJ-o0c/s1600/Vancouver-Airport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhao5nVIg3etqkalnXZ2xVxAvpYNgCAoQkVqpC_ecf74GaZ8vgQ3G-AnJoYoBZwpHuqDzCRiEk09ci-KdhuP0pfTq39tMM3Ewls8e59ZETGZMrf_AgN6EPPjjCicaG79k1Yze-oTDJ-o0c/s1600/Vancouver-Airport.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Restaurants weren't the only public places for shaming one's parents. No, not by a long shot. Airports were great too. Our family was at Vancouver International Airport - can't remember if we were waiting to board or if we were meeting someone - I've tried to forget. Anyway, my husband and I and the kids were milling around to pass the time. How can I phrase this in a politically correct way? (We Canadians are all about political correctness - well most of us anyway) There was a midget. He seemed to be showcased. He was standing in the middle of a large area with plenty of space around him, the rest of the terminal occupants on the fringes. When I saw him I prayed Ryan would not. No such luck. Ryan zeroed in on him at once. As soon as I noticed Ryan notice him and make a move toward him I began slowly backing away. I suspected what was coming and I didn't want anyone to realize he belonged to me. I'd seen that look on his face before. Quizzical, on the verge of speech. Hands on hips, Ryan circled the small man a couple of times and then addressed him directly, once again in that voice that carries well beyond what was required for everyone in the vicinity to hear him.<br />
"Do you know you're short?"<br />
<br />
Now generally little people are used to the curiosity of children but this guy was not amused in the least. His travelling companion was however and roared with laughter, making things worse. My husband rushed over, swept up Ryan and apologized then came back to me and whispered. "Chicken." He'd seen me <em>saunter</em> for cover.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyeY0c-poq-Kcb1me6tDevho30WM8OzOQI0-DB8SenERxYumgWB2VSXebFhDfqbad3xHR0JhGxoMVsCWDXnfnMuXPGJQIRHZMAHcJfDco1VTE6H83V5P_9CgdzXxfdnNH4hdY6C_suf8/s1600/coffee-mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyeY0c-poq-Kcb1me6tDevho30WM8OzOQI0-DB8SenERxYumgWB2VSXebFhDfqbad3xHR0JhGxoMVsCWDXnfnMuXPGJQIRHZMAHcJfDco1VTE6H83V5P_9CgdzXxfdnNH4hdY6C_suf8/s1600/coffee-mug.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
One should be safe from embarrassment in your own home shouldn't you? Home sweet home. Where you're protected and loved and sheltered. Hah. We were enjoying an after dinner cup of coffee with some friends we hadn't seen in a while, reminiscing and laughing, when Ryan came into the room. I looked at him. He was looking at them. With that look. Great. What was it <em>this</em> time? Ryan walked right up to our friends. Not shy, our boy. While they waited politely for him to speak, he inspected first one and then the other then opened his mouth and out came, "Are you guys ever fat!"<br />
<br />
I inhaled my mouthful of coffee and began to choke. My husband smiled - ever so slightly. Our friends, momentarily lost for words just stared at him. Finally the husband spoke up. "Yeah, we are, aren't we." And laughed. Disaster averted.<br />
<br />
One of the coolest things about kids is that they say exactly what they think. One of the mortifying things about kids is that they say exactly what they think.Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-46106439215341610332013-10-19T15:46:00.001-07:002013-11-13T08:43:10.502-08:00Writing and Scribes in Ancient Babylon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCsRJJ7JL_D7V6NCqkj4m20IzJdLV7KLCs7ytghFmLTvsObuxihvidLWmh0hQT647o3RI1PRlCwS5FMVmnbEjVjl34VcjbcyiPbLVZXHcGQURG6CDzBpouGiQAkrGI78dy20RPxZkCNg/s1600/tablet+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCsRJJ7JL_D7V6NCqkj4m20IzJdLV7KLCs7ytghFmLTvsObuxihvidLWmh0hQT647o3RI1PRlCwS5FMVmnbEjVjl34VcjbcyiPbLVZXHcGQURG6CDzBpouGiQAkrGI78dy20RPxZkCNg/s1600/tablet+house.jpg" height="640" width="456" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
As far as is presently known, writing began in Sumer, in ancient Mesopotamia, around 3000BC. Evolving from pictography, cuneiform (wedge-shaped) made use of the fluted end of a reed to form characters with sharp jabs and tails that looked a lot like nails. The stylus was pressed into the soft clay of cushion shaped tablets and then left out to dry. Documents requiring permanency were baked in an oven.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9bPv8llPXYuw8X8eZ8qq0-JKd1zilAf6Qi4P5G-FCFP7Egjdq98zQpQquxrCAClQuSMGHbM-0UlBsKvEh0JaARLqeXXkTa3dIYnTjncZMC7H26I7buh0FujxebDo220RtosQmxR0qUE/s1600/cuneiform-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9bPv8llPXYuw8X8eZ8qq0-JKd1zilAf6Qi4P5G-FCFP7Egjdq98zQpQquxrCAClQuSMGHbM-0UlBsKvEh0JaARLqeXXkTa3dIYnTjncZMC7H26I7buh0FujxebDo220RtosQmxR0qUE/s1600/cuneiform-2.jpg" height="336" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
The most important man in ancient Mesopotamia was the scribe. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx13B-gp7OCBnwPxD_ngyPI1hxj-GsET3FIhYYc37A_xhaj8hALFSZmjFijYFplACiV_ksoMzHdav0UVctsS74AkWStQZeiMCdDb_cpZenjlXNGIHK2toQx_oh1F7tyPG_PGUypv8IL7E/s1600/meso_scribe.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx13B-gp7OCBnwPxD_ngyPI1hxj-GsET3FIhYYc37A_xhaj8hALFSZmjFijYFplACiV_ksoMzHdav0UVctsS74AkWStQZeiMCdDb_cpZenjlXNGIHK2toQx_oh1F7tyPG_PGUypv8IL7E/s1600/meso_scribe.gif" height="300" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Education was generally a privilege restricted to the sons of the wealthy, who could afford to maintain an unproductive child for a long period. Pictured at the top is the school for scribes known as the tablet house. Young boys began their training as early as 5 to 7 years of age. I can't imagine sitting on those hard seats all day every day. The little dishes you see on the floor were for mixing clay with water to make new tablets.<br />
<br />
In a discovered tablet from Ur a young pupil complained of having only six days of freedom in a month. Their long days were spent copying out and memorizing lists of names, technical terms, and legal phrases plus grammar and mathematics. Corporal punishment was meted out liberally and, needless to say, rebellion among the students was frequent. A scribe's education lasted well into young adulthood. Some poor boys did not have a real head for it as evidenced in this excerpt from a 'school days' text.<br />
<br />
<em>"What have you done, what good came of your sitting here? You are already a ripe man and close to being aged! Like an old ass you are not teachable any more. Like withered grain you have passed the season. How long will you play around? But, it is still not too late! If you study night and day and work all the time modestly and without arrogance, if you listen to your colleagues and teachers, you still can become a scribe!"</em><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(from <em>City Invincible</em> by C.H. Kraeling and R.M. Adams, Chicago)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNx09b7yp3RTMU2sM9XMXtGj4LCuL01YAvjUh9e3aXrsuvOV68MklFGfQKCfOEMIr8vhir28fHTk1L3aPuYbFICy3KT003h9I56KP0Rlk0ApN3EJugwoRmIvEDDN5GuOGAyASW3wBYDE/s1600/code+of+hammurabi-louvre-france.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNx09b7yp3RTMU2sM9XMXtGj4LCuL01YAvjUh9e3aXrsuvOV68MklFGfQKCfOEMIr8vhir28fHTk1L3aPuYbFICy3KT003h9I56KP0Rlk0ApN3EJugwoRmIvEDDN5GuOGAyASW3wBYDE/s1600/code+of+hammurabi-louvre-france.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Probably the most famous of all cuneiform texts is the Code of Hammurabi. Inscribed on diorite rock, the stele is in the shape of a huge index finger. The original is currently on display in The Louvre. This Babylonian law code dates back to about 1722BC and is the longest surviving cuneiform text from the Old Babylonian period. The so-called 'fingernail' at the top of the stele shows King Hammurabi standing before Shamash, god of law and justice.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30iuTuMyoDIs34mL539xKzYnla_5ct68UlyvxkdGUxLmHYvyNzN05cLj3rQwJAovYe7V9I_JQLR-UkST_kGETuyATqxCBr31aMkaH0bl3XEoHRZmURqc6gpbefjQZ2Kr_HEaGg4pYS3Y/s1600/hammurabi+up+close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30iuTuMyoDIs34mL539xKzYnla_5ct68UlyvxkdGUxLmHYvyNzN05cLj3rQwJAovYe7V9I_JQLR-UkST_kGETuyATqxCBr31aMkaH0bl3XEoHRZmURqc6gpbefjQZ2Kr_HEaGg4pYS3Y/s1600/hammurabi+up+close.jpg" height="233" width="400" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1234153810"></span><span id="goog_1234153811"></span><br />
Here is a close-up of the stele. Thanks to the hard rock on which the code was carved it has survived extremely well don't you think?<br />
<br />
In the preface to his law code, King Hammurabi says,<br />
<em>"Anu and Bel called by name me, Hammurabi, exalted prince, who feared God, to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and evil-doers so that the strong should not harm the weak; so that I should rule all of the black-headed people like Shamash and enlighten the land, to further the well-being of mankind."</em><br />
<br />
Four of the laws found on the stele are:<br />
<br />
<em>"If any one break a hole into a house (break in to steal) he shall be put to death before that hole and be buried."</em><br />
<em>"If a 'sister of a god' open a tavern, or enter a tavern to drink, then shall this woman be burned to death."</em><br />
<em>"If a man's wife be surprised (in flagrento dilecto) with another man, both shall be tied and thrown into the water, but the husband may pardon his wife and the king his slaves."</em><br />
<em>"If a son strike his father, his hands shall be hewn off."</em><br />
<br />
Pretty serious stuff as is Hammurabi's final demand at the conclusion of the 282 laws that all future kings pay attention. An enormous litany of curses are rained upon any king who doesn't observe his laws exactly or puts his own image on the monument or defaces it in any way. Hammurabi's last words on the stele are,<br />
<em>"May Bel curse him with the potent curses of his mouth that cannot be altered, and may they come upon him forthwith."</em><br />
<br />
Guess it's no wonder the monument has survived. Yikes.<br />
<br />Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779268887359554414.post-80088578930785031762013-10-14T15:27:00.000-07:002013-10-14T18:39:19.353-07:00ProcrastinationI've found that keeping a blog is a terrific procrastination tool. While I <em>should</em> be working on my novel, I'm checking pageviews by country - Belarus? Really? - blog traffic sources - referring urls and sites - anyone know how to block a porn site? I'm even looking at browsers and operating systems. How ridiculous is that.<br />
<br />
I never dreamed when I started this blog a couple of months ago that it would consume so much of my time. And I have precious little of it.<br />
<br />
We have a home-based business so work is pretty much 24-7. Okay, this isn't me and it might not be quite this bad but it's getting there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoXXfUgdlxs6s6VaxeG34f_PNeMe4j6C8R_JfxnNavOlUHr_2uMSVolsy1enwvTr_fbSBY2rJIyM_iiYkC1ZKiOrXHXzNHbTQPSsMYMG3grQC8PGt_FrusYsz9PtfzSpOlaVLkLXQRrs/s1600/14903423-businesswoman-overloaded-with-papers-at-the-messy-office.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoXXfUgdlxs6s6VaxeG34f_PNeMe4j6C8R_JfxnNavOlUHr_2uMSVolsy1enwvTr_fbSBY2rJIyM_iiYkC1ZKiOrXHXzNHbTQPSsMYMG3grQC8PGt_FrusYsz9PtfzSpOlaVLkLXQRrs/s1600/14903423-businesswoman-overloaded-with-papers-at-the-messy-office.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
And my frustration level is pretty much like this woman's and the mess - yeah - my desk gets like this.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9ZWPi8hRWUdLktdIR1tesgOVNlFTtnsqarluG0YgMI5QDJCvC9QEu55fK4f0mEdUMA11qzofUB1lmN2dqkbRI1nAGinKxtzAnc9w_dkJI59TFWASiDo11mbbH35VPALBRX3heeLjfq8/s1600/5478020-businesswoman-in-her-office-and-flying-paper-sheets-green-background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9ZWPi8hRWUdLktdIR1tesgOVNlFTtnsqarluG0YgMI5QDJCvC9QEu55fK4f0mEdUMA11qzofUB1lmN2dqkbRI1nAGinKxtzAnc9w_dkJI59TFWASiDo11mbbH35VPALBRX3heeLjfq8/s1600/5478020-businesswoman-in-her-office-and-flying-paper-sheets-green-background.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I need to be working on my novel. Did I say that? Between blog stuff and work stuff I don't have much time for writing.<br />
<br />
No, I don't write on this. That's not what's slowing me down. Although I think you need finger muscles like a body builder to type on one of these old beauties.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoOcnpFcTC5UTX3ZB6kSFfuI6MBq5Pq87uNIvj8os8chi6NlEneQGuISB9ESALJim6_U6T9pLdeOZkZhV_KbZ6Q-ztzn-_1eORaOgvkpZ8b4cJSgp0U8UIITNWLiMbh9-VmJoSr04lIw/s1600/Old+Typewriter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoOcnpFcTC5UTX3ZB6kSFfuI6MBq5Pq87uNIvj8os8chi6NlEneQGuISB9ESALJim6_U6T9pLdeOZkZhV_KbZ6Q-ztzn-_1eORaOgvkpZ8b4cJSgp0U8UIITNWLiMbh9-VmJoSr04lIw/s1600/Old+Typewriter.jpg" height="292" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I sometimes use pencils but not these although there are people who think using pencils is about as archaic as using quills. Shame on you. The smell of freshly sharpened pencils - heavenly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Dixf1zZnKLb9ka6mvHpsmZUb1FYBfu4jnBbfIiqGba3WsxIcIcfwLs4tM8IXP3iG5lOfZEhetF7C8XvVHWwBpDamhZuPDCi4-dBjqgfbcFJXcMt7GYT0tGnhHhtJ05iMsZ8qC1iQNV8/s1600/Writing+Desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Dixf1zZnKLb9ka6mvHpsmZUb1FYBfu4jnBbfIiqGba3WsxIcIcfwLs4tM8IXP3iG5lOfZEhetF7C8XvVHWwBpDamhZuPDCi4-dBjqgfbcFJXcMt7GYT0tGnhHhtJ05iMsZ8qC1iQNV8/s1600/Writing+Desk.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And even though I'm writing about ancient Babylon I haven't resorted to clay tablets, even if the scribes in my story have to use them. Hm-m-m, would be kinda fun to try though. Maybe I'll see if I can't find some clay and.....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWixynrLewluO7IKmMtsI7fIuA-tAU_RF6O2cpYbbMvPKTlEn4UjSSYTGsm3d96MSqLvqHaeaamaUcnw5gSGqidXa1O_NsL2QjpevRz-JReP4GMr4r3iHqBMlssTyjDSqRTt7t3BvfBQ/s1600/ger137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWixynrLewluO7IKmMtsI7fIuA-tAU_RF6O2cpYbbMvPKTlEn4UjSSYTGsm3d96MSqLvqHaeaamaUcnw5gSGqidXa1O_NsL2QjpevRz-JReP4GMr4r3iHqBMlssTyjDSqRTt7t3BvfBQ/s1600/ger137.jpg" height="303" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
No, it's just that I'm WASTING TIME. I'm procrastinating. And blogging related obsessions aren't the only problem. I have other procrastination tools as well - in fact, my toolbox is full. Can't write, need to take the garbage cans out to the locked shed so the bears, racoons, dogs (insert pest) don't get into them. Can't write, need to take the laundry out of the dryer because I keep forgetting it, I've put it on 'steam refresh' three times and it's going to shrink to the size of babies' pjs. Can't write, getting company and have to see if there's any food in the fridge left to cook with and if not run out and get something amazing or at least edible. Can't write, have to bath the dog and it takes the stealth of an international spy to set out the bath things without him catching on the water is running for <em>him</em>. And on and on it goes. <br />
<br />
Blogging is a new and shiny tool which calls for some self-imposed restrictions. Sadly the bills need to be paid so work has to come first. My novel is my next biggest priority so if I'm on a roll my blog will have to take a back seat. I. Need. More. Hours. In. My. Day!!!<br />
<br />
I just saw an ad for an Irish whiskey called 'Writers Tears'. Sounds like something I could use about now. Join me?Linneahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948858387319711099noreply@blogger.com3