Birthstone Ruby: "Forged In Fire"

The ancient Greeks referred to rubies as “anthrax”, meaning “coal”, because they thought the gems originated from heavenly fire, maybe from Hephaistos’ smithy. The divine heat would still be inclosed in the stone, so it could well be that water would boil if you threw a ruby in it. (Quite confusingly, anthrax is also the name of a deadly disease, referring to coal-black lesions on the skin.) Throughout the centuries, rubies have been associated with blood, and they were used to stop hemorrhages. Metaphysically, they stand for love, passion and romance, but also for anger and danger. As well as for power and wealth of course, when used in a crown. Ruby red is supposed to evoke feelings of lust, excitement, love and power. Sports teams in red perform better on average than teams in other colours... And to top it off, a ruby will predict the future, losing its luster when disaster is impending. The Greek philosopher Theophrastos discerned two variations: a male and a female one. Guess how he saw a difference: the female one would be lighter and – yes – less bright. Shiny things with gender issues, that’s all Greek to me!​ Back to July overview

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Birthstone Carnelian: "The Singer's Stone"

Carnelian is derived from the latin “carnis”, meaning flesh. This semi-precious stone has been popular since antiquity. The Egyptians associated it with their sun god Ra, and used it abundantly. Because of their blood red colour, wearing it would work as a general invigorator. Carnelians have always been considered lucky stones, and were coveted talismans throughout the ages. Even the 19th century German poet Goethe wrote about them: “Carnelian is a talisman, it brings good luck to child and man. It drives away all evil things, to thee and thine protection brings.” Carnelians were not exorbitantly expensive, and were commonly used for signet rings, as they’re easy to cut and hot wax doesn’t stick to them. In ancient societies, were the spoken word was of utmost importance, orators would wear a carnelian under their clothes for encouragement. Today, as the “singer’s stone”, it’s still associated with creativity and self-expression, and worn by rather famous artists. Back to July overview

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Zodiac Sign Cancer: "A Hard Shell"

​The Cancer myth is just a footnote in the story of Herakles’ twelve labours. For his second task, he had to slay the Lernaean Hydra, the monster that guarded one of the entrances of the underworld, lake Lerna. For each of her nine heads that Herakles chopped off, two more grew, so he had to cauterize each stump with a torch. To distract him at this task, supreme goddess Hera, always her jealous self, had sent a giant crab – or was it a lobster? Herakles wasn’t impressed though, and just crushed it under his feet, much to Hera’s dismay. As an hommage, and a warning, she placed the crustacean in the sky. Like a crab, a Cancer holds their secrets under their hard, protective shell. They hide their vulnerability, and build a cosy fortress for themselves. They are compassionate though, and their emotional intelligence and artistic flair make them natural caregivers, although sometimes a bit controlling. But when trust is built, and they’re in a relationship that offers balance and stability, a Cancer will open up and blossom. Back to July overview

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July 01: International Fruit Day

"Forbidden Fruit"

​We’ve all heard about this magnificent garden, created by divine intervention, where flowers bloomed all year long, where fruit grew abundantly, where music, laughter and dance filled the air, and where life was pleasant and beautiful. And where there was one special tree, guarded by a giant, mischievous snake. Its apples were forbidden fruit, as they were dedicated to the supremest of deities. I’m talking of course of the garden of the Hesperid-nymphs, with Hera’s apple tree, fiercely guarded by her pet-dragon Ladon. It had been a wedding gift from earth goddess Gaia, and Hera loved dwelling in it, and dancing with the nymphs around her golden tree. No wonder she was beside herself with rage, when Herakles unalived Ladon and stole her apples, as his eleventh labour. She already resented Herakles, him being Zeus’ illegitimate child, and this event added to her hatred. Athena reclaimed the apples for her, but it didn’t ease the tension. From the dead snake, Hera created the constellation Draco, and it’s still there, as a warning to all humans, that she never forgets, let alone forgives. Back to July overview

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July 02: World Tutor's Day

"Diotimic Love"

​As ancient Greek women didn’t engage in glorious battle, they weren’t worth remembering. No reports of epic deeds, no proof of exceptional bravery. Delivering children, you say? No more than their duty, and they even got that wrong sometimes, when they produced a girl instead of an heir. Respect for women was an unknown concept, and their opinion was never asked. Except by the excentric philosopher Sokrates. He engaged in conversation with a certain Diotima of Mantinea, who explained her thoughts on the concept of love. In her view, true love evolves from physical attraction to a spiritual connection, and in its purest form, to love for beauty and philosophy itself. Sokrates’ pupil Plato records this encounter in his “Symposium”. Since then, Diotima’s ideal of love without desire is known as “Platonic”. Why not “Diotimic”? Because most scholars agreed that Diotima had to be the product of Plato’s imagination. Such deep insights from a woman? About something abstract and metaphysical as love? No way. Back to July overview

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July 03: Travel Month

"Merchandise"

The English “merchant” derives from the Roman god Mercury, who was the patron of trade and all things money. The Greeks called him Hermes (meaning “inquisitive” or “interpreter”), and gave him the honourary title of “psychopompos” (“soul-guide”), because he was the only god who could freely visit the underworld. He was regarded as the cleverest god of all, ever since he invented the lyre when he was still a toddler. He was also the most deceitful, and tricked his half brother Apollo on more than one occasion. He passed on his wit – and his deviousness – to his descendants, like the notorious robber Autolykos, and the cunning hero Odysseus. As messenger of the gods, he developed some typical merchandise, like his winged helmet and sandals, and his “caduceus”, symbol of his inviolability. Not to forget his “herms”: stylized statues in the form of stone blocks with a face, placed alongside roads and crossings. They pointed wanderers and travelers in the right direction. Proudly, by means of a well proportioned bodypart. Back to July overview

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July 04: Invisible Day

"Superpower"

​If you could choose a superpower, what would it be? A lot of people would go for invisibility, but according to Plato, that would ruin your chances of living an honest life. If you’re a man, that is. He tells the story of the herdsman Gyges as an illustration. When Gyges finds an invisibility ring, he handles it like a fun toy at first. But then he discovers he can find out what people say behind his back. Gradually, he tries out all kinds of schemes for profit and power, and in the end he finds himself in the royal palace, unaliving the king and taking his throne. According to Plato, corruption like this is inevitable when a man is given the chance. “For he would be able to steal from the market without detection, to go into any man’s house and seduce anyone he liked, to unalive or to release from prison anyone he felt inclined. And in all this, the just man would differ in no way from the unjust. No man is just of his own free will.” Well, better leave the superpowers to women, then. Back to July overview

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​July 06: Travel Month

"To The End Of The World"

In ancient times, the Spanish city of Cadiz was about as near to the end of the world as one could get. From there you could reach the mythical isles of the Hesperid nymphs, where the monster Geryon kept an impressive herd of cattle. It was this cattle that the hero Herakles had to obtain as his tenth labour. Luckily, his great-uncle Helios provided him with a giant floating drinking cup. (Helios used it as a vessel every night, to sail back home after his daily trip through the sky.) Herakles rowing it, makes up for some hilarious illustrations. Now, as the grandson of Medousa and Poseidon, Geryon was an impressive giant, but Herakles used the venomous blood of the previously slain Hydra to dip his arrows in, and unalived him effortlessly. On his way back however, two even more fearsome giants attacked him, and this time, he was in trouble. It was papa Zeus who came to his aid. I suppose it pleased the supreme god to be needed for once, because afterwards, he depicted Herakles in the sky, in a kneeling position. He’s still there today. Back to July overview

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July 07: Travel Month

"Moving Mountains"

Earth mother Gaia was heartbroken when her beloved children, the titans and the giants, were defeated – and for the most part destroyed – by the new generation of gods, the Olympians. But she wouldn’t give up. She kept on creating new offspring, and one of them was exceptional in every aspect. Alpos was enormous, the hugest and ugliest monster that ever lived. He dwelt in the Sicilian mountains, sowing terror in gods and humans alike. But not in Dionysos, who had a mission of his own: to be recognised as a god and to earn his place at Mount Olympos. “The colossal son of Earth, tall as the clouds, took a cliff as a javelin, held a pine tree like a club and lifted an olive tree, swinging it like a sword…” Dionysos however carried a secret weapon: his magical staff, called “thyrsus”. It only took a few swirls, and the giant rolled over, “filling the whole deep hollow of the sea”… It’s perfectly reasonable to suppose his fall caused a massive tsunami, which shifted the “booth” of Italy a few inches and created the mountain range at its limits. The Alps. Back to July overview

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July 08: Travel Month

"The Friend Zone"

Galathea was one of the fifty Nereids (sea-nymphs), and by all accounts, the prettiest. When the time came to marry, she had lots of suitors to choose from. The cyclops Polyphemos thought he had the best chances. He was of divine descent, as son of Poseidon, he was tall (some 30 feet), and he had a steady income, as assistent of the divine smith Hephaistos. To his disgust, he heard the answer that nobody wants: “I like you, Polyphemos, but let’s just be friends.” He didn’t want to be friends, not with her, and certainly not with the loser she chose instead, the faun Acis. So, he took out the competition by dropping a huge boulder on him. Can you believe it? Galathea still didn’t want him, and now she didn’t even want to be friends anymore. Instead, she revived her lover as a river god. (Today the river Aci on Mount Etna.) To avoid more havock, Poseidon moved his son to a desert island, to moan and herd sheep. Centuries later, he was still doing just that, when Odysseus arrived at his shores, on his way back after the Trojan war. But that’s a different story. Back to July overview

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​July 09: Travel Month

"A Fashion Statement"

For the ancient Greeks, the border of the civilised world was formed by the Caucasus mountains. Beyond it laid the land of the “barbarians” (“non-Greeks”). You’d have no reason to travel this far, unless you wanted to pay tribute to all time hero Prometheus, who had been chained to one of these Caucasion peaks, as a punishment for stealing fire from the gods and providing it to mankind. The dignity that he showed, undergoing gruesome torture, must have impressed even Zeus, who didn’t object, when Herakles finally set him free. Zeus did demand though, that Prometheus should wear a ring, made of his chain, with a piece of the Caucasian rock in it, so that he would be bound to it for eternity. Prometheus, being who he was, wore it with pride, and thus was the first to make a real fashion statement. And on that topic: the word “fashion” derives from the latin “facere” (“to make”). While this latinistic term became mainstream for all things clothing, the English translation is in use for all things face, in the term “make-up”. Back to July overview

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July 10: Travel Month

"Done Talking"

​“Chopping it with a Tenedos axe” was a saying in ancient Greece, meaning cutting all ties with someone. It refers to the mythical prince Tenes, who had been falsely accused by his father. He would have assaulted his stepmother, which wasn’t true, but the father punished Tenes – and his sister Hemithea, who had nothing to do with the whole thing – gruesomely. Inspired by the Perseus myth, he put the siblings in a chest and set it adrift. Maybe he counted on the gods to intervene, as they had done for Perseus. Indeed they did, and Tenes and Hemithea washed up safely on the shore of the Turkish island of Bozcaada. As it happens in ancient myths, the sister then vanishes out of the story and the brother becomes king of the island, since named Tenedos in Greek. Not long afterwards, their father realises his mistake and sets sail to Tenedos, to ask for forgiveness. Tenes however doesn’t feel like providing this, and as soon as his father’s ship is anchored and tied to a tree, he takes his axe and cuts the ropes. Clearly he was done talking. Back to July overview

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​July 12: Travel Month

"The Last Stand"

When the Olympian gods took over power from the previous generation, they had to fight not only the titans, but the giants as well, earth mother Gaia’s most beloved children. She created them with the sole purpose of vanquishing the Olympians from the face of her earth. The “gigantomachy” (or “giant-wars”) went on for centuries, and every Olympian had his own opponent to put up with. Ocean god Poseidon was challenged by monstrous Polybotes, and their heroic clashes have been depicted on vase paintings, fresco’s and mosaics. In the end, Poseidon got the upper hand, and he pursued the giant all through the known world, for a last stand on the island of Kos. Determined to finish it once and for all, Poseidon broke off a giant rock and threw it onto the giant, effectively burying him alive. And creating the island of Nisyros in the process. To this day, you can hear the giant, moaning and groaning, and his periodical tantrums are still felt and heard. Some would say this is due to volcanic activity, but the Greeks knews better. Back to July overview

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​July 14: Travel Month

"A Testament of Love"

When the Olympian gods took over power from the previous generation, they had to fight not only the titans, but the giants as well, earth mother Gaia’s most beloved children. She created them with the sole purpose of vanquishing the Olympians from the face of her earth. The “gigantomachy” (or “giant-wars”) went on for centuries, and every Olympian had his own opponent to put up with. Ocean god Poseidon was challenged by monstrous Polybotes, and their heroic clashes have been depicted on vase paintings, fresco’s and mosaics. In the end, Poseidon got the upper hand, and he pursued the giant all through the known world, for a last stand on the island of Kos. Determined to finish it once and for all, Poseidon broke off a giant rock and threw it onto the giant, effectively burying him alive. And creating the island of Nisyros in the process. To this day, you can hear the giant, moaning and groaning, and his periodical tantrums are still felt and heard. Some would say this is due to volcanic activity, but the Greeks knews better. Back to July overview

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July 15: Travel Month

"Bad Girls"

Princess Dirke of Thebes had always been a favourite of wine god Dionysos, and participated in his rituals with the greatest enthousiasm. Her cousin Antiope was rather timid, and didn’t approve of Dirke’s exuberant behaviour. Both were equally beautiful though, and this of course didn’t go unnoticed by supreme god Zeus. As he liked a challenge, he went with Antiope, seducing her in the form of a satyr. Pregnant with his twins, Antiope had to flee and abandon her sons when they were born. They were brought up by a herdsman, while Antiope ended up as Dirke’s slave, beaten and mistreated. Years later, she and her sons reunited, and the twins revenged their mother by unaliving Dirke in a particularly gruesome way. Dionysos however, felt sorry for his protégé and created a spring in her honour. The miracle promptly reinstated Dirke as Thebes’ patroness and it became the city’s finest landmark. While kind Antiope disappeared in history. As they say, good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere. Back to July overview

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July 16: Travel Month

"The Old Men Of The Sea"

When the Olympian gods took over power, an older generation of gods was still dwelling on earth. Two of them had the same epithet: the “old man of the sea”. One was Nereus, father of the Nereid-nymphs of the ocean, and the other was Proteus, whose name literally means: “the first”. Hence protagonist, prototype and even protein. As Proteus was able to take on every form (hence the adjective “protean”), he symbolised the changeable nature of the seas. He could also foresee the future, but you had to capture him first. Which wasn’t easy, given his shape shifting. In the Iliad, it’s king Menelaos of Sparta who managed to hold on to him, even when Proteus transformed into a lion, a serpent, a leopard, a pig, water and a tree. Eventually, he gave up and revealed that Menelaos would safely return home after the Trojan war. Proteus’ favourite hideaway was the Greek island of Karpathos, where hotels still carry his name. And where you can still spot him, sunbathing on the beach, in the form of a seal. Back to July overview

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​​​July 17: International Justice Day

"Whodunit"

When you “categorically” state something, you speak in a convincing way, like a “kategoros” (“accuser”) in ancient Greece. At a trial, the indictment brought by the kategoros would make or break the case, more than evidence would. Severe incidents, like homicides, weren’t common, and had to be solved quickly, to prevent public unrest. In Athens, the courthouse was named after the hill it was situated on: “Areos Pagos”, (“Ares’ Hill”). The court had been installed by Athena herself, after the unaliving of Poseidon’s son by Ares, in revenge for the assault on Ares’ daughter Alkippe. By the first ever jury of his peers, Ares was acquitted. When a murderer couldn’t be found, sometimes the murder weapon would be convicted. The Athenean summer festival of Bouphonia was an illustration of this practice. After the sacrifice of an ox, all the participants performed a ritual where they blamed each other, until they would agree on accusing the knife. The knife was then found guilty and cast into the sea. And justice had been served. Back to July overview

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July 18: Travel Month

"A Column Of Fire"

​When the ship of the Argonauts was on its way home after retreiving the golden fleece, they had an encounter with the friendly seagod Triton (son of Poseidon). He handed them a clod of earth as a homecoming gift. That night, one of the crew members dreamt the clod changed into Triton’s daughter Kalliste, and they spent the night together. He told his mates about the dream, and after some debate, the sailors decided it was best to send “Kalliste” back home, by throwing the lump into the sea. In a huge outburst of fire and ashes, and under the rolling thunder of Zeus himself, up rose the island of Kalliste, identified by Plato as mythical Atlantis. According to the bible, the vulcanic eruption was witnessed by the prophet Mozes, as a “column of fire”. It’s even possible that it was the cause of the so-called “plagues of Egypt” (pestilence, hailstorms, darkness, locusts and so on). The Venetians later renamed the island after their favourite martyress: Saint Irene. And as Santorini, that’s what it’s still called today. Back to July overview

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July 19: Travel Month

"Mixing And Matching"

The nymph Arethousa was one of Artemis’ favourites. Like Artemis herself, she took a vow never to let a man touch her. So, when Alpheios, half brother of Achilles, fell in love with her, she gently turned him down. Of course, it wouldn’t be Greek mythology if Alpheios would take no for an answer. Instead, he – literally - pursued her relentlessly, and she had to flee, away from her homeland, all the way to the island of Sicily, where she sank to the ground, totally exhausted. Her only chance would be some divine intervention, so she cried out to Artemis. The formidable goddess of the hunt could have easily put Alpheios down. (It wouldn’t have been the first time.) Instead, she chose to do away with the problem by changing wheeping Arethousa into a spring. Which didn’t deter Alpheios one bit. In the form of the Alpheios-river – still an important stream in the Peloponnese – he dove under the sea and when he reached the Arethousa spring, he mixed his waters with hers. Wat image this creates in your head, that’s on you. Back to July overview

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July 20: International Moon Day

"All That Shines"

​​The ancient Greeks loved their bling, and they even had a dedicated goddess for all things shiny and brilliant. Theia, also called Euryphaessa, was the eldest daughter of earth goddess Gaia and sky god Ouranos. She was the goddess of sight and vision, and by extension, the goddess who endowed gold, silver and all gems with their luster and intrinsic value. Naturally, she would also be the mother of three shining children: Eos (or Aurora), goddess of dawn, Helios (or Sol), the sun god and Selene (or Luna), the moon goddess. Theia was very proud of them and enhanced their brightness with the most glistening outfits, woven and gem studded herself. As such, she was a role model for every little Greek girl, who would admire Theia’s handy work in the sky. Especially the silvery garments of moon goddess Selene impressed them, because how did Theia make them fit, when the moon kept changing shape and size, sometimes full, then half, then crescent-shaped? No wonder that – if you look closely – you see a crinkle here and there. Back to July overview

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July 21: Travel Month

"Pebbles"

​The Greek island of Kalaureia is famous for its Doric temple of Poseidon. (Doric columns are unadorned, while Ionian ones are topped with “volutes” and Korinthian ones with acanthus leaves). In this sanctuary, the famous orator Demosthenes took refuge on his flight from the Macedonian rulers. Demosthenes is known as the best public speaker ever, and the most perseverant. He had to plead his first case as a young orphan, to get the inheritance that he was owed. To overcome his stammer, he practiced with pebbles in his mouth and to make sure he would stay inside to study, he shaved half of his head. Most of his political speeches are about uniting Greece to withstand the expansion of Macedonia under Alexander the Great. He didn’t succeed, and at the age of 62, he had to flee. His last speech was a plea for mercy to Poseidon. But the seagod’s sympathy was with the Macedonians, ever since Alexander had sacrificed a golden, four horse chariot to him. In the end, Demosthenes unalived himself. And Poseidon didn’t lift a finger. Back to July overview

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July 30: International Day Of Friendship

"Two's Company"

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the prince of Danmark adresses his best friend Horatio as “Oh Damon dear…” This is a reference to an ancient Greek myth about friendship. Damon and Pythias were devout followers of the philosopher Pythagoras and travelled the world to preach an austere and sincere life. On the isle of Sicily, Pythias was arrested by king Dionysius, on the accusation of plotting against him. Although being innocent, Pythias accepted the death penalty. He just asked for permission to settle his affairs back home, and bid his family farewell. The king reluctantly agreed, when Damon offered himself as a hostage, to be executed in Pythias’ place, should he not return. It was close, but Pythias arrived just in time, explaining that pirates had captured the ship, and he had to jump overboard, swim to shore and make his way back on foot. Astonished by this level of loyalty, Dionysius pardoned both men. He then sought to become their third friend, but as they say: Two is company, three is a crowd. Back to July overview

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July 31: Travel Month

"Claim To Fame"

In ancient Greece, someone’s self esteem depended on the appreciation of their peers. Take the seer Kalchas for example, who was as ambitious as he was heartless. His first claim to fame was convincing king Agamemnon to sacrifice his own daughter, sweet Iphigenia, to get a chance of even reaching Troy, let alone winning the war. During the ten year battle, his renown only grew, and the last thing he had expected on his return, was to be challenged. Mopsos was the grandson of the greatest of all time, Teiresias, and he beat Kalchas in estimating the amount of figs on a tree. To top it off, he also predicted that Kalchas would die before tasting his own wine. Kalchas thought to outsmart him by inviting some guests and serving his freshly produced wine. He then proposed a toast and gloatingly announced what they had been drinking. But he giggled so hard he couldn’t breathe, and he died without taking a sip himself. He did get an oracle in his name, somewhere in a remote Italian region, though it never attracted the crowds he had hoped for. Back to July overview