August
Birthstone Peridot: "Green Without Envy"
The name peridot could be derived from the Greek “peridona” (“giving plenty”), as the stone is supposed to bring good luck. The lime green gem was well loved by the ancient Egyptians, who called it “the stone of the sun”, for its brilliance. (It’s possible that Cleopatra’s famous emerald collection were in fact peridots.) In line with the Egyptians, the Greeks and Romans attributed the stones to their supreme god Zeus (or Jupiter), as they associated them with strength, dignity and wealth. Millennia later, that connection has well and truly worn out, because as the August birthstone, a peridot now symbolises love, truth, faithfulness and loyalty. Not quite the qualities that Zeus was known for. The gems even feature in engagement- and wedding bands. And they are said to ease jealousy, in spite of the expression “green with envy”. They’re remarkable gems, not in the least because they can be found in meteorites. A peridot is not just “the common man’s emerald”, it’s extra-ordinary on its own, as well as extra-terrestrial. Back to August overview.
Zodiac Sign Leo: "Tooth And Nail"
When the titan Atlas was assigned the task of sustaining the firmament, he hadn’t finished the hunting training of his son Hyas. Instead of showing some constraint and prudence, young Hyas saw an opportunity for eternal glory, and daringly ventured to hunt for a lion. He was killed by the first one he met, but his bravery and determination had impressed supreme god Zeus. So – together with the lion – he got his place at the night sky. Like young Hyas – and like the king of animals – Leos are the divas of the Zodiac, and adore dressing up and splashing out. They’re born leaders: spirited, strong minded, optimistic, flamboyant and ambitious. Their natural habitat is the center of attention, and sharing the limelight can fall hard on them. They thrive on their popularity, and are maybe a bit too dependent on external appreciation. But when they learn to curb their sense for drama, their warm and generous nature makes them loyal friends, who will fight tooth and nail for the members of their troop. Back to August overview.
August 02: Summer
"Thorny"
Aphrodite (Venus in latin) was the ancient goddess of love, pleasure and passion. Most myths make her the descendant of primary god Ouranos, who had his manly parts chopped off and thrown into the sea. Out of the foam rose Aphrodite, “fairest of them all”. But she was much more than just a pretty face. Albeit mostly called on in matters of the heart, in Sparta for example, she was portrayed in full armour and carried the title of “warlike Aphrodite” (as partner of wargod Ares). The Spartans even held one of her statues in chains, to make sure she would stay put. Aphrodite’s versatility is symbolised by her dedicated flower, the red rose. It was created when the goddess’ lover Adonis was unalived by a wild boar, and her tears mixed with his blood. Like a thorny rose bush, Aphrodite’s beauty had a sting. She was a seductress as well as a mother, a tradwife and an explorer, a comforter and an avenger. As she effortlessly combined all aspects of being a woman, she may well have been the most feminist of alle goddesses. Back to August overview.
August 03: Summer
"Albatrosses"
If you should notice some albatrosses at the seashore, it’s fun to know they belong to the family of the “Diomedeidae”, referring to the ancient Greek hero Diomedes. He gained eternal fame during the Trojan War, as the only mortal ever to have wounded two gods, Ares and Aphrodite. He wasn’t bound by an oath to join the expedition to Troy, but volunteered and was greatly respected for it. Admittedly, he had some divine assistance. The goddess Athena acknowledged that Diomedes equalled her other favourite, Odysseus in discipline, bravery, courage, resourcefullness and cunningness, while surpassing him in nobility. After the Trojan war, Diomedes held on to his heroic lifestyle, fought on many fronts and founded numerous cities. Myths vary, but some say that he was granted immortality when he married the daughter of Helen of Sparta, Hermione. And when his companions – unaware of his divinization – were mourning at the beach, they were transformed into albatrosses, or Diomedeidae in latin. Back to August overview.
August 08: International Day Of Cats
"Pussycats"
In one of Aisopos’ fables, a cat falls in love with a human boy, and pleads with Aphrodite to change her into a maiden. Aphrodite does and romance blossoms. But when the girls notices a passing mouse, she can’t help herself pouncing upon it. Aphrodite understands that she will never loose her feral and frivolous nature, and reverses the transformation. Still in Perikles’ time, cats were seen as examples of libertine morale. Weasels were the preferred pets, as they were better in hunting mice and rats. In ancient Egypt however, cats were held in the highest esteem, which puzzled the Greek explorer Herodotos. He mentions with astonishment that owners of a cat shaved their eyebrows when it died. And that they would have it mummified, if they could afford it. The very word cat has Egyptian roots: “quattah”. For the Egyptians, cats were the incarnations of their protective goddess Bastet, “Pasht” in Egyptian. Put these words together: “pasht-quattah” and you understand where pussy-cat comes from. Back to August overview.
August 09: International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
"(F)Antastic"
Most indigenous people have legends about their origins, and in ancient Greece, that was no different. Among the most famous Greek tribes, we find the “Myrmidons”, or “ant-people”. They were the indigenous inhabitants of the island of Oinone, which became the sanctuary of the nymph Aigina, when supreme god Zeus had made her pregnant (in the form of a flame). Their son, Aiakos, grew up to be king, and renamed the island Aigina, after his mother. Now, supreme goddess Hera went wild with jealousy, witnessing this family bliss, and she sent a deadly plague that unalived all the inhabitants. Aiakos turned to his father Zeus in desperation and begged him to repopulate his kingdom. Zeus didn’t want to go to the process of creating people out of clay all over again, and chose to transform ants (“murmèkes”) into humans instead. The Myrmidons would become a force to be reckoned with, fierce and hardy as ants, and loyal to their leaders, of which king Aiakos’ grandson, the hero Achilles, is definitely the most famous one. Back to August overview.
August 10: World Lion Day
"A Thick Skin"
Of the “twelve labours of Herakles”, the first one is the best known: the slaying of the Nemean Lion. As the brother of some notorious monsters like Kerberos and the Sphynx, its golden fur couldn’t be pierced by arrows or knives. So, Herakles had to enter the dark cave where it was hiding, stun it with his club and then strangle it with his bare hands. Having fun every step of the way. Well, maybe a bit less when the beast bit off one of his fingers. He then went on to skin his prey, but his knife couldn’t get true, so he used one of the lion’s claws instead. (He didn’t think of that himself, it was Athena’s idea, in her capacity as patroness of heroes.) Since then, he wore the lion’s skin as an armour, and it makes him easily recognisable on pictures. The struggle with the lion has been a coveted subject for artists, and a striking impression is given by the Flemish baroque painter Pieter Paul Rubens. You can count Herakles’ muscles and the lion stares you right in the face. I feel the artist’s sympathy is with the lion rather than with Herakles. As is mine. Back to August overview.
August 11: Summer
"Shooting Stars"
According to Homer, the most attractive people of the whole world, lived in Aithiopia. This was the land that was turned into a desert after young Phaiton crashed Helios’ sun chariot. The queen of Aithiopia, Kassiopeia, didn’t take the compliment gracefully and couldn’t resist boasting about her appearance. And that of her daughter Andromeda. But when she went so far as to compare their beauty with that of the ocean nymphs, her hubris angered the seagod Poseidon. He cursed the kingdom and demanded the sacrifice of Andromeda, who was to be chained to a rock as a prey for a seamonster. But the hero Perseus saved her and would later marry her. The ancient Greeks could read their story in the stars as an ancient comic book: Kassiopeia in a chair, looking ravishing, her husband, king Kepheus, praying the gods for mercy, Andromeda, chained to a rock, and her saviour Perseus close by. Until today, each summer, the Perseid meteor shower honours the famous Perseus lineage. Back to August overview.
August 12: International Youth Day
"The Last Hero"
The Greek gods didn’t set a shining example for the youth to follow, nor did they ever intend to. Supreme god Zeus in particular always found someone else to blame for his weaknesses. When his wife Hera confronted him with the number of offspring he had with mortal princesses, he put the finger at the goddess of love, Aphrodite, who would be plotting to create a generation of “heroes”, sons of one divine and one human parent. There are “heroic” heroes, like Perseus, Theseus, Bellerophon, Herakles,… But there have been far more, whose names are lost in history. To appease his wife, Zeus punished Aphrodite for her meddling. He made here fall in love with the Trojan prince Anchises, and she had to witness him grow old and frail. She also had to go through the pain of giving birth, to Aeneas, their son. As a dedicated lover and mother, she went out of her way to rescue her little family from the battlefield of Troy. Aeneas’ descendants would found the city of Rome, and he’s remembered as the last hero who ever was. Back to August overview.
August 13: World Organ Donation Day
"Oversharing"
The ancient Greeks took the idea of removable and reusable bodyparts quite literally, as is illustrated by the story of the Graiai. (betekent “ouderen”) These sisters should not be confused with the three Graces, symbols of youth and beauty. The Graiai were old hags, born with grey hair, and symbolised the white foam of the sea. Though Hesios describes them as “robed in beauty” and having. “fair faces”, in most myths, they appear as rather monstrous. Not unexpectedly, keeping in mind they were the offspring of the seamonsters Keto and Phorkys, and sisters of the Gorgons, of which Medusa was one. They shared one eye and one tooth between them, and took turns to sea or eat. At least, until Perseus came along. He took away their eye, to force them into giving up the location of Medusa. This mutilation enraged mother Keto, and when he eventually kills Medusa, she swears revenge. When Perseus is engaged in his heroic rescue of the Ethiopian princess Andromeda, she launches a vicious attack. I can’t blame her. Back to August overview.
August 14: World Lizard Day
"Pride And Prejudice"
In the ancient Greek society, self respect was a luxury that girls couldn’t afford. They were expected to be obedient, and their brother would always come first. Quite in contrast with the world of the divine, where goddesses were equally revered as gods. Man nor god would dare to ignore a ruling of Hera, question a proposition of Athena, restrain the freedom of Artemis or prohibit Nike from driving a chariot. Goddesses displayed the independence that mortal women could only dream of. Where for them, disdain was part of daily life, a goddess wouldn’t stand for any disrespect. Even kind hearted Demeter, goddess of harvest, didn’t hesitate to take drastic action when she felt treated inappropriately. She had been travelling for months, when she stopped in a village and asked for some water. She drank so thirstily, that she spilled some drops, and a young boy mocked her for it. Without blinking an eye, she turned him into a lizard. I can imagine that Greek girls and women desperately tried this at home. Back to August overview.
August 15: St. Mary's Day
"A Mother's Heart"
For the ancient Greeks, the archetype of motherhood was the goddess of harvest, Demeter. When her daughter Persephone went missing, she lost all interest in her tasks. The coldness in her heart was reflected on earth. Nothing grew, nothing blossomed, no harvest was produced. A season of darkness, rain and frost broke, and humans shivered with Demeter in anguish and despair. Even more, when the goddess learned that Hades, ruler of the underworld, had abducted her child. And he had tricked her into eating six pomegranate seeds, which would force Persephone to stay beneath the earth for half a year, a month for each seed that she had eaten. (There was this ancient rule that no food should be shared in the underworld.) Each spring, Demeter would anxiously await the reunion with her daughter, and the hope in her heart coloured flowers and fruit. But when summer reached its end and desperation grew, trees would wither and fields lay barren. And once again, a cold season would set in. Back to August overview.
August 16: Summer
"Old Money"
The ocean god Poseidon had many amorous adventures, but when he met Amphitrite, daughter of the ancient deity Nereus, he knew he had found “the one”. The elegance in her movements, the dignity in her words, the grace in her smile… She would make a fitting “queen of the oceans”. Only problem was that Amphitrite wasn’t interested. She was “old money” as they say, daughter of the well respected “old man of the sea”. A marriage with an uncivilised parvenu like Poseidon, who only just got into power, was far beneath her. Protected by her status as she was, Poseidon couldn’t force her. So he had to prove that he wasn’t the illiterate brute she took him for. He offered her jewels of seashells, picked “dophin flowers” (still called “delphinium”), and even wrote her poems, brought to her by his dolphin-messenger. It took time, but Amphitrite did come around. And as a genuine power couple, they would rule the oceans together. Today, you can still spot Poseidon’s dolphin at the night sky, as a lasting reminder of their alliance. Back to August overview.
August 17: Summer
"Follow The Sun"
When sun god Helios revealed Aphrodite’s affair with Ares to her husband, the love goddess was livid. She took revenge by igniting in Helios’ heart a passion for a mortal princess, Leukothoé. She probably didn’t reckon with the tragic events that would follow. As the ocean nymph Clytie had been trying to get Helios’ attention for centuries, she was furious to be surpassed by a little human. So she told the king about Leukothoé’s “indiscretion”, and he ruthlessly disposed of his own daughter. To Clytie’s bewilderment, the elimination of the competition didn’t gain her Helios’ affection. For nine days she followed him around, begging him to give her a chance. Eventually, she transformed into a heliotrope (literally: “turning to the sun”). Its English name is turnsole. This explains why in later times, the Clytie-myth was associated with the French “tournesol” or sunflower. This impressive plant fits the dramatic story so much better than the humble heliotrope. Even if in ancient Greece, sunflowers didn’t grow. Back to August overview.
August 18: Serendipity Day
"Happy Accident"
As one of the younger sons of the king of Cyprus, prince Amarakos had a lot of time on his hands. He spent most of it in the garden, growing aromatic plants for perfumes. Now, he must have been the most clumsy gardener ever, frequently stumbling and dropping his harvest to the floor. Yet, these happy accidents turned out to be his best creations, and they even attracted the attention of the goddess of all things lush and arousing, Aphrodite. She carried the island in her heart, since the Cypriots prepared her a warm welcome when she first came ashore. She liked the awkward, yet dedicated perfumer, and appreciated how his pleasant fragrances added new dimensions to her favourite pastime. Most of which in the company of handsome Adonis, Amarakos’ nephew. Inevitably however, Amarakos grew old and gradually lost his sense of smell. To honour him, Aphrodite created a happy accident of her own. She transformed him into an oregano bush (“amarakos” in Greek), stil considered to be a strong aphrodisiac. Back to August overview.
August 19: World Humanitarian Day
"Humanity"
“Humanitarian” means “having concerns for” of “help to improve” the welfare of people. Son, not of any concern to the ancient Greeks, who perfected the art of self interest. The war hero Philoktetes illustrates as much. When he suffered a snake bite that got infected, his agony didn’t bother his companions. But the terrible smell from the wound did. It was the admired Odysseus who suggested to just leave him behind on a desert island. And no one spent another thought about him. Until some nine years later, when the siege of Troy didn’t go anywhere and the captured – or deflected – Trojan seer Helenos foresaw the war could be won with Herakles’ bow. Now, this bow was in the possession of Philoktetes, who had been Herakles’ protégé. When they sailed back to retrieve it, to their suprise, Philoktetes was still alive and still smelly. They reluctantly agreed to bring the bow as well as the man and some skilled surgeon finally took care of his wound. Philoktetes rejoined the fight and even survived it. No thanks to any humanity of his companions. Back to August overview.
August 20: Summer Month
"Venus' Looking Glass"
The goddess of love, Aphrodite, had a very special mirror. It would not reflect what was truly there, but transform it to an image of pure beauty. No wonder she never got tired of looking at it. Nor did her toy boy Adonis, whose handsomness couldn’t be perfected, but who liked to check on it, just to be sure. But as we all know, perfection is boring, and one day, Adonis carelessly left Aphrodite’s mirror behind. When she sent him back to retrieve it, it had already been found by a passing sheperd, who was stunned by the gorgeous face with the radiant smile staring back at him. Who was this dapper creature? Never in his life had he met with such captivating beauty. Never in his life had he felt this attraction, this love, this passion… He didn’t even hear Adonis friendly asking to get the mirror back. And he fiercely held on to it when Adonis tried to take it away. The mirror smashed to the ground and the shiny pieces transformed into little seeds. Purple flowers rose up, in the form of little stars. They have been called “Venus’ Looking Glass” ever since. Back to August overview.
August 22: Summer
"Aquila"
The ancient Greek king Periphas was a righteous ruler, adored by his subjects. So much so, that they started sacrificing to him as if he were a god. This didn’t sit well with supreme god Zeus. “No longer king of men, but king of birds you will be”, he snarled. And as an eagle, Periphas flew away. Not far though, because Zeus kept him as his personal attendant, to carry his thunderbolts. And to abduct young Ganymedes to the Olympos. And to execute gruesome torture on fire thief Prometheus. The eagle appears in more friendly myths too, where it flies away with Aphrodite’s shoe to help Hermes conquer her heart. Or where it stood by little Psyche in a love quest of her own. All of which gained him his tribute at the night sky, as the constellation Aquila (“eagle”). But his most memorable achievement was determining the center of Zeus’ realm. Periphas and another eagle flew out in opposite directions, and the spot where they met, at Delphi, was marked with a stone: the “omphalos” (or “belly button”) of the world. Back to August overview.
August 23: International Day For The Remembrance Of The Slave Trade and Its Abolition
"Belonging"
When Aithra was freed after 20 years of slavery, she couldn’t even remember how freedom was supposed to feel. She had been a princess once. She had been loved by a powerful god, and she had born him a son, Theseus. She had followed an ancient prophecy and let her boy go to become the prince of Athens. She had witnessed him growing in his role, blending in with the arrogant youth of his privileged class. Allthough shocked, she had agreed to look after the Spartan princess he kidnapped, just because he loved to possess all things beautiful. And beautiful she was, this Helen. As she had suspected, Theseus had not defended her, when the girl’s brothers came to rescue Helen, and take her into slavery. Ten years in Sparta, and when Helen eloped to Troy, another ten years in that god forsaken place. And now, Troy had fallen, and Helen would just go home, and be a queen again. Aithra no longer had a home, and would never be a king’s mother again. She gained her freedom, but without a sense of belonging, it meant nothing. Back to August overview.
August 25: Summer
"Caesar Salad"
Did Caesar invent his salad? Sure! It was Caesar Cardini, early 20th century, who decided that romaine lettuce should be the main ingredient of this creation. Now, the real Roman lettuce was much bigger than the contemporary version, and came with some superstition. The English lettuce (“lactuca” in latin) has the same root as the French “lait” (milk), referring to the white liquid that’s exuded by the cut stems. So obviously, it should benefit reproduction, and stimulate lactation. In an obscure story, supreme goddess Hera would have gotten pregnant with daughter Hebe (goddess of youth) merely by eating a lettuce. Yet, the philosopher Plutarch saw acute lettuce danger and warned against eating the heart of the vegetable. For it was also known as “dead man’s food”, ever since Aphrodite had laid the body of her dead lover Adonis in a lettuce patch. All of this didn’t take away from the fact that the vegetable has quite a distinctive form, and was therefore also believed to enhance masculin performance. Back to August overview.
August 26: International Dog Day
"A Man's Best Friend"
“Argos, the hound of Odysseus, whom of old he had himself bread, but had no joy of him, for ere that he went to sacred Ilios. In days past, the young men were wont to take the hound to hunt, but now, he lay neglected, his master gone, in the deep dung of mules and cattle. There lay the hound Argos, full of vermin… Yet even now, when he marked Odysseus standing near, he wagged his tail and dropped both his ears. But nearer to his master, he had no longer strength to move. Then, Odysseus looked aside and wiped away a tear and said: It is strange that this hound lays here in the dung… To him then, swineherd Eumaeus, didst thou make answer and say: Aye, verily, this is the hound of the man that has died in a far land. If he were but in form and in action, such as he was when Odysseus left him and went to Troy, thou wouldst soon be amazed at seeing his speed and his strength. So saying, he entered the stately house. But as for Argos, the fate of black death seized him straightway, when he had seen Odysseus in the 20th year." Homer, Odyssey, book 17. Back to August overview.
August 27: International Bat Night
"Bacchus' Bats"
The god Dionysos didn’t ask much from his followers: only that they would party in his name, the wilder, the better. It’s no wonder that his retinue counted lots of women, breaking free from restrictive conventions. Their excessive behaviour provoked a counter movement of disapprovement and even disgust, but the god’s revenge for being serious and diligent was merciless. He would grant doubting women one chance, like he did with the daughters of king Minyas. Disguised as a friend, he invited them to participate in a festival in his honour. The princesses refused and kept on spinning and weaving. To add injury to insult, they killed time by narrating myths that starred Dionysos’ fellow gods, stressing that a drunk parvenu like him would never make it to Olympos. O, ye of little faith… According to Ovid, “a skinny membrane spread down their dwarfed limbs… They keep themselves aloft on parchment wings; and send a tiny sound that suits their size. Houses they haunt, not woods; they loathe the light and flit by night." Back to August overview.
August 28: Summer
"Venus' Herb"
On one of the most famous pieces of Greek pottery, Achilles applies a bandage to his dear friend Patroklos. For sure, he would have first disinfected the wound with what the ancients called “the warrior plant”. We know it as yarrow, and it’s still a herborist’s favourite, because it slows bleeding. It was the 18th century biologist Linnaeus who came up with the name “Achillea” for it, no doubt inspired by this very plate. Quite in contrast, yarrow is also a symbol of lasting love, referred to as “Venus’ herb”, Venus of course being the Roman version of love goddess Aphrodite. Probably because it takes some time to propagate from seed, but once established, it endures the harshest conditions. So in folkloristic circles and in many a coven, yarrow would be dried, ground, soaked and/or burnt, to finish off a potion or a spell. In most cases to find – or keep – true love. If you want to trie it for yourself, this incantation might help: “Thou pretty herb of Venus’ tree, thy true name it is yarrow, now who my bosom friend must be, pray tell thou me tomorrow.” Back to August overview.