October
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
"A Balancing Act"
The Libra is the only inanimate sign of the Zodiac. It represents the scales of justice, attribute of the goddess Dike, better known as Lady Justice. As one of the Horai-triplets, she was responsible for social harmony, moral order, and fair judgment. On some ancient vase paintings, she’s depicted in battle with her opponent, Adikia (“Injustice”). But it seems to have been a lost cause. She couldn’t bring human society to live by her standards, and disillusioned, she took refuge at Olympos, leaving her scales behind as a reminder. Not suprisingly, Libras are fixated on balance, harmony and symmetry. They are the diplomats of the Zodiac, and strive for conflict free relationships. In their efforts to charm everyone, Libras could appear a bit superficial, or frivolous. All the more because they have rather expensive taste, and surround themselves with beauty and colour. They can build splendid careers as designers, stylists or artists. But in the end, a Libra just wants to be loved. Back to October overview.
Birthstone: Opal
"Glistening Magic"
When the battle between the Olympians and the Titans was finally over, the freshly appointed supreme god Zeus wept tears of joy. Bright and shiny, they fell on earth and condensed into iridescent opals. Due to its wide range of appearances, opals are suitable for spiritual healing, and for each chakra point, there’s a different colour available. Some say the stones bring bad luck, but most of this belief can be traced back to the imagination of sir Walter Scott, in his book about an unhappy maiden. For the Greeks and Romans, the gems combined the power of fire with the purity of water. They bestowed insight and prophecy, and the Vestal virgins were seldom seen without opal jewellery. A particularly stunning example would have adorned the helmet of Hades, king of the underworld. But since this headpiece made him invisible, we only have his word for it. The glamorous opals have always been shrouded in mystery and transcendence. And if you’re born in October, they will enrich your life with a glistening touch of magic. Back to October overview.
October 01: World Vegetarian Day
"The First Veggie"
In Plato’s work about “the ideal city”, the people live on a strictly vegetarian diet. Plato was inspired by the philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, 6th century BC, whose opinions caused quite a stir. Not in the least because he didn’t mind sharing them with women. Pythagoras can be described as the first veggie. He stated that eating meat was not only unhealthy, it was an extravagance and would lead to decadence and war. He also believed that animals – like humans – had immortal souls, that would reincarnate after death, from animal to human and vice versa. That would put eating meat quite close to cannibalism. Ovid puts these verses in Pythagoras’ mouth: “Oh mortals, from your fellow’s blood, abstain! Nor taint you bodies with a food profane! A guiltless feast administers with ease, and – without blood – is prodigal to please!” But veggies, beware! Don’t ever touch the fava bean! Not only do these contain the souls of the dead, they also cause gas, and with expelling that, you put yourself at risk of losing the “breath of life”…! Back to October overview.
October 02: International Day Of Non-Violence
"Demure"
The ancient Greeks adored their goddess of the hearth, Hestia, whom we could call the archetype of “demure”. As the first born of Kronos – and like the rest of her siblings – she had been swallowed at birth. Being freed by Zeus, she was the last to reappear, which made her the oldest and the youngest. More paradoxes defined her. As the patroness of family, she never got married herself. She was beautiful, warm and sexy, but could never be seduced. She didn’t have any specific powers, but suitors rather had their hearts broken then force themselves upon her. She was seen as soft, but imposed her rules on every household. Modest, but obtaining more sacrifices than anyone else. Approachable, but out of reach by being perfect. Playing no major part in any myth, her fame exceeded that of Zeus. The Romans knew her as Vesta, and added a freak element to her cult. If her priestesses, the “Vestal Virgins”, lost their unspoiled status, they were buried alive. Think of them, next time you pick up a “vesta case” (or matchbox) at a flea market. Back to October overview.
October 03: Halloween Month
"Nemesis"
Gargamel, Moriarty, the Joker, Lex Luthor, Crimson, Morgana Le Fay, Colonel Decker, Magneto,... no hero without their Nemesis. But these modern adaptations present a narrow interpretation of what Nemesis stood for. In Greek mythology, she was a first generation goddess, daughter of Nyx ("Night"). Her name means "to give what is due", which makes her a punisher, rather than a supervilain. The gods called on her when they felt offended, and as we all know, that didn’t take much. The nymph Aura experienced this, when she teasingly mocked Artemis' feminine curves, “rather unsuitable for a die-hard virgin”! Artemis didn’t see the humour, and called on Nemesis to facilitate an assault on the poor girl when she was incapacitated. On vase paintings and mosaics, Nemesis appears as the wicked witch in a Halloween story, in a chariot pulled by griffins and wielding a sword and a scourge. The Romans included her in their varied selection of battle gods, but for most ancients, she was first and foremost "the antidote of hubris". Back to October overview.
October 04: World Animal Day
"Hippos And Rhinos"
Let’s talk Greekish animals. How about the rhinoceros, hippopotamos, hyena, chameleon and leopard? A rhinoceros translates as “nose horn”, and that’s what it’s called in German and in Dutch. Hippopotamos litterally means “river horse”, the river being the Nile. It’s the great explorer Herodotos, who came up with the name. But from his description, the animal having manes like a horse, and neighing like a horse, it’s obvious he never actually saw one. The hyena, the leopard and the chameleon have kept their original designation in lots of languages. With good reason, because a chameleon would be a “dwarf lion”, a hyena a “lady pig”, and the leopard a “lion-panther”. Because of this denotation, it’s been suggested that maybe the ancient Greeks thought that lions only mated with panthers, and had leopards as their offspring. With consequences for the Atalante myth. Her and her partner’s transformation into lions would then be a punishment, not being able to express their love. That doesn’t suit me at all. Back to October overview.
October 05: World Teachers Day
"Boarding School"
Centaurs play a big rol in Greek mythology and mostly they come across as brutish, lustful and violent. With one exception: Cheiron, son of the Titan Kronos. Abandoned as a child, he grew up in the care of the god Apollo, who – together with his sister Artemis – taught him arts, music, medicine, gymnastics, prophecy, archery and hunting. Cheiron’s name derives from the Greek for “hand” and refers to his healing skills. A “cheirurgos” was literally a handworker and this root is still noticeable in the English “surgery”. In order to distinguish him from his barbaric cousins, he was often depicted as having a full man’s body with only two horse feet behind. Because of his wisdom, patience and kind nature, he was much sought after as a tutor of heroes, and his students eventually included Peleus, Jason, Asklepios, Herakles and Achilles. Together with his wife, the nymph Chariklo, he ran his boarding school at Mount Pelion. And their children, the Pelionides, helped to nurse and raise the pupils in their care. No cases of home sickness have ever been reported. Back to October overview.
October 06: International Geodiversity Day
"The Salt Of The Earth"
One of the most valuable minerals since ancient times has to be salt. The English word “salary” derives from the latin “sal” for salt. In ancient Greece, salt marches were an important source of this coveted ingredient. And that’s why they stood under the high protection of the nereid nymph Limnoreia. Though her name may not ring a bell, she came from an illustrous family, and was Achilles’ aunt and Poseidon’s sister-in-law. In mythology, salt was associated with cleanliness and heavenly protection. The Vestal virgins purified sacrificial animals with it, and the formidable witch Kirke cleansed Jason and Medeia of their blood guilt with salty seawater. Seers and priests threw it into a ritual fire to produce this crackling noise that pleased the gods. Salt was daily used, for adding flavour, preserving food, making soap, and it also acted as a currency. The ancients particularly liked a salty taste, even in their wine. The recipe for this well loved drink – transmitted by their adored god Dionysos (Bacchus in latin) – consisted of grape must, diluted with lots of sea water. Cheers! Back to October overview.
October 07: Halloween Month
"Ghost From The Past"
Apollo’s son Aristaios (literally “the best”) thought his name should be enough to impress every girl. So, when the princess Eurydike chose his half brother Orpheus instead of him, he demanded answers. Tragically, while running away, Eurydike got bitten by a snake and died. A heartbroken Orpheus ventured a desperate trip to the underworld to get her back, but his request was flatly denied. He then expressed his sorrow on his lyre. The sad melody moved even the coldest of hearts and he was granted permisson to take her home. On one condition: not to look at her until they were back amongst the living. But the trip was long and dark and hazardous. What if she tripped and fell… What if she didn’t follow him at all and it was merely a sick joke of the gods? His footsteps echoed in the darkness… Just one pair of steps. After all he went true, how could he be sure? Was she even there? Just a quick glance… And she vanished before his eyes, haunting his dreamps ever since. And inspiring millions of ghost stories through the centuries. Back to October overview.
October 08: Animal Action Day
"Bulls And Boars"
Herakles’ “twelve labours”, aren’t all equally spectacular. His seventh task for example, capturing the Cretan Bull, hardly took any effort. King Minos of Crete just handed it over, as the beast had proven to be a rival for the love of the queen. (It’s a long story.) Worth mentioning is that the bull ended up in Athens, where it caused the death of the Cretan crown prince, which ignited the Cretan-Athenian war, which lead to Athens having to send a yearly contingent of youngsters to Crete, which kicks off the Theseus’ myth. But that’s way after Herakles’ time. Let’s quickly discuss the fourth labour: the hunt for the Erymanthian boar. Gods had the habit of sending wild boars to regions that had offended them, and for a long forgotten reason, such an animal dwelt in the Erymanthian marshes. Herakles efficiently dealt with it, slung it over his shoulders and carried it to the palace. Hilariously, the king panicked at the frightening sight and hid in a bronze vessel, which makes up for vase paintings that would fit a modern comic book. Back to October overview.
October 09: World Post Day
"Bellerophon's Letter"
The most notorious letter in Greek mythology was delivered by the hero Bellerophon to king Iobates. If Bellerophon had known what was in it, he would have been less dutiful. It was a message from Iobates’ son-in-law, accusing Bellerophon of having assaulted his wife, Iobates’ daughter. Not knowing the accusation was false, the son-in-law asked Iobates to unalive Bellerophon. He would have done it himself, if Bellerophon hadn’t been a guest in his house. Under the laws of Xenia (“guestfriendship”), he was prohibited of harming him. Now, Iobates wasn’t in a hurry to open the letter and invited Bellerophon in. At that point of course, the law of Xenia applied to him too. So, when he finally read the letter, he sent Bellerophon off on some suicide missions, involving the Chimaira-monster, the winged horse Pegasos, pirates and the Amazons. Bellerophon defeated them all, and in the end, Iobates recognised such a hero could never have dishonoured his daughter, and gave him another one in marriage. As you do.Back to October overview.
October 10: World Mental Health Awareness Day
"A Little Humour"
“Mental” diseases (derived from the latin “mens” for mind) weren’t acknowledged in the ancient world. Only physical conditions were diagnosed, for the most part based on the theory of “humorism”, in use until the 17th century. The Greek “chumos” literally means “juice”, and there were four of those flowing through our bodies: blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. For a person to be in good health, these fluids should be in perfect balance, “both in strength and quantity, and well mixed”. Blood (“haima” in Greek) was considered to be hot and wet, and the most vital of all. Yellow bile (“xanthe chole”) was hot and dry and a surplus would lead to “choleric” behaviour. Black bile (“melaina chole”) was cold and dry and too much of it could cause “melancholy”. While an overflow of the cold and wet “phlegma” would display as a detached or “phlegmatic” demeanor. While these terms are still in use, the humor-theory is now abandoned. Still, we can all agree with Hippokrates that “having the right amount of humor is essential for health”! Back to October overview.
October 11: International Day Of The Girl Child
"A Girl Can Dream"
When Iphigenia, young princess of Mykene came of age to be married, she felt troubled. How would her father find her a husband, when he was away, preparing for war? How could he plan for her future, now the gods seemed vexed and refused to send a favourable wind for the battleships to sail out. Still, she couldn’t help hoping, and in her mind, the same face kept popping up: Achilles, tall, broad shouldered, with smooth, blond hair and a smile that should be punishable. Far beyond the reach of a rather plain little princess like Iphigenia. But a girl can dream, right? And sometimes, dreams do come true. Since the fleet laid aimlessly in the bay, it seems that Achilles took the opportunity to secure himself a bride to come home to. And when he chose her, for the first time in her life, Iphigenia felt special. She didn’t have much time to prepare, but arrived at the camp in her best dress and the highest of spirits. Only, it wasn’t a groom who was waiting for her at the altar. And when she saw the priest, and his shiny silvery knife, she understood. She was special indeed. Not as a bride. As a sacrifice. Back to October overview.
October 12: Halloween Month
"The Hellhound"
Kerberos grew up in a family of monsters (Hydra, Chimaera, the Sphinx,…), and as pet dog of Hades and Persephone, he guarded the entrance of the underworld. Most myths describe him with three heads, “flashing eyes” and “acute hearing”. It was Herakles’ twelfth and last labour to retrieve the dog and this should have been the misson that got him unalived once and for all. But since Herakles had been initiated in the top secret “Eleusinian Mysteries”, he had valuable knowledge about life and afterlife, and he made it safely before Hades. His request was reluctantly granted, but he shouldn’t use “shield or iron”. Smart Athena then suggested to stun the dog with his wooden club and some stones. The dog furiously resisted all the way through, and from the dripping foam around its mouth sprung the deadly aconite. It escaped as soon as possible and returned home. His loyalty granted him a place at the night sky, but the “Cerberus”- constellation was later absorbed by the “Hercules”-one. Which doesn’t sound fair. Back to October overview.
October 13: International Day For Failure
"Epic Fail"
The Greek river Phoinikas, in the Northern Peloponnese, is not a spectacular landmark, but its name is interesting. It has nothing to do with the phoenix-bird, and everything with a Trojan war hero. Allthough calling him a hero might be exaggerating. His claim to fame was his attempt to persuade Achilles te rejoin the fighting, after he went on strike (because Agamemnon had claimed Achilles’ favourite concubine). Phoinix’ speech stands as an example of rhetorical skills. He starts on a personal level, reminding Achilles how he used to be Phoinix’ pupil and how Phoinix has always loved him like a son. Next, he tells two metaphorical stories, about the danger of refusing a supplication. And another about answering a plea too late, and missing the opportunity for honour and glory. The 172 lines of tears, passion and dedication leave Achilles quite underwhelmed. “I don’t need more glory, I’m glorious enough as it is, now quit the drama.” And it’s for this epic fail that Phoinix will always be remembered, in the river that bears his name. Back to October overview.
October 14: Halloween Month
"Fresh Blood"
A lemur gets its name from the latin for “ghost”, for its stealthy nocturnal habits and its big spooky eyes. Greek mythology includes a “daimona” whose name stems from the same root: Lamia. She had been a beautiful Libyan princess, who – inevitably – had an affair with Zeus. When Hera found out, she robbed Lamia of her children, which drove the poor woman insane. Not able to sleep or even close her eyes, she wandered around at night, looking for her little girls. Or – as Greek mothers told their young ones – praying on children that had been naughty or not paying attention. Out of grief or revenge, she would snatch them and devoure them alive. Zeus could have intervened, retrieving the children, but he went with the insomnia as her primary problem. So obviously, he provided her with a pair of removable eyes. It only added to her already horrific reputation and she developed into the archetype of a halloween monster: half snake, half woman, with unsatiable bodily desires and a craving for fresh – young – blood. Back to October overview.
October 16: World Food Day
"Black Soup"
“Flamingo tongue with mint and dates”, it’s one of the signature dishes of the ancient Roman chef Apucius. High ranking Greeks and Romans appreciated a good “bacchanal”, with menus as farfetched as elaborate. One mysterious – and ridiculously expensive - ingredient, was “laser” or “silphium”, a kind of giant fennel. it was so popular it’s now extinct. Most people obviously couldn’t afford any of the above. They got through the day on some bread, cabbage and olives. While the gods didn’t cook or bake at all. They survived – forever – on nectar and ambrosia. (Scholars still fight over which they drank and which they ate.) And while in most of Greece, dinner was something to look forward to, in Sparta, even that was an exercise in discipline. Their male citizens dined together every night, in small groups, called “syssitia”. They took turns to provide for the food, which for the most part consisted of their infamous black soup of pork blood. It was so awful a visitor once exclaimed: “No wonder the Spartans aren’t afraid to die!” Back to October overview.
October 17: International Day For The Eradication Of Poverty
"The Horn Of Plenty"
In ancient Greece, much like in the modern world, the fight agains poverty was mostly fought with words and empty promises instead of coordinated action. Which is a shame, because they had a tool at their disposal that could eradicate neediness once and for all. The “cornucopia”, or horn of plenty. It was created by supreme god Zeus himself. As a baby, Zeus was put in the care of the goat Amaltheia and it was her nutricious goat milk that made him grow up healthy and strong. So strong, that one day he accidently broke off one of her horns. Remorsefully, he filled it with all the riches and delicacies that mother Nature had to offer, and it never ran out of anything. Lots of deities, like baby Ploutos, god of wealth, Demeter, goddess of harvest, spring goddes Maia and even Hades made good use of it. The Romans even created a goddess whose only task it was to carry the cornucopia around. Appropriately named Abundantia, or “abundance”. But there is – by the best of my knowledge – not one myth where they shared the contents. Back to October overview.
October 18: Halloween Month
"Poseidon's Witch"
Agamede, princess of Elis, had always hated her name. Who in their right mind would call their baby girl “the cunning one”? When she asked her father, famous king Augeias, proud owner of enormous herds of cattle, he just shrugged. He had his own problem: the cleaning of his disgustingly smelling stables. (The job would eventually be done by Herakles, as his fifth labour.) Agamede meanwhile hated everything about her boring existence, and married life proved even more frustrating. It wasn’t before her husband got himself unalived in some territorial conflict, that she finally felt free. Free to go out, to explore and to study herbs, trees and shrubs. Even the ocean couldn’t hold her back, as she had “befriended” seagod Poseidon. While she bore him three children, his dolphins brought her cuttings from all corners of the earth. According to Homer, she would eventually gain knowledge “of every single plant in the world”, and as a respected physician and formidable sorceress, finally wore her name with pride. Back to October overview.
October 19: Halloween Month
"Annoying Arrogance"
The Greek gods didn’t impose a lot of restrictions on their mortal subject, but the only thing that would always annoy them, was human arrogance, or “hubris”. As is illustrated by the myth of Arachne. Not satisfied with being the most skilled weaver on earth, she challenged a goddess, namely Athena, to a weaving contest. Athena gave her a chance to pull out, by warning her in the guise of an old lady, but Arachne haughtily ignored the advice. Their woven patterns reflected their feelings. Athena’s work warned about hubris and its terrible consequences, while Arachne’s piece mockingly illustrated the shapeshifting of Zeus and his brothers in order to seduce – or overpower – an endless trail of women. Athena was as impressed by the quality of the work as she was offended by the audacity of the subject. She cooled her anger by turning Arachne into a spider. She’s kept on spinning thread and weaving beautiful webs ever since. They show off her talent, and also, in lots of cases, induce some serious arachnophobia. Back to October overview.
October 20: International Sloth Day
"Slothful"
Oknos’ name (“slothful”) made it clear he wasn’t the most energetic of characters. As the son of the renowned prophetess Manto and the grandson of the seer Teiresias, he was expected to do great deeds, but he turned out to be quite a disappointment. Maybe, if he had married the right woman, he could have made something of his life. But his wife turned out to be a disappointment too, far better in spending his money than he was in making it. Tragically, Oknos’ life of hesitation, frustration and procrastination attracted the unwanted attention of the gods, and they decided to make an example out of him. As a punishment for what they described as moral weakness and shyness to act, they sent him to the Tartaros, where he had to weave a rope of straw, in the company of a donkey that kept on eating it. “Tying the rope for Oknos” became a well-known expression, meaning wasting time. The divine judgment looks like a classic case of the pot and the kettle, but consistency was never one of the gods’ concerns. Back to October overview.
October 21: Halloween Month
"Nerve Racking"
When the Olympian gods took over power, they showed little mercy for the titans. So their mother, earth-goddess Gaia, created the hundred-armed monster Typhon, to take revenge. In a horrendous clash, Typhon managed to tear Zeus’sinews out of his body, which gained him the first round. The hero Kadmos came to the rescue, not with the sword, but with his pipes. He played them enticingly, and convinced Typhon the melody would sound even better on a lyre, strung with Zeus’ sinews. Typhon gladly turned them over, but when he realised he’d been tricked, went on a menacing rant: he would switch Prometheus for Poseidon, enslave Ares, lock up Hermes, force Athena into motherhood and take Hera as his bride.This last threat – and a reprimand of Nike, goddess of victory – brought Zeus into action again. He swirled one thunderbolt after the other, and while Gaia cried for her suffering son, Zeus demonstrated his true character by mocking him. As for Kadmos, he got a nice prize: beautiful Harmonia, daughter of the love goddess herself. Back to October overview.
October 22: Halloween Month
"Lycanthropy"
The Greek gods created mankind as a pastime. They were amusing to watch, these little puppets, running around and going out of their way to please the superior beings they owed their existence to. But as the generations passed, humans entered the Bronze, and later Iron Age, where it all went wrong. The puppets became evil and disrespectful. They challenged divine power and enraged the gods they were supposed to serve. Most ignoble of all was the Arcadian king Lycaon. He served up his own son to supreme god Zeus in an attempt to make him complicit in the most gruesome sin. Zeus of course couldn’t be deceived and put a curse on Lycaon. Every full moon, he would lose his human form and become the wolf he had proven to be. Thus, Zeus created the first werewolf, and “lycanthropy” is still the scientific name for it. Afterwards, Zeus flooded the earth and one devout couple was appointed to start all over again. But werewolf sightings are reported till this day. So, they must be really good swimmers. Back to October overview.
October 23: Halloween Month
"A Magic Kingdom"
On her island of Aiaia, the formidable sorceress Kirke created potions that held the power of transformation. Though she lived a quiet life, surrounded by her magical plants and enchanted wildlife, rumour had it that visitors to her shores never made it back. The hero Odysseus, on his way back from the Trojan war, had no idea whose island he’e reached. When he sent some men out to look for water and food, they discovered Kirke’s magnificent palace… and Kirke herself. Gracefully, she granted them the same chance as previous visitors, offering them a meal and the cup of friendship. The potion only went in effect, when instead of thanking her, they attempted to do what men in Greek myths always do, and it changed them in the filthy pigs they were. Yet, when Odysseus came looking for his men and begged for her forgiveness, she undid the spell. He then spent a year in her company, and although he later told his wife otherwise, she never used her powers for that. Back to October overview.
October 24: United Nations Day
"The Apple Of Discord"
In antiquity, a peaceful world was as far out of reach as it seems to be today. But for the ancient Greeks, there would always be a demon, deity, Titan or Olympian to blame. Maybe the battle god Polemos (hence “polemic”) had been at work. Or Lyssa, goddess of rage (Ira in latin, hence “ire”). Most infamous of all of these bad spirits, or “kakodaimones”, was Eris, goddess of discord. She was the twin sister of war god Ares, which made as much sense in ancient Greece as it does today. Her story involves an apple, and it wouldn’t be the last time this fruit was the cause of trouble. When she hadn’t been invited for a divine banquet, she threw among the guest a gilded apple with the inscription: “For the fairest goddess!” It must have been satisfying that the party instantly derailed in a quarrel. The naive prince Paris of Troy was appointed as a judge and he picked Aphrodite. She then helped him elope with fair Helen of Sparta, which lead to the infamous Trojan war. It was Eris’ proudest moment thus far, but it’s clear she had had many more since then… Back to October overview.
October 25: International Dwarfism Awareness Day
"The Curse Of The Kabeiroi"
No fantasy tale without little people. Folklore and tradition picture them as creatures who live in close harmony with nature, commonly in caves, where they mine gold or other precious minerals, and practice the art of iron smithing. The Greek-mythology version of these little people are the “kabeiroi”, which sounds a bit like the Dutch “kabouter”, meaning dwarf. They were the three sons of the divine smith Hephaistos and the ocean nymph Kabeiro. (Hephaistos had been seeking consolation with her, when he was expelled from Mount Olympos by his disappointed mother Hera.) The Kabeiroi learnt “the art of the hammer” from their father, and also built a close relationship with the harvest goddess Demeter, for whom they performed top-secret rites. The playwright Aeschylos dedicated a tragedy to them, but from the one spared fragment, we only learn that they produced a fine wine. They were greatly respected by the ancients, who wouldn’t dare to challenge them, as - according to Pausanias – “the curse of the Kabeiroi was irremovable.” Back to October overview.
October 26: Halloween Month
"Queen Of Souls"
“…But yet thou, too, shalt praise Persephone. Not here, near waters bright by Dirke fed - by darker waves, in kingdom of the dead.” These verses from the 19th century illustrate that the elusive Persephone has always fascinated scholars and writers. (Watch out for “Queen of Souls”, by Missesmyths, to appear in 2026!) sell). As “kore” or “maiden”, fresh, tender and naive, the girl vanished from her mother’s home to be Hades’ child-bride. But as “despoina” or “mistress”, she resurfaced. Feared and revered empress of the underworld, as merciful as ruthless. While she sent sweet Alkestis back to her husband and helped Psyche in her quest for love, she glued a disrespectful Pirithoös to a rock for all eternity. With a beauty that surpassed Aphrodite’s, the resilience of a Spartan army and all of Gaia’s treasures at her disposal, with the revenge goddesses as her attendants and the mighty prince of darkness by her side, she held more power than Zeus himself. We can only guess if it made her happy. Back to October overview.
October 27: World Day For Audiovisual Heritage
"Llama's In Troy"
Did you spot the llama’s in the movie “Troy”? Or the kilts in “Braveheart”? The turbans in “Alexander” maybe? These are anachronisms (Greek for “backwards in time”). While writing “Aphrodite’s Trees”, playing in the 5th century BC, I made it my mission to avoid these errors as much as possible. The goddess Hera is not accompanied by her standard peacocks, for example, because these birds only arrived in Greece with Alexander the Great. I couldn’t mention the seven wonders of the world, because there were only four. But the real danger lies in everyday expressions. In Perikles’ age, no one would “jump in the saddle”, as they didn’t use those. When a character falls out with someone, they don’t “drop them like a hot potato”, or “a hot brick” for that matter. They don’t “focus”, or “lose their focus”. They don’t have “steel blue” eyes. Their project doesn’t “derail”. They don’t “act like a clown” and they could burst out in tears, but not “explode” with anger. Though I nearly did, sifting out all these anacronisms. Back to October overview.
October 28: Halloween Month
"Darkness"
Medeia, most powerful witch of all time, dedicated most of her life, and all of her talent, to just one man. Never could Jason have succeeded in his mission to retrieve “the Golden Fleece”, if it wasn’t for her sorcery. She mixed him protective potions, and ensured their escape with magic and illusion. She went as far as to unalive her own little brother, and threw him into the ocean, to deter her father from pursuing them, and bury his son instead. And when Jason didn’t get the kingdom he was promised, she unalived his rival, with the unintended help of his own loving daughters. Her devotion didn’t pay off though, and Jason ended up betraying her. In revenge, she sent cursed jewellery to his mistress. And then, committed the ultimate cruelty that inspired tragedy ever since. She unalived the children she had with Jason. After that, she started yet another life, with the king of Athens, and when his son showed up to claim his birthright, she attempted to poison him too. He didn’t drink the cup, and Medeia has never been seen since. But it seems her darkness has never left the universe. Back to October overview.
October 29: International Day Of Care And Support
"Tender Love And Care"
Throughout history, some animals have acquired a bad reputation, and the weasel is certainly one of them. Which is quite unfair, because it was a heroic deed that lead to its existence. When the princess Alkmene got pregnant by supreme god Zeus, his wife Hera was beside herself with rage. She ordered her daughter Eleithya, goddess of nativity, to prevent the birth at all cost. So, Eleithya put herself at the door, with clasped hands and crossed legs, thus prohibiting the child from being born. When this had lasted for seven days, filled with pain and anguish, Alkmene’s faithful maid, Galanthis, went to the goddess and cheerfully announced the arrival of a boy, which they had called Herakles. The goddess was so startled she jumped up, unclasped her hands, and that was the moment that Alkmene could finally bring her son into the world. For her deceiving message, Galanthis was changed into a weasel, but Alkmene kept her near, as a pet. And Herakles later built her a shrine, dedicated to loyalty and care. Back to October overview.
October 30: Halloween Month
"Keeper Of The Keys"
Most Greek gods and goddesses were the personification of the human condition, but one goddess was more elusive. Hekate, queen of magic, witchcraft and illusion, influenced all aspects of human life, as a goddess of birth, rites of passage, crossroads and boundaries. She carried two torches to enlighten one’s life path, and her three-headed statue could be found on crossings, looking at all directions at once. Her keys unlocked past and future, good and bad, light and dark. She was a master sorcerer and teacher of the infamous Medeia, but though her powers matched those of Zeus, people didn’t fear her. Myths portray her as kind hearted, standing by Demeter in the search for her lost daughter, and saving the life of Trojan queen Hekabe, by changing her into a dog. Dogs would accompany her wherever she went and announce her arrival, at full moon. When the Olympian gods were long forgotten, Christian authors still warned about offering to Hekate. And as a benevolent force of nature, and the goddess of the moon, she’s worshipped in wicca covens all over the world. But it seems she’s more of a cat person, nowadays. Back to October overview.
October 31: Halloween Month
"The Escape Room"
In ancient Greece, “to enter the cave of Trophonios" meant "to suffer a great fright." The oracle of Trophonios was the ancient equivalent of an escape room and it wasn't for the faint hearted. His cave had been discovered by a sheperd boy, who followed a trail of bees, hoping to find honey, and stumbled upon a demon's lair instead. In his lifetime, Trophonios had been a greedy prince, who had schemed with his brother to steal the contents of a treasure chamber at Delphi. To avoid detection, he had unalived his brother and at that moment, the earth had opened to swallow him. As a subterrenean divinity, he’d since been terrorising the region with the plague, demanding for the people to bring him honour and establish an oracle in his name. It developed into the most notorious of the ancient world and only a brave – or desperate – man would pass “the sacred mouth”. When he came out, he would “be possessed with terror and hardly know himself or anything around him.” Sounds like an thrilling Halloween outing to me! Back to October overview.