Tamaison Cape is where the cave is where Hercules grabbed Cerberus by the knackers and dragged him out of Hades and he didn't want to come out. Lerne was a busy port on the Argolian gulf. Argos was practically built on top of the ruins of Mycaenae and was once the name for the whole of the Peloponnesos. Argos. Home of the argonauts. Argives. Tiryns was an important port of Argolis. Hermione was a port homonymous with the Hermionic Gulf. It was said that someone threw a tile at a king. It wasn't Gripper Stebson. Eurysthenes was mentioned. The land in Sparta was marshy but in amongst the mountains it was a hard place to invade as it was like a natural fortress thus it was a good place to be a Spartan. Some parts were not as marshy and several icons and herons stood on dry ground. The Greeks actually spent some time colouring their statues and robes contrary to what some celebrity antiquarians and historians purport. They loved a bit of colour. Cruickshank would lead us to believe those statues were probably all plain boring white marble which he no doubt thinks would add an air of pomposity to his take on classical history but Kitto would smack his nose and tell him the Greeks loved colour and would certainly have taken a prime colour palette to Cruickshank's grey bastard face. Horse drawn chariots created a nice breeze too which is something nice on a hot Peloponnesian day. In summer a load of chariots would've been most welcome to get the washing dry. Alternatively a dip in the Laconic gulf or in the stymphalian lake or in the river Eurotas would cool the cobbles if you were daft enough to stay out in the midday sun reading one of the latest blockbusters from Aristotle. Unfortunately you couldn't go to Boots in Sparta and get a bottle of after sun.
Lake stymphalia was in Arcadia and was where the mythical birds with brazen claws attacked Hercules. He overcame them as part of his Labours. Most cities had some sort of acropolis whether it was a rock or wall or stump or a stone platform high above the town. Acro meaning high. Polis meaning city. Lycaurgus was in the area and had an altar in Sparta dedicated to him as he was renowned for being smart and the Spartans liked him and nearby they erected a heron. Calla meaning full. Calamitous. Callous.
Kythera was the home of Aphrodite the goddess of love and beauty whom the romans identified with Venus. The story goes that Kronos had a disagreement with his dad Uranus. Kronos cut his bollocks off and they fell into the sea and Aphrodite was born from the foam and she swam to an oyster shell for protection and she managed to reach Cyprus with the help of Zephyrus the west wind. Obviously a standard conception and birth back in those days now commemorated in a painting by Botticelli.
The word Halcyon comes from the Halcyon birds because Zeus changed some people who upset him into kingfishers who were dubbed the Halcyon birds and they still nest on Kythera to this day and they had these peaceful moments which we now call Halcyon days. It all happened on Kythira.
Pausanius wrote about some stuff. I think a trip to Peloponnesos could be in order. Lots to check out.
Someone in the pub just mentioned the Compleat Angler in Chinnor but it's a bit irrelevant. Champagne on arrival and a rude bucket. Who knows?
Odd dream based in Miami swimming down the Biscayne canal with family and Kym was swimming and a white headed bull shark was a few metres below in the murky blue water but they were friendly sharks although it was a bit disconcerting. Funny thing I woke up and I was drenched because my bedroom heater was on too high!
Get some scallops and make a nice little boudin. And you call me posh. I prefer crab to lobster tbh. There's a place down the new forest and they catch crabs and you can eat them there and then. Carrots have no chance against a lobster. Chefs talk. You don't need one down your Brian Cants. Claws are the best much better than the body and get some pears and creme fraiche and brioche loaf in there its nice frozen and nosh nosh. Monday.
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