(Originally Written September 14, 2009 in the Journal)
Culwch Won Olwen
Culwch, Arthur's first cousin, was the son of Kilydd, ruler of Kelyddon. Culwch's mother was dying and went to her husband giving him her blessing to remarry but only after a double sided thorn appeared on her grave. She went to her confessor and asked him to prune her grave so nothing grew there, which he did until he neglected it after seven years.
Kilydd then went for advice on a new wife. They killed Doged, stole his lands and Kilydd took his wife as his own. This woman had a daughter, Olwan. Olwan swore that Culwch had to win her as his bride.
The Dream of Rhonabwy
I want to use Kei as a character.
The Mabinogion was interesting for what it was. I enjoyed the classical prose much more however, but the characters of the Mabinogion will match more with my story.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Notes on The Mabinogion (C)
(Originally written September 13, 2009 in the Journal)
Notes on The Mabinogion
Math, Son of Mathonwy
Math was a lord of Northern Wales and used to rest his feet in virgin's laps except when he was at war. His virgin was named Goewin. Math had two nephews, Gilvaethwy and Gwydyon, who were sons of the goddess Don.
Gilvaethwy fell in love with Goewin and became sick in his love for her. When Gwydyon learned of this he devised a plan for Gilvaethwy to sleep with Goewin.
Gwydyon went to Math to get his permission to obtain Pyderi's pigs. Math gave his consent so Gwydyon headed south, disguised as a bard. After entertaining Pyderi, Gwydyon asked for a pig. Pyderi refused because he had sworn an oath not to give or sell a pig until the herd had doubled in size.
Gwydyon then devised a plan to transform objects into twelve horses with golden bits and saddles and twelve greyhounds to trade for the pigs. After council Pyderi accepted the offer. Gwydyon fled with the pigs and traveled from town to town, heading northwards. After a day the horses and greyhounds transformed back and Pyderi gave chase to Gwydyon. Gwydyon traveled slowly so that Pyderi could muster a large army so that Math would have to set out for war.
When Math gathered his forces and went to battle Gilvaethwy raped Goewin. When Math learned of this he made Goewin his wife to protect her honor. To punish Gilvaethwy and Gwydyon (he could not kill them as they were his sister's sons) he transformed them into deer, one male and one female. He gave them the nature of deer and told them to reproduce and come back one year later. They came back with a sow and were transformed into pigs and told to go out again. They came back with another son and were transformed into wolves and sent back out with the same task. They came back with a third son and were restored to their original state. Thus, Gilvaethwy and Gwydyon were punished for their crimes and gave birth to three sons; Bleiddwn, Hyddwn, and Hychdwn the Tall.
After they were restored Math asked them to advise him on choosing a new virgin. They offered Aranrhod, their sister, daughter of Don. Math asked Aronrhod if she was a virgin, to which she lied and said yes. Math tested her with his magic wand. A boy fell out of her and she ran away, but before she got out of the door another boy fell out.
Math named the first boy Dylan and had him baptized. He grew strong and became a master of the sea. He was killed by his uncle Govannon, the blacksmith of the gods.
Gwydyon found the other boy in a chest at the foot of his bed. The boy grew strong and tall. One day when he was four he went with Gwydyon to see Aranrhod, his mother. When Aronrhod learned that Gwydyon had saved the child and prolonged her shame she became enraged and cursed the child to be nameless until she gave him a name.
Gwydyon then made a ship out of seaweed with his magic and began to make shoes. He also had disguised himself and the boy. When Aronrhod learned that a cobbler of skill had landed on her shore she had herself measured and sent the measurements to have a shoe made. Gwydyon made a beautiful shoe that was too large. Aronrhod paid for it but asked for a smaller size. This time Gwydyon made it too small. Gwydyon then refused to make a shoe for her without measuring the foot himself.
Aranrhod went down to the ship to see the cobbler. When she came down the boy hit a wren and Aranrhod laughed saying, "God knows, the light haired one hit it with a skillful hand". Gwydyon agreed and cursed Aranrhod and revealed the deception because unwittingly Aranrhod had named the boy, Lleu (shining) Skillful Hand.
Aranrhod became angry and cursed the boy again stating the he shall have no weapons unless she herself armed him. Lleu and Gwydyon returned back to the estate of Math where Gwydyon taught Lleu how to become a skillful rider.
Gwydyon then took Lleu back to Aranrhod as they were both disguised as bards. They entertained Aranrhod and were given a room to sleep. When dawn was braking Gwydyon used his magic to make it seem as if Aranrhod's castle was being attacked. Aranrhod came to them for advise and Gwydon said to arm all the men. Gwydyon received help from two young girls while Aranrhod armed Lleu herself. Thus, Gwydyon had tricked Aranrhod yet again. Aranrhod cursed the boy, denying him a wife of this world.
When Lleu and Gwydyon returned to Math's estate Math and Gwydyon fashioned a wife for Lleu out of flowers and named her Blodeuedd. Lleu and Blodeuedd were married and Math gave Lleu the Contrev of Dinoding to lord over.
One day Lleu left Dinoding to visit Math when a hunting party passed by Lleu's fortress. When Blodeuedd learned that it was Goronwy, Lord of Penllyn she invited him in to stay for the night. Goronwy and Blodeuedd were overcome by passion for one another and slept together. They devised a plan to have Lleu tell Blodeuedd how he may die so that the two lovers could married.
When Lleu returned Blodeuedd enticed her husband to tell how he could be killed by proclaiming her worries over it. Lleu explained that he could only be killed by a spear crafted over a year's time and thrown at him while he was standing with one foot on the edge of a bath and one foot on a goat. After a year, Goronwy had crafted the spear.
Blodeuedd came to Lleu and tricked him into getting into the position he could be killed. Goronwy threw the spear and pierced Lleu in the side. Lleu transformed himself into an eagle and flew away. Goronwy took Blodeuedd as his wife and stole Lleu's lands.
Math and Gwydyon mourned the loss of Lleu and Gwydyon went out to search for him. He found an eagle being eaten by a pig so he transformed it back into Lleu's human form. Gwydyon took Lleu back to the castle where he recovered from his wound.
After healing Lleu sought out his revenge. He went after Goronwy while Gwydyon went after Blodeuedd. Gwydyon cursed Blodeuedd and turned her into an owl. Lleu refused any payment or bribe and took out his revenge on Goronwy. Lleu threw a spear at Goronwy and killed him, turning him into stone.
The four branches of the Mabinogi are Pwyll, Lord of Dyved; Branwen, Daughter of Llyr; Manawydan, Son of Llyr; and Math, son of Mathonwy.
The Dream of Maxen & Llud and Llevelys were fairly uneventful except for maybe the plagues in Llevelys. But, I should purchase Geoffrey's Historia.
Notes on The Mabinogion
Math, Son of Mathonwy
Math was a lord of Northern Wales and used to rest his feet in virgin's laps except when he was at war. His virgin was named Goewin. Math had two nephews, Gilvaethwy and Gwydyon, who were sons of the goddess Don.
Gilvaethwy fell in love with Goewin and became sick in his love for her. When Gwydyon learned of this he devised a plan for Gilvaethwy to sleep with Goewin.
Gwydyon went to Math to get his permission to obtain Pyderi's pigs. Math gave his consent so Gwydyon headed south, disguised as a bard. After entertaining Pyderi, Gwydyon asked for a pig. Pyderi refused because he had sworn an oath not to give or sell a pig until the herd had doubled in size.
Gwydyon then devised a plan to transform objects into twelve horses with golden bits and saddles and twelve greyhounds to trade for the pigs. After council Pyderi accepted the offer. Gwydyon fled with the pigs and traveled from town to town, heading northwards. After a day the horses and greyhounds transformed back and Pyderi gave chase to Gwydyon. Gwydyon traveled slowly so that Pyderi could muster a large army so that Math would have to set out for war.
When Math gathered his forces and went to battle Gilvaethwy raped Goewin. When Math learned of this he made Goewin his wife to protect her honor. To punish Gilvaethwy and Gwydyon (he could not kill them as they were his sister's sons) he transformed them into deer, one male and one female. He gave them the nature of deer and told them to reproduce and come back one year later. They came back with a sow and were transformed into pigs and told to go out again. They came back with another son and were transformed into wolves and sent back out with the same task. They came back with a third son and were restored to their original state. Thus, Gilvaethwy and Gwydyon were punished for their crimes and gave birth to three sons; Bleiddwn, Hyddwn, and Hychdwn the Tall.
After they were restored Math asked them to advise him on choosing a new virgin. They offered Aranrhod, their sister, daughter of Don. Math asked Aronrhod if she was a virgin, to which she lied and said yes. Math tested her with his magic wand. A boy fell out of her and she ran away, but before she got out of the door another boy fell out.
Math named the first boy Dylan and had him baptized. He grew strong and became a master of the sea. He was killed by his uncle Govannon, the blacksmith of the gods.
Gwydyon found the other boy in a chest at the foot of his bed. The boy grew strong and tall. One day when he was four he went with Gwydyon to see Aranrhod, his mother. When Aronrhod learned that Gwydyon had saved the child and prolonged her shame she became enraged and cursed the child to be nameless until she gave him a name.
Gwydyon then made a ship out of seaweed with his magic and began to make shoes. He also had disguised himself and the boy. When Aronrhod learned that a cobbler of skill had landed on her shore she had herself measured and sent the measurements to have a shoe made. Gwydyon made a beautiful shoe that was too large. Aronrhod paid for it but asked for a smaller size. This time Gwydyon made it too small. Gwydyon then refused to make a shoe for her without measuring the foot himself.
Aranrhod went down to the ship to see the cobbler. When she came down the boy hit a wren and Aranrhod laughed saying, "God knows, the light haired one hit it with a skillful hand". Gwydyon agreed and cursed Aranrhod and revealed the deception because unwittingly Aranrhod had named the boy, Lleu (shining) Skillful Hand.
Aranrhod became angry and cursed the boy again stating the he shall have no weapons unless she herself armed him. Lleu and Gwydyon returned back to the estate of Math where Gwydyon taught Lleu how to become a skillful rider.
Gwydyon then took Lleu back to Aranrhod as they were both disguised as bards. They entertained Aranrhod and were given a room to sleep. When dawn was braking Gwydyon used his magic to make it seem as if Aranrhod's castle was being attacked. Aranrhod came to them for advise and Gwydon said to arm all the men. Gwydyon received help from two young girls while Aranrhod armed Lleu herself. Thus, Gwydyon had tricked Aranrhod yet again. Aranrhod cursed the boy, denying him a wife of this world.
When Lleu and Gwydyon returned to Math's estate Math and Gwydyon fashioned a wife for Lleu out of flowers and named her Blodeuedd. Lleu and Blodeuedd were married and Math gave Lleu the Contrev of Dinoding to lord over.
One day Lleu left Dinoding to visit Math when a hunting party passed by Lleu's fortress. When Blodeuedd learned that it was Goronwy, Lord of Penllyn she invited him in to stay for the night. Goronwy and Blodeuedd were overcome by passion for one another and slept together. They devised a plan to have Lleu tell Blodeuedd how he may die so that the two lovers could married.
When Lleu returned Blodeuedd enticed her husband to tell how he could be killed by proclaiming her worries over it. Lleu explained that he could only be killed by a spear crafted over a year's time and thrown at him while he was standing with one foot on the edge of a bath and one foot on a goat. After a year, Goronwy had crafted the spear.
Blodeuedd came to Lleu and tricked him into getting into the position he could be killed. Goronwy threw the spear and pierced Lleu in the side. Lleu transformed himself into an eagle and flew away. Goronwy took Blodeuedd as his wife and stole Lleu's lands.
Math and Gwydyon mourned the loss of Lleu and Gwydyon went out to search for him. He found an eagle being eaten by a pig so he transformed it back into Lleu's human form. Gwydyon took Lleu back to the castle where he recovered from his wound.
After healing Lleu sought out his revenge. He went after Goronwy while Gwydyon went after Blodeuedd. Gwydyon cursed Blodeuedd and turned her into an owl. Lleu refused any payment or bribe and took out his revenge on Goronwy. Lleu threw a spear at Goronwy and killed him, turning him into stone.
The four branches of the Mabinogi are Pwyll, Lord of Dyved; Branwen, Daughter of Llyr; Manawydan, Son of Llyr; and Math, son of Mathonwy.
The Dream of Maxen & Llud and Llevelys were fairly uneventful except for maybe the plagues in Llevelys. But, I should purchase Geoffrey's Historia.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Notes on The Mabinogion (B)
(Originally Written September 12, 2009 in the Journal)
Notes on The Mabinogion
Manawydan was grieved that his uncle had stolen the throne of England after Manawydan's brother Bran had died. Pryderi offered his friendship by offering his mother Rhiannon as wife for Manawydan.
Manawydan and Rhiannon were married. The newlyweds and Pryderi and his wife, Kigva went and set on a mound. A mist came over them and when it lifted the four were alone. They spent two years like this and then left for England.
They settled in Hereford and became saddle makers. Soons everyone bought their saddles from these four. The other saddle makers plotted to kill them so they set out for another city where they took up shield making. The same thing happened again and they went to another town where they took up shoemaking. They again became so successful that their lives became endangered. Then they returned home to Dyved.
In Dyved they went hunting again. On a hunt they spotted a white boar which ran into a strange fortress. Pryderi went after it to retrieve his dogs against the advice of Manawydan. In the fortress there was neither the boar nor his dogs but a marble fountain with a golden bowl. He walked up to it and touched it, becoming stuck to it and mute. After waiting Manawydan returned home and broke the news to Rhiannon. Rhiannon then went out to find her son. She entered the fortress and also became stuck to the fountain. A mist fell and the fortress disappeared.
Manawydan and Kigua, Pryderi's wife left for England where Manawydan took up shoemaking again. After a year's time Manawydan became so successful that all the other shoemakers became envious and plotted against his life. They left England to go back to Dyved but this time with wheat to plant.
Manawydan sowed three crofts of wheat. When it was time to harves the first two crofts appeared naked, only stalks. The third one Manawydan then guarded. A hoard of mice came upon the croft and made off with the wheat but Manawydan managed to catch one.
Manawydan set out to hang the mouse he had caught. A scholar came to the spot where Manawydan was to hang the mouse. This was the first person he had seen in Dyved in seven years other than his three companions, two of which were lost. The scholar attempted to buy the mouse to spare its life. Manawydan refused the offer. Then a priest came upon Manawydan. The priest tried to buy the mouse but was again rebuffed. Next a bishop came. The bishop offered to buy the mouse but was refused. Finally a deal was struck because the bishop was actually Llywd who was a friend to Wawl, who had been mistreated by Pwyll, the father of Pryderi. Eventually the mouse, who was actually Llywd's wife was released to Llywd in exchange for Pryderi and Rhiannon and no more mischief from Llywd.
Notes on The Mabinogion
Manawydan was grieved that his uncle had stolen the throne of England after Manawydan's brother Bran had died. Pryderi offered his friendship by offering his mother Rhiannon as wife for Manawydan.
Manawydan and Rhiannon were married. The newlyweds and Pryderi and his wife, Kigva went and set on a mound. A mist came over them and when it lifted the four were alone. They spent two years like this and then left for England.
They settled in Hereford and became saddle makers. Soons everyone bought their saddles from these four. The other saddle makers plotted to kill them so they set out for another city where they took up shield making. The same thing happened again and they went to another town where they took up shoemaking. They again became so successful that their lives became endangered. Then they returned home to Dyved.
In Dyved they went hunting again. On a hunt they spotted a white boar which ran into a strange fortress. Pryderi went after it to retrieve his dogs against the advice of Manawydan. In the fortress there was neither the boar nor his dogs but a marble fountain with a golden bowl. He walked up to it and touched it, becoming stuck to it and mute. After waiting Manawydan returned home and broke the news to Rhiannon. Rhiannon then went out to find her son. She entered the fortress and also became stuck to the fountain. A mist fell and the fortress disappeared.
Manawydan and Kigua, Pryderi's wife left for England where Manawydan took up shoemaking again. After a year's time Manawydan became so successful that all the other shoemakers became envious and plotted against his life. They left England to go back to Dyved but this time with wheat to plant.
Manawydan sowed three crofts of wheat. When it was time to harves the first two crofts appeared naked, only stalks. The third one Manawydan then guarded. A hoard of mice came upon the croft and made off with the wheat but Manawydan managed to catch one.
Manawydan set out to hang the mouse he had caught. A scholar came to the spot where Manawydan was to hang the mouse. This was the first person he had seen in Dyved in seven years other than his three companions, two of which were lost. The scholar attempted to buy the mouse to spare its life. Manawydan refused the offer. Then a priest came upon Manawydan. The priest tried to buy the mouse but was again rebuffed. Next a bishop came. The bishop offered to buy the mouse but was refused. Finally a deal was struck because the bishop was actually Llywd who was a friend to Wawl, who had been mistreated by Pwyll, the father of Pryderi. Eventually the mouse, who was actually Llywd's wife was released to Llywd in exchange for Pryderi and Rhiannon and no more mischief from Llywd.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Notes on the Mabinogion (A)
(Originally Written September 11, 2009 in the Journal)
I think it might have been a mistake to move from the language rich work of Virgil to a compiling of Welsh folklore in The Mabinogion. Jeffery Gantz, the translator, even mentions the rough around the edges stuff in the introduction. But, as it is mythology and of a pseudohistorical nature I'm sure I'll enjoy it - though maybe not as much as The Aeneid.
Pwyll Lord of Dyved
Further Reading for Comparison : The Wasting Sickness of Cu Chulaind
Pwyll, a king, is asked by Arawn, a king of the otherworld, to defeat another otherworld king in battle to secure friendship. He does so and forms an alliance.
Pwyll then meets a woman in a vision named Rhiannon. Rhiannon requests that Pwyll marry her so that she does not have to wed a man she does not wish to. During a feast Pwyll gives his word to Gwawl, son of Clud to grant him his wish. Unfortunately, Gwawl is the man Rhiannon is to marry and because of chivalry Pwyll agrees to the terms. Meanwhile Pwyll and Rhiannon devise a plan to trick Gwawl out of his marriage rite, which succeeds.
Pwyll and Rhiannon are married but produce no heir. Pwyll's friends call Pwyll to take another wife but he asks for one more year's time. Rhiannon bears a son within the year but the child mysteriously disappears. The maidens to Rhiannon devise a scheme to kill a foal and put it in the room and blame Rhiannon for killing her own son. Rhiannon is punished. Meanwhile, Teirnon, a former man of Pwyll, has a great horse. But every time the horse gives birth its foal disappears. This time Teirnon watches over the foal and a giant eagle claw comes and smothers it up.
Tiernon cuts off the claw and saves the foal. Tiernon then finds a boy and gives it to his wife. They name the boy Gwri Golden Hair. They raise him and he grows up to be supernaturally strong. One day Tiernon hears of the punishment of Rhiannon and looks at Gwri and realizes it is the son of his friend Pwyll. They take Gwri to Pwyll and Rhiannon where they rename him Pryderi. Pwyll dies and Pryderi becomes king and rules justly and expands the territory.
Branwen, Daughter of Llyr
Lord Mallolwch, King of Ireland, came to Wales to seek an alliance with Bran, King of the Island of the Mighty. Mallolwch sought the hand of Branwen, daughter of Llyr. Bran agreed and there was a feast.
Evnissyens, the brother of Branwen was outraged at his sister being married off without his permission so he disfigured Mallolwch's horses, thus insulting him. Mallolwch set out for vengeance but Bran appeased him with gifts, including a magic cauldron. This magic cauldron was a gift from a giant to Bran. When a man died he could be placed in the cauldron and boiled. The next day he would be alive again, but could not speak.
Mallolwch left with his bride for Ireland. She bore him a son named Gwern. After a year Mallolwch's men mocked him for the insult on the horses until he could take no more and disgraced Branwen, sister of Evnissyen. Branwen trained a bird to carry a letter to her other brother Bran, the king of the Island of the Mighty telling of her disgrace.
Bran armed his men and went to Ireland. Bran was a giant and laid across a river so his men could pass. When the Irish saw this they tried to appease the army.
The built Bran a house, which because of his size, he had never had a house big enough for him. In the house hid 200 Irish warriors, but Evnissyen squeezed their heads until they died. There was a feast where Gwern, son of Mallolwch and Branwen met Bran. Bran received the boy well, but Evnissyen through the boy in the fire.
A battle began and the Irish kept respawning every night until Evnissyen, saddened by the grief he caused sacrificed himself and destroyed the cauldron. At the end of the battle all the Irish had been killed except for five pregnant women. Only seven of the Island of the Mighty survived.
Bran, as he was dying, prophesied to his men, ordering them to cut off his head and bury it in London. When the men returned to England, Branwen died of a broken heart at the grief she had caused both islands. The men eventually came to London where they learned another king had taken rule. They buried the head of Bran and so long as it was buried there, there were no plagues in England.
I think it might have been a mistake to move from the language rich work of Virgil to a compiling of Welsh folklore in The Mabinogion. Jeffery Gantz, the translator, even mentions the rough around the edges stuff in the introduction. But, as it is mythology and of a pseudohistorical nature I'm sure I'll enjoy it - though maybe not as much as The Aeneid.
Pwyll Lord of Dyved
Further Reading for Comparison : The Wasting Sickness of Cu Chulaind
Pwyll, a king, is asked by Arawn, a king of the otherworld, to defeat another otherworld king in battle to secure friendship. He does so and forms an alliance.
Pwyll then meets a woman in a vision named Rhiannon. Rhiannon requests that Pwyll marry her so that she does not have to wed a man she does not wish to. During a feast Pwyll gives his word to Gwawl, son of Clud to grant him his wish. Unfortunately, Gwawl is the man Rhiannon is to marry and because of chivalry Pwyll agrees to the terms. Meanwhile Pwyll and Rhiannon devise a plan to trick Gwawl out of his marriage rite, which succeeds.
Pwyll and Rhiannon are married but produce no heir. Pwyll's friends call Pwyll to take another wife but he asks for one more year's time. Rhiannon bears a son within the year but the child mysteriously disappears. The maidens to Rhiannon devise a scheme to kill a foal and put it in the room and blame Rhiannon for killing her own son. Rhiannon is punished. Meanwhile, Teirnon, a former man of Pwyll, has a great horse. But every time the horse gives birth its foal disappears. This time Teirnon watches over the foal and a giant eagle claw comes and smothers it up.
Tiernon cuts off the claw and saves the foal. Tiernon then finds a boy and gives it to his wife. They name the boy Gwri Golden Hair. They raise him and he grows up to be supernaturally strong. One day Tiernon hears of the punishment of Rhiannon and looks at Gwri and realizes it is the son of his friend Pwyll. They take Gwri to Pwyll and Rhiannon where they rename him Pryderi. Pwyll dies and Pryderi becomes king and rules justly and expands the territory.
Branwen, Daughter of Llyr
Lord Mallolwch, King of Ireland, came to Wales to seek an alliance with Bran, King of the Island of the Mighty. Mallolwch sought the hand of Branwen, daughter of Llyr. Bran agreed and there was a feast.
Evnissyens, the brother of Branwen was outraged at his sister being married off without his permission so he disfigured Mallolwch's horses, thus insulting him. Mallolwch set out for vengeance but Bran appeased him with gifts, including a magic cauldron. This magic cauldron was a gift from a giant to Bran. When a man died he could be placed in the cauldron and boiled. The next day he would be alive again, but could not speak.
Mallolwch left with his bride for Ireland. She bore him a son named Gwern. After a year Mallolwch's men mocked him for the insult on the horses until he could take no more and disgraced Branwen, sister of Evnissyen. Branwen trained a bird to carry a letter to her other brother Bran, the king of the Island of the Mighty telling of her disgrace.
Bran armed his men and went to Ireland. Bran was a giant and laid across a river so his men could pass. When the Irish saw this they tried to appease the army.
The built Bran a house, which because of his size, he had never had a house big enough for him. In the house hid 200 Irish warriors, but Evnissyen squeezed their heads until they died. There was a feast where Gwern, son of Mallolwch and Branwen met Bran. Bran received the boy well, but Evnissyen through the boy in the fire.
A battle began and the Irish kept respawning every night until Evnissyen, saddened by the grief he caused sacrificed himself and destroyed the cauldron. At the end of the battle all the Irish had been killed except for five pregnant women. Only seven of the Island of the Mighty survived.
Bran, as he was dying, prophesied to his men, ordering them to cut off his head and bury it in London. When the men returned to England, Branwen died of a broken heart at the grief she had caused both islands. The men eventually came to London where they learned another king had taken rule. They buried the head of Bran and so long as it was buried there, there were no plagues in England.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Notes on The Aeneid
(Originally Written September 10, 2009 in the Journal)
This was my first time reading The Aeneid. I loved this book. I found the story incredibly fascinating. The use of the term godhead in the David West translation struck me as interesting because I had never seen it outside of a Trinitarian Christian context. I wonder if the Latin word is the same.
Book 1 - Storm and Banquet
Compare Aeneas & Job?
Aeneas suffers at the hands of Juno despite having committed no sin.
Book 2 - The Fall of Troy
This was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The chief virtue of Aeneas, a man known for his piety, is his courage, which he had to forsake for the destiny of the will of the gods.
Book 3 - The Wanderings
Book 4 - Dido
An interesting myth on the origin of enmity between Rome & Carthage.
Book 5 - Funeral Games
The origin of the rites of Parentalia - the festival of the dead. This was a major part of the Roman Religion.
Compare Aeneas to Solomon in diffusing the squabble between Nisus and Salius - wisdom.
Book 6 - The Underworld
This has philosophical and political undertones. It gives the origin of life explanation and praises the Julian family.
Book 7 - War in Latium
A good read for battle scenes.
Book 8 - Aeneas in Rome
The prophetic shield of Vulcan is made for Aeneas in this book. In this book Virgil ties Hercules to Aeneas and Aeneas to Caesar Augustus. This is the legitimization of Aeneas and thus, of Rome and Augustus.
Book 9 - Nisus and Euryalus
War scenes
Book 10 - Pallas and Mezeutius
War scenes, the use of dueling
Book 11 - Drances and Camilla
Camilla the Amazon - write a myth of Camilla
Book 12 - Truce and Duel
Great ending in the death of Turnus
This was my first time reading The Aeneid. I loved this book. I found the story incredibly fascinating. The use of the term godhead in the David West translation struck me as interesting because I had never seen it outside of a Trinitarian Christian context. I wonder if the Latin word is the same.
Book 1 - Storm and Banquet
Compare Aeneas & Job?
Aeneas suffers at the hands of Juno despite having committed no sin.
Book 2 - The Fall of Troy
This was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The chief virtue of Aeneas, a man known for his piety, is his courage, which he had to forsake for the destiny of the will of the gods.
Book 3 - The Wanderings
Book 4 - Dido
An interesting myth on the origin of enmity between Rome & Carthage.
Book 5 - Funeral Games
The origin of the rites of Parentalia - the festival of the dead. This was a major part of the Roman Religion.
Compare Aeneas to Solomon in diffusing the squabble between Nisus and Salius - wisdom.
Book 6 - The Underworld
This has philosophical and political undertones. It gives the origin of life explanation and praises the Julian family.
Book 7 - War in Latium
A good read for battle scenes.
Book 8 - Aeneas in Rome
The prophetic shield of Vulcan is made for Aeneas in this book. In this book Virgil ties Hercules to Aeneas and Aeneas to Caesar Augustus. This is the legitimization of Aeneas and thus, of Rome and Augustus.
Book 9 - Nisus and Euryalus
War scenes
Book 10 - Pallas and Mezeutius
War scenes, the use of dueling
Book 11 - Drances and Camilla
Camilla the Amazon - write a myth of Camilla
Book 12 - Truce and Duel
Great ending in the death of Turnus
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