Xmas and Christmas: A Lost Chapter from Herodotus

by C. S. Lewis

Here's a fun Christmas story that I read:

"And beyond this there lies in the ocean, turned towards the west and north, the island of Niatirb which Hecataeus indeed declares to be the same size and shape as Sicily, but it is larger, though in calling it triangular a man would not miss the mark. It is densely inhabited by men who wear clothes not very different from the other barbarians who occupy the north western parts of Europe though they do not agree with them in language. These islanders, surpassing all the men of whom we know in patience and endurance, use the following customs.

"In the middle of winter when fogs and rains most abound they have a great festival which they call Exmas and for fifty days they prepare for it in the fashion I shall describe. First of all, every citizen is obliged to send to each of his friends and relations a square piece of hard paper stamped with a picture, which in their speech is called an Exmas-card. But the pictures represent birds sitting on branches, or trees with a dark green prickly leaf, or else men in such garments as the Niatirbians believe that their ancestors wore two hundred years ago riding in coaches such as their ancestors used, or houses with snow on their roofs. And the Niatirbians are unwilling to say what these pictures have to do with the festival; guarding (as I suppose) some sacred mystery. And because all men must send these cards the marketplace is filled with the crowd of those buying them, so that there is great labour and weariness.

"But having bought as many as they suppose to be sufficient, they return to their houses and find there the like cards which others have sent to them. And when they find cards from any to whom they also have sent cards, they throw them away and give thanks to the gods that this labour at least is over for another year. But when they find cards from any to whom they have not sent, then they beat their breasts and wail and utter curses against the sender; and, having sufficiently lamented their misfortune, they put on their boots again and go out into the fog and rain and buy a card for him also. And let this account suffice about Exmas-cards.

"They also send gifts to one another, suffering the same things about the gifts as about the cards, or even worse. For every citizen has to guess the value of the gift which every friend will send to him so that he may send one of equal value, whether he can afford it or not. And they buy as gifts for one another such things as no man ever bought for himself. For the sellers, understanding the custom, put forth all kinds of trumpery, and whatever, being useless and ridiculous, they have been unable to sell throughout the year they now sell as an Exmas gift. And though the Niatirbians profess themselves to lack sufficient necessary things, such as metal, leather, wood and paper, yet an incredible quantity of these things is wasted every year, being made into the gifts.

"But during these fifty days the oldest, poorest, and most miserable of the citizens put on false beards and red robes and walk about the market-place; being disguised (in my opinion) as Cronos. And the sellers of gifts no less than the purchaser’s become pale and weary, because of the crowds and the fog, so that any man who came into a Niatirbian city at this season would think some great public calamity had fallen on Niatirb. This fifty days of preparation is called in their barbarian speech the Exmas Rush.

"But when the day of the festival comes, then most of the citizens, being exhausted with the Rush, lie in bed till noon. But in the evening they eat five times as much supper as on other days and, crowning themselves with crowns of paper, they become intoxicated. And on the day after Exmas they are very grave, being internally disordered by the supper and the drinking and reckoning how much they have spent on gifts and on the wine. For wine is so dear among the Niatirbians that a man must swallow the worth of a talent before he is well intoxicated.

"Such, then, are their customs about the Exmas. But the few among the Niatirbians have also a festival, separate and to themselves, called Crissmas, which is on the same day as Exmas. And those who keep Crissmas, doing the opposite to the majority of the Niatirbians, rise early on that day with shining faces and go before sunrise to certain temples where they partake of a sacred feast. And in most of the temples they set out images of a fair woman with a new-born Child on her knees and certain animals and shepherds adoring the Child. (The reason of these images is given in a certain sacred story which I know but do not repeat.)

"But I myself conversed with a priest in one of these temples and asked him why they kept Crissmas on the same day as Exmas; for it appeared to me inconvenient. But the priest replied, “It is not lawful, O stranger, for us to change the date of Chrissmas, but would that Zeus would put it into the minds of the Niatirbians to keep Exmas at some other time or not to keep it at all. For Exmas and the Rush distract the minds even of the few from sacred things. And we indeed are glad that men should make merry at Crissmas; but in Exmas there is no merriment left.” And when I asked him why they endured the Rush, he replied, “It is, O Stranger, a racket”; using (as I suppose) the words of some oracle and speaking unintelligibly to me (for a racket is an instrument which the barbarians use in a game called tennis).

"But what Hecataeus says, that Exmas and Crissmas are the same, is not credible. For first, the pictures which are stamped on the Exmas-cards have nothing to do with the sacred story which the priests tell about Crissmas. And secondly, the most part of the Niatirbians, not believing the religion of the few, nevertheless send the gifts and cards and participate in the Rush and drink, wearing paper caps. But it is not likely that men, even being barbarians, should suffer so many and great things in honour of a god they do not believe in. And now, enough about Niatirb."

(Niatirb is Britain spelled backwards =D) enjoy "plundering the egyptians" this season!

Courage

Bravery is defined as courageous behavior or character. A person with courage is prepared for nearly every task. They are willing and capable of facing rough situations without hesitation and are willing to step forward when a hard task comes along. A man may possess many characteristics, but without bravery or courage, he is unprepared for life. The journey of life is full of unexpected, surprising, and sometimes difficult situations that requite a person to be intrepid. It takes spunk and boldness to stand up for political and biblical issues; to be a salt and light in a world of darkness; to embark on a new stage of life, whether high school, college, marriage, or something else; to be willing to confront people on issues that need to be address; or even to talk to people you've never met. Every day we face situations of one kind or another which demand some level of grit.

A person lacking bravery will not make it very far in this world of constant change, uncertainty, and difficulty. Christians especially, must be courageous enough to stand up for what the believe and be willing to face a world of different opinions and worldviews with confidence. People who are unaccustomed to living fearless lives are cowards. How strong will a coward stand in the mist of a spiritual battle?

God told the people of Israel through Joshua, "have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Where could anyone ever find a better command to be strong and courageous?

People are not born with courage and fearlessness, but rather are trained up in such a way as to instill courageous character in the young people. It takes dedication from the parents to train their children to become what they should be. Teaching them the importance of spending time in God's Word, living a life honoring to Christ, and standing up in the face of giants. The family and friends surrounding a person play a huge roll in who they will become and thus it is important that the parents help guide and council their child as to wise relationships. It take hard work and dedication to produce the caliber of young adult with bravery that our nation is in such need of.

Courageous people are well worth of praise. They have withstood trials and faced difficulties with endurance. They stood when others would fall, and persevered when others would quit. They are also influential in inspiring other around them to pursue the same quality.

bravery.

One of the most admired and encomiumized virtues, unfeigned bravery is a jewel of mankind. The popularity of this virtue is not just a current fad of this generation or nation as a whole. Accolades of this character trait have been prominent since ancient times. The Greeks actually prized bravery in a man above all else and the men would gladly die in order to be remembered as “brave.” In the Noah Webster 1828 dictionary, bravery is defined as “courage; fearlessness of danger; generosity or dignity of mind which despises meanness and cruelty, and disdains to take advantage of a vanquished enemy.”

Winston Churchill says that bravery is “what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” This is very true. Being brave does not mean that the person can be prideful and boastful. Quite the contrary. If a person is truly brave, meek and selfless qualities will also follow. To complete the mental picture of this attribute another quote will help round it out to a more full perspective. “[Bravery] doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow. (Mary Anne Radmacher)” It often takes very little to get discouraged and quite trying, but persevering through the tough times is what really builds character.

Bravery is not a characteristic that a person is either born with, or not; it is a goal that must be sought after. Acquiring it takes lots of effort and determination. Many trials will come and it is through these that a person gains the courage to struggle and eventually conquer. The friend and family that comprise a person’s companions will determine what kind of man/woman the person will become. If the friends are always trying to make life easy and coddle the person, he/she will never learn proper fear nor how to deal with situations which call for valorous deeds.

When courage and steadfast boldness are nurtured in a person from an early age, bravery will be connate and a lasting virtue. This will result in a person of rich character that will be prepared to face any obstacle in any situation. “Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love.” (Morihei Ueshiba)

moderns or ancients?

Throughout present-day America, thousands upon thousands of books are available for the populace to read. With so many choices, how should a person begin to decide where to start in the vast sea of printed pages?

If first-hand accounts are best and truest, then would that not apply to books as well? A great place to begin studying would be to go back to the primary sources and just read them. Yes, it is an gi-normous task, but when all is said and done, the education that will automatically be absorbed by simply reading such great works is incomparable. There are so many books about the same topic and even story, and most of them are just watered-down versions and variants of the original author's points, ideas, worldview, thoughts, and emotions. Why bother even opening the cover to the muddled and confusing interpretations of renown books by inconsequential writers, when, in roughly the same amount of time, the door to an unknown world can be thrown open wide and articulately described and explained by choosing an original title over a newfangled copy-cat?

Even though the classic books may appear daunting, a person should not give up. After all, the authentic books have already passed the test of time and are really worthwhile to read, unlike so many of the contemporary novels and history rewritings. Plus, the results will be more rewarding and the material exposed/learned will be of much more use and significance to the reader if the tough books are persevered through (not even half of the classics require such arduous and keen reading). However there are times to read commentaries to aid in the understanding of a book or its parts, but this type of reading should not comprise all nor a majority of what a person reads.

What will you read next: an ancient, time-tested classic or a modern and diluted rendition of a classic?

note: I am not discounting the modern and educational writings of all present-day literature, but rather seeking to show the importance to read and understand the ancient classics; after all, goodness, beauty, and truth can be found everywhere, even in pagan books.

The Princess and the Pea- refutation

The Princess and the Pea was written by a famous and renowned author: Hans Christian Anderson. It has received much popular praise, contrary to its misleading and artificial story-line. This story does not just give the impression that a perspective wife needs to be absolutely perfect, but also that people can be put to an unimportant test and be judged, for good or bad, based on the results. Life does not work like that. In this fairy-tale Anderson has given an inaccurate and foolish view of life. Who needs to be exposed to such unhelpful ideas?

There was a prince who was very busy looking for a princess to marry. He was never satisfied with the girls that he watched and talked to--they always had a flaw that made them imperfect; he must have a faultless wife. After deciding there was not a girl in all of his part of the country that he wanted marry, he left his home and went in search of the ideal wife. His journey was fruitless. He traveled back home and was very disappointed because he had not found a true princess, in all the land, that would suit him. One night as a storm was raging, the king heard a tapping on the door. The door was opened and there stood a young lady who claimed to be a princess. The queenly mother at once took the girl, cleaned her up, dressed her in a courtly gown, and sent her off to chat with her son. Meanwhile she placed a pea under 20 mattresses and 20 quilts. Next morning, when asked, the young lady said that she had not slept one wink that night because there was something hard in her bed (she actually had bruises to attest to the fact). By hearing this account, the prince knew right away that she was a true princess and the perfect match for him. They married as soon as possible and lived happily ever after.

There are many parts of this unbelievable fairy-story that could not possibly have happened. First off, is it realistic that a princess would be out at night, by herself? No. She would be surrounded by attendants and courtly rules preventing her from being outside alone, not to mention in the evening and during a storm. Suppose for some odd reason a princess did find herself alone at night in a storm. How likely would it be that the girl would actually make her way to another castle (probably quite a distance from her home). She would not. Secondly, how could a simple test reveal the true character of a person? If some how a person’s moral nature could be defined by a quick experiment, what is the possibility of the Queen’s pea working? A pea is a soft vegetable; when 20 mattresses and 20 quilts are pilled on top, would not the pea get smashed? Imagine that the pea does not get smashed and is able to make a big enough lump that sleeping on it was impossible. By what standard does the fact that the girl felt a tiny object in her bed mean that the she is a princess? It cannot. How then can the story be read and admired, if the beginning is so fictitiously flawed?

Having been shown full of faults, The Princess and the Pea is unsuitable for people--especially children--to read. To be worth reading a narrative needs to be profitable or beneficial to the reader; this fairy-tale is neither but instead, unwholesome. Since the purpose of writing is to persuade an audience to change or do something, think of the how the readers will be effected by this strange way of looking at the world and life in general. It will have negative effects on them and future generations. To end the discussion on this disagreeable subject, let it be said that Anderson’s fairy-story should not be read or considered grand.

Saint of the Ancient Catholic Church

Athanasius, the renown Christian apologist, was born into a greek family around 293. Very little of his childhood is known. It is not until he became a religious and thus political figure that he is recorded in history. He studied theology and philosophy, graduating to an episcopal position in the Catholic Church of Alexandria. Soon the Arian controversy sprung up and caused many disputes in the Christian church. The Arians were known for their erroneous belief that God the Father was not one in the same with Jesus. They believed that Jesus was a great man, possibly one of the greatest of God’s creations, but not God-incarnate. Needless to say this topic riled many a theologian. Arius and the other leaders of the Church gathered together (the First Council of Nicaea in 325). Here Athanasius spoke out against the heresy and the Nicaean Creed was drafted. Afterwards, Athanasius was said to have mistreated Arius and consequently he was exiled to Tyre by Constantine I. Over the next years 40 years Athanasius came in and out of exile, depending on the bias of the Emperor and the people influencing him. During these years Athanasius wrote many papers and treatis arguing for the Christian faith based on the Bible. Among these is one of his most famous works: On the Incarnation, the dispute over Arianism gave Athanasius incentive to write his book. In the year 366 Athanasius was allowed home and for the rest of his life he was allowed to continue his work in the church.

The Princess and the Pea

Hans Christian Anderson, a danish writer of both prose and poetry, is one of the most esteemed fairy-tale writers of the 19th century. He has numerous pieces of literature published: fiction, short stories, travel diaries, and poems; he has acquired much acclaim for his fabulous children’s stories, the illuminating factor of his métier. At the beginning of his career, he was quite underrated (just as most historical masterminds are). It was not until later in his life that people paid attention to him. By his death he had won international fame and accolades. His writings are now translated into more than 150 languages. The Princess and the Pea, only one of the illustrious fairy tales written by this author, is known throughout the world and considered great. Withstanding such a test of time, Anderson’s writings should be read and enjoyed by all people.

There once was a prince who desperately wanted to get married. He traveled around the world, but could not find the perfect girl for him. Every putative princess had a defect that the prince could not live with, or the girl was no true princess; he must marry a real princess. He returned home, discouraged--without a bride. One dark and rainy night, there was a knock on the palace door. The king opened it and there stood a cold, wet, and bedraggled princess. The queen, immediately putting her to the test to discover if she was a true princess, pilled high the bed where the supposed princess was to sleep. Between the layers of mattresses, she laid a single pea. In the morning she asked if the princess has slept well. Contrarily, the poor princess had, had one of the most uncomfortable nights--she had felt something very hard in her bed and could not get even one wink of sleep. Needless to say, she passed the test and married the prince. Together they lived happily ever after.

As a fable written specifically for children, though teens and adults alike can appreciate the story, it is not only pleasurable and dramatic, but also easy to read. In this narrative, Anderson uses clear sentence structures and vocabulary choices to perspicuously express the action and describe the marvelous details. Also, the message of this account is pellucid. From the beginning to the end, the aim of the story is for the prince to find an authentic “princess-bride.” Though there are some trials, the fairy-tale does end well and the goal is achieved.

There is nothing unusual about a man looking for a wife; why then would it be strange to read about it in a story? it is not. The Princess and the Pea is simply one man’s quest to find his destined soul-mate. A prince returns home from searching for a beloved wife, empty-handed. Then, as fate would have it, a princess is thrust into his path. What should he do, but start to figure out if the young lady is his perfect match? Mother, father, and prince work together and realize that this princess is the young woman whom he should marry. Without further ado, the prince and princess marry. Once a couple has found that they are right for each other, the engagement should be of short duration as they prepare to spend the rest of their lives together.

The Princess and the Pea is based in reality and, though it includes some atypical qualities to keep the plot exciting and interesting, it is easy to relate to. The characters are understandable and relate well to each other in all situations. It could easily be a true story as people marry everyday. Magical in nature, the plot is entirely conceivable: men and women are brought together in all sorts of ways and in what may seem unlikely situations. What does it matter, if the couple is happy and content? In all their dealings, the courtly family and their distinguished guest, they are courteous and gracious with each other. This account is an excellent example of logical yet practical propriety.

It is always good to broaden one’s mind, what better material to start with than a renowned fable written by a famous author? By pursuing this story, the reader will reap multi-fold rewards. Imagination is a skill that is all too unfamiliar in today’s modern society. American culture has been so dominated by facts, laws, and intellectual boxes that to get out of this restricting mentality takes a deal of effort. One of the first places to start redeeming the creative capabilities of civilization is with reading basic, but, as G.K, Chesterton suggests, extraordinary literature that requires innovative faculties to engage. Secondly, reading fairy tales is a great way to introduce people to the vast world of the classics and the “great conversation.” Another reason for reading this fairy story is simply for pleasure. No matter what, The Princess and the Pea is and always will be an outstanding paradigm for all ages.

In summary, Anderson’s fairytales are extremely well written. The fact that the juvenile fairy-stories have lasted for ages and continue to intrigue both young and old, is a distinct sign of a true classic. Among many other qualities of this piece of literature, this story is coherent, understandable, believable, reasonable, and possibly even true. The Princess and the Pea is not only clear in message and content, but it is a timeless account that is worthy of being read. By immersing oneself in the tangible story of a lovelorn prince and following him to the end, when he meets his “princess charming,” the reader will find delight in the entertainment available at the turn of a page. To conclude: The Princess and the Pea is fantastic and a great read for people of all ages and literary backgrounds.

Undaunted Fidelity

Odysseus, one of the most renown heros of the Trojan War and a mighty Achaean King, left his lovely wife, and baby to do his duty “to God and Country.” He went willingly, but was loath to depart from his newly established family; a 20-year absence was not even considered. It was simply a mission to reclaim Helen, King Menelaus’ wife, who was taken by the Trojans--it was thought to be of short duration. Even after the war was over, Odysseus was unable to return directly home; the gods beset him with many trials and pointless adventures before he could return. Setting off for the battle with a troop of men, he left Penelope and their son in good hands and headed off to battle, not to return for many years. Entrusted at home, “headful” and “honored” Penelope was the model of a faithful wife. She kept matters in order, raised a son, was completely loyal to her husband, and did not waver in her duties.

Long after Odysseus’ expected return from the war, Penelope stayed faithful and diligent to remain chaste. She was often ridiculed and chaffed for not remarrying when it seemed as if Odysseus must be dead, he had been gone for so long. Scrupulously careful, Penelope waited longingly for her husband’s return. Even after 20 long years of patiently anticipating his arrival, Penelope does not give up all for lost, but instead continues on hoping. Many men (72 in all) courted her--much against her will. She did not pay attention to any of them and least of all did she encourage them. They all camped out in her house, ate of her food, and took advantage of everything possible as they greedily desired the Queen’s affections to sway towards one of them. Contrarily, she was obviously waiting only for her dear husband’s return and was not interested in anyone else, no matter what they could offer her.

Amid the struggle to remain solely the

wife of Odysseus, Penelope leads a life of distress and struggles. First her parents want her to re-marry--they having lost all faith in their son-in-law and wanting a blood-heir to carry on the kingly lines in their family. She, completely and wholly devoted to Odysseus, refuses, but cannot figure out how to convince the suitors, to leave her alone without destroying the long standing relationships with the prominent families. For a long while she is able to keep them at bay, but after about 16 years of waiting on her, the suitors get impatient. She comes up with a brilliant idea. She says that she needs to weave a robe for her precious husband and once that is finished, she will marry someone.

“Then in the daytime would she weave at the great web, but in the night unravel...thus for three years she hid her craft and cheated the Achaeans...Wherefore I pay no head to strangers or to suppliants, nor even to heralds who ply a public trade; but, longing for Odysseus, I waste my heart away. [The suitors] urge me on my marriage: I wind my skein of guile.”

During his travels and before he reaches home, Odysseus is warned by King Agamemnon that he should not hope that his wife would still be faithful to him, as was Agamemnon’s experience with his wife. Odysseus was saddened with this news and the dreary prospect of what was to come before him. Long before he reached home, he had heard of the numerous suitors for his wife’s hand and could only surmise that the counsel of the king was true and he has lost his one and only love. Odysseus finally returns home after his arduous journey, though in a completely different state from that which he left in. He comes back as an old man, made so by Pallas Athene. He goes about in disguise to learn more about the suitors of his wife and if she has somehow managed to remain devoted to him amidst the turmoil. He makes his way into the palace, and after some time is given an audience with Penelope herself--it was known that he knew what had happened to Odysseus after the Trojan War.

Throughout the novel, Penelope, ever desirous to see her husband again, heeds all precaution in probing and studying everyone that she comes into contact with. After listening to and believing the accounts by several of her suitors of the fate concerning Odysseus, she finds they are false and that they will tell her anything so that they can marry her. She immediately decides not to take everything at face-value and to test everything and everyone, saving herself a lot of heart-ache. But, when she does hear the truth from a certain, old stranger (Odysseus himself), it takes her a long time and lots of questions to finally give it any merit. Still, she is reluctant to believe the fantastic stories because of all rumor and false tales that she has heard the suitors tell her. And she is still not completely convinced until she sees her husband (after Athena restored him to be “taller and stronger than he was before”). At the end of her interview with Odysseus, she tells him of one of her dreams; he interprets the dream and gives her hope that Odysseus will return shortly and route her “enemies.”

Penelope’s courageous and steadfast waiting for the return of her husband is rewarded at the end of the book by a happy reunion between the two lovers. Twenty years seem but a moment as the two catch each other up on their lives over the past two decades. In the end, Penelope’s persistent forbearance and staunch fidelity is rewarded: Odysseus returns home and reestablishes order to the chaos, exterminating the suitors and institutes peace. Also, King Agamemnon, who was so quick to compound all of the female race with the same deplorable qualities and duplicitous motives that his wife displayed, realizes the mistake he made, corrects his error, and restores Penelope’s honor:

“Fortunate son of Laertes, ready Odysseus! You won a wife full of all worth. How upright was the heart of true Penelope, the daughter of Icarius! How faithful to Odysseus, the husband of her youth! Wherefore the story of her worth shall never die; but for humankind immoral ones shall make a joyous song in praise of steadfast Penelope.”

a brief study on Rhetoric

rhetoric- the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing; language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience, but it is often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content

Aristotle (in book I, chapter 3 of his Rhetoric series) explains that there are three types of rhetoric: deliberative, judicial, and ceremonial. Deliberative oratory is used to persuade or dissuade an audience. Judicial argumentation is implemented for accusing or defending a person or group of people. Ceremonial rhetoric is used to praise or blame what is honorable or disgraceful. Each of these branches of persuasive language have a specific and appropriate occasion in which they should be used. All of these particulars culminate, when used properly, in giving the orator the ability to decipher between good and bad, just and unjust, & great and small.

Battle of Thermopylae - from the Persian view

This is my version of our slant narrative assignment from this past week. Mine takes the opposing view of Caity's.

I, Esther, wife of Xerxes, begin this journal to faithfully recount the happenings of the Greco-Persian battle as my beloved husband and his army are out at battle. As the King of Persia, it is Xerxes’ duty to go against the Greeks and fight them. He is taking his duty seriously and has fought bravely thus far. I miss him dearly, even though he’s only been gone a few months; it seems like he’s been gone for years. I faithfully pray that the God of my people will protect him. He sends letters when he can and keeps me, and those here at the palace with me, updated as to the progress of the war. Our troops are fighting like real men and never lose heart. They are all so weary I am sure. How hard for them, as well as my husband, to be separated from there beloved wives and children so long. It is a man’s duty to fight I guess. It makes life at the palace so much more quite, even at times restless. When I know Xerxes is happy with the progress of the battle, it is so much easier for me to be happy.

Tonight, I have received word that things are going slowly in Thermopylae. Our Persian army is fairly large especially now that the Medes have joined us. The Phoenicians and Athenians, among others, have joined with the Greek’s paltry army. The pass of Thermopylae where they are fighting, was blocked by the Greeks, but at the time Xerxes wrote the letter, they had just recently concurred the Greeks and were moving further in. The countryside, he said, is covered with oak trees, how lovely that must be in this fall weather. I can just picture rolling hills covered in the gold, red, and orange of the changing trees.

I cannot effectively summarize what Xerxes has told me, so I’ll copy his words: “We have been fighting day and night for four days straight. The Greeks though, they have fewer people, have good army tactics and strategy. They form lines of defense and switch out warriors so as to not make them too weary. We have fought through the pass of Thermopylae and are moving inward. We trade off days of victory with the Greeks frequently, but I feel our army has regained a passion for fighting, and the enemy is slowly loosing courage. Our army is fighting bravely. You would be proud to see them fight for their country and families as they do. Speaking of family reminds me of how I miss you and wish this could somehow be over soon, so that I may return and embrace you once again. I think of you by day and dream of you by night. Perhaps, if all goes well, we may be on our homeward journey by the end of the year. It has been a rough day of fighting and I must see everything in camp is set for the night and get some sleep.”

I am so eager to see him again. And to think, he could be home by the end of the year! I am sure that with God’s help they will concur. I fast and pray for them regularly. Just as God granted me courage when I had to face Xerxes about the life of my people, I am sure God will give our warriors strength.

The Battle of Thermopylae

-based on the factual account written by Herodotus in his book of Histories 7.138-239

I, Sperthias Leoprepes, a faithful and true servant to my dear Sparta, do hereby recount an accurate portion of the war between ourselves and fellow-countrymen against the Persians.

At the first signs of trouble, my greek commander sent me and my friend to the Persian king, Xerxes. We were told to give up our lives as an offering to the foreign king. There were a group of Persians that had come through Hellas and were murdered--our lives were to be forfeit as restitution. We arrived at the palace and were presented to King Xerxes. We were not killed. Instead we were told of the Persian’s plans to invade our home town and were sent back to tell our people that the Persians were coming to attack. Needless so say, people back at home did not like this news. They wanted to kill me, but I escaped by offering suggestions about war preparations. It is really bizarre that a messenger, sent as an sacrificial gift, cannot come home and be welcome. He comes home and everyone there desires to take his life. What a world I live in!

After a notable period of negotiations and endless arbitration, fighting and full-flown battle, we now come to the suma of my historic tale. I was sent again, this time as a spy into the heart of the enemy territory- Sardis. I was caught and, once again, my life flashed before my eyes: I was captured and headed for the palace--that can mean only one thing. When I met with King Xerxes, my fate was turned around yet again. He showed me all his forces, provisions, and quantities of resources, then sent me back home. He ordered me to tell my people of the superiority of the Persians and our need to submit and give up our precious land. I obeyed the first half of the command, but as to our ability to conquer our opponent, I admit, I was not going to parrot the discouraging words of the king. Adding to our meager forces, the Phoenicians, the Athenians, the Peloponnesians, and the Sicilians had all joined with us to defend our country from the over-baring Medes and Persians.

The last major battle Many days of combat had passed and neither party had made major advances. Surprisingly, our lack in numbers was sufficiently compensated by our expertise in the art of warfare. We were stationed at Mt. Anopaia, just off the coast of the Malian Gulf. Other companies of our army were staged at other positions along the pass and on the other side of the mountain and our first-line defense. With these forces in place, we were ready for any advance the Persians might make. This was the turning point; either the Persians won and we lost our homeland forever, or the Greeks won and we could have a strong foothold to fight back our ferocious adversary.

Dawn was just breaking as the first wave of soldiers started climbing the base of the mountain. At first we did not see them--the whole land was covered dense with oak trees. Subtly the sound of a rushing wind approached. We armed for battle and found that our foes were upon us. The “wind” had been numerous bands of Persians trampling the leaves and breaking the low-lying branches. The soldiers did not expect to see us, and upon first sighting men in armor, they fled back to their camp. News spread fast and the whole Achaean host was soon brandishing swords, ready for the battle. The first onslaught hit, but by this time we were prepared. We fought nobly and ended up routing the Persians four different times that day--each subsequent time more and more fully, until the last time they were utterly destroyed.

words worth saying?

As I was reading some of my homework for this week, I found some really great thoughts about the art of speaking and how a person should govern his/her speech.

"Propriety does not just deal with avoiding 'bad words' in our writing, it really just has to do with using words, words that fit the occasion. For the most part that means you should avoid swear words, but just as important, you should avoid words that are too lofty for the occasion, as well as words that do not come natural to you as a writer." -Lene Mahler Jaqua, based on Quintillion

"Those then who go to excess in ridicule are thought to be buffoons and vulgar fellows who itch to have their joke at all costs, and are more concerned to raise a laugh than to keep within the bounds of decorum...those on the other who never by any chance say anything funny themselves and take offense at those who do, are considered boorish and morose...most men are only too fond of fun and raillery, even buffoons are called witty and pass for clever fellows...the cultivated gentlemen will therefore regulate his wit, and will be as it were a law to himself. Such then is the middle character, whether he be called 'tactful' or 'witty.' " -Aristotle

a legend for 1st-3rd graders

King Croesus sent a message requesting that I come to see him as soon as possible. I knew that I had to go and, so as not to displease my king, I postponed all the activities that I had scheduled for the afternoon and set off for the palace. I arrived at the regal buildings and was immediately overwhelmed. I had never before been to visit the king so I had no idea where to go to meet with King Croesus and his lords. After asking several questions I made my way to what I learned was the royal court. When I walked into the room, I made several embarrassing mistakes. First I felt like (and so I'm sure I looked like) an ant getting ready to be stepped on by a huge foot. Also, I didn't know who the king was, so I introduced my self several times to different nobles, only one of whom pointed me in the right direction. I heard the snickers circling the room--I swallowed hard and approached the person who, by this time, I felt sure was the King. Thankfully I was right.

Croesus, proud as his reputation made him out to be, spoke to me about himself. After a while he asked me to assure him that he was a very happy man, maybe even the happiest. I could not lie--my mother had taught me that when I was just a young kid--so I tried to tell him of other stories of people that I knew who I considered to be cheerful and content. In each case the people led a life satisfactory life of toil and selflessness. The king did not particularly enjoy my telling him the stories. I hoped that he would be able to see how the people did not have the wealth that Croesus had, but they still lead a happy life. A life much more pleasant than his. I was immediately dismissed and I have not seen King Croesus since.

a fable for a 4-year-olds

This week's writing assignment was to rewrite the story of Little Red Riding Hood and to write it using vocabulary that 4-year-olds could understand and short enough that their attention could be captivated for that period of time.

Little Red Riding Hood's perspective

Mother, warning me not to talk to strangers and not to leave the path, handed me a basket of bread and a bottle of wine and sent me over to Grandmother, who wasn't feeling well. I was wearing my red cape and the day was bright and beautiful as I strolled down the road. The path soon lead into the woods. I had not taken three steps before a delightful-looking wolf stopped me. He was so kind and polite, I was sure that Mother would wish me to be as nice back. Mr. Wolf asked me all sorts of questions about where I lived and where I was going, what was in my basket and who was it for? Answering his questions I proceeded on my way but he stopped me again. This time he suggested that I pick a handful of purple, yellow, pink, and white flowers to take to my grandma. I did gather a bouquet and was soon skipping over to Grandmother's house. Cheerfully greeting Grandmother, I stepped into the sunny room and went over to the bed. She looked awfully hairy with big ears and a long nose. I bent a little closer to see her more clearly and right then realized that it was Mr. Wolf dressed up as my grandma! He ate me up so fast I had no time to think, but thanks to a kindly hunter who rescued me, I am alive--and now, after learning the hard way, I do not leave the path or talk to strangers anymore.

The Wolf's perspective

I was wandering about the woods on lovely afternoon and came across a little girl dressed in a red riding hood and carrying a basket of homemade bread and a bottle of wine. She told me all about her sick relation and then wondered off to pick a bouquet of flowers for her dear old grammy. So I decided to pay the lady a visit. When I opened the door I saw her, but my stomach heard her saying how good she would be to eat--just the perfect size. I couldn't believe it, so I went closer and listened harder. All in a moment she was in my belly. Oh no! Little Red Riding Hood was on her way here and now she had no grandma to eat the delicious goodies she was bringing. Quickly I pulled the night cap as far over my ears and nose as I could and slid under the covers, hoping she would not notice that I was not Grandmother. And none too soon! She knocked, came in, and stood by the bed. My stomach was growling again; the temptation was too great. I ate the little girl in one bite, along with the bread and wine. Sleep overcame me and I curled up on the floor. While I was asleep a hunter passed by and noticed that the door stood open and came in. Guessing what happened, he cut me open and there he found the little old lady and her granddaughter still alive. He stitched me up and when I woke up I scampered into the woods and never again tried to eat a human.

successful writing tips

Refutation is an important skill for writers to possess, most especially those who wish to persuade an audience to a certain point of view. There are four keys to a good refutation argument. First the intended audience should be considered; what are their opinions, interests, and concerns surrounding them? how old are they and what is their level of intellectual activity? do they have expectations of you, as the author? Next, it is important to assume that the reader is both apprehensive or ignorant of the information that is delivered. As author lays the ground work he can give is a slant that will automatically draw the listeners in. These are all basics that are profitable for any writer to think about. So what makes a refutation different? In a refutation the author needs to clearly state his position as well as the points of the opponent. In so doing, the narrator needs to have a sense of respect and decorum, especially when presenting the stance of the adversary. When the contrasting viewpoint is brought up, it clarifies to the audience what is going to be discussed and disputed. Fourthly, the last make-or-break concern is the importance of keep the readers attention. The first couple sentences need to create a rapport, or the argument is basically done for; once it is lost, it is nearly impossible to gain is back favorably.

a book for everyone

I Love You, Goodnight

I Love You, Goodnight is written by Jon Buller and Susan Schade. Every page is a colorful illustration with just a few words. It is a simple, but very sweet story-poem. It makes a great read aloud or bedtime story for little children. It does not present a particular worldview, accept that the relationship between the mother and daughter is encouraged and the reader is left cheerful and ready to face everything with a smile.

Little House On The Prairie

Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the book series, Little House On The Prairie. She wrote them in such a way that someone of any age could enjoy her writing, but her main audience is young girls who are as old as Laura was in the stories. The writing style is informal and great for reading to oneself or aloud to listeners. Wilder expects the readers to be able to enjoy a farm/country way of life as seen through a little girl's eyes. Most particularly, she writes to the Americans who are interested in the life of the pioneers; backwoods to a dug-out to wide open spaces to log cabins to a general store, Wilder does a great job keeping the attention of the reader and filling in the details that typify her family's life as a settler. Although the Christian worldview is not stated clearly, the Wilder family does go to church when they live in town and in general Christian morals are presented. These books are a fairly easy read and interesting at a very young age, which is great for the elementary- and middle school-age scholars.

Herodotus' Histories

Herodotus wrote his history tome for people ages 15 and up. Though his book is full of great descriptions and accounts of lifestyles, battle, and countryside, several of the topics are unsuitable for a young audience as some of the scenes are graphically portrayed (though not undue attention is spent on these sections). Most of the writing is fairly easy to comprehend, but its sheer volume disheartens even some of the most avid readers. The original intended readers lived in the ancient civilizations themselves, but Herodotus still takes the time to narrate everything that he sees and has memorized; the reader, no matter what nationality, does not need prior knowledge about the ancients before reading this book, as most everything is explained as the book progresses. A bit daunting, the 1,000+ pages are a treasure chest full of geographic location descriptions, interesting tid-bits, and historical facts to the inquisitive and motivated reader.

The Progenitor of Written Antiquity

What if studying humanity was enjoyable and humorous? Often times history texts are difficult to read or so boring to read that it does not captivate the reader’s attention; not so with Herodotus’ Histories. This ancient storyteller has a special gift of being able to take the facts of what is known to have happened and mix it up with the myths, legends, and sagas of the past, most of which are truly plausible, if not proven to be true, to create a fascinating account of the archaic times, people, and places. Herodotus was the first man to compile bits and pieces of the world’s oral anecdotes and recorded them for all posterity to read. It is his writings that have set into motion the copying down of historical events, successfully informing the mankind.

Herodotus was born in 484BC and grew up in Halicarnassus (this town is in modern-day Turkey). His family was well-to-do and thus his education was highly thought of and promoted. In his childhood he was able to travel throughout the ancient Greek and Persian world that he lived in. During his peregrinations Herodotus studied the manners, customs, and religions of the various people groups that he journeyed amongst. He also picked up stories and yarns that the citizenry told and mentally added to his plethora of oral narrations. He was again abroad in his adult years when he was exiled for a number of years. It was during this time that he died at the age of about 60 (the exact year of his death is unknown).

Often dubbed “The Father of History,” Herodotus is the first of the ancient writers to record the history of humanity from the archaic past up through the current events his lifetime. The Histories is a compilation of the oral stories that Herodotus had learned from the people and traditions that surrounded him and committed to memory. Because he gathered all the information he wrote about directly from the people, saw the places, or experienced the situations, he is considered a primary source and his work is considered very accurate, but certainly not faultless. One of the main points of criticism, is that Herodotus so skillfully wove the facts in amongst the folklore tales, that it can be difficult to distinguished and truth sifted out.

Although it contains some questionable “facts,” Herodotus’ writing has withstood the test of time, one of the finest evaluations of illustrious literature. Renowned books remain on the uber-long list of classics because they are widely read, understandable, and well loved; Herodotus’ writing fulfills all three of these qualifications. Today, The Histories of Herodotus, is still one of the best and oldest books available for people to study the ancients. The wealth of information, and amusement, accessible at the turn of a page is remarkable. Reading once through a book as chalk-full of “dates and dead people” as this one, will enhance anyone’s cornucopia of quintessential knowledge.

Herodotus’ erudite knowledge of the ancient times is displayed in his researching of the details and specifics of the oral legends and fables that he learned. Creatively woven into the stories, the customs, ceremonies, and traditions of the ancient civilizations are known today because of the treasury of information found in Herodotus’ classic tome. The Histories have been read by people all over the world; read in different languages and by people of all ages and historic backgrounds. By writing down his knowledge of the cultures surrounding him, The Father of History profoundly influenced the generations extending from the mid 400’s BC until the present age.

slant narratives

(a slant narrative is a story told from a first person point of view, stating the facts and appealing to the emotions of the hearers/readers)

Hare:

One afternoon, Tortoise came up to me and basically dared me to prove that I could beat anyone that I chose to race. Of course I jumped on the opportunity, and asked politely if the turtle would race with me. We were both lined up at the starting point and I began to realize that it might look like I was taking an unfair advantage of Tortoise. I determined to do something about that. I was out of sight of Tortoise at the first bend. The race was almost over and Tortoise was probably just getting into the groove of the race. I decided to lay down and rest a bit to give him some time to catch up, knowing that if he happened to come by before I was up, I would surely hear him, at which time I could amble past and finish. I woke up and saw the scuffled prints of the turtle; I was too late. He took advantage of me during my slumber and unfairly won the race.

Tortoise:

Hare was accustomed to bragging about himself and the speed at which he could run. All of us smaller animals were sick and tired of the perpetual harassment from this rabbit. One day, completely fed up with the same ol' swaggering talk I walked up to Hare and told him that he was indeed swift, but that he shouldn't be too sure that no one could be him. This made him fluster and rage, and, on the spot, he challenged me to a race. Of course I knew that he was faster, but not knowing what he would do to me if I refused, accepted. The gunshot cracked and the race was started. He left me in the dust, but I, slowly plodding on in the hot summer heat, came upon him in the middle of the afternoon sleeping under a tree. I, however, trudged on...one step more and I would break the tape on the finish line. I glanced back, hearing the commotion of a tempest; it was Hare trying to make a dash to win the race. I stepped forward, broke the tape, and incurred the wrath of my opponent.

Summary of Apollo and Daphne

Summary of Ovid’s Apollo and Daphne

Apollo, a great archer, was very conceited, and one day he saw Eros, a fellow archer. Eros was the sun of Aphrodite, and his arrows were know for either making their target falling love, or hate the idea of love. Apollo, being the conceited fellow that he was, insulted Eros saying that his arrows did not make a difference, and that a little guy like Eros couldn’t even hit his target. Eros was very insulted and struck Apollo with the gold tipped arrow (which made him lust), and shot a young girl Daphne with the lead tipped arrow (which made her reject love). Apollo was enthralled with Daphne and chased after her relentlessly, but Daphne continually ran away from him. Daphne’s father was Ladon, the river god. She could not run away any longer and pleaded with her father to save her. He heard her cry and turned her into a laurel tree on the bank of the river. Her feet took root in the ground, her arms were the branches, and her hair turned into leaves. Apollo came upon the tree and saw how beautiful it was. He decided that if he could not have the girl, he would have a tree of his own, and he clung to the tree and never let go.

history of the ancient and modern jury systems

Ancient Greeks had the very first judicial system. Roughly 500 men would gather to hear the litigation and give their opinions of the case. If the trial was a big deal or significant decisions were to be made, it was common for 1,000-1,500 people to attend. With a crowd that huge everybody did not have to agree. However the people did not have a good way to resolve a matter. This caused a very unstable government. The Romans picked up on the Greeks' practice and improved the court system. Roman common law was the basis of their legal system. A ten-man board of nobles were chosen to uphold and carryout the judgements. The formalities were not nearly as strict as they are in today's courtroom, but the basic structure had been laid.

The Romans then influenced the english people. Most of the customs stayed the same, but where the process of defense and accusation became more prominent. When evidence was asked for, it was the responsibility of the defendant or the prosecutor to provide such verification. Today's prosecutors and attorneys gather the witnesses and facts about a given case. This is one of the most important issues where the modern American court system is divergent from the ancient english legal system.

In America, the course of action taken when a person is accused of a crime is called Trial by Jury. A Trial is the process of examination by which a judge or jury decides if a malefactor is guilty or innocent. A jury is a group of people selected from the community who sit and listen to a lawsuit. This group of people has to be impartial to both sides and, in accordance with the US Constitution, the jury can be made up of 1-12 people. Under certain circumstances, the accused may ask for a trial by judge (no jury is present and the jugde decides the case), which, in most cases, is honored. Before the trial begins the people of the jury swear to be unbiased and truthful in the proceeding legal affairs. In the United States of America all felons "shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall be committed." Undivided in opinion, the vote of the jury must be unanimous, or a "hung jury" is called and a new group of jurors must hear and respond to the lawsuit.

Life of a Poet

Publius Ovidius Naso, known today as the poet Ovid, was born in 43BC to a fairly wall-to-do family in Sulmona, Italy. He grew up and attended college, studying law. After his dad died, Ovid quit working for a degree in law and focused his energies in writing; he had noticed that most of his work on litigations had some sort of rhythm--thus inspiring his life-long career. During his lifetime he wrote several books, most of which are notoriously cheeky and brusque. Unfortunately most of the material he wrote about is a reflection of his personal life. One of his tomes is a the chronicles of the mythic gods of the ancients: The Metamorphoses, which is in fact profitable reading. Later in his life he was banished, because of the infamous nature of several of his writings, to an island in the middle of the Black Sea by the Emperor of Rome. There he remained until his death in 17AD.

what? another blog?

So I have started yet one more blog. This is so that Marissa and I could post our most reflective and/or thought-provoking papers and ideas and questions about what we are currently reading. Feel free to comment--actually, your thoughts and opinions are highly desired as we pursue this, my newest enthusiastic escapade.