2011: The Year From Hell, 2012: The Year of Australian Kiwi

I have to be honest an say that I am not at all sorry to say goodbye to 2011, it's been a terrible year. From leaving uni, to being unable to find a job, and stressing out about my future, the year really only improved after I went back to uni and did my history paper. Then I went on holiday in Melbourne and that was just... words can't describe it, it reminded me of where I want to be in the future. Who said country air is good for your health? I didn't, that's for sure!

But, 2012 is going to be my year. I'm going to TAFE to study Childcare, something I love, and I'm going get a job (at Woolies or Coles or something like that), and do my creative writing course. I'm going to go to the gym more often and set up a yoga and meditation practice. 2012 is going to be the year of Australian Kiwi, so watch out world! Here I come!

~ Australian Kiwi

New Year's Resolutions


1) Go to the gym three times a week for a workout.
2) Do a full hour of yoga once a week.
3) Read Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now and A New Earth.
4) Go out nightclubbing on Friday night once before I turn 19.
5) Finish one book in the Voices of the Trojan War collection.

Retail Therapy, Mebourne Style

I have left Mildura (but sadly it is only temporary) and traveled to Melbourne with my family to spend Christmas in the best city in the world. I haven't even been here a full day and I already have a new t-shirt, two new dresses, an engraved mirror and comb, a heat pack and two new books about ancient Greece.

Have I Got Your Attention

I brought my new tee (it's hot pink in real life, even though it looks orange here) for $15 at a store called Ginger Tree which is next door to the apartment I am staying in with my family.

The First Blue Dress

Also from Ginger Tree, this beauty was discounted from $49 to $29 dollars and the shop assistant gave it to me for $25. It is a beautiful dress, and I have a top which is a similar colour, so I already know that this kind of blue looks good on me. It is light-weight enough for summer in both Melbourne and Mildura and stylish enough to be considered smart casual. A side note, this dress sits perfectly on my figure.

The Second Blue Dress

$40 at the Queen Victoria Markets in Melbourne (discounted from $45) this one is very similar to the one above, but there are important differences. For a start, this dress is made of a much heavier material than the one above, which means that wearing it on really hot days when there is no air conditioning is out, and it is definitely formal rather than casual. The material also has a slight shine and is more figure hugging than the dress above, but the dark colour and detailing around the chest draws attention away from my body.

Engraved Mirror and Comb

Brought more because it looks good than because it is practical, this lovely set was $15 at the Queen Vic markets. My name is engraved on the mirror.

Heat Pack

It may not look very impressive, but this little beauty is one of the most nifty things I have seen. You click an aluminium disk in the pack and some chemical reaction occurs and the pack goes hot. I'm hoping it will help with neck, shoulder, back and period pains.

AND SAVING THE BEST TILL LAST...

The Ancient Greek World People and Places

I brought this book for $10 at a store on the corner of A'Becket and Elizabeth Streets in Melbourne called The Book Grocer. This book is a detailed reference tool packed full of facts and photographs of the ancient Greek world and giving detailed information on everything from the way they built their temples, to what they ate! In fact, there is a whole section on ancient Greek architecture, which I am loving!

The war that killed Achilles

This book is said to be something of an analysis of the Trojan War, drawing on material from Homer's Iliad and other lost epic works that make up the story of Troy. It looks at the broader themes that the war spoke of, and how these the ghosts of Troy still haunt us to this day with the continuing conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.

So, there you have it, let Australian Kiwi loose in Melbourne to go shopping, and this is what you get. I'm sure there will be more photos as I continue my holiday, and of course, there is Christmas tomorrow.

See ya!

~ Australian Kiwi

'Secrets' by One Republic

This song just makes my heart bleed, the idea of breaking down the dam wall and spilling all your most precious secrets is a haunting, terrifying thought, yet oddly compelling. If I was with someone I trusted, someone I loved, I would want to share some secrets I have kept all my life, some good, some bad, and some frightening. In reality, secrets will shape your life... or they'll destroy it.

~ Australian Kiwi

The Return of Spring

The Return of Spring

I had to share this beautiful painting by William-Adolphe Bouguereau titled The Return of Spring which was painted in 1886. This painting is how I imagine Aphrodite, and Bouguereau has painted a very similar painting depicting the birth of Aphrodite, which was painted earlier in 1879. I have posted it below for comparative purposes.

The Birth of Venus

Most Beautiful Lady

Oh most beautiful lady, swinging from the tree,
Oh most beautiful lady, what fate has befallen thee?
Was it guilt that drove you to tie a noose around your neck,
Or was it a lover’s heartless words when he left your bed?

Oh most beautiful lady, tell me your story please,
Tell me how you came to be swinging here, alone among these trees.

‘Twas a curse that brought me here, not any fault of my own,
A curse upon my mother’s house from when she took the throne.
Said the man she drove away, who hanged himself in shame,
Said he, let the fate of all your daughters be as mine the same.

So carefully and fearfully my sisters and I lived,
But ‘twas not enough for the curse to be undid.
One by one we hung ourselves, each from this very tree,
I am the last of my sisters here, blowing in the breeze.

My mother’s house has fallen, just as the dead man wished,
Now pray, good sir, do this for me, fulfill my dying wish.
Burry me under this tree, ‘tis where my sisters lie,
Then go to my mother and tell her dear lady, do not cry.

For this world that we have entered is pleasant and full of cheer,
My sisters and I, our deepest hope, is that she wait to join us here.
We desire only, for her to live out her days,
Then for her to join us, by natures gentle ways.

Oh most beautiful lady, hanging in the tree,
Oh most beautiful lady, this I will do for thee.

Thank you, oh kind sir, thanks to the utmost degree,
And for this kindness you do give, a blessing I’ll bestow on thee.

May your life be fruitful and full of simple pleasures,
And may the earth yield to you all her precious treasures.
May your sons be as kind as they are strong and,
May all your daughters be as fair as summer blossom.

She then fell silent, after blessing me,
So I cut her down, and dug her grave beneath the tree.
When laid to rest she was, oh that beautiful lady!
I went in haste to find her mother and tell her what I knew.

I found the woman she spoke of in a white castle by the sea,
Said I to the woman, dear lady, do not grieve.
For I have spoken with your daughter,
Who I found hanging in the trees.

She asked for me to tell you, indeed all your daughters say,
Do not come to us quick, mama, we’ll wait forever and a day.
For they have passed into a land of good cheer,
I hope this message, oh dear lady, brings comfort to you here.

Good sir, she cried, comfort me it does,
I thank you for bringing me this message from all seven of my loves.
I will wait to join then, I will wait many a year,
Knowing they are happy in this land of endless cheer.

So upon my way I went, walking by the sea,
But I never forgot that lady, oh most beautiful lady,
I found swinging in the trees.

The above poem is my own work, written one day while I was sitting on my bed with my iPad in my lap watching the world go by. I didn't even need to use my rhyming dictionary, the whole thing just came to me, flowed from my fingertips. I would love to know what people think of it, comments and constructive criticism are welcome.

~ Australian Kiwi

The Treadclimber (and other gym machines)

Australian Kiwi here again (but, really, who else would it be?) with some other random post about her life. I haven't been going to the gym as often as I should, but I went to classes on Monday and Wednesday (Pilates and Body Balance respectively) and did some new stuff in both classes. We did an entire new routine in Pilates which left me sore and aching the next day, and did an older Body Balance class, which meant different poses and music, which was pretty cool. Body Balance 55 is being launched at my gym on Saturday, so my dad and I have booked in to attend at 3:45pm AEDT. But, aside from my classes, I hadn’t been to the gym in over a week and today (17/11/11) was my first workout all week! 

And boy oh boy was it HARD!

I decided to warm up by walking a kilometer on the treadclimber. I had used it once before and thought that it wasn’t so bad and, if I could do a kilometer on a treadmil, that I could do the same on a treadclimber. Well, silly Teenage Yogini didn’t ask a gym instructor, did she, and it took me 15mins to do my kilometer, as opposed to 10mins on the treadmil, and my legs were aching and burning by the end of it. For those of you who don’t know what a treadclimber is, imagine a treadmil but, instead of a flat deck, it has two ‘treadels’ onef or each foot, and when one goes up, the other goes down. The picture below is the same kind of treadclimber that is in the gym.

So, after my warm-up (and believe me, I was warm!) I went on to do my strength exercises: Lat Pulldown, Seated Row, Chest Press, Pec Dec and Rotary Torso for upper-body; and Leg Press, Leg Extension and Leg Curl for lower body. Of course, the treadclimber also gave my legs a work out and they felt like jelly when I was walking home, but they’ve firmed up now, perhaps the jelly has set ;)

Yours in good health,

~ Australian Kiwi 

Mythological Greece

Above is a map of the ancient Greek world, and anything in blue has been added by me, indicating the presence of mythology there. This was just something fun that I decided to do one night and now I have decided to share it. Of course, I didn't make the map, I just added the blue bits. You can click on the map to make it bigger, you won't be able to read it the size it is here.

Caio!

~ Australian Kiwi

NaNoWriMo

Hey guys!

This is an announcement from Australian Kiwi: I am participating in National Novel Writing Month! You can find me on NaNoWriMo as jewelsbyers and my novel is The Beautiful Army a piece of historical fiction set in Bronze Age Athens and drawing on Greek mythology.

Feel like writing a novel yourself? Click here to get to that NaNoWriMo website, sign up for an account and get writing.

You'll hear more from me as my novel progresses.

Wish me luck!

~ Australian Kiwi

The Lady of Shalott

"The broad stream bore her far away,

The Lady of Shalott"

The Lady of Shalott

by Alfred Lord Tennyson

On either side the river lie,

Long fields of barley and of rye,

That clothe the world and meet the sky,

And thro' the field the road runs by,

To many-tower'd Camelot.

Up and down the people go,

Gazing where the lilies blow,

Round an island there below,

The island of Shalott.

Willows whiter, aspens quiver,

Little breezes dusk and shiver,

Thro' the wave that runs for ever,

By the island in the river,

Flowing down to Camelot.

Four grey walls and four grey towers,

Overlook a space of flowers,

And the silent isle embowers,

The Lady of Shalott.

By the margin willow veil'd

Slide the heavy barges trail'd

By slow horses and unhail'd

The shallop fitteth silken-sail'd

Skimming down to Camelot.

But who hath seen her wave her hand,

Or at the casement seen her stand,

Or is she known is all the land,

The Lady of Shalott?

Only reapers reaping early,

In among the bearded barley,

Hear a song that echos cheerly,

From the river winding clearly,

Down to tower'd Camelot.

And by the moon the reaper weary,

Piling sheaves in uplands airy,

Listening whispers 'Tis the fairy,

Lady of Shalott.'

There she weaves by night and day,

A magic web with colours gay,

She has heard a whisper say,

A curse is on her if she stay,

To look down to Camelot.

She knows not what the cures may be,

And So she weaveth steadily,

And little other care hath she,

The Lady of Shalott.

And moving through a mirror clear,

That hangs before her all the year,

Shadows of the world appear,

There she sees the highway near,

Winding down to Camelot.

There the river eddy whirls,

And the surly village churls,

And the red cloaks of market girls,

Pass onward from Shalott.

Sometime a troop of damsels glad,

An abbot on an ambling pad,

Sometimes a curly shepherd lad,

Or long-hair'd page in crimson clad,

Goes by to tower'd Camelot.

And sometimes through the mirror blue,

The Knights come riding two by two,

She hath no loyal Knight and true,

The Lady of Shalott.

But in her web she still delights

To weave the mirror's magic sights

For often through the silent nights

A funeral with many plumes and lights,

And music went to Camelot.

Or when the moon was overhead,

Came two young lovers lately wed,

'I am half sick of shadows' said,

The Lady of Shalott.

A bow-shot from her bower-eaves,

He rode beneath the barley sheaves,

The sun came dazzling thro' the leaves

And flamed upon the brazen greaves,

Of bold Sir Lancelot.

A red-cross knight for ever kneel'd,

To a lady in his shield,

That sparkled on the yellow field,

Beside remote Shalott.

The gemmy bridle glitter'd free,

Like some branch of stars we see,

Hung in the golden galaxy,

The bridle bells rang merrily,

As he rode down to Camelot.

And from his blazon'd baldric slung,

A mighty silver bugle hung,

And as he rode his armor rung,

Beside remote Shalott.

All in the blue unclouded weather,

Thick-jewell'd shone the saddle leather,

The helmet and the helmet-feather,

Burn'd like one burning flame together,

As he rode down to Camelot.

As often thro' the purple light,

Below the starry clusters bright,

Some bearded meteor burning bright,

Moves over still Shalott.

His broad clear brow in sunlight glow'd,

On burnish'd hooves his war-horse trode,

From underneath his helmet flow'd,

His coal black curls as on he rode,

As he rode down to Camelot.

From the bank and from the river,

He flashed into the crystal mirror,

'Tirra lirra' by the river,

Sang Sir Lancelot.

She left the web she left the loom,

She made three paces through the room,

She law the water-lily bloom,

She saw the helmet and the plume,

She look'd down to Camelot.

Out flew the web and floated wide,

The mirror crack'd from side to side,

'The curse had come upon me' cried,

The Lady of Shalott.

In the stormy east-wind straining,

The pale yellow woods were waning,

The broad stream in his banks complaining,

Heavily the low sky raining,

Over tower'd Camelot.

Down she came and found a boat,

Beneath the willow left afloat,

And around about the prow she wrote,

The Lady of Shalott.

Down the river's wide expanse,

Like some bold seer in a trance,

Seeing all his own mischance -

With a glassy countenance,

Did she look to Camelot. 

And at the closing of the day,

She loosed the chain and down she lay,

The broad stream bore her far away,

The Lady of Shalott.

Lying robed in snowy white,

That loosely flew to left and right -

The leaves falling on her light -

Thro' the noises of the night,

She floated down to Camelot.

As the boat-head wound along,

The willowy hills and fields among,

They heard her singing her last song,

The Lady of Shalott.

Heard a carol mournful holy,
Chanted loudly chanted lowly,
'Til her blood was frozen slowly,
And her eyes were darkened wholly,
Turn'd to tower'd Camelot.
'Ere she reach'd upon the tide,
The first house by the water-side,
Singing in her song she died,
The Lady of Shalott.

Under tower and balcony,
By garden wall and gallery,
A gleaming shape she floated by,
Dead pale between the houses high,
Silent into Camelot.
Out upon the wharves they came,
Knight and Burgher, Lord and Dame,
And around the prow they read her name,
The Lady of Shalott.

Who is this and what is here?
And in the lighted palace near,
Died the sound of royal cheer,
And they crossed themselves for fear,
All the Knights at Camelot.
But Lancelot mused a little space,
He said 'She had a lovely face,
God in his mercy lend her grace,
The Lady of Shalott.'

Well, if you just read that poem and have reached all the way down here you, congratulations! You just read my favourite poem of all time! You deserve a cookie! Here, have one.

Now that you've had your cookie (yum!) let me explain the poem to you. The Lady of Shalott was a character created by Tennyson as a preferred admirer of Sir Lancelot than Queen Guinevere. The Lady of Shalott has been cursed to stay in her tower all her life, seeing the world outside only through a mirror and, if she ever looks outside her window to Camelot, she will die. For most of her time, she in content to weave all she sees in her mirror, only once in the poem saying that she is tired of seeing life this way saying 'I am half sick of shadows'. One day, she sees Sir Lancelot in her mirror, falls in love with him and makes the decision to leave the tower and look to Camelot. The painting below by William Holman Hunt shows his interpretation of this moment.

"Out flew the web and floated wide,

The mirror cracked from side to side,

The curse has come upon me cried,

The Lady of Shalott."

The Lady, now knowing her time is short, leaves her tower and finds a boat moored to a willow tree and gets in before sending it town river towards Camelot. She writes her name around the prow, so that people will know who she is. She sings as she floats along, tiring and eventually lying down as she dies. Eventually, she passes on, a song on her lips. She floats still down river, dead and still, and the people stare and whisper. The Knights of Camelot fear that she may be a spirit or apparition, and look to the Lord for protection, but Sir Lancelot, alone of all the Knights, sees her beauty and prays that she may enter heaven. 

I studied this poem in year ten literature, and it was then I fell in love with it, but it wasn't until this year at university that I got to delve a little deeper into it when we studied King Arthur (he was good for something after all). I didn't do one of the Lady of Shalott pictures for my visual analysis (the two I have place here were available for us to use), because I was worried I would have too much to say on the subject and my limit was 500 words. But, on my blog, I don't have a word limit. I am not, however, going to analyse the poem or the paintings, I just wanted to share them with you.

Now, why do I love this poem so much? I think it is the ethereal quality to it. She is described as a fairy by the barley reapers and she must have had some contact with the supernatural in the past for her to have been put in the tower and cursed. There is also a 'What If?' element to the poem because, has she not seen Sir Lancelot ride by, she would have remained in her tower with her weaving and never had to worry about the curse. What if she had never looked to Camelot?

Whatever my reasons, I do so love this poem. Maybe I should share more poetry with you, or maybe not. I don't know, I'll see how I feel next time I blog.

Regards until then,

~ Australian Kiwi

Coffee with that?

So, finally, after months of unsuccessfully applying for jobs, I have landed an interview at Gloria Jeans in Centro, those from my ares know where I'm talking about.

I'm quite hopeful for this job, because they advertised that they just wanted new staff who were passionate and wanted to learn how to make coffee, no experience required. Experience has been the killer for me in all the jobs I've gone for, because I have never had a part time job before I have no experience and everyone (EVERYONE) wants experience. Another good thing about this job is that it wasn't advertised in the local paper, only in the Gloria Jeans store. Most people in my area do their shopping in the other mall in town, and a lot of other job hunters I know didn't even know this position was available, so hopefully there won't be so many applicants to compete with.

Keep your fingers crossed for me and, with any luck, the next time I blog I will be able to tell you all that I have a job!

~ Australian Kiwi

Like souls that balance joy and pain

My last Myth, Legend and History assignment before the exam in November is a 500 word visual analysis. We have to choose a character or a theme from Arthurian Legend (see the lists below) and then pick an image from the selection given to us on the LaTrobe Moodle (LMS). I have chosen to do Lancelot and Guinevere, because even though two characters is not encouraged, it is allowed and these two are so closely linked in poetry of the time and in my chosen artwork that it seems silly not to analyse them together. The artwork I have chosen is Dante Gabriel Rossetti's Arthur's Tomb: The Last Meeting of Lancelot and Guinevere, which is a water colour on paper done between 1854-5.

Arthur's Tomb: The Last Meeting of Lancelot and Guinevere

I chose this image because I feel that it is very powerful. It shows Guinevere, covered in her nuns garb, farewelling the husband she betrayed, and Lancelot, either trying to kiss her or persuade her to come with him, over the tomb of his dead king and friend. Guinevere is rejecting his advances, but I believe it has more to do with the guilt of betraying Arthur and the location of their meeting than to do with her recently taken vows of chastity. I can only imagine that, after the two parted ways, Guinevere returned to the convent to atone for her sins and Lancelot ventured out into the world, probably taking a lover's vows to never forget the Queen he so loved.

List of Characters

• Arthur
• Guinevere
• Lancelot
• Galahad
• Isolde
• The Lady of Shallot

List of Themes

• Knighthood
• Chivalry
• Courtly Love
• Women and Gender
• Spiritual Quests/The Holy Grail

Day of Burning: 9/11 Ten Years On

In 2001, when the Manhattan's twin towers came down in the wake of a terrorist attack, I was eight years old. I have two vivid memories of this time. The first is sitting in my lounge room, my breakfast in my lap, turning on the TV to watch some cartoons before school. Instead, all I see are two, very tall, buildings. One is still standing, intact, but in the other there is a massive hole with smoke pouring from it. Distressed, I turned off the TV and went to find my parents. My next memory is of sitting with my friends on the floor of my primary school classroom, listening to my teacher tell us that something bad had happened in America and a lot of adults would be worried. One of the boys asked what had happened and my teacher said 'two planes flew into a building'. My thoughts: It must have been an accident.

Ten years on, I still struggle to understand how anyone, regardless of their religion, race, or political beliefs, could kill over three-thousand innocent people in one fell swoop. The footage of this terrible event  is shocking, and disturbingly graphic. The towers belch smoke, a massive fireball where the plane has struck the building explodes out of the images, those videos of the attacks are accompanied by the soundtrack of people screaming and general panic. As an eight year old, I couldn't understand it, so I put it to the back of my mind. As I grew older, the events of September 11 itched like an allergy and I would re-examine them from time to time. Like everyone else I asked the question: Why? Why would anyone do something like this? I think we will continue to ask this question as long as their is terrorism in our world. Now, as an eighteen year old with more of an understanding as to what the world is really like, I can no longer put the events of that day to the back of my mind. These events have been the catalyst to, what I believe, has become World War Three. But, this time, our enemy is not a nation (although the United States and its allies, Australia included, continue to cause unheard of damage and loss of life in their fruitless campaigns in the Middle East), but an idea: terror. Unfortunately, even with the death as al-Queda leader Osama bin-Laden, I do not believe we are any closer to wiping out terror than we were ten years ago.

The events that unfolded on September 11 2001 were to this century what the outbreak of World War One was last century, a baptism by fire, and a catalyst to spreading fear, hate, and intolerance. But we must never forget September 11, if only to remember that over three thousand innocent people lost their lives.

American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower at 8:46am; 92 lives lost.
American Airlines Flight 175 stuck the South Tower at 9:03am; 65 lives lost.
American Airlines Flight 77 stuck the Pentagon at 9:38am; 64 lives lost.
American Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field in Pennsylvania at 10:06am after passengers and crew overwhelmed the hijackers; 45 lives lost.
The Towers collapsed at 9:59am (South Tower) and 10:20am (North Tower); 2734+ lives lost.

Note: the above figures to do not include the hijackers aboard the planes, they are the innocent lives only.

~ Australian Kiwi

Goodbye Greek Mythology, Hello Arthurian Legend

Well, Australian Kiwi is sad to announce that the time of studying Greek myth at university is (sob, sob) over! Yes, it's heartbreaking, I know, but I think I'll survive. Somehow, I will get through this.

The lecture this morning was on the context of the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. This is probably one of the most famous legends of all time, but I have to admit that it is not one of my favorites. I find the round table to be lacking in something very important: PEACE! The round table is essentially a war council, run by a king who, although he is loved by his people and has united his kingdom, has killed many men do to it and won't hesitate to kill even more should the need arise. He even tries to kill his wife and his friend when he finds out they are sleeping together. Rational discussion? Please! Arthur would rather grab a sword and kill the nearest thing than talk to Lancelot and Guinevere about how their behaviour was inappropriate.

Of course, not all portrayals of Arthurian myth and legend are quite so bad. I have to admit being quite fond of the TV series The Adventures of Merlin which deals with the exploits of Merlin, Arthur, Lancelot, Guinevere and other important characters before mythology takes hold. Currently having completed three seasons, this highly successful, popular portrayal of Arthurian myth and legend is due for a forth season to come out early-mid 2012. I am looking forward to that.

But now, getting back on topic, if this morning's lecture was anything to go by, King Arthur is going to be pretty boring. The lecturer was dull as they come, constantly stumbling over her words and her powerpoint left much to be desired. When powerpoint is used well, it can really add to a lecture. The lecturer that I had on Greek mythology used powerpoint extremely well and this really added to the quality of information he was giving. But this powerpoint was sloppy with bad animation and poor timing. She used a red background with yellow writing that made my eyes sting and water and (horror or all horrors!) she read off her slides! Although, as my friend and I agreed at the end of the lecture, it will get better because it can't possibly get any worse! Hopefully Jennifer can liven things up in the tutorial tomorrow.

Alright, I'd better go and finish writing my assignment. Check in tomorrow to hear if Arthur got any better.

See ya!

~ Australian Kiwi

Wear It Purple Day!

Good morning followers!

Did you know that today, the 2nd of September, is Wear It Purple Day?

In September 2010, a young man threw himself to his death in the United States after his roommate posted footage of him and another man having a sexual encounter. After this event occurred, the media went into something of a frenzy and report after report poured in about young people committing suicide because of homophobia and homophobic bullying.

Wear It Purple was started by Katherine Hudson and Scott Williams, in response to these alarming statistics. In just a few short weeks, the event went viral and now Wear It Purple Day is an annual event in many parts of the world.

Here's a picture of me (and the flowers in the garden) Wearing It Purple!

Wanna get involved? It's easy! Just wear something purple today. A purple hat. A purple bandanna. A purple t-shirt. A pair of purple shorts or a purple skirt. Purple thongs or tennis shoes. A purple wristband. Maybe even a purple ribbon in your hair. Also, make sure you check out the Wear It Purple website (click on the link above) and their facebook and twitter pages.

Hope to see you Wearing It Purple!

~ Australian Kiwi

New Books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you don't know how much I love reading, I suspect you are a new follower to my blog. If you are new, welcome to Australian Kiwi, in fact, welcome to you if you're an old follower too. Welcome to my slightly crazy blog about my life. But, the purpose of this post is not to distribute welcome here, there, and everywhere, it is to announce the arrival of some brand new books!

On the 4th of August, I ordered five books from Amazon.com (aka HEAVEN!) and was told they would arrive around the 22nd of September. I was a little sad that they would take so long, but, then again, the best things come to those who wait. Imagine my absolute delight when someone knocked on the door this morning and, when I opened it, it turned out to be the postie with a parcel addressed to yours truly from Amazon.com. Now, here's the part that won't surprise you, they're all about ancient Greece. Four of them are works from the period of time itself, and one of them is a historical work about the time period. The books (and the photos of them) are below and displayed in alphabetical order of author last name.

Book One
The Homeric Hymns by Homer and Susan C. Shelmerdine

This book contains the hymns Homer wrote in honor of the Olympian deities and other important Gods and Goddesses (such as Mother Earth), each with an introduction by Susan C. Shelmerdine. I have only read one hymn, that is the Hymn to Apollo, which tells the story of his birth. If all the hymns are as interesting as that one was then this will be a fascinating read. I love reading works written in the ancient times, because it gives you a glimpse at a people lost to us.


Book Two
The Iliad by Homer (Translated by Samuel Butler)

This is, in my opinion, one of the most amazing works ever written. One of only two epic poems to survive from ancient times, the Iliad tells the story of the wrath of Achilles when the beautiful Burseius is taken from him by Agamemnon. The furious warrior goes to his tent and only rejoins the fighting when his friend is killed. I haven't read it in its entirety yet, but I know from the snatches of it that I have read that it is excellent.


Book Three
The Histories by Hereodotus

Another classic treasure, The Histories was the first book to ever be written in prose (a post on prose and poetry will be coming soon). Herodotus, the father of history, wrote this book about how the Greek city states repelled the Persian army in around 500BC. Or, that's what it is supposed to be about, I hear that his natural curiosity gets the better of him several times and he rambles on about Egypt and how much he enjoys it there, but that's OK. Looking forward to reading this one.


Book Four
Theogony and Works and Days by Hesiod

Again, this one is a primary source (if you don't know what that means you didn't pay attention in history class at school). It is a genealogy of the Gods as the Greeks saw it at the time and tells how they came to rule over Chaos. It's only a little book, so it won't take me very long to read. I'll read it once I finish the book below, I think, then I'll write a review.



Book Five
Ancient Greece from Prehistoric to Hellenistic Times by Thomas R. Martin


This one is the only book that doesn't have its origins in ancient Greece. Written by a distinguished classical scholar, this compact edition of Greek history is reputed to be perfect for all readers. I'm reading it at the moment and, even when it talks about the periods of Greek history I'm not interested in, it has me absolutely enthralled. I'll write an in depth review of it once I finish.



So, there you have it, my five new books. As I finish reading them, I will write reviews of them and post them here.

~ Australian Kiwi

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Clash of the Titans vs. The Myth of Perseus (Part II)

Yes, I know, I'm late, but please don't be too upset, I've had a lot going on lately. There's been uni and new stuff at home and about a dozen other things that have transpired against me getting this post out on time, but it's here now, so be happy about that. Now, where did I leave off? Oh yes! Perseus has just killed Medusa and we need to find out what happens next, both in Clash of the Titans and the original myth.

The Sacrifice of Andromeda


According to mythology, Perseus (with a little help from Hermes) flew from Greece to Egypt, carrying Medusa's head in the magic bag. From Egypt, he then flew on above the northern coast of Africa, heading back to Greece. As he was passing the coast of Joppa (modern day Ethiopia), he saw a beautiful woman chained naked to a rock and fell instantly in love with  her.

Andromeda and the Sea Monster

She was Andromeda, the daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia. Her mother had boasted that both she and her daughter were more beautiful than the sea nymphs and the nymphs, furious, had complained to their protector Poseidon. Poseidon had sent a flood and a female sea monster to destroy the city. When the king and queen consulted an oracle about how to get rid of the sea monster, they were told that their only hope lay in sacrificing Andromeda, so their subjects chained her to a rock to be devoured. As Perseus flew towards Andromeda, he saw her parents on the beach and alighted beside them, saying that he would rescue Andromeda on the condition that she would become his wife and return to Greece with him. The King and Queen agreed and Perseus took to the air again. He lay Medusa's head face down on a patch of sea weed (which instantly turned to coral) and, using the magical sickle that Hermes had given him, beheaded the monster as he had Medusa. Cepheus and Cassiopeia grudgingly welcomed their new son-in-law (they had wanted Andromeda to marry another) and, at their daughter's insistence, the wedding took place immediately. The ceremony was interrupted when Agenor, the man who had been promised Andromeda by her parents, appeared and demanded Andromeda's hand and Perseus's death. Cepheus and Cassiopeia agreed and a battle ensued. Perseus managed to fight off many of his opponents, but was eventually forced to pick up the Gorgon's head and turn 200 of the to stone. Perseus then flew back to Greece, his new wife willingly by his side.

The movie version is very, very different. Perseus emerges as the only survivor from Medusa's prison and is greeted by a clearly over-joyed Io. Their joy is short lived, however, as Acrisius appears and stabs Io in the back, preparing for a fight to the death with Perseus. Acrisius is eventually defeated and, the curses of Hades draining out of him, he returns to the form of a man and leaves Perseus with a message, telling him not to become like the Gods. Perseus returns quickly to Io's side, and she dies in his arms. Looking up, Perseus notices that the eclipse is starting and Argos will fall if he does not return quickly. As if by magic, the Pegasus appears and, mounting it, Perseus flies to Argos. Meanwhile, Hades releases the Kraken and Zeus finds out that his brother as tricked him and that Argos will be destroyed, along with everyone in it and that the Kraken will continue its destruction until all of humanity is destroyed.

The Kraken

In Argos, not knowing that Hades will destroy them anyway, the people are preparing to sacrifice Andromeda. Deciding that no one should have to die for her, Andromeda goes willingly to her death, and is tied up from a wooden platform to await being devoured by the Kraken. As the Kraken rises from the water, Perseus appears on the Pegasus, Medusa's head still in it's bag.

The Sacrifice of Andromeda

Hades, who has been told by Zeus that Perseus is still alive, also appears in the form of (five? seven?) demons and snatches Medusa's head from Perseus. Perseus desperately tried to get it back and is eventually successful, wounding demon-Hades and snatching back the head. He then climbs to the wooden platform where Andromeda is being sacrificed, and reveals the Gorgon's head and kills the Kraken by turning it to stone. As the Kraken turns to stone, it breaks apart, knocking Andromeda into the water and killing some of the spectators.

The Aftermath

With Andromeda by his side, Perseus flew back to Greece, to find his home town in turmoil. King Polydectes, who had never intended to marry Hippodameia, was threatening to harm Perseus's mother Danae and his own brother, the fisherman Dictys, who had found Perseus and Danae in the wooden ark. Perseus arrived at the court of Polydectes and said he had brought the promised gift.Greeted with insults and jeers, Perseus revealed Medusa's head to the court and turned them all to stone. He then set Polydectes's brother, Dictys, on the throne. He gave Athena the Gorgon Medusa's head and she fixed it to her aegis (a type of breastplate) and Hermes returned the magic bag, winged sandals and the helmet of invisibility to the Stygian nymphs. Then he sailed with Andromeda and Danae to Argos. Acrisius, who heard they were coming, was terrified and fled to Pelasgian Larissa, but Perseus was invited there for the funeral games of a friend and, during the discus throw, Perseus's discus was blown off course by the wind and the will of the Gods and struck Acrisius in the head (some sources say the foot), killing him. Perseus, greatly grieved, buried his grandfather in Athena's temple and then, not wanting to rule Argos, did a kind of kingdom swap with a neighboring king of Tiryns where by the king received Argos to rule and Perseus became king of Tiryns.

Hollywood's version isn't as graphic, surprisingly. Perseus dives into the water to rescue Andromeda and, after bringing her to the surface, both pass out on the beach. Perseus is awakened by the Pegasus, who kicks water in his face, and he and Andromeda get up. Andromeda notices boats coming and asks Perseus to come back with her to Argos and rule. Perseus says he cannot be a king, and that Andromeda will make a fine queen for her people. He then leaves on the Pegasus, flying to the cliff where his family were killed by Hades. As he stands looking out over the water, Zeus appears. Zeus says that he didn't want this battle to cost him a son and, if Perseus insists on continue his human existence, he shan't be doing it alone. In keeping with this promise, Zeus resurrects Io.

Well, there you have it. Perseus vs. Clash of the Titans. Personally, I like them both and I am really looking forward to Wrath of the Titans, which is coming out next year. Hope you have enjoyed my mythological ranting, there will be a lot more coming, I assure you.

Until next time!

~ Australian Kiwi

Clash of the Titans vs. The Myth of Perseus (Part I)

For those of you who don't know about my fascination with Greek mythology, this will come as a surprise. For those that do know, you'll be able to pass it off as Australian Kiwi going off on a mythological tangent once again. 

Clash of the Titans Movie Poster

I have recently watched Clash of the Titans (the 2010 version starring Sam Worthington) and was surprised to see that it was based (very loosely) on the legend of Perseus. Perseus is most commonly known as the hero who slayed the gorgon Medusa and saved the princess Andromeda from being sacrificed to a sea monster. I knew the myth well, so I thought I'd do a comparison of the myth and the movie and then let you decide what is better. Personally, I like both equally, but that's just me.

1. Perseus's Birth

According to myth, Perseus was the son of Danae and Zeus. Danae was the daughter of King Acrisius and his only child. When he went to an oracle to find out how to produce a male heir, he was told that he would have no sons and that his grandson would kill him. In an attempt to prevent Danae ever giving birth to his grandson, King Acrisius imprisoned his daughter in a bronze chamber, open to the sky, with wild, ferocious dogs guarding the entrance. Despite this, Zeus saw Danae one night and came down in a golden shower and impregnated her. When Acrisius learned that Danae had given birth, he suspected that his brother had lain with her but, not daring to anger the Gods by killing his wife and grandson, he locked them in a wooden ark and threw them into the sea. A fisherman, Dictys, hauled the ark aboard his boat and opened it. Both mother and child were still alive and he took them to his brother, King Polydectes, who brought them into his house.

In Clash of the Titans, Perseus was the son of Zeus and the unnamed wife of King Acrisius. Acrisius, enraged that Zeus had slept with his wife and that his wife had given birth, attempted to execute his wife and Perseus by throwing them into the sea. The wooden ark (or perhaps it's supposed to be a coffin in the movie?) is caught by the fisherman Spyros, who raises Perseus as his son. 

Spyros the Fisherman

2. Perseus's Adulthood

Sam Worthington as Perseus

According to mythology Perseus was brought up as the son of King Polydectes, but his first loyalty was always to his mother Danae. He protected her once when Polydectes tried to force her to marry him. Still determined to marry Danae, Polydectes decided to pretend that he intended to marry another. He brought all his subjects together and asked them all to contribute one horse apiece to be his love gift (much like a dowry) to a girl called Hippodameia who lived on another island. When he asked Perseus for a horse, Perseus replied that he had none but, if the king really did not intend to marry his mother, he would contrive to get the king whatever gift he desired. Perseus added, very rashly, that he would even get the head of the gorgon Medusa if the king so desired it. King Polydectes, seeing an easy way to get rid of Perseus and marry his mother, said that Medusa's head would please him more than any horse in the world, so Perseus set off on a quest to behead Medusa.

The cinematic version is a little different. Perseus's family are killed by Hades after being caught (so to speak) in the cross fire as soldiers of Argos topple a statue of Zeus and declare war on the Olympian Gods. Perseus is the only survivor and is rescued by the only boatload of Argos soldiers to survive Hades. He is taken up to Argos and then up to the palace where he meets Andromeda, the princess; Draco, the captain of the guard and Io, a mysterious woman who has been watching over him since his birth. When Hades gatecrashes the feast Argos is having in celebration of their war on the Gods, he says he will release the Kraken, a hideous monster that even the Gods fear, unless they sacrifice Andromeda. Perseus, determined to avenge his family, tries to attack Hades, who reveals that Perseus is a demi-God. Draco's soldiers attempt to torture Perseus to find out why he has been sent, but the king intervenes and begs Perseus for help. Perseus says he can't help and is imprisoned. In prison, he is visited by Io, who tells him that, if he kills the Kraken, he will be able to get to Hades. Perseus says he will fight the Kraken and is released from prison. Io tells Draco that, if the Kraken has a weakness, the Stygian Witches will know what it is. He tells her to back off.

3. The Quest to Kill Medusa

Athena, having overhead Perseus's rash declaration that he would get King Polydectes Medusa's head, decides she will aid Perseus on his quest, as she is Medusa's mortal enemy. She first leads him to the city of Deicterion, where images of the three gorgons are displayed, so that Perseus will be able to distinguish Medusa from her immortal sisters, Stheno and Euryale (yes, there were three gorgons, this will be the subject of another post another day). She tells him never to look at Medusa directly, only in a reflection and presents him with a brightly-polished bronze shield. Hermes also helped Perseus, giving him a sickle with which to behead Medusa. However, Perseus still required winged sandals, a magic bag to contain Medusa's head, and the helmet of invisibility. All these things belonged to Hades and were in the care of the Stygian Nymphs, but nobody knew where the nymphs were except the three gorgons (who Perseus was not going to ask), and the Graeae. The Graeae were beautiful, swan-like creatures who shared a single eye and tooth between them. He sought out the Graeae and, creeping up behind them, snatched the eye and the tooth and refused to give them back until the three of them told him where the Stygian Nymphs lived. He then went to get the sandals, bag and helmet from the nymphs before using the winged sandals to fly to the gorgons' lair.

As usual, Hollywood spruces it up a bit. Perseus and Draco's band of soldiers, who are none to impressed with this 'demi-God' travel through a dense woodland. Perseus notices at one point that Io is following them, despite having been told to keep her distance by Draco. Draco humiliates Perseus in a sword fight, but is then bested by him.

Mads Mikkelsen as Draco

Perseus wanders off and, in a clearing, discovers a herd of Pegasus's (winged horses) grazing. Io coems up to him and tells him that it's a message from the Gods. Suddenly, the herd takes to the wing and a massive, black Pegasus lands in the clearing, nearly trampling Perseus.

Perseus and the Pegasus

While Perseus and Io talk further and stroke the Pegasus, they are again interrupted, this time by a cry for help. They run towards the sound, Draco and his soldiers following, and arrive in time to see the disfigured form of a man tearing one of the soldiers in half! It is King Acrisius, the man who attempted to kill Perseus when he was an infant to get back at Zeus for sleeping with his wife. He tries to kill Perseus, but fails, only managing to infect him with venom from Hades. Eventually he has his hand cut off. He runs into the desert, drops of blood spilling from his injured wrist onto the sand.

Jason Flmyng (in prosthetics) as King Acrisius

The drops of his blood turn into massive Scorpiocs (no, I didn't spell it wrong, they're called Scorpiocs by the director, and the producer, and the visual effects team). They Scorpiocs attack Perseus, Draco and the soldiers, killing two of them. Perseus is almost stung by one, but is saved by Io.

A Scorpioc

The men and Io looked like they are about to be over come by the Scorpiocs when they are saved by the arrival of strange creatures called Djinn. The Djinn live in the desert and are traditional enemies of men, many soldiers accompanying Perseus have fought them before. The Djinn calm the Scorpiocs (those ones that aren't dead) and Perseus beings to feel the effects of the venom. He takes a fever, but is cured by one of the Djinn, who has been waiting 'many years for the one who will free them from the Gods.' 

Djinn

The Djinn, who are able to ride the Scorpiocs, give the soldiers a lift to the Garden of Stigu (I know I spelt it wrong, I'm sorry), where the Stygian Witches can be found. Io warns Perseus that he must only ask what he needs to know, and no more.

Gemma Arteton as Io

Upon reaching the lair of the witches, Perseus demands to know how to kill the Kraken, the witches, who appear to be flesh-eating, demand payment for such knowledge and attack one of the young soldiers. Perseus sises the eye they share among them and threatens to drop it over a cliff. The witches are them forced to tell the soldiers that there is a solution, but that it is impossible. If they can somehow get the gorgon Medusa to gaze in the eyes of the Kraken, it will be turned to stone, like anything of flesh that gazes upon Medusa. Draco says that Argos is doomed as they will not be able to control Medusa, but Perseus says they just need to take her head. He is about to leave when the witches ask him if he wants to know more. Despite Io's protests, he listens as the witches tell him that he is certain to die, along with all those who accompany him. Perseus throws the eye at the witches and, as the scrabble around to find it, he, Io and the soldiers quickly leave their lair.

A Stygian Witch with the eye

4. Slaying the Gorgon

Perseus and Medusa

The Greeks claimed that Perseus knew when he had reached the gorgons' lair because he saw the rain worn shapes of men and animals who had been turned to stone by Medusa's gaze. He was fortunate enough to come across all three of the sisters sleeping and, quick as a flash, he cut off Medusa's head. He might have been able to get away quietly if Medusa's children the winged horse Pegasus and the giant warrior Chrysaor hadn't then leapt from Medusa's dead body. They made such a noise that Stheno and Euryale awoke and pursued Perseus as he ran. Quickly, he put Medusa's head into the magic bag and put on the helmet of invisibility and took flight. Medusa's two sisters tried to pursue him, but were unable to see him, so they had to give up the chase. It is interesting to note that, according to the myth, the immortal Stheno and Euryale and still alive and waiting to avenge their sister by killing either Perseus, or his decedents.

Ancient Greek vase painting showing Perseus fleeing from Stheno and Euryale

In the movie, killing Medusa is much more graphic and is (arguably) the best scene in the whole movie. Perseus, Draco, the soldiers, and Io descend into the underworld to slay Medusa. While crossing the river Styx, Io tells the men that Medusa was once so beautiful that Poseidon came down from Olympus and raped her. Medusa ran to Athena for help, but Athena felt only disgust and turned Medusa into a hideous beast. She then tells the men that she cannot assist them in Medusa's prison, as the curse Athena placed on Medusa prevents women entering the prison. When the men enter the temple, they hear chilling laughter and Draco is shot with an arrow. One of the soldiers falls into lava, while two others are turned to stone by Medusa. With the help of Draco, who drops a stone on Medusa's tail and is then turned to stone, and the reflection on the back of his shield, Perseus is able to decapitate Medusa.

Medusa

Ok, this post is already way too long and I'm tired. I'm going to bed now, I'll finish this off in the morning.

Good night!

~ Australian Kiwi