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