A Prayer for Wunjô’s Master
High says: I am strong. There is no mercy in me. My travels wore that away long ago; it is why I undertook them. I have seen ages pass like the currents of a raging, restless river. All must eventually...
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Yet.
I’ve not been following the news closely (because it tends to range from depressing to infuriating) but apparently back on the 21st Mount Aetna erupted. The blast was described as “brief but intense”...
View ArticleThe Apples of the West
The penultimate Toy (mentioned in the Orphic poet, Clement and Arnobius) is in Greek Μῆλα and Latin mālum, the apple. This is – after the grape, fig and pomegranate – perhaps the fruit most commonly...
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A myth in miniature
I’ve mentioned the Etruscan Goddess Esia a number of times recently (here in connection with Mount Aetna for instance, and here in connection with Óðinn.) She is the counterpart of Cretan Ariadne,...
View ArticleBe well and worship the Gods
I’ve got a lot of stuff going on right now which doesn’t leave much time or energy for producing original content so I’m putting The House of Vines on temporary … Continue reading Be well and worship...
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Nine Songs for the Gallows God
“But some occasions for these names arose in his wanderings; and that matter is recorded in tales. Nor canst thou ever be called a wise man if thou shalt not be able to tell of those great events.” —...
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Update, of a sort
Those of you who read my wife’s blog know that I’m not on hiatus just because of the mountain of projects I’ve got but I am happy to report that great progress has been made, particularly with the...
View Article“everything dances”
Unlike the folk Catholic feast of Ss Peter and Paul, after which we’ve modeled our observance, the date of the Ἀλέτιδεια is calculated according to the lunisolar calendar of the Bakcheion and so...
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Hail Ariadne! May you never thirst!
Plutarch, Life of Theseus 20.1 There are many other stories about these matters, and also about Ariadne, but they do not agree at all. Some say that she hung herself because she was abandoned by...
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Hail Maleotos’ daughter; may you never thirst!
Etymologicum Magnum 62.9 Aletis: Some say that she is Erigone, the daughter of Ikarios, since she wandered everywhere seeking her father. Others say she is the daughter of Aigisthos and Klytemnestra....
View ArticleHail to all the Tarantati whose names have been lost to us! May you never...
Athanasius Kircher, Magnes sive de arte magnetica opus tripartitum pg. 759 Some tarantati let themselves hang from the trees by ropes, showing great enjoyment at such suspension – those stricken with...
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Hail Charilla! May you never thirst!
Plutarch, Aetia Graeca 12 The Delphians celebrate three festivals one after the other which occur every eight years, the first of which they call Septerion, the second Heroïs, and the third Charilla....
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Hail the daughters of Dionysos! May you never thirst!
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3.13.7 Nearby is the temple of Dionysos Kolonates (of the Knoll), by which is a precinct of the hero who they say guided Dionysos on the way to Sparta. To this hero...
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Hail Taygetides! May you never thirst!
Maurus Servius Honoratus, Commentary on the Eclogues of Vergil 8.29 The wife of Dion, king of Laconia, was Iphitea, daughter of Prognaus, who had kindly received Apollo. In return Apollo rewarded her...
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Hail to the Sirens! May you never thirst!
Christina Pluhar, La Tarantella – Antidotum Tarantulae The origins of this ritual dance are attributed by some theorists to the cult of Dionysus that was disseminated in southern Italy over the...
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Hail Iphis! May you never thirst!
Ovid, Metamorphoses 14.698-14.742 Iphis, born of a humble family, had seen the famed Anaxarete, who was of the race of ancient Teucer. — He had seen her and felt fire inflame his bones. Struggling a...
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