#book tidbits

[citrineandrosmarin]

On the comparison of Athena and Ares

Book: Athena by Susan Deacy (Highy recommend)

"It has become a near-cliché to differentiate between Ares as the embodiment of war’s violent and chaotic aspects, and Athena as the goddess who orders and systemises it [...] It is possible to identify similarities between the two deities, however, that undermine these rather neat patterns, for in order to inspire menos, (‘strength’, ‘courage’ or ‘prowess’) Athena operates in ways that are resonant of Ares. She is a warmonger from the moment she is born shaking her armour and making her war cry [...] In the Iliad, Athena gets into the thick of battle [...] The extraordinary menos of Diomedes that dominates Book 5 is inspired by the goddess. At one point he displays such unbridled rage under Athena’s influence that no one, neither Greek nor Trojan, is able to discern who he is or even which side he is on as he ‘storm[s] up the plain like a winter torrent’."

"With Athena’s help, another of her favourites, Achilleus, also takes on an appearance that differs from the usual pattern of heroic conduct when she clothes him in the aegis, places a golden cloud around his head and makes fire blaze from him. He then utters a war cry and she adds her own to it and the results are extraordinary: ‘unutterable confusion’ ensues and the panic produces deaths through ‘friendly fire’: the only instance of this in the Iliad."

"Unlike Ares, Athena is able to distance herself from war and violence. In the Iliad, she arms herself for battle by removing the self-made dress that she had been wearing, and replacing it with weapons, most strikingly, the ‘terrible tasselled aegis’ which contains the personified abstractions Phobos (Fear), Eris (Strife), Alke (Strength), blood-chilling Ioke (Pursuit), and then, most of all ‘the head of the terrible monster the Gorgon, both fearful and awful to look on’. These abstractions become part of the spectacle she produces; but they are also detachable. Ares, meanwhile, has a more permanent kind of attachment with some of these figures: Phobos and Eris are even his relatives."

"The standard way of evaluating Athena’s interventions in war is too limiting. [...] The comparison brings out Athena’s particular manner of operation as a warrior, intervening to assist her favourites and able to inspire their displays of warrior power, while deriving her power from her weapons rather than some natural affinity with war of the kind exemplified by Ares."

[tyquu]

your art is so cute!! I want to hug all the characters. also I am totally vibing with your amputee Ezra and genderified Kanan headcannons

i see you have recently finished a new dawn as well—welcome to Kanera brain rot ville :)

Ahhhh thank you! I’m super glad the art has been a vibe! And whilst I don’t have any new Kanera to offer just yet, I do have some general “A New Dawn” doodles from the past week to offer instead ✌️

[duriens]

hear me out. Daniel publishes his book - vampires all over the country want to take both him and louis out - Armand (fresh from his divorce with Louis) sweeps in and starts sticking to Daniel like a leech with the excuse that Daniel is in danger and he feels partly responsible (also he lost the object of his obsession desire and he feels lost, purposeless, who is his God now? which God should Amadeo love now?) so he starts acting as sort of a bodyguard ('chase' part of the book); Daniel is annoyed and worried and ill but also can't really have a voice in the matter cause Armand decided for him (Armand takes care of him even when he doesn't or can't) so when rockstar lestat decides to publish a book he goes to the same man who's already published one about vampires and demands for his truth to be heard (yes it becomes a biography and not an autobiography) ((yes it is STILL an interview with a vampire)) (((yes Daniel has once again an important role in psycholanalyzing and humbling these vampires))) and Armand is ofc very much there cause no way he'd leave his fascinating, ill boy alone with Lestat, he needs to take care of him (and once again overseer lestat's version and make sure he doesn't humiliate him utterly, dear God)

also at some point Louis is there cause, it's a reunion, man. at some other point the vampire Sam shows up

[souenkun]

Matoba is So Real actually. If I had to face the horrors of protecting 11 clans and the rest of the exorcist community as my 9-to-5 from the age of 22 or possibly younger, I deserve a little sweet treat after finishing a job. Make it three sweet treats while I'm at it

[wikiangela]

tease tidbit tuesday

tagged by @daffi-990 @dangerpronebuddie @sunshinediaz @honestlydarkprincess @underwater-ninja-13 @exhuastedpigeon💖

don't have a lot of new stuff for the fics i've been sharing lately, so today smth different - coffee shop au is back! progress is constantly being made (slowly, but still lol) - so here's a lil buckley siblings moment (I haven't shared a buck and eddie moment in a minute lmao need to fix that soon haha)

prev snippet

___

“What?” he rolls his eyes.

“You’re crushing so hard.” she teases, and he feels his cheeks heat up.

“Shut up.” Buck grumbles, as he grabs a cloth to wipe down the counter just to have something to do. “Not like it matters anyway, he has someone.”

“Really?” Maddie frowns, tilts her head. “Did he tell you that?”

“Not in so many words.” 

“So how do you know?” she prods.

“He ordered for two people.” he says, and only when Maddie laughs, he realizes how stupid and presumptive that is. It could be for anyone, even for himself. Hell, Buck would often order something for himself and for Maddie. Didn’t Eddie say he had an abuela and a tia here? “Shut up, I know.” he groans and covers his face with his hands – and the dirty cloth that’s still in his hand.

“Ew, gross.” Maddie chuckles and pries the cloth out of his hand, dumping it on the counter. “You can be so dense sometimes.” she shakes her head. “When Eddie saw you today, his face literally lit up. He’s been waiting for you to get him his coffee, even though I could’ve done it. If you ask me, he’s crushing, too.”

“Good thing no one asked you.” Buck mutters, and Maddie playfully swats at his arm. “Ow!”

“Just ask him out, Buck, what’s the worst that could happen?” Maddie asks, before turning away just as the door opens and a customer walks in.

___

no pressure tags: @elvensorceress @gaydiaz @thebravebitch @silentxxsoul @shortsighted-owl @eddiebabygirldiaz @transbuck @911onabc @housewifebuck @watchyourbuck @eowon @loserdiaz @evanbegins @ladydorian05 @wildlife4life @diazpatcher @lover-of-mine @monsterrae1 @thewolvesof1998 @puppyboybuckley @weewootruck @loveyouanyway @spagheddiediaz @rainbow-nerdss @epicbuddieficrecs @pirrusstuff @spotsandsocks @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @hoodie-buck @nmcggg @jesuisici33 @rogerzsteven @hippolotamus @fortheloveofbuddie @steadfastsaturnsrings @disasterbuckdiaz @tizniz @theotherbuckley @diazsdimples @giddyupbuck

[kenobihater]

so we all know the explicit sakai deer imagery, right? despite stags being associated with kazumasa, deer are still an appropriate symbol for jin as well (fast, silent, peaceful rather than predatory by nature but still capable of killing). since jin = deer, what would ryuzo best be represented by? maybe there's some textual hint, or hidden dialogue that we could go off of? maybe it's not explicit, but-

yeah, no. the game literally awards you this trophy right after you recruit him. the only way i think they could get more explicit with the shady wolf analogy is by calling the trophy "the big bad wolf", or "wolf in sheep's clothing".

ryuzo - passionate, unpredictable, violent ryuzo - being compared to a wolf is fitting, even more so when you consider the trophy refers to multiple wolves, meaning the straw hats. he was taken in by them, an unruly, masterless group, and he became their leader. despite betraying jin, he doesn't lack loyalty entirely; he only remains loyal to those he views as family after they took him in following the tournament.

his primary motivations in the narrative are staying fed, and providing for his family. he doesn't care about playing nice, or fighting clean, or lessening collateral damage. if his belly is full and his family is fed, none of that matters, and i can't think of a more apt description of that mentality than wolfish.

[mxnster-soul]

Heya guys/gals/and fellow nonbiney pals!

[temtamtom]

Big Papa is back in the house

Still exploring my design for Gaul- he’s been on my mind lately ❤️ He’s supposed to have a bunch of tattoos, so I’ll try to update the drawing when I have the time :)

Please click to view the image in better quality!

[totomiumiu]

Amadeo... Andrei longing to see Kiev by the light of the sun.

Amadeo... Arun longing to see Dehli by the light of the sun.

[citrineandrosmarin]

On The Nature of Metis

Book: Cunning Intelligence in Greek Culture and Society by Marcel Detienne and Jean-Pierre Vernant

"In every confrontation or competitive situation […] success can be won by two means, either thanks to a superiority in 'power' in the particular sphere in which the contest is taking place, with the stronger gaining the victory; or by the use of methods of a different order whose effect is, precisely, to reverse the natural outcome of the encounter and to allow victory to fall to the party whose defeat had appeared inevitable.

[…] In some cases it will be considered the result of cheating since the rules of the game have been disregarded. In others, the more surprise it provokes the greater the admiration it will arouse, the weaker party having, against every expectation, found within himself resources capable of putting the stronger at his mercy. [...] [Metis] is, in a sense, the absolute weapon, the only one that has the power to ensure victory and domination over others, whatever the circumstances, whatever the conditions of the conflict.

[...] If Zeus is king of the gods, more powerful than all the other deities, even when they band against him, it is because he is, par excellence, the god who possesses metis. […] Zeus made himself pure metis by swallowing [The goddess Metis]. […] Hence-forth, there can be no metis possible without Zeus or directed against him."

[keybladewieldernier]

Hayner hoping Namine can have sea salt ice cream with the gang one day??

[sugarsweetvirgo]

Kyojin ( 巨人 )

(n) giant; great man

[dwarfedvyv]

my favourite and least favourite piece of lore from the young ones is that vyvyan had canonically slept with prince andrew

[smartwatermagic]

Alabaster shifted beneath the blanket thrown on him, the couch cushions creaking under his bodyweight. He didn't need to get away from under the wool to know where he was: Perseus and Annabeth’s living room. As usual. A peek confirmed his assumption. Pain pills and a glass of water sat on the coffee table next to the couch, Alabaster's sword and cards placed on the opposite wall far away from him.

Figures.

He brushed his fingers on his side, and the bandages wrapped around his body. The bitter taste returned to his mouth, like it always did whenever he was around the couple. He'd much rather they leave him to bleed out, much rather they didn't care if he died or not. That they would treat him more cruel.

Make it easier to stomach their affection.

It would hurt less that way.

"I'm worried about him," he heard Perseus murmur, footsteps getting closer. "I don't mind, but he's going to piss off the wrong person one day."

"Is this coming from you?" Annabeth, Alabaster would never mistake that voice for anyone else's, laughed.

"Hey!" He could imagine Perseus throwing his hands up, pouting and giving Annabeth his big seal puppy eyes. "I know how to hold my tongue. Mostly."

"True. You put your rage in your books."

Alabaster sighed, pulling the blanket further over his head.

"Are you awake?" Perseus whispered, grasping his limp hand sticking out under his blanket, interlocking their fingers.

Alabaster cursed him out. "I hope you had a hard time rinsing blood off of Anaklusmos."

"Yep, there he is," Annabeth grumbled, gently lifting his head to shove a pillow beneath it. "We didn't want to take the risk of moving you to bed due to your injuries."

Alabaster rolled the blanket down, pouting, staring at their hazy figures. "I hate you both. You more than her, Perseus."

"Yeah but you also love us." Perseus grinned cheekily, pressing a kiss to Alabaster's knuckles.

"Rest, Al." Annabeth started caressing his hair. "How are you going to take your revenge on Percy if you're always tired?"

"Can't kill me with those eyebags of yours, Torrington. Only yourself maybe."

"Now you're just making fun of me," Alabaster whined, wincing in pain as he turned his back towards them.

Still, he allowed himself to be lulled back to sleep, heart aching sweetly under the care of the most infuriating and charming couple he had ever met.

[peppermint-jade]

not at all what I normally post, but I just have to talk about this book. As an amateur Arthurian nerd who is slightly out of practice, this book was amazing. Now granted, the King Arthur Brainrot has been on the downlow for a bit for me, but safe to say I'm back into it. I picked it up on a whim and finished it in record time (I don't have the time/energy to read like I used to) so I know it's good. It's so refreshing to read something Arthurian by someone who gets it??? Like.... so much good stuff here. we have:

Kay centric narrative (!!!)

Historical accuracy for the 6th century! (mentions of no plate armor, accurate weapons, place names, romans, saxons, etc)

Galehaut (who I didn't even know existed but am now obsessed with. what do you mean he acted like a romantic rival to Gwenhwyfar??? (as her name is spelled in the book))

on that subject, queer Lancelot

Warrior King Arthur (who swears like a sailor and is depicted in a unique, almost negative light)

Glastonbury Tor as a central location (yes I know he was "buried" at the abbey but the tor is so iconic)

calling the sword from the lake Caliburn rather than Excalibur

Neutral Morgan le Fey/Morgana figure (sorta net positive I guess)

Christopher Marlowe is here

probably more stuff I'm forgetting tbh

anyways please someone go read this book. It's very good I promise. Especially if you're an Arthurian nerd. You can tell the author had all of this knowledge and decided to write about it, rather than an author who decided to write about an Arthurian topic then researched it if that makes sense.

[xskyll]

I just got to the part in The Odyssey where Odysseus reaches Ithaca, and Homer just casually dropped the info that my man is a blond.