#meet the minoans

[whencyclopedia]

As the cradle of European civilization and a meeting place of diverse cultures, Crete is a magical island that stands apart in the heart of the Mediterranean sea. Its prominent place in world history dates back to the mysterious and fascinating Bronze Age civilization of the Minoans, who were building lavish labyrinth-like palaces at a time when Athens was just a village. In the Odyssey, Homer describes Crete as a rich land, filled with countless people who speak several languages. The location of this mountainous island, at a crossroad of three continents, has been a natural outpost of consecutive invaders, including the Greeks, Romans, Venetians, and Ottomans, who have left their mark on Cretan culture. Remainders of Crete's extraordinary past are scattered all over the island. Today, travellers come to explore and discover not only its five-millennium-old history but also its extraordinary natural beauty and diversity. As I journeyed through the Cretan landscape, I visited its most important ancient sites, including the famous Minoan palaces, but also veered off the beaten track to explore the lesser-known archaeological remains. In this tour of western Crete, I invite you to delve into the long and rich history of this fascinating island. The Minoan civilization emerged on the island of Crete in the Early Bronze Age at the end of the third and beginning of the second millennium BCE. It flourished from c. 2000 BCE until c. 1500 BCE with the establishment of centres, called "palaces" by modern archaeologists, that concentrated political and economic powers, as well as artistic activities. Of particular significance was the religious role played by the palaces in the cult of the Mother Goddess. These impressive edifices were built at Knossos and Malia in the northern part of the island, at Phaistos in the south, and Zakros in the east, all sites with a rich agricultural hinterland and direct access to the most important sea routes of the time. The British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans discovered the first of these palaces in Knossos in 1900 CE and named the people who built them after the legendary King Minos. It was King Monos who, according to tradition, ordered the construction of a labyrinth in Knossos to hold the Minotaur, the mythical half-man, half-bull creature. The Minoan culture spread throughout the entire eastern Mediterranean world and its stunning art and architecture deeply influenced the Mycenaean Civilization (1600-1100 BCE) that would succeed it. After the downfall of the Mycenaeans, Crete was ruled by various ancient Greek city-states until the Romans conquered the island in 69 BCE and made Gortyn their capital. Under Roman rule, Crete re-emerged as a major cultural centre and became the joint province of Crete and Cyrenaica and a centre of early Christianity. When the Roman Empire split into two, Crete was made part of the Eastern Empire. It continued to prosper during the Byzantine era until it faced repeated Arab raids and, ultimately, full conquest in the 820s CE. Today the central and western parts of the island are blessed with archaeological treasures which include the famous sites of Knossos, Phaistos and Gortyn but also Aptera, Phalasarna and Eleutherna, all with significant architectural remains as compelling evidence of Crete's long and varied history.

[slowd1ving]

LAMENT OF OUROBOROS . 　⁺ MASTERLIST

"Forsaken is he who disregards the warnings of a wise man. Hark! gather round—for this is the ode of the seventh prince of Metis. Let this elegy be your lesson: a final cautionary tale of a cursed prince forgotten in even the annals of history. Hubris blinded seventh prince Veritas Ratio, and for that he paid a bitter price. Sit, bear witness to the truths spun by the Moirai—lest you too would like to partake in his tragic fate." • . * cursed prince ratio + alchemist m reader possibly my magnum opus (not just because I finally figured out how to do the gradient thing :3) rough design for minoan fashion ratio here map for key regions (very rough, done on mspaint but whatever) warnings: video game violence, death? kind of? tyranny (are we surprised), male-coded reader (or at least the in-game avatar is)

HONKAI STAR RAIL MASTERLIST

MASTERLIST ・゜・NAVIGATION

✦ I. PRINCE OF ARROGANCE, PRIDE HAS A HEAVY PRICE;

→ Where it all begins. The venerable Sophos Nous leaves the prince with eight words, and the youth decides his destiny over them.

"His fate was sealed the moment he could taste choleric resentment on his tongue, followed shortly by spite: for spite is the desire to thwart. The path he instinctually set out on—to seek knowledge about the abuses of wisdom in the palace—was one that would only end in despair. "

✦ II. COME HITHER, CURSE WHERE HE LIES.

→ Where it all ends. The prince's scheme germinates, flourishes and withers as quietly as he.

"This was the tale of the seventh prince; an elegy hidden from the footnotes of history. Within the game Lament of Ouroboros, his sorrows were summarised thusly:

A strangely warm vein of ore. 

Hero, come here when dusk kisses the edge of the Borderlands. As your palm brushes against the rock, you may be able to feel the pulse of a slumbering prince. 

Three sentences were all that was afforded to the disgraced prince, forgotten to all but the Moirai."

✦ III. OH, HOW TRAGIC IS HE;

→ You are luckier than he is. You are unluckier than he is. For though your end is painful and futile, there is no lingering in limbo for the rest of your eternity.

"It was an accident. 

“I’m sorry. Ah, shit—” Something wet splashed your cheek, followed by a fumbling hand that tried to brush it away but only succeeded in smearing the thin liquid across your face awkwardly. “Don’t��� fuck, I’ll stay with you, alright?” 

Fingers wrapped around your own, flesh against bone. Pulsing life alongside a silent end. 

The last thing on your lips was an apology, in the form of a salty tear dripping from above."

✦ IV. WEEP FOR HIM, I BID OF THEE.

→ The folly of man and god alike. Sophos Nous is not above being wrong.

"Ratio had not been man for a millennium. He had not heard, not seen, not felt, not tasted, nor smelled, for a thousand years. 

It began with a faint frequency that droned in the very recesses of the stone. A buzz, or a low hum, resonated as though he could hear the very orbitals of electrons whirring in each atom. At this point, the background levels of his simulations had ceased—for this was far more important. 

For the first time in centuries, the sluggish pulse that still beat in his undead chest had quickened, just a little."

✦ V. HE IS THE MOST PITIFUL OF MEN;

→ All things must part in the end. Fear not, for we shall meet again.

"The stagnancy was broken once more. Lips pursed in displeasure, and the face shrouded by the shadows of the night disappeared back into the darkness. He who remained asleep was none the wiser—caught in the throes of surgeless rest. 

In the morning, the sculptor would stumble into the chilly studio—waking up with strangely light shoulders and an unclouded mind—only to find his magnum opus gone. Within the chalky base remained the imprints of footsteps, as though the statue had merely walked away. The cold glass skin of juice shattered against the flagstones: seeping a bleeding red into a pristine pathway.

Just like in his restless dreams, that figure left him far behind once again."

✦ VI. FOR NONE SHED TEARS FOR THE FORSAKEN.

part I part II

→ The snake bites its tail. The end is now the beginning.

"Blurry reminiscence could never compete with the primal, instinctive deduction of muscle memory. Each curve, each plane—your hands went through the motions as if you had done them a thousand times. 

And you had. Through paper, through clay, through the stone that faced the hesitant hammer and chisel. 

Who am I to you? "

✦ GLOSSARY

[holy-mother-of-whumpers]

I've been reading these Age of Bronze comics - I LOVE the Bronze Age Collapse and I LOVE the Epic Cycle, how could I not?? - so now you're going to hear about it 🥸

It's an adaptation, not a retelling, so we get to read about our guys with basically no angle :D just them committing crimes on page akfjdkjd

What I didn't like 😐👎

100% personal complaints no actual intellectual commentary to be found here

- how it took the medieval tradition of Calchas being a runaway Trojan and that sappy Troilus/Cressida romance. I don't like those traditions.

- the Troilus/Cressida romance xD it's unbelievably slow and boring and turned me into a hater of these two. Achilles should have killed Troilus harder. I'm here for the war, not world's worst slowburn (after this I actually miss Twilight, Edward and Bella had more personality)

- Diomedes going for Cressida when Odysseus is right there?! 0/10 unrealistic. We got pathetically little of their bromance for the ages.

- Odysseus is not incredibly hot?! All the simping Homer did for this guy should show. Why is he balding where are the hyacinth curls🪻

- I didn't get to see Troilus die 😭 the series ended before it happened.

- I didn't get to see Palamedes die 😭 I'm serious about being here for the crimes ok, someone's gotta bleed.

- the series ended before most of my favorite moments 😓

- I'd have loved more gods. Nymphs are people but I saw no deity on page, that's always a bit of a downer.

- while Helen admits she feels under a goddess' influence, she's still a bit too happy with Paris. I was so looking forwards to how this would turn into her Iliad self that just telling Paris he should have been killed by Menelaos fjskjfks also Andromache calling her vain :( being pretty doesn't necessarily mean you are vain, you don't get a choice on your looks.

What I liked! 😁👍

- Most of everything else actually!!!

- Calchas making up the prophecy of Troilus having to die before his 20th birthday so his daughter can move on. Me too, Calchas, me too.

- THE BRONZE AGE AESTHETIC is incredible 🤩 I think Priam's treasure was dated to be earlier however look at the inspiration from the Mask of Agamemnon for Aga's moustaches and Clytemnestra's crown! Look!

Paris actually strolling around with his leopard skin and legit Minoan/Mycenaean dresses!

- it's even funny sometimes. It's not a comedic comic but Achilles got roasted a couple of time LMAO my standards are low ok

- Achilles meeting Helen from that one episode we lost :( here it lives again!

- Achilles and Iphigenia sharing a kiss 😘.

- the Iphigenia's Sacrifice issue is legit the best just go read it already (IT'S FREE). It pressed on the cursed family history, from Tantalos onwards, it's perfectly tragic and inevitable 😭👍

- Agamemnon. He's really fine 😙👌, dramatic, petty, tragic, he's having this bromance with Odysseus I was so invested I legit at a certain point I was reading it for them xD just look at him having a terrible time

- Menelaos loving his wife. Too many retellings made him the bad guy Helen runs from, I'm happy to see it's not the case. In the Embassy to Troy issue he has THE WORST time ever with Helen telling him she wants to stay (she's conflicted too). He gets drunk afterwards and cries reminiscing about her. It's so sad people. Menelaos Needs A Hug (Ancient Greek Mythology and Lore)

Helen previously said she left Hermione behind because he was king by marriage and she didn't want him to lose his throne because of her (aw? Kinda?) is there still hope?

[margaretkart]

Lately I've been getting into AC Odyssey. It looks pretty cool, but I wonder, exactly how accurate is it to what ancient Greece actually looked like?

I enjoyed playing this game too and i will say they did a phenomenal job on this!

What’s accurate:

Architecture: Cities like Athens and Sparta are impressively detailed. The Acropolis, temples, agoras, and even street vendors reflect archaeological knowledge. Some temples and statues are reconstructed based on historical sources and ruins.

Clothing and armour: While a bit stylized, tunics, chitons, and some armor sets are reasonably based on historical designs. Hoplite shields and helmets especially are quite accurate.

You meet historical figures like Sokrates, Alkibiades, Herodotos, etc. their dialogues may be a little exaggerated for plot reasons but you can still make good conversations with them

Greece’s geography, from islands to mountains, olive trees to goats, feels authentic. It captures the natural beauty well. (Could feel the heat and the crickets while playing 😂) i personally liked exploring the ancient Minoan ruins in Crete.

What’s less accurate:

Mythology and monsters: You fight Medusa, Cyclops, and other mythical beings, cool, but clearly fictionalized. These are treated more as hidden “Isu” lore, but still far from historical.

Time period: The game is set during the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE), but it sometimes mixes elements from later periods (e.g., some fashion or weaponry).

Role of women: Kassandra is amazing, and women *did* have influence in certain religious and social roles, but a female mercenary like her would've been rare and frowned upon in most Greek poleis.

Technology and combat : The RPG elements and fighting styles are more modern game design than ancient tactics, though the use of the spear and shield (in certain builds) nods to real hoplite fighting.

Fun fact Ubisoft worked with historians and archaeologists to create the game’s Discovery tour, a separate educational mode where you can explore without combat and learn historical facts. I was surprised that they added that however i was very pleased nonetheless. They also included Greek actors in the main cast and crew. The authenticity of this is amazing, even if it doesn't really feel like an assassin's creed game, it was very good how much they honoured the country

[smaller-comfort]

Djoseras/Zultanekh Mildly NSFW In the aftermath of the treaty between Ogdobekh and Ithakas, there are still territorial disputes and high tensions on both sides. A wedding between houses from both dynasties will serve to resolve some of that lingering tension. Djoseras might not have chosen to attend such a wedding, ordinarily- but when the invitation comes directly from Zultanekh, how can he refuse?

Yeah like this was gonna happen without a fuckton of notes from me lol let's fuckin goooooooooo

This is my first time participating in an exchange! @ocelly bullied me into it, and I'm grateful for it. XD

I was halfway convinced I was going to default a week before the deadline but I somehow got my shit together at the last minute. December turned into an entire shitshow from start to finish.

I made a few concessions to general fanon around Djoseras here- you can blame his drink preferences on the necron discord server and his hair on various necrontyr fanart conceptions.

My personal headcanon is that Djoseras is asexual and as much of an ascetic pre-biotransference as he is afterwards; his head would've been shaved, and hot water is too spicy. (Oltyx's head is also shaved, entirely out of a desire to imitate his brother.) So this is not actually a pairing I ever thought I was going to write, except in the context of unrequited pining on Zultanekh's part.

I am very glad I did write it, though! It's funny how much this Sanguinalia has had me thinking about Djoseras, when I was originally firmly of the opinion that the books had said all that needed to be said about him.

Zultanekh looks like a Minoan statue- lots of curly hair, big curly beard. Amazing tits. Dedicated service top but willing to do anything Djoseras wants him to do, and generally Short King Djoseras tops.

Zultanekh is weird even by Ogdobekh standards- *especially* by Ogdobekh standards. He and Enashkebet were terrors as children. Zubenakr often threatened to drown them both.

"how will someone guess its your fic" well I WAS going to say probably from all the weddings, but then there were like six wedding fics in the exchange. So now I'm not really sure; I don't know how distinctive my voice actually is relative to other writers in the fandom.

At any rate, I really was very very excited to get these prompts- even before assignments went out, the wedding one was giving me ideas. I was slightly nervous about not quite meeting the prompt exactly, so I'm really glad my recipient was pleased. I had a lot of fun writing it.

I didn't manage a full reread of the books before writing this, but I did go back through most of the necrontyr flashbacks in Ruin and a lot of Zultanekh's scenes in Reign. What we see of Djoseras is largely only through Oltyx's extremely biased memories- or through Zultanekh's extremely biased memories.

Much like Oltyx, my memory of his character after reading Ruin was kind of wonky. I feel a little better about my understanding of him now, but I had to switch around some things in the story for canon compliance. I realize that canon is, at best, a suggestion, but I'm too fond of these books to try and twist too many details.

Djoseras tells Oltyx he made the decision when he went into the furnaces to never stray from the correct and loyal path again; this story is set while he is still conflicted about things, obviously. It may be that biotransference itself is the catalyst for that decision, or maybe it's something that happens between him and Unnas after this story takes place.

I'm still not fully satisfied with the way I wrote the Ogdobekh dialect; Zultanekh in the books doesn't actually use the rhetorical question framing as much as I thought he did. The intent is for third person and rhetorical questions to be markers for the formal register- addressing someone directly can be considered very rude depending on the social standing of the people involved. Zultanekh dropping into the informal/direct mode when he says "I have dreamed of this since Vorronezh" is meant to be impactful, but I'm not sure I pulled it off. He's slightly less formal with Djoseras in general after the wedding, though.

If you think Djoseras would use anything other than vague euphemisms to talk about genitalia, I dunno what to tell you. The word 'cock' has never passed this man's lips. whether or not the thing itself has is another matter entirely

I couldn't get my brain to produce anything fun for the wedding ceremony but, you have to understand, I was raised catholic and my parents got married in the orthodox church. The actual ceremony is not the fun part; the fun part comes after you spend three hours standing and chanting.

The "you have to have a partner" rule from the prompt only gets applied to actual members of the wedding party, who stand in the ritual circle. So if Zultanekh and Djoseras hadn't partnered up, they'd have both been banished to the peanut gallery.

I should've included something about astromantic equations determining the correct number of witnesses for an optimal union. Odd numbers are right out; they were lucky Djoseras and Zultanekh could be paired up without having to add or remove anyone else.

Enashkebet always kicked Zultanekh's ass when they fought as kids. Her threats were genuine.

(Sorry not sorry all my necron/tyr OCs are loud women and their tiny spouses. *facepalm*)

Zubenakr is technically a vitriform noble; her house has been serving the Ogdobekh royal family for generations. Her daughters are all responsible for raising the children of the nobility in the palace; they are also responsible for the deaths of at least a third of those children in infancy. (They all become deathmarks in the war.)

Enashkebet and Imireth have a whole West Side Story forbidden romance going on- intrigue! romance! secret encoded messages! Disapproving family members and direct intervention of the king! Love blooms on the battlefield! A huge amount of diplomacy, bribery, political assassination, regular assassination, and threats of exile went on behind the scenes to make their wedding happen. Enashkebet did a lot of it herself, but Zultanekh was covertly involved.

Meanwhile, Djoseras and Zultanekh themselves are just the romantic comedy B plot.

Zahndrekh and Obyron are also in there somewhere, having a different romantic comedy B plot. I wanted to include them in the wedding feast more explicitly, but ran out of time. (If this were snecrontyr-verse their b-plot wouldn't be romantic comedy, it would actually just be hard-core porn.)

(I haven't decided if Enashkebet and Imireth survive the War In Heaven; if they do, they manage to escape back to Ogdobekh territory after Shadrannar's rebellion, thanks to Djoseras 'accidentally' letting them escape during a battle. If they don't survive, it's probably one of their children who leads the rebellion, and Djoseras still lets them escape.)

I tried to be careful about not having anyone on the Ogdobekh side use explicitly gendered terms when talking about Anathrosis, although I realize that "phaeron" is technically male. Anathrosis was so upset about the treaty, she decides to transition about it. If I had written this in snecrontyr-verse, they'd have used null-gendered pronouns to refer to Anathrosis during the transition period. (I do think she probably fully transitioned in the furnaces, though.)

It's not uncommon for necrontyr to change their gender markers; there are forms you fill out, and you update your interstitial signature to use the correct forms, and that's usually it. But there are longer and more complicated rituals that can be observed if you want to, and generally those aren't optional for higher ranking nobility.

[book--brackets]

Summaries under the cut

Tales from the Wyrd Museum by Robin Jarvis

In a grimy alley in the East End of London stands the Wyrd Museum, cared for by the stranger Webster sisters -- and scene of even stranger events. Wandering through the museum, Neil Chapman, son of the new caretaker, discovers it is a sinister place crammed with secrets both dark and deadly. Forced to journey back to the past, he finds himself pitted against an ancient and terrifying evil, something which is growing stronger as it feeds on the destruction around it.

Cobble Street Cousins by Cynthia Voigt

Meet the Cobble Street Cousins!

Lily, who wants to be a poet Tess, who wants to be a Broadway star Rosie, who wants a little cottage with flowers by the door

Right now, though, the cousins are sharing an attic bedroom in their Aunt Lucy?s light blue house on Cobble Street, and happily making plans for the summer. A cookie company seems the perfect way to make a little money, but it turns out to be much more -- an opportunity to meet some very special neighbors!

The Tiara Club by Vivian French and Sarah Gibb

On the first day at the Princess Academy, everything goes wrong. The girls' ball gowns are ruined. What will Princess Charlotte and her friends do without their beautiful gowns?

Help I'm Trapped... by Todd Strasser

Jake Sherman used to be your average, ordinary twelve year old, until he became a completely different person. Tall, skinny, balding, nerdy. . .OH NO! Jake's turned into his weirdo teacher, Mr. Dirksen!

It's bad enough that Jake's an adult now, but a teacher? The geekiest, most made-fun-of teacher in the whole school? Jake's sister Jessica is the only person who'll believe him--and even she's a little suspicious.

Jake and Jessica better find a way to get things back to normal fast--not only because Jake's going crazy, but also because dorky Mr. Dirksen is running around in Jake's body! The nightmare is only beginning!

The Incredible Worlds of Wally McDoogle by Bill Myers

Twelve-year-old Wally, a computer whiz who is a "walking disaster area," ends up in a competition with the bully of Camp Whacka-Whacka, and when they find themselves fighting for their lives, Wally realizes that even his worst enemy needs God.

Silly Verse for Kids by Spike Mulligan

Silly Verse for Kids - a hilarious collection of silly poems by Spike Milligan! A collection of the absurd, ridiculous, sublime and characteristically anarchic verse from the brilliant Spike Milligan. With his very own illustrations, this collection, which includes the famous On the Ning Nang Nong will make you laugh from the bottom of your belly - just like Spike did.

Minoan Wings by Wendy Orr

The little girl found under a bush has no name and cannot speak. Is she a miracle child who escaped the raiders, or is she a bad-luck child, the one who called the Bull King's ship to the island? No one sees the mama-stone around her neck, with the sign of the dragonfly. And only Luki, in training to leap the bulls, knows that she charmed the viper who would have killed him. When the girl turns twelve, she discovers her name - Aissa - and she knows that her one chance to live freely is to become a bull dancer, and be taken away to the island of the Bull King.

Candy Fairies by Helen Perelman

In Chocolate Dreams , Cocoa the Chocolate Fairy is blamed for the missing chocolate eggs—but really it’s the sour troll Mogu who stole them! Can Cocoa save the chocolate eggs and restore the balance of Sugar Valley?

Little Old Mrs. Pepperpot by Alf Proysen

Waking up one morning to find you've shrunk to the size of a tiny pepperpot isn't an ordinary, everyday event for most people - but then Mrs Pepperpot is a very extraordinary person! When she's around little things can turn into great big adventures - especially when they involve getting stuck in a draw full of macaroni. . .

The Doll Shop Downstairs by Yona Zeldis McDonough

Nine-year-old Anna and her sisters love to play with the dolls in their parents' doll repair shop. But when World War I begins, an embargo on German-made goods-including the parts Papa needs to repair the dolls-threatens to put the family's shop out of business. Fortunately, Anna has an idea that just might save the day.

[gwydpolls]

Time Travel Question 44: Medievalish History 8 and Earlier

These Questions are the result of suggestions from the previous iteration.

This category may include suggestions made too late to fall into the correct earlier time grouping. Basically, I'd already moved on to human history, but I'd periodically get a pre-homin suggestion, hence the occasional random item waaay out of it's time period, rather than reopen the category.

In some cases a culture lasted a really long time and I grouped them by whether it was likely the later or earlier grouping made the most sense with the information I had. (Invention ofs tend to fall in an earlier grouping if it's still open. Ones that imply height of or just before something tend to get grouped later, but not always. Sometimes I'll split two different things from the same culture into different polls because they involve separate research goals or the like).

Please add new suggestions below if you have them for future consideration. All cultures and time periods welcome.

[wdxghosty]

DANDADAN OC

Meet Minoan! She’s my dandadan self insert oc. Now that the anime is out I’ll actually have an audience for this kinds of stuff, so yayyy! I know allot of people have problems with self insert oc’s but she’s not bothering you so don’t bother her.

She’s a Foreign exchange student from the US, and she has a black and pink snake named Cherry vanilla coke (yes that’s what she named her snake get over it) She was possessed by Nure-Onna type of yokai, and her powers allow her to emit a poisonous gas, and make venom. She can also make illusions, to trick her enemies. She best as a supporter like Rin (class president), but she doesn’t have many offensive moves. She does have many rows of teeth that can rotate into something kinda like a chainsaw, but she can also form these teeth on other parts of her body.

Scince he’s my favorite character and I love him, I’m shipping her with Zuma. I’m gonna give them a forced proximity trope, even though we haven’t seen him scince the end of the board game arch, I don’t know if he’s gonna become a main side character but if he does, they’ll be together allot.

I think at first they would’ve care much for each other, but over time they become close friends then more, like most romances. I’m still making her but her fighting style will complement Zumas, so even they’re attacked they’ll usually be together.

I hope we get to see zuma more because in the 30 something chapters we saw him, I fell in love.<3 thx for reading. Mwa!

[dknuth]

Archaeology of Crete

Today, I arrived in Heraklion, the capital of the Greek island of Crete. This archaeological tour, run by Peter Sommer, will explore mainly Minoan sites and Greek, Venetian, and other ruins. It will be my third tour with them. I have found them to be well run, and they have very knowledgeable guides. We will have two archaeologists leading this trip.

Minoan civilization has fascinated me since I was a child reading my grandmother's collection of National Geographics, so it's great to finally get here. This trip is just me, as these archaeological tours require too much walking and standing for Cathie.

I arrived mid-afternoon, so I used the time to walk around Heraklion. It was about a 4-mile walk down a pedestrian street to the harbor, a good way to get a little blood flowing after all the sitting on planes.

This fountain dates to Venetian control of Crete, 1200 to 1650, when it fell to the Ottomans.

It looks very Venetian, as does this building.

They are both very nice, but not very Greek.

The small boat harbor was quiet, but it was a Wednesday afternoon.

The tour begins tomorrow. We have 13 people on the tour, mainly from the US but also from England and Australia.

There was a local history museum not far off my route, but standing around a museum was not that appealing today, compared to a wall in the fresh air and sunshine.

That's enough for the day, now a brief nap before the initial group meeting and dinner tonight.

[specialagentartemis]

Today I:

Read archaeological reports to clear up and enter confusing/contradictory data for 2-3 hours

Went to the museum on campus to photograph archaeological pottery for 1 hour

Went to the orthodontist for 2 hours, travel time inclusive

Emailed the department head very apologetically about missing the fall TA application deadline

Emailed a colleague about setting up a zoom meeting tomorrow

Emailed back and forth with another institution to coordinate going to THEIR museum to photograph archaeological pottery in THEIR collections

Picked up my weekly groceries from the campus pantry

Went grocery shopping

Got gas for my car

Fucking crashed and napped for 1 hour

I still also have to eat dinner and practice my presentation for tomorrow’s class on the Minoans, Mycenaeans, and Hittites.

Writing this out to convince myself that yes I HAVE been busy all day and feeling worn out from running around from thing to thing is NOT unreasonable, even if no given thing is like, Hard Labor

[raisinchallah]

keep thinking about like really out there xena costume ideas picking more eclectic and interesting inspo from ancient greek and roman costumes mixed with like modern high fashion elements and modern weird fabrics regularly featured on tv like tulle and lycra and mixing in like more modern interpretations of grecoroman influenced fashion and like some totally random shit in there to meet xena where its at with its whole sword and sandal meets sword and sorcery on a cheap tv budget aesthetic so im thinking like aphrodite in a sheer sparkly material ostentatious peplos with like rhinestones glued to it so its like in silhouette looks like a greek statue but in material its pure television (sparkle bikini visible underneath) minoan inspired lewks but also ridiculous lycra etc my callisto versace costume etc etc

[mmkin]

Underworld doodles.

I drew both of these today (about 15 min each?) without thinking. I just doodle whatever pops in my head. It's not till just now posting that I realize that Persephone and Charlie both live in the underworld. Persephone might actually be lovely friends with Charlie and help her if somehow the two of them were to meet, because why not.

Persephone from my Seeds (a retelling of H and P) books. I looked at a few pictures of Minoan/Mycenaean women and their clothing. I know this isn't 100 percent accurate but hey it's a 15 min doodle and personally I love the smug look on her face.

Charlie and Angel Dust. First time doodling these two... the anatomy of Hazbin Hotel really throws me off sometimes ;_;

[margaretkart]

I wonder how Ariadne's time on Naxos was, how long she had to wait alone, if she had to fight for her survival. Days ? Weeks ? Months ? Certainly not years, though, but I can imagine she had the time to have a bunch of experiences.

Imagine Ariadne stranded on Naxos, initially waiting for Theseus to return. But as time passes, she understands that he won't come back. She gets sad, angry, fearful (maybe he died, maybe he just doesn't love her), then hopeless.

She tries to survive on the deserted island alone, her clothes dirty or even replaced by animal skin, depressed, still beautiful but now looking like a wild girl.

That's until she meets a young man with grapes in his hair and some weird stick, someone who likes the wild look, but won't ever leave her hopeless like this again.

Oh i am on the belief that Ariadne was immediately found a day later after Theseus abandoned her.

In some versions Dionysus is always mentioned not only being on Naxos at that time but also having orchestrated for Theseus to leave Ariadne. In some versions it's either him or Athena that comes to help him this.

Or after Ariadne wakes up and sees Theseus has abandoned her, Dionysus is mentioned arriving with his followers and immediately coming to her aid.

So not something Ariadne would worry. Besides Naxos i believe wasn't a deserted island in Minoan period, but had a small community at least, so even if she waited days she could find refuge on Apollo's temple or in general ask for help.

I have a headcanon for that☺️. Ariadne and Theseus arrive on Naxos on the port for supply, so Ariadne wanders around the island to see it's people, the street market etc. she notices on the square a group of women gathering around claiming they are Dionysus followers so she gets curious. When she asks if that's true they say that he has recently arrived from his trip from the Anatolia and has a feast prepared to make and invite her.

Before she can reply Theseus arrives telling her not to wander around and so she leaves, however she feels like someone is watching her. 👀

[ayo-itskate]

Hello fellow wanderers,

Come along with me on this virtual odyssey to one of the most to one of the most enchanting destinations on Earth, Santorini, Greece. Santorini is a jewel located in the Aegean Sea and is well known for its iconic white-washed architecture, crystal clear waters, and sunsets that paint the sky in pink and gold hues.

☆Things to do in Santorini

Escape to Amoudi Bay

Amoudi Bay is a well-known site below the village of Oia. It is famous for the 200 steps leading from the base of the bay to the town above.

Amoudi Bay's beautiful turquoise waters invite us for a refreshing swim while the many seaside tavernas beckon with the promise of freshly caught seafood and Aegean delicacies, the bay is also said to be an excellent location for viewing the sunset.

☆Go Wine Tasting

Santorini's terroir is as unique as its landscapes. Sipping Assyrtiko wine amid vineyards shaped in the island's traditional basket style is said to be a sensory experience. The volcanic soil imparts a distinct flavor, making every sip a celebration of Santorini's viticultural heritage.

The Assyrtiko is a Greek grape that produces fresh, crisp and dry white wines

☆The Caldera's Embrace: A boat tour adventure

Caldera's Boats offers a half day tour to Santorini caldera, the hot springs along with a trip out to the island of Thirasia.

The cruise starts off at Nea Kameni, a volcanic island, where you'll have time to walk around the island and swim in the hot springs. Then you'll cruise to the island of Thirasia, where you'll be able to grab lunch and explore the island before sailing back to Santorini. The duration of this trip is said to be six (6) hours, with an average cost price of $33.19 USD and a maximum of 70 persons of all ages per group.

The hot springs:

Thirasia:

☆Visit the ancient mysteries in Akrotiri

Venturing beyond the tourist-laiden paths, we uncover the ancient mysteries of Akrotiri. Preserved in volcanic ash, this archeological site reveals the remnants of a thriving Minoan civilization.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

As we bid farewell to this Agean haven, we carry the memories of its beauties and its flavors along with the indescribable sense of wonder Santorini had inspired.

Sources for the pictures used

https://images.app.goo.gl/4tbYQCcxtvj38uXF6

https://images.app.goo.gl/rvF4qTBnBX2EnxFY6

https://pin.it/2KN8FkW

https://pin.it/5EzIvPL

https://pin.it/5L4JuMu

https://pin.it/55LkZND

Until we meet again,

Kate♡

[essencetourssantorini]

Discover Hidden Gems: A Journey Beyond the Ordinary in Santorini

The enchanting island of Santorini is known worldwide for its whitewashed buildings, cobalt blue domes, and captivating sunsets over the caldera. But beyond the postcard-perfect scenes lies a rich cultural tapestry waiting to be explored through well-curated Santorini Day Trips. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, there's no better way to uncover the island’s best-kept secrets than with a Santorini Private Personalized Tour, designed to fit your interests, pace, and expectations.

Santorini Day Trips offer a unique opportunity to connect with the authentic side of the island. From charming hillside villages and volcanic beaches to ancient ruins and boutique wineries, each stop introduces a new layer of local life and history. When crafted thoughtfully, a Santorini Private Personalized Tour becomes more than a sightseeing experience—it transforms into a meaningful journey that highlights the island’s beauty and depth.

For those who seek to break away from the typical tourist trails, a tailored tour offers unparalleled flexibility. Your itinerary is not bound by fixed schedules or crowded tour buses. Instead, you can dive deep into the island’s culture at your own pace. Imagine strolling through the narrow alleys of Pyrgos, a quaint village untouched by commercial tourism, or sipping award-winning wines at a local vineyard as the sun dips below the Aegean horizon. These are the moments that turn a simple vacation into lasting memories.

The true charm of Santorini unfolds when you experience it on your own terms. A Santorini Private Personalized Tour allows for a rich blend of exploration and relaxation. Whether you’re an early riser eager to catch the morning light over Oia or a sunset chaser wanting to photograph the golden hues from Imerovigli, your guide ensures each moment reflects your personal travel style. The experience is as dynamic and unique as the traveler behind it.

A major draw of personalized excursions is the ability to engage with the island’s history and heritage without feeling rushed. The ancient city of Akrotiri, often referred to as the “Minoan Pompeii,” reveals fascinating insights into prehistoric Aegean life. With a private guide, you’re able to dive into its history in detail and at a comfortable pace. Likewise, the black sand beach of Perissa or the red cliffs of Red Beach can be explored more intimately without the buzz of large crowds.

Culinary enthusiasts will also find joy in adding a gastronomic twist to their Santorini Day Trips. Traditional tavernas, seafood markets, and cooking classes can be seamlessly woven into your journey. Imagine tasting a fresh tomato fritter prepared with local ingredients, paired with a glass of crisp Assyrtiko wine—all while learning about Santorini’s unique volcanic soil and its impact on flavor.

When it comes to ensuring a seamless and luxurious experience, Essence Tours provides a level of professionalism and local expertise that sets them apart. Their team understands the intricacies of the island and works closely with travelers to design custom itineraries that reflect both interests and personality. Whether you're a couple on a romantic getaway, a family exploring heritage, or a solo traveler chasing authenticity, they have something uniquely tailored for you.

Another significant benefit of personalized tours is the genuine connection with local people. Meeting a village potter, conversing with a winemaker, or listening to a fisherman’s tale brings the island to life in ways that brochures and guidebooks never can. These encounters are spontaneous and unscripted, offering a deeper understanding of Santorini’s soul.

To wrap up your journey, why not end the day with a private sunset cruise or a guided walk along the caldera? These moments not only offer breathtaking views but also give you time to reflect on the day’s experiences in peace and serenity.

With Essence Tours guiding your exploration, the magic of Santorini reveals itself layer by layer. Whether you choose vibrant towns, historic sites, or tranquil hideaways, the island will reward your curiosity with charm and warmth. A thoughtfully planned Santorini Private Personalized Tour not only enriches your travel experience but also brings you closer to the heart of this beautiful destination.

[abookishdreamer]

Character Intro: Eileithyia (Kingdom of Ichor)

Nicknames- Ms. Know-It-All by Hebe

Princess by Hera

Ella by the other gods

Age- 14 (immortal)

Location- Queenstown district, New Olympus

Personality- She's very self-sufficient and confident. She can also be a bit too serious at times. She favors her mom in terms of their personalities and they are very close. Ella often does and follows whatever her mother tells her.

She has the standard abilities of a goddess except shapeshifting. As the goddess of childbirth & midwifery her other powers/abilities include cleaning inducement, manipulating labor contractions, having an innate sense when a being goes into labor, being able to pinpoint the moment of conception, having an innate sense of the baby’s gender, communicating with some animals that are sacred to her mom- like peacocks & cows, flight (due to materializing peacock shaped wings on her back); she can only fly for a short period of time, as well as generating strong wind currents when emotional.

Ella is the daughter of King Zeus (god of the sky, thunder, & lightning) and Queen Hera (goddess of women & marriage). She has an older sister Eris (goddess of strife & discord), a younger sister Hebe (goddess of youth), as well as two older brothers- Ares (god of war) & Hephaestus (god of the forge).

Since her parents’ separation, she splits her time between the palace on Mt. Olympus & her mother's townhouse. 

At the townhouse she has a new pet- a newborn weasel. Ella hasn't decided on a name yet.

Her bedroom in her mom's townhouse is expertly designed to her liking. The walls are painted in hues of pastel blue, baby pink, & cream. White gold decorative torches are on either side of the door frame. Framed clothing designs & drawings of babies line the walls while the softest silk curtains hang from the windows. She has a canopy bed.

Ella likes listening to classical, synth pop, dance, and pop music.

Her favorite colors are cream & pink.

Ella keeps her dark brown hair in a simple and chic bob. Her favorite hair products are the Glory's Crown black vanilla hydrating spray & the Hairology soap free shea butter shampoo bar.

Her relationship with her father is extremely strained, especially after catching him with one of his girlfriends after promising to meet her for dinner. When they hang out, Ella barely says a whisper. She keeps a recent gift from Zeus- a pink pearl & diamond necklace on a white gold chain still in the box, unopened. It’s buried in the back of her closet.

A go-to drink for her is mint infused sparkling water. She also likes kashmiri tea, coconut water, lemon-lime soda, ginger ale, steaming hot chrysanthemum tea, lemonade, iced tea, a small vanilla almond milkshake from The Frozen Spoon, orange juice, and peach juice. Her mom allowed her once to try a cosmopolitan as well as a few sips of champagne at home! Usuals from The Roasted Bean includes a cappuccino, a small flat white, and a small iced green tea.

Ella’s fashion style is much like her mom’s- minimalist, elegant, & sophisticated. Staples in her closet include mary janes, pearl & white gold jewelry, boucle jackets, silk shirts with peter pan collars, chemise dresses, stylish skinny jeans, ballet flats, and skirts.

Much of the colors of her clothes are in shades of white, cream, pink, silver, & pastel blue.

She knows of her half siblings, but doesn’t have much of a relationship with them except Dionysus (god of wine) and sometimes Artemis (goddess of the hunt & moon).

Ella’s royal issued crown is a white gold tiara decorated with diamonds- white & pink.

She’s fluent in Latin and Minoan. She’s also taking calligraphy lessons to write in Old Greek.

Ella is curious about her brother Hephaestus. She’s never met him before.

She thinks that Eris is a bully that enjoys making their mother miserable.

Ella keeps her nails neatly trimmed and manicured. She likes the glossy shade of Luxuria’s nail polish like “Grecian Rose,” a french vanilla color. She also likes a classic french tip manicure.

She starts out her day early in the morning. Even though her mom comes in to wake her up for school, Ella has already been up, barely sleeping the previous night. Her mind is filled with worries- the biggest one being her parents’ marriage. She writes in her journal for an hour or two (in her perfect neat cursive handwriting) before showering.

A typical breakfast for her is a plate of scrambled egg whites (added with scallions & tomatoes), a lightly buttered croissant, and half of a white grapefruit. She also likes the Golly Grains vanilla almond cereal, a bowl of unsweetened yogurt (topped with coconut flakes & granola), rizogalo, as well as naan with coconut chutney.

Ella has a close relationship with her mother. They’ve been leaning on each other a lot more since the separation. She just tries to be the most perfect daughter she can be for Hera. Ella looks forward to the weekend trips to her mother’s vacation home in Argos.

Her & her mother oversees the birth records in the country.

Ella attends an exclusive high school in the city called Olympion High. The compound encompasses several square blocks and it is shared with the primary & junior high schools- Olympion Primary and Olympion Middle.

She’s a freshman. Ella’s best friends and fellow schoolmates are Eunomia (goddess of law & legislation) & Eirene (goddess of peace)- who are identical twins.

Ella likes her school for the most part. Her favorite classes are literature, health, AP political science, and home economics.

One student in the school the three of them avoid like the plague is Circe (goddess of sorcery).

Other godly schoolmates include a new student Theodon (god of reality, uncertainty, & fate), Telesphorus (Rusty) (god of rehabilitation), Heimarmene (Marnie) (goddess of shared fate), Dysnomia (goddess of anarchy & lawlessness), Eiresione (Ren) (goddess of offerings), Koalemos (god of foolishness), Philautia (goddess of self love), Eleos (Ellie) (goddess of mercy, pity, & compassion), and Cedalion (demi-god of smithing ore).

She hasn't admitted this to her friends, but Ella's secretly jealous of another new student & up-and-coming deity, Morá (goddess of babies & children).

One of her favorite treats are white chocolate covered strawberries! She also likes the creme brulee cookies from Hollyhock's Bakery.

She’s never kissed a boy or gone on a date.

Ella is more often than not to watch her baby sister Hebe when their mother is too busy with queenly duties or other responsibilities. She feels that Hebe is not quite grasping the seriousness of the situation with their parents. Ella also feels like Hebe’s childish nature is too annoying.

A guilty pleasure from The Ocean Roll is the spicy tuna rolls. She also likes the six chicken nuggets special from Olympic Chef with tzatziki dipping sauce.

Ella is looking forward to stopping physically aging when she turns sixteen (the legal age of adulthood in Olympius). She hopes to become an official member of the Olympic Council. She’s also hopeful about falling in love, getting married, and producing heirs.

She’s the youngest licensed midwife!

In the pantheon Ella really likes her mom’s best friend & assistant Iris (goddess of the rainbow). She also likes Themis (Titaness of justice), Hestia (goddess of the hearth), Demeter (goddess of the harvest & agriculture), and Philyra (goddess of perfume, paper, & beauty).

She's also a secret follower of Aphrodite (goddess of love & beauty) on Fatestagram. She loves the lace bralette tops from La Petit Amour.

Her all time favorite dessert is her mother’s kulfi.

For work, she's currently a junior intern at her mom's Luxuria fashion brand. Ella also sometimes works at the makeshift Olmorfia store in the Queenstown neighborhood- the perks being the giftcards worth 500 drachmas that she gets for free!

Even though she pretends not to care, Ella wonders if Ares will return from his self imposed exile.

She hopes to get a blush pink sports car on her 16th birthday.

Ella has a secret crush on Naeus (god of weddings), who’s also a close friend of her mother’s.

She’s often Hera’s companion when she’s required to go to weddings. Ella’s favorite wedding she’s been to thus far has been Chiron (the immortal centaur) and Paean (goddess of physicians).

Ella’s not really close with her extended family- like her uncles Hades (god of the dead) and Poseidon (god of the sea & earthquakes), her paternal grandmother Rhea (Titaness of fertility, motherhood, & comfort), as well as her paternal great-grandmother Gaia (goddess of the earth).

Just the mention of her paternal grandfather Kronos (Titan god of the harvest, time, & fate) is enough to send shivers down Ella’s spine.

Her favorite meal is her mother’s samosas along with butter chicken and white rice. She also likes the chicken gyro (with extra tzatziki sauce) from The Parthenos Grill. 

In her free time Ella enjoys shopping, going to the spa, hosting tea parties, going to the cinema, reading, writing, sunbathing, gardening, ballet, going to the spa, swimming, yoga, tennis, horseback riding, fencing, and spending time with family members that she likes.

"The best kind of power is the quiet type."