From My Fantasy Writing Desk
As part of my editing process, I’ve been layering in more details about the griffins. The mythic creatures have an even bigger role in this third book in my series than they did in Sorcery in Alpara. I was brainstorming with a writer friend. She mentioned Gaudi’s architecture in Barcelona when trying to suggest what a griffin castle might look like. It was such a good idea, and my husband and I traveled there not so long ago, so I pulled up our photos. Gaudi’s Barcelona is far away in time and geography from my Bronze Age Hittites, but his style is an excellent inspiration for the world-building of my imaginary land of griffins. I’ve included two photos of details I used (top and left with article).
Archaeology I Enjoyed
Ancient Women’s Roles
Identifying the role of women in ancient cultures, their status and influence, is a tricky process. I enjoyed this post on The Ancient Near East Today blog about women in early Mesopotamian royal inscriptions.
It reveals women as queens ruling alone, scribes, musicians, priestesses, businesswomen, and other functions. Also interesting, there’s a marked preference among the women in these inscriptions for not identifying themselves as mothers. “Third millennium women apparently wanted their social roles to be recalled rather than their maternal obligations.”
Readers of my fiction sometimes object when I depict independently-minded women, and men who don’t find this a terrible state of affairs. They assert that’s too modern. I don’t think so, although clearly both Mesopotamia and my Hittites were patriarchal worlds. Women didn’t stay silent and useless for most of history, and their authority wasn’t perpetually some sneaky work-around. It’s important to sort out the nuances of political and social power structures, and not exclude half the human race from that consideration. That’s even more unrealistic! Click here for The Ancient Near East Today blog “Women in Early Mesopotamian Royal Inscriptions”
Medical Advance from Medieval Manuscript
A 1,000-year-old medieval remedy made from onion, garlic, wine and bile salts has shown antibacterial potential, with promise to treat diabetic foot and leg infections.
The concoction was among the recipes for medicines, salves and treatments in “Bald’s Leechbook,” an Old English leatherbound book held in the British Library.
A doctor with a passion for historical reenactment heard about the book and teamed up with a specialist in Old English. Neither expected more than an “interesting piece of microbiology.” Now after funded research, they’ve found much more.
“We think it has particular promise for treating diabetic foot infections. They are the ultimate, super-resistant biofilm infection . . . a huge health and economic burden. They really can become untreatable,” she said.
But then the book was called “Leechbook” for a reason. Not all medieval cures were as efficacious! Click here for CNN “1,000-year-old medieval remedy could be potential antibiotic, scientists say”