Stuff.

Mar. 13th, 2013 11:00 pm
regndoft: (Herodotus!)
First of all: I have Skype. Have had for quite some time actually, but am finally trying to get used to it properly. If anyone wants to add me, I'm teadoom there.

Lately on Tumblr, I've been seeing a lot of posts like these two floating around. It's interesting to me because it's a very prevalent idea that I've never been able to completely relate to.

Read more... )

So maybe I actually agree, I'm just older now and don't think of teachers as the ultimate responsibility in these things. The people who actually decide how the educational system should work? Are politicians.

Which just goes to prove that teenagers lack perspective in some things, I guess (surprise!). This is one of many reasons I don't like my job, tbh. I feel like I can't relate to most students because this has never been my experience of school.


Less whiny stuff: this is now my new favourite icon. Herodotus! Making and embelleshing history since the 5th century BC! In his honour, have an inscription from the sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia:

(context: women were never allowed to participate in the Olympic games; the majority of them didn't even get to witness them. During the Hellenistic period however, chariot races were added to the games, and rich women could actually sponsor them and share in their victory, if not participate themselves. A Spartan woman called Kyniska did so, becoming the first woman in history to win the Olympic games, and erected two monuments in honour of Zeus afterwards).

Sparta's kings were fathers and brothers of mine,
But since with my chariot and horses I, Kyniska,
Have won the price, I place my effigy here
And proudly proclaim
That of all Grecian women I first bore the crown.

(Swaddling 1984:42)


I am awfully fond of this inscription. Women of antiquity seldom got to make their voices heard, but there is such (rightful) pride and attitude in this. <3

(Also, considering the London Olympics of 2012 was the first time in history every participating nation had at least one female representative, I'm surprised I didn't hear her mentioned once... then again I'm not very into sports).

And oh, did I mention she got a hero-shrine erected to her in Sparta, on a site previously reserved for Spartan kings? We're rapidly approaching Actual Favourite Woman of Antiquity territory here folks, as far as I'm concerned.
regndoft: (Vestal {Ab Antiquo})
- Not doing too well at this uni thing so far; if I can't make it through February, I think I'll have to quit Greek. I don't want to, but my workload isn't really managable at this point and I can't afford the stress. I was close enough to another depressive slump before Christmas, I don't want to jump head first into another not even three months later. :/

(I've been sort of... not entirely here for the past week and probably forgotten to reply to tons of comments and entries, and I'm sorry about that.)

- On the other hand, procrastinating (as I have a bad tendency to do when I don't want to confront the reality of my studies) means I start putting my effort into things I shouldn't be doing, such as drawing. So far: slashy Claws of Axos illustration that I started and never finished months ago now coloured, lineart for Femslash February done aaannd... am currently sketching fanart of Cycladic fresco.

Also known as: my life, in three images.

- In honour of the last, and new-found, Plantagenet:



(Shut up I haven't seen anyone make a Horrible Histories reference yet, I had to make my own).
regndoft: (Words {More Bookmarks Than Pages})
"The Borders of My Home Expanded"

A study of cultural Scandinavism in the nineteenth century

(Kari Haarder Ekman, Makadam Förlag 2010. Copied down here for quick references and perhaps for some people's viewing pleasure?)

Summary in English )
regndoft: (The Reason {History})
So, in the spirit of recent time's ficcage, and because someone asked me, I got down to writing this entry.

I think that part of what fascinates me the most about the Stockholm Bloodbath is how deeply imprinted it actually is in people's minds, at least here in Stockholm. People don't THINK about it but at least to me it has been present for a long time. In third grade, when we were working with the history of Stockholm, that was the only event that would stick with me for years.

If you look at local legends about the event, it's also probably quite evident that it's something that has always tickled the imagination of people over almost 500 years. What bloody execution wouldn't?

And the background story is at least as provocative, isn't it? After more than a century of struggles, the powerful men of Sweden one after another goes over to the Danish king, helping him to regain control over the country in exchange for the promise of amnesty. Three days after he's crowned, the coronation feast turns into an execution, starting with the bishops that put the crown on his head to begin with! And this is after a great feast has been thrown to his honour, people have been eating and drinking thinking that they're safe and that things will look up.

I think that's why it has stuck for so long, too. Not as much the number of the executed, the pillaging of Stockholm - bloodbaths were not an unusual event in Medieval Europe - but the betrayal it meant. The bloodbath would be brought up centuries later, still echoing clear in people's minds; don't forget what they did, don't forget what the Danes are like.

It's with this in mind I bring up these tales: just a couple of those that haven't been forgotten over the years. The first one is even well and alive to this day.

There are ghosts in this town. )

... Now I need to run to school.

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