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Monthly Archives: June 2015

Rainbow Bright!

29 Monday Jun 2015

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Goddess of the Rainbow, Iris, love wins

Iris_Final

Last up for the Greek Goddesses this month… Iris. And this is well-timed if you’re a proud citizen of the United States. Iris is the Greek Goddess of the Rainbow! Oh happy day!

Iris is the messenger of the Gods, connecting them with humanity. She travels at the speed of wind and easily bounces between the sea and the underworld, bridging heaven and earth. She is almost always depicted with wings and a multi-hued gown.

Iris cannot deliver messages to humans in her “goddess form” so she takes on the appearance of someone the recipient knows. One of her duties is to carry water from the Styx (river of oaths) to Mount Olympus for the gods to swear by.

#lovewins

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Our goose is cooked.

26 Friday Jun 2015

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HUGE news. We’ve developed a new Facebook page for our book that comes out June 2016. The official title is A Thyme and Place: Medieval Feasts and Celebrations for the Modern Table. This will be a series, featuring food from different periods in history. More information and pre-order links coming soon. For interesting tidbits, articles, illustrations and photos of our progress, go check it out!

https://www.facebook.com/deconstructinghistory

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wonder woman.

25 Thursday Jun 2015

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Apollo, Artemis, Diana, Greek Goddess

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Artemis, often called Diana (Roman), was the Greek Goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, the moon, childbirth and chastity. She is the daughter of Zeus and Leto and twin sister of Apollo.

She is almost always depicted with a bow and arrows, and often with deer. She hunted animals, but also protected them in the forest. She  protected women and female animals during labor and childbirth but could also bring on disease.

As an infant goddess, she helped deliver her own twin brother. Yes. That’s what I just wrote. That is why she is the Goddess of childbirth. And if that doesn’t impress you, on her third birthday (yes, third) she asked for the following: to never be distracted by love or marriage, a bow and arrow, hunting clothes, 80 nymphs to be her friends, and all the mountains in the world.

All the mountains in the world? Ok Veruca Salt. I got you a Fisher Price Farm Set, that will have to do.

A little more info here: http://www.ancient.eu/artemis/

and here: http://www.greek-mythology-pantheon.com/artemis-diana-greek-goddess-of-mountains-forests-and-hunting/

oh night divine.

20 Saturday Jun 2015

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Nyx

Nyx is the Greek Goddess of Night. She is shadowy and mysterious with exceptional power and beauty. So powerful, even Zeus feared her. She has many children including Hypnos (God of Sleep), Eris (Goddess of Strife), Eros (God of Procreation) Apate (Goddess of Deceit- which sounds like my next painting) Moros (God of Doom), Oizys (Goddess of Misery, which also sounds like another painting) end many many more.

Some records indicate that she was the mother of Hemera, Goddess of the Day. While other stories indicate they are siblings. Mother and daughter -or- Sister and Sister are said to live in a dreary house in the far west where they pass each other at sunrise and sunset.

There is a great, kid-friendly, article on Nyx here: http://www.talesbeyondbelief.com/greek-gods-mythology/nyx.htm

Triple Threat

17 Wednesday Jun 2015

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Goddess of Witchcraft, Hecate, Hekate

Hecate

Greek Goddesses, continued.

Hekate (also Hecate, Hecata) is usually portrayed with 3 faces, representing the goddess of the crossroads. She is the goddess of witchcraft, the protector of newborns, and the guardian of the household. She is a moon goddess over the kingdoms of earth, sea and sky. She has the power to create -or- withhold storms, as well as give -or- withhold gifts to the earth.

She was a trusted companion of Persephone while in Hades. Their time spent in the underworld is said to have contributed to Hekate’s black-magic, having developed the power to conjure up dreams and prophecies. She walked comfortably with outcasts, ghosts, the misunderstood, and the suffering. Because of this, she was sought out by witches, magicians, and mystics for guidance.

There’s a great article about her here: http://www.sibyllineorder.org/history/hist_hecate.htm

Greek Tragedy

10 Wednesday Jun 2015

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Apollo, Cassandra, Greek Tragedy, Troy

cassandra

Continuing with the Greek Goddess theme, although, Cassandra doesn’t really get classified as a “Goddess”. She was one of the mortal princesses of Troy.

She was the daughter of Priam and Hecuba, and said to be devastatingly beautiful and blessed with an astonishing gift… she could see the future.

Well, that gift didn’t work out so well. The God Apollo fell madly in love with Cassandra, when she turned away his affection, he placed a curse on her so that no one would ever believe her words or predictions. Mon dieu! This led to tragedy, as Cassandra foresaw the destruction of Troy by the Greeks. She told them NOT to let that stupid wooden horse through the gates, but thanks to Apollo, no one believed her. This is where the phrase “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts” comes from. Troy was destroyed.

I found a GREAT website that would be fun to share with the kids here: http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=CASSANDRA

the devil to pay.

03 Wednesday Jun 2015

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Greek Goddess, Persephone

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This month is all about the Greek Goddesses!

This is Persephone. She is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She is the Queen of the Underworld and also of springtime, vegetation and maidenhood. Homer described her as the formidable, venerable majestic princess of the underworld, who carries into effect the curses of men upon the souls of the dead. Yikes. I like her.

She was abducted by Hades, the God of the Underworld, which infuriated her mother. Demeter took out her anger on the crops- making them wither and die. Zeus tried to bring his daughter back, but alas… Persephone had already eaten the seeds of a pomegranate given to her by her kidnapper. Apparently eating the seeds bound her to Hades for four months of each year. Who knew? Because of this arrangement, the four months she spends with Hades caused Winter due to Demeter’s grief.

There’s a more in-depth article here: http://www.goddessgift.com/goddess-myths/greek_goddess_persephone.htm

Nerd is the Word!

I love studying quirky history, so illustrating the people I research makes me one happy nerd girl. Did you know Queen Victoria had Bishopophobia? or that when Elizabeth of Russia died, they found 15,000 dresses in her uh... closet?

It's good stuff- and I plan to illustrate all the royal weirdos I can find.

All illustrations are my personal property- if you'd like to use them, just ask!

© COPYRIGHT

All images are property of History Witch/Lisa Graves.

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