IPOD
RADIO
Dear SG - on this day of cheese and money-grubbing, let us not forget the TRUE meaning of valentine's day.
Werewolves.
That's right, lovelies. Read on!
Rites of the Lupercalia
The annual Lupercali festival of the Romans on February 15 was a perpetuation of the ancient blooding rites of the hunter in which the novice is smeared with the blood of his first kill. The sacrificial slaying of a goat-representing the flocks that nourished early humans in their efforts to establish permanent dwelling places-was followed by the sacrifice of a dog, the watchful protector of a flock that would be the first to be killed by attacking wolves.
The blood of the she-goat and the dog were mixed, and a bloodstained knife was dipped into the fluid and drawn slowly across the foreheads of two noble-born children. Once the children had been "blooded," the gore was wiped off their foreheads with wool that had been dipped in goat milk. As the children were being cleansed, they were expected to laugh, thereby demonstrating their lack of fear of blood and their acknowledgment that they had received the magic of protection against wolves and wolfmen.
The god Lupercus, represented by a wolf, would next inspire and command men to behave as wolves, to act as werewolves during the festival.
Lupus (wolf) itself is not an authentic or original Latin word, but was borrowed from the Sabine dialect. Luperca, the she-wolf who suckled Romulus and Remus, may have given rise to secret fraternities known as the Luperci, who sacrificed she-goats at the entrances to their "wolves' dens." For centuries, the Luperci observed an annual ritual of chasing women through the streets of Roman cities and beating them with leather thongs.
Scholars generally agree that such a violent expression of eroticism celebrated the ancient behavior of primitive hunting tribes corraling captive women. Once a wolfman had ensnared a woman with his whip or thong, he would lead her away to be his wife or lover for as long as the "romance" lasted. Perhaps, as some scholars theorize, this yearly rite of lashing at women and lassoing them with leather thongs became a more acceptable substitute for the bloodlust of the Luperci's latent werewolfism that in days past had seen them tearing the flesh of innocent victims with their teeth.
As the Romans grew ever more sophisticated, the Lupercali would be celebrated by a man binding the lady of his choice wrist to wrist, and later by passing a billet to his object of desire, suggesting a romantic rendezvous in some secluded place.
aww. doesn't that just melt your filthy blackened hearts?
Werewolves.
That's right, lovelies. Read on!
Rites of the Lupercalia
The annual Lupercali festival of the Romans on February 15 was a perpetuation of the ancient blooding rites of the hunter in which the novice is smeared with the blood of his first kill. The sacrificial slaying of a goat-representing the flocks that nourished early humans in their efforts to establish permanent dwelling places-was followed by the sacrifice of a dog, the watchful protector of a flock that would be the first to be killed by attacking wolves.
The blood of the she-goat and the dog were mixed, and a bloodstained knife was dipped into the fluid and drawn slowly across the foreheads of two noble-born children. Once the children had been "blooded," the gore was wiped off their foreheads with wool that had been dipped in goat milk. As the children were being cleansed, they were expected to laugh, thereby demonstrating their lack of fear of blood and their acknowledgment that they had received the magic of protection against wolves and wolfmen.
The god Lupercus, represented by a wolf, would next inspire and command men to behave as wolves, to act as werewolves during the festival.
Lupus (wolf) itself is not an authentic or original Latin word, but was borrowed from the Sabine dialect. Luperca, the she-wolf who suckled Romulus and Remus, may have given rise to secret fraternities known as the Luperci, who sacrificed she-goats at the entrances to their "wolves' dens." For centuries, the Luperci observed an annual ritual of chasing women through the streets of Roman cities and beating them with leather thongs.
Scholars generally agree that such a violent expression of eroticism celebrated the ancient behavior of primitive hunting tribes corraling captive women. Once a wolfman had ensnared a woman with his whip or thong, he would lead her away to be his wife or lover for as long as the "romance" lasted. Perhaps, as some scholars theorize, this yearly rite of lashing at women and lassoing them with leather thongs became a more acceptable substitute for the bloodlust of the Luperci's latent werewolfism that in days past had seen them tearing the flesh of innocent victims with their teeth.
As the Romans grew ever more sophisticated, the Lupercali would be celebrated by a man binding the lady of his choice wrist to wrist, and later by passing a billet to his object of desire, suggesting a romantic rendezvous in some secluded place.
aww. doesn't that just melt your filthy blackened hearts?
Click above for Photos of Nice, Monaco and the Fragonard factory
Here we see the bluest sea ever, make friends with seagulls, swig cognac in public and explore a little Monaco.
the leaning tower in Pisa.
still need to get through Nice, Monaco and Paris, but the other photos can be found at links below.
Pisa photos
Florence photos
Venice photos
Milan photos
still need to get through Nice, Monaco and Paris, but the other photos can be found at links below.
Pisa photos
Florence photos
Venice photos
Milan photos
Saw The Fountain. Very good.
Throat hurts. Bad.
Bathroom clean. Good.
Dance practice in 20. Ouch.
"The word Rococo is seen as a combination of the French rocaille, or shell, and the Italian barocco, or Baroque style. Due to Rococo love of shell-like curves and focus on decorative arts, some critics used the term to derogatively imply that the style was frivolous..."
8 hours into this now.
Oil, canvas. Maybe 1/4 finished? Maybe.
Throat hurts. Bad.
Bathroom clean. Good.
Dance practice in 20. Ouch.
"The word Rococo is seen as a combination of the French rocaille, or shell, and the Italian barocco, or Baroque style. Due to Rococo love of shell-like curves and focus on decorative arts, some critics used the term to derogatively imply that the style was frivolous..."
8 hours into this now.
Oil, canvas. Maybe 1/4 finished? Maybe.
This is how it's going to happen --- mini European adventure itinerary
5am - wake up, dress, shuttle to LAX
8am - board plane, arriving well-rested in Milan at 8:40 am the following day [sort of]
December 28
visit in Milan, Verona and Venice [quite Shakespearian..may or may not visit the house of Jullietta]
click the "spoilers" linkto see the trip schedule + locations
5am - wake up, dress, shuttle to LAX
8am - board plane, arriving well-rested in Milan at 8:40 am the following day [sort of]
December 28
visit in Milan, Verona and Venice [quite Shakespearian..may or may not visit the house of Jullietta]
click the "spoilers" linkto see the trip schedule + locations
January 5 [again]
Return home at 21:26
while i'm gone try not to set the dog on fire, water the plants and do buy my calendar. but ONLY after you buy Pistolita's! Click image to be taken to the order page.
