Comparative Studies in Elfhoods and Manhoods

mouse on AO3

[corporialus]

seppy

[misst1ff]

I am trying to read Josephus’ Jewish Wars but that book is grim AF, so I returned to my friend Suetonius for some comedy.

From Caligula:

From Nero:

I don’t know how anyone can take Suetonius at his word when he is so clearly a master of taking the piss.

[p-clodius-pulcher]

Late republican history always reads like:

In the consulship of whovius giveus ashittus, a plebeian tribune* proposed a law to stop setting poor people on fire to heat the homes of the senators. This sparked weeks of bloody fighting in the streets at the end of which the tribune was exploded badstyle and the law was unanimously voted down

* it is speculated that the tribune was seeking praetorship which is why the law was presented to the senate

[catilinas]

ciceroclodiusslopolis inscription / Mura repubblicane – Porta Romana / the city walls / Cicero and Clodius Together: The Porta Romana Inscriptions of Roman Ostia As Cultural Memory

[misst1ff]

“Clodius the … what?” How about Clodius the statesman and orator FFS

[corporialus]

Pompey study

[misst1ff]

According to this (outdated) scholarly article full of problematic assumptions, coitus interruptus is curiously absent from discussions of contraception by Greco-Roman writers (although it does get condemned by a couple of Church fathers in late antiquity).

To address the question of "how could they miss so obvious a solution", the scholar presents cases from more recent history that show this is not, in fact, an obvious solution to many people, even after they’re told about it.

Henceforth I will also call this the Retreat, since that sounds like I, the person being retreated from, won a martial victory.

But woe! the tragic helplessness in that objection! It would be impossible to escape. Like the Dwarves in Moria. We cannot get out. We cannot get out. The end comes soon.

[perplexingly]

I continue my journey of exploring Hopkins's poetry, and hmm

Why does he write praise to God in such a... hot way

[pathless-wood]

#in the noble tradition of what seem to be erotic encounters with God #gerard manley hopkins #poets and mystics are often extremely kinky in their religious writings #I mean who can forget Batter my heart #three person’d God #from sexy poetry king John Donne?

(via @hello-delicious-tea)

Just in case there's someone out there who hasn't read it:

Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new. I, like an usurp'd town to another due, Labor to admit you, but oh, to no end; Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend, But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue. Yet dearly I love you, and would be lov'd fain, But am betroth'd unto your enemy; Divorce me, untie or break that knot again, Take me to you, imprison me, for I, Except you enthrall me, never shall be free, Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

[corporialus]

Emperor Gallienus, 253-268

incredibly disturbing lack of crisis of the third century stuff around here…

[esusul]

Q : If you weren’t a musician, what do you think you would be doing?

[misst1ff]

Rereading Tacitus’s Histories and got diverted onto Suetonius’s Galba because I hadn’t read it before, and he always has the juicy details. I was not disappointed.

Galba is what, 69 or 70 at this point? Good for him.

The Loeb translator tries to be coy and just makes it worse:

PREPARE YOURSELF oh good heavens

[misst1ff]

RIP Publius Clodius Pulcher. Cicero could never make me hate you

Neither could Plutarch or Dio or the Bobbio Scholiast whoever that guy was.

Alas that we will never know why you infiltrated sacred rites dressed in women’s clothes at the outset of your promising political career, nor what sound legal reforms and unpredictable shenanigans you might have given Rome in the praetorship and consulship Milo robbed you of on this fateful day in 52 BCE.

[misst1ff]

Day 6 of Tolkien Women’s Week @tolkienwomensweek

Heartbreak / Longing / Determination / Reunite

“In the days before the Dagor Bragollach those two houses of the Edain were joined at a great feast, when Galdor and Gloredhel the children of Hador Goldenhead were wedded to Hareth and Haldir the children of Halmir lord of the Haladin.” (The Silmarillion, “Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin”).

Gloredhel and Hareth correspond about their mutual displacement.

[glassfirefly]

“Something I was pleased about was that he started painting again in the ‘80s. Byzantine and Roman were his favourite periods. He loved doing mosaics —the colours and intricacies appealed to him. Modern art not so much. He didn’t mind Picasso. He would look at Picasso’s paintings and laugh because he thought the big features were funny. But when he had an idea for a painting, he was really careful crossing the road in Cambridge. He was worried he wouldn’t get the idea out in case something happened to him and he’d have to go to hospital. He didn’t do art because he wanted to. He had to. When I used to see him not long before he died, I always knew when he’d done a painting or a drawing because he would be calmer. It really was therapy. But he’d destroy the work afterwards —he’d often burn it or throw it in the bin. He’d take a photograph of it and then it was gone. That’s just how it was —I’m not reading anything into it. It was the same with his music. He never did the same thing twice. Everything had to be original.” —Rosemary Breen, Syd’s sister. Pink Floyd Shine On: The Definitive Oral History (2025), Mark Blake.

[misst1ff]

Happy birthday Syd, you were the real deal 💎

[a-tehta]

More Telerin Merchant Shenanigans

I am not sure whether anyone here remembers Gwindil Glilam, my shady Telerin merchant OC who followed the Feanorians across the Sea for... personal reasons. For those who do, I just posted the next chapter!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/56076673/chapters/200623691

As for those who have not met him, or who do not remember, well, his story is told as a series of snapshots that are also acrostics, but IT IS NOT AS PRETENTIOUS AS THAT SOUNDS. It is also mercifully short. It begins as follows:

Come what may, where others see trouble, I see opportunity. A sudden darkness might seem terrifying, but even unlight has a silver lining–if you’ll excuse my awful metaphor; I am a merchant, not a scribe.

“Lamps!” I cried as I walked the gloomy streets of Tirion. “Morgoth-proof, insect-repellent, all-natural oil lamps!”

And the Noldor hurried to buy my wares, jewels and trinkets in hand. and it continues here...

[misst1ff]

Highly recommend, for a refreshing alternative perspective on First Age events.

[imsupposedtobestudying-whoops]

⚔️ One Year Hence! 🌲

[sforzesco]

an idea of a scene that takes place after this scene and before this one, but lucullus is taking the lead in this public praise-humiliation ritual. or maybe it's his idea of being nice about it, knowing that sulla is seething.

A Year of One’s Own: Dating the Praetorship of Marcus Crassus, M. Stone

also featuring an older design of lucullus when he was visually meant to mirror crassus because I'm just feeling out the scene and felt like using this look for him. & pompey is here as well

[icarian-avis]

Happy Sir Gawain and the Green Knight holiday here’s a beheading!