#thessala

[gawrkin]

[...]

I was looking through Chretien's Cliges and came across a footnote regarding Thessala, the sorceress-nurse of Fenice. Something about the name being a generic word for witch or sorceress.

Lo and behold, turns out, "Thessala" really is a term for witch.

Lol, Chretien. Very Subtle.

But more interesting to me is how this word came about from Greco-Roman culture. Thessaly is the home of the (infamous) Greek hero Jason, leader of the argonauts and husband of the sorceress Medea.

Apparently, Pliny the Elder here states that Thessaly owes its knowledge of the Healing Arts to Chiron, the centaur mentor of Jason, Achilles and other Greek Heroes.

The funny fact is: Jason (Ἰάσων (Iásōn)) means "Healer":

So, it seems to me the association of Thessaly and Witchcraft came about through Jason's knowledge of Herbs and Medicine and through Jason marriage to the barbarian Medea.

The study of medicine, and drugs, in Ancient Greek is Pharmakeia - the origin of the word "Pharmacy"... and is synonymous with Witchcraft. Indeed, the magic of Medea is described as "Pharmakon" and certain translations of the Bible also use the term "Pharmakeia" to refer to magic and witchcraft.

It kind of makes me imagine Jason and Medea were a wizard couple together. It helps that both Jason and Medea were both subjects of cultic worship in various areas of the Hellenic World.

[tiodolma]

john and thessala are the ones carrying cliges and fenice's romance abroad

[tiodolma]

So he is in despair and despondency when Thessala comes, bringing with her a very precious ointment with which she has already gently rubbed the body and wounds of her mistress.

magic ointment to the rescue! again!

[tiodolma]

Thessala Preparing The Death Potion™

However, I will speak no further of their grief; but you shall hear of Thessala's activities—how she mixes and brews the potion. She mixed and stirred it up, for she had provided herself a long time in advance with everything which she would need for the potion. A little before three o'clock she gives her the potion to drink. At once her sight became dimmed, her face grew as pale and white as if she had lost her blood: she could not have moved a foot or hand, if they had flayed her alive, and she does not stir or say a word, although she perceives and hears the emperor's grief and the cries which fill the hall.

look i love thessala very much. awesome poisoner 5/5 stars rating

[tiodolma]

thessala's magic

it's necromancy time, babeeeh

Then the nurse tells her and assures her that she will cast so many charms, and prepare so many potions and enchantments that she need never have any worry or fear concerning the emperor after he shall have drunk of the potion which she will give him; even when they shall lie together and she be at his side, she may be as secure as if there were a wall between them. "But do not be alarmed, if, in his sleep, he sports with you, for when he is plunged in sleep he will have his sport with you, and he will be convinced that he has had you when wide awake, nor will he think it is all a dream, a fiction, and illusion. Thus he will have his sport with you when asleep, he will think he is awake."

[tiodolma]

Thessala: I can cure almost anything. Tell me what ails you. Fenice: I will but do promise you won't tell anybody. (tells Thessala her symptoms) Thessala: MY LADY YOU ARE IN LOVE!

..........

yeah this really happened.

You told me, I believe, that the pain which you feel seems rather to be joy and health: now of such a nature is love-sickness, for in it, too, there is joy and bliss. You are in love, then, as I can prove to you, for I find no pleasure in any malady save only in love. All other sickness is always bad and horrible, but love is sweet and peaceable. You are in love; of that I am sure, nor do I see any wrong in that. But I shall consider it very wrong, if through some childish folly you conceal from me your heart.