I'm on my fourth Woman Married a Loser and Tried Her Best but Died for It and Now She's Back drama (Marry My Husband, Blossom, The Double, Perfect Marriage Revenge) and I love it, I love it, I love it. Because you can feel the feminine rage radiating from the screen. These women swallowed the lie that they were the problem in their marriage. They forgave and excused and bent over backwards just like society told them to and it didn't work. It was never going to work. In the end, nothing they did mattered and their precious lives were still seen as disposable. And now they are back and they are furious and it's great.
Sometimes I wonder if people see me at all. Not the rumors, not the whispers in the hallways, not the version of me theyāve created in their heads. Justā¦ me. The girl who hums old songs under her breath, whoās trying so hard to keep it together even when the world feels like itās falling apart. Nate sees me. And thatās terrifying.
āDavid told us to find what matters most in the world, then to make that our purpose, our reason for doing the things we do. I donāt know if you two have found yours yet or not, but I can tell you that this āā he makes a circle with his finger, ā ā this matters. Our family matters. Donāt go and damage this because you canāt let things go.ā Scott pins Jason with his stare. āOr because you canāt admit you were in any way wrong.ā He looks pointedly at Coop.
I just LOVE found family, any iteration of it. These boys have gone THROUGH it, goddamn. They deserve the best.
Inspired by Dressing for your Job post by @Starfata I made some of my interpretations of what the different domains as represented by the Athenide would look like/how she was described and how the different iterations evolved and were perceived in modern times.
I may have gotten a little carried away so this ended up waaay longer than I orignally intended to. Oops. Enjoy!
(insert anthropologist documentary narration)
āThe Polias Athenide, also known as Athenide of the City was often represented as a woman in her mid twenties or so. Her most frequent depiction in Athens as it is the city most often attributed as the city of her birth. She is often depicted standing upright with flowing robes and ornate jewelry. Thought to signify the luxury and sophistication of Athens. Most frescos or other artwork as the Polias Athenide in gold and blue robes. Again a signification of luxury and nobility. Almost all surviving depictions of the Polias Athenide contains some form of olives in jewelry or embroidery. Most often the olive leaves and fruits are arranged as a crown on her head in place of diadems or other headpieces. These are implications regarding the tale of her birth within Athens attributed to the Fountain and Olive mythos. Her hair is often shown to be unbound, signalling her eternal unwed status.
Scholarly debates often clash on if the Polias Athenide is intended to be represented as an eternal maiden as Athena is so often depicted as or as a woman who while not rejecting marriage, pursues other interests in place of a husband.
The Polias Athenide was thought to be worshipped as the representation of Loyalty to the Masses or the Union. Or the Loyalty born of patriotism. You may have seen modern depictions of this goddess in your local government buildings along with the goddesses of Justice and Freedom.ā
āThe Kourotrophos Athenide is one of the most enduring depictions of this goddess. Called Athenide of the Children. She is the representation of the care and maternal nature of the Athenide. This depiction is often veiled and wears simple jewlery; typically shells or stone beads. Leaf or otter embroidery is included in her clothing if there is any embroidery at all as she is often humbly or modestly dressed in blue and white. She is often depicted as a nurturing guide to demigod children or orphans. She was worshipped as the goddess of orphans and the representation of the Loyalty found between family members.
Interestingly, in ancient history as Rome was embracing the ideals of christianity; Though the Roman empire forbade any ostentatious worship of any form of the Athenide, the early christians would often find and worship this form of the Athenide. Many renaissance artists utilitized imagery of the Kourotrophos Athenide for inspiration of the Holy Virgin Mother Mary.
This is the depiction of the Athenide considered the adoptive mother of Dionysus (God of Wine, Madness, and Theater) and the goddess who carried and birthed the god Asclepius (God of Medicine and Healing) via c-section. She is considered the Patron goddess of adoption and surrogacy. Modern fertility clinics, adoption agencies, and maternity wards will have artwork or symbolism of this depiction.ā
āThe Nymphia Athenide or the Bride Athenide is often spoken of in relation to the well-known mythos āThe Raven and the Owlā or āThe Bird Raceā or in relation to the romantic but unfulfilled desires of Apollo and the other gods whom wanted to pursue the Athenide but were stopped.
She is the most ornate of all the depictions of the Athenide. Often found in bright colors and veiled in a golden or orange bridal veil with flowers or gems. Usually seen as a girl in her early to late teens and often shown looking behind herself or over the shoulder. As though she waiting for someone to arrive. The eternal bride waiting for her bridegoom.
This is the Athenide depiction often seen in artwork together with Apollo (God of the Sun, Archery, and The Arts). She is the depiction of Loyalty between romantic partners and was often invoked by young engaged couples or brides before their wedding for successful unions.
She is the depiction of the Athenide often found in television, movie, or book adaptations.ā
āThe Euploia Athenide or Athenide of Good Sailing is the most frequently seen as a child. A young girl often holding or wearing a net. She is thought of to be a companion or associated with Hermes in psychopomp duties as she is the goddess who delivers those lost at see to the Underworld.
Typically shown wearing blue or green clothes and simple jewelry. Some depictions show her with the wings of an albatross or albatross feathers on her clothing. This Athenide is less commonly also shown with seals as well in her clothing or artwork.
She is the goddess to whom sailors pray to for a safe journey. Often presenting her with humble offerings of small toys or handmade items made during a successful journey.
She is the depiction of Loyalty between crew members or sailors and the sea.
Modern depictions of the Euploia can be found at Marinaās, Lighthouses, and notably the depiction of the Euploia was adopted by the U.S Navy on July 14th, 1887 and is used in many ship, squadron, or unit emblems along with the traditional tridents, anchors and other sea imagery.
Interestingly, the Euploia imagery was a pivotal morale upheaval in WW2 when the American 4th class ship āThe Euploiaā was used in routing German occupation from Grecian waters with British naval support and the Greek Resistance movement within the coastal cities.ā
āThe Areia Athenide or Warlike Athenide was most often worshipped in Sparta. Often depicted as a athletic woman in her late teens to early twenties. Often shown in bright reds and orange there is very little oceanic imagery included in depictions of this Athenide. She is shown with a lifted helm much like Athena with a spear, sword, or occasionally a Trident in her hand.
Interestingly, most depictions of this Athenide show her holding weaponry in her Left hand as opposed to her right as with other war deities imagery. Debates are ongoing regarding the implications of the hand placement of her weaponry.
The Athenideās net (often seen with the depiction of the Euploia Athenide) can also be seen with this depiction. Often subtly placed on her hip or draped across her shoulders. Uniquely, this Athenide is shown exclusively with fox imagery. Not sharing the albatross, otter, or seal imagery with the other Athenides.
This is the Athenide representive of the Loyalty between Soldiers or the Protection of Soldiers to the People.
Often called a protector of women she often has bay laurels or scattered laurel leaves in her imagery. Invoking the mythos of Daphne, the nymph who shielded her from unwanted advances and was turned into a Laurel tree.
During the Roman Empire this Athenide depiction was known as the goddess āFidesā and was considered the wife, companion, or bride of Mars. She was often the patron of the āhomeguardā who defended roman cities and citizens while the main roman army expanded territories throughout Europe.
During the reign of Emperor Caligula (Ruled 37-41 AD), he attempted to declare a national āwedding feastā between himself and Fides to the ire and rebellion of many roman cities states. And the many riots and rebellions led to him declaring war on his āfather-in-lawā Neptune for ārefusing to give him his wifeā and waging war against the sea itself. This is considered one of the many examples of mental illness during Caligulaās rule. After which the Roman empire seemed to regard Fides as a source of rebellion within the general public and subsequent emperors tended to harshly condemn the worship of Fides and preferring to instill. āLoyalty to the Stateā dogma in itās place.
You may have noticed depictions of this Athenide in modern military bases, army offices, and womenās shelters.ā
Hereās all the depictions together! I couldnāt decide on a background. Each of them has the signature silver hair streaks but some are more obvious then the others. Which one is your favorite?
In the husband-napped AU - I just have the mental image of Apollo looking like he's ready to go to war to defend the validity of his status as a kidnapped spouse, complete with full armor and silver bow.
Apollo: I am no longer the god of the sun, muses, poetry, archery, whatever else Iām the god of. I am now the god of loving my wifey
Okay so I just think these two would be a smash hit and this little idea has been bugging me. Hope you like it.
Setting:Ā The Brooksā auto shop on a slow afternoon. Pen is under a car (cause I totally think she could help out, I mean for the love of god her dad owns the shop, she must have skills), Nate is wiping grease off his hands, and Marco (now 4 years old) is āhelpingā by handing tools to absolutely no one [I imagine Lazar and Milo, who are actually in charge of Marco are in the back]. Gasket, the scrappy shop cat, watches from atop a toolbox with calculated mischief.
GasketĀ (tail flicking): Notices Marcoās abandoned snack bag ofĀ keksĀ (cookies) on the workbench.
MarcoĀ (to Nate): āZaÅ”to ti smrdiÅ” po benzinu?āĀ (Why do you smell like gasoline?)
NateĀ (distracted): āUhā¦ because IāmĀ cool?āĀ (Fails to notice Gasket slinking toward the cookies.)
Gasket: Knocks the bag to the floor with one paw. Cookies scatter.
MarcoĀ (gasps): āGATKO! NE!āĀ (CAT! NO!)
Gasket: Grabs a cookie in her mouth and bolts under a shelving unit, crumbs flying.
Marco: Dives after her, belly-sliding like a tiny superhero.
PenĀ (emerging from under car): āWhatās theĀ zvukĀ (noise)ā MARCO, DONāT LICK THE FLOOR!ā
Nate: Too late. Marco licks a cookie crumb off the concrete.
MarcoĀ (pointing under shelf): āGatko jeĀ lupiga!āĀ (Cat is a thief!)
Gasket: Chews smugly, tail wrapping around her paws.
PenĀ (deadpan): āGasket, thatāsĀ za sramotu.āĀ (For shame.)
Gasket: Blinks slowly, unrepentant.
Nate: Offers Gasket a piece of jerky as a trade.
Gasket: Drops the cookie, steals the jerkyĀ andĀ Nateās shoelace.
Marco: Demands justice. āMora da plati!āĀ (She must pay!)
Pen: āHer payment isĀ yourĀ leftover lunch.ā Hands Marco aĀ burekĀ to share.
Epilogue
Gasket curls up in Marcoās lap, purring. Forgiveness granted. Marco feeds her crumbs while whispering Montenegrin secrets. Nate takes a photo for the group chat titledĀ āNaÅ”i kriminalciāĀ (Our criminals). Lazarās reply: āDobro je. Bar nisu poput Milo.āĀ (Good. At least theyāre not like Milo.)
Moral of the story: Never trust a cat with a Montenegrin toddler as an accomplice.
Marco is called "Mali planina" (little mountain) because he climbs everything - furniture, Lazar's shoulders, the fridge, that boy with literally climb anything. Milo encourages it, while Lazar freaks out.
Lazar tries to teach Nate a Balkan-style play called "Luda koka" (crazy chicken according to google translate). Nate thinks he's being pranked until it actually saves their asses in a game.
Lazar wears the same narukvica (woven bracelet) from his aunt to every single game for good luck. She said she made it with love. And he swears that it's magic.
Milo listens to turbo-folk music to hype up pre game. Nate tries it and nearly cries from the tempo.
Gjyshja calls Pen "duÅ”o" (soul/dear) after she fixes Marco's toy. While she just calls Nate "deÄko" (boy).
Matin hangs a Montenegrin flag in the garage and on the bad days, Lazar just stops and stars at it, for what feels like hours.
Gjyshja refuses to let the boys forget their roots, so she quizzes them on Albanian phrases during dinner. Milo is the worst at it (on purpose), Lazar is quietly fluent, and little Marco just repeats words wrong to make everyone laugh.
Matin's truck is technically family property, but Lazar and Milo have an unspoken agreement, whoever needs it more gets it. This leads to passive-aggressive sticky notes ("I had it first"/"No, you didn't") accumulating on the dashboard. Lazar's are blue or green, Milo uses the garish hot pink ones exclusively.
Marco tells his preschool teacher his family is "from Crna Gora (Montenegro), not regular mountains".
Pen learns "Laku noÄ, lepotice" (Goodnight, beautiful) to say to Nate from Lis. Lazar overhears and teases them for weeks.
When Penās rumors resurface, Milo starts a fight, Lazar glares daggers, and Gjyshja sends herĀ krempitaĀ (custard pie) with a note: "Ne mari za budale" (Donāt mind fools).
(I love them so freaking much - I honestly can't get enough of them)
The family lives by the Montenegrin motto "Nema problema" (No problem but don't @ me on this). Car broke down? Nema problema. Lazar stressing over college scouts? Nema problema. They face hardships with stubborn optimism. Except Gjyshja, who says "Problem je!" (It IS a problem!) and then solves it herself. (Cause she's a QUEEN like that).
Matin makes Turkish coffee every morning in a džezva, reading the grounds like a prophecy. He claims to see Lazar's and Milo's basketbal victories in the sludge.
Pen tries it once and gags. Nate drinks it black to impress them and regrets it immediately.
Marco is called "Mali planina" (little mountain) because he climbs everything - furniture, Lazar's shoulders, the fridge, that boy with literally climb anything. Milo encourages it, while Lazar freaks out.
Lazar tries to teach Nate a Balkan-style play called "Luda koka" (crazy chicken according to google translate). Nate thinks he's being pranked until it actually saves their asses in a game.
Lazar wears the same narukvica (woven bracelet) from his aunt to every single game for good luck. She said she made it with love. And he swears that it's magic.
Milo listens to turbo-folk music to hype up pre game. Nate tries it and nearly cries from the tempo.
Gjyshja calls Pen "duÅ”o" (soul/dear) after she fixes Marco's toy. While she just calls Nate "deÄko" (boy).
Matin hangs a Montenegrin flag in the garage and on the bad days, Lazar just stops and stars at it, for what feels like hours.
Gjyshja refuses to let the boys forget their roots, so she quizzes them on Albanian phrases during dinner. Milo is the worst at it (on purpose), Lazar is quietly fluent, and little Marco just repeats words wrong to make everyone laugh.
Matin's truck is technically family property, but Lazar and Milo have an unspoken agreement, whoever needs it more gets it. This leads to passive-aggressive sticky notes ("I had it first"/"No, you didn't") accumulating on the dashboard. Lazar's are blue or green, Milo uses the garish hot pink ones exclusively.
Marco tells his preschool teacher his family is "from Crna Gora (Montenegro), not regular mountains".
Pen learns "Laku noÄ, lepotice" (Goodnight, beautiful) to say to Nate from Lis. Lazar overhears and teases them for weeks.
When Penās rumors resurface, Milo starts a fight, Lazar glares daggers, and Gjyshja sends herĀ krempitaĀ (custard pie) with a note: "Ne mari za budale" (Donāt mind fools).
Sometimes I wonder if people see me at all. Not the rumors, not the whispers in the hallways, not the version of me theyāve created in their heads. Justā¦ me. The girl who hums old songs under her breath, whoās trying so hard to keep it together even when the world feels like itās falling apart. Nate sees me. And thatās terrifying.
āDavid told us to find what matters most in the world, then to make that our purpose, our reason for doing the things we do. I donāt know if you two have found yours yet or not, but I can tell you that this āā he makes a circle with his finger, ā ā this matters. Our family matters. Donāt go and damage this because you canāt let things go.ā Scott pins Jason with his stare. āOr because you canāt admit you were in any way wrong.ā He looks pointedly at Coop.
I just LOVE found family, any iteration of it. These boys have gone THROUGH it, goddamn. They deserve the best.
