Greece

Gods and men

The. Religion(Religions?) of Ancient Greece also depict the gradual descent from gods to humans. It is a remarkably rapid transition.

One version has the transition from the god head Uranus to Aeneas, the founder of Rome in only four generations Uranus – Cronus-Zeus-Aphrodyte-Aneus.

Aphodyte and Adonis

The birth of Aphodyte like  that of Isis is surround by mystery. She was both the aunt and daughter of Zeus but unlike her Egyptian counterpart was dominated by Zeus who made a succession of judgements which affected her life. Adonis was killed by a boar and Zeus twice sent Adonis, Aphrodyte’s lover to the underworld but twice at Aphrodyte’s request ressurected him. Adonis became associated with the cycle of winter and summer as Zeus’ final judgement was that he be confined in the underworld for six months of every year,

Isis,Osiris and Set

Although the stories are very different from the Egyptian stories of Isis there are strong parallels. Isis had a lover, Osiris who was murdered by his brother Set  and resurrected by Isis but only long enough to  conceive Horus the first pharaoh. Set then ripped Osiris body to shreds and scattered the pieces throughout Egypt. Isis once again reassembled the pieces to give Osiris a decent burial whereby Osiris was reincarnated once more as god of the underworld. Osiris became associated with day and night , as the sun went to the underworld every night, but also with the seasons and in particular with the yearly flooding (resurrection) of the nile.

Jesus and Magdelene

The greek legend of Aphrodyte/Adonis (literally translated “the Lord”) could  be a halfway point between Isis /Osiris and Jesus / Magdelelene at least as far as the story of death and resurrection. It raises a question of wether the Jesus story was preplanned to mirror both earlier mythological events.

Ouriana

Just one small detail one version has Aphrodyte as “Aphrodyte Ouriana” “Aphrodyte of Heaven” and in the search for the true identity of Mary Magdelene, she is identified as Miriamne Auriania and although it is acknowledged Auriania is the name of a place it is recognised that it also means  “of Heaven”.

The most dangerous woman in the world

The Treasure of Trencavel

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Extract from The Prisoner of Foix--Chapter 43 -The EntranceNo need to buy a Kindle. Read it on your computer or tablet

John Stanley-26th April 1355

 

'Looks like we are going to see a bit of excitement, John. The Captain tried to get an agreement from the Prince that if there is surf running across the channel to Arcachon we will turn back to Bordeaux, but the Prince would hear none of it. Instead, he has offered to provide insurance for all three ships. If they are damaged or sunk, the owners will be compensated and every sailor who makes the passage will be given a bounty payment. What none of this seems to take into account is that if we sink in rough, fast-flowing waters we might all drown.'

John raised his eyebrows. 'But that is what we are going to do?'

'Yes, despite the fact that surf running accross the entrance is not uncommon and the deep water channel moves continually. In the end, the Prince attacked their captains on their weakest point, their professional pride! He threw down the gauntlet. He offered to take the Sally first through the channel, and to take control during the passage.' He raised his brow. 'We are going into the Bay of Arcachon, come what may! '

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Extract from The Eagle of Carcassone -- Chapter 24-- A Real GoddessNo need to buy a Kindle. Read it on your computer or tablet

John Stanley - 22 July 1355

An hour later John walked with Ximene close to the river along the valley below St Feriole. It was the very essence of a summer’s day. The sun was fierce but in the shadow of the trees, it was cool and fragrant. The trees and shrubs along the riverbank hid their progress, from the Château, from St Feriole.

Eventually they reached a point where John thought it was safe to emerge from cover. To his satisfaction the stream extended into a pool with a sandy beach, shaded by trees. Where the stream entered the pool there was a flat grassy area, almost circular. Behind this, the bulk of two mountain ridges provided a splendid backdrop. He looked around once more ‘Not just a good training ground but a great training ground. If the Greek heroes knew about this they might be tempted to join me, to train with me’

Ximene laughed out loud. He turned to look at her. She had removed her outer clothes and was wearing a white chemise, cut short so that it barely reached her knees. Around her waist, she wore a plaited leather belt, obviously fashioned from the multitude of leather straps to be found in the tackle room.

She ran her hands down over her breasts. ‘When you were unconscious I heard you muttering about gods and goddesses, so  I have decided that from now on, for you, I will be the goddess.’

Available February 2020
The Prisoner of FoixVol 1 of the series—The Treasure of Trencavel

Aquitaine, an English possession, is in crisis. It is under threat from neighbouring nations and internal dissension.

The Black Prince, King Edward III’s eldest son has been given the task of taking command in Aquitaine.

Suddenly there is an opportunity. Ximene Trencavel is the heiress to the lands of Occitan, to the east of Aquitaine: lands controlled by the Franks. Ximene wants independence, both for herself and for Occitan.

A union between Aquitaine and Occitan would be mutually beneficial. The Black Prince undertakes a secret journey to meet Ximene to negotiate a marriage contract. It is, however, a marriage neither of them really wants.

Meanwhile, the  Franks plot to murder Ximene to prevent ,not just the marriage, but any kind of union between England and Occitan.

The Eagle Of CarcassonneVol II of the series—The Treasure of Trencavel

The loose alliance between Ximene Trencavel and the Black Prince is under threat.

The Prince invades Occitan, to show his support for Ximene but it becomes an invasion which creates more problems than it solves.

The Prince has fallen hopelessly in love with Joan of Kent and Joan is now determined to marry him and become the next Queen of England.

Joan is therefore  determined to convince Ximene that she should not marry the Prince.

Part of her strategy is to encourage Ximene’s relationship with John Stanley—one of the Princes bodyguards—not an easy task as both John and Ximene have doubts about their compatibility.

However, John is grievously injured in a battle and Ximene commits herself to nurse him back to health.