Saint Drew Brees

Geaux Saints!

Last Sunday was a stunning moment in Super Bowl history. The New Orleans Saints won their first Super Bowl! Not only did they win, but coverage for Super Bowl XLIV broke a ratings record. Sunday’s big game set a new all-time ratings high, overthrowing the 27-year-old record held by the final episode of “M*A*S*H.”

The New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts showdown drew 106.5 million viewers, smashing Super Bowl records and edging out 1983’s “M*A*S*H” finale, which garnered 105.97 million viewers. Of those 106.5 million viewers, I trust that the majority of them (you) recognized the emblem on the Saint’s helmets as that of the fleur-de-lis.

The New Orleans Saints have had the fleur-de-lis emblem on their uniform since 1967. The black fleur-de-lis outlined in white was a symbol placed on the helmet at the inception of the franchise.

The Fleur-de-lis and Louisiana

The Fleur-de-Lis is the royal emblem of France–a country that influenced Louisiana profoundly, beginning in 1682 when French explorer Sieur de La Salle first descended the Mississippi to its mouth, took possession “of the country known as Louisiana,” and named it for the reigning monarch of France, Louis XIV.

Today the Fleur-de-Lis, which translates to Flower of the Lily, remains a symbol for Louisiana and the celebration of its first permanent settlement in 1714 by Louis Jachereau de St. Denis.

“Vive La Nouvelle Orleans” by Bogdanoff – Me
A portion of all proceeds is donated to the Louisiana SPCA

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Beyond its tie with France, the fleur-de-lis has appeared on countless European coats of arms and flags over the centuries, and continues to appear in the arms of the King of Spain and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. In North America, the fleur-de-lis is often associated with areas formerly settled by France, such as Quebec, St. Louis, Louisville and Louisiana (as noted), and with French-speaking people in other Canadian provinces.

Earliest Usage

The use for ornamental or symbolic purposes of the fleur-de-lis is common to all eras and all civilizations. It is an essentially a graphic theme found on Mesopotamian cylinders, Egyptian bas-reliefs, Mycenaean pottery, Sassanid textiles, Mameluk coins, Indonesian clothes, Japanese emblems, and Dogon totems. It has consistently been used as a royal emblem, though different cultures have interpreted its meaning in varying ways.

Scythian Gold Forehead Ornament with Cheek Pieces, 4th c. B.C.

Medieval Book Mount Outlined in Beaded Wire

Coats of Arms from Around the World

Gaulish coins show the first Western designs which look similar to modern fleurs-de-lis. In the East it was found on the gold helmet of a Scythia king uncovered at the Ak-Burun kurgan and conserved in Saint Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum.

Seal of Philip II Augustus, king of France, 1180

Symbolism in Religion and Art

In the Middle Ages the symbols of lily and fleur-de-lis (lis is French for “lily”) overlapped considerably in religious art. Michel Pastoureau, the historian, says that until about 1300 they were found in depictions of Jesus, but gradually they took on Marian symbolism and were associated with the Song of Solomon’s “lily among thorns” (lilium inter spinas), understood as a reference to Mary. Other scripture and religious literature in which the lily symbolizes purity and chastity also helped establish the flower as an iconographic attribute of the Virgin.

In medieval England, from the mid-12th century, a noblewoman’s seal often showed the lady with a fleur-de-lis, drawing on the Marian connotations of “female virtue and spirituality”.

Virgin and Child, Notre Dame

Images of Mary holding the flower first appeared in the 11th century on coins issued by cathedrals dedicated to her, and next on the seals of cathedral chapters, starting with Notre Dame de Paris in 1146. A standard portrayal was of Mary carrying the flower in her right hand, just as she is shown in that church’s Virgin of Paris statue (with lily), and in the centre of the stained glass rose window (with fleur-de-lis sceptre) above its main entrance. The flowers may be “simple fleurons, sometimes garden lilies, sometimes genuine heraldic fleurs-de-lis”. As attributes of the Madonna, they are often seen in pictures of the Annunciation, notably in those of Sandro Botticelli and Filippo Lippi. Lippi also uses both flowers in other related contexts: for instance, in his Madonna in the Forest.

The three petals of the heraldic design reflect a widespread association with the Holy Trinity, with the band on the bottom symbolizing Mary. The tradition says that without Mary one can not understand the Trinity because it was she who bore The Son. a tradition going back to 14th century France, added onto the earlier belief that they also represented faith, wisdom and chivalry.

Floor at Saint Denis Basilica

Architecture

In building and architecture, the fleur-de-lis is often placed on top of iron fence posts, as a pointed defense against intruders. It may ornament any tip, point or post with a decorative flourish, for instance, on finials, the arms of a cross, or the point of a gable. The fleur-de-lis can be incorporated in friezes or cornices, although the distinctions between fleur-de-lis, fleuron, and other stylized flowers are not always clear, or be used as a motif in an all-over tiled pattern, perhaps on a floor.

Buckingham Palace

It may appear in a building for heraldic reasons, as in some English churches where the design paid a compliment to a local lord who used the flower on his coat of arms. Elsewhere the effect seems purely visual, like the crenellations on the 14th century Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan.

Modern Usage

Some modern usage of the fleur-de-lis reflects “the continuing presence of heraldry in everyday life”, often intentionally, but also when users are not aware that they are “prolonging the life of centuries-old insignia and emblems”.

Israeli Intelligence Corp Badge

Fleurs-de-lis feature on military badges like those of the Israeli Intelligence Corps, the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force, the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the Corps of Cadets at Louisiana State University. They may be chosen for sports teams, especially when it echoes a local flag, as with the former Quebec Nordiques National Hockey League team and the former Montreal Expos Major League Baseball team, the Fiorentina association football team, the New Orleans Saints American football team and the New Orleans Hornets basketball team, and in coats of arms and logos for universities (like the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana; and Saint Louis University and Washington University in Missouri), schools (in St. Peter, Minnesota) and companies (like the Royal Elastics shoe company).

Canadian Navy HMCS Victoria (SSK 876), submarine badge

The Canadian Navy has incorporated the fleur-de-lis symbol into two of their submarine badges (HMCS Chicoutimi and HMCS Victoria). The Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps have a fleur-de-lis as their official logo, with members and past members sporting signature fleur-de-lis tattoos. The Lady Knights of the University of Arkansas at Monticello have also adopted the fleur-de-lis as one of the symbols associated with their coat of arms. The flag of Lincolnshire, adopted in 2005, has a fleur-de-lis for the city of Lincoln.

Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity

The fleur-de-lis is one of the symbols of the American women’s fraternity Kappa Kappa Gamma, the American men’s fraternities Alpha Epsilon Pi and Sigma Alpha Epsilon as well as the international co-ed service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega.

It is also used by the high school and college fraternity Scouts Royale Brotherhood of the Philippines. Marc-André Fleury, a Canadian ice hockey goaltender, has a fleur-de-lis logo on his mask.

Fleur-de-Lis Tattoo

The symbol may be used in less traditional ways. After Hurricane Katrina many New Orleanians of varying ages and backgrounds were tattooed with “one of its cultural emblems” as a “memorial” of the storm, according to a researcher at Tulane University. The US Navy Blue Angels have named a looping flight demonstration maneuver after the flower as well, and there are even two surgical procedures called “after the fleur.”

The emblem of the Chevrolet Corvette also includes the fleur-de-lis.
The emblem of the Chevrolet Corvette also includes the fleur-de-lis.

2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

The current UFC Welterweight Champion, Georges St. Pierre, has a tattoo of the fleur-de-lis on his right calf.

In the “Warhammer 40,000″ universe, the fleur-de-lis is the symbol of the “Sisters of Battle”, often tattood on their cheeks or present on their helmets and the shoulders of their armor. In the video games “Saints Row” and “Saints Row 2″ the fleur-de-lis is the symbol of the Third Street Saints street gang.

And, of course the fleur-de-lis symbol is showcased in artwork…

"Fleur-de-Lis No. 23" Fresco by Bogdanoff

For those of you reveling down in New Orleans between now and Fat Tuesday, have a happy, fun and safe Mardi Gras!

“Happy he who has passed his whole life mid his own fields, he of whose birth and old age the same house is witness…For him the recurring seasons, not the consuls, mark the year; he knows autumn by his fruits and spring by her flowers.”
–Claudian, Carmina Minora (XX)

“It was not a nuthouse!”
–Neely O’Hara

Claudian, the Greek-speaking Roman poet who made Rome his home before 395 AD, speaks of fruits in the above poem. Neely O’Hara, the Valley of the Dolls alcoholic and drug addict who was drummed right out of Hollywood and came crawlin’ back to Broadway, and who failed at her attempt at a comeback, is referring to her stint at a sanitarium when she mentions the ‘nuthouse.’

Both Claudian and Neely reference fruits and nuts in their statements. Attributed to Romulus, the first ruler of Rome, the Roman calendar (c. 700 BC) originally was determined by the seasons of the cycles of the moon and the seasons of the agricultural year. Fruits, nuts, vegetables and herbs played a tremendous role in the lives of the Romans, thus their calendar was modeled around planting and harvesting.

Beginning in March, in the spring, and ending in December with the autumn planting, the year then was 10 months long (304 days) and had six months with 30 days and four with 31. (Ten successive lunar months actually would have been about 295 days and, because each began and ended with the new moon, that day would have belonged both to the new month and the old— and must have been counted twice.)

Just like Neely needed her grain alcohol to sustain her addiction, the Romans depended on grains to sustain their existence. Grains, like the other agricultural products, needed to be planned out through the Roman calendar year in order to survive the seasons. This explains why the winter months, when there was no work in the field, were not counted.

Broadway, however, offered plenty of work in the field of the theatre. Visitors to the Big Apple (note reference to fruit) enjoy seeing shows during this pretty time of year, with 42nd Street and the surrounding avenues blanketed with snow.

Helen Lawson, a famous Broadway star who has a vicious temperament, is seen here singing “I’ll Plant My Own Tree.” Planting for the Romans began in March (Martus). During the month, calendar festivals included the day honoring New Year’s Day according to the pre-Julian calendar, the Women’s festival of Matronalia, and the gods of one’s household (the 1st); Day sacred to Hercules (the 11th); and, the Festival of Bacchus (the 16th).

Bacchus was the Roman god of wine and debauchery. The Festival of Bacchus ended on the 17th, so there were two days of drinking.

As with all wine festivals, it’s important to pace yourself so you don’t get alcohol bloat.

Detail from my fresco entitled "Bacchus and Flora"

Festivals in April (Aprilis) included the Festival of Fortuna Virilis (the 1st), Birthday of Cybele (the 10th) and the Festival of Jupiter and Juno. May (Maius) brought the Women’s Festival of Bona Dia (the 1st), Festival of Mars Invictus (the 14th), Festival for Dea Dia (the 17th), and the Feast of Mars (the 29th). In June (Junonius) the Roman celebrations included the Day sacred to Tempestas (the 1st), Women’s festival of Vestalia (the 15th), Festival for Anna (the 18th), and Festival for Minerva. From January 1st through the end of June, the total number of festivals and celebrations on the Roman calendar were 152.

By July (Julius), you would think that the Romans would be all partied out. But, like Neely, there’s never enough to fuel the flames of a continuous buzz. From the beginning of July through the end of December, the Romans were able to fit in another 125 festivals and celebrations, which brought the annual total to 277.

With all that partying going on, fights were bound to break out.

The Early Roman army, which was formed c. 300 BC, kept order through c. 641 AD The Roman army is a generic term for the armed forces deployed by the kingdom of Rome (to c. 500 BC), the Roman Republic (500-31 BC), the Roman Empire (31 BC – 476 AD) and its successor, the Byzantine empire (476-1453 AD). It is thus a term that spans approximately 2,000 years, during which the Roman armed forces underwent numerous permutations in composition, organization, equipment and tactics, while conserving a core of lasting traditions.

You may have noticed that I’ve referenced a 12-month calendar of events, though I mentioned in the beginning of this post that the winter months were left out of the calendar. The two months that were originally omitted are January and February. It was Numa Pompilius, the second king or Rome (715-673 BC), who divided the year into 12 lunar months. However, the lunar months were not reliable because the moon’s lunation, a period of approximagely 29.5 days, is not the same length of time as the earth’s annual orbit around the sun, a period of approximately 365.25 days. Twelve lunar months are shorter by about 11 days than the solar year (365-354).It wasn’t until 46 BC that a reformed calendar, based on the solar year, was introduced by Caesar, who first heard about it while consorting with Cleopatra.

Here we see Jennifer North, the beautiful and talentless actress who later marries Tony Polar, a talentless singer, modeling a headdress, which was probably inspired by Cleopatra’s wardrobe.

When Caesar finally returned to Rome from Cleopatra and the Egyptian campaign in 46 BC, and was declared dictator, a three-month discrepancy existed between the seasons and their calendar date. The harvest was being celebrated long before the crops even had been taken in. Hence, Caesar’s motivation to reform the Roman calendar.

Of the 277 days of festivals and celebrations on the Roman calendar, approximately 135 days are devoted to women. Ancient Roman woman had little political freedom in society, but substantial freedom outside of politics, and some were outspoken and took an interest in the politics of their day. The status of a woman would vary from a fish monger with very little money to a woman of great wealth who was a daughter of and married to prominent politicians. Anne Wells would have been the latter.

With her good cheekbones and classy good looks, Anne would have fit right in with high society in ancient Roman times. She was beautiful and evoked goddess-like qualities. Goddesses were worshipped as evident by the number of festivals dedicated to them. Many female deities represented different aspects of the natural world. An example is Pomona, the Goddess of fruit trees, orchards and gardens.

Neely would have fallen in the former category of a fish monger.

The last event of the year falls on the 29th of December (same spelling). Compitalia, a rustic celebration at the end of the farming season, actually has no fixed date but falls between the end of Saturnalia (the 24th) and the Nones of January.

Anne had no fixed dates, either. When she first moved to New York City from her picturesque New England hometown of Lawrenceville, she lived at the Martha Washington Hotel for Women, where men were not allowed. Shortly thereafter, Anne has the misfortune to meet and fall in love with cad Lyon Burke.  So, in her book dating was out of the question. Lyon refused to commit to marriage, which was something Anne desperately craved. Lyon ended up having an affair with Neely. As a result, Anne followed suit and fell under the allure of booze and “dolls” to escape her doomed relationship.

Actually, no festival dates could actually be called fixed. This is because the early Roman calendar was based on a lunar cycle, not the solar cycle that we use today. The Romans marked time as being before the cycles of the moon (i.e., five days before the Kalends of October). As such, festival dates changed dates from year to year. The dates given in this post are general dates, and, depending on the calendar one is using, could be off by a few days.

But nothing could be as off as Helen Lawson’s wig. Neely made sure of that. When Neely crashes a press party for Helen’s new show, a scuffle ensues and Neely snatches Helen’s wig.

After trying to flush it down the toilet, Neely tosses the hairpiece over the stall door, where it lands on the floor with a splat. Neely hightails it out of there. Like the women of Roman high society, Helen stands regal. She removes a scarf from her neck and covers her matronly shock of white hair. “I’ll go out the way I came in,” she nobly declares, exiting through the front door.

Respectable Roman women were not supposed to be wandering around alone outside, so it’s a good thing that Helen wasn’t living in ancient Rome upon her exit.

Roman Fasti
Some 200 fragments of Roman calendars have been found so far, and they are collectively known as Fasti. Here are various examples of the calendar:

Some calendars were carved in marble or stone, but many were painted on walls for decoration.

During her stint as The Gillian Girl model, Anne Wells was thrown into a montage of funky ads. The image below depicts Anne spraying “product” at stone and marble archaeological artifacts.

To sum up what we’ve learned, the Roman calendar (c. 700 BC) and Valley of the Dolls (1967 AD) had many similarities:

1. The Roman calendar had many festivals which, one could say, were on the edge of cultish. Valley of the Dolls has a huge cult following.
2. The early Roman calendar was based on the lunar cycle. Neely had cycles of lunacy.
3. Neely defended the sanitarium where she dried out, bellowing that it was not a nuthouse. Romans depended on fruits and nuts. Fruits can be dried out.
4. The large egos of Roman Emperors would cause them to puff out their chests, fueled by their addiction to power. Neely’s addiction was fueled by alcohol and drugs, which made her puffy.

I love Christmas

December is the month when holidays such as Christmas and Hanukkah are celebrated however, people can easily forget the true meaning of their holiday and get pretty twisted in the process.

got a light?

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The True Meaning of Giving

Any way you spin it, the “holidays” are about celebrating and generously contributing to those in need:

Department store chains and online merchants.

I remember when Christmas ads would start right around Thanksgiving, but in the modern age of consumerism, ads for holiday shopping now start soon after Labor Day. There may be eight days of Hanukkah, but limiting your gifts to eight?…I don’t think so! And Christmas, the granddaddy of em’ all, has no suggested limit as to the amount of gifts to give. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, is deemed the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. Department stores open before the sun rises, and shoppers are waiting outside in the dark cold mornings just to get a jump on their shopping. Last year, Black Friday turned chaotic and deadly, as desperate consumers broke through the door of a Wal-Mart on Long Island, New York, and trampled an employee to death. At least four other people, including a woman who was eight months pregnant, were taken to hospitals. Meanwhile, two men at a crowded Toys “R” Us in Palm Desert, Calif., pulled guns and shot each other to death after women with them brawled.

So what does this all have to do with an ancient city of 20,000 inhabitants that was destroyed by a volcanic eruption on August 24, AD 79?

Shopping, of course!

The Goods on Pompeii

In its beginning, Pompeii was no more than a typical town. Nomadic tribes seeking a place to settle at started Pompeii. From the small tribal village grew a large city. The city was an oval about two miles around. It contained 90-degree angle streets, theaters, and forums just like any other Roman city. What attracted ancient Romans to Pompeii was its beautiful scenery. Blue skies were seen throughout the day in Pompeii. Because of this many wealthy Romans built holiday villas here. Because it was a port city, Pompeii had a diverse mix of social classes including slaves, artisans, merchants, and wealthy landowners. Pompeii eventually became a wealthy town through trading. Merchants traded wines, fish, breads, and oils. In addition, there were an abundance of shops that sold glassware, pottery, wine, produce, fish, and cloth.

counting her sheckles

Businesswomen of Pompeii – Beauty and Brains

Pompeian women were extremely involved with money and power, from the smallest business to the largest industry.

The wives of artisans and traders were often responsible for running the shops. The fresco to the left depicts a woman holding a jointed writing tablet, probably used for recording sales and keeping track of accounts.

In addition to shops, it was often women who ran the inns and bars, which were frequented by a somewhat coarse clientele. The Pompeian women weren’t shrinking violets, and could throw a troublemaker out on the street without a moment’s hesitation.

For What the Wool’s Worth

Wool merchandise made desirable gifts, and everyone knew that Eumachia had the ‘market’ on wool.

Bahhh Humbug

Eumachia occupied a position of unusual importance in Pompeian society. She was born into an old Pompeian family, the Eumachii, who owned vineyards and brickworks, as well as played an important part in municipal affairs. Using her wealth and status, she funded the construction of a large building next to the public forum in Pompeii. This is an example of the idea of euergetism, the socio-political phenomenon of voluntary gift-giving, which exerted an influence on the wealthy people of her time period. Eumachia’s importance in Roman history stems from her being seen as a good example of how a Roman woman of non-imperial descent can become involved in public affairs. She is also viewed as a model for the increasing involvement of women in politics, using the power of a public priestess for social mobility.

Eumachia was also known as the patron of the fullers, an economically significant guild in Pompeii which consisted of dyers and clothing-makers. The building she erected was used as a wool market. Here wool was prepared and made into fine fabrics. Wool was one of Pompeii’s most principal industries, and Eumachia’s business was thriving. Being the patroness of this trade would have been quite notable for Eumachia and her family.

There’s Stock in that Market

In addition to little shops, a market was held each week under the portico of the forum. The fresco below depicts the market, which was decorated with garlands of flowers for the occasion. The stalls were set out at pavement level. A shoemaker on the right shows off his wares to two seated female customers, while others wait their turn. On the left, an elderly man appears to have fallen asleep over the take-out meals he is offering for sale; large jars contain the stews and sauces.

"Can I get two for $10?"

Cherubs of Bacchus by Bogdanoff

Nice Vintage

Wine played a large role in the sales industry. Even the ancient citizens of Pompeii understood the value of marketing. Some of the wine jars found on the site bear what might be the first marketing pun – “Vesuvinum” – the combination of Vesuvius and vinum, the Latin word for wine. There is a largely intact shop with clay pots buried in the counters among the ruins, and some believe that it may have been a wine bar. Grapes from the fertile hillsides of Mt. Vesuvius were the source for producing wine. The Pompeians would sweeten the fermented wine with honey and lace it with salt water. Today, this would most likely turn any wine snob into a hard liquor consumer. Certainly not what you’d find in your neighborhood Trader Joe’s.

Real Collectables

What would shopping be without jewelry? The Pompeian jewelry makers were masters of their trade. Gold and gemstones were used to create true works of art.

The gold bracelet on the left was found on a victim in Pompeii and weighs over 1.3 pounds.

The pair of cluster earrings below consists of beads strung on gold threads. Cluster earrings were a popular style.

ear bobs

opal ring

Above is a hollowed gold ring,
ornamented by an oval comelian
setting with an engraved image.

Ongoing entertainment events, such as plays and music performances in Pompeii’s vibrant theatre district, were great excuses for the wealthy socialites to don their magnificent jewelry for all to see.

Wrapping it Up

So, as you can see, the need to shop has been handed down from the ages. I guess I can’t blame commercialism on all those out there who spent way too much for gifts that will be either discarded in the trash or re-gifted. I did it (again) this season myself. Amazon.com was my best friend.

Happy Holidays to All and to All a Good Night…

And may we all wake up on Dec. 26th to amazing ‘after-Christmas’ sales!

Pilgrim Glam

Okay, so you’re probably asking yourselves “What does Thanksgiving have to do with Greek frescoes and pottery from 1500BC?” Well, not much on the surface. I mean, the Mayflower did not have a swank ballroom with ornate painted walls or ceilings, and meals were not served in decorative painted bowls. My intent is not to make light of the brave men, women and children who made that monumental crossing. I owe much gratitude to them. My partner’s ancestors were on that ship. So, what am I talking about? First, let’s look at the fundamental meaning of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival. Traditionally, it is a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. It is a holiday celebrated primarily in Canada and the United States. While perhaps religious in origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday.

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated to give thanks to God and the Native Americans for helping the pilgrims survive the brutal winter. Although half of the pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower had already died, many more would have had it not been for the native Americans teaching the pilgrims to harvest foods. The first Thanksgiving feast lasted three whole days providing enough food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Indians.

So, harvesting and celebrating was a large part of what Thanksgiving represented in the beginning. Now I can segue into my topic by introducing you to a group of frescoes located on the north and east walls in room 3, Xeste 3 at the settlement of Akrotiri. On the upper story the subject of the composition is crocus (saffron) gathering.

Sketch of the adyton fresco, north and east walls, upper floor, room 3, Xeste 3

Dominating the scene on the north wall is a female figure seated on the tripartite platform and flanked by two exotic animals, a monkey and a griffin. Historians are certain that this figure is a goddess, and some further believe that she is the ‘Mistress of Animals.’

Fresco on the north wall

Close-up of seated goddess

She is physically separated from the human community by the platform, the tripartite form of which has definite religious connotations; also it is resting on incurved altars. The goddess is symbolically separated because her animal attendants are surreal, which creates a realm of the fantastic.

On the east wall, set in a rocky landscape scattered with clusters of crocus, women dressed in festive clothes and wearing expensive jewelry are collecting the valuable commodity of saffron and place them in baskets.

Fresco of saffron gatherers on the east wall, room 3, Xeste 3

Detail of saffron gatherer on the left

The figure on the left has rich black short and curly hair, which is held by a blue band on the forehead, except for two long ringlets down her back and a smaller forelock.

Detail of saffron gatherer on the right

The second figure, much younger in appearance and whose head is almost completely shorn, is trying to pluck crocus blossoms, with her two hands (both of which, incidentally, the artist has depicted as right hands), while gazing at the woman opposite with a lively and impatient expression, as if anxious for reassurance that she is performing the task correctly. Minoan artists depicted younger women with shaved heads, and painted the shaved sections blue.

Based on the jewelry that the women wear, we can deduce that this is a festival. And, because the women are harvesting the saffron, this fresco may be depicting a harvest celebration.

For the birds
When we think about Thanksgiving the first image that comes to mind is a turkey.

Thera did not have turkeys running around the island, but swallows were plentiful, as evidenced by the Fresco of the Lilies.

Fresco of the Lilies

Situated on the ground floor of room 2, the Fresco of the Lilies adorned 3 walls from floor to ceiling.

Detail from Fresco of the Lilies

Swallows fly amid stalks of red lilies. The slight bend of the stalks implies a gentle breeze. It is believed that the artist was attempting to express the beginning of spring. Because a millstone and sickle were discovered in room 2, the room is thought to have been a shrine where rites were practiced in relation to a harvest festival and/or the processing of grain.

Clay for Play
A fresco tells a story about what life was like back when it was originally created. Frescoes are invaluable tools for archeologists and historians because they are windows into the past. Another outstanding source for information is pottery. One notable example is the Harvester Vase from Agia Triada (”Holy Trinity”), a Minoan site in southern Crete.

Harvester Vase from the Minoan site of Agia Triada

The images on the vase depicts a procession which has been variously interpreted as a band of soldiers or marines returning in triumph from a victory, or as a body of harvesters marching in some sort of harvest thanksgiving festival. This interpretation seems, on the whole, the more probable of the two. In the middle of the procession is a figure, which appears to be quite different from his companions. He has not the usual pinched-in waist of the Cretans, but is quite normally developed, and he bears in his hand the sistrum, or metal rattle, which was one of the regular sacred musical instruments of the Egyptians. In all probability he is meant to represent an Egyptian priest, though what he is doing in a Cretan festival it is hard to tell. The three figures, possibly of women, who are following him, have their mouths wide open, and are evidently singing lustily.

Detail view of the harvester vase

One of the figures, that of an elderly man, who appears to be the chief of the party, is clad in a curious, capelike garment, which may be either a ceremonial robe or a wadded cuirass (a breastplate and backplate that were joined with either metal plates, leather or a combination of the two in order to form a more complete means of protection for the upper body). Apart from all questions of what kind of incident the artist meant to represent, the artistic value of his work is unquestionable. It has been said of this little vase that ‘not until the fifth century BC. should we find a sculptor capable of representing, with such absolute truth, a party of men in motion.’

Because the Fresco of the Lilies features swallows, and the room that the fresco was found is believed to be a harvest room or a shrine where rites were practiced in relation to a harvest festival, we can only deduct that the following example of pottery also represents a harvest.

Vase from Xeste 3

Found in Xeste 3, this artistic vase depicts flying swallows, lilies and crocuses. As in this work, crocuses are prominent in much of the landscape and nature Minoan art. Not only do they appear on the adyton frescoes but also on the costumes of women depicted in the frescoes earlier mentioned. This leads me to conclude that this vase was a part of the harvest celebration.

Conclusion
So, there you have it. I’ve tied Thanksgiving in with Minoan frescoes and pottery. The common thread is a harvest celebration. Of course, North Americans today have turned Thanksgiving into a celebration of gluttony.

It’s a celebration of overeating…

Fetch me a bromo

followed the next day (known as Black Friday) with overspending …

Paris fashion trendsetters

But, it’s also about getting together with family and friends, being grateful for what we have and enjoying life!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I was introduced to the Minoan civilization back in 1990. I was at a party in Hollywood, CA, and hanging on one wall were two painted panels depicting blue monkeys and antelope. The backgrounds had intriguing designs comprised of geometric shapes resembling puzzle pieces, in blues and reds. The artist was at the party and, knowing that he was relocating to Ireland in a few weeks to ‘retire’ (i.e. drink himself to death), I pumped him with questions about his technique. I wrote down everything he told me on a cocktail napkin, thus the birth of my interest in frescoes. I didn’t think to ask him about the subject matter.

Beverly Hills Public Library

Days later I went to the Beverly Hills Library, which had (and still has) an extensive art department. I went through countless art history books and found a book entitled The Arts of Assyria, which had a cover of a wall mural which had colors similar to those of the panels I admired days earlier. I couldn’t find any monkeys or antelopes, but I did find a bronze relief that I liked. I made a copy of it at the library and created my first fresco.

It wasn’t until many visits later, that I found what I was in search of. There, in the ancient Greek section on the shelves, I came upon Art and Religion in Thera; Reconstructing a Bronze Age Society, by Dr. Nanno Marinatos. I had never heard of Thera, but I thought that it couldn’t hurt to skim through this small book rich with pictures. I could have easily missed it, but there on page 115 were the blue monkeys!

I felt like I had struck gold! I sat for hours devouring the book. Page after page of beautiful frescoes: swallows, saffron gatherers, boxing boys, a fisherman, antelope (yes, the same ones I saw in the panels at the party), landscape and seascape scenes, flotillas, and those blue monkeys that would later have a huge impact on my life as a professional artist. I wanted to possess this book, but it was out of print and I had no way of owning it. Remember, this was before the internet and Amazon was popular, so all I had was this book and a copy machine at the public library at my disposal. I made a copy of the entire book, which was my bible on Thera and the Minoan civilization. Of course, thanks to the internet and outlets like Amazon and many other online resources, I now own all of the books that I used to pour through at the library.

The Minoan civilization is considered to be the one of the greatest civilizations in the Greek Bronze Age (the other being the Mycenaean civilization). The Minoan civilization, named after the legendary King Minos, was based on the island of Crete. This civilization possessed a feature unshared by other civilizations, which was an architectural complex of great proportions called a “palace.” The palace housed the rulers that presided over the city or settlement. It was on the walls of these palaces where numerous frescoes were created.

The Minoan civilization was at the height of existence between 2200 and 1450 BC (end of the Early Bronze Age). Its richest and finest period was around 1725 BC, after the old palace period ended with the destruction of most of the existing palaces by a powerful earthquake. The more notable Minoan palace was at Knossos. The palace offers a rich source of frescoes throughout its walls.

Many of the wall paintings discovered in the Aegean region were produced between 1550 and 1450 BC. The Minoan artists style of painting was spontaneous and exuded grand expression.

The subjects of the frescoes generally fell under two categories: nature scenes and palace life. Nature scenes consisted of landscapes, animals, birds and marine life, and were painted with an impressionistic style. Palace subjects included religious festivals and processions, and court ceremonies.

More recently, archeologists have discovered a lost existence on Thera. The excavations at Akrotiri on Thera, now modern Santorini, provides much knowledge about this rich settlement. Thera was made up of wealthy houses c.1500 BC. Soon after these homes were built, they were destroyed by lava in a huge volcanic eruption. Much of the settlement has been recovered by the Greek Archaeological Service. Here, among the debris, excavators uncovered extraordinary frescoes.

Artists from the area created wall paintings with a style that set them apart from the Cretan artists. Though they possessed an execution similar to the artists of Crete, the Theran artists expressed their stylings through coarse application and depiction of life on the island. Theran artists used brilliant colors in their work, as evidenced in an elaborate scene from the room of the blue monkeys. Other subjects of frescoes found included fishermen, boxing children, crowd scenes, antelopes, and landscapes as they appeared prior to the island’s devastating volcanic eruption.

Frescoes at Akrotiri That Have Most Inspired Me

Blue Monkeys fresco at Akrotiri

The blue monkeys, without question, have made the greatest impact in my fresco career. The wall mural of the blue monkeys was found in a palace room at Akrotiri. Here, a family of monkeys are climbing up on the rocks of the volcano that ultimately destroyed the settlement. The monkeys were considered servants to the gods, and it is believed that the room they were depicted was a room of worship.

Saffron Gatherers

The saffron gatherers are found on the east wall in room 3a of Xeste 3. One woman is shown with her arms outstretched, while gazing at a woman opposite her, with a lively and impatient expression, as if anxious for reassurance that she is performing the task correctly.

Fresco of the Lilies

The Fresco of the Lilies, on the ground floor in room 2 at Akrotiri, as been a large influence for my Swallows With Lilies series. The original fresco adorned three walls from floor to ceiling. Swallows fly amid stalks of red lilies. The slight bend of the stalks implies a gentle breeze. It is believed that the artist was attempting to express the beginning of spring. Because a millstone and sickle were discovered in room 2, the room is thought to have been a shrine where rites were practiced in relation to a harvest festival and/or the processing of grain.

Antelope of Akrotiri

The middle zone on the west, north and east walls of Room Beta 1 were devoted to a study of the antelope.  Though the antelope are rendered in outline only, the artist revealed the strength of his talent, giving them expression and depicting them in an amorous converse, as is shown by the movements of the heads, of the lips and the tails.

Flotilla Festival

The frieze on the south wall in room 5 of he West House depicts a procession of ships, splendidly adorned, which moves between two towns. It has been recognized that the town on the right is Akrotiri itself. It’s unclear what town the ships are coming from. The subject of the frieze is a festival, where a naval fleet plays a large role. The ships vary in size. The passengers are wearing either tunics or long robes. it is reasonable to suggest that they represent people of higher status. This is all the more likely because the ships are in parade and a display of status is surely involved. The special ornamentation of the ships with nature symbols, such as flowers, butterflies and swallows, betokens a religious occasion. dolphins playfully jump around the ships, as if to guide them home.