The Fictitious Life of Elizabeth Black

Monday, July 9, 2012

Sunday, July 8, 2012

This picture of Athens makes me think of Vestal Virgins and the Bona Dea Scandal of 62BC.

What is the Bona Dea Scandal, you ask?

Well, in Ancient Rome, there was a cult that worshipped the "Good Goddess" Bona Dea. It was an all female cult, and their meetings were held at the high priests house. He was kicked out because there was absolutely no men allowed when they gathered under any circumstances. Well, at this time, the high priest (Pontifex Maximus) was Julius Caesar. Yes, that Julius Caesar, as in salad. Anyway, Caesar's wife was having an affair with this dude called Clodius (makes me think of cream for some reason?). On that specific night, he thought that because Caesar was out of the house, it would be a good idea to 'pay her a visit'. Long story short, he snuck in, dressed as a woman. (He thought that he could get away with it because he had recently cut his beard!) He was soon unmasked, so to speak, by a slave-girl, and charged with high treason for violation of a sacred cult!
He was let off the charges because this guy called Crassus massively bribed everyone in the jury.

There you go, there's your history lesson for the day!
Now you know: What do Caesar, Cross Dressing and a Cult have in common?

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Speaking of the Beatles.

Hey, that kind of rhymed, didn't it?!

Friday, July 6, 2012

Finally.

FINALLY!
The holidays have come. I had a great afternoon out with my most gracious friend. We were "ladies who do lunch", then we went second-hand shopping. I bought a cool old silver tray for my dad, a nice little box and some cool books (one for my sister).

Anyway, I can't stop listening to some Beatles songs from 'The White Album'.

I didn't know it before, by Martha My Dear is a dual layered recording by Paul McCartney. So, if you listen to the recording with your earphones, and take one ear out, you can only hear half of the song. At least with my version you can! I thought that was quite cool!
It's so catchy too!

I also found out some fun facts about Dear Prudence from the information box below the youtube clip for it. (credit: NeedLife774, on 12 Dec 2007):

The song is about actress Mia Farrow's sister, Prudence, who was present when the Beatles visited Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in India. Prudence, focused on meditation, stayed in her room for the majority of their stay. Lennon, who was worried that she was depressed, wrote this song for her, inviting her to "come out to play". While the Beatles left the course, Mia, Prudence, Mike Love of the Beach Boys, and others, stayed and became Transcendental Meditation (or TM) teachers. Prudence now teaches elementary school along with her husband, and they both still practice TM, and advanced versions of it, and may still teach TM.
This song, along with the preceding track "Back in the U.S.S.R.", features Paul McCartney on drums rather than Ringo Starr, who had recently walked out. Starr returned after the recording of this song to find flowers waiting for him on his drumkit.
Lennon considered this song to be one of his favorite Beatles songs, and his son Julian Lennon has named it his favorite.
In 1987, Lennon's original handwritten copy of the lyrics was sold at auction for $19,500

I didn't realise it before, but this blog is becoming more and more music orientated. Huh!?

And some good pictures too!