Norseman Raider-that's Viking to You

 

The dreaded cry the "Vikings are coming" was enough to empty any Middle Ages village of its inhabitants as they took to countryside to escape the terrible raiders. For hundreds of years these fearsome men for the North plundered the coast lines of Europe.

But this Norseman, Karl Karlson, could have told their victims that "Viking" was not a nationality-it was a job description. To go "Viking" meant to go raiding. These "Viking"" raiders could be Norse (Northmen /Normans), Swedes, Danes or Friesians but none were from a land called Viking.

Karl here is a plastic piece that I painted in 2021.

Prometheus, the Giver of Fire

 

The Titan Prometheus, son of Iapetus & Clymeme, was one of the few titans to support the Olympian Gods in the massive and terrible conflict, the "Titanomachy.  The "Titanomachy" was a ten-year war between the Olympians under Zeus vs the majority of the Titans led by Kronos (as well as loads of monsters) for the control of the World.

With the aid of Prometheus, his brother Epimetheus, the Gigantes and the Cyclopes, Zeus and the Olympians won the war. As the Titan of forethought and crafty advice, Prometheus was given the task of molding mankind out of clay. From this time on he referred to mankind as his children and took particular care of them.

Zeus initially rewarded Prometheus for his loyalty and support, but when Zeus learned that Prometheus had given mankind the gift of fire, against Zeus's expressed orders, Zeus feared that with fire mankind would eventually rise up to challenge the gods themselves! Zeus went into a fierce rage at this betrayal by his favored Titan. Zeus's revenge was to be both complex and painful, the complex part included Pandora and a Jar (not a box), but that is another story. 

 

The everlasting pain Zeus ordered for Prometheus involved a hungry eagle, a Titans liver and eternal suffering. Prometheus was bound to Mount Kaukasos/Caucasus where an eagle came to daily tear out and eat the Titans liver, which would regrow overnight so the pain and suffering could continue forever.  Eventually Prometheus was rescued by Zeus' son Herakles/Hercules when the rage of Zeus had finally subsided.

This is a plastic model of Prometheus in all his "Titanomachy" warlike majesty that I painted in July of 2022. 

Hekate, Goddess of Magic

 

Well known as the goddess of magic and witchcraft, Hekate also held sway over the night, Moon, necromancy and ghosts. While she claimed Perses and Asteria as her parent's, rumors abounded that Zeus, Nyx, Demeter and Aristaios might actually have been her true parents. Known as a virgin goddess, rumors also suggested that Shylla, Kirke, Medea, and Aigialeus were her "secret" offspring. Well, what do you expect from the goddess of witchcraft! As a Master of Plant lore Hekate, knew those that could save life, as well as those that are deadly poison.

With three faces to better see the workings of the World, it was natural that Hekate was also the goddess of city walls, doorways, gates and roads. Hekate remained a popular goddess in the Pre-Christian Era of the Mediterranean for her benevolent relationship with her human followers.

Hekate is a plastic piece that I recently painted.