Goddess of the Hunt

 

The Greek Goddess, Artemis, the huntress, goddess of wild animals, plants, childbirth and (as a virgin) chastity; takes aim at her latest quarry.

She and her twin Apollo were the children of Zeus and Leto. Artimes was a popular goddess among the common people, especially those who lived off the land.

To the Romans she was Diana with most of the same traits as the Greek Goddess with the addition of her being a patron of the people of the lower classes.

           This is a large plastic model that I painted in March 2021.

Herald of the Gods - Hermes

 

Messenger of the Gods

Hermes, herald to the Greek Gods, was also the patron of travelers, merchants, commerce, public speakers and thieves.

As the son of Zeus and Maia, his status as the messenger of the Olympian gods was enhanced. He also relayed messages from the gods to their human worshipers. 

As with all messengers, not all of his news was popular with the recipients, especial as he was often the guide to the entry of the underworld.

Regardless, Hermes delivered his communications professionally, speedily and with as little emotion as possible. To the Romans he was Mercury (Mercurius) with much of the same responsibilities.

Hermes is a large plastic miniature from Mystic Battles that I finished in November of 2021.

Athena

                                                 

Athena (Minerva to the Romans) Goddess of Wisdom and War.

Sprouting full grown from the head of her father Zeus (Jupiter to the Romans) with armor, shield and spear, Athena became one of the main gods of the Greek-Roman pantheon.

With her owl as symbol of her wisdom, Athena soon became the both the goddess of wisdom and military tactics.

Patron goddess of the city of Athens, Athena was also the half-sister of the hero Herakles (Hercules to the Romans).

She was a great supporter of many Greek hero's such as Jason, Perseus and of course her sibling Herakles.

She was especially helpful with Herakles' 12 tasks and Perseus' attempt to save his love Andromeda from the sea monster Cetus.

When Perseus beheaded the gorgon Medusa, he presented the head to Athena a thanks for her assistance in his quest. She placed the head upon her aegis (shield).

Be it wisdom, war or handcrafts, Athena was seen in the Greek World as one of the best of the 12 Olympian Gods.

I painted this model of Athena in 2020.

Why Study History

 

RELEVANCE OF HISTORY

"THOSE WHO CANNOT REMEMBER THE PAST ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT IT."
George Santayana

"EACH TIME HISTORY REPEATS THE PRICE GOES UP."

Ronald Wright

"IF YOU DON'T KNOW HISTORY, THEN YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING. yOU ARE A LEAF THAT DOESN'T KNOW IT IS PART OF A TREE."

Michael Crichton

"HISTORY DOES NOT SO MUCH REPEAT ITSELF, AS PEOPLE REPEAT THE PAST MISTAKES OF HISTORY."  
Rick  Wall

Phoenix

Rebirth in Fire

Rising form the flames that gave her both "death" and rebirth-the Phoenix!

One of the most famous of all Greek myths is that of the immortal Phoenix. With her feathers still aflame, she rises into the sky for the start of her next 1000-year, life.

This is a plastic piece that I painted in July of 2021. 

Vive La France, Canada Qui Est

French Canada was guarded by limited number royal troops in the 17th and 18th centuries. With a small colonial population and massive amounts of land, the few Royal soldiers were often stretched thin as they tried to keep the kings North American Empire safe. In the end they were too few to match the British Colonial expansion wars which cumulated in the French and Indian War 1753-64 (Seven Years War in Europe). With the British victory, France lost Canada and their Louisiana territories and the long-suffering French regulars were withdrawn.  Until the next war - during the American Revolution.

From Declaration to Constitution

July 4, 1776  

Colonies declare their independence from Great Britain

October 17, 1777

General Burgoyne surrendered his army to the Americans under Arnold and Gates at Saratoga N.Y. As the greatest British defeat to this date, the victory guaranteed a French Alliance in the here-to-fore “English-Colonial Affair.”

November 1777

The Articles of Confederation establishes the first “official’ gov’t of the United States of America. The Articles stress the independence of the individual states and severely limits the powers of the central gov’t.

Winter 1777-78

Valley Forge, General’s Washington and von Steuben create the first “professional” American Army.

October 19, 1781

General Cornwallis surrenders his army to General Washington at Yorktown Virginia. Final straw that breaks the British will to continue the war. Peace negotiations begin in earnest.

1782-83

Peace of Paris, Great Britain grants the colonies their independence and all the territory from the East Coast to the Mississippi River, apart from Florida and the Gulf Coast which is given to Spain.

1785

Land Ordinance of 1785 (Township Act) established the township method of surveying and selling the lands of the Northwest Territories. A portion of each township is set aside to establish public schools.

September 1786-January 1787

Shays Rebellion demonstrated the need for a strong central gov’t. The inability/unwillingness of the states to assist one another in critical situations such as rebellions or natural disasters under the Articles of Confederation is undeniably demonstrated.

1787

Northwest Ordinance divides Northwestern territory into five smaller territories, established the format for accepting new states into the Union-60,000 settlers, a written state constitution and a representative/Republican form of gov’t. Slavery is also prohibited in the Northwest Territories.

May 25, 1787

Delegates from twelve states meet in Philadelphia to “revise the Articles of Confederation'' so as to provide unity, order and prosperity for the nation. This will become the Constitutional Convention.

May 30, 1787

The delegates decide to replace the weak “League of Friendship” of the Articles of Confederation with a strong, Federal, form of gov’t.

May-December 1787

Compromise! After many heated discussions the delegates create the United States Constitution, establishing three branches of gov’t, Legislative, Judicial and Executive. The Great Compromise established a two-house legislature: the Senate will be based on state equality with each having two senators, while the number of House seats will be based on the population of each state. The Slavery is defined and legalized in the Three-Fifths Compromise. Slave states will be allowed to count their slaves as Three-Fifths human for population numbers for the allocation of congressional representation.  This will give slave states a greater say in presidential elections through the Electoral College then the number of voters have in free states.

March-May 1788

Publication of the “Federalist Papers” to promote ratification of the United States Constitution. Written by John Jay, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, the papers are instrumental in swaying much public opinion to favor the ratification.

December 1787-July 1788

Ratification! Two-thirds (nine) of the states were required for passage of the US. Constitution. On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify while New York became the ninth on July 26, 1788.  The Bill of Rights was not initially part of the U.S Constitution, it was not added until December 15, 1791.

April 6, 1789

George Washington is unanimously chosen to become the first President of the United States, taking the oath of office on April 30.