Correcting an Infamous Statement

She teaches theater.

 There is an infamous saying about "those who do can and those who can't teach."  The truth of the matter is more- "THOSE WHO CAN DO AND THOSE WHO CAN'T BLAME THE TEACHER!"

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.

Beware Charybdis

 

Charybdis-Ships Doom

A threat to unwary sailors, the sea monster Charybdis, was one of the most fearsome beasts of Greek mythos. As an offspring of Gaia and Poseidon, Charybdis was caught in a quarrel between Poseidon and Zeus. Zeus cursed her, dooming her to becoming a monster that created giant whirlpools that sucked in ships and crews to their doom. Charybdis and fellow sea monster Scylla worked in tandem to make the Straits of Messina a mortal danger to shipping.

 This Charybdis is a plastic piece that I painted in June 2022.

Apollo, Protector-Poet-Oracle

 

Apollo is about to demonstrate why you don't want to anger the god of divine distance (retribution).

One of the most popular gods of the Greeks and Romans, Apollo had many aspects of power and responsibility. He was seen as the god of both religious and secular law, divine retribution, purification from quilt, crops, domesticated animals and protection from disease to name a few of his major responsibilities. As time marched on, Apollo was thought of as the Sun god, Helos, by the Greeks. A relationship that was not duplicated by the Romans and their Sun god Sol.

A lover of the lyre, Apollo was also the god of music, dance and poetry. 

His twin sister was Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt. On the Isle of Pytho (Delphi) he killed the dreaded monster Python (World Historyprof: Python the Fearsome) and established the Oracle of Delphi

His byname, Phoebus, means "pure" or "bright" which inferred his connection with the Sun. He was also called Lyceius, for his protection of farmers herds from wolves (lykoi being the Greek word for wolves) as well as Nomios " herdsman."

I painted this plastic model of Apolo in the Spring of 2022.

Nature Time With Pan

 

Pan the Greek God of Nature, Mountains, Shepherds and Nymphs. Pan was known to use his wild nature inspired music to induce humans to lose their inhibitions and enjoy all the aspects of natural urges.

Pan and his fauns are plastic pieces from  Monolith, Mystic Battles that I painted in 2019.