It's all about the scents!

I was going to post this tomorrow, but found out I'm baby sitting at the crack of dawn, then off to work.. So I'm posting it today.. HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY EARLY!


Last week I talked about Black Mulberries and Sweet Violets (which I forgot to post the myth of the violet). Today it’s all about Roses…Yes, the old bridal flower that have been used in weddings since the day the camera was invented.
But I’m not talking about those kinds of roses but the kind that grows in the Mediterranean area. I’m talking about

The Gallic Rose and the Rock- Rose.

Miss Rock-Rose, please tell us a little about you and where you came from?

Hi, my Greek name is Kisthos, but I go by the name Sally.

I’m from a small family of plants that is known for being a beautiful shrub, which is covered by me, the flower at the time of blossoming. My family is so HUGE, and I mean that in a nice way. There are about 200 of us all over the world. We can’t stand the cold so I have cousins in Europe and the Mediterranean, but I was told I have cousins in North America. We love the dry ground and sunny days, what can I say, I love heat?

There is a rumor going around that we’re bisexual, (laughs) I wouldn’t know about any of that. (laughs again) How would I know, I only live for a couple of days. The color I’m wearing is a pink but I seen others wear yellow and white. I’m widely used in perfumes, so I guess I smell nice.

In my family history the Victorians came up with a brilliant idea call the language of flowers (sigh). I love romance. And they named me some word I can’t pronounce Cistaceae, which I was told that it symbolized imminent death. How sad is that? Which means “I shall die tomorrow” (Starts sniffle a little bit) I don’t want to die tomorrow! Does anybody have a tissue?

Myth: The Gorgon Medousa was seduced by Poseidon in a meadow of rock roses on the island of Kisthene. The island was named Kisthene for the flower kisthos.

Gallic Rose you're next

Hey Rock-Rose, we kind of look a like. Do you think we’re related?

Hi, (waves) I’m Greta the Gallic Rose, my Greek name that the Greeks gave me is Rhodon. Don’t ask me why, but they did. I have other names I go by also.. French Rose, or Rose of Provins.

I’m a type of rose that can be found as a native in southern and central Europe and east towards Turkey and around the Causasus.
You can find me in large patches of shrubbery, and my stems have thorns. My sisters and I can grow up single but is known to grow up in doubles and or sometimes semidouble. Each one of us have five single petals that tend to be very fragrant and a deep pink.

We were raised by the Romans and Greeks, and some of my ancestors grew up in what the Middle Ages called a garden. And we are known to share a vegetative character, we tend to lay low and be suckering shrubs. Our colors is vast from white (which I was told was rare) to pink and sometimes a deep purple.

One myth: Death of Adonis. The flower was said to have sprung or been colored by the blood of Aphrodite's dying love Adonis.
Or myth two : Bouquet of Persephone The goddess Persephone and her companion Nymphs were gathering rose, crocus, violet, iris, lily and larkspur blooms in a springtime meadow when she was abducted by the god Haides.

Now I know I can find candles and live flowers that are roses, but they don’t sell Rock-roses nor Gallic in stores, so my search continues… Till next time αντίο (good bye)

Tuesday Facts About Anything: Artemis and her Temple in Ephesus

It is already Tuesday and I skipped a few days of blogging.. It's been a crazy weekend of babysitting two little girls I call my neices.

Tuesday has been named Tuesday Facts About Anything (I think I'll use this for stuff I researched. Remember I'm still trying to get the hang of this blogging thing.)

Fact One:
Artemis was a Greek Goddess, and a twin to Apollo. She was a virgin huntress, also she over saw births, marriage and sometimes helped in child-rearing.
Artemis was also natural Hellenic successor to the Phrygian Mother Goddess, who also presided over wild animals.

Fact Two:
Artemis was commonly known as a fertility goddes, because of the mulitude 'breast' that covered her statues.

Fact Three:
I find it funny that Artemis is also known to hang out with death and the underworld. I think I need to do more research in order to really get to know Artemis. She was also associated with magic, astrology and with the dark goddess Hecate (she will be blogged in the future).It was said in Athens, Hecate was worshipped as Artemis who also went by the name of Kalliste.Sacrifices to Artemis 'Hecate' were performed in Hecate shrine at Erchia in Arttica.
In a third-century amulet was found in a Roman tomb in Austria, that was a magic charm against migraines, then a story Artemis was developed. It was said a female demon rose from the ocean in a frenzy. Artemis of Ephesia meets her and exorcises her.

Fact Four:
Other Artemis titles: Artemis of the First Throne, Queen of the Cosmos, Lord, Saviour, Heavenly Goddess, Greatest and Holiest. She had control over power of astrolgical fate that was symbolized by the zodiac of her cult image, she also gave to her oracles.


Fact Five :
The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus (Modern Turkey)was bulit around the year 650 B.C., was funded by the king of Lybia; Croesus. The design was made by a well known Greek architect, Chreripgron.

Asian Minor:

Becoming number three on the list of Ancient Wonders Of The World. Being 377 feet long and 180 feet wide, and it was almost made out of all marble.
The Temple had 127 columns, each being around 60 feet tall and were carved.
In the middle of the Temple sat the Goddess Artemis, what was made up of marble and decorated in ivory and gold.
Housing many fine artworks, from Greek sculptors Polyclitus, Pheidias, Cresilas and Phradom. Paintings and gilded comlumns of gold and silver fashioned the Temple. It was said many of the scupltures were crafted by the Amazons (Another future blog, who were said founded the city of Ephesus.

Now:

Fact Six:
In 1869 a British engineer T.J. Wood, discovered the ruins

Fact Seven: Legand:
Psychopath arsonist Herostratus set fire to the Temple, he was movtivated by fame, but Artemis was too occupied with the birth of Alexander the Great to even notice her temple was set on fire. And the term "Herostratic Fame" was invented. The people of Ephesus were so outraged they instructed Herostratus's name was never again spoken of and if it was spoken then who ever said it would be put to death.

Fact Eight:
When Alexander the Great took over Asia Minor, he offering to rebuild the temple, he even told Epheus that it would be built to the original temple except for the raised platform. But the people of Ephesus denied and rebuilt the temple themselves.

Fact Nine:
Many artifacts were found from as far away as India and Persia. Things such as gold, ivory, necklaces, earrings and bracelets.
How much do you know about the Ancient Wonders?

Paige Tylor: Ghost Hunter

Today is Friday, and that means it's the start of the weekend for some of us. Execpt for me and a few I know.. Paige Tylor asked for some of us to blog about her new book.. Since I don't have any readers this wont hurt...

I can't wait to read this book!

GHOST HUNTER

It's got a hunky hero, a kick-A** heroine and a serial killing ghost that's scary as hell! Not to mention a smokin' hot cover!


BLURB:


Almost getting murdered by a serial killer gives Cassidy Kincaide a new lease on life and convinces her to go ahead and tackle that ghost-hunter novel she's always wanted to write. So, she hooks up with a gorgeous paranormal investigator named Trace McCord to do some research.

Cassidy and Trace rub each other the wrong way right from the beginning, but they have to put aside their differences when the serial killer who attacked her comes back from the grave to continue his string of grisly murders, with her at the top of his list.

Trace has to keep Cassidy close to keep her safe, and as they try to stay one step ahead of the ghost while figuring out how to stop it, he and Cassidy end up in each other’s arms. While Trace has a whole list of reasons why he shouldn’t get involved with her, he finds himself falling in love with the beautiful blonde anyway. And even though Cassidy started out thinking he was a jerk, she learns that underneath the rough ghost hunter exterior, he’s just the man she’s always been looking for. Now, all they have to do, is live long enough to be together.


Watch the Trailer Here!



Get your copy of GHOST HUNTER at Ellora's Cave!
http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9148-ghost-hunter.aspx

Or visit Paige's website www.paigetylertheauthor.com

Greek flowers

I was reading somewhere that in order to get your muse to come out and play, you can do this and do that. One of the things this article suggested was flowers and candles.
And it got me thinking.. Yes, I know there is smoke coming out of my ears.. I heard it all before. Somebody needs to come up with something a litte more orignial..

Ok, back to me thinking.. Since I love candles I was wondering what kind of scents would be found in Greece? What kind of spices that are turned into candles scents. So I goggled wild flowers of Greece and I got many and many websites. But there is one that I find interesting. There you will find flora with mythical description of what that plant was used for in Greek Mythology and also gives you the Greek name also.. Which I find rather cool to know since, My character is an ancient Greek..

For example:

Black Mulberry:  There are at least 20 species of Mulberries in the world.

Greek : Moron  

The dark-red berries can be used in pies, tarts, wines, cordials and teas. There are two different kinds of Mulberry trees, One that has black berries which is  native to western Asia and A red-berry that is native to eastern North America, tends to have the strongest flavor. The white mulberry is an Asian native, which is found in reagion of North America and has a different flavor. The adult species can contain a large amount of reveratrol (which from what I can find is something that can lower blood suger, who knew?) The fuit and leaves are sold for many supplements and the unripe berries and green parts of the plant that has white sap, can be intoxicating and give a mild hallucinogen.

Myth1 : Death of Pyramos & Thisbe.  Pyramos and Thisbe were a pair of ill-fated lovers from the Assyrian city of Babylon. Their parents forbade their romance and the pair agreed to meet secretly beneath a white-berried mulberry tree outside the city limits. When Pyramos arrived he found Thisbe's shawl in the jaws of a lion and believing her killed plunged a sword through his breast. The girl upon discovering her dead lover also killed herself. The mulberry tree soaked up the lovers' blood and its berries were turned from white to black-red.
I don't know of any candles that Mulberry scented.. So the search is still on.. As I continued to read this article the author mentions real flowers. I was thinking good idea, but where can I find real flowers that are native to the mediterranean? Then I came upon this.....

A Sweet Violet! Not a cute flower.

The flower kind of reminds me of the mean pansy's in the movie Alice in Wonderland (Disney's cartoon version) To me they kind of look like thay can bite some one's head off.. I AM A SWEET VIOLET, HEAR ME ROOOOOOORRRRR!!!!

Greek : Ion
A little bit about the Violet.. It is used to cure sore throats and tonsilitis. The sent is sweet and unmistakable  this flower has proved popular throughout the generations, especially in the late Victorian era, and has consequently been used in the production of many cosmetic fragrances and perfumes. The French make a Violet syrup which is made up of violet extracts. Interesting.. I wonder how they get the extracts from the flower, does anybody know???  In the U.S., this French violet  syrup is use to make violet sconts and marshmellows.. Now this got me interested.. How does one make violet scones and marshmellows? One will have to wait till another day.. Till then αντίο (Good bye)

It's all Greek to me!

It's been like a day since I posted but thats ok, I think today's research will be Greek words from the past couple of days. So in honor this, Saturday will be Greek word blog.. Meaning every words that I learned this week will be posted here, so that way who ever is reading this can learn with me.
Get that pen and paper out here comes this past weeks words.

Remember it's the beginner's version I'm doing... And I can't post what the word sounds like. Trust me most of the words can be pronounced easily.

αλφαβητισμός
Type: singular neuter
Pronunciation: alfavitismos
Definition: literacy
Greek Phrase: Ο αλφαβητισμὀς εἰναι σημαντικὀς για μια χὠρα.
English Phrase: Literacy is important for a country.

ανήξερος
Type: adjective
Pronunciation: anikseros
Definition: unaware
Greek Phrase: Αυτὀς εἰναι ανἠξερος.
English Phrase: He is unaware

 τέλειος
Type: adjective
Pronunciation: telios
Definition: perfect
Greek Phrase: Αυτὀς ο πἰνακας εἰναι τἐλειος.
English Phrase: This painting is perfect.

ερμηνεία
Type:singular feminine
Pronunciation: erminia
Definition: interpretation
Greek Phrase: Συμφωνὠ με την ερμηνἰα σου.
English Phrase: I agree with your interpretation

χαρά
Type: singular feminine
Pronunciation: hara
Definition: joy
Greek Phrase: Μου δἰνει μεγἀλη χαρἀ αυτἠ η εἰδηση.
English Phrase: This news gives me great joy.

εύφορος
Type: adjective
Pronunciation: eforos
Definition: fertile
Greek Phrase: Αυτὀς ο αγρὀς εἰναι εύφορος

κλαρί
Type: singular neuter
Pronunciation: klari
Definition: stick
Greek Phrase: Το κλαρἰ ἐπεσε απο το δἐντρο.
English Phrase: The stick fell from the tree.

ποσοστό
Type: singular neuter
Pronunciation: pososto
Definition: percentage
Greek Phrase: Μου αναλογεἰ μεγἀλο ποσοστὀ.
English Phrase: A large percentage belongs to me.

εύφορος
Type: adjective
Pronunciation: eforos
Definition: fertile
Greek Phrase: Αυτὀς ο αγρὀς εἰναι εύφορος.
English Phrase: This plot of land is fertile.

πριόνι
Type: singular neuter
Pronunciation: prioni
Definition: saw
Greek Phrase: Το πριὀνι κὀβει το ξὐλο.
English Phrase: The saw cuts the wood.

τρομακτικός
Type: adverb
Pronunciation: tromaktikos
Definition: scary
Greek Phrase: Ο πὀλεμος εἰναι τρομακτικὀς.
English Phrase: War is scary.

υποκατάστημα
Type: singular neuter
Pronunciation: ipokatastima
Definition: branch
Greek Phrase :Δουλἐυω στο υποκατἀστημα της τρἀπεζας.
English Phrase: I work at the bank branch.

αγαπώ
Type: verb
Pronunciation: agapo
Definition: I love
Greek Phrase: Σε αγαπὠ πἀρα πὀλυ.
English Phrase: I love you very much.

κώμα
Type: singular neuter
Pronunciation: koma
Definition: coma
Greek Phrase: Ο ασθενἠς ἐπεσε σε κὠμα.
English Phrase: The patient fell into a coma.

εγκυμοσύνη
Type: singular feminine
Pronunciation: egimosini
Definition: pregnancy
Greek Phrase: Αυτἠ η εγκυμοσὐνη εἰναι ατελεἰωτη.
English Phrase: This pregnancy is never ending.

Research..

Today is the first day of, not really first day of research but the first day to actually break down and but a book on the said research..
Ok.. The topic I'll be researching will be..... Ancient Greek, hence learning Greek words and passing them on to others who wan to learn also.  Now back to the topic of books, since I can't get on the next plane to Athens, the next best thing is travel books.
After work I meandered around the book store to search out books that fit the topic I'm going to write about. I started at the history magazines, because one might find that Archeaolgy mag that might have an article that I might to read, (which it didn't have anything that has to do with my topic). So I made my way to the travel section. To find out that they didn't have the book I wanted, and one book I did want.
Looking at the price of the book got me thinking are travel books over priced due to the place of travel or is it the book store or even the publisher?

The book I was looking for is DK Eyewitness Travel of Turkey, since the Temple of Artemis that was in Ephesus which is now modern Turkey. But to my shock.. The book store didn't have any books on Turkey but one on Instanbul. Which kind of sucks because they had a whole shelf dedicated to Porto Rico...
So what can a writer do when she comes to this problem?
She grabs the one on Greece and starts thinking that Turkey was part of Greece Empire at one point and out of curiosity she wanted to see how long would it take the book store to get it in stock if she ordered it?
I did the next best thing and went and found out that it would take a week to get the book on Turkey, but the killer was going to be the price..

$30.00 FOR A TRAVEL BOOK ON TURKEY!!!!!

Are the Gods crazy???? I bet they are rolling over lauging at those mortals who are willing to pay $30 for a lousey travel book, so I did the next best thing was to go home and checked Barnes and Noble and found out that it's only like $20.60 for the book (which I still find a little too much), so I'm going to stick with b&n.com, its so much cheaper then the local book store..

Now I'm curious to see how much the book on Greece will be.

 Sigh.. I wish I just had the money to travel...It would be so much easier to go and get the feel of the place then reading it in books.
Well, my dears. This is tonight blog, I can't tell you what tomorrow will be about because

Welcome!

This is the first of (hopefully) many post. As of right now I have little research that I found. So hold on and enjoy the ride with me.