Please donate now to pay our monthly server fees:
 [More Info] |
|
|
|
Community Home Message Board Board Home Board Rules Board Extras: Arcade Calendar Links CauldronMUX [Client] Sister Forums: Asatru Lore |
|
Home |
|
|
|
Cauldron's Grimoire RetroRoleplaying RetroRoleplaying: The Blog Software Gadgets The Terran Empire |
|
|
|
|
 Charter Member |
While this web site is designed to work in all major browsers, we recommend Firefox.
|
|
a Linode VPS Formerly hosted by  Why Use Dreamhost? |
|
© 1998-2009 by Randall |
| Home > Reconstructionism > Greek/Hellenic > Kerux Index > Kerux #6 | Search |
| The Kerux #6 1 Poseideon 4/694 (26 November 2000) edited by Drew Campbell |
|
THE KERUX #6
1 Poseideon 4/694
26 November 2000
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
* Book Reviews: Children's Books for Gift-Giving
* Prayer to a River God by Chrisailes Duindil
* From the Hearth: Spiced Wine for the Country Dionysia
* Announcement: Cup of Wonder #4
* Poll Results: What We Call Ourselves
* New Poll: The December Dilemma
* Upcoming Events
* How to Contribute to the Kerux
***
BOOK REVIEWS: CHILDREN'S BOOKS FOR GIFT-GIVING
In addition to classics like _D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths_ and the retellings of Homer by Rosemary Sutcliff, these titles offer many new and exciting opportunities to introduce Hellenic history and religion to the children in our lives. Unless otherwise noted, these books are appropriate for middle- to upper-elementary age kids, although little ones may enjoy them read aloud. In no particular order:
Roy, Burrell, _Oxford First Ancient History_ (ISBN 0195213734). Extensive discussion of the Greeks, from the Bronze Age through the Roman conquest. Includes Crete. Many illustrations.
Rosalie F. and Charles F. Baker, _Ancient Greeks: Creating the Classical Tradition_ (ISBN 0195099400). Biographical profiles of over 35 major figures in Greek history, including Homer, Solon, Sappho, Socrates. Middle school and beyond.
Aliki, _The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus_ (ISBN 0064461890). Beautifully illustrated picture book with text the follows Hesiod's _Theogony_. Very positive tone. Young elementary and read-aloud. (For a more extensive review, see the Kerux #2.)
John Green, _Life in Ancient Greece Coloring Book_ (IBSN 0486275094). Inexpensive book with detailed line drawing to color. Text explains each drawing. Includes images of the Pythia, a Panathenaia procession, and more.
John K. Anderson and Nancy Conkle, _A Coloring Book of the Trojan War (The Iliad, Volume 1)_ (ISBN 0883881799). Authentic images, taken from vase paintings, with text in English and Greek.
Mira Bartok and Christine Ronan, _Stencils: Ancient Greece_ (ISBN0673362558). Written information, including a discussion of the Olympians and a retelling of the Persephone myth, accompanies pop-out stencils and craft projects.
Avery Hart and Paul Mantell, _Ancient Greece!: 40 Hands-On Activities to Experience this Wondrous Age_ (ISBN 1885593252). Information and craft projects. Definitely read through the text before setting your kids loose with this book: the authors' didactic agenda occasionally gets in the way of historical fairness and accuracy. Still, interesting projects and thought-provoking presentation.
Tom Tierney, _Ancient Greek Costumes Paper Dolls_ (ISBN 0486405745). Dress "Diana" (!) and "Jason" in a variety of costumes, including Cretan and Phrygian styles.
Robert A. Brooks, _Gods and Heroes of Ancient Greece_ (ISBN 0807865001). 48" X 35" illustrated wall chart showing the genealogy of over 200 deities and heroes.
John Malam, _Gods and Goddesses_ (ISBN 0872265986). Solid and engaging introduction to Hellenic religion. Many photos and quotations from authentic ancient sources. Other books in the series include _The Original Olympics_, _Greek Theatre_, and _Daily Life_.
Fiona Macdonald, _Women in Ancient Greece_ (ISBN 0872265684). Discussion of women's lives in ancient Greece, including their roles in religious life. Fair discussion of ancient sexism.
Fiona Macdonald, _How Would You Survive as an Ancient Greek?_ (ISBN 053115307X). Outstanding approach to daily life. Extensive illustrations, quizzes, and fascinating detail. Short discussion of religious practices.
Linda Honan, _Spend the Day in Ancient Greece_ (ISBN 0471154547). Craft projects, including clothing, weaving, writing the alphabet, pottery, model boat building, and more. Clear instructions, and no political didacticism.
Chris Chelepi, _Growing Up in Ancient Greece_ (ISBN 0816727201). Information on daily life from a child's perspective. Easier text, less detail, and larger print than _How Would You Survive?_
Warwick Hutton, _Perseus_ (ISBN 0689505655). Colored pen and ink drawings illustrate the story of Perseus. Good read-aloud book.
Juliet Sharman Burke, _Stories from the Stars: Greek Myths of the Zodiac_ (ISBN 0789202832). Stories and lush watercolor illustrations for each sign of the zodiac.
*** TO A RIVER GOD
by Chrisailes Duindil
By Eipeus and Meander,
By Scamander and Peneus,
Ageless River favored by
Loud Thundering Zeus,
I call upon you
by whatever name that pleases you.
Child of Okeanos and the Oreads
Ruddy god of the tangled locks
who tumbles over his rocky shoals
tireless in your pursuit
holy one who purifies our sacrifice
hear me now and receive our offering.
Commentary: I made this invocation as place specific as possible despite using some names of Greek River Gods. He is favored by Zeus because like most rivers in my area, he receives abundant rainfall. His mother is counted among the Oreads for the river springs from the North Georgia mountains. He is ruddy and with tangled locks because of the predominance of red clay in the region and the undergrowth along his banks. Lastly he is truly the one who purifies our sacrifice as he is the source of the water used in my rites.
***
FROM THE HEARTH: SPICED WINE FOR THE COUNTRY DIONYSIA
Here chez Campbell, we have taken to celebrating the Country Dionysia by inviting friends and family over for an open house. This sweet, spiced wine has proved a favorite. It is adapted from a recipe in _The Classical Cookbook_ by Andrew Dalby and Sally Grainger (Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum, 1996). Serve with plenty of _meze_ (little dishes). Figure one bottle of wine for every half-dozen guests.
Burgundy or other rich red wine
For each 750 ml bottle of wine, add:
1/3 c. honey
1/2 t. ground black pepper or 1/4 t. nutmeg
1 bay leaf
1/4 c. chopped sultanas (raisins)
optional: pinch of ground mastic
Put the honey in a pot and bring to a boil. Skim off any foam that forms. Add spices and sultanas. Simmer on very low heat for 10 minutes. Add wine and heat to just below boiling. (If you want to make a less potent beverage, let the mixture boil.) Remove the bay leaf before serving.
***
ANNOUNCEMENT: CUP OF WONDER #4
Through the generosity of editor Vireo, I recently received copies of this wonderful journal. (I'm still wondering how I managed to miss it for two years!) _Cup of Wonder_ is the most intelligent, challenging pagan publication to come out in a long time. This annual journal (ISSN 1528-1809) moving toward a more scholarly focus and have included numerous articles of interest to Hellenes and other reconstructionists. Warmly recommended! For more information, visit the Cuppa web site at http:// pweb.netcom.com/~deisis19/ or write to Vireo at deisis19@i....
***
POLL RESULTS
POLL QUESTION: Which of the following terms, if any, do you use to describe your religious affinities?
CHOICES AND RESULTS
- Pagan/pagan, 14 votes, 18.42%
- Neopagan/neopagan, 7 votes, 9.21%
- polytheist, 16 votes, 21.05%
- Hellene, 5 votes, 6.58%
- Hellenist, 11 votes, 14.47%
- traditionalist, 2 votes, 2.63%
- reconstructionist, 9 votes, 11.84%
- revivalist, 1 votes, 1.32%
- Witch/witch, 6 votes, 7.89%
- None of these, 3 votes, 3.95%
- I don't label my religious beliefs., 2 votes, 2.63%
***
NEW POLL: THE DECEMBER DILEMMA
Which of the many December holidays do you and yours celebrate? To vote, go to: http://www.egroups.com/polls/kerux
*** UPCOMING EVENTS
=Northern California=
Saturday, December 2, 2000: "History of Paganism" class for Collegium, the clergy training program of Fellowship of the Spiral Path. 1 p.m., private East Bay location.
Late December (exact date TBA): Country Dionysia Open House, at a private location in San Francisco. For more information on any of the above events, contact Drew at < brightwave@y...
On Saturday, 9 December 2000 Thiasos Olympikos will celebrate the Rustic Dionysia in honor of the God Dionysos. For more information, visit http://home.pon.net/rhinoceroslodge or contact Pyrokanthos at rhinoceroslodge@p....
=New England=
The Greater Boston Pagan Network hosts a series of open rituals by different local Pagan groups. For transportation and parking details, send a blank message to: sabbats-faq@n... or contact Maureen at MaureenRW@e... or 781-388-3773.
***
CONTRIBUTE TO THE KERUX The Kerux is always looking for articles, reviews, and announcements of interest to the Hellenic Reconstructionist community. We're particularly interested in items that support home-based religious practice and eusebeia (piety). Paste your contribution into an email and send to kerux-owner@egroups.com.
***
The Kerux is a project of Nomos Arkhaios, an educational resource center promoting the study and practice of traditional Hellenic religion. For more information, visit the website at Individual authors appearing in the Kerux retain all rights to their work. If you'd like to reprint something you see here, please write directly to the author of the piece for permission.
This article originally appeared on Andrew Campbell's Nomos Arkhaios site which is currently on hiatus.
This article is copyright © 2000-2003 by Andrew Campbell and is reprinted here with permission.