Domina Tempora

The two major Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, still appear widely in popular folk drama, tales and art all over Southeast Asia with slight adaptations in all the myriad cultures of the region. Scenes from the epics are illustrated in the relief sculptures of temples such as the Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Rama temple in Malaysia, and mural painting in Vat Oup Moung, a Buddhist monastery in Vientiane, Laos. The five Pandava brothers of Mahabharata especially became blue prints in many traditional cultures of the south and southeast Asia as the perfect heroes. Kings claim descendants of the brothers, and their names are used for temples and streets even to this day.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/05/26/one-perfect-man-five-imperfect-demigods/

Antonin Dvorak’s opera Rusalka, based on Slavic folklore, was first performed in Prague on March 31, 1901, and went on to become one of the most successful Czech operas. The opera’s Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém (“Song to the Moon”) is frequently performed in concert and has been recorded separately to this day.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/05/23/death-and-the-rusalka/

in all of Greek Mythology, no siblings seem to hold a worse grudge against one another than the two war deities. The Ancient Greek society, in turn, did not hesitate to pit them against one another in their belief, their stories and their worships.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/05/19/ares-and-athena/

Mesopotamia was in turmoil during the third millennium BCE. The conquest of Sargon the Great resulted in the formation of the world’s first great empire. Akkad grew to be one of the world’s largest cities, and northern and southern Mesopotamia were united for the first time in history. Enheduanna, Sargo of Akkad’s daughter, is a fascinating character in this historical setting.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/05/16/enheduanna/

The word ‘shaman’ conjures up images of medicine men smoking peace pipes, dancing in a trance to drumming around a fire or African sangomas, adorned with leopard skin, throwing dollose bones and shells to divine and drinking beer from calabash.  This is far removed from the concept of sophisticated, regal shaman queens of the East in China, Japan and Korea who used their talent and connection with the ‘Otherworld’ to the benefit of their kingdoms and populace.  Later this feminine healing power was suppressed and persecuted by religious men, who regarded it as a threat to their faith. 

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/05/12/shaman-queens/

Courtly love was sensual love for an unattainable, idealised lady, but it was essentially pure, which prohibited physical consummation – imagine all of the angst, desire, and jealousy that could incite passion if there was no physical release. That was the theory, at least.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/05/09/the-service-of-ladies-the-story-of-ulrich-von-liechtenstein/

Fredegund (545 – 597 CE), the queen consort of Chilperic I – the Merovingian Frankish king of Soissons, has a reputation of being one of the most bloodthirsty and sadistic women in history. Accounts by Gregory, the Bishop of Tours (539 – 594 CE), depict her as a murderous lady who achieved power through her husband and used it to keep his kingdom in a state of war for more than forty years. She was also known as an early exponent of dirty warfare who relied heavily on poison and other covert operations

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/05/05/fredegund/

In the late 20th century, the concept of a link between appearance and “immoral” behaviour fully emerged, rendering the saying “never judge a book by its cover” pointless. This time, rather than mythical kings, it was minority groups that were frequently targeted.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/05/02/immorality-and-the-rise-of-the-wolf-ladies/

Sword dancing has found its place in many different cultures. In Asia, the sword dance is often used for plot descriptions and characterization in Chinese opera. In Pakistan and Nepal, military dances are still commonly performed for weddings and other occasions. In India, the Paika Akhada (“warrior school”) previously used to train Odisha warriors, is performed in the streets during festivals. Sword dances are also performed all over Europe, particularly in areas corresponding to the boundaries of what used to be the Holy Roman Empire.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/04/28/dance-of-the-swords/

There was silence for a moment after the matron appeared—and then the “Diggers,” like one man, sprang up and cheered and cheered…

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/04/25/at-the-heart-of-war-stories-of-women-of-anzac/