Hello everyone! Here’s a post a little bit like sophofbread’s question page. Below is a list of a few things I’ve come across in my weird wanderings into life, mostly through books, TV or the internet, and have either wanted to know more about or not known what they were. I’ve also added some brief explanations as to what or who the listed things are. So without further ado, let’s go…
Dementia
Dementia is a type of brain condition, which causes problems with thinking and remembering things (such as short-term memory loss, difficulty with visuospatial skills {judging distances and suchlike}, and indecisiveness). It most commonly affects people over 65, but anyone can get dementia, and it is caused by a wide variety of things, but most commonly Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia gets steadily worse over time and, although there are ways to deal with it, there is no known cure.
The Holocaust
The Holocaust was the mass murder (or genocide) of over six million Jews and millions of other people (such as communists, mentally or physically disabled people and homosexuals), on the order of Adolf Hitler. The aim was to wipe out certain groups of people who didn’t believe in the same things as the Nazi party, and it took place between 1933 and 1944.
Jason and the Golden Fleece
The story of Jason and the Golden Fleece is an ancient Greek myth following the hero Jason and his quest to find the Golden Fleece, a magical sheep skin which has he power to heal any injury.
In the tale, Jason travels to the kingdom of Iolkos, of which he is the rightful king, and approaches his usurping uncle King Pelias, asking for his throne back. Pelias agrees, but only if Jason brings him ‘the Fleece of the Golden Ram’. Jason then sets of on a quest for the said fleece, on a ship named the Argo, with a company of around 100 ‘Argonauts’.
After a very eventful journey, Jason and the Argonauts arrive at the land of Colchin, and ask the current owner of the Fleece, King Aietes, to give it to them. Aietes says he will give it to him if Jason completes a series of almost impossible tasks. Aietes’s daughter Medea, who has now fallen in love with Jason, offers to help him with these tasks, and together the pair complete them all. Aietes confesses to Medea that he was never actually going to give away the Golden Fleece, and planned to kill Jason and his crew instead. Medea tells Jason this and they retrieve the Fleece and flee, with the rest of the Argonauts.
When the heroes return to Ioklos, Jason find that his uncle, the king, has killed his father and his mother had died of grief. Medea kills King Pelias and she and Jason go into exile in Corinth. However, as Jason was never really in love with Medea, he deserts her and marries the King of Corinth’s daughter. In revenge, Medea kills her and Jason’s children, and his tale ends when the beam of the Argo falls on top of Jason, and he is killed.
Sisyphus
Sisyphus was a character in Greek mythology, and is famous for his eternal punishment in Tartaurus (the part of the Underworld for the worst souls), where he was forced to push a heavy boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll down and start all over again. This was the result of many sins in his lifetime, including tricking the god Thanatos (god of death) into chaining himself up and preventing anybody in the overworld dying. Thanatos was eventually freed by Ares, god of war, who was tired of his opponents in battle never dying.
Words Shakespeare Invented
William Shakespeare invented over 1700 words which we still use on a everyday basis, including: bump, hurried, addiction, olympian, lonely, worthless, generous, disheartened, gloomy, dawn, torture, fashionable … the list goes on!
Brian Blessed
Brian Blessed is an English actor, known for his roles in the movies Hamlet (1996), Tarzan (1996), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). He has particularly starred in a lot of Shakespeare-adapted films, and is known for his booming voice and hearty portrayals.
Führer
Führer is the German word for leader, or guide. Nowadays it is most commonly associated with Adolf Hitler, and in some languages it is used exclusively as a synonym for Adolf Hitler.
Brevity
Brevity means the exact and correct use of words and grammar in writing or speech. It can also mean the swift passage of time.
I hope you enjoyed this post, and learnt something from it – I certainly did! I have a second part planned which I will post as soon as possible.
Special thanks to (and resources if you’d like more information on these subjects):
Alzheimer’s Society – What is Dementia?
CBBC Newsround – What was the Holocaust?
BBC – History – Jason and the Golden Fleece
Sisyphus – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Words Shakespeare Invented – Shakespeare Online
Brian Blessed – IMDb
Führer – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Home-ed Heads! 