Exotic and historical items intrigue certain people. They comb shops big and small and near and far to find unique mementos from the past or simply extraordinary pieces. There are those who collect war relics and memorabilia such as soldier hats, dog tags, uniforms, boots and personal accounts of past battles. Others are into medieval weapons and armor. Some have a fascination for glass figurines with their smooth sparkle and see-through simplicity. The privileged few who have the resources—and the means to do so—acquire and restore antique works of art and ornate furniture.
The Internet is a great place to find one-of-a-kind items. Shops with their matching merchandise are plentiful, and can be accessed at your convenience, anytime of the day. The fun lies in the hunt. Get started by typing in the item you covet in the search box, press enter, and presto! A list of sites greets you right away and invites you to explore.
Imaginations have been stimulated for years by the Arthurian legend—a young boy who removed a beautiful sword from a stone and became a magical king. Numerous novels and poetry have been penned about this exciting story. Some of the most well know writings are LeMorte de Arthur, The Once and Future King, and The Idyls of the King.
In the present day many movies have been presented about the legend. Some of the most recent are First Knight, The Mists of Avalon and perhaps the most well known movie of all, Camelot. There are many more movies based on this legend spanning back many years.
What is so inspirational about this early myth? Is it perhaps the belief that there is something bigger and better than our present situation? Or does the myth continue to inspire because the story is magical for everyone? The history includes an honorable leader, a beautiful queen, a magical right hand man and a cabinet of fearless knights.
Merlin, Arthur’s advisor, mentor and Vice President coached him so well that he was so advanced that he could pull a magical sword from a heavy stone. Merlin naturally became King Arthur’s major advisor because the magician made Arthur the King. As his closest advisor, Merlin was capable of turning anyone who disagreed with his King into a frog or even worse–a slimy snake. With Excalibur, Merlin and his band of mighty knights or generals, Arthur could defeat any enemy.
Eventually all good things come to an end. Camelot fell due to corruption from within. Arthur was defeated and the kingdom disintegrated. Although Arthur died and the perfect nation was no more, lore instills the hope that Arthur will someday return.
I certainly would like to live under Arthur’s leadership. If I hear of an individual that pulls a sword from a stone, it would get my attention. I do not think that will ever happen, but if I became aware of any leader who put his nation’s interest above his own political ambitions that act alone will be about as close to Arhur’s leadership as we will ever get.
Like most kids from Generation Y, my conception of medieval and fantasy themes is derived from my video gaming experiences. Growing up there were two distinct sects when it came to the realm of video games; Nintendo kids and Playstation kids. Depending on which side of the divide you fell on, you were probably either a fan of the Zelda series or the Final Fantasy series.
My loyalties were always with Nintendo, and as such I was a devout Zelda fan. I can vividly recall playing the Ocarina of Time video game for the first time and earning the first of the medieval fantasy swords in the game, the Kokiri Sword. While these reminiscences may seem trivial to many, video games are a fond memory for most of Generation Y.
Does your child hate history and think that its study is a waste of time? Most young children cannot understand the reasoning behind studying something that occurred many years ago.
All children seem to love a particular movie or game that has a historical significance, such as The Lord of the Rings, Excalibur, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, or whatever holds your child’s attention. My first venture into attempting to teach my child the value of history was the story of King Arthur and his great sword, Excalibur.
Although this is an allegory and a legend that owes its birth to a poet who wrote the story for Eleanor of Aquitaine, an early Queen of England, it certainly has relevance in this day and time. The magic of an ordinary young boy, Arthur, possessing the power to pull a beautiful jeweled sword from a stone, and in doing so, becoming the King of his country will hold a young child’s attention.
To make the story more entertaining, I bought a replica Excalibur sword. It was made of a material that was safe for a child. The name of the maker of this sword type of sword is Denix. Now latex swords, shields and even helmets are available for purchase.
There are many lessons that a child can take from the story of Camelot. However, there are some lessons that are too mature for a youngster. I read to my son selected stories from Sir Thomas Malory’s edition of Le Morte D’Arthur. There are now many volumes that are directed toward a child.
When I hear the name “Bowie” I immediately conjure up Ziggy Stardust and the movie Labryinth. For hunters, however, the term “bowie” is synonymous with the bowie knife. James Bowie was the first person to popularize the knife in the 19th Century, and ironically this is where David Bowie got his stage name.
Originally the bowie knife wasn’t a single design, but a series of blades that Jim Bowie was constantly improving. The defining feature of a bowie knife is its “Clip-point” tip, which gives the user enhanced control. Today bowies are mainly maintained by collectors and aficionados.
When I was cut from full-time to part-time at work recently, I tried to make the best of the situation. Since I had plenty of money saved up from years of careful financial management, I figured it was time to indulge in a new hobby. The community theater down the street was holding open auditions for Macbeth. I tried out for several parts and eventually received a call from the director. He offered me the role of Macduff, and I gladly accepted.
As it turned out, the theater was operating on a shoestring budget. Local arts funds were running short and cast members were encouraged to supplement their wardrobe with clothes from home. I went online and found a realistic Elizabethan doublet that caught the audience’s attention and never let up. Watching a tape of the performance later, it’s obvious I could use some work with my acting chops; still, it’s been fun to pursue a new challenge.
Readers of this blog are probably asking what do these three things have in common? Footballs are pigskin balls that young men use to play a popular game. Lances and swords on the other hand are ancient weapons that were utilized in many wars of the past.
Being very good at playing football entitles young men to many privileges. Highschool football players are some of the most popular boys around. At least that is the situation in the southern United States. These athletes are even more revered in college. It requires a certain toughness to play football, and it is likely one of the most dangerous sports.
In the Middle Ages, there were sports that nobles enjoyed watching as much as we enjoy football. These were tournaments which were thrilling but potentially dangerous for the contestants just like football. Christien de Troyes remarked in Yvain, or the Knight with the Lion, that “people are wont to rush up when they are eager to see swordplay.”
Some of the participants in this ancient sport were sons who would not inherit property or a title because they were not the first son. Often they participated in tournaments to make money just like our professional footballs players today. One of the most famous of these professional sword fighters was William Marsechal. Because he was the most powerful man with a sword, he acquired a castle and land through a marriage to a wealthy noble woman. Medieval times were not so different than the modern day. A powerful athlete often attracts money and beauty.
Many times wealthy young men played the game just for love of the sport or to prove their superiority in arms. The Plantagenets, a famous ruling family, of Medieval Britain participated in this dangerous sport. Richard the Lionheart was an avid participant in swordplay games and also jousting. He usually won. His brother, Geoffrey, however, was not so lucky; he was killed in a tournament . He suffered a broken neck when he was knocked from his horse with a lance. Had he not been addicted to this dangerous sport, the Plantagenet line of ruling monarchs would likely have been much changed. Richard, who became King of England was killed in a trivial skirmish at a very young age. Geoffrey would probably have acceded to the the throne at his brother’s death, and since he had children they would have been in line to rule the British Empire.
Things change but not dramatically. Certainly we live in a different age; we play different games than the Medieval athlete. The results of being great at a sport still apply. Rewards are waiting for the “best of the best.”
For more than 500 years, the Roman Empire served as an example of what Western civilization could be. The poets, politicians, artists and merchants were the absolute best at their respective occupations, unmatched elsewhere in the world. Soon after the Empire was founded, Rome ushered in an era of piece and prosperity that allowed its citizens to enjoy tremendous wealth and privilege.
None of that would have been possible without Rome’s military prowess, of course. As early as the Punic Wars, which were fought against Hannibal and the Carthaginian Empire around 200 BCE, Rome set itself apart as a well-disciplined and technologically advanced war machine. Roman armor was distinctive for mixing protective capability with lightness and maneuverability.
A few years ago, a popular movie restored the ancient kingdom of Sparta into the public consciousness. History buffs have always recognized the Spartans for their disciplined lifestyle and bravery in battle. In fact, the adjective spartan, meaning self-discipline and austerity, is now applied as a compliment. When the comic book adaptation “300” was released on the big screen, everyone was exposed to the might and lore of the Spartans.
Since the Spartan culture was almost entirely centered around battle acumen, it’s no surprise that their armor is still celebrated today for its practicality and aesthetics. The Spartan helmet in particular stands out as being unique. Its sturdy design is highlighted by a menacing appearance with a long nose piece extending halfway down the face.
The legend prevails that Rome ascended with the fall of Troy. Aenas, the famed Trojan, escaped the destruction of Troy and made his way to Italy where he married a princess. They bore two sons, Romulus and Remus; the boys were left to die by the Tiber river. A she-wolf saved them. They decided to consecrate a city by the river where the miraculous she-wolf saved them. They fought over the name of the city and Romulus son and thus began the powerful city-state of Rome.
Many historical events and persons of the ancient past are often shrouded in legend and they make great stories. Whatever the origins of Rome, it became one of the most powerful states that ever existed under the sun.
The Legionnaire was the foundation of the Roman army. The Legions of the early Roman army were an outstanding group, formidable in battle and in all areas of seige warfare. They were also excellent engineers; they built roads, bridges, and water systems for the empire.
They were professional soldiers who served with each other often for twenty years. They fought very hard for the empire, but they were more dedicated to their legion than to the state. The system worked well for Rome, because each Legionnaire fought his heart out for his comrades They were prohibited from marrying, so their loyalty was to their fellow soldiers After service of twenty years, they were allowed to retire with a pension and an allotment of land. Perhaps they married at this late stage of life.
They had the finest weapons of the day. They often made changes to make them more efficient. They wore a breast plate armor called lorica segmentata. It was made of iron strips that were held in place by leather strips. This replaced the solid breastplate which restricted movement. They wore an iron helmet with a peak to prevent blows to the head. They carried a colorful shield made of wood and metal. The Roman foot soldier carried three weapons. They carried a 7 foot javelin which is now referred to as a pilium. By their side was also a pugio ( small dagger) and a two foot short sword (gladius). On their feet they wore sandals with hobnails on the bottom. With this equipment they conquered most of the ancient world.
The Roman Legionnaire was powerful, dedicated to his legion, and a very effective fighting machine. The colorful Roman soldier is a popular character for reenactors or even with the individual that desires a unique Halloween costume.