Gates of Hades - читать бесплатно онлайн полную версию книги автора Gregg Loomis (ч. notes)

Примечания

1

Other than Virgil, Homer, and other Greco-Roman poets, this is the first account of such a journey, certainly the first by a nonheroic personality or in the first person, although there is little doubt that real persons in addition to legendary ones (Aeneas, Odysseus, etc.) risked such a venture. Then, of course, there was Persephone, who, kidnapped by Pluto, lord of the underworld, was allowed to return to the earth each spring for a visit.

2

The modern name for the town, used for convienince’s sake. The Roman name was Bauli.

3

The selling of sacrificial livestock was a mainstay of the priests and attendants at oracles and sibyls throughout the ancient world. Not all the animals purchased for this purpose were slaughtered, allowing any number of resales.

4

Cumae is the oldest Greek settlement yet found in Italy. The Cumae Sibyl was regarded as one of the two or three most important sources of divination in the ancient world and was held in equal or higher esteem than the oracle at Delphi in Greece.

5

The easy solution would seem to be simply asking the Sibyl, but oracles dealt only with secrets of the future, not the past. Possibly this division of labor kept more priests profitably occupied, not unlike the strict division of tasks favored by today’s labor unions.

6

The cave of the Sibyl at Cumae may be visited today. The approach is a number of equally wide pillars of stone and open space. In the afternoon sun, a person walking along this corridor would enter darkness and light at identical intervals, giving the illusion to the observer outside of alternately appearing and disappearing. We will further examine other tricks of showmanship designed to dazzle, or better yet, frighten, those who dealt with the cult of priests.

7

Doves, pigeons, and even swallows abound in ancient descriptions, symbols, and pictures of oracles. Since no form of prophecy can continue long without being right occasionally, many scholars believe that carrier birds were used to bring immediate news of far-off events that could then be “prophesied” weeks or even months before the news arrived.

8

While the oracle at Delphi supposedly made her forecasts under the influence of narcotic gases from a cleft in the earth, the Cumae Sibyl is commonly believed to have made her predictions while in an epileptic seizure.

9

By “translating” the ravings of an epileptic, the priests could often utilize the information gained as noted in 1, above. They were certainly adept at ambiguity.

10

The subucular is commonly translated as a shirt. Actually, it served more as an undergarment. Severenus was carrying his money in such an unusual way as to suggest he had reason to fear of robbers.

11

The long-short meter of the seven types of Latin verse.

12

Not to be confused with his father, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, senator and statesman.

13

Notably Actium, a sea battle in which the forces of Antony and Cleopatra were defeated 31 B.C.

14

A small pond that was the opening to the cistern common to villas and inns where the viaducts did not run or did not supply sufficient water.

15

Few things in Roman life were without possible significance in foretelling the future: the formation of a flight of birds, the frequency of croaking frogs, persons accidentally met on the street. Like most ancient cultures, the Romans used a number of methods to ascertain their fortunes: extispicy, or augury by inspection of animal entrails, particularly the liver, oracles, and omens. Interestingly, astrology did not become a popular method of divination in Rome until about the time of Christ, although other cultures — Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek — had seen the future in the stars for millennia.

16

A closet-sized, windowless room usually large enough to hold only the bed. Any activity other than sleeping was conducted elsewhere. A stone slab was covered with a stuffed cloth mattress.

17

Virgil’s Aeneid gives a similar description of such a room.

18

Alone, confronted by his fears, perpetual light, cramped and uncomfortable quarters, sleep deprivation, visited only by those bringing suste nance, at the mercy of unknown keepers — Tactus’s captivity bears a remarkable resemblance to so-called brainwashing techniques or modern interrogation methods designed to break down the subject’s resistance and perception of reality.

19

Pliny the Elder tells of a number of hallucinogenic plants with oracular connections, such as thorn apple, whose roots were made into a sort of tea; and henbane and nightshade (belladonna), both deadly poisons if used carelessly. Indeed, Greco-Roman oracular history is full of pilgrims to the underworld who never returned, their “spirits having been retained by other shades.” Other accounts tell of travelers to Hades whose dispositions were forever changed or who died within months of their return. Coincidence or misuse of drugs?

20

The skin, the body’s largest organ, is absorbent, as anyone who has ever used anything as common as suntan lotion knows. What is frequently overlooked is the skin’s ability to absorb drugs applied as salves or ointments.

21

The conical hats of religious penitents, medieval witches, and the Ku Klux Klan.

22

More likely to produce a credible likeness. By skillfully interrogating the pilgrim, the priests would learn something not only of the deceased’s appearance, but his personality.

23

See note 8, previous chapter.

24

Mistletoe had spiritual connotations throughout the ancient world. Since it bore berries in winter, when other plants were awaiting spring, it symbolized life amid death.

25

The origins of the Christian concept of hell as fire and brimstone?

26

Dictamuus albus, also known as dictamus fraxinella, native to Asia Minor and parts of southern Europe. The plant exudes a flammable vapor that is subject to spontaneous combustion of the gas without its own leaves being consumed. Likely this is the burning bush from which God spoke to Moses. Other flashing or sparking plants include henbane, white hellebore, and belladonna, all of which had their uses in oracular mysticism. It is odd that no one seems to have undertaken a study of self-combustible plants in modern times.

27

A craft used in nontidal waters made of skins stretched around a basketlike frame.

28

Severenus uses the word putrescere, the Latin verb for “to rot or putrefy.” Knowing what we do today of the area, it would be safe to assume the air was heavy with sulfuric fumes.

29

Consider the smoke from lamps or torches, the fumes previously alluded to, and the drugs he had been fed over the last few days.

30

A well-known scar easily reproduced by cosmetics?

31

Hearing.

32

Extra manum, literally, “out of hand.”

33

Greek god of dreams.

34

It could be speculated that the visitors to Hades who did not return were those who were skeptical of what they had seen and heard.

35

A rough equivalency. The actual words were “fifty by fifty heredia.” One hundred heredia equals approximately ten thousand square meters.

36

Ponds of fish, both fresh- and salt-water, were a competitive display of wealth among Romans with seaside villas. The occupants of these ponds were frequently edible, and the more uncommon the species, the better. At least one fulltime servant would be required to monitor the water level and temperature, feed, etc.

37

Since few fruit trees “tower,” it is likely Severenus refers to a date palm, which would have been imported from Africa, another Roman version of conspicuous consumption.

38

A color allowed only to senators and other nobles.

39

Abacus.

40

The villas of many wealthy noble Romans included a treasury, or thesaurus (from the Greek thesauros) within its walls. Usually small and windowless, it would also be where business was transacted.