15th Century map of Anatolia

Fig. 1 Anatolia or Asia Minor, part or modern day Turkey. 

This is a 15th century map showing various regions and names by which the Greeks knew them. Along the west coast you can see the well-known Greek areas and cities. The Ionian Greeks settled a large part of the coast. Athenians identified themselves with the Ionian tribes. 

In the central south west you can see Pamphylia. Plato writes that Er came from this place. Here is my show on "The Myth of Er": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQAGtHNoqRE

North of Pamphylia you will see Galatia. This place is named after Celtic Gauls who settled there. Many are surprised to know that Celtic peoples settled in this area.

The area of Phrygia gives us the name of the "Phrygian cap," a symbol of liberty. This hat imagery is used on some Roman coins, it is associated with the French Revolution, and is included in the Seal of the U.S. Senate, just to name a few places it can be found. Once you begin looking for it, you will begin to notice it is a well-used image in western culture. Even the cartoon classic, the Smurfs, uses Phrygian caps on their little blue subjects, or most of them. Click here for a fun look at symbols used in the Smurfs cartoon.

Fig. 2 Mithras wearing a Phrygian cap 2nd-3rd century CE (CIMRM 641, Louvre).

Click here to listen to my ancient themed series Ancient Light.

Ancient Light Live at SpoFest, June 12, 2016 "The Myth of Er"

"The Myth of Er" Ancient Light #12



SpoFest 5th Birthday Celebration, Montserrat Vineyard, Montserrat Vineyards, June 12, 2016.



Topics: Mythology, Religion, Christianity, Er, Plato, Jesus, Christ, John the Baptist, Judaism, Messianic, Afterlife, Heaven, Hell, Tartarus, Philosophy, Reincarnation, Judgement.

The Mystery of Luke 3:28

Luke 3:28 "the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er"

Some early Christians thought that an ancestor of Joseph was a man who died and came back to life to reveal a message to mankind about the afterlife. Listen to "The Myth of Er" here: https://youtu.be/GQAGtHNoqRE 

Mine Slave - The Dark Side of Ancient Light [Haiku

Mine Slave - The Dark Side of Ancient Light [Haiku & History]

 Life in the light deny

 Moving closer to Hades

 Inching day by day

There were ancient slaves who were like family members, but there were slaves whose youth were wasted away in the mines, extracting precious metals, usually for a king or city, who often hire a contractor to supply the labor. This contractor could harness and hire large amounts of slaves for major projects. In many ways, the ancient world was built on the backs of slaves.

Barren Wife - The Dark Side of Ancient Light [Haiku & History] Day Seven!

Barren Wife - The Dark Side of Ancient Light [Haiku & History]



Barren wife



 Worry at her loom

 Barren wife pregnant slave girls

 Worry at her womb



The Greek wife was often depicted at her loom. I often imagined how the wife could spend her anxiety and worry at the loom, working out her pains while threading at the wheel or weaving back and forth like a spider busily building a web.



Gender in the ancient world. Weaving & thread making. Family & Childbirth.

Fresh Slave - The Dark Side of Ancient Light [Haiku

Haiku & History Day Six "Fresh Slave"



Fresh Slave - The Dark Side of Ancient Light [Haiku & History]



 A pretty young thing

 Last Seen wandering the coast

 Father calls her name



Slavery could be a lucrative trade, even for those who do not specialize in it. One could kidnap a pretty girl and sell her for a pretty penny. The Greek classical tradition is filled with abduction scenes, often near the coast. Then again, ancient Greek life was hardly ever far from the sea. Those landlocked Arcadians might disagree.

[Ancient History] Steve Dotson #2 Spofest, Cafe Blackadder, April 1, 2016

Ancient Joke #2 - Original Prose: "Alexander the Great...Drag Queen" - "Ask Not What Your Gods Can Do For You"