A Tea Party

     If by some warp of time I could invite my three special ladies to tea, the party would dwarf that of Alice in Wonderland.
     Tanaquil, the 700 bc Etruscan princess, wife of Roman King, Tarquin.
     Julia, the fiery political savvy daughter of the Emperor Augustus, first century century ad.
     Cartimandua, the Brigantes Queen in 40 ad when her Celtic tribe was being swallowed up by an ever encroaching Rome.
      I see me sitting at the table with these three strong women, who operate in a man's world with drive, ingenuity and success equal to any male counterpart.  In short order we put aside chit-chat about frivolous women's concerns. Without tiptoeing fanfare we get to the real issues which unite us.  For despite time and space differences we four face the same problems. How do we assure a world for our offspring-- a world that is peaceful and hospitable?
     But what does peaceful mean to each of us? It takes no brains to see that an ancient Roman soldier killed on the German-Roman border is just as dead as one killed in today's Iraqi conflict. The Roman lad in Tarquin's army and the Celtic warrior bleed with the same blood. For war is war is war. And in the last analysis how we women view it depends on our place in time and the scheme of things.
     Julia, the most widely traveled and the most cosmopolitan, comes from a time labeled as 'Pax Romana' because it followed decades of civil war. In contrast to the Roman matron who followed faithfully and submissively the ambitions of  her man, Julia represents a new kind of woman. She rebels against the constraints of 'a woman's place'.  She has never known the inconveniences of war; she relishes in the luxuries of life that her position and wealth afford.
     Cartimandua has known war.  She has been a part of  the unending  tribal conflicts among Celtic tribes of Britain; she has witnessed the ever encroaching Romans.  She has seen it close up.  For the Brigantes, as do most Celtic tribes, do not relegate any of their women to the sidelines of life, rule or war.  Cartimandua is the reigning queen of her tribe.
     Tanaquil, against the advice and wishes of her aristocratic Etruscan family, married an alien, the son of  a Greek trader. That he was a very rich alien mattered not. Shunned by her family and friends she convinced her husband to leave flourishing Tarquinia and move to the 'mud hut' city of Rome. Her husband with wealth, know how and charm captured the city and became king. She knows well the cost of developing a city.
     And I-- I am privileged to learn from these remarkable women-- just what is the legacy of war.

To visit the biographies of these women, go to
IONICBOOKS

Meet Cartimandua

     My idea of the perfect hen party crosses time and space with ease. Julia of the first century AD and Tanaquil seven hundred years earlier (already introduced) are 'musts'. 'Musts' because they are soul mates who not only survive but thrive in their male dominated worlds. We now add a third member.  Far from Rome, concurrent wth Julia, is a Celtic princess, Cartimandua of Brigantia, (a tribe of Britain).  In spirit she rivals Julia and Tanaquil.
     Cartimandua was but a child when her father, the king, dragged her from her play to meet a new prince from a neighboring tribe.
     "It's a young man from the Carvetii. He will live with us for some time."
     "Not that again," she said as she tried to wipe her dirt covered face. "I hate these stupid boys you bring in.  They're mean and nasty."
     The king's laughter rang out as he wiped dirt from her nose. "And you're clean and sweet?  Now Carti, you know we have these agreements with the federation. And don't forget your brother has just left for his stay with the Carvetii. Would you have me go back on my agreement? Think for a minute just what that would mean."  She scowled and lowered her eyes. "And while you're thinking about it, wipe that grimace from you face and determine to be civil.  Who knows, you just might like young Venutius."
     Cartimandua's nod belied her determination to hate this interloper into her world.  How different could he be from the others? They were all the same- boring and ugly.  Far from she would wish as a play mate, a companion or a friend- and gods forbid a husband. Overly confident, usually unattractive, one after the other they came, from one tribe or another.  This new Carvetii would be no different.  And she, a mere girl, would have no choice but to accept him. She would not make it easy for him.
     Both Julia and Tanaquil will like her.  You will like her and can get to know her by going to Ionicbooks.com.