This is, in fact, a press release for the stories of the Roman Ladies: Julia of the Roman Empire, Tanaquil of the Roman Monarchy, and Cartimandua of Roman Britain.
I waited far too long to meet with what we had decided to call "The Wine Klatch Group" My preoccupation with my own emotional state at dealing with my husband's leukemia immobilized me for a while. But it was my husband himself who told me to get off my duff and get to work, So I got off my duff. After I made the decision to call up my ladies, I worded and re-worded in my mind just how I would tell them. I had decided to live up their expectations that I would present them to the world. I wanted them to know their stories were available to the world via E-Book on Amazon.
We were barely assembled when all three were competing to talk first, all annoyed that I had been silent for so long. It was Julia, who tossing her head from one side to the other as only she could do, said, "We're acting like nothing but Harpies, with claws extended, grasping for the first attack. Disgraceful, Ladies."
Laughter erupted. It was good be back together. "Now," she continued, "I suggest we stop out clatter and let Jewellee tell us in her own way whatever it is she has to tell us. You're on Jewellee, make it good."
All eyes focused on me. How did I start? Would one or another or all three be offended with my first choice? After what seemed an oppressively long silence, in unison came, "Well?"
I looked from one to the other. "I have E-Books about all of you. I'm trying to decide how to go. I could go in chronological order, or alphabetical order, or in the order I wrote them."
"Or," Julia said with an impatience in her voice that surely must have shaken even her father, the Emperor Augustus, "you could stop stalling and just start."
"And remember," Tanaquil said, "we have no idea of what an E-Book is. We're in the scroll age. So go in any order you want. Just get on with it. The three of us are all ears."
"But there are four."
"Four and who pray is the fourth. God forbid it's Cleopatra. She's been done to death with press coverage. Since the day of her birth I should imagine"
"No," I said. "It's your -- I suppose the word is grandaughter. Anyway it's Tullia." Tanaquil stiffened. I continued, "I don't like her, and never enjoyed her company as her story took form. That is why I never invited her into our group. I will start with her and be done with it and with her. From Amazon Kindle Publishing you can find an E-Book by Jewellee Cardwell titled "FLIGHT OF VULTURES. it is the story of Tullia and her husband Tarquin II and their incredibly cruel seizure of power, which precipatated the fall of the Roman Monarchy and ushered in the Roman Republic, which stood for nearly 500 years until Julia's father upset it."
"Me first," Julia said, "or now I guess it's second.
"You Julia are presented to the world as the great lady you are, honest, smart, beautiful, ambitious-- and a little spoiled by your money and position."
"Do I want to know more? Will I like me?"
"Oh you will like you as you are presented in THE EMPEROR'S DAUGHTER."
And Tanaquil you will like you in WHEN EAGLES SOARED."
Tanaquil chuckled, "You did the story about the Eagle that snatched Lucumo's hat?"
"Indeed I did. After all it was you who said it was an omen that he was to rule Rome." Turning to Cartimandua I said, "And I told the world what your nickname is."
"Not Sleek Pony, you didn't."
"But I assure you you will like yourself in ROMAN CELTIC QUEEN".
Now I was smiling, happy in the pleased looks on their faces. "Yes LadiEs, I have immortalized you as I promised. The whole world can know you if the check out Jewellee Cardwell's account of you on Amazon Kindle Publishing."
Monday, October 24, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
How Julia, Cartimandua and Tanaquil are known
In the past three weeks Julia, Cartimandua and Tanaquil have each urged me to keep in touch. Whether they missed me or each other, or just liked the attention, I will never know with certainty. Not that it matters. Our meetings bridge time and distance (700 BC to 2011 AD is time, Britain, Rome and America is distance). The meetings fill me, and I hope the other three, with the palliative joy of communion with kindred spirits. The exigencies of daily life, consuming all my energy these past few weeks, slipped into the outer edges of my mind. Front and center during our next visit were: Julia's problems with her Emperor-father, Augustus, playing god with her life; Cartimandua's struggles to keep her concern for her British tribe in its dealings with an ever encroaching 1st century Roman takeover separated from her tumultuous personal happiness: Tanaquil's tight rope role in making Tarquinius King of Rome, a century before the other two. These women made me feel insignificant. Who was I? What had I accomplished that I should hope to be counted among their number?
I had but uttered my doubts when Julia, in Julia style, said, "Ye gods. Do you not know that you are the nucleus of this group? How else would we exist except for you and people like you?"
My ego stretched; my soul soared. Was it possible? In the end my insecurity won. "How can you say that? In the scheme of things I have done what, compared to you, who each in your own ways have shaken the world? True some people know who I am, but not like you. The whole world, now and for ages, knows you."
Julia cackled as only Julia can. Tanaquil with a controlled smile said, "And how are we known?"
How were they known? I realized they were known because they are held in the repeated memories of generation after generation. Their lives are preserved in the pictures, songs, teachings and writings of artists, writers and teachers and passed down. Classic teachers and writers like me. My ego regained its equilibrium. I will continue to share my stories of the remarkable women of history. Everyone should know the real Julia, the real Tanaquil, the real Cartimandua. And others who have not yet joined our group. Until the next time.
I had but uttered my doubts when Julia, in Julia style, said, "Ye gods. Do you not know that you are the nucleus of this group? How else would we exist except for you and people like you?"
My ego stretched; my soul soared. Was it possible? In the end my insecurity won. "How can you say that? In the scheme of things I have done what, compared to you, who each in your own ways have shaken the world? True some people know who I am, but not like you. The whole world, now and for ages, knows you."
Julia cackled as only Julia can. Tanaquil with a controlled smile said, "And how are we known?"
How were they known? I realized they were known because they are held in the repeated memories of generation after generation. Their lives are preserved in the pictures, songs, teachings and writings of artists, writers and teachers and passed down. Classic teachers and writers like me. My ego regained its equilibrium. I will continue to share my stories of the remarkable women of history. Everyone should know the real Julia, the real Tanaquil, the real Cartimandua. And others who have not yet joined our group. Until the next time.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Tanaquil Shares How She Was Widowed
We met with no idea of what we would discuss. Facing the uncertain nature of my husband's condition, I had little to offer but listening. It was Julia, wonderful unrestrained Julia, who asked Tanaquil how she became a widow. Tanaquil seemed hesitant in light of my plight. I assured her it was okay. And her story unfolded.
The entrance court to the palace was empty except for one guard posted to await Tarquinius' summons for escort back to the Curia for the afternoon meeting of the Senate. In the courtyard the dozen lictors sprawled on the ground under ivy covered trellises awaiting that summons. Outside the palace entrance all along the street half sleeping residents leaned against the walls of closed silent houses.
Two ruffians, armed with axes commonly used by rustics, attempted to enter the palace. They were stopped by the insistent guard. They began to argue between themselves as to the next move. When they raised their voices the guard ordered them to leave. The raised their voices more and soon there was such a ruckus that on either side of the door crowds gathered, lictors and slaves inside the palace, extra guards and residents on the outside. The ruffians raised their voices ever and ever louder and began to fling their axes. Lictors from the inside and guards from the outside surrounded them and restrained their physical activity. But they were unable to quell their shrieks. For one after the other, then both together, the yelled at the top of their voices for the king.
They were summoned to the king's office. Held before the king by guards the ruffians were at last silent.
"Now," said Tarquinius, "let us see if we can get to the bottom of this unseemly childish escapade. I am going to order you released. You will stand at peace, or I have you restrained in a way you will not like. Then I shall hear what each of you has to say . I will hear first one and then the other. Is that agreeable?" They nodded. "Each of you will remain quiet and in control while the other speaks. Is that agreeable?"
With lowered heads in an apparant show of shame both nodded.
The guards released their tight grip on the men but they remained alert. Neither ruffian moved. "Now you," Tarquinius said to the shorter of the two. "come here. Now what is the cause of this disgusting display?"
Lifting his head the man breathed deeply as if calming his spirit and collecting his thoughts. Finally he said, "It all started before the beginning of the month. I had these three young ewes--good ewes, anybody'll tell you that if you just ask. For since their first lambing they all three gave me twins-- and one one time triplets. That was three times already and with no trouble at all."
The taller of the two paced slowly back and forth behind Tarquinius. He made no noise save the sound of his boots on the tile floor.
"Siccius-- that's Siccius back there." He pointed to the pacing man. Tarquinius did not turn. He merely nodded. "Siccius got it in his head he'd swap in some pitisome worn out ewes for my prizes. And he did it. Just as bold as you like but I found out the same day. And the ones he slipped in have shaggy skimpy wool and they have lost most of their teeth. I bet they can't even lamb anymore, and if they can I know they won't be giving me no twins or triplets."
Siccius continued to pace, occassionally swinging his axe, but otherwise in control. The guards relaxed, sensing the king had the situation under control. Tarquinius rolled his eyes and sighed. "Just get to the end and spare me the petty details."
Siccius in one fluid movement took a step forward behind the king. He lifted his axe with both hands and brought it down with such force that it split Tarquinius' skull. Leaving the weapon in the wound both men made a dash for the door and fled as guards knelt before their fallen dying king, his head still holding the axe. And that was how it happened.
"How awful," Cartimandua said. Julia's eyes were filled with tears. "But did they get away with it?" I asked
Tanaquil assured us the villians were found and brought to justice. "But it did not bring back my husband," Tanaquil said.
The entrance court to the palace was empty except for one guard posted to await Tarquinius' summons for escort back to the Curia for the afternoon meeting of the Senate. In the courtyard the dozen lictors sprawled on the ground under ivy covered trellises awaiting that summons. Outside the palace entrance all along the street half sleeping residents leaned against the walls of closed silent houses.
Two ruffians, armed with axes commonly used by rustics, attempted to enter the palace. They were stopped by the insistent guard. They began to argue between themselves as to the next move. When they raised their voices the guard ordered them to leave. The raised their voices more and soon there was such a ruckus that on either side of the door crowds gathered, lictors and slaves inside the palace, extra guards and residents on the outside. The ruffians raised their voices ever and ever louder and began to fling their axes. Lictors from the inside and guards from the outside surrounded them and restrained their physical activity. But they were unable to quell their shrieks. For one after the other, then both together, the yelled at the top of their voices for the king.
They were summoned to the king's office. Held before the king by guards the ruffians were at last silent.
"Now," said Tarquinius, "let us see if we can get to the bottom of this unseemly childish escapade. I am going to order you released. You will stand at peace, or I have you restrained in a way you will not like. Then I shall hear what each of you has to say . I will hear first one and then the other. Is that agreeable?" They nodded. "Each of you will remain quiet and in control while the other speaks. Is that agreeable?"
With lowered heads in an apparant show of shame both nodded.
The guards released their tight grip on the men but they remained alert. Neither ruffian moved. "Now you," Tarquinius said to the shorter of the two. "come here. Now what is the cause of this disgusting display?"
Lifting his head the man breathed deeply as if calming his spirit and collecting his thoughts. Finally he said, "It all started before the beginning of the month. I had these three young ewes--good ewes, anybody'll tell you that if you just ask. For since their first lambing they all three gave me twins-- and one one time triplets. That was three times already and with no trouble at all."
The taller of the two paced slowly back and forth behind Tarquinius. He made no noise save the sound of his boots on the tile floor.
"Siccius-- that's Siccius back there." He pointed to the pacing man. Tarquinius did not turn. He merely nodded. "Siccius got it in his head he'd swap in some pitisome worn out ewes for my prizes. And he did it. Just as bold as you like but I found out the same day. And the ones he slipped in have shaggy skimpy wool and they have lost most of their teeth. I bet they can't even lamb anymore, and if they can I know they won't be giving me no twins or triplets."
Siccius continued to pace, occassionally swinging his axe, but otherwise in control. The guards relaxed, sensing the king had the situation under control. Tarquinius rolled his eyes and sighed. "Just get to the end and spare me the petty details."
Siccius in one fluid movement took a step forward behind the king. He lifted his axe with both hands and brought it down with such force that it split Tarquinius' skull. Leaving the weapon in the wound both men made a dash for the door and fled as guards knelt before their fallen dying king, his head still holding the axe. And that was how it happened.
"How awful," Cartimandua said. Julia's eyes were filled with tears. "But did they get away with it?" I asked
Tanaquil assured us the villians were found and brought to justice. "But it did not bring back my husband," Tanaquil said.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
A Hitch in my Plans
My idea of regular meetings with Julia, Carti and Tanaquil was dealt a blow. My husband was diagnosed with leukemia-- the nasty kind. My time was filled with doctors, hospital personnel and managing the homefront by myself. Finally we did get to meet. Julia was of great comfort. She shared her own 'husbands in trouble'. Her accounts seemed to soothe me. She survived the illness and death of two husbands. And even though they are not at all like mine I feel a connection.
"My first was Marcellus", she said. "A cousin destined to succeed my father Augustus as Emperor of Rome. Marcellus was little more than a boy. I was a starry eyed teenage." As it developed Marcellus fell victim to his sense of entitlement and became what many called 'an overindulged brat'. He never had the chance to outgrow adolescent foolery. While his Uncle Augustus was away on empire business, Marcellus fell ill. His illness lingered and worsened. He died. A common belief of 'foul play' permeated the city. The notion was that Augustus's wife Livia had a hand in his death. It was known far and wide that Livia wanted her son, Tiberius, from a previous marriage to succeed my father, Augustus. And it was Livia who nursed Marcellus through a simple stomach upset, turned bad and then terminal.
"I was devastated," Julia said. "For though the marriage was arranged, I treasured my time with Marcellus. I think what I liked most was the sex. He was my first sex partner. And the sex was phenomenal. Livia accused me of harlot behavior."
But Marcellus died. Tata gave me little mourning time before he married me to Agrippa, a man of Tata's age, his colleague in establishing the Empire after so many years of civil war. Tata needed Agrippa and to keep him in service he needed me to be in Agrippa's service.
Agrippa was not the lover Marcellus was, but he was fertile. Five children we had in short order, two girls and three boys with claims to the emperorship. His death came after an illness, at an age more appropriate for death than Marcellus's was."
As we talked I was so engrossed I could hardly wait for more. We decided--we even vowed to meet often-- as my time around my husband's chemo allows.
"My first was Marcellus", she said. "A cousin destined to succeed my father Augustus as Emperor of Rome. Marcellus was little more than a boy. I was a starry eyed teenage." As it developed Marcellus fell victim to his sense of entitlement and became what many called 'an overindulged brat'. He never had the chance to outgrow adolescent foolery. While his Uncle Augustus was away on empire business, Marcellus fell ill. His illness lingered and worsened. He died. A common belief of 'foul play' permeated the city. The notion was that Augustus's wife Livia had a hand in his death. It was known far and wide that Livia wanted her son, Tiberius, from a previous marriage to succeed my father, Augustus. And it was Livia who nursed Marcellus through a simple stomach upset, turned bad and then terminal.
"I was devastated," Julia said. "For though the marriage was arranged, I treasured my time with Marcellus. I think what I liked most was the sex. He was my first sex partner. And the sex was phenomenal. Livia accused me of harlot behavior."
But Marcellus died. Tata gave me little mourning time before he married me to Agrippa, a man of Tata's age, his colleague in establishing the Empire after so many years of civil war. Tata needed Agrippa and to keep him in service he needed me to be in Agrippa's service.
Agrippa was not the lover Marcellus was, but he was fertile. Five children we had in short order, two girls and three boys with claims to the emperorship. His death came after an illness, at an age more appropriate for death than Marcellus's was."
As we talked I was so engrossed I could hardly wait for more. We decided--we even vowed to meet often-- as my time around my husband's chemo allows.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Let the party begin
My wildest dream-- time travel is possible. I had an afternoon (one of what I hope will be many) with three of my favorite all time heroines. Tanaquil, 700bc Etruscan princess; Julia 1st century bc/ad daughter of the emperor Augustus: Cartimandua 1st century ad ruler of the Celtic tribe, the Brigantes. From different times in history, varied stations in life, different religions-- we had little in common. Or did we?
As trite as it may sound on our first meeting we talked of our first loves. Or in some cases our only loves. Julia was effusive. Although she was in a marriage arranged by her father for political reasons, she reveled in her marriage to her cousin, Marcellus.
"I liked his company for he was full of fun, far removed from the stodgy ways of so many people around my father. Any number of whom my father might consider as a mate for me if he needed it. But he was set on his nephew succeeding him. I liked the idea of one day being married to the emperor.I have to admit it was the sex that was wowing. He was my first. I suppose they are always special. To be honest I think it was my step mother's objection that did it. Livia was so power hungry and so 'her family' concerned that she was determined to have one of her sons succeed my father. Drusus, the younger, didn't like me very much. And the older one, Tiberius was so ---" She was silent so long that we all thought she had forgotten we were there. Finally she said, "so dour, yes that's the word."
"So you loved Marcellus?" I asked
She tossed her head, flicking her hair in a most annoying manner, laughed and then fell serious. "Love him? You," she said to me "live in the wrong time or the wrong place or both. This love thing-- what is it? How does one describe it?"
I barely began to answer when Tanaquil interrupted. "Or maybe it was you, Julia, who lived in the wrong time or place. I know this-- what did you call it -- This love thing."
"Pray, do tell us then," Julia said as she plopped yet another piece of cheese in her mouth.
Tanaquil's eyes focused on the space behind Cartimandua. A faint smile, closed eyes, and a heavy sigh. "It was the first time I was allowed to move around the arena by myself. It was a wrestling match. My best friend who had agreed to sit with me abandoned me as soon as we were out sight of our parents. and went with her would-be boyfriend. Wandering down a row of seats looking for someone to sit with I tripped and fell into the lap --" She paused. "Of the most handsome man I had ever seen. By the end of the wrestling matches I was hopelessly and forever in love with an utterly unacceptable man."
"But we all know he was to be king of Rome. How unacceptable can that be?" Julia asked.
"But not an prince in Etruria. Despite his charm, and he was charming, and his wealth, and he was fabulously wealthy, --despite all that I had fallen for an alien, and in the end I married the alien. You must know what that meant. But I was not to be done in by it. I refused to let myself and the man I married be relegated to second-calss citizenship. Together we left Tarquinia for the wilds of Rome-- a mud hut village at the time. That Julia is the 'love thing'."
Julia's lilting laugh was infectious. Cartimandua finally held up her hand to halt the laughter. "My love thing came late-- if it was a love thing. I can't imagine you'll find it of much comparison to what we just heard. It was my husband's armor bearer-- his second self, you might say. I used him as a spy when things were touchy between my husband and me. I used him for sport when I needed entertaining. I used him for revenge when I wanted to hurt my husband. He was more a sex thing than a love thing. Had things turned out differently in the political road I took, or had I never taken that road, who knows if my love might have been my husband." Cartimandua turned to Julia. "Had I never had to deal with your nephew or cousin or somthing of that nature. Had I never had to deal with Claudius and his men."
Julia erupted in laughter. "Claudius? You mean Cla-cla-claudius? Are we going to have a lot to talk about. Politics-- the glorious wicked world of politics. But not today, ladies. Not today. Today let's part with the love thing on our minds." Suddenly she caught her head in her hands. "Oh how rude I have been. You, Jewellee, tell us about your first love."
"Next time. There will be a next time?" We agreed to meet again and again in the future. You're all invited to join us.
To visit the biographies of these women, go to IONICBOOKS
As trite as it may sound on our first meeting we talked of our first loves. Or in some cases our only loves. Julia was effusive. Although she was in a marriage arranged by her father for political reasons, she reveled in her marriage to her cousin, Marcellus.
"I liked his company for he was full of fun, far removed from the stodgy ways of so many people around my father. Any number of whom my father might consider as a mate for me if he needed it. But he was set on his nephew succeeding him. I liked the idea of one day being married to the emperor.I have to admit it was the sex that was wowing. He was my first. I suppose they are always special. To be honest I think it was my step mother's objection that did it. Livia was so power hungry and so 'her family' concerned that she was determined to have one of her sons succeed my father. Drusus, the younger, didn't like me very much. And the older one, Tiberius was so ---" She was silent so long that we all thought she had forgotten we were there. Finally she said, "so dour, yes that's the word."
"So you loved Marcellus?" I asked
She tossed her head, flicking her hair in a most annoying manner, laughed and then fell serious. "Love him? You," she said to me "live in the wrong time or the wrong place or both. This love thing-- what is it? How does one describe it?"
I barely began to answer when Tanaquil interrupted. "Or maybe it was you, Julia, who lived in the wrong time or place. I know this-- what did you call it -- This love thing."
"Pray, do tell us then," Julia said as she plopped yet another piece of cheese in her mouth.
Tanaquil's eyes focused on the space behind Cartimandua. A faint smile, closed eyes, and a heavy sigh. "It was the first time I was allowed to move around the arena by myself. It was a wrestling match. My best friend who had agreed to sit with me abandoned me as soon as we were out sight of our parents. and went with her would-be boyfriend. Wandering down a row of seats looking for someone to sit with I tripped and fell into the lap --" She paused. "Of the most handsome man I had ever seen. By the end of the wrestling matches I was hopelessly and forever in love with an utterly unacceptable man."
"But we all know he was to be king of Rome. How unacceptable can that be?" Julia asked.
"But not an prince in Etruria. Despite his charm, and he was charming, and his wealth, and he was fabulously wealthy, --despite all that I had fallen for an alien, and in the end I married the alien. You must know what that meant. But I was not to be done in by it. I refused to let myself and the man I married be relegated to second-calss citizenship. Together we left Tarquinia for the wilds of Rome-- a mud hut village at the time. That Julia is the 'love thing'."
Julia's lilting laugh was infectious. Cartimandua finally held up her hand to halt the laughter. "My love thing came late-- if it was a love thing. I can't imagine you'll find it of much comparison to what we just heard. It was my husband's armor bearer-- his second self, you might say. I used him as a spy when things were touchy between my husband and me. I used him for sport when I needed entertaining. I used him for revenge when I wanted to hurt my husband. He was more a sex thing than a love thing. Had things turned out differently in the political road I took, or had I never taken that road, who knows if my love might have been my husband." Cartimandua turned to Julia. "Had I never had to deal with your nephew or cousin or somthing of that nature. Had I never had to deal with Claudius and his men."
Julia erupted in laughter. "Claudius? You mean Cla-cla-claudius? Are we going to have a lot to talk about. Politics-- the glorious wicked world of politics. But not today, ladies. Not today. Today let's part with the love thing on our minds." Suddenly she caught her head in her hands. "Oh how rude I have been. You, Jewellee, tell us about your first love."
"Next time. There will be a next time?" We agreed to meet again and again in the future. You're all invited to join us.
To visit the biographies of these women, go to IONICBOOKS
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
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
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
Monday, March 7, 2011
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.
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.
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