The Philosopher's Stoned

26/03/2024

Listen to Spinal Tap.

20/02/2024

20/02/2024

Zangbeto are the traditional voodoo guardians of the night among the Ogu (or Egun) people of Benin, Togo and Nigeria. A traditional police and security institution, the Zangbeto cult is charged with the maintenance of law and order, and ensures safety and security within Ogu communities.[1] They are...

19/02/2024

15/02/2024

01/02/2024

01/02/2024

Alhumdillah. Praise to God. Thanks to God.

19/01/2024

The Face of Seti I.
Seti I's face is one of the best preserved in all of Ancient Egyptian history. He died 3,298 years ago and reigned while on one of Egypt's wealthiest peaks. One of the most famous pharaohs of all time, II. He was Ramses' father. The greatest pharaoh of all time. When he died, Egyptian Mummification was at the pinnacle of absolute perfection.
It is generally considered the best preserved mummy in the world.

19/01/2024

Zangbeto are the traditional voodoo guardians of the night among the Ogu (or Egun) people of Benin, Togo and Nigeria. A traditional police and security institution, the Zangbeto cult is charged with the maintenance of law and order, and ensures safety and security within Ogu communities.[1] They are highly revered and act as an unofficial police force patrolling the streets, especially in the night, watching over people and their properties, and tracking down criminals and presenting them to the community to punish. Originally created to scare the enemy away, Zangbeto will wander the streets to detect thieves and witches, and to protect law and order.
Relating its fundamental cultural role in local vigilantism and community policing in Ogu societies, Zangbeto is a term in Gun language which means "Men of the night" or "Night-watchmen".[3]

The Zangbeto takes on a covering made from an intricate mass of tiny strands of hay, raffia or other threadlike materials, which are sometimes dyed in very colourful hues.[3] They are able to fall into a trance which, according to tradition, enables their bodies to be inhabited by spirits who possess special knowledge of the actions of people. However, Ogu legend tells that there are no humans under the costume, only spirits of the night.[4]

In Ogu culture, the Zangbetos are the traditional security guards or policemen of their communities. They are said to form a secret society which can only be strictly attended by Zangbeto or voodoo worshipers and devotees. Zangbeto is deemed to have spiritistic and magical abilities, such as swallowing splinters of glass without coming to any harm and scaring away even witches.[5] In a trance, the Zangbeto are said to evoke a power that inhabited the earth long before the appearance of man and provide a source of wisdom and continuity for the Ogu people.

Elaborate festivals built around the Zangbeto are held regularly in different Ogu communities across West Africa. The popular ones are those that hold in Porto-Novo, Benin Republic and in Ajido, Lagos, Nigeria.[6][7][8] These festivals comprise colourful displays, electrifying performances, and magic by the man inside the Zangbeto.

Zangbeto are the traditional voodoo guardians of the night among the Ogu (or Egun) people of Benin, Togo and Nigeria. A traditional police and security institution, the Zangbeto cult is charged with the maintenance of law and order, and ensures safety and security within Ogu communities.[1] They are...

18/01/2024

Thor appeared at some point in the '60s, reborn in to the modern world. Thor. God of Thursday.

Thor is one of the gods of Asgard and the son of the Asgardian king Odin. In addition to his Asgardian strength and extended lifespan, Thor wields control over the weather, including rain and lightning. He also carries the enchanted hammer Mjolnir that enhances his abilities and grants him the ability to fly. Thor was first introduced as the alter ego of surgeon Donald Blake who acquired Thor's power, but this was later revealed to be a fabrication by Thor's father. Thor has since assumed other human identities and at times ruled as king of Asgard.

Thor Odinson is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by artist Jack Kirby, writer Stan Lee, and scripter Larry Lieber, the character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 (1962) and first received his own title with Thor #126 (1966). Thor is an adapt...

13/01/2024

Dispute between a man and his Ba. It is an ancient Egyptian text dating to the Middle Kingdom. The text is considered to fall into the genre of Sebayt, a form of Egyptian wisdom literature. The text takes the form of a dialogue between a man struggling to come to terms with the hardship of life, and his ba soul.

The Dispute between a man and his Ba or The Debate Between a Man and his Soul[1] is an ancient Egyptian text dating to the Middle Kingdom. The text is considered to fall into the genre of Sebayt, a form of Egyptian wisdom literature. The text takes the form of a dialogue between a man struggling to....

05/01/2024

Boundaries

Yeah. Look at that glow...

01/01/2024

Homeric Hymn To Selene

[1] And next, sweet voiced Muses, daughters of Zeus, well-skilled in song, tell of the long-winged Moon. From her immortal head a radiance is shown from heaven and embraces earth; and great is the beauty that ariseth [5] from her shining light. The air, unlit before, glows with the light of her golden crown, and her rays beam clear, whensoever bright Selene having bathed her lovely body in the waters of Ocean, and donned her far-gleaming raiment, and yoked her strong-necked, shining team, [10] drives on her long-maned horses at full speed, at eventime in the mid-month: then her great orbit is full and then her beams shine brightest as she increases. So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men.
[15] Once the Son of Cronos was joined with her in love; and she conceived and bare a daughter Pandia, exceeding lovely amongst the deathless gods.

Hail, white-armed goddess, bright Selene, mild, bright-tressed queen!

Hymn 32 to Selene
Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Ed

(https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0138%3Ahymn%3D32)

01/01/2024

Blwydden Newydd dda - Happy New Year!

31/12/2023

The saying "idle hands are the devil's playground" is often attributed to the Bible, specifically to the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament. The idea behind the saying is that when people have nothing productive to do, they may be more likely to engage in sinful or harmful activities.

31/12/2023

No-one knows the ends of all your acts. Constance.

30/12/2023

Rough sketch of an idea. Tree of Life superimposed on a picture of the Dashwood Mausoleum and the church behind.

01/11/2023

If you tag in a post it sends notifications to the people who watch your page frequently.

(So, uh, if you got notified, it means you liiiiiiiiike me. 🥹😳☺️)