Folklore and Fact: Mystical Artifacts, Week 7 [Thurs/2nd Period]

[blossomsofice.livejournal.com]

Sakura's expression this morning, as she waited for her students to arrive, was inscrutable, although she did have yet another ice cream sundae on hand. On the display screens were three different versions of a symbol that several students in the class would likely already recognize.

"This week's class, like last week's, also has roots in the medieval era, although the stories surrounding our object of focus are more specific to Jewish, Islamic, and Christian tradition," she said. Glancing toward Evie, Dawn, and the Winchesters, she added, "
I'm sure some of you are familiar with the Seal of Solomon. It's found in many accounts, including the Thousand and One Nights, and notably the Arabic tale of the demon Sakhr -- which is very similar to the ancient Greek account of Polycrates, as told by Herodotus."

"Various stories said the Seal possessed different powers," Sakura continued as she moved around the table to open this week's lockbox. "Some say it gave him the power to speak with animals, and others say that Solomon could use the signet ring bearing the Seal to command demons or djinni."

She withdrew a brass and iron ring, set with jewels and intricately carved with symbols, from the box and held it up for a moment before placing it on the scanning platform so the students could see its enlarged image on the display screens. "We haven't attempted to use it to do the latter, but the probability is very high, as representations of the Seal have been known to possess that power." She paused. "As I'm sure some of you know. Some traditions of alchemy also use the Seal as a symbol of transmutation, and forms of the Seal are part of several national flags from the Middle Eastern region -- the symbolism is so widespread that many people don't realize what kind of power it has. That's another reason Precious artifacts such as this can go unnoticed for so long."

Sakura paused, then continued, "But symbols can be very powerful, of course, and the Seal is no exception. The people who were after this ring when we obtained it would have used it to command an army of animals . . . and probably demons as well, if we hadn't gotten to the Pipes of Hamelin before they did."

She shut down the display screens and turned to face the class. "So these are your questions for discussion today. Solomon was, according to legend, a king of unparalleled wisdom and power. What would you do if you possessed an object that gave you the powers of this signet ring? Use it for good or evil? For your own gain, to help others, or some of both? How would you use that power?"

Sakura was secretly hoping for less-than-serious responses today. She could use the entertainment value -- it was really too cold to be eating this much ice cream.

[OOC: Class Info Post. Apologies again for not posting this last night. OCD is up!]

Comments

Sign In [FaF, Week 7]

[blossomsofice.livejournal.com]

Though you needn't feel you're being held at gunpoint to collapse the thread, please collapse it anyway. ;)

Re: Sign In [FaF, Week 7]

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean Winchester

During the Lecture [FaF, Week 7]

[blossomsofice.livejournal.com]

Talk especially if your last name is Winchester or Halliwell, take notes, sleep because you already know all about the Seal of Solomon . . .

Re: During the Lecture [FaF, Week 7]

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

This was indeed something Dean knew a lot about -- at least the symbol, and how its power. It was interesting to hear this slightly different point of view on it, and Dean took detailed notes.

When Sakura pulled out the ring and listed among its powers commanding demons, Dean found himself just staring at it.

Something like that would make Hunting demons a whole lot easier. And safer.

Re: During the Lecture [FaF, Week 7]

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe took detailed notes and was sure she had seen something about Solomon in the Book of Shadows...

Re: During the Lecture [FaF, Week 7]

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

Pippi took careful notes and wondered how powerful the Christmas tree ornament she made with Pip was.

Re: During the Lecture [FaF, Week 7]

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Dawn was particularly intrigued by the comparisons between the legends and took many, many notes on the subject. She also wondered if the original jeweler had anything to do with a certain Gem of Amarra or the necklace Spike had worn when he...well, the necklace Spike had worn. Maybe she'd ask Giles sometime.

Re: During the Lecture [FaF, Week 7]

[fh-kyochan.livejournal.com]

Kyo took down notes, and wondered if it would be possible to use the ring to beat Yuki -- or bypass that route completely, and force Akito to make the Cat a part of the Zodiac.

Re: During the Lecture [FaF, Week 7]

[bookyeve.livejournal.com]

Evie was happily drawing Seals of Solomon all over her notes, and wondering if working them into tools and weapons would protect them. "Ooooo..."

Re: During the Lecture [FaF, Week 7]

[likethegun]

Sam was being good and not talking to Dean today because he wanted to give Sakura a heart attack, getting far more focused on his notes.

Re: During the Lecture [FaF, Week 7]

[multiplez]

Z took careful notes for the real Z, who was asleep.

Discussion [FaF, Week 7]

[blossomsofice.livejournal.com]

What would you do if you possessed an object that gave you the powers of this signet ring? Use it for good or evil? For your own gain, to help others, or some of both? How would you use that power?

Re: Discussion [FaF, Week 7]

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean didn't even have to think about this one. "I'd use it to stop demons attacking people," he said. "And to go after the demon that killed my Mom."

Re: Discussion [FaF, Week 7]

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe's eyes filled with tears, but her voice was steady. "I'd use it to protect innocents and my family against the demons that come after us or others."

Re: Discussion [FaF, Week 7]

[blessed_twice]

"I'd use it to command my demon army in the future stop demons from hurting innocents," Wyatt said.

Re: Discussion [FaF, Week 7]

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

"I'd use it to protect people as best I could... It would probably be a slippery slope but, if I had the opportunity I should at least try. I can already talk to animals so..." She shrugged.

Re: Discussion [FaF, Week 7]

[water-wonder.livejournal.com]

Tori knew her answer right away. "I'd use it to help people, definitely. And certainly not for my own gain." That how it had been when she'd had her powers and that's how it would always be.

Re: Discussion [FaF, Week 7]

[dark_slippy_thing]

"How much could it be sold for...?" Valentine mused.

Re: Discussion [FaF, Week 7]

[stykera]

"Give it someone who'd make better use of it than I would" Stark said softly. He was fairly certain things would just go horribly wrong if he had something like that in his hands. "But that's easy to say, maybe not so easy to do. I don't know."

Re: Discussion [FaF, Week 7]

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

Billy looked at the ring and felt queasy. Probably best no one he knew, including him, got their hands on that kind of power.

Re: Discussion [FaF, Week 7]

[grenfelzer.livejournal.com]

Carmela looks thoughtful.

"If it could command animals?" she says. "I'd make all the dogs that seem to converge on our house at all hours go away. They kind of annoy my Mama with the constant howling."

Re: Discussion [FaF, Week 7]

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

"I'd use it to talk to animals, but also to command the demons to stop attacking people," Dawn said after some thought, "and if the command sticks, I'd probably destroy the ring, so I didn't get tempted to do something stupid, and so that someone else couldn't steal it and do bad things."

Talk to the TAs

[blossomsofice.livejournal.com]

Once they pingity-ping in.

Re: Talk to the TAs

[blessed_twice]

Verily, Wyatt pingeth here.

Talk to Sakura [FaF, Week 7]

[blossomsofice.livejournal.com]

Ice cream sundae or not, she's here to talk to.

OOC [FaF, Week 7]

[blossomsofice.livejournal.com]

I have the Magiranger end credits sequence (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cix-lswwfH4) stuck in my head.

It's my own fault for watching like five episodes last night.

But it's so cute in a freakishly bizarre way . . .

Re: OOC [FaF, Week 7]

[water-wonder.livejournal.com]

And you realize I am now going to watch it, right?

*is so a follower, in a good way!*