World Mythology -- Third Period -- Monday

[atreideslioness]

When the students arrived that day, they'd find the table along the back wall held plenty of juice boxes, granola, and yogurt, and Ghanima was standing off to the side of the classroom, occasionally saying something quietly into her mobile and looking high amused as a serious-seeming little girl sat on her desk. 

Well, she only looked serious until you recognized that glint in her eyes, and anyone from the Atreides or Trebond families would probably run screaming. 

"Good morning," she began, once everyone was settled.  "I am Elianne Sihaya, and Mother says I'm going to teach today, most likely because she thinks she's funny." 

"Therefore, we are going to touch on the Romans, and look at the tale of Romulus and Remus."

"Plutarch presents Romulus and Remus' ancient descent from prince Aeneas, fugitive from Troy after its destruction by the Greeks. Their maternal grandfather is his descendant Numitor, who inherits the kingship of Alba Longa. Numitor's brother Amulius inherits its treasury, including the gold brought by Aeneas from Troy. Amulius uses his control of the treasury to dethrone Numitor, but fears that Numitor's daughter, Rhea Silvia will bear children who could overthrow him, so Amulius forces Rhea Silvia to perpetual virginity as a Vestal priestess."

"She ends up having children anyway, although different versions present different fathers, the most common being the god Mars, and the other Hercules.  The king sees his niece's pregnancy and confines her. She gives birth to twin boys of remarkable beauty; her uncle orders her death and theirs. One account holds that he has Rhea buried alive – the standard punishment for Vestal Virgins who violated their vow of celibacy – and orders the death of the twins by exposure; both means would avoid his direct blood-guilt. In another, he has Rhea and her twins thrown into the River Tiber.  In either event, in every version, a servant is charged with the deed of killing the twins, but cannot bring himself to harm them. He places them in a basket and leaves it on the banks of the Tiber. The river rises in flood and carries the twins downstream, unharmed." 

"The river deity Tiberinus made the basket catch in the roots of a fig tree that grows in the Velabrum swamp at the base of the Palatine Hill. The twins were found and suckled by a she-wolf until a shepherd of Amulius named Faustulus discoverd them and takes them to his hut, where he and his wife Acca Larentia raised them as their own." 

"In all versions of the founding myth, the twins grew up as shepherds. They came into conflict with the shepherds of Amulius, leading to battles in which Remus was captured and taken to Amulius. Their identity was discovered andRomulus raised a band of shepherds to liberate his brother; Amulius was killed and Romulus and Remus were conjointly offered the crown. They refused it while their grandfather lived, and refused to live in the city as his subjects. They restored Numitor as king, paid due honours to their mother Rhea and left to found their own city, accompanied by a motley band of fugitives, runaway slaves, and any who want a second chance in a new city with new rulers.  Of course, it did not go well." 

"The brothers argued over the best site for the new city. Romulus favoured the Palatine Hill; Remus wanted the Aventine Hill. They agreed to select the site by divine augury, took up position on their respective hills and prepared a sacred space; signs were sent to each in the form of vultures, or eagles. Remus saw six; Romulus saw twelve, and claimed superior augury as the basis of his right to decide.  Remus, angry at this claim, leaped across the wall Romulus was building as an insult to the city's defenses and their creator.  Enraged, Romulus slew his brother, before burrying him with all honors and founding a city that would go on to spawn an entire civilization -- Rome."

"So, what do you think?  For those not normally in this class, after spending the weekend with your parents, would it be better or worse to be raised by a wolf?  What makes a 'parent?'  What is 'family?' Genetics, affection, support?  For the regular denizens of Fandom, what makes us 'your' children?  A quirk of the timeline, or something more eternal?"  Essie smiled at the class angelically.  "Discuss."

[OCD is up, credit for the class topic goes to the ever-creative mind of tyler_back !]

Comments

Sign-In

[trickster-scion.livejournal.com]

Like your own evil twin!

Re: Sign-In

[spiritandsword]

Annja Creed (with Psyche Halliwell-Nast, Jenna Nast, Stana Nast, and Shawna Creed)

Listen to the Lecture

[trickster-scion.livejournal.com]

Take notes, pass notes, get a juice box, and wonder WHY Ghanima's children are always so insanely strange.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[spiritandsword]

For the moment, all four of the girls were quietly watching the people around them as Annja took notes. That would be when Jenna leaned over to talk to Annja in a whisper.

"Mommy! That girl teaching the class looks just like Psyche!"

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

Firekeeper did not have anyone accompanying her to class who did not do so normally; they'd spent the weekend hanging out with Jake in the Preserve and had only been peripherally aware of the presence of the children, in the sense that the island suddenly became crowded with a number of unfamiliar scents.

They looked around curiously at the new faces in the classroom, just daring anyone to say anything bad about being raised by a wolf. Really.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[trigons_child]

Arella was well-behaved, but Raven was keeping an eye on the demon child, lest he start to creep another of her friends out.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[solo_sword]

Jaina had her kids in class today, jaryd distracted by something and Jordin listening intently. At one point Jordin looked up at her and said, "Momma, they're talking about twins like us!"

And then after that when Jordin started looking Concerned, Jaina just tried to cover her ears.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri was listening to the lecture as usual, and next to her Cassa was listening even more intently; it almost looked like Cassa was paying more attention than Tahiri was. Both of them looked particularly interested at the mention of twins, and glanced over toward Jaina and her two, but Tahiri was doing a very, very good job of keeping any agitation at Remus's fate to herself.

At least, Cassa didn't seem to notice.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[momslilassassin]

Ben took careful notes (and did a mental headcount of how many people in the room were sort of related to him) while Mara drew pictures with crayons.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[ktarian-wildman.livejournal.com]

Naomi had Greskrendtregk with her for the class, Naomi was taking down notes as Greskrendtregk looked around the class excitedly.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[she-sheds.livejournal.com]

Joolushko listened, took notes, and wondered at the strangeness of being lectured to by a small and somewhat disturbing child. She was so glad she didn't have any of the small and somewhat children herself.

Discussion!

[trickster-scion.livejournal.com]

"For those not normally in this class, after spending the weekend with your parents, would it be better or worse to be raised by a wolf? What makes a 'parent?' What is 'family?' Genetics, affection, support? For the regular denizens of Fandom, what makes us 'your' children? A quirk of the timeline, or something more eternal?"

AU!Kids, feel free to chime in!

Re: Discussion!

[weetinyempaths.livejournal.com]

"My parents gave me life," Anakin offered up. "My mother gave me her powers. My father gave me his ambition."

Re: Discussion!

[swordandmagic.livejournal.com]

Jenna really wasn't liking the fate of the twins and she thought it was really mean that that guy would kill his brother because he jumped a wall.

"Family is Mommy and Daddy," Jenna said. "They take care of me and teach me things to keep me safe and they love me."

Re: Discussion!

[satokids.livejournal.com]

"I think I'm lucky to have my parents," said Carmela. "I would trade them for any other mommy or daddy."

Talk to the TAs!

[trickster-scion.livejournal.com]

And any offspring they brought with!

Re: Talk to the TAs!

[solo_sword]

Jaina was here. She was focused on making sure both kids stayed within eyesight at all times and didn't break anything, but she was here.

Talk to Essie!

[trickster-scion.livejournal.com]

She will be happy to answer your questions!

Re: Talk to Essie!

[atreides-heirs.livejournal.com]

"Hello," Victoria said. "I think we're cousins, although not from the same universe. And as your kinswoman I offer my assistance with teaching. I'm good at all kinds of games."

Re: Talk to Essie!

[doublemagic.livejournal.com]

"You look like me!"

Okay, not a question. Also, stating the obvious. But she was little, she could be forgiven.

Talk to Essie's Mothers!

[atreideslioness]

Ghanima has figured out how to set her mobile to speaker so that Aly can partake in all this glory.

Re: Talk to Essie's Mothers!

[future_sandworm]

His daughters had expressed a wish to see their auntie, so Leto thought bringing them to he class would be the best idea. That was why Ghani was now approached by three little girls all calling her name.

OOC

[trickster-scion.livejournal.com]

AU KIDS MIGHT END THE WORLD IF WE LET THEM.

Re: OOC

[spiritandsword]

Hee. One of the kidlets Annja has is Essie's doppelganger! :D

Re: OOC

[weetinyempaths.livejournal.com]

That is the plan, yes.