I’m reminded of this fact by Christina’s frequent anecdotes which round up all sorts of facts of every imaginable kind. Christina, you’re the Herodotus of the modern age! A strange comparison you may think, but akshully (thanks, Furry) the father of European history displayed an encyclopedic memory for both the valuable and the trivial, be it politics, geography, family life, war or mythology. He called it his ‘enquiry’, a record of his travels around the known world in the middle of the 5th century BC. “Ἡροδότου Ἁλικαρνησσέος ἱστορίης ἀπόδεξις ἥδε” – “This is a presentation of the enquiry of Herodotus of Halicarnassos”.
If you haven’t tried him before, I recommend this Penguin translation, which avoids the Victorianisms of earlier texts. It’s surprisingly easy to read and full of surprises – at least for me. Book Two is all about Egypt, for example, and informs us about their calendar:
“………..the Egyptians were the first of all men on earth to find out the course of the
year, having divided the seasons into twelve parts to make up the whole; and
this they said they found out from the stars: and they reckon to this extent
more wisely than the Hellenes, as it seems to me – the Hellenes throw
in an intercalated month every other year, to make the seasons right, whereas
the Egyptians, reckoning the twelve months at thirty days each, bring in an extra
five days every year …….”.
year, having divided the seasons into twelve parts to make up the whole; and
this they said they found out from the stars: and they reckon to this extent
more wisely than the Hellenes, as it seems to me – the Hellenes throw
in an intercalated month every other year, to make the seasons right, whereas
the Egyptians, reckoning the twelve months at thirty days each, bring in an extra
five days every year …….”.
The Penguin version has a meaty introduction and copious notes which interpret Herodotus’ more arcane remarks and relate his conclusions to more modern views. The index makes it possible to dip into different episodes and explore the Greek world without too much pain. So enjoy it, if you feel tempted.
Boadicea's Chariot 
I really must have a go! Must read my antecedent!
I never understood how people managed to make history and geography SO boring. By the time you throw in the gossip, scandal, how they lived, what they ate, who they killed and how and what strange religion they indulged in most people, especially kids, are totally hooked.
I used to drive round the UK with the boy telling him stories of everything we saw. I always kept field glasses in the car, still do, never know what you might miss!
I have an economic measure of farming in the UK, fascinating over the years, drive from Brum airport to wild west Wales, inspect crops, inspect buildings, how many new, state of dilapidation etc. How many houses are in good repair, how many new roofs or repainted etc. How many new blighting pox boxes on flood plains occupying good water meadows. New cars, new machinery. You would be surprised how complete a picture you get.
My special measure, how much wild mistletoe has been harvested since I last passed that way. Tells me if the farmers could be bothered and how many pikies are lurking in the area, if times are good they don’t bother, import it from E Europe, times bad its worth the collecting for a few bob at Christmas. (It is all sold at a special auction in Hereford)
People are so caught up in trivia they never actually see what is around them and connect the dots.
I’m so pleased that you are not caught up in trivia and can connect the dots, Tina.
Janus.
I like this sort of book, so thank you for the recommendation. Frankly history is fleshed out by trivia and the remaining thoughts of people.
Goodness knows what future historians will make of all our witterings. 😉
Good evening Mrs O: I was amazed at the amount of mistletoe I saw in Britain in the spring, great perfectly spherical masses in all kinds of trees in all kinds of places, maybe things are not quite so bad there after all.
Tremendous amount all over Monmouthshire, always has been, wild rather than deliberately seeded in the apple orchards (what’s left of them in Herefordshire) I guess your neck of the woods, I’m always passing through on the Abergavenny/Brecon road. I’m not surprised, the fat stock prices have been very good the last year or two, farmers export a lot more these days, especially lamb. Fat lambs and wethers going all over the place, but I do not like the export of them live to the bloody ragheads for ritual killing. Nasty trade.
Did you know the accredited way of collecting mistletoe from very large trees is to shoot it down? Use a fairly large shot cartridge, tight choke and a sober eye!!
That will please Janus, ‘killing’ mistletoe, a heinous crime! Just for the peasants to have a snog, what horror.
Christina, lol. Your mistletoe murder story is of course arcane but seriously intriguing!
True janus but we are talking 100′ + trees and not on the major branches, way out towards the ends.
You can only shoot it from the ground because the seeds and therefore the roots lodge on the undersides of the branch they are washed down there in the grooves of the bark and lurk and subsequently germinate. They may well spread in a ball up over the branch but the roots are on the bottom so can be shot from the ground. No one would be that stupid to climb out there.
If you want to establish mistletoe in an orchard you take a white berry that hasn’t been kissed and press it into the underside of an apple branch in a crack in the bark. Cover it with damp sphagnum moss and wrap it with either wire chicken netting or one of those fruit plastic net bags from the supermarket and tie it off above the branch. Once established then cut off netting in a couple of years. Bet Herodotus could have told you that!
Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe are wasted on the peasants, much better for casting spells especially appeasing irate Gods. I don’t like mistletoe inside it is very powerful stuff can be bad karma! Should be outside the front door. I’ve got a super mistletoe story for you but its bedtime, tell it another day.
CO, now I’m certain you’ll enjoy old H. His tales of marital intrigues will make your hair curl too.
Morning J,
Gossip, rumour and innuendo. I’ll have to give old Herodotus a go.
I must say here that I also enjoy Christina’s stories and the ones on here are no exception; they are enlightening. I also like her frequent use of exclamation marks. It makes her a forceful orator on the screen.
But how did the ancient druids get their mistletoe, Christina? No firearms then. According to Astérix they just climbed up and cut it with their little sickles. I’m looking forward to your mistletoe story.
Sheona – or to quote G Washington Esq, they did it with their little choppers. 😉
Sheona: not just any sickles, a sickle of gold while muttering incanctations.
CO: I look forward to reading the story!
Incantations and curses are very efficacious!