Friday, March 15, 2013

Blooms and Lore

Salutations,

The pink roses blooming in my yard this year reminded me of some of the historic ideas behind roses relating to the manuscript projects I have underway; as I blogged about years ago how the heraldic rose typically meant a martial arts capacity of the bearer, and even lesser known the rosebud as a symbol of a request -- or threat, to some -- of an extramarital affair (the rosebud being delivered by another person ...) with the darker the color being the most imminent to dangerous. Symbols, like a rose becoming heraldic, were once upon a time used in communications and later in history dubbed 'heraldic'. Inverting the symbol was generally thought to negate the symbol's power or to stop it, in other words. (Akin to the reading of a curse backwards in order to negate it). Roses in modern times are such a beautiful sign or gift that I'm reticent to douse them in any negative light, but historic costume history facts are part of what this blog has always been about. Enjoy the trivia.

My research led me further in another direction, also, while enjoying the book The Holy Land of Scotland: Jesus in Scotland & the Gospel of the Grail by Barry Dunford. Interesting theme and and active research of the suppositions presented. One, though, to slide around was that of Milesius. As the over endowed historical character, I'd contacted the Government of Spain about him years ago to find out if any of his legends of being a lost king or even a soldier were true. Not so, the official stated: Milesius had roots in Egypt, showed up trading in Spain and after spending some recorded time in the presence of a Spanish king then presented himself as a Spanish king in Ireland when arriving rather than as a trader. Likewise for his marriage claim to a royal. Otherwise, I've found the book to be of a good paintbrush stroke on the canvas of historical data that makes up the fascinating lore around searches for a 'grail.' More about that in the future, here, I think. I understand that the Lord Lyons of Scotland (formerly of London) is collecting and centralizing heraldic records worldwide and I'm told by some rejecting many Irish ones as was already done in past decades or even centuries of the Irish flavor, because of things along this topic....

My current manuscript research abides in the times of El Cid in occupied Spain, a man known for winning battles and superb martial arts. His world fascinates me lately and I'm looking forward to a rewatching of the movie El Cid with Charleton Heston and Sophia Loren noted for full accuracy on costume history. El Cid was famous for martial arts and was amply rewarded by the end of his life as was typical for knights as the tradition was to make them wealthy by the end of their service to a monarch. Knights, as you'll recall from earlier blogs, often were the best friends of a king and the ones he'd spend the most social hours with.

Thank you, Good Readership, for your feedback over the years. Take care.

Sartorially yours,

Kristin-Marie Wall