The Seven Wonders: The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Been a busy few months, but I'm hopeful to be much more productive in the future - at the very least, I've managed to smooth out my daily schedule to give me enough time to actually work on things during the day.

Or procrastinate. Procrastination sounds pretty good, actually.

Prayers to the Roman Gods: Janus

Is it gimmicky? I suppose. But, really, how else ought one to structure a poem to the god of beginnings and endings?

Prayers to the Roman Gods: Vulcan

Another poem! I don't know that Vulcan was ever described as the god of machinery, per se, but honestly it just seems to fit perfectly with his other roles, doesn't it?

Beasts of Myth & Fable #5

Well, it's not a "beast", per se, but it is definitely a legendary being. Of whom multiple examples exist in the original stories, even! That beats Pegasus, at least.

Beasts of Myth & Fable #4

Here's a small hint: This one's got a name, not just a species.

Prayers to the Roman Gods: The Gratiae

If there's anyone who likes parties more than these three, it's... well, actually, Bacchus probably qualifies.  But their parties are better, 'cause you'll remember the party in the morning.

The Seven Wonders: The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

Isn't one of the Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries "Always loot the ruins"? No? Just the Crusader's Oath, then? Well, alright.

Beasts of Myth and Fable #3

This was a fun one to do. Lovely mirroring in the first two verses - and I daresay it's an easy one for the Classics fandom, given how often I see posts about it.

The Seven Wonders: The Colossus of Rhodes

Ah, Rhodes.  Beautiful city, but don't look up as you sail into the harbour - gods have no need of pants, you know.

Beasts of Myth and Fable #2

I rather enjoyed this one, as it's just as much about the inspiration for the beast as it is about the beast itself.

Bellicum Formicarum/Carmen Salicis Lacromosae

What the hey, have some more King's Quest in Latin.  The March of the Ants and the Song of the Weeping Willow, both from King's Quest V: Punning Makes the Player Flee Harder.

What do you mean, that's not the name of the game?

Exploratio pro Corona

The legendary story from King's Quest I, translated into Latin by yours truly.  Really a good game, although the graphics are somewhat outdated by today's standards.

Did I say "somewhat?"  I meant "very."

But it's a great game, and one I heartily recommend.  Anyway, without further ado, here's the legendary story that forms the background to the game.  The English version is up on Sierra Planet here, and the Latin down below:

Beasts of Myth and Fable #1

This is the first of a series of poems which all share two features: One, I will publish the lot as an e-book when the series is complete, with an extra poem, by which time I will hopefully have worked out the logistics of publishing an e-book.

Two, and more importantly, each of these poems is a riddle.  The answer to each riddle can be found in medieval bestiaries: As the title suggests, a mythological creature from either Greco-Roman mythology or medieval legends.  I did consider going for more far-flung creatures, but those two together added up to a round fifty, which seemed like a nice number to stop at.

Besides, it would make Riddle #51 harder if these weren't all of a type.

Anyway, our first riddle is something of a easy one, to get you started.

A Piratical Song

Yarr!  It be that time o' tha year again, when pirates be on tha prowl.  Here be a piratical song fer a freebootin' fellow ta be singin' as he be terrorisin' tha landlubbers!

Precis ab 'Arcano': Ter'el, the Elven God of Wisdom

Starting up a new series of Latin translations, wherein I'll be translating all of the "God Prayers" from Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura.  Mostly, it's an excuse to practise my Latin grammar - those prayers can be rather... difficult, at times.

Anyway, here's Ter'el's prayer in English and Latin:

Offer to him
Who cannot see
Nor hear
Your soul, made of trees.

Li'tani he seeks
To touch, to burn
For his eyes are dark
And his ears are blunt
And wasted.

Wisdom comes
To the bringer of gifts
And eyes that see far
From he
Who sees nothing.

Anima, arboreus
Ad caecus
Et surdus
Offer.

Litani quaesit
Contingere, incendere
Quia oculi opaci
Et aures obtusae
Reiculaeque.

Ad portatus doni
Sapientia venit
Et oculi longituens
Ab se
Nullituens.

What Would You Do for a Klondike Bar?

I meant to post this up ages ago.  You know, in the middle of summer, not August.  August is an awful month - there's just nothing I can say about it.  It's the dullest month of the year, and that's a fact.  But you know what?  Ice cream makes even August better.  Especially Klondike bars.

Prayers to the Roman Gods: Pluto

Poor Pluto.  First Disney makes him into a villain, then he loses his planet.  He just gets no respect.  I bet he cries himself to sleep every night, with his gold pajamas and all.

The Seven Wonders: The Lighthouse of Alexandria

And so begins a new series!  I'm still working on the Roman gods, but I had this idea and thought it would be interesting, so I'm doing it at the same time.

I don't plan on all of this series ending with some pithy moral; it'll be more like telling a story about the wonders.  But that last line worked particularly well, I think.

Prayers to the Roman Gods: Juno

Juno, protector of women!  I felt rather weird writing this one - I'm hardly in her domain, am I?  Still, I do hope it came out well.

Prayers to the Roman Gods: Bacchus

Honestly, I prefer my Hymn to Bacchus to this.  Much easier to sing when drinking, in my opinion.