




Djoser, Theodora was one of the greatest courtesans in the last past 1000 years. In fact, many of Roman's greatest Emperors had prostitute as their wives. http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...om-the-brothel
However Fausta was killed for sin of adultery and getting knock up by her own stepson. During the time of Constantine, a common practice was to pour boiling lead into the mouths of adulteresses. I believe that he killed Fausta in this way because she got knock up by his beloved son also she commit incest as well. In addition, Fausta helped killed her own father and slept with many of her uncles. So her husband was at fault for casting his beloved first wife for a woman who would have sex with her own uncles for power.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....l/fam1633.html
I do agree with you saying that people should find out that great men and women of history are not as wholesome as everyone paints them to be![]()




It totally bums he out that Wilde is actually a creep. History is going to paint a lot of current day assholes in a positive light. Sigh.
Reminds me of finding out Lewis Carroll is a pedo & "Alice in Wonderland" was never the same.
mellymay.com





^ he was??? that bums me out




yeah. right? way to put a damper on something beloved by so many.
"Children's writer Lewis Carroll was a 'seriously unmarried bachelor' who befriended pre-pubescent girls and told them ambiguous tales while taking their photographs..."
from this source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/p...s-Carroll.html
But I remember reading this in various places and they actually made an allusion to it when i toured his home.
ETA: sorry to deviate from the topic. It just got me thinking of British writers. At least Dickens wasn't an a-hole? I hope?
mellymay.com





[QUOTE=MellyMay;2572825]yeah. right? way to put a damper on something beloved by so many.
"Children's writer Lewis Carroll was a 'seriously unmarried bachelor' who befriended pre-pubescent girls and told them ambiguous tales while taking their photographs..."
from this source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/p...s-Carroll.html
But I remember reading this in various places and they actually made an allusion to it when i toured his home.
Actually, MellyMay, here is some information about Dickens and his beliefs on racism, sexism, and everything.
Claim: Charles Dickens was bigoted, full of hate, and derisive towards people who were not English, and toward their American cousins. Unfortunately, it is worse. Charles Dickens was a racist (this was not limited to English or their American cousins). That is not all. Dickens opposed the abolition of Slavery (Clapham sect of Evangelists and Society of Friends 1). Finally, sinking to the lowest level: Charles Dickens believed in using genocide (mass extermination of several groups of peoples, as the word "genocide" had not yet been coined).
All these claims are based upon what Dickens himself wrote, not once but several times.
There are those who refuse to believe what Dickens himself wrote on these subjects; since over a period of years Dickens presented his views differently, such that his views on any one subject might seem elusive to the reader, it is possible to find quotes supporting Dickens opinions that sound 'pro' one year, and 'con' the next. However, there is a problem: no matter how much Dickens apologists attempt to rewrite history, the fact remains that Dickens repeatedly expressed views that were bigoted, racist, pro-slavery and which favored genocide 2, 3.
http://www.estherlederberg.com/EImag...20Dickens.html





^ that's really weird, considering dickens was a social reformist..he always wrote about children being abused and such. never would have thought that. i really like his work




Oh JEEZUS. My whole literary world is crumbling.
mellymay.com










My favorite Theodora story is about how she saved Justinian's ass (and arguably the Empire itself) during the Nika riots when he was ready to simply up & run the hell away, and she made him stay and deal with it. I am too lazy to verify it right now but I believe about 30,000 people were killed during that week long riot. Suffice it to say, much as I abhor her character, I certainly admire her spirit and will. She should have been 'The Great', not Justinian.
Melly I am truly sorry this thread has ruined the literature for you, or at least to some extent. That was certainly not my purpose in starting the thread--but I confess I love the discussion. Maybe if you could regard the books (or stories or plays) as separate entities from the flawed people who created them?
I have been pretty jaded for quite some time, only partly from 14 years working the clubs, including a couple that were probably worthy of the most decadent and depraved Roman Emperor lol. So it's easy for me to perform this mental trick & still enjoy say Edgar Allen Poe, and the like.
You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Free your mind, and your ass will follow.
George Clinton
______________________________________




No no, this is a great discussion! (I keep deviating from the topic but I started watching "The Following" which deals with a Poe-related cult)
mellymay.com





You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Free your mind, and your ass will follow.
George Clinton
______________________________________







Both "Salome's Last Dance" and The Following are on Netflix streaming.
mellymay.com





Oh cool, thanks to both of you!
You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Free your mind, and your ass will follow.
George Clinton
______________________________________





Never knew that about Lewis Carroll or Charles Dickens but nothing surprises me. One has to remember that back in those days things were a but different than they are today. What would be considered offensive today back then was nothing. Many artists, such as writers and actors were racist or many other things deemed unacceptable today. Even in the last century many of the silent movies were very racist because that was accepted then. Even pedophilia was accepted in many circles many years ago and many artists had young lovers who were often not of age. Walt Whitman comes to mind. Definitely sick by today's standards.
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