"He who builds the gate with gold rules the golden age.”
"How could Tìbald’s heart not thump as he passed through the gilded bronze doors? It is easier for a camel to pass through an eye of a needle than a rich man to get into Heaven. Ten camels stacked one atop another could clear the entrance."
That is an incredible image of wealth.
“I will have it.” ‘Martha’ in the kitchen. “Promise me.”
I just reread the Martha and Mary story from the bible. There is different commentary on it. I like the idea of Aile WANTING to simply work in the kitchen and do something with her hands. Let her sister Mary listen to Jesus and the teachings. Martha LOVED Jesus - and of course he could come in the house and she would take care of him. But maybe things could be less religiously intense? Less life and death every moment?
“Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” vv41-42
If I were Aile and I had been through all of the things she had been through in her past (AND all of the things she had been through so far on this CRUSADE) I would politely listen to Jesus and nod in agreement. Silently, however, I might think "I just wore armor! I know you are Jesus, but I'm too tired right now even for you. Maybe I'd like to just bake a bit of bread and hang out in the kitchen for awhile. I'm going to sweep the floor while you talk with Mary. You are right...it may very well be BETTER...but I need to rest. My little sister, Mary, can fill me in on all of the details later. Ok?"
"Amidst the walled county side were oil groves and vineyards, tilled land with sprouting wheat. Then a half-mile and a right on the great avenue, Mese, with its markets and stands – spices and botanicals: nutmeg, cumin, roasted peppers, grilled meats and fish in olive oil and garlic. Here – bins of crusty bread. There – wheels of cheese. Tìbald salivating. Dates. Figs. Apricots. Ruby wines. Strong caramel ales. Teas of clear copper while others black with the taste of sweet earth; qahwa the Arabs called it. Various vegetables in five tones of green. Seven of yellow. Purple. Crimson. Saffron."
I felt transported by this section. I love how Tim Osner's writing always shows both the difficult parts of life but also the joyous things. What could be better than to be in that market seeing, tasting and smelling those incredible delights? What could be more beautiful than walking through olive groves, vineyards and fields of wheat?
I loved reading the description of Tiger Skin marble. I never knew it was called this. I looked at different pictures of it. It is so beautiful.
Incredible description:
"But Alexius himself was the greatest wonder. Encrusted in gold, he sat stock still, a bejewelled automaton awaiting animation. A delicate, beautiful man of fierce and aquiline features whose coal black hair cascaded beneath a diadem and offset by hanging strings of pearls."
I was just reading about how Alexius publicly burned Basil the Physician at the stake. Basil had differing opinions about the Orthodox Church. Alexius gave him a chance to recant his beliefs but Basil said the angels of heaven would come down and release him from the stake. After 8 years of imprisonment Basil the Physician was burned at the stake as a heretic in the hippodrome of Constantinople.
This description is remarkable:
"They toured, awed by great wonders, and humbled. A cult of relics per excellence – drops of Jesu’s blood, a piece from His tunic, swaddling clothes from the manger, a piece of the true cross, the lancehead that pierced the Lord’s side, two of the nails used to crucify Him, the sponge to give Him drugged wine as He died to save sinners, the crown of thorns. The bodies of Sainte Andrew and Timothy, the right arm of Sainte Stephen, the right arm of John the Baptist. Indeed, his very skull and a lock of his hair. The robe of the Virgin Mary. And heads, so many noble heads – of Sainte James, Sainte Thomas, Sainte Thaddeus. Bits of apostles Peter and Paul, Simon, Philip, and Barnabas . . . So many they could not recall."
I was thinking...what if you waited your whole life to see something like this? How it would bring tears to your eyes to see one relic! But then there was relic after relic after relic?
It is so thought-provoking. To see everything you have always wanted to see - but it is too much!
Love the chapter!
"He who builds the gate with gold rules the golden age.”
"How could Tìbald’s heart not thump as he passed through the gilded bronze doors? It is easier for a camel to pass through an eye of a needle than a rich man to get into Heaven. Ten camels stacked one atop another could clear the entrance."
That is an incredible image of wealth.
“I will have it.” ‘Martha’ in the kitchen. “Promise me.”
I just reread the Martha and Mary story from the bible. There is different commentary on it. I like the idea of Aile WANTING to simply work in the kitchen and do something with her hands. Let her sister Mary listen to Jesus and the teachings. Martha LOVED Jesus - and of course he could come in the house and she would take care of him. But maybe things could be less religiously intense? Less life and death every moment?
“Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” vv41-42
If I were Aile and I had been through all of the things she had been through in her past (AND all of the things she had been through so far on this CRUSADE) I would politely listen to Jesus and nod in agreement. Silently, however, I might think "I just wore armor! I know you are Jesus, but I'm too tired right now even for you. Maybe I'd like to just bake a bit of bread and hang out in the kitchen for awhile. I'm going to sweep the floor while you talk with Mary. You are right...it may very well be BETTER...but I need to rest. My little sister, Mary, can fill me in on all of the details later. Ok?"
"Amidst the walled county side were oil groves and vineyards, tilled land with sprouting wheat. Then a half-mile and a right on the great avenue, Mese, with its markets and stands – spices and botanicals: nutmeg, cumin, roasted peppers, grilled meats and fish in olive oil and garlic. Here – bins of crusty bread. There – wheels of cheese. Tìbald salivating. Dates. Figs. Apricots. Ruby wines. Strong caramel ales. Teas of clear copper while others black with the taste of sweet earth; qahwa the Arabs called it. Various vegetables in five tones of green. Seven of yellow. Purple. Crimson. Saffron."
I felt transported by this section. I love how Tim Osner's writing always shows both the difficult parts of life but also the joyous things. What could be better than to be in that market seeing, tasting and smelling those incredible delights? What could be more beautiful than walking through olive groves, vineyards and fields of wheat?
I loved reading the description of Tiger Skin marble. I never knew it was called this. I looked at different pictures of it. It is so beautiful.
Incredible description:
"But Alexius himself was the greatest wonder. Encrusted in gold, he sat stock still, a bejewelled automaton awaiting animation. A delicate, beautiful man of fierce and aquiline features whose coal black hair cascaded beneath a diadem and offset by hanging strings of pearls."
I was just reading about how Alexius publicly burned Basil the Physician at the stake. Basil had differing opinions about the Orthodox Church. Alexius gave him a chance to recant his beliefs but Basil said the angels of heaven would come down and release him from the stake. After 8 years of imprisonment Basil the Physician was burned at the stake as a heretic in the hippodrome of Constantinople.
This description is remarkable:
"They toured, awed by great wonders, and humbled. A cult of relics per excellence – drops of Jesu’s blood, a piece from His tunic, swaddling clothes from the manger, a piece of the true cross, the lancehead that pierced the Lord’s side, two of the nails used to crucify Him, the sponge to give Him drugged wine as He died to save sinners, the crown of thorns. The bodies of Sainte Andrew and Timothy, the right arm of Sainte Stephen, the right arm of John the Baptist. Indeed, his very skull and a lock of his hair. The robe of the Virgin Mary. And heads, so many noble heads – of Sainte James, Sainte Thomas, Sainte Thaddeus. Bits of apostles Peter and Paul, Simon, Philip, and Barnabas . . . So many they could not recall."
I was thinking...what if you waited your whole life to see something like this? How it would bring tears to your eyes to see one relic! But then there was relic after relic after relic?
It is so thought-provoking. To see everything you have always wanted to see - but it is too much!
"...So many they could not recall."