Lord of the Rings -- a different version

 Icons are "images" to be blunt. They are used by Eastern Christians (Orthodox and "Eastern Rite" Catholics as well as the Coptic and Armenian Christian churches) in their worship. Icons often adorn the Churches and are situated on the screen (the Iconostasis) that stands between what we Western Christians would call the "nave" and the "chancel." To look into an icon is to look into heaven through the person depicted. (I am for sure simplifying the theology and I apologize for such.)

An example of the icon screen.

Another example with your humble blogger vested.
(A long, long time ago.)

In roaming the virtual wasteland that can be the Internet, I recently ran into some works by a Russian artist, Sergei Lukhimov. He has illustrated events and characters of J.R.R.Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings in a Russian iconographic style. I'm sure many people might feel this is disrespectful to either Christian icons or to Tolkien's works. I feel it is an interpretation using a well-known style without insult to either the concept of icons or the written work. This my own opinion.

Christian Icons often look "busy" with multiple symbols and even multiple activities depicted.

the Nativity of Jesus Christ
Angels, the star, Jesus born in a cave, terrified shepherds.
Joseph speaking to someone (lower right), someone else playing
the schwam outside the cave... 
There's a lot going on.

Here are a few examples. This may require two blog entries.

Gandalf arrives at the Unexpected Party
(Note the hobbit scamp at the bottom right. Cheeky!)

The fireworks at the Birthday Party.

The Council of Elrond
The names are in English but written in an Elvish style.

The Fellowship leaves Rivendell.
Scale is less important in icons than the message.
They (and these) are works of art that tell a story.

The Bridge at Khazad Dum

Gandalf the Grey battles the Balrog and undergoes a change into Gandalf the White

The death of Boromir

Merry and Pippin are taken away into Fangorn by the Orc
(whose name I can't recall.)

Merry and Pippin drink the Entdraught with Treebeard

The March of the Ents

Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli meet the Rohorrim.
Notice the artist depicts the Riders of Rohan in Russian/Slavic armour.
Tolkien was a scholar of the Anglo-Saxon language and the Rohorrim are often depicted
as Normans or horsed warriors of Western Europe. But why not in Russian kit?

"Stormcrow" meets Theoden King
The major players are all there - Gandalf, Theoden, Wormtongue, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Eowyn

There are more illustrations and I'll continue them in my next blog post.

Christmas 2020

 

I haven't been blogging much for a number of reasons:

• Lots of other more pressing things to do.
• Messing with the pandemic (My immediate family and I are fine. A cousin in the US was in ICU on a ventilator for a brief time and has recovered. However, an old friend lost her life to the effects of the virus.)
• Attention being elsewhere.

I have been reading a lot of other fellows' blogs and enjoyed them.

So I'm taking a few moments to wish any one who reads this a most merry Christmas and a happy and hopeful new year. May 2021 be a better year. (It would almost have to be!)

So enjoy your gaming, your painting, your family-ing, and all the special things of the season.

Like the Charlie Brown tree at the top, the holiday -as tough as it might be- can be what you make it.

John G.

And now for something completely different...

Naughty? Nice? Don't mess with Claus!

Santa gets a hand from Finnish commandos.

♫ Here comes Santa Claus. here comes Santa Claus! ♫
Incoming!

I mean, really... who knows?

Life in the Talbot Settlement - part 2

 

     Lots of photos, so I need a second blog to handle it all.

     I didn't touch on the War of 1812 part in the first one, but this one will be almost all 1812! Although Backus Page house was not built until the 1850's, it is used to demonstrate the sort of raids that were done all along the coast of Lake Erie in 1814 and as part of MacArthur's raid in the Fall of 1814. 500 mounted volunteers from Kentucky and Ohio left Detroit and moved through southwestern Ontario to the Grand River at Malcolm's Mill. The column defeated the assembled Canadian militia there, but found themselves almost surrounded by militia and regular British Light Dragoons. So they turned back to Detroit, following the trail that is now Highway 3 in Ontario.

     The house raid was the big noise of the event for the War of 1812 reenactors. They portrayed American, Canadian, British, and First Nations fighters. The raider were looking to arrest Colonel Thomas Talbot, the leader of the local community. (They almost got him three times, but he escaped each time.) Rather than burning the house, the "raiders" took some items of symbolic value. A firefight began; the US troops sustained a casualty (Alex every time), and finally withdrew. On Sunday afternoon, I was "captured" as the American commander. It was a load of fun.

(The sources of the photos were noted in the previous blog entry. I continue to thank them.)

Mike M. as a Kentucky Volunteer in the act of loading.

Bill as one of Caldwell's Western Rangers fires

Alex, our perpetual casualty in full dress

Angela, the museum director, finally put on period clothing and
defended the house.

Beth, the "Reenactor Wrangler" for the weekend, helped defend the house as well.

Nick, as Colonel Talbot, raked it in for his protrayal.

Mike M. leading drill.
The Kentucky mounted infantry wore black hunting frocks with red trim.

Mike R, of the HMS Earl of Moira, works his wood shaping bench.
He is making the fabled "Battle Spoon."

Have you ever seen a happier guy?

Paul, corporal of the Royal Scots, looking very business-like.

Bill, in Ranger kit, sneaks up.

Not THE Battle Spoon, but one like it... sorta, kinda.

Mike R. faces off against Kevin of the 21st US to defend the house with THE Battle Spoon.
(Afternoon battle)

Okay... so it never really worked.
The raiders advance on the house in the morning battle.
(Jared, Marcus, and Alex)

Jared of the 17th (our corporal pioneer) and Kevin of the 21st keep up a hot fire.

Troops of the 60th Rifles, the Royal Scots, and the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles return fire.

Although it was not part of the raid, here's a photo of the gun crew of the HMS Nancy
in their demonstration. Loud and proud!

Can't miss at this range, Jared!

Steve, commanding Caldwell's and the entire Crown side, with Paul and Rob of the Scots.

Angela clouts the American commander with a broom! It almost hurt!

Saturday afternoon, Ann and Beth chase Jared as he escapes with the loot.

     And now for the Academy Award for Best Wound and Death for a Young Ham... Alex!

On Saturday, Marcus drags Alex off the field.

Sunday morning, Bear loots Alex of his pocket watch, cane, and loose change.

Sunday afternoon, we involved the surgeon to deal with Alex's wounded arm.
(Isn't he grinning a bit too much for a guy about to lose a limb?)

Hold still! This won't hurt me at all!

Well, look at it this way... all the women love scars!

It got very real all of a sudden. Looks a bit rubbery for a young guy.

After every raid, we saluted the audience. After the final raid, we presented Angela and Beth for much-deserved applause by everyone there.

Beth and Angela presented to the crowd.

As proper ladies, they responded with a curtsey.

The reenactors salute all in attendance.

A few extra photos.

Raiffe address a gathering at the ACW camp from behind the "social distancing" ropes.

WWII reenactors speak to a sutler... again with the social distancing ropes between them.
Backus Page House Museum took every possible effort to do this event as safely as possible.

"Get it right! Pillage... THEN burn!" 
(Stock photo)

Your humble blogger is interviewed by the museum staff
for their YouTube entry.

My friend Steve can even make me look good!