It's Olympic time! Zenobia would've loved to participate in the ancient Olympics but was she allowed?

Read historical facts about the ancient Olympics and modern-day Olympics. For instance, do you know when women first started participating in the Olympics? Go to our website to get the answer:  http://geodepress.com/zenobia-in-the-ancient-olympic-games/

Here's some modern-day Olympic firsts:

1908: Madge Syers wins the first women’s Olympic gold medal in figure skating.

• Ski jumping will be offered for women for the first time ever at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

Zenobia - Challenging the Legend, a young adult historical series about the warrior queen Zenobia

Russ Wallace, the author of Zenobia - Birth of a Legend is hard at work getting book two, Zenobia - Challenging a Legend ready for release. 

You can read from our website http://geodepress.com/ as we highlight book two in our young adult historical series about the warrior queen Zenobia. 

We'll share with you some of the research we do to make sure it's historically accurate to 3rd century when Zenobia lived. We're finding all kinds of interesting tidbits about ancient history while doing the editing process. 

For example, While Zenobia is in Alexandria, Egypt she finds herself in a deadly situation as a wicked blood thirsty man  is wanting to seduce her and gives her a gift- a sapphire necklace with an alloy of gold that looks like silver. 

Click on the link to go to our website and read what part of this necklace is historically correct and what part is not-

Editing-book-two-zenobia-challenging-a-legend-a-young-adult-series-about-the-warrior-queen-zenobia

Check back for more historically correct items. For instance, did they have indoor bathrooms in the 3rd century? 

Visit the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World- first stop Egypt: Pyramids and Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was located on a small island called Pharos near the city of Alexandria. Designed by the Greek architect Sostratos and completed around 270 B.C. during the reign of Ptolemy II, the lighthouse helped to guide Nile River ships in and out of the city’s busy harbor.

http://www.history.com/videos/the-lighthouse-at-alexandria#the-lighthouse-at-alexandria

In Chapter 37 of Zenobia – Birth of a Legend, Zenobia visits the lighthouse of Alexandria with her mother and Salim. Read below where you'll experience Zenobia’s budding romance with Salim as they climb the steps of the lighthouse.

“This seems to be as tall as the great pyramid,” Salim proclaimed.

“It is,” agreed Zelina.

“Race you to the top!” Zenobia challenged Salim.

…

Zenobia sprinted up the stairs two at a time with Salim close behind.

…

At two hundred steps she was gasping for air, but so was her pursuer. Her legs were protesting, and Salim started to pass her, but she lunged ahead another fifty steps. Suddenly he grabbed her ankle, and she toppled forward, landing lightly on the steep steps. “Cheater!” she yelled as he passed her.

“All is fair in love and war!” he yelled back. Her adrenaline kicks in and she tore up the stairs after him and grabbed onto his tunic with both hands and hung on with all her strength. He dragged her up for a few steps and then collapsed and they both burst out in gasping laughter.

She pulled herself alongside him until their faces were less than a cubic apart. “And which is this, Salim,” she asked with a pant, “love or war?"

Read more excerpts as Zenobia explores the lighthouse in chapter 37 :  http://geodepress.com/thinking-thursday-zenobia-visits-another-seven-wonders-of-the-ancient-world/

In the next couple of weeks we will be discussing the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World. Here's some previous post on the most popular one, The Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest and only Ancient Wonder still standing today:

http://geodepress.com/the-great-pyramid-of-giza/ ;

http://geodepress.com/thinking-thursday-zenobia-birth-of-a-legend-my-favorite-scenes/ ;

http://geodepress.com/thinking-thursday-zenobias-visit-to-one-of-the-seven-wonders-of-the-ancient-world/

Weapons that changed everything in history

Unfortunately, war is a big part of Zenobia's life. Zenobia uses the ancient formations and weapons (seen below) to challenge Rome. Author Russ Wallace has Zenobia's choice of weapon as a bow and arrow but Zenobia is trained in all forms of weaponry. 

All through Zenobia- Birth of a Legend and Zenobia - Challenging a Legend, Zenobia is continually learning and training and with these skills Zenobia turns into a deadly warrior. 

Weapons that Changed Everything

To read full article go to: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Media/Slideshow/2013/08/15/12-Weapons-That-Changed-Everything

The Greek Phalanx (750 BCE)

Technically the Phalanx is the formation.  The individual soldiers were armed with the “Sarissa,” a long heavy spear, and a shield, but a phalanx is most notable for being greater than the sum of its parts.  The Greek soldiers would stand in rigid formation, their shields interlocked to protect not just themselves, but perhaps most importantly the man to their left.  The phalanx conquered the Mediterranean by moving as a single unstoppable armored unit.  It was in many ways, the tank of its day, and the fact that we still use the word in modern speech is a testament to its effectiveness.

The Gladius (400BCE - 300AD)

Roman Legionary’s Sword – If the Greeks mastered uniformity of movement, the Romans mastered standardization of equipment.  The short bladed Gladius made up part of the arsenal of every Legionary, along with a shield short throwing spear and dagger.  By ensuring that every soldier had well-made equipment, usable in a variety of situations, the Romans created an empire that, at its peak, stretched from England to North Africa, from the tip of the Iberian peninsula to the Middle East.

http://www.medievalcollectibles.com/p-4568-gladius-sword.aspx

"The Roman Gladius is one of the most famous sword designs, wielded by one of the most formidable fighting forces known in history. Reflecting the close ties between the military and the Arena, the word gladiator comes from the word gladius: the sword used by both the legionairies, the fighting might of the Roman Empire, and some of the gladiators who re-enacted Rome's military successes."

Here's a scene from Chapter 6 in  Zenobia - Birth of a Legend :

"She gripped her long spear with her right hand, its butt end resting in the sling and boot that hung from her saddle. As with most of the cavalrymen, she wore a circular shield on her left forearm... The line began to trot forward in unison."

“Zenobia governed Syria from about 250 to 275 AD. She led her armies on horseback wearing full armor and during Claudius' reign defeated the Roman legions so decisively that they retreated from much of Asia Minor. Arabia, Armenia and Persia allied themselves with her and she claimed dominion over Egypt by right of ancestry." - Kathleen O’B.- http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/

Women in sports from ancient Olympics to 2013 Triple Crown

Women have been participating in sporting events since the ancient Olympics. Now of course, their participation was limited but that didn’t stop them from excelling where they could. Pictured below is  Cynisca, a Spartan princess  racing her chariot. 

Did you know?

• There were a handful of female winners at the ancient Olympic Games. While women were prohibited from directly competing in events like running, wrestling and jumping, they were allowed to enter horses in chariot races. These women were banned from driving the chariots themselves, but as owners and trainers they were still eligible to claim the victory wreath. The first female to do so was Cynisca, a Spartan princess who won a four-horse race called the tethrippon at both the 396 and 392 B.C. Olympics. She was followed by other female Olympic victors, including Bilistiche in 268 B.C. and Timareta and Theodota in 84 B.C.
• 
  

 To read the full article go to: http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/7-ancient-sports-stars

Zenobia may have heard the stories of these triumphant ladies and was inspired by them. Zenobia – Birth of a Legend ends with Zenobia competing in a horse race in Alexandria, Egypt. This upsets some very powerful men. They don’t like the idea of a girl in a man’s event and the outcome of the race will change Zenobia’s life forever. As you will find out in book two,  Zenobia – Challenging a Legend–COMING SOON!

From the earliest times to modern days, women have been participating in sports in some way or another. We’d like to think maybe Zenobia’s story has inspired others. Like Rosie, the first woman jockey to participate in all three prestigious races called the Triple Crown in one year.

“‘Judge me on my talent, not my sex.”

 

Firsts In Women’s Sports History

“There’s no doubt that there have always been athletic, strong, and talented women, but the opportunity to compete wasn’t always there.  Take a look at the PHOTO GALLERY  to view some amazing “firsts” in women’s sports.”

http://www.makers.com/blog/firsts-womens-sports-history-photo-gallery

11 things you may not know about Ancient Egypt-

To read the full article please visit: http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/11-things-you-may-not-know-about-ancient-egypt

Ancient Egypt stood as one of the world’s most advanced civilizations for nearly 3,000 years and created a culture so rich that it has spawned its own field of study.

11 things you may not know about Ancient Egypt –

1. Cleopatra was not Egyptian

Along with King Tut, perhaps no figure is more famously associated with ancient Egypt than Cleopatra VII. But while she was born in Alexandria, Cleopatra was actually part of a long line of Greek Macedonians originally descended from Ptolemy I, one of Alexander the Great’s most trusted lieutenants. The Ptolemaic Dynasty ruled Egypt from 323 to 30 B.C., and most of its leaders remained largely Greek in their culture and sensibilities. In fact, Cleopatra was famous for being one of the first members of the Ptolemaic dynasty to actually speak the Egyptian language. (SEE AT THE END OF THIS POST AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ZENOBIA AND CLEOPATRA.)

2. The ancient Egyptians forged one of the earliest peace treaties on record

3. Ancient Egyptians loved board games

After a long day’s work along the Nile River, Egyptians often relaxed by playing board games. Several different games were played, including “Mehen” and “Dogs and Jackals,” but perhaps the most popular was a game of chance known as “Senet.”

4. Egyptian women had a wide range of rights and freedoms

5. Egyptian workers were known to organize labor strikes

6. Egyptian pharaohs were often overweight

7. The pyramids were not built by slaves 

These ancient construction workers were a mix of skilled artisans and temporary hands, and some appear to have taken great pride in their craft. Graffiti found near the monuments suggests they often assigned humorous names to their crews like the “Drunkards of Menkaure” or the “Friends of Khufu.”

8. King Tut may have been killed by a hippopotamus 

Scans of the young king’s body show that he was embalmed without his heart or his chest wall. This drastic departure from traditional Egyptian burial practice suggests that he may have suffered a horrific injury prior to his death. According to a handful of Egyptologists, one of the most likely causes for this wound would have been a bite from a hippopotamus.

9. Some Egyptian doctors had specialized fields of study

10. Egyptians kept many animals as pets 

The Egyptians saw animals as incarnations of the gods and were one of the first civilizations to keep household pets. Egyptians were particularly fond of cats, which were associated with the goddess Bastet, but they also had a reverence for hawks, ibises, dogs, lions and baboons. Many of these animals held a special place in the Egyptian home, and they were often mummified and buried with their owners after they died.

11. Egyptians of both sexes wore makeup 

Both men and women were known to wear copious amounts of makeup, which they believed gave them the protection of the gods Horus and Ra. The Egyptians believed their makeup had magical healing powers, and they weren't entirely wrong: Research has shown that the lead-based cosmetics worn along the Nile actually helped stave off eye infections.

Interesting fact is Zenobia claimed to be descendant of the Ptolemaic Greek Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt. According to Augustan History, an imperial declaration in 269 was sent by  Zenobia to the citizens of Alexandria, Egypt, describing the city as “my ancestral city”.

Picture by http://www.howarddavidjohnson.com/Z97.htm

The Great Pyramid of Giza

http://www.history.com/videos/deconstructing-history-the-great-pyramid


While reading about Zenobia I've become a History.com junkie and love to read all the articles on Ancient history and especially Ancient Egypt where Zenobia spends the last part of book one Zenobia- Birth of a Legend and almost all of Zenobia - Challenging a Legend, book two. One of my favorite things about history.com is the Did you know? section. Here are some interesting facts about The Great Pyramid of Giza:


Did You Know? The Great Pyramid of Giza was so ahead of its time that it stood as mankind’s most significant architectural achievement for several millennia. Built in 2560 B.C. for the pharaoh Khufu, the structure consists of some 2.3 million stone blocks and took an army of workers 20 years to complete. Not only is it the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it is the only one still standing. Perhaps most astonishing of all, at 481 feet tall (now 456 feet after centuries of erosion) the Great Pyramid stood as the world’s tallest structure for over 3,800 years.

Interesting fact I took from the History.com video above is the base of  The Great Pyramid is a square with each side measuring 756 feet. That can fit nearly 10 football fields.   

 

Read where Zenobia visit the pyramids in Zenobia - Birth of a Legend, book one, chapter 29.

Zenobia - Challenging a Legend - "Resting on laurels" is Ancient History

There are many sayings that we use today which have ancient history origins. Here's one:

Resting on laurels
The idea of resting on your laurels dates back to leaders and athletic stars of ancient Greece. In Hellenic times, laurel leaves were closely tied to Apollo, the god of music, prophecy and poetry. Apollo was usually depicted with a crown of laurel leaves, and the plant eventually became a symbol of status and achievement. Victorious athletes at the ancient Pythian Games received wreaths made of laurel branches, and the Romans later adopted the practice and presented wreaths to generals who won important battles. Venerable Greeks and Romans, or “laureates,” were thus able to “rest on their laurels” by basking in the glory of past achievements. Only later did the phrase take on a negative connotation, and since the 1800s it has been used for those who are overly satisfied with past triumphs.

(Found at history.com http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/10-common-sayings-with-historical-origins?cmpid=INT_Outbrain_HITH_HIS&obref=obnetwork)

We wanted to continue sharing with you exciting excerpts from Zenobia- Challenging a Legend. The scene today doesn't even have Zenobia in it but does display another tough woman.

The kidnapped girl had been captive for a week. She had seen a couple of other girls, evidently also captives, walking with the group during the day, but they were too separated to converse. She wanted to get a chance to talk with them. 

Her guard for that night, speaking Egyptian, asked her, “What is your name?”  

She was tempted not to answer, but she had already decided that the wiser course was to be friendly with the guards, at least the nicer ones. It might lead to an opportunity. “Tyrianna,” she answered, keeping her eyes downcast.  

He grunted. “An elegant name for an elegant girl.” He paused. “You are tall for a woman and your sinews appear tough. You are Ethiopian?” 

She only nodded her response. She figured he could see it in the light from the small campfire.  

*****

Tyrianna had decided that today she would escape or die trying. It was Brute’s turn to guard her and Patricia, which pleased her. The sky began to lighten in the east. Her ankles were bound together and then to a tree on a rope several cubits long, and her hands were tied in front of her. Still, she rose and went through a series of exercises to limber her muscles. Then she lay back down and pretended to sleep. She prepared herself mentally, visualizing her attack in her mind. 

Brute came for the girls shortly after sunrise. He untied Patricia’s legs first, then he gave her a push toward the campfire. She stumbled and fell. The guard gave a hearty laugh. 

Next he untied Tyrianna’s legs. “Wake up and get moving!” he commanded.  

As she expected, when she stood and stretched, he pushed her. She stumbled to her knees. One of us has just seen his last sunrise, the Ethiopian thought. She started to rise awkwardly, her rump in the air. She leaned her elbows on her right knee, and she clasped her hands together, focusing her energy. 

Taking the bait, Brute moved in to kick her backside.  

As he kicked, Tyrianna suddenly dodged to her left, spinning. His kick missed, and he staggered off balance. She whipped her extended arms around like a club. Brute tried to jump back, but she was too fast. Her hands smashed into his left side lower ribs. She heard a rewarding crack and oof as the air was knocked from his lungs. He staggered back in shock.

 Tyrianna plays an important role in book two. We hope you fall in love with her as much as we have.