Tuesday, March 13, 2012

ABC Wednesday
March 14th, 2012

And the letter this week is I


How about I is for Ianthe

John William Godward

Ianthe was as Cretan girl, so beautiful that when she died the Gods made
 purple flowers grow around her grave.

She was betrothed to Iphis, a woman raised as a man who also fell in love
with Ianthe and prayed to the gods to allow the two woman to marry.
She was changed by Isis into a man and became Ianthe's husband.


Here are three small poems by Walter Savage Landor, 1775-1864

Ianthe's Troubles

Your pleasures spring like daisies in the grass,
Cut down and up again as blithe as ever,
From you, Ianthe, little troubles pass
Like little ripples in a sunny river.


Ianthe's Question

Do you remember me? or are you proud?
Lightly advancing thro' her star-trimmed crowd.
Ianthe said, and look'd into my eyes
'A yes, a yes to both for Memory
Where you but once have been must ever be,
And at your voice Pride from his throne must rise'


Soon, O Ianthe! Life is O'er

Soon, O Ianthe! life is o'er,
And sooner beauty's heavenly smile:
Grant only (and I ask no more),
Let love remain that little while.

In reading about Ianthe I have come to the conclusion that her beauty was the muse for many men who used her name to describe the women they loved.   And I am also made aware of how ancient
 is the idea of 'gender-bending'.......

For more takes on the letter I visit here at Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday,
an Ideal meme.








13 comments:

MERYL JAFFE, PhD - parent, psychologist, teacher, author... said...

Great post. Love the photo and poems you included and I agree how little things change.

Carver said...

Fantastic word. Great photo and poem for the theme. Carver, ABC Wednesday Team

Leslie: said...

Interesting about the gender change - so ancient and yet so "today."

Leslie
abcw team

Roger Owen Green said...

interesting and informative!
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Rajesh said...

Very interesting.

photowannabe said...

Very interesting take for the letter I.
I always learn something new from our ABC Wednesdays.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Wow-what a great tale to tell! I never knew.

Kay L. Davies said...

Very interesting post, Hildred. I learned a lot, and am reminded there is really nothing very new about human beings.
K

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Strawberry Jam Anne said...

Another wonderful choice Hildred. You learn something every day. A x

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I love your takes on the alphabet meme...they always make me think -- and make me grateful that I read your post. Thank you.

Animesh said...

very good idea

Unknown said...

interesting read and post.