#cairo calendar

[be-your-bast]

Modern Interpretation of the Kemetic Calendar

III Akhet 10

“Great rejoicing in heaven. The crew of Ra are in peace. His Ennead is cheerful (lit., shouts loudly). Those in the fields are working.”

Party at Ra's! While the gods live it up, we keep the world going.

[dw-writes]

The Invasion...Chapter Twenty-Two

Summary: Mad Sweeney could not recall the last true believer he had. Sure, he’d been brought over as one of the Fair Folk, but it was different. A sliver of the truth, a dim shadow of what he was really owed. The belief of someone who followed traditions, not him.

That changed when he arrived in Cairo.

That changed when he laid eyes on you and he found that one didn’t have to believe in the myth to believe in the man.

A/N: I am.... SO SORRY. this chapter really shouldn't have taken me [checks calendar] LOL ALMOST A YEAR TO WRITE HOLY SHIT IM SO SORRY. i hope you guys enjoy this chapter, please let me know what you think!!! And i'm sorry ahead of time for the pain :3 (not really yall were expecting it) also enjoy the latest crossover to happen in this series. i hope you enjoy!!! :D

Chapters: Chapter One || Chapter Two || Chapter Three || Chapter Four  || Chapter Five || Chapter Six || Chapter Seven || Chapter Eight || Chapter Nine || Chapter Ten || Chapter Eleven || Chapter Twelve || Chapter Thirteen || Chapter Fourteen || Chapter Fourteen-ish || Chapter Fifteen || Chapter Sixteen || Chapter Seventeen || Chapter Eighteen || Chapter Nineteen || Chapter Twenty || Chapter Twenty-One || Chapter Twenty-Two Requests: Mad Sweeney and The Holidays || The Invasion and the Stressful Blows One Shots: The Invasion and That One Thankful Holiday || The Invasion and the Weight of Change || Eyes On You

The Invasion and the Big Easy

Beautiful Aphrodite had only ever felt rage twice in her long life - once, thousands of years prior, as she watched the carnage that unfolded to retrieve the prize that she had given young Paris, and second, when she saw you.

You, sitting in an empty room, eyes glassy from too much alcohol and manufactured self-doubt. She knew what it was from, had felt your heart chip throughout the night from across the country while you fitfully slept under the concerned gaze of a new friend. Whispers of a voice filled the corners of the quiet room.

She turned to them, her incorporeal form non-existent to your unfocused gaze and the man who sat on the floor near you. The face of a young woman filled the unplugged television. Rose didn’t recognize her – it was some different form of Media, a newer one, a viral one. The young woman stopped whispering and met the goddess’s furious gaze.

The television cracked, the image disappeared, and the room fell silent. She turned back to you and watched your exhausted eyes close. The man mumbled, lifting his head to check you, then settled back against the wall with a sigh.

She made a note to learn his name and remembered how love existed in so many forms.

Elsewhere, Rose slumped into the arms of her two loves. They exchanged worried glances above her head as she mumbled to herself, “My poor messenger.” She sighed. Her concerns traced the cracks in your heart through your long day to the point she remembered last speaking to you, when you were happy, and the events of your day played out against her eyelids.

You stood at the edge of a cliff, overlooking a large and bustling Athens of a different age. Your bare feet were cradled by plush, green grass while a cream-colored toga fluttered around your legs.

“We haven’t talked in a long time,” said fair Aphrodite as she stepped up next to you. You tried to look at her, but her face kept changing, as did the rest of her. She cycled through so many features like an ever-changing portrait, each paint stroke melting into the next, all trapped beneath a pale pink robe that brushed the ground.

“Have we ever really sat and talked?” you asked.

She smiled. It lit up the world. “You know what I mean.” She nodded at you. “Nice toga.”

“I’m liking the breeze,” you replied with a smile of your own.

“Yeah? It’s nice, isn’t it?” she teased. You laughed, and she watched you, her features melting and solidifying into a face that was familiar to you. You cleared your throat and looked up at her.

“Sweeney?” you asked.

She shrugged broad shoulders. “Yes and no,” Rose answered with a voice that wasn’t hers. “I’m the goddess of love, remember?” She lifted a hand into the air. “Funny, I never would have guessed this, though. Not in a million years.”

“Which part?” you whispered.

She shoved her hands into her pockets. “All of it,” she replied, “None of it. You know, I thought I had a grip on these things, but you keep surprising me.” She smiled. You longed to see that smile on his real face. “Tell him soon, okay?”

“I will,” you promised.

You opened your eyes as easy as a blink, staring ahead into the purple black haze of the dark room. Sweeney snored behind you; a hot arm thrown over your shoulders. You gingerly wrapped both hands around his wrist and frowned.

Was it a warning? A piece of advice? It could’ve been anything – your friends weren’t always so forth-coming in their intentions.

You stared at the room, thinking over everything that had recently happened, watching the darkness become blue, then gray, and a watery white as the sun started to rise. Your phone buzzes with the alarm for your meds, and you squirmed out of Sweeney’s grasp to take them.

You washed your face in the attached bathroom, brushed your teeth, changed into different, cleaner clothes. You woke Sweeney and insisted he stay quiet to not wake anyone else in the house. As you two left, you wrote a thank you note for the parents, and folded up Mitchel’s number for the sisters.

“I hope they get in contact with each other,” you sighed as you followed Sweeney across the large yard. He grunted, yawning, and continued towards the water’s edge. His lit cigarette brunt orange in the faint morning daylight, glinting off a key in his hand. “Sweeney?”

His boots clomped over a rickety pier just out of sight of the house. A boat swayed at the end of it.

“You’re joking,” you called after him. He waved you off without a word. You groaned, looking back up at the house behind you, and followed him. “You’re stealing their boat.”

“Borrowing,” he grunted, placing the cigarette between his lips, “’m borrowing – we’re—” he corrected, looking up at you as he crouched, “We are borrowin’ their boat.”

You crossed your arms. “Do you intend to mosey on back up the river with it when we’re done in New Orleans?” you asked. He climbed into the boat. You looked back at the house again and scrambled after him, pinwheeling your arms to keep your balance in the small craft. “Put out your cigarette,” you wheezed, “Before you blow us up.”

“’m not gonna blow us up!” he argued.

“You have the shittiest luck on either side of the Mississippi, Sweeney, so I’m sorry if I don’t trust you saying that,” you snapped. He sat back, glaring at you, which you returned. When you didn’t budge, he slowly pulled the cigarette from between his lips and flicked it out into the water. You took a deep breath and sat down. “Someone’s gonna get back at you for that,” you mumbled.

“You were so nice yesterday,” Sweeney mused as he sat back, “What happened? Hm?”

“You decided to steal the boat of a family that wanted to help us,” you shot back with a shrug, “And it’s not even theirs! This isn’t even their house!”

Sweeney groaned loud enough to drown out your complaints, twisting around to start the motor. You braced against the sides of the boat as it started down the river, glaring all the while at his smug smirk. You settled in after a while, watching the trees pass along the riverside. “What was that about my luck?” he said as he carefully steered the craft.

“You have shit luck,” you repeated, “The only reason you’re not dying some wildly fiery death is because I’m here and I don’t have shit luck.”

He snorted, shifting on the seat, and absently twisted his warped coin charm around his neck. “Ya know, maybe you made me another lucky coin,” he muttered absently, “Ever think of that?”

You watched him before you spoke. His eyes were trained on the river behind you and he carefully steered down the gentle curves, keeping away from other boats and suspicious shallows. You didn’t answer him for a long time. You balled the sleeves of your denim shirt in your palms and pulled it closer to you, wishing it was just a bit thicker to keep out the cold air coming off the water.

“Maybe I did,” you finally said as the river became more crowded with boats. He hummed as he looked up at you, slowing the boat down and threading it through the crowd to the dock. “Maybe I did make you a lucky coin,” you repeated.

He snorted as he climbed out of the coat. He held out his hand to you. “Bein’ facetious, luv,” he grumbled.

You took it, swinging your bag onto your shoulder as you climbed out. “Big word,” you teased. He tugged you hard against his side. “But really,” you said with a small smile, “Always told you that it was about belief. And I really think those coins were pretty lucky if they stopped a bullet and saved your life.”

“We’ll see,” he mumbled. He squeezed your hand, then led the way out of the marina and into the crowded streets, keeping you close so that the two of you wouldn’t be separated. You eventually found your way to a less crowded area of shops. Sweeney slowed down. “Ya hungry?”

“A bit,” you sighed, “We didn’t really eat anything at the house since someone stole their boat.” You looked up at him.

He rolled his eyes and looked around, tugging you behind him to a food truck on the corner. He huffed, lip curling in a teasing sneer as you pulled out your wallet and paid. He took the food he’d ordered, and yours, and tucked a bottle of beer in the crook of his elbow as he started to walk. You followed him, taking your food with a sigh as you kept pace with him. He stopped at a statue of the Virgin Mary, then smacked the top of his beer against its stone pedestal to pop the metal top off, and chugged half of it.

You watched him, slowly eating your food, leaning against the pillar across from him. “Sweeney?” you asked once he finished his beer.

He buried his face in his elbow as he released an ugly burp. You whistled slowly. “Whut?” he grumbled, taking a large bite of his meal.

“Are you okay?” you asked. You set your food down, worry twisting at your gut, and moved closer to him. “You’ve been a little weird since we got here.”

“Just got here,” he grunted.

“That’s exactly what I mean,” you shot back. You crossed your arms, staring up into his face. He scratched his chin, then down his neck as he watched you in return. “I’ve known you too long for you to pull this shit and not expect me to ask you about it,” you gently said.

He continued to stare, his blunt fingernail scratching at the label on the bottle until it started to peel. He didn’t say anything, though. His eyes grew dark the longer they traced over your face, until, finally, they fell away. He sniffed and looked at the crowd shuffling past you, scratching the growing stubble on his chin again. “Just don’t wanna see ‘em,” he grumbled.

“Hey strangers,” came the call of a familiar voice. Sweeney groaned, dropping his head back with the sound, and turned away while you smiled and spun around.

“What a sight for—” the words shifted in your mouth as you took in Laura Moon’s new, fresh face and glowing skin, “Sore eyes, holy shit Laura.”

She smirked and twirled, holding out her arms. “Guess that old man doesn’t lie, huh?” she said.

Sweeney rolled a hand in the air, tossing the empty bottle behind him. “Then what, pray tell, are ya doin’ here, huh?” he sniped, “What, you figure that the quick ‘n easy don’t last?”

You looked up at him, struggling not to roll your eyes. “Really?” you whispered.

He shrugged. “Just pointin’ out the obvious,” he muttered.

“In a really asshole-ish way,” you replied.

He lowered himself against the pillar, leaning into your space. “Never heard ya complain before,” he murmured.

You narrowed your eyes, arms crossing over your stomach. “I call you an asshole a lot, actually. Pretty sure I use it more than your name,” you argued.

“It ain’t bad enough that it kept ya from kissin’ me though, ain’t it?” he asked with a smirk.

You snapped your mouth shut.

Laura’s voice was far too loud in the crowded street when she shouted, “You what?!” followed quickly by, “Holy fucking shit,” and, “It’s about time!”

“Excuse me?” you scoffed, turning to her. “No?”

“Yes!” she countered.

“That’s not the argument here, the argument is how he’s an asshole for getting on your case,” you tried. Behind you, Sweeney started to snicker.

“Uh, no, fuck that, I’m over it,” Laura said with a wave of her hand. She closed the gap between you. “You kissed this sasquatch? Seriously? What, was it against your will, or did you actually want it?” She gasped, her face alight with joy at the first taste of gossip she’d had since she died. It really gave you a glimpse of who she had been before. “Did he tell you that he—”

“Ya here for the Loa, yeah?” Sweeney cut in, coughing on ill swallowed spit.

“That’s not important right now, is it?” she countered, glaring, “Is it really?”

“Course it is,” he replied, pushing away from the pillar. It was your turn to stare at him with narrowed, suspicious eyes as he walked past. “Second longer without my coin is a second too long, Dead Wife. Let’s get this over with.” You followed after him. He tossed the bottle into the nearest trash.

“What crawled up his ass?” Laura grumbled as she walked next to you.

You shrugged. “He’s been like this since we got here. I don’t think he wants to deal with the Loa at all.” You tilted your head, then leaned towards her. “Do you know anything about the Loa? I haven’t read anything, just know what he’s told me.”

“Not a fucking clue except that they can bring me back,” she said.

“Huh,” you sighed.

Sweeney led you both around a corner and stopped in front of a small building. Above the door was a sign that swung in the humid breeze, displaying the black rooster that had started to fade in the sun. He paused at the door, rubbing his neck, then he turned to you both. “Ain’t no backin’ out of this once we start,” he said. He stared at Laura, his face the epitome of sobriety. “You wanna do this?”

She rolled her eyes and yanked the door open. “Let’s just fucking hurry up, I don’t have all day,” she griped.

Sweeney held the door open for you, his arm brushing your shoulder as he leaned down to whisper, “Stay close.”

You nodded and stepped inside.

(Rose frowned as the scene against her eyes shifted, showing you through the eyes of a goddess she’d never met.)

Bridget – lovely and strong – felt her heart lodge in her throat the moment you walked into the Black Cock. She knew the man you walked in with, knew the emotion that made him hold open the door for you, dip his head towards yours, brush your back as you passed him.

Mad Sweeney was in love with you, and you him, if your subtle lean into him was a clue, and he didn’t explain a damn thing about the Baron’s specialty if you have followed him and the woman there.

He was about to break your heart.

She knew all too well that not everyone enjoyed their partner stepping out, but even the ones that didn’t mind it never came with them to ask the favor.

He hadn’t fucking told you.

In the ten seconds it took for your trio to enter the bar, Maman Bridget’s opinion of Sweeney soured. Something must have shifted in her, too, as her husband’s fingers lightly prodded her back in question. She smiled, mirthless, and stepped out from behind the bar.

What a fucking coward.

(And then, there you were)

You watched the red-haired woman move around the end of the bar. She passed Sweeney, sharing a look with him, before she moved through a door you hadn’t noticed before.

(Imaged passed through your mind – piles of stones upon marked graves of women, women standing beneath weeping willows that shielded them from mist and shadow, drums beating against ears; but also, there were doctors in damp fields and poets writing by candlelight and rough handed blacksmiths and farms all framed by an ever-burning flame.)

You sat heavily at the bar. The weight of recognizing a two-faced goddess rested heavily on your shoulders and the back of your neck. You stared absently at a bottle in front of you, barely listening to the sound of Sweeney’s voice as he traded barbs with the man behind the bar. Your vision swam when you finally looked at him.

The man himself was tall, even lounging back against the back bar, with a top hat that made him even taller. He had deep, dark skin with the cool undertone of a clear night radiating from beneath. His bright eyes, while filled with humor, were scanning over your trio with a knowledge you couldn’t place.

The wall behind him melted away when he met your gaze. There was a history behind him, spanning centuries and countries, filled with celebrations and swearing and death and spirits and all framed by a heady smoke that filled your lungs and spilled over your lips on a shaky exhale. When you breathed in, there was life and sex and booze, singing and loud music and a sharp tang of spiced rum on your tongue.

You couched and squeezed your eyes shut to the man’s grin, bracing against the bar as you struggled to regain your composure. Beneath it all, you recognized a gap in your knowledge that ached in your chest and made your heart race. The lack of information made you anxious and it hurt. You refocused on the bar, scooping up a bottle near your fingers, and struggled to listen to the conversation.

“And when she is not around,” purred the Baron, his voice floating through the air, “I fuck a lot of other women.”

You were joining an already complicated conversation, you knew it, and maybe it was nerves clawing at your throat that forced your mouth open to say, “Doesn’t Maman Bridget help women with unfaithful lovers?” The air chilled for a moment, but nothing rang untrue in your skull. You glanced up from the bottle of pepper-infused rum in your hand. “What?” you asked, “I’m not wrong.” You were defensive, yes, your voice sharper than you intended.

The woman, who you knew had left through a door before, was standing next to the Baron behind the bar. She arched an eyebrow and smiled. “I like this one,” she murmured. She released the man and rounded the bar again, almost materializing by your side with her smooth movements. No wonder you hadn’t noticed her return. “I wouldn’t mind keeping you around,” she said, leaning against the bar, “The Baron might even warm up to you.”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass,” you replied, “No offense.”

The Baron laughed – loud and full, a sound that echoed a little harshly in your ears – and leaned towards you. “She’s right,” he murmured, “I like you.”

You smiled. There was an air to him that was familiar, and you voice as much when you said, “You remind me of another friend who owns a bar a lot like this. I think you two would get along.”

He snorted as he leaned back, eyeing Bridget over your shoulder as she slipped behind you. “Maybe you could introduce us,” he replied.

Sweeney sat heavily on the stool next to you, grunting and leaning into your warmth. “How’s about we stop makin’ nice,” he grumbled, “I gotta favor.”

Bridget smiled. “From what I hear, it’s not like you to do favors, Sweeney,” she sighed and your smile grew tighter, “Hasn’t that been your friend’s job?”

You frowned at the way she said ‘friend’. Sweeney huffed, shifting in his seat and leaning away from you.

“The Dead Wife,” he sighed, waving a hand towards Laura on his other side, “Is dead.”

The Baron flicked the rim of his hat up and leaned close, spreading his hands along the bar. “Don’t look dead,” he said. He sniffed, long and loud. “Don’t smell dead, neither.”

“Smells Norse,” Bridget commented with a sigh. She leaned towards Laura and picked up her hair, sniffing it. “A bit Greek? A bit…” Her hand snapped out and slapped the side of Sweeney’s head. He started to protest when Bridget opened her mouth and let loose a violent rant of Gaeilge so fast it didn’t sound like words.

Laura leaned back to share a wide-eyed look with you.

The Baron laughed.

Sweeney hunched his shoulders around his ears as Bridget swore. Her voice dropped as she switched to English, “You lost the Sun’s treasure?!”

Your leprechaun swung a hand towards Laura. “It ain’t lost, it’s in there!”

“It’s not yours anymore, is it?!” Bridget snapped, “Not the Sun’s but some dead woman’s!”

“And she’ll only give it up if she ain’t dead!” Sweeney shouted.

The Baron stood straighter. Bridget’s mouth clicked shut and her eyes glanced past him to you.

“Why we’re here,” Sweeney finished.

“That’s powerful magic,” the Baron murmured, “With a steep cost.”

“We’ll pay,” Laura replied, unknowing.

Sweeney shoved his hands through his hair and leaned on the bar, ducking his head low.

It was quiet for a moment. The Baron and Bridget exchanged looks. Then, Bridget cleared her throat. “Come back at closing,” she answered, “We need time to prepare.”

Sweeney was up and out the door before she finished. You stood to follow, stopped only by the woman’s hand on your arm. Laura lingered at the door.

“You shouldn’t come back,” she said, “It’s not magic involving you.”

You frowned, feeling a calm warmth seep into your skin, but pulled away. “We’ll see,” you replied.

You left.

Laura waited outside, talking about places to stay, and started towards the main road like she knew the area. Sweeney shuffled behind her, and you after him. He didn’t look at you, didn’t slow to walk next to you. He just walked, shoulders hunched, hands shoved in his pockets.

The three of you eventually made your way to a small hotel not far from the French Quarter. They had one room left, and the cost left you lightheaded, but you dug the cash out of your bag and paid regardless. Once you were given the keys, you turned to see what Laura and Sweeney wanted to do until it was time to go back, but found Sweeney gone.

Laura shrugged when you asked her where he’d gone. “Dunno,” she said, “Didn’t even see him leave.”

You frowned. “Okay,” you sighed, leaning to see if you spotted him anywhere. “What do you wanna do until he gets back?”

A smile lit up Laura’s face. She led you back outside, and down the street, stopping at every shop between the hotel and the bar. You found ink for Mr. Ibis, an antique set of mortician’s tools for Mr. Jacquel, and a new toy in the shape of a bat for Bas. Laura found a cute dress, which she showed you only after you had left the store, and she changed in an alley. There were other stores, other things purchased or stolen, other smiles shared and memories made.

It was dark soon enough, and the two of you stumbled back to the bar in each other’s arms, laughing like schoolgirls.

Sweeney was already there, waiting, face drawn as he pushed the door open. He didn’t say anything as you walked past him, didn’t even look at you.

Bridget looked away from the Baron with a smile that fell the moment she saw you.

(Coward. What a fucking coward.)

“I told you not to come,” she said, leaning on the bar, “This doesn’t involve you.”

“Why wouldn’t I be here?” you asked, confused, a bit incredulous, “They’re my friends.”

Even the Baron looked a bit lost as he watched Sweeney. “Sex magic only calls for two people,” he explained slowly, “That who requested, and that who benefits.” He tilted his head. “And those who cast it.”

“What?” His words rang in your ears. Laura’s hands disappeared from your arm as she said something, then the Baron, then silence. Three sets of eyes burned into your face as a fourth actively avoided looking at you. “What?” you asked again.

“It’s magic,” Bridget said at the confused look in your eye, “Just magic.” It was like she was trying to soothe a burn, but instead of aloe, it was lemon juice.

“Potent magic,” the Baron added. He slid his hand up over her ass. “Only kind that’ll work for this, too.”

Laura whispered your name.

You smiled. You had to – for her, who you’d come all that way for, and for Sweeney, who…

The smile hurt. You’d rather the platitudes from Bridget.

You nodded, glancing around the room. “Yeah, I know,” you said, voice cracking, “Why we’re here.” You cleared your throat. It burned. “I’ll be at the hotel then.” The door thumped against your back as you reached it. Laura had the grace to look away as you fumbled it open and left.

Once outside, the door slipped from your fingers and shut with a heavy thunk. The hot night warmed your clammy skin and sunk into your clothes until you started to sweat.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

“Just don’t wanna see ‘em.”

“You’re a liar!”

He knew.

(He really was a coward.)

You walked, shouldering through the thick evening crowd as your thoughts wandered away.

Why were you upset? He wasn’t yours, despite all your wants, and thoughts, and wishes. He never was, and, if you were honest, he never would be. You weren’t supposed to be there in the first place, weren’t supposed to be trailing after a man who worked for a god you shouldn’t have met. You were supposed to be home in Cairo. In your bed. Alone.

Fading.

Dying.

Dead.

Your feet shuffled to a stop. People milled past you, unseeing, like you were just something in their way and not a person on the brink of an abyss. You couldn’t tell what you were staring at – a swirl of blurring colors that spanned what must have been the road or the crowd or the buildings, it was all bright and it hurt. Heat spilled down your cheeks and your vision cleared.

A shoulder clipped yours. You stumbled, the rest of the tears rolling down your face, jolting back into your body when you weren’t even aware you’d left it.

“I’m sorry—oh,” a voice thick with a deep southern twang danced in your ears. Warm hands brushed your shoulders. “You alright, darlin’?” Your tears continued. They wouldn’t stop, even as you lifted your eyes from the ground, up past a white collar framed by metal filigree points, and met a warm, brown gaze set into a tanned and tired face. The Preacher’s brow furrowed as he muttered a soft, “Shit.”

You shrugged a shoulder away from him, mumbling something you knew was a lie, but that might’ve also been an apology.

He followed, standing close, staring past you, then turned you around towards a door. You barely heard his voice. You tried to take in more of his features, wondering why he bothered when no one else did – his hair was messy but stood in soft peaks around his head, while the sides were shaved close, and a splatter of dark freckles covered the bridge of his nose. He spoke again, meeting your gaze when he did.

The air trembled around you. Something traced his words out onto the air. You could’ve mistaken the anomaly for a heat wave if it hadn’t been at the end of your nose.

He guided you through the crowd and into a cold bar. You shivered at the sudden change, you sweat suddenly ice on your skin. His hands left you to remove his coat and drape it around you. You watched him roll up his sleeves. Hs pressed a hand between your shoulders and led you to a booth. Two other people were already sitting there, arm against arm.

“Padre?”

“Jesse?”

“Now,” the Preacher – Jesse – motioned you further into the booth, taking up the edge seat when you complied. “This here is Tulip, and Cassidy,” he quietly introduced.

You were pretty sure you gave them your name, but you couldn’t be sure.

“We ain’t here for—” Cassidy’s voice cut off with a yelp.

Tulip adjusted in her seat, shooting the man, Cassidy, next to her a glare. She smiled at you. She was lovely. “You alright, hun? You look down,” she asked. Jesse next to you suddenly jumped, swearing under his breath. “Why don’t you and Cass get us all some beers, yeah?” she politely demanded. She even moved for Cassidy to scramble out of the booth.

You took her in as she shuffled back across the booth seat – her tight brown coils kept the sunglasses sin her hair in place, and her brown eyes were bright as she stared at the men at the bar. She wore lip gloss, and her freckles were just a shade darker than her soft brown skin.

She flashed you another smile, this one not as awkward. “You okay?” she asked again. Her eyes darted over your face. “I mean, you don’t really look okay, but do you wanna talk about it?”

You shook your head. You mulled over her words, adjusting yourself in Jesse’s coat as you struggled to settle back into your skin, forcing yourself into the situation. Out of all the stupid things you could’ve done, you were led into a bar by a stranger, and stuck in the corner seat of a booth.

Though, there were worse things you’d done, too.

And it was a Priest that led you into the bar. Out of all the strangers, that was one that you could, maybe, trust more. And given the weird thing that happened when he spoke, it really reminded you of Anders, and you scrubbed your face with your hands with a groan. Fully covering your face, you dropped your elbows on the table and rambled out everything that had ever happened – from meeting Sweeny in Cairo, to sitting in the bar with her at that moment. Your voice cracked as you spoke, and you barely registered Cassidy or Jesse returning sometime towards the early middle of your tale.

Tulip took your hand and wrapped it around a beer, the polite look on her face replaced with a familiar frustration.

“Now, I ain’t one for religion,” she started, quickly rolling her eyes as Jesse cleared his throat. “Wasn’t,” she corrected, “But someone wanted us to meet because I think we are uniquely qualified to help you out right now.”

Cassidy slapped his bottle on the table, leaning in curiously. “Yer man really a leprechaun?” he asked, “Flighty fuckers, ain’t they?”

“I’m sorry?” you laughed, clearing your throat.

“Nah, I’m old, yeah, been everywhere in my hundred years, and I ain’t ever come across a shrewder or fucked fae than a fuckin’ leprechaun,” he answered.

You properly grabbed the beer and had a long drink. “And how—”

“Oh.” Tulip slapped his arm. “Cassidy here is a vampire,” she said casually, then waved a hand at Jesse next to you, “And Jesse has the literal word of God in his chest.”

“Tulip,” he sighed, as though it was a long-worn topic of contention.

The edges of your world became a little more defined the longer you sat with them. “A vampire, a priest, and a woman,” you mumbled, “I’ve been in weirder situations.”

“Yeah, alright,” Cassidy said, waving his hand in a circle over the table as he adjusted in his seat, “Circle back – how the fuck did ya land an invitation to the Oester party?”

“Oester?” Jesse whispered to you.

“Easter,” you clarified.

He nodded slowly and sat back, draining his beer in one long gulp.

“Everyone’s always clamberin’ for that, fuck, even the Oester in fuckin’ Qatar has a hard time gettin’ invited some years!” Cassidy continued.

“There’s more than one?” asked Tulip.

“You also said there were multiple Jessues?” butt in Jesse over her.

“Jesi,” Tulip corrected.

“I think it’s just Jesus, ya know, both plural and singular,” Cassidy mumbled.

“We’re lookin’ for God,” Jesse continued, sighing, “Big G, God. Was he—”

You shook your head. “Sorry, Father. Just Jesus.”

“Jesse,” he insisted.

The conversation continued in a similar vein, you giving them more details, them sharing their story. The table collected a large amount of beer bottles as the hours passed.

Sweeney drank just as much as Bridget danced. It was a dance she’d done numerous times, one that he partook in at least once, one she’d done in front of others who owed favors, who needed magic so desperately that they’d toe the line between death and sex just to taste it. She twisted in time to music that formed on the air. Sweeney’s eyes slipped past her, past the figures that appeared around her, to someone she had yet to see. She threw her head back as old words slipped past her lips, and spotted the figure, the one who clouded the Irishman’s mind as the world grew hazy and the magic grew hot. Bridget was grinning when she turned to him, traced her slim fingers up his thighs, which parted for her.

“And, for a moment, I thought you were hung up on the dead girl,” she crooned against his clothed stomach.

Sweeney snorted.

“But it’s someone else,” she teased. Her lips grazed the skin of his neck. He twisted his head away from her. His knee started to bounce. “Bet you’d be more into it if the Informant were here, kneeling between your knees.” She pressed an open-mouthed kiss against his ear. “Just as eager to take your cock as you are to give it.”

He shrugged her off with a growled, “Shut up.”

She arched an eyebrow as she stood, though that Cheshire stretched further across her face. “C’mon, let’s play pretend, hm?” The room filled with an eerie glow. Sweeney rose from his eat. “You be the burly Irishman.”

“Shuddup.”

“I’ll grant your favor,” she purred, voice lilting as Sweeney stepped closer.

“Shut. Up.”

It wasn’t her voice that said, “Make me,” but she squealed when Sweeney scooped her up and pinned her to the wall, anger and frustration brewing hot in his veins. It wasn’t her he saw when he hiked her skirt up and pulled her legs high around his waist, nor when he tilted her hips up and pushed his cock into her with no preamble.

In the haze, he heard the Baron and Maman Bridget laugh.

As the red settled over his eyes, he slid a hand up the back of the figure on his hips, swinging them around, pinning them to the column behind him. They were tighter than hell on his cock and warmer than the sun against his chest and he felt himself swallow his own name as he kissed a mouth he’d become familiar with.

The fingers in his hair were yours.

The thighs he gripped tight were yours.

The voice that mewled and moaned in his ear as he touched and bit groped the right places was yours.

And while part of him knew it wasn’t you – wasn’t really you taking his cock like you were built for it – the rest of him desperately wished it was, and convinced him to enjoy the fantasy while it lasted.

(Laura knew that Sweeney only touched her the way he did was because he imagined it was you, and she desperately wished her imagination was powerful enough to picture the man she kept telling herself she loved, rather than seeing the one she really did.)

Jesse fumbled with the lock to your hotel room for the third time, swearing beneath the din of a party going on down the hall. Cassidy stated that he was sober, that he could open the door, but Tulip hushed him and pointed out that he was carrying you on his back, so he was too occupied to do so. He didn’t argue with her, nor point out that she, too, was drunk.

You cheered when Jesse finally opened the door.

“’ey, I got it,” Cassidy said as he shuffled inside. You were vaguely aware of him ushering Tulip and Jesse away, of him telling them that they needed to get home, and to call a taxi or an Uber.

“You text me!” Tulip halfway shouted around him, waving at you as you were deposited onto the bed.

You flashed her a thumbs up before Jesse pulled the door shut.

Cassidy turned to you, rubbing his neck, and dug through the only bag in the room, mumbling something about getting you a change of clothes.

It gave you a chance to really look at him, really take in his features. He was tall, with hair long enough to stick out in difference directions, and soft brown eyes, and was freckled from his previous days in the sun. His voice was soft as he handed you the clothes and advised you to change. He steadied you, helped you tug off your stubborn shirt and put on your clean one, then sat you on the toilet and grabbed a washcloth.

“Why are you doing this?” you asked, surprisingly sober, given how much you drank.

He knelt and started to wipe your face; his brow knitted together at your question. Then, he sat back on his heels, his arms draped on his knees.

“I’m a real right bastard, love—”

You swiftly corrected him with your name.

He lifted his hands, apologized, and continued, “But I ain’t gonna leave someone alone when they’re hurtin’.” He paused, then sighed. “Specially with somethin’ like this.” He gave you a small smile.

“I don’t deserve it,” you whispered, sniffling. You wiped your nose with your hand. Cassidy held out the damp cloth. You took it, chin trembling, “I don’t deserve any of this.”

“You don’t,” Cassidy agreed. “Fact, from what y’ said, that Sweeney’s a fuckin’ arsehole and deserves an asskickin’, but that’s from the outside.”

You waved your hands, rolling your eyes. “No, I—” You sniffled against and dabbed your nose with the cloth. “No, I don’t deserve your kindness. I don’t deserve your company, I don’t…” Your voice cracked and dropped to a whisper as you continued, “I don’t deserve to be here. Someone else does. Someone stronger, someone kinder, someone smarter.” You hiccupped and covered your face with the cloth, leaning over your knees.

Cassidy sat on the floor at your feet, folding himself around your legs and the toilet as much as his long limbs would let him. He looped his arms around your back. “That’s the shitty booze talkin’, y’know…” he murmured, sighing gently, “An’ I dunno who you think is better. Yer plenty strong, from the sounds of yer story. Kind, too. Smart as a fuckin’ whip.” He frowned. “You deserve what ya put into the world, and y’ve put a lot of good out there.”

Your sob tore through his chest like a stake.

(Cassidy’s heart broke a bit and stitched back together with a bit of love he carried for you until the day he died.)

“Then why…” you trailed off.

He sighed. “Others just put shit out there, too, and that’s a bit bigger than the good sometimes.”

You scrubbed your eyes with the cloth until they burned, then sat up, wiping your cheeks. He took the washcloth, carefully wiping your nose with the corner.

“Know it ain’t much,” he whispered, “But ‘m glad someone like you’s here.”

“I wanna go home,” you whispered, and he felt it in his gut that you didn’t mean a place.

He sighed. “Me, too,” he said, and in that moment, you knew he didn’t mean a place either, and wondered if Tulip was right about the serendipitous meeting.

Your chin trembled. He helped you up, guided you to the bed, tucked you in, then sat next to you. He flipped the television on. You reached over and flipped it off.

“You’re a vampire,” you mumbled, resting your head on his shoulder, “Tell me a story. Tell me your story. I’ll commit it to memory.”

He snorted. “Why you wanna do somethin’ so silly like that, huh?” he asked.

“Everyone deserves to be remembered,” you sighed, closing your eyes. “And everyone’s important enough to be remembered.”

Your phone buzzed on the blankets. Cassidy scooped it up. He tilted the screen towards you.

“He’s really enjoying fucking that dead flesh,” read a text from your sister, sent over one of the social media apps on your phone.

“That somethin’ she’d say?” Cassidy asked, glancing at the phone, “You said somethin’ about gods and the like, too, when y’ were tellin’ yer shit.”

“Never,” you whispered.

He turned the phone off. “None a that, then,” he mumbled, tossing it somewhere on the bed. He threw an arm around your back. “Get comfortable. It’s a long story.”

“Those are the best,” you yawned.

He spun you a tale of two kids playing at being Freedom Fighters in a land you’d grown familiar with, about how one died in battle, another in the streets.

You drifted off sometime during his re-telling of the 70’s.

Old stone homes crowded the darkness of your sleep, looming over you like specters of a past you didn’t know well. You padded barefoot down cobblestone roads and turned a corner to find your familiar library at the end of one.

“Hello, you,” you whispered as you made your way over, pulling open the clean doors. They creaked and slammed shut behind you. It was dark inside. Not dark enough that you couldn’t see, but the once warm candles were no longer lit, instead being scattered, and broken across the floor. You stepped over them with a frown as you walked in.

Thrown across the main room were books – the floor was covered in pages that were ripped and stained, and shelves were knocked against each other. You knelt to pick up a book and sighed. An ache bloomed behind your eye as sobriety quickly approached.

“Leave.” A voice in the sudden silence made you jump. You dropped the book, rising to your feet. A figure stood beside a tipped over shelf. Its eyes reflected what little light filled the room. You gulped, shifting back as it inched towards you. You scrambled for the door and the bright light beyond it, panic clawing at your throat as the thing ran after you. You pulled the door open.

Its hand smashed the door shut. “You don’t get to run away from this!” it snarled over your startled screech, “You don’t get to just decide it’s over!”

“Stop it!” you screamed. It roared against your back, then fell silent. Its heat surrounded you. You swallowed, turning to see whatever it was that haunted your library.

You stood toe to toe, its bright, knowing eyes watched you. Its chest heaved and its arms trembled. You shivered, backing up against the door. It stepped back.

“Who are you?” you whispered.

It opened its mouth and hundreds of names poured out. You covered your ears as the sound of them echoed in your head, pounding against your skull, everything building until it was undecipherable noise.

Fingers wrapped around yours, cold against your hot skin.

Rose opened her eyes, leaning away from her two lovers to pick up her phone. She’d sent a message hours ago, calling on an acquaintance she hadn’t met in decades, cashing in her one and only favor to him.

Her message was the address of the hotel and your room number, attached to the request, “Take them home. Cairo.”

He’d replied, “Done,” and dropped a pin showing that his phone was at the same location.

She sagged with relief and sat back against the couch.

The man saw the read notification beneath his pin, then slid his phone into his pocket. It was easy for him to pick the lock of your room – old doors, old locks, they were nothing for his deft fingers. Though, he swore when he dropped the lock pick, scooping it up into a wide palm as he checked the door. Satisfied, he swung the door open.

Cassidy looked up from gently prying your hands from your head.

The strange man looked around the room. The television had been unplugged at one point, as had the small clock radio. A cell phone sat on the blankets, turned off. And a vampire was tending to the one Rose had sent him for.

He laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Cassidy grunted, standing tall, making sure he was between you and the stranger. The man laughed harder.

The sound was finally enough to wake you. You pushed yourself up, rubbing your sore eyes, and squinted at the man standing in your room. He tilted his head back, somehow larger than Cassidy was before you. “Rose sent me,” he said, waving a hand, “Here to take you home. To Cairo. Let’s go.”

Cassidy glanced over his shoulder at you. You swung your feet off the bed, shrugging, still half asleep and not quite sober as you groggily responded, “Take me home.”

“Y’sure?” whispered Cassidy.

You looked up at him, smiled, and nodded. “I’m sure.” Then, you pointed at your bag. “Give me your number. I’ll update you. And stay here, at least until nighttime. The room’s paid for.”

He hesitated, and gave the man another wary look, but did as he was told with a shrug. He eventually turned back to the man again. “Wait, who’re you?”

The strange man grinned, his laughter finally subsiding. “Call me Iartaithe,” he answered with a wink, “It’s a name.”

“Okay, but why’re you laughin’?” Cassidy asked as he grabbed your bag. He fished for the pen you pointed towards, glancing over when you saw you rubbing your eyes again.

“Just absurd,” Iartaithe replied, “Whole thing. Absolutely fucking absurd.”

“Yeah,” you muttered as you stretched your arms above your head, “Tell me about it.” You waited as Cassidy scribbled down his number, then stretched to grab your phone and turn it back on. You looked up at him. “Can you tell Sweeney where I’m going?”

“I can tell ‘im to fuck right off,” Cassidy replied. You smiled. “Guess I can,” he muttered.

“Thank you,” you said, “He’ll worry.” Then, you frowned, wondering if he’d show back up at all, and remembered that, despite what you wanted from him, he really was still your friend. He’d show up. And he’d worry. But you also knew that you couldn’t stay there anymore, especially alone. You appreciated Cassidy’s company, but you knew he couldn’t stay. You needed to go home. You needed to see Bast again. “Thank you,” you repeated, looking up at Cassidy, “Really.”

He flopped onto the bed with a loud sigh, tapping your phone with his finger. “You better fuckin’ message, or I’m comin’ to find you instead,” he threatened, “Fuck God. He can wait another fuckin’ day.”

You leaned your head on his shoulder, yawning, and stood, scooping your bag off the floor. “Promise,” you swore.

Iarlaithe leaned back against the door, and stepped out into the hall when you followed. You gave Cassidy one last glance, waved when he did, and shut the door on him and everything that New Orleans had brought you.

~*~Thanks for Reading~*~ ~*~Tag List~*~

@hannon-say || @divadinag || @superflannel || @jinxy-toast || @the-bluest-hour || @karmabites2313 || @siedrkona1991 || @hstott || @lakeli || @massivecolorspygiant || @leximus98 || @weirdo125 || @fleeingdawn-blog1 || @madamecoyote || @postgradandstupid || @hopplessdreamer || @ceyruh || @animatenebrae || @ultrablackwidower || @callmemaeverick || @loisbaggings || @fictional-hooman || @babypink224221 || @quietwitchworld || @mags-writes || @sunshine-gumdrop || @theonlylolland

[egypt-museum]

"The Complete Egyptian Religious Calendar for the year 2024: the most comprehensive publication of the lists of the festivities of the Egyptian Religious Tradition (dated for the year 2024). A practical application of the Egyptian Religious Calendar for the current age.

What’s new in this edition:

In this edition you will find, for the first time, the list of the Chronokratores and the Presiding Deities of the days of the year from the top frieze of the Outer Vestibule, also known as the Offering Hall, of the Temple of Horus at Edfu.

Contents:

- Preface - The Egyptian Religious Calendar - The Calendars of Ancient Egypt - The Civil Calendar - The presiding Deities and the Chronokratores of the days of the year - The Sothis-based Lunar Calendar - The Lunar months - The Deities of the days of the Lunar month, the names of the days of the Lunar month, and their presiding Deities - Favorable and adverse days - Sources - Egyptian Religious Calendar for the year 2024 - Notes - Bibliography

The sources used to reconstruct the Egyptian Religious Calendar and for the dating of the sacred festivities are:

– the “Cairo Calendar n. 86637” – the “Sallier papyrus IV” – the “Budge papyrus” – the list of the religious celebrations dated to the Middle Kingdom

And the lists of the sacred festivities from the Temples’ religious calendars:

– the religious calendar of King Thutmosis III from Ipet-Sut-Karnak – the Temple of King Thutmosis III at Elephantine – the Temple of King Ramses II at Abydos – the Temple of Millions of Years of King Ramses III at West Uaset-Thebes (“Medinet Habu”) – the Temple of Horus at Edfu – the Temple of Hathor at Dendera – the Double Temple of Haroeris and Sobek at Ombos (“Kom Ombo”) – the Temple of Neith and Khnum at Esna"

— Egyptian Religious Calendar 2024: 424th-425th Great Year of Ra, by Luigi Tripani

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

Today in Christian History

Today is Thursday, March 21st, 2024. It is the 81st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; Because it is a leap year, 285 days remain until the end of the year.

1526: In Zurich, Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, and George Blaurock escape from prison down a rope. Pacifist Anabaptists, they believed Christians should not hold power, but had been condemned to life imprisonment on concocted charges of fomenting revolution. Captured again that year, Manz and Blaurock will be again imprisoned, and Manz will be executed by drowning in 1527.

1556: Archbishop Thomas Cranmer is burned alive on orders of Mary Tudor, officially because of his “heresies” (he had been a leader in the English Reformation), but actually because of his role in providing King Henry VIII with a divorce from Mary’s mother Catherine many years earlier.

1656: Death of the archbishop of Armagh, James Ussher. His Annales Veteris et Novi Testamenti proposed a biblical chronology that placed the creation of the world in 4004 BC, and his dates will be incorporated into the notes of many Bible versions.

1806: Burial of David Dale, a Scottish manufacturer and philanthropist who sought to alleviate the condition of the poor by providing food, housing, and education at his mills. He had opened new mills to provide work for the unemployed. Strongly evangelical, he served as a lay preacher and headed many philanthropic endeavors, and was known as a lenient magistrate.

1843: Gungaram Mundel contracts cholera. He had been the first convert at Khari Baptist Church, Calcutta, and his profession of faith had eased the way for other Indians of the area to follow Christ.

1863: Death of Davis Griffiths, a missionary to Madagascar, who had translated the Bible into the Malagasy language.

1965: Baptist minister Martin Luther King, Jr (pictured above). leads more than three thousand civil rights demonstrators on a march from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery. By the time they reach their destination four days later, the number of protesters will have swelled to twenty-five thousand.

1979: Muslim militants burn down the fifth-century historical Coptic Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in Old Cairo.

1994: The people of Augusta, Georgia, dedicate a monument on Green Street to the memory of Christian philanthropist Emily Harvey Thomas Tubman.

2007: Teacher Christianah Oluwasesin of Nigeria is beaten to death by a mob on an accusation that she touched a student’s handbag which had a Koran in it, thus defiling the Koran.

[divinum-pacis]

Coptic Christians pose for selfies in front of a Nativity display at the Church of Ava Bishoy and St. Karas the Anchorite in Cairo, Egypt, late Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. Coptic Christians observe Christmas on Jan. 7, according to the old Julian calendar. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

[mariacallous]

Cease-fire talks in Cairo aimed at brokering a pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and securing the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners have stalled, less than a week before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Officials in Washington and the region have come to regard the holiday, which is set to begin on Sunday, as an unofficial deadline to reach a deal amid concerns that clashes during Ramadan could further inflame the region.

Negotiators from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have scrambled to piece together a deal that would see up to 40 Israeli hostages released in exchange for a six-week cease-fire, an increase in aid deliveries to the besieged Gaza Strip, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israel’s jails.

Three days of talks in Cairo this week failed to reach a breakthrough, with both Israel and Hamas trading accusations of hindering an agreement. Hamas has failed to respond to Israel’s requests for a list of living hostages who could be released as part of a deal, while senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said on Tuesday that the militant group is seeking a permanent cease-fire and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, which represents a significant expansion of the parameters of the proposed deal.

“We are afraid of getting to the point of no return, where the level of escalation would reach an all-out war in the region,” said Majed al-Ansari, a foreign-policy advisor to the Qatari prime minister, speaking about the need for a cease-fire by Ramadan. His urgency was echoed by U.S. President Joe Biden, who warned of a “very, very dangerous” situation if an agreement wasn’t struck by Ramadan.

The onset of the holy month brings with it a number of specific events and circumstances that could very easily lead to a dramatic escalation not just in the Israel-Hamas war but also in the simmering tensions across the Middle East.

Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s war cabinet, said in a speech last month that Israel would begin offensive operations in Rafah, in southern Gaza, if remaining hostages were not released by the start of Ramadan. Some 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge in the city, and aid groups have warned of a “bloodbath” if Israeli troops launch an assault on the city.

More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, which has come under punishing bombardment by Israeli forces seeking to root out Hamas militants in the wake of the brutal Oct. 7, 2023, attack, which left some 1,200 Israelis dead and 253 taken as hostages into Gaza.

With aid supplies severely restricted, humanitarian groups have issued increasingly dire warnings about the potential for famine in northern Gaza. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Monday that children have begun to die from starvation.

“There’s a lot of clocks running here,” said Zaha Hassan, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “And that’s all coming to a head this week.”

Without a cease-fire, scenes of ongoing death and destruction in Gaza are likely to weigh heavily on the minds of Muslims across the region going into Ramadan, the most sacred period in the Islamic calendar, which is marked by prayer, reflection, and charity. “It adds a layer of distastefulness and outrage to an already pretty horrendous situation,” said Khaled Elgindy, the director of the Middle East Institute’s program on Palestine. “It adds more pressure on Arab governments to at least look like they’re doing something.”

The Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is sacred to both Jews and Muslims and has long been a flash point for tensions in the ancient city, particularly during Ramadan, as tens of thousands of Muslims seek to visit the mosque during Ramadan and for Friday prayers. “There’s nothing like threats to Al-Aqsa that ignites the streets,” said Joel Braunold, the managing director of the Abraham Center for Middle East Peace.

Clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at the mosque in 2021 prompted Hamas to launch a barrage of rockets into Israel, which responded with hundreds of airstrikes that killed more than 200 Palestinians in Gaza.

Hamas views itself as the guardian of Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem, Hassan said. Hamas, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, code-named its Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.”

Officials in Israel are concerned that Hamas may be deliberately delaying cease-fire negotiations to use Ramadan to inflame tensions in the region, said an Israeli official who requested anonymity to speak candidly about the talks.  Last week, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called on Palestinians to march on Al-Aqsa at the start of Ramadan, while a spokesperson for Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another Gaza-based militant group, called for a “month of terror” in a recent speech.

On Wednesday, Israel’s National Security Council issued a warning to the public that terrorist groups are likely to use the ongoing war and tensions around Al-Aqsa to incite their supporters to carry out attacks on Israelis as well as Western targets.

Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose portfolio includes the holy site, had called for severe restrictions to be imposed on Muslim worshippers accessing the site—including Arab citizens of Israel. But in an apparent effort to reduce the potential for unrest, the Israeli government announced on Tuesday that the number of worshippers allowed access to the site would be similar to previous years.

“Ramadan is holy for Muslims, and the sanctity of the holiday will be preserved this year, as it is every year,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement but added that it would reassess the situation weekly based on the security situation.

While officials in the region are looking to reach a deal by the beginning of Ramadan in a bid to keep a lid on tensions, the start of the holiday does not necessarily spell the end of diplomatic efforts to secure a cease-fire deal. If there is sufficient momentum, a deal could still be struck during Ramadan, Braunold said.

[macybeckham7]

Cairo birthday landing on a racing sunday. Mercedes get him a cake and loads of drivers get him presents

It was marked in Toto’s and Susie’s calendars as soon as the dates for the upcoming season came out. They wanted to surprise Cairo and the Hamilton’s. It came around, Cairo walked in and found all the Mercedes family wearing party hats, confetti gets set off. Bono walks over with a big car cake. You record it all as everyone sings for the eldest Hamilton, you smiling as you watch as they all hug him. How Mick gives him a present and wishes him a good year. Lewis hugging you as he could tell that you were getting emotional as you remembered how they were all with you throughout the pregnancy and still look out for him and them all now. ‘Thank you everyone’ Cairo smiles as Susie arrives by his side and helps him cut the cake and has the first bite.

[madamlaydebug]

Top ten fascinating facts about Egypt commonly nicknamed "the two lands."

1. The Great Pyramids of Egypt were not built by slaves. Those who contributed in the construction were paid laborers and some of them built with great honor towards the Pharaoh and had willingness.

2. The world's oldest dress was found in Egypt. It is possible that the world's first fashion house emerged from Egypt.

3. The world's largest dam lies in Egypt. Aswan high dam was built to contain the raving waters of the world's longest river, the Nile.

4. The ancient Egyptians are the authentic inventors of the Gregorian calendar which is the 365-days a year calendar. They did so in order to predict the yearly floodings of the Nile river.

5. Egypt is home to the only remaining monument of the 7 ancient wonders of the world. The Great Pyramid of Giza has undisputably survived through long periods. The pyramids of Giza are located in the capital city of Cairo.

6. Ancient Egyptians produced the world's first prosthetic limb, a toe composed of leather, wood and thread and dated between 950 and 710 B.C.

7. Egypt is home to seven UNESCO-designated World Heritage sites: Abu Mena; ancient Thebes with its Necropolis; Historic Cairo; Memphis and its Necropolis; Nubian monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae; the Saint Catherine area; and Wadi Al-Hitan, or Whale Valley, home to fossil remains of the earliest and now extinct form of whales.

8. Cats are highly revered and exalted. They have been sacred animals in ancient Egypt. Cats were believed to bring good luck. When a cat died, the pharaohs would have them mummified. This showed how important they were.

9. Ancient Egyptians believed that makeup had supernatural powers that protected them from the sun. The black eye paint is largely synonymous with ancient Egyptian depictions.

10. The Ancient Egyptians had so many gods that literally every city had its own favorite deity.

[be-your-bast]

Modern Interpretation of the Kemetic Calendar

I Akhet 17, Yr 31

“Do not eat any mehyet-fish. It is the day of taking away Sobek’s offerings.”

Best to avoid eating fish today.

“In the ninth hour, one takes up the plant originally taken up by Djehuty, in order to create a beautiful crown for Wesir”

Get yourself a new plant, remember to water your current ones, or make that flower crown you've always wanted.

[khaleesiofalicante]

i did not think i would live to see the day where we have (basically) angst-free mavid. but what a glorious day it is ☀️🙌

and i will most definitely accept this fic as an apology for both fmf and lbaf. i have a feeling i’m gonna migrate back to it after any remotely angsty thing in lbaf v.

ok an extended list of my thoughts, reactions, ramblings, etc.:

max in a suit will forever be my fave

brunch is most definitely a real meal, for adamant breakfast haters like myself

“How on earth could a stupid legal meeting be more important than avocado toast and strawberry mimosas?” david is the realest

david my love, calling him just mr.lightwood and not mr.lightwood-bane is probably losing you some points

the second hand embarrassment is real in this one dani 😩

“He’d like to see anyone else in that family write a dissertation on gender and colonialism in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park” he’s so hot for this

alec being taylor swifts lawyer but supporting her carbon emissions 😔 can’t win them all, folks

david baby, alec is just being jealous, don’t take it so personally pleeeeeaaasseeee

every single mavid scene in here is making me giggle and kick my feet 🥰🤭

i love the subtle netflix slander in all these fics

alec walking in on mavid 😭 david really can’t catch a break

david really is a perfect piece of shit

anjali is the absolute best. the standard, even

“you. always. all the time.” somebody hold me

david “accidentally” ruining the cake, this boy is too sweet

and the apple strudel scene was too funny

the little fbi max???? david is the best boyfriend ever

“You're my lawyer. You have to do as I ask. You can either help me or I will fire you and find someone else who will.” that was very hot

“I do have power over him. You really don’t want to see what I can do with it” this was also very hot

all their little pillow talk scenes make me so soft

seeing mavid elope in every universe is my absolute favorite

“Do not do the shimmy dance. Do not do the shimmy dance!” 😭😭😭

“he is gonna end up in a hospital like he did in Cairo” any mention of other max will be considered foreshadowing, dani

the entirety of chapter 8 was so perfect, i cant-

“sad gay prince and his little choir boyfriend” this is forever how i’m gonna refer to young royals now😤

“I represent all sorts of people,” the other man notes and then winks at David. oh, he is most defintely taylor swifts lawyer, isn’t he?

“Now I’m saying they met because of me,” the man hums. “But one does wonder where the mavid ship would be without the wind that is Jace Herondale.” YOU TELL THEM 😤

“David, you are a like a son to me and I love you very much.” HE FINALLY SAID IT 🎉

taylor swift? the taylor swift???? omg

the whole moment where mavid was singing the lines of “lover” to each other was perfect

i can’t blame david because i would also be in shock if i found myself having a conversation with hozier

david beauchamp, you perfect son of a bitch

Do you think he'll like it and forgive me for all the pain I'm about to put him through in LBAF? 🥺 david might, but i won’t. leave my baby girl alone dani, i beg of you

i think this fic was the best thing that ever happened to me 🤍💙💛

ps: don’t you dare think i missed that lbaf foreshadowing 👀 just cause other max doesn’t have david anymore doesn’t mean he can’t have any love in his life dani 😩 and what is this i hear about disrupting canon events 🤨

pps: if other max can hop dimensions, i’m sure it would be very amusing (and eerie) for him to see that mundane david writes about him so accurately

ppps: i’ve marked my calendar for lbaf v, i am so excited for this (i’m assuming the 18 chapters is the 18 years between lbaf iv v)

Was this angst free tho 👀

I'm so glad you enjoyed the fic and loved the fluff (see? i can write fluff too!!)

The 18 chapters have time skips, so it isn't really one chapter for each year (there are more than a 20 years gap if I'm not wrong - I'm begging yall don't make me do the math)

love u

[a-safe-and-quiet-place]

Thoth

Thoth

Description

Thoth is the Egyptian god of Knowledge. He was widely worshiped as inventor of the written word and credited with the creation of different branches of knowledge.

Thoth is a central figure in ancient Egyptian religion, filling various important roles in the mythological world. However, the worship of Thoth lasted only until the dynastic era. Regardless, the Egyptians and Greeks alike credit him as the inventor of all knowledge.

Family

Egyptian myth told that Thoth was self-created, while at least two alternate stories claim he was either born from the sun god Ra’s lips or from the war god Set’s forehead after Set swallowed the semen of his brother Horus.

Symbols

He is commonly depicted in human form with the head of an Ibis, a sacred bird associated with wisdom. The name Thoth is the Greek version of the Egyptian name Djehuti, which means “He Who is Like the Ibis.” Sometimes he is pictured holding an ankh, a famous hieroglyph resembling a cross, and scepter; other times, he is pictured holding a scribe’s palette and stylus. He is also seen wearing the Atef crown usually worn by Osiris. When he took the form of A’an, god of equilibrium, he was depicted with the head of a baboon.

Powers & Duties

Considered to be the author of the Book of the Dead, Thoth also acted as scribe to the gods and of the underworld. In this capacity, he stood by during the weighing of the hearts of deceased persons. Hearts lighter or equal to the weight of a feather could move on to a heavenly existence. Thoth’s just decisions in these and other matters made him a respected judge.

Appropriately, one epithet given to Thoth is “The Reckoner of Time and of Seasons.” He possesses the gift of measuring and recording time. In one popular myth, he added an extra five days to add to the 360 day calendar. This was to enable Nut, the sky goddess, to have a child on each of these days after Ra issued a decree that she was to have no children on any day of the original year.

Worship

Thoth was first worshiped as a moon god. The moon’s cycles played an important role in Egyptian life. The crescent moon resembled an ibis, the bird associated with Thoth.

Thoth’s main temple is at Khmun. Here he led the Ogdoad pantheon, the four gods and four goddesses who made up the principal deities before creation. He has shrines in numerous other cities.

A festival of Thoth was held at Khmun, where his worshipers buried mummified baboons and ibises as votive offerings. Evidence of these have been found by archaeologists at the necropolis of Tuna el-Gebel.

Facts About Thoth

When Set killed Osiris, Thoth helped Isis to resurrect him and assisted Anubis with the first act of mummification;

Invoked in many spells used in popular magic, Thoth is also seen as a god of magic;

Thoth remains a well-known god in popular culture. In modern literature, for example, he is the character Mr. Ibis in Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. He is also featured on his throne on the logo of the University of Cairo;

Thoth was associated with Hermes, the messenger god, by the Greeks. They were combined to form Hermes Trismegistus. Thereafter, Khmun became Hermopolis;

According to myth, Thoth wrote 42 books containing all the knowledge humanity needs. He was given the title of “Author of Every Work on Every Branch of Knowledge, Both Human and Divine.” Some of this knowledge was so powerful that it could not be revealed to everyone;

The Mansion of Thoth was his home in the afterlife. Souls found a safe place to rest here, where they received magic spells to protect them from demons;

Some of the disciplines the Greeks credit Thoth for include mathematics, astrology, geometry, botany, and land surveying;

Djehuti, an Egyptian pharaoh of the Sixteenth dynasty, was named after Thoth. He ruled for three years.

Original art / Original image before it became trippy

ArtHouseLabs

PS: Btw it really sucks that tumblr doesn’t let people upload gifs with less than 10mb, makes us optimize our gifs and even then it optimizes them even further in theyr servers to 3mb i believe

[shoukokunoaltairfans]

Unification of Anatolia ( 01/03/78 - 04/04 /78 )

After the collapse of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum in the second half of the middle century, many small Turkic kingdoms emerged. until finally the Turkiye Stratocracy stood and dominated the Anatolian plains. The surviving beyliks were Karaman (one of the beyliks that had great influence in Anatolia as well as Turkiye's sworn enemy at that time), Isfandirids on the northern shore of the Black Sea, and Dulkadir in Cilicia which at that time became a vassal state of the Mamluk sultanate. 

Anatolian States during years 78 of Turkiye Calendar. 

Zaganos Pasha wanted to unify all the small kingdoms that were still divided. with the ambition of establishing a large Turkiye Stratocracy. To secure his military operations, on the 14th of the month of Tencere, 78 of the Turkiye calendar, Zaganos dispatched Tughril Mahmut Pasha to the Mamluk Sultanate to strengthen political, trade relations and forge military alliances. through the relationship between the two countries Zaganos Pasha succeeded in obtaining the legality of the official stamp of the Abbasid Caliph, Al - Muttawakil II, so that the Turkiye Stratocracy has a strong influence in the Islamic world. thus, the zaganos pasha could freely carry out his military operations in Anatolia without having to deal with the Cairo Government. and cut off the beyliks' only attempt to ally with the Mamluks in the face of threats from the Zaganos Pasha's forces.

Tomb of Sayf Ad-din Inal during reign 76 - 84 Turkiye Calendar. 

Mamlukes Sultanate. 

At the beginning of the month of Raki, Zaganos Pasha started his military operations in Anatolia, bringing with him 80,000 Troops, and 250 ships, under the command of Yakup Pasha, and Kasim Pasha ( Governor of Balta ). His first target in this operation was the city of Amasra which was under the Genoese colony. This city was the trading center of the Genoese in the Black Sea region. but because the majority of people in this city were merchants, and did not care about who ruled their city as long as it did not disturb their property and honor, they agreed to open the city's gate. Zaganos Pasha managed to conquer it without war.

Panoramic view of the town.

on the other hand, knowing the movements of the Zaganos troops, Kemâleddin Ismâil Bey the ruler of Isfandirid fled to Sinope, the capital of his government. Though relieved by Amasra's downfall, learns that Zaganos' military operations are not going towards his country. but he remained vigilant by preparing war fleets, standby troops, and cannons. it is known that Sinope's army numbered 12,000 soldiers, who were reinforced with 400 cannon. The Isfandirids, in this case, were the first to adopt Cannon technology, before the Turkiye Stratocracy. they are said to also have a strong navy. 

to prevent bloodshed among his soldiers, Zaganos Pasha tried to trick Ismail Bey. he sent Ishaq Pasha as his emissary to Sinope, informing Ismail Bey that the Turkiye military operations were directed at the Trebizond, not the Isfandirids, to prevent misunderstandings between the two sides. Ishaq Pasha succeeded in convincing Ismail that the Turkiye military operation would not threaten the sovereignty of his country. he was greatly relieved by it. in order to satisfy the zaganos, Ismail agreed to help by sending 6000 of his best troops under the command of his son, Kızıl Ahmed Bey. to assist the Turkiye campaign to conquer trebizond.

Isfandirids Beyliks Flag

At the same time, Zaganos Pasha decided to change his route from the shores of the Black Sea, towards Ankara, this was done so that Ismail bey would appear to be sure that the Turkiye troop movements were indeed directed towards Trebizond. as said by Ishaq Pasha. not long after, came Ishaq Pasha with an entourage of 6000 Isfandirids troops led by ahmet bey in Ankara. but immediately, zaganos pasha ordered his janissaries to arrest the party. (including Ahmet Bey). Zaganos Pasha apparently wanted to take them hostage, to threaten Ismail into surrendering his city, as well as reduce the number of isfandirids soldiers defending the city of Sinope.

11 days later, on the 12th, Zaganos arrived in front of the city gates of Sinope, giving Ismail Bey an ultimatum to surrender. On the other hand, the Turkish fleet had laid siege to the port of Sinope at an inopportune moment. because their fleet was not prepared beforehand. in an emergency like this, it was impossible for Ismail to put up a fight, he immediately surrendered and gave his city to Zaganos. thus, the Isfandirids region merged into the Turkiye Stratocracy. in return for surrendering their city, Zaganos bestowed the titles of Pasha Kemâleddin Ismâil, and Kızıl Ahmed. Ismail was given command over the towns of Inegol, Yenisehir and Yarhisar. while his son, Ahmet, is the governor of Bolu City.

view of Sinope city

Zaganos Pasha managed to conquer Amasra and Sinope without losing a single troop. his final target this time was the Trebizond Empire. The background to the founding of this empire was formed from the fall of Constantinople by the Latin Crusaders about 250 years ago. divided Byzantium into small kingdoms in Sud and Anatolia. a member of the Byzantine family, Alexios Komnenos fled to this city which later established this empire for generations.

This city was battered by the Seljuk Rum sultanate, led by Ghiyatsuddin and Allaudin Kaykubat. despite defeating its army, the Sultanate was unable to conquer the city and could only enforce the annual tribute that was paid to maintain its sovereignty. Trebizond also frequently entered into defensive alliances with the neighboring Turkomans, by marriage. like Ak koyunlu. Emperor David Komnenos married his daughter Despina Hatun to Uzun Hassan, ruler of Ak Koyunlu.

in order to break the alliance between Ak Koyunlu and Trebizond, Zaganos Pasha decided to move towards Sivas. then encamped at Erzincan, which became a border town between Turkiye and Ak Koyunlu. Zaganos wanted to make sure Ak Koyunlu wouldn't become a stabbing dagger when he launched his military operations against Trebizond. Uzun Hassan thought that the Turkiye military operation was directed at him, became very frightened. he decided to negotiate with Zaganos by sending his delegation accompanied by his mother, Sara Hatun to Erzincan.Zaganos Pasha respected her so much that he called her Mother ( ana ). an agreement was agreed upon in which clause, Ak koyunlu promised not to militarily assist Trebizond when Turkiye besieged the city. thus, Zaganos succeeded in severing the ties of the Trebizond Ak Koyunlu defensive alliance. but as a guarantee that Uzun Hassan kept his promise to the end, he decided to keep Sara Hatun's delegation and sent a letter to Uzun, that he promised to release the delegation after the conquest of the city of trebizond was completed. 

Ak Koyunlu States

Zaganos Pasha divided his army on its way to trebizond into two directions. he himself moved with his 40,000 troops from the direction of Erzincan, while another 40,000 troops under the command of Hizir Pasha moved from the shores of the black sea. Naval troops under the command of Kasim Pasha and Yakup Pasha move across the Black Sea. their troops first arrived at trebizond port on the 16th. by landing 30,000 troops accompanied by 2 ballista cannons. 2 days later, Hizir Pasha's army arrived at trebizond by west. the zaganos troops arrived too late, due to the steep terrain, and dense trees that prevented troop mobilization.

the siege of Trebizond lasted 34 consecutive days. Turkiye troops continued to bombard the city walls with cannons, causing serious damage to the fortifications. but the Turkiye troops had yet to launch a general attack. David Komnenos realized that his city would not be able to withstand the siege any longer. he sent his delegation, Amiroutsez to reason with the zaganos, that Trebizond would be willing to pay the annual tribute, even marry the emperor's daughter, Hanna Hatun. however Zaganos rejected all of the offers. he only asked Trebizond to surrender voluntarily.

wall fortifications in Trebizond. 

on the 4th, the month of Seker, as a result of successive shelling from the Turkiye cannons, some of the city walls began to crumble and opened many gaps. David Komnenos decided to immediately surrender to Zaganos. the surrender of Trebizond ended the reign of the komnenos dynasty that ruled the city for 261 years. Zaganos Pasha entered the city in triumph, then converted one of the churches there ( Chrysokephalos ) into a mosque. and according to what was agreed, Zaganos Pasha released Delegation Sara Hatun while giving gifts in the form of souvenirs and abundant possessions to Sara Hatun, as well as gifts to Uzun Hassan. after the conquest of Trebizond, Zaganos Pasha decided to marry Emperor David's daughter, Anna Hatun whom he had turned down in her offers during the siege. in exchange for guaranteeing security for members of his family dynasty. according to Tursun beg, Zaganos pasha celebrated his wedding with the pashas and soldiers at Trebizond for 3 days, while inviting his new wife to have their honeymoon together. 

Fatih Mosque in Trebizond. used to be a church named Panagia Chrysokephalos. 

[ahmed-yasser88]

Egypt's Historical Mosques to Visit During Ramadan

Ramadan is a special time in the Islamic calendar, and Egypt is home to some of the most beautiful and historic mosques in the world. If you are willing to visit Egypt and enjoy Ramadan Ambiances you can check out Egypt Tours, they are offering well-prepared tours collections which you can choose what suits you according to your interests, budget and the days you want to spend, Egypt Travel Packages offers a diverse range of attractions for tourists interested in history and relaxation, including Egypt Nile Cruise Tours, desert adventures, and beach resorts along the Red Sea. There are many 2 and 4-star hotels suitable for budget tours, as well as luxurious 5-star resorts for those seeking a luxury vacation. Egypt Vacation Packages offer comfortable and luxurious hotels, such as the Marriot Mena House, and unique luxury tours to see all the sights in style. The 12-day luxury tour to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Hurghada is an example of such a tour.

Here are some historic mosques you can visit in Egypt during Ramadan:

Al-Azhar Mosque: Located in the heart of Cairo, Al-Azhar Mosque is one of the oldest and most renowned Islamic institutions in the world. The mosque dates back to the 10th century, and its intricate architecture and stunning minarets make it a popular destination for visitors during Ramadan.

Al-Hussein Mosque: Located in the heart of Cairo's historic Islamic district, Al-Hussein Mosque is a popular destination for visitors during Ramadan. The mosque dates back to the 12th century and is known for its beautiful ornate interiors and stunning courtyard.

Al-Rifa'i Mosque: Located in Cairo's historic district, Al-Rifa'i Mosque is known for its stunning architecture and intricate tile work. The mosque dates back to the 19th century and is the final resting place of members of the Egyptian royal family.

If you want to visit Al-Rifa'i Mosque along with other historical places you can check out Cairo Short Breaks packages,Cairo is a great destination for a short break, offering a mix of ancient sights and contemporary culture. There are options for those who cannot spend much time, such as Egypt classic tours with Covid19 safety measures. Activities include tours of Giza Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum, visiting the step pyramid of King Djoser in Saqqara, exploring Coptic Cairo's churches and synagogues, and Islamic Cairo's narrow alleys.

During Ramadan, these mosques often hold special prayers and events, making them even more special to visit during this time.

Egypt Day Tours, enjoy unforgettable day tours to explore the captivating nation of Egypt. The tours include visits to attractive archaeological sites, rich museums, stunning beaches, and luxury resorts. Tourists can also walk through old Cairo, visit historic sites such as Al-Muizz li-Din Allah, the oldest street in Egypt, Marsa Alam Day Tours, The tour offers an opportunity to enjoy the vast landscape and clean warm water all year round, as well as daily adventurous sports such as ATV quad bike safari trips in the desert. The tour also includes a breathtaking trip on the Glass Bottom Boat, which allows tourists to see the coral reef, as well as snorkeling trips and water sports.

Or if you are kind of person who admire antiquities and want to explore more about Egypt's history, Luxor day tours is the suitable tour for you Luxor is a city located in Upper Egypt that boasts a rich history and ancient ruins, having served as the capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom period. It is famous for some of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, including the Valley of the Kings, the Karnak Temple Complex, and the Luxor Temple. Luxor is sometimes referred to as the "world's greatest open-air museum" due to the abundance of well-preserved ancient monuments and tombs.

The extensive coastline of Egypt, which stretches over two thousand kilometers along the Mediterranean and Red Sea. their services to take tourists from various harbors to enjoy Egypt luxury tours, such as the Giza pyramid tour and other choices in Cairo. So Egypt Shore Excursions is a great option to explore Egypt's ports, Alexandria is a city located on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC. It served as the capital of Egypt during the Ptolemaic dynasty and is home to notable attractions such as the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Citadel of Qaitbay, and Pompey's Pillar. The city also boasts beautiful beaches, parks, and gardens, making it a popular tourist destination. you can check out Alexandria Port Trips @cairo-top-tours

[sheplayswithlifee]

Did not check the calendar so I had no idea that Cairo was about to age up. 

[cairorenaud]

Cairo was heading to get his suppressants for this round of heat. It was worse in reality than the simulation, but in the castle it was compounded by the desire of others. His last two years he’d been able to seclude himself. Here that was impossible. He had to work, he had to be out among everyone. Normally he could have teleported, but he wasn’t focused, not even being an expert in any magic made it flawless to execute if he wasn’t in the right state of mind. That was something both Raph and Aurelius instilled in his training. 

It was a much farther walk from his suite to his office where he’d left the suppressants. Next time he’d have to split them between his room and office, also make sure he kept a damn eye on the calendar. He was trying to stay on target, stay focused, ignore the smells around him and sounds he could pick up. Course that all back fired when he caught the scent of a familiar councilman. 

The young medium wasn’t exactly himself. Those feline features that he never let show were there now. Black ears and a black tail, not exactly as fluffy as Lucien’s with the mix of genetics. Course the Gaudet line in that half neko form wasn’t some cute thing, they were all full grown men and they reflected that with their muted feline features. Cairo included. 

“What are you doing out here Gideon?” Cairo asked, like Gideon didn’t have any reason or right to be in the hall with him. Course Cairo didn’t stop in his tracks, but was still closing the distance between them with more determined steps. 

@gideon-rechterx

[eretzyisrael]

17 Sivan - Shabtai Tzvi - 1665

On this day in the year 1665 Shabtai Tzvi announced that he was the Jewish Messiah.  Originally from Smyrna, he became interested in Kabbalah at a young age.  By the age of 22, he was already making claims that he was the messiah.  His initial claims were met with much resistance, and he and his early followers were excommunicated. He then went to Constantinople, Salonica, Cairo, and eventually Jerusalem. 

According to historians, Shabtai Tzvi was a manic depressive.  Seeking help for his tormented soul, he went to visit a Kabbalist named Nathan of Gaza.  When Nathan saw Tzvi, he dropped to the ground proclaiming that this was the Messiah of whom he had had visions.  Having started to doubt his original messianic claims, Shabtai Tzvi now was reinvigorated and their movement began.  Nathan and Shabtai Tzvi then traveled far and wide spreading Shabateism.  Estimates are that close to one-third of the Jewish world became believers in Shabtai Tzvi.

Shabtai Tzvi would start to lose the support of most Rabbis when he proclaimed that commandments in the Torah did not apply anymore.  He even canceled the fast days on the Jewish calendar. Eventually, the Sultan had enough of Tzvi’s antics.  He was arrested and given the choice of his head or the turban.  He chooses the latter and with that became a Muslim.  The movement and its aftermath threw the Jewish people into a state of national depression.

Rabbi Pinchas L. Landis