#greek interpreter

[teaspoonnebula]

Detail of that illustration where Holmes and Watson enter Mycroft's magnificent presence and turn into teenage boys because that's how strong his Older Brother Energy is.

[skyriderwednesday]

I think a lot of us could benefit from a local chapter of the Diogenes Club

[pop-goes-the-weasel]

And this is how Paget drew Mycroft

[princesssarisa]

In the past I've shared other people's musings about the different interpretations of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Namely, why Orpheus looks back at Eurydice, even though he knows it means he'll lose her forever. So many people seem to think they've found the one true explanation of the myth. But to me, the beauty of myths is that they have many possible meanings.

So I thought I would share a list of every interpretation I know, from every serious adaptation of the story and every analysis I've ever heard or read, of why Orpheus looks back.

One interpretation – advocated by Monteverdi's opera, for example – is that the backward glance represents excessive passion and a fatal lack of self-control. Orpheus loves Eurydice to such excess that he tries to defy the laws of nature by bringing her back from the dead, yet that very same passion dooms his quest fo fail, because he can't resist the temptation to look back at her.

He can also be seen as succumbing to that classic "tragic flaw" of hubris, excessive pride. Because his music and his love conquer the Underworld, it might be that he makes the mistake of thinking he's entirely above divine law, and fatally allows himself to break the one rule that Hades and Persephone set for him.

Then there are the versions where his flaw is his lack of faith, because he looks back out of doubt that Eurydice is really there. I think there are three possible interpretations of this scenario, which can each work alone or else co-exist with each other. From what I've read about Hadestown, it sounds as if it combines all three.

In one interpretation, he doubts Hades and Persephone's promise. Will they really give Eurydice back to him, or is it all a cruel trick? In this case, the message seems to be a warning to trust in the gods; if you doubt their blessings, you might lose them.

Another perspective is that he doubts Eurydice. Does she love him enough to follow him? In this case, the warning is that romantic love can't survive unless the lovers trust each other. I'm thinking of Moulin Rouge!, which is ostensibly based on the Orpheus myth, and which uses Christian's jealousy as its equivalent of Orpheus's fatal doubt and explicitly states "Where there is no trust, there is no love."

The third variation is that he doubts himself. Could his music really have the power to sway the Underworld? The message in this version would be that self-doubt can sabotage all our best efforts.

But all of the above interpretations revolve around the concept that Orpheus looks back because of a tragic flaw, which wasn't necessarily the view of Virgil, the earliest known recorder of the myth. Virgil wrote that Orpheus's backward glance was "A pardonable offense, if the spirits knew how to pardon."

In some versions, when the upper world comes into Orpheus's view, he thinks his journey is over. In this moment, he's so ecstatic and so eager to finally see Eurydice that he unthinkingly turns around an instant too soon, either just before he reaches the threshold or when he's already crossed it but Eurydice is still a few steps behind him. In this scenario, it isn't a personal flaw that makes him look back, but just a moment of passion-fueled carelessness, and the fact that it costs him Eurydice shows the pitilessness of the Underworld.

In other versions, concern for Eurydice makes him look back. Sometimes he looks back because the upward path is steep and rocky, and Eurydice is still limping from her snakebite, so he knows she must be struggling, in some versions he even hears her stumble, and he finally can't resist turning around to help her. Or more cruelly, in other versions – for example, in Gluck's opera – Eurydice doesn't know that Orpheus is forbidden to look back at her, and Orpheus is also forbidden to tell her. So she's distraught that her husband seems to be coldly ignoring her and begs him to look at her until he can't bear her anguish anymore.

These versions highlight the harshness of the Underworld's law, and Orpheus's failure to comply with it seems natural and even inevitable. The message here seems to be that death is pitiless and irreversible: a demigod hero might come close to conquering it, but through little or no fault of his own, he's bound to fail in the end.

Another interpretation I've read is that Orpheus's backward glance represents the nature of grief. We can't help but look back on our memories of our dead loved ones, even though it means feeling the pain of loss all over again.

Then there's the interpretation that Orpheus chooses his memory of Eurydice, represented by the backward glance, rather than a future with a living Eurydice. "The poet's choice," as Portrait of a Lady on Fire puts it. In this reading, Orpheus looks back because he realizes he would rather preserve his memory of their youthful, blissful love, just as it was when she died, than face a future of growing older, the difficulties of married life, and the possibility that their love will fade. That's the slightly more sympathetic version. In the version that makes Orpheus more egotistical, he prefers the idealized memory to the real woman because the memory is entirely his possession, in a way that a living wife with her own will could never be, and will never distract him from his music, but can only inspire it.

Then there are the modern feminist interpretations, also alluded to in Portrait of a Lady on Fire but seen in several female-authored adaptations of the myth too, where Eurydice provokes Orpheus into looking back because she wants to stay in the Underworld. The viewpoint kinder to Orpheus is that Eurydice also wants to preserve their love just as it was, youthful, passionate, and blissful, rather than subject it to the ravages of time and the hardships of life. The variation less sympathetic to Orpheus is that Euyridice was at peace in death, in some versions she drank from the river Lethe and doesn't even remember Orpheus, his attempt to take her back is selfish, and she prefers to be her own free woman than be bound to him forever and literally only live for his sake.

With that interpretation in mind, I'm surprised I've never read yet another variation. I can imagine a version where, as Orpheus walks up the path toward the living world, he realizes he's being selfish: Eurydice was happy and at peace in the Elysian Fields, she doesn't even remember him because she drank from Lethe, and she's only following him now because Hades and Persephone have forced her to do so. So he finally looks back out of selfless love, to let her go. Maybe I should write this retelling myself.

Are any of these interpretations – or any others – the "true" or "definitive" reason why Orpheus looks back? I don't think so at all. The fact that they all exist and can all ring true says something valuable about the nature of mythology.

[namarikonda]

Jesus showing off his top surgery scars to the boys (John. 20:27)

[glossc1]

ganymede and the erotes (eros, himeros)

more ganymede 🍎

[jjjeremybrett]

JEREMY BRETT & CHARLES GRAY as SHERLOCK HOLMES & MYCROFT HOLMES in THE GREEK INTERPRETER (1985)

[whothehellisrosee]

I just rewatched “The Greek Interpreter” and god when they held hands

I can’t

And Holmes was so majestic in this as well

I just love this episode so much

sorry for the quality 🙈

[thatswhatsushesaid]

psa that the day there are no jgy stans left on tumblr dot com is the day i am dead

but rest assured i'll go to my grave exactly as i lived: obnoxiously proclaiming to everyone within earshot how great lianfang-zun is. narratively, metaphorically, spiritually. sexually, too, like why limit myself. i like to keep my options open

[linusthough]

watson when he found out that there was another holmes:🫨😧🤔🫢🤩☺️

holmes the younger: 🥱😉😌😏

[skyriderwednesday]

That doesn't narrow it down much Holmes, there were several French artists called Vernet.

I start to believe that 'art in the blood' is better known as Autism.

[huntseric]

When does a comet become a meteor? When does a candle become a blaze? // I can take the suffering from you.

[obsidian-pages777]

Asteroid Juno in your Astrological Chart. Who is your Ideal Partner?

Juno in the Astrological Chart

Juno, named after the Roman goddess of marriage, represents commitment, partnerships, and what we seek in a long-term relationship. Here’s an interpretation of Juno in each house and zodiac sign in the natal chart.

Juno in the Houses

First House: Juno here signifies a strong identity in relationships. You seek a partner who complements your self-image and personal style. Commitment and partnership are central to your sense of self.

Second House: This placement emphasizes financial security and values in relationships. You look for a partner who shares your values and contributes to mutual material stability.

Third House: Juno in the third house points to a need for intellectual connection in partnerships. Communication and shared ideas are crucial for a successful relationship.

Fourth House: With Juno here, domestic harmony and emotional security are paramount. You seek a partner who feels like family and provides a nurturing home environment.

Fifth House: Juno in the fifth house highlights romance, creativity, and fun in relationships. You look for a partner who brings joy, encourages self-expression, and shares in creative pursuits.

Sixth House: This placement focuses on service and daily routines. You seek a partner who supports your work ethic, health, and everyday responsibilities.

Seventh House: Juno in the seventh house emphasizes equality and partnership. Marriage and long-term commitments are significant, and you seek a balanced and harmonious relationship.

Eighth House: With Juno here, there is an intense focus on deep emotional and transformative bonds. You seek a partner who is willing to engage in profound emotional intimacy and shared resources.

Ninth House: Juno in the ninth house suggests a need for shared beliefs and adventure in relationships. You look for a partner who encourages your philosophical growth and exploration.

Tenth House: This placement emphasizes a partner who supports your career and public life. You seek someone who complements your ambitions and helps you achieve your goals.

Eleventh House: Juno in the eleventh house highlights friendships and shared ideals in partnerships. You look for a partner who aligns with your social circles and humanitarian goals.

Twelfth House: With Juno here, there is a focus on spiritual and unconscious connections. You seek a partner who understands your deeper, often hidden needs and supports your spiritual growth.

Juno in the Zodiac Signs

Aries: Juno in Aries desires independence and dynamism in relationships. You seek a partner who is assertive, energetic, and allows you the freedom to be yourself.

Taurus: This placement values stability and sensuality. You look for a partner who provides security, is reliable, and appreciates the finer things in life.

Gemini: Juno in Gemini desires intellectual stimulation and variety. You seek a partner who is communicative, adaptable, and shares your curiosity.

Cancer: This placement values emotional security and nurturing. You look for a partner who is caring, protective, and creates a homey environment.

Leo: Juno in Leo desires passion and admiration in relationships. You seek a partner who is confident, generous, and makes you feel special.

Virgo: This placement values practicality and service. You look for a partner who is reliable, detail-oriented, and supports your daily routines.

Libra: Juno in Libra emphasizes balance and harmony. You seek a partner who is fair, charming, and values equality in the relationship.

Scorpio: This placement values depth and transformation. You look for a partner who is intense, passionate, and willing to engage in profound emotional connections.

Sagittarius: Juno in Sagittarius desires freedom and adventure. You seek a partner who is optimistic, adventurous, and encourages your growth.

Capricorn: This placement values ambition and structure. You look for a partner who is disciplined, responsible, and supports your career goals.

Aquarius: Juno in Aquarius desires uniqueness and intellectual connection. You seek a partner who is innovative, independent, and shares your humanitarian ideals.

Pisces: This placement values empathy and spiritual connection. You look for a partner who is compassionate, intuitive, and understands your deeper emotional needs.

[baejax-the-great]

The tragedy of Achilles isn't that he got mad and was punished for it through the death of his friend.

The tragedy of Achilles is that it took him ten years and a very stupid argument to realize that dying in a pointless war against people who never wronged him was a complete waste of his life and that he valued living over glory, but at that point it was too late to disentangle himself from the cycle of violence that would claim his best friend/lover and inevitably himself.

[sherlockianscholar]

IM NOT BUILT FOR RUNNING SHERRRLOCK

[ofswordsandpens]

the chalice of the gods becomes objectively funnier if you head canon that percy and annabeth only stay at New Rome for a single semester before realizing its batshit insane there and running for the hills