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Tell me a word, any word and I will show you the root of that word is ‘Greek’

March 12, 2012February 10, 2021 shebfierce

The Amazons were a nation of female warriors in Greek mythology. Queens of the Amazons were Penthesilea, who participated in the Trojan War and her sister Hippolyta whose magical girdle was given to her by Ares, her father. The girdle was a waist belt that signified her authority as queen of the Amazons.

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Hollywood heartthrobs

March 5, 2012February 10, 2021 shebfierce

Hollywood heartthrobs, the one fantasy you can have without getting into trouble! There isn’t a woman alive who hasn’t had an imaginary love affair with one of these screen gods and why not? What’s great is that we have the capacity to love the likely and unlikely of these heartthrobs too.

My love for films comes from the men and women in my family. My dad introduced me to Clint Eastwood and James Cagney films at a young age. I didn’t see Clint as a heartthrob back then but his directing skills make him quite sexy now showing imagination and the ability to think outside the box.

My dad’s family moved to England back in the 50’s. His sister thought she would marry Rock Hudson because he sent her a signed photo of himself and my dad thought he was the next James Dean, white t-shirt turned up jeans and a quiff. They spent Saturday afternoon’s at the flicks just to escape into a world that they dreamed of being in one day.

My mum and her sister’s moved here in the 60’s when things where swinging! The girl’s in their mini skirt’s, beehive hair do’s the higher the better, throwing your knickers at Tom Jones was acceptable and a new breed of actors hit the screens. Girls far from home now had a different view of men and these actors gave them an idea of how they would like their future husband’s to be like.

The actors of previous decades came across as dashing gentlemen, men that would ‘wait for you’. The 60’s and 70’s made way for the daring ‘I will rescue you type’. I remember my mum having a thing for Burt Reynolds, hairy chest an impressive moustache and jeans so tight you wondered how his voice could ever be that deep!

Al Pacino as ‘Serpico’ does it for me on looks alone, long hair, beard, eyes like deep pools oh, I could go on.

Intellect and what some call ‘weirdness’ are the things that make a heartthrob these days. Yes, not only have we evolved as women but these actors we call heartthrobs have evolved with us.

Somehow they seem to know that we need something else from time to time.

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Tell me a word, any word and I will show you the root of that word is ‘Greek’

February 26, 2012February 10, 2021 shebfierce

‘Metamorphosis’. Meta meaning after and beyond. Morphosis meaning the way in which someone or something changes…‘transformation’.

Every living organism goes through ‘Metamorphosis,’ it is inevitable and often necessary. I particularly like the way the word is used in mythical and magical stories.

The Nymphs in Greek mythology were responsible for the care of plants, animals and the wild. They came in the form of ‘fairy’ like women who would transform into trees and flowers. The most famous of these is Daphne who was loved by the God Apollo. He pursued her until she became so exhausted she asked for the help of Gaia who transformed her into a laurel tree.

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Mono-brows and Moustaches

February 14, 2012February 10, 2021 shebfierce

‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ doesn’t even skim the surface, just a taster of what a Greek girl’s life is really like. These days it’s not so tough for Greek girls, count yourselves lucky.

Way back when in the ‘village,’ you were sent away even if you so much as looked at a boy! For some passionate Greek girls (and there where many) the urge was too great so they sneaked their way to olive groves for a quick fumble with Yianni, the goat herder. Yianni and all the other goat herder’s could fumble to their hearts content, after all they were men.

The fight of these women’s lives was to gain their freedom from the oppression that was bestowed on them and the guilt, oh that guilt!

Baba: “I feed you, I clothe you. Why are you doing this to ME?

Mama: “Do what he says, please do it for ME”

It’s all about ego. ‘The self’…another great Greek invention!

God forbid you might even be remotely pretty or have the potential to resemble Aphrodite herself. No, the mono-brow and the moustache have to stay…a form of chastity belt if you will.

Seriously, that’s what father’s thought! Once removed, your virginity is lost forever. The women are dressed in black and whaling, the men are locked in secret talks, a bottle of Johnny Walker and a pile of pistachio nuts to help them come to a decision about what to do with you. Oh, the shame!

How things change, the ‘Spartan’ army would go to war on the word of their women and the secret talks included them, their theories where valued. Women with spirit who knew how to kick ass!

Where did that spirit go? Well we still have it that’s for sure and the removal of facial hair is symbolic of our fight for emancipation.

I remember getting rid of mine. My first boyfriend wouldn’t kiss me because of the ‘thing’ sprouting from my top lip…mortified I was! But I wanted my first kiss, or snog…it was the 80’s.

The mono-brow followed to the horror of my father. Sitting at opposite ends of the dinner table he noticed I looked different. There was an uncomfortable silence…I thought, “He’s going to kill me”. I slid down in the chair trying to avoid his gaze. His raging eyes followed me as I went down further…I’m now on the kitchen floor!

So, the girl in the olive grove or the Spartan wife?

It’s all Greek to me!