Monday, January 19, 2026
Johny Cash was a bass baritone--AI
Johnny Cash was known for his distinctive, deep bass-baritone voice, a rich, low register that blended qualities of both voice types, making him sound like a true bass but with the warmth and flexibility often associated with baritones, allowing him to deliver his iconic storytelling songs.
Voice Type:
While often described as a bass, most sources specify him as a bass-baritone, a vocal classification that sits between a bass and a baritone.
Characteristics:
His voice had a unique deep, calm, and resonant quality, famous for its control in the low register and a distinctive "boom-chucka" rhythm.
Impact:
This deep, powerful voice was a signature part of his sound, defining his music and allowing him to convey themes of struggle, redemption, and humanity, notes the Yale Daily News and Quora users.
Triumphal March-from Verdi's Aida "I--ee-dah"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oznMtbmsvrU&list=RDoznMtbmsvrU&start_radio=1
The general Radames "Rah-da mays" returns triumphant--but he's in love with the slave Aida, while the Princess also wants him.
This is my favorite version--I Lombardi (ee-lombardy) --which I first saw on Masterpiece Theater--but subtitles
here are in Portuguese--
A Muslim-Christian love story--set during the Crusades.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFveO_Mx7Ig
Make sure you watch the death scene--
Un bel di--one fine day--fromPucinni's Madama Butterfly--movie version directed by Miterrand. Forgot his first name.
It's much better to hear these famous arias in context and costume than the concert versions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkUq98oiyRc&list=RDbkUq98oiyRc&start_radio=1
Male nudes in color--fine art--They are for the most part realistic nudes, so of course they are graphic.
However, I don't consider them pornographic.
If you don't like them don't look.
I don't draw or paint fromlive models--so I use images like sculptures which are already in the public domain for practice.
If they offend you, don't look.
https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/male-nudes-art/
What I hate most are hypocrits--goody two shoes.
One wonders how they got married and ever had children.
kmk
1-19-2026
Sculptors in Greek Mythology
AI Overview
Yes, there are several figures in Greek mythology associated with sculpting
, most famously Pygmalion, a sculptor who fell in love with his own ivory statue (Galatea), which Aphrodite brought to life. Another significant figure is Daedalus, the master craftsman who created the Labyrinth and is said to have sculpted statues that could move.
Key Sculptors in Mythology:
Pygmalion: A king of Cyprus and sculptor who rejected women, creating a perfect ivory statue of a woman, Galatea, and praying for her to become real, which Aphrodite granted.
Daedalus: A legendary inventor and craftsman known for his complex mechanical creations, including the Labyrinth, and for sculpting statues so lifelike they seemed to possess life.
Prometheus: While more associated with creation, Prometheus famously sculpted humanity from clay, with Athena breathing life into his figures.
These figures highlight sculpting as a powerful, sometimes divine, art form within Greek myth, capable of bringing beauty and even life from inanimate materials.
AI--Did ancient Greek warriors really walk around stark naked?
AI Overview
No, ancient Greek warriors did not generally walk around stark naked in battle
; this is a common misconception from art and film, as nudity in combat was impractical and suicidal, though they famously competed naked in athletics and exercised nude in the gymnasium, while art used "heroic nudity" to portray idealized physical prowess or vulnerability. Warriors typically wore tunics and armor, removing outer cloaks before fighting, but going into battle without armor was rare and seen as foolish.
This video explains the difference between the reality of ancient Greek warriors and how they are portrayed:
Related video thumbnail
57s
Plutarch
YouTube • Sep 2, 2025
Art vs. Reality: The iconic image of naked Greek warriors comes from sculptures and vase paintings, where nudity symbolized heroism, physical perfection, or vulnerability, not historical accuracy for warfare.
Warrior Attire: Hoplites (heavy infantry) wore armor, including breastplates (like bronze or linothorax), helmets, greaves, and carried shields, often with a tunic and cloak underneath, which was removed for battle.
Spartan Example: While Spartans trained in nudity and wore minimal clothing (like a red cloak) in public, they donned their armor for actual combat, as nudity in battle was considered dangerous.
Nudity in Context: Nudity was culturally significant in specific settings, primarily athletic training and contests (like the Olympics) and the gymnasium (from the Greek gymnos, meaning naked), to celebrate the idealized male physique.
Did The Spartans Really Fight Naked?
Aug 26, 2016 — hello everyone welcome back to my channel this is the Metatron. speaking. i think we're all familiar with the looks of a Spartan w...
YouTube·Metatron
3m
Heroic nudity - Wikipedia In ancient Greek art, warriors on reliefs and painted vases were often shown as nude in combat, which was not in fact the Greek cu... Wikipedia Why ancient Greeks are always nude - NBC News Feb 2, 2007 — "In most public contexts, clothing was not optional, and in combat nakedness was suicidal." Warriors and heroes are often, but not... NBC News Show all
Modern novels based on the life of Theseus.
AI Overview
Review: Theseus and the Minotaur — Modern Graphic Greek Myth ...
Novels based on the Greek hero Theseus often retell his famous myths, particularly the Minotaur story, with popular examples including Mary Renault's historical fiction series (The King Must Die, The Bull from the Sea) and modern retellings like Jennifer Saint's Ariadne and Tracy Barrett's Dark of the Moon, focusing on characters like Ariadne or the hero's journey through ancient Greece}. Other notable books include David Elliott's Bull and [Link: Stephen Fry's Heroes https://www.reddit.com/r/mythology/comments/aaueu4/any_good_books_on_the_story_of_theseus_and_the/}, offering different perspectives on his adventures and the labyrinth.
Classic & Historical Retellings
The King Must Die (1958) & The Bull from the Sea (1962) by Mary Renault: A classic two-book series portraying Theseus as a historical figure, detailing his journey from Troizen to Crete and his rule in Athens.
The Sword Is Forged by Evangeline Walton: Focuses on Theseus's encounter with the Amazon queen Antiope, a less common part of his mythology.
Modern & Mythological Reinterpretations
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint: A popular retelling from the perspective of the Cretan princess who helps Theseus escape the Minotaur.
Circe by Madeline Miller: While centered on Circe, Theseus makes an appearance in this acclaimed novel, as per Goodreads list.
Bull by David Elliott: Offers a unique take on the Minotaur myth, exploring themes of monstrosity and heroism.
Heroes by Stephen Fry: A humorous and accessible retelling of various Greek myths, including Theseus's story, in the book.
Other Notable Mentions
Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett: Another popular choice focusing on Theseus and the Minotaur myth, listed on Goodreads.
Kill the Minotaur by Chris Pasetto: A modern novel diving deep into the famous labyrinth legend.
Popular Retellings Of Theseus and Minotaur Books - Goodreads Ariadne Jennifer Saint. Circe Madeline Miller. Dark of the Moon Tracy Barrett. Bull God Roberta Gellis. Labyrinth of Shadows Kyla ... Goodreads Any good books on the story of Theseus and the Minotaur? Dec 30, 2018 — Stephen Fry's Heroes is a great read that has the adventures of Theseus, Heracles, Perseus and more! It's the sequel to his book M... Reddit The King Must Die - Wikipedia The King Must Die is a 1958 bildungsroman and historical novel by Mary Renault that traces the early life and adventures of Theseu... Wikipedia Show all
Ariadne and the Minotaur
AI Overview
The myth of Ariadne and the Minotaur centers on Ariadne, a Cretan princess, helping the Athenian hero Theseus defeat her monstrous half-brother, the Minotaur (half-man, half-bull), trapped in the Labyrinth. She provided him with a ball of thread (or string) to navigate the maze and escape after slaying the beast, but Theseus later abandoned her on the island of Naxos, where she was found and married by the god Dionysus.
Key Elements of the Myth
The Minotaur:
A creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull, born from King Minos's wife, Pasiphaë, after she fell in love with a bull sent by Poseidon.
The Labyrinth:
A complex maze built by the inventor Daedalus to imprison the Minotaur beneath the palace of Knossos.
The Tribute:
Athens was forced to send seven youths and seven maidens as sacrifices to the Minotaur every few years.
Ariadne's Role:
Princess Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, fell in love with Theseus (one of the tributes) and decided to help him.
The Thread:
She gave Theseus a ball of thread to unravel as he went into the Labyrinth, allowing him to find his way back out after killing the Minotaur.
Abandonment:
After the victory, Theseus fled Crete with Ariadne but abandoned her on Naxos.
Dionysus:
The god Dionysus found her there, fell in love with her, and married her, making her immortal.
This video provides a summary of the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur:
1m
World History Encyclopedia
YouTube · Feb 3, 2023
Themes
Love & Betrayal:
Ariadne's love leads to Theseus's success, but his betrayal highlights themes of abandonment.
Cleverness vs. Strength:
Ariadne's thread symbolizes cleverness and guidance, essential for overcoming brute force.
Heroism & Sacrifice:
Theseus becomes a hero by ending the human sacrifices, though his actions also cause great personal pain.
You can watch this video to learn about the significance of the Minotaur in Greek mythology:
52s
Classics and Ancient History @ Warwick
YouTube · Jun 15, 2021
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)