A Lesson from the Ancients

Whilst I was planning on taking my Grandmother to see the Tutankahmun exhibition which is coming to the Trafford Centre in Manchester in the next month, I stumbled across the BBC's pages on the Ancient Egyptians - http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/

I've been obsessed with Ancient Egypt since I was 9 years old. My class in primary school studied them as part of a history project and, although it was more of a "Horrible Histories" approach back then, I was instantly fascinated. My fandom of them has grown to the extent that I now have an Egyptian ankh incorporated into the tattoo on my back. The Ankh's meaning is not yet completely clear to Egyptologists; it could mean "life" or "death" and it is the current ambiguity of this symbol that really intrigues me, hence my permanent tribute to it.

I feel that the Egyptians have such a wealth of stories that they add to our world history. For example, the story of Hapshetsut, a queen who ruled as pharoh, and who's nephew destroyed her monuments because he wanted the thrown. Add to this the famous story of Cleopatra - the ancient world's first Celebrity, who's love life and suicide where talked about as if in one of today's tabloid newspapers.

Another thing which greatly interests me about the Ancient Egyptians is there belief in the afterlife, which was not just a belief but a detailed description of how to get there.

Their many rituals and poly-theistic beliefs may seem silly and unneccessary to today's secular society, but the fact that they once had 400 years of peace suggests that maybe we should take a leaf from their book. If spirituality has something to do with that, we should look into it. And that's coming from an atheist.

Oodles of Ancient love.
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N.B: This Tattoo has since been touched up and looks a lot less red! I just haven't got a final photo of it yet =)

Such a Nerd.

I embraced the geek within me tonight and watched both "The Lost Land of the Tiger" on BBC1 and the Time Team Special "Britain's Drowned World" on More4.

Firstly, and I've said this on twitter, but I feel it needs to be said again, it was so inspiring in the first programme to watch a guy who had been diagnosed with lukemia 9 years ago dedicate the rest of his time on this planet to ensure the survival of tigers in the wild. Tomorrow's episode is set to be even better - a teaser at the end of today's programme promises a discovery which one of the researchers was brought to tears over.

Time Team told the story of Boxgrove in Sussex, where prehistoric human remains have been found. It appears that there used to be land where the English Channel is, connecting our funny little island to the continent. The first human settlers in Britain made their way across this land, before it was submerged in water.

Apparently, our lot is the only "successful" settlement made in Britain. It's funny how their definition of "successful" was sketchy. We've been here for 12, 000 years apparently. Our time here will only be successful if we stick around for a lot longer. Well, if the human race really is destroying itself at the rate which has been recently reported, Britain may remain an island which has never been "successfully" settled upon.

On a lighter note... I discovered my childhood favourite band, a1, to be back in Norway! Ben Adams (the one who used to have the curtains) has his own YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/benadamsuk - get over there - it's hilarious!

Thanks for all the views that have been coming in their dozens over the past couple of weeks. I really apprieciate it guys!

Much Love.
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