Zeugma: City and Figure of Speech

Mention the names of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates and many people today will immediately think of Iraq and the strategic location of Baghdad.

Of course, the importance of these rivers, if we remember well into our past, is biblical, mythological and legendary.

Along the two rivers, many important cities have risen, thrived and been destroyed. Ancient Babylon is not so very far away from modern Baghdad.

But a city that shares its name with a figure of speech has lost its match with human destiny.

Ancient Zeugma (or more properly, the twin cities of Seleucia and Apamea) was the literal link between cultures. The Romans built a bridge between the two cities--the only bridge over the Euphrates built in ancient times--and called the union Zeugma; Greek for a band, yoke or bridge, or a yoking or a joining. The new city became the garrison town of legio IV Scythica of the Roman army.

The ancient city eventually faded into memory, buried by Turkish sand; now it has been drowned. The need for water is a never ending need for humans, and one of our favorite structures is a dam. A dam can supply badly needed water for irrigation and for domestic use. The enormous lakes that result behind the dam can become popular recreation sites.

And it can (and often does) mean the drowning of past towns, cities and villages. Such was the fate of Zeugma when Turkey undertook to build a dam at Birecik. The flooding caused by the dam is significant, but archaeologists were able to persuade authorities to let them excavate as much as possible up to the flooding moment. Fortunately, there are some areas of Zeugma that now have a lakeside view and are giving up some fantastic ancient artifacts.

Finds at Zeugma before the flooding and currently have included Roman bronze armor, enormous mosaics, figures of Aphrodite and Mars.

While the ancient city lives no more, the figure of speech continues to survive, though we'd be hard pressed to find many who could call it by its name of the top of their heads.

A zeugma is when one word, such as a preposition or a verb, is used with two other words in different senses. For example, (slight variation on Shakespeare), "Lend me your ears and some money."

For an overview of the mosaics and archaeology at Zeugma, visit Nova and PBS.

Tom

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Paris Sewers Redux

Sometime ago, I wrote about the sewers of Paris and the fascinating tour you can take through them (Exploring the Sewers of Paris). Once again I have thrilled at taking uncertain travelers through les égouts.

At first, everyone seems a bit put off. "You want me to do what?" I try to enchant them with the idea. First, I tell them that all the water that comes into Paris has to get out somehow, and ask them to imagine how many miles of underground streams there must be. I then tell them that the now-famous district, the Marais, is so named because it was a swamp. That swamp, thanks in part to the sewers, is now livable.

But the final clincher that really gets travelers in the mood is when I tell them that the Jean Valjean of Les Misérables used the sewers to move about Paris.

Then they go in.

Once in, and once over the sometimes obvious stench, they become as fascinated as I am. The smell isn't bothersome for too long and before we reach the exit, the conversation is filled with amazement and wonder.

So, have some fun next time you are in Paris and visit the sewers!

Tom
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Miramax Studios, a Lost Caravaggio and Jonathan Harr

Variety reports that Miramax is looking to produce a film version of Jonathan Harr's The Lost Painting.

Harr's book is a nonfiction account of the finding of one of the master's works. The story is a rich one. The painting was known but believed lost. Hanging in a dining room of a Jesuit house was what everyone believed to be a copy by the Gerard von Honthorst, a follower of Caravaggio, from the Netherlands.

But in the 1990's, the unknown provenance of the Jesuit painting was beginning to make the light of day and finally, Sergio Bendetti, the National Gallery of Ireland curator, identified the painting as the original.

Controversy was sure to follow. And it did. There is a "Taking of Christ" in Rome. So one had to be a copy. Many claimed that the Roman one was the original and the Dublin the copy. But others, naturally, held the other opinion.

For now, it is conceded that the Dublin painting is the original.

Harr's book, The Lost Painting: The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece, tracing the story of the painting, its loss, and the finding of the treasure. The book is gripping with just a nice mix of history, art lingo and fun.

Read more at Circa Art Magazine, Dublin. The painting, on permanent loan from Irish Jesuits to the National Gallery of Ireland, is on loan to the National Gallery, Washington, DC.

I am adding the visit to Dublin to my list to see one more Caravaggio! (No production date for the film has been set.)

Tom

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Artists and Writers: Jean Demélier

It occurred to me while in Paris that I should mention a few things about two good friends of mine who are tremendous artists (and one is also a writer).

Jean Demélier has been writing and painting most of his life. Born in Poitiers in 1940, he has lived in France, England and Germany. He currently resides in Paris and continuously works every single day.

I first met Jean when I was visiting another friend, Lance Luschnig (see Artists and Writers: Lance Luschnig), who was showing his photographic work at Galerie a l'enseigne des Oudins (58, Rue Quincampoix 75004 Paris, 01 42 71 83 65).

Walking into Jean's apartment is like walking into a museum. It is livable, but every turn there is some creating that is worth discussing.

I have had many good, long talks with him and always struck by his particular take on politics or religion.

The first book I read of his was Le Rêve de Job, and enticing tale of a father and son with a complex interplay of intellect, sensuality and life, intertwined with chess.



Le Rêve de Job

His has myriad other books; very recently a book of his sketches, Life Lines was published by Oasis Books. He also has a large number of sketches, paintings and mixed-media works. Below are some samples of his sketches as well as a sample of his other art.

Tom

Victor Hugo's House in Paris

In my earlier post (Paris and Sewers), I said that I was going to visit the Musée du Quai Branly. The line was once again exceedingly long, so I continued on my way. In that same post I mentioned Victor Hugo so I decided to visit the museum in one of his houses.

La Maison de Victor Hugo, L'Hôtel de Rohan-Guéménée, located in the Place des Vosges (formerly Place Royal). The house is a charming 3-4 story. The ground floor has a small shop and a video presentation. The first floor shows drawings by Victor Hugo and illustrations by various artists inspired by his works.

The second floor shows the arrangement of the house proper, including a living room in Chinese style, a dining room in medievalstyle and the room in which he died.

Admission is free. It is well-worth a visit and can be a quick stop on your itinerary.

A couple of his works you might consider:




Les Misérables
Notre-Dame de Paris




Maison de Victor Hugo
6, Place des Vosges
75004 Paris
1 42 10 16
Website
Closed Mondays
Free Admission

The other house maintained as a museum is on Guernsey:

38 Hauteville
Saint-Peter-Port
Guernsey
Channel Islands
1 481 721 911

Closed Sundays
Guided tours only