Diomedes

Meanwhile In Argos…

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ Leave a comment

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Aegiale was the wife of Diomedes. While he was away at war she took up some lovers. You heard that right. Not just one, like Klytemnestra, but multiple. The accounts aren’t super clear on how many. It looks like just two dudes, but my little bi heart is imagining some lady involved too. But there’s not necessarily cultural/historical evidence for that. BUT, there is evidence for at least two dudes. I originally was going to draw Aegiale all super evil villain, but she just came out adorbs, because how could I not support this poly-woman? I mean, I love Diomedes, don’t get me wrong, but this woman was not afraid to go after what she wanted.

Some records state that she took a lover only out of revenge because some guy named Oeax told her Diomedes was coming home with a lady love whom he loved more than her. This wasn’t true. But the chronology is unclear from the (admittedly very quick) article I read and I feel like she already had lovers and this was not a revenge thing. I feel like some man decided it was a revenge thing because Women Having Sexuality is Scary. Men. *eye roll*

She has some parallels with Klytemnestra, HOWEVER, there is a difference. She didn’t kill her husband. She did try to, threaten to, and the only way he escaped was hiding in a temple to Hera, where he then had to sneak out and run away to Italy (which is why he is there to give Aeneas advice over in The Aeneid). BUT. She didn’t actually kill him. She also had more than one lover and, as far as I can tell: got away with it. Not avenging sons came along. I mean. I don’t know how long it last before some man came along to stop her, but I like to think she lived a tolerably long time with her lovers and died happy.

I drew her with crazy long sleeves because there is a butterfly that shares her name.

Want more Greek Ladies?

Click HERE for Penelope.

Click HERE for Klytemnestra.

Click HERE for Hermione.

Book 7, Part 3.1: Lots Are Chosen

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 3 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

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-_- The second to last panel is supposed to say leather-worker and I ONLY JUST NOTICED IT NOW. I will try and go back to fix it later. AUGH.

Also, I am imagining Ajax Telamonian with sort of a Lumpy Space Princess type voice happening? Because my brain is a weird place.

I know this is short and you have to wait A WHOLE FLUFFIN’ WEEK for the next installment, please don’t throw rocks and/or shields at me. *throws shiny glitter to distract you and runs away*

But seriously, if you are still reading, which I’m assuming you are if you’re reading these words, thank you for reading and sticking along. ALSO, feel free to share this with your friends/mother/grandmother/librarian/nerdy person in your life if you think they would enjoy this. ❤

Have a wonderful day, lovelies!

Book 7, Part 2.2: Nestor’s Speech

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ Leave a comment

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read Previous Post Click HERE.

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Nestor amuses me every time. Every. Time. His speech is actually important to many academics for Reasons, but I cut most of it BECAUSE we don’t have time for that.

Talthybius, the messenger dude. KEEPS. SHOWING. UP. One of the problems of reading and writing as I go and not planning anything means I don’t actually know who is going to be important. Like, BTW, there are two Sarpedon’s and I was like: “Make sure you don’t mix up the Sarpedon’s Naomi,” AND I’M PRETTY SURE I DID ANYWAY.

Um. Anyway.

Thoas and Eurypylus will probably die so I hope you are not attached. I tried not to make them too remarkable. I don’t really know why they pop up here with our other main characters *shrugs* But who knows?

And, same as last week, we will be skipping over Monday and the next post will be Wednesday. I am hoping, hoping, hoping, I can make some sort of progress, but with Christmas Season on its way (yay for retail) I honestly Can Not Make Promises because I will probably break them. I also have a short wedding celebration trip in October, sooooooo…. Not a lot of extra time *cries* BUT OH WELL.

Hope you are having a lovely week!

Join us next Wednesday for: Lots are Chosen.

Book 6, Part 2.2: Friends or Foes

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 2 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

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I have so many thoughts about Diomedes. He goes on about how he’d never dare to fight an immortal, but we know that’s not true. He goes on about the sacredness of guest-friendship (also known as xenia), but is that because he’s pious or because he’s tricksy? Does he think Glaucus could actually hurt him and so finds a way around fighting him? I don’t think so, based on him trying to attack Apollo and attacking Ares. So maybe he is a pious man? I just have so many questions. I love this man.

Ahem. Anyway.

Short post today. We shall have a silly “fanfic” post on Friday and should be back on Monday with the next post, which will star our fabulous non-helmeted-but-really-should-have-one Hector.

To Read a Ridiculous Comic About Aeneas and Zombies Click HERE.
To Read “Hector Within the City Walls” Click HERE.

Book 6, Part 2.1: The Ancestry of Glaucus

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 3 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

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So, supposedly there’s this No Man’s Land between the armies, but I still can’t quite believe this scene and find it comical that these two guys are just Time Out having storytime as the battle rages on around them. What soldiers do that? I mean, I know why it’s happening story-wise, but looking at it purely from a non-literary point of view it’s ridiculous. I love it.

Some advice: don’t mess with Dionysos. Just don’t. There are lots of different version of what happened to Lycurgus of Thrace (not to be confused with the other non-Thracian Lycurgus), but I went with panthers killing him… although, considering how horribly my cats turn out I DO NOT KNOW WHY. Past Naomi, what were you thinking?

I was excited to see Thetis again, though.

The story of the Lady and the Failed Seduction is fairly common, and I feel like it stems from the fact that men understood that was one of the only ways women could have power over them, and it terrified them. I think it’s partly because of these stories that we still have a lot of men who are like, “Women aren’t raped, what, they’re just lying. Men are the true victims. The victims of lying horrible lady dogs.” -_- Ugh. Sorry. Is my feminism showing? How rude of me.

Ahem.

Moving on.

I highlighted the moment with the king handing over the tablet because writing was seen as this terribly dangerous magic for a long time.

I included two pissed off ladies (Glaucus’ mother and grandmother) because he doesn’t tell us their names and everything is focused on the male, on the sons, on the fathers – but dude. You cannot have babies without ladies. I wish we had more on them, but so often the women are erased or slapped on with the vague title of “Wife of…” UGH. Super not helpful for writing comics, ancient dudes. What were you thinking?

ANYWAY. Glaucus is a sassy pants and we will see him again next time. Have fun, my lovelies, and have a great day.

To Read Friends or Foes Click HERE.

Book 5, Part 7.2: Oh, Ares

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 2 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

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First I would like to say: YES WE FINISHED BOOK 5 AHAHAHAHA…

Second, I am laughing at myself because I thought there would be only one Part 7 and instead there were two and part 7.2 was the longest section I’ve had yet.

You can’t really read it, but on the side of the Helmet of Invisibility it says “Property of Hades.” WHICH makes me ask the question: why the heck does Athena even have this? Did she ask to borrow it? Did she steal it? I mean. Hades doesn’t really show up in the Iliad so why does his helmet. So many questions. So. Many.

I find it fascinating how much everyone hates Ares. I really think that this scene with Zeus and Ares is where Homer shows through. When Zeus is talking about how much Ares’ disgusts him all I really see is Homer stepping into the role of Zeus and using him as a way to express how much he himself hates war.

Paieon is not really important, so I didn’t draw him with anything memorable. He is sort of like an avatar of Apollon/Asklepios or something anyway so… Feel free to ignore him.

But Hebe, man. Do I want to know more about Hebe. Who is this random lower ranking goddess? She helps bathe people, helps them into chariots… It’s just so random. She’s like the extra who fills in the un-cast parts or something.

As for the bathing, it may seem random that Zeus is suddenly shouting at Ares to take a bath but remember, despite how clean he looks in the drawing, he is actually COVERED in GUTS. I cannot draw guts, so I apologize for the lack of them, but the point is Ares is disgusting and gross right now and decided THIS is how he should show up to the Father of the Gods. It is incredibly insulting to show up in front of a god in this state. In pretty much every religious tradition you wash yourself before you enter sacred space. This is true for Egyptians, Canaanites, Israelites, Hittites, and all of the Greeks. And yet Ares shows up covered in intestines and soaked through with blood. What are you thinking, Ares? What are you thinking. Athena and Hera might be sassy and make their opinions clear, but both of them prepared beforehand, dressed well, and spruced themselves up first, being aware of sacred space and the proper ways to behave in front of divinity.

Anyway. I could go on, but there’s that.

AND SO, eventually we’ll start up the next book and I’ll get you a recap of Book 5 and everything. I know we’re behind again, but I worked like 58 hours this past week so I’ve just accepted that this will get done when it gets done. I do start my library job training tomorrow and then I have the rest of the day to work on stuff so *fingers crossed* I can get some Book 6 drawing done.

ALSO ALSO I love these little guys and I am so grateful for all of you who have been reading along. Thank you ❤

To Read No Mercy Click HERE.

Book 5, Part 7.1: Athena & Diomedes

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 2 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

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This is the moment when I fell in love with Diomedes. Athena seems genuinely surprised that Diomedes recognizes her, and I don’t think that’s merely because she forgot that she gave him the ability to see Immortals. I think that Athena was expecting it to have worn off by now, but that Diomedes is more aware of the spiritual landscape than most people, and therefore is able to see Them better than most. This is, of course, mere speculation. It is also possible that Athena merely forgot that she had blessed Diomedes with Sight, considering everything that has happened in between. Regardless, I definitely have a book crush on this man and his sassy self.

ALSO, I love how Athena just tosses Sthenelus out of the chariot and Homer glosses over this and moves on. Um…? Is he okay? Does he know what has just happened? It is unlikely he can see Athena for who she is, so I would guess he’s pretty confused at this point. I love it.

I really enjoyed drawing this one. Athena is one of the more complex characters to draw and, yes, she does occasionally look like a one-eyed alien, but I love drawing her. It was just fun. And yes, I am a day late, but I am not going to apologize. I have had a ridiculously busy week and was running a low fever yesterday (annnnnnd I still am) and yet despite all of life nonsense I was able to get a post together for today, and I consider that a win. Wednesday’s post will probably be a day late as well, considering the fact that I’m leaving for work in half an hour and work both jobs tomorrow… BUT, that’s okay.

Thank you all for reading and for all of your support. I ❤ you guys. *throws sparkles* Have a good day, my lovelies.

To Read Oh, Ares Click HERE.

Book 5, Part 5.2: Ares and the Lessons of War

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 2 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read  the Previous Post Click HERE.

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I love how Homer goes out of his way to prove Agamemnon wrong and incompetent as a leader. He says you can never retreat, but both Aeneas and Diomedes do it, and they both have gained glory and honour. Both show up later in The Aeneid (although, yes, Aeneas has a greater role, but still) and both are important cult figures.

Also, Ares turned out better in these ones. He had some weird body issues happening in The Wounding of Aphrodite. I think this just proves that he is better in battle than at waiting by Scamander. Right? Right.

I want the scene between Aeneas and Apollo when Apollo just wakes up, healed. I want that entire temple scene with Aeneas and Leto and Artemis and Apollo waiting outside patiently. OH. I think it is important to note that Apollo was connected to healing (especially through his son Asklepios).

If you’re wondering who Enyo is…. I’ll explain later. Hopefully. If I have time. *dies laughing at the idea of having time*

ALSO I never want to work two jobs and put up three posts in a week while ALSO prepping Sunday posts for the next month and a half because it is way too stressful.

I have a lot of family things happening this weekend so I’m worried about having the post up in time on Monday, but I don’t want to get out of sync again -_- Ugh to being an adult and having to work long hours *faints*

ANYWAYS, have a good weekend my lovelies!

To Read Sarpedon vs. Tlepolemos Click HERE.

Book 5, Part 5.1: Apollo and Sarpedon Assist the Trojans

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 2 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

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I love Apollo and I wish I were better at drawing him consistently. I knew from the beginning he would be difficult and he has not failed me in that respect.

Also, I love love love that Demeter got to show up here and get a cameo ❤

Also, yay for Artemis and Leto.

You can understand why Aeneas became such a cult hero. He has not just one, but FOUR (plus kind of Ares) gods watching over him.

Sarpedon is going to show up again and he’s mildly important. Not very, very important, but more important than, say, that guy on the island whose sailors mutinied. So. I guess pay attention to him? If you feel like it?

Hopefully on Friday I’ll have the next post up! We shall see. I still need to get next week’s stuff done and I’m working all week and have plans all weekend AND also I still haven’t done my taxes *faints* So we’ll see how life goes. In the meantime! Have a lovely day! 😀

To Read Ares and the Lessons of War Click HERE.

Book 5, Part 4.1: The Melodrama of Aphrodite

~ TheNaomiRuth ~ 3 Comments

To Start From the Beginning Click HERE.
To Read the Previous Post Click HERE.

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I’ll have more to say about Aphrodite in the future – – I may even put together a post for her later this month if I’m able to make the time for it, UGH jobs getting in the way of comic-making – – BUT I will say I love how Athena made Ares sit on a riverbank and he’s just sitting there, his horses nearby, his spear resting against a magical cloud of mist, relaxing, as a war is going on. I’m not entirely sure why Ares listens to Athena or why he is so easily distracted from the war (I have him staring fixedly at his biceps, but that’s my interpretation). I have my theories, but that involves my theories on Athena, which would need a post of its own.

ANYWAY. I hope you have a good day lovelies. *throws confetti and fairie dust*

To Read Dione and a “Silly Little Girl” Click HERE.