Tea at Trianon: A Brief History of the Scythians

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Sunday, March 10, 2024

A Brief History of the Scythians

From Ancient Origins:

Scythians, a confederation of nomadic tribes, flourished across the Eurasian steppe from around 900 BC to 200 BC. Initially discovered by Russian explorers venturing into the remote landscapes of Siberia, their civilization was illuminated through the excavation of ancient burial mounds in the Altai Mountains. These burial sites, shrouded in permafrost, preserved not only the mummified remains of Scythian rulers but also an abundance of ornate grave goods, including intricate gold artifacts.
Central to Scythian life was their mastery of horse riding and husbandry. Horses served as more than just a means of transportation; they were integral to their economy, warfare, and social status. The Scythians' nomadic lifestyle allowed them to roam across vast territories, from the forest steppes to the arid deserts, in pursuit of seasonal grazing lands for their herds.

The distinctive Scythian art style, characterized by depictions of naturalistic battles between animals and monsters, adorned not only their burial goods but also their bodies. Elaborate tattoos depicting similar scenes adorned the skin of Scythian rulers, reflecting their deep spiritual connection to the natural world. (Read more.)