Fic: Jewels In The Crown III: Fragments (2/5)
Title: Jewels In The Crown III: Fragments (2/5)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Steve/Diana (Steve does not appear in this chapter), Queen Hippolyta, Medea, Mala
Genres: Challenge, Drama
Rating (this chapter): PG-13
Claim: For the dcu_freeforall Challenge (Diana/Steve)
Prompt: T 10; P 26: Library Of Alexandria
Prompt Count: (14/15)
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: An important archeological discovery leads Diana and Steve to the Library of Alexandria site in Egypt.
Chapter Summary: Diana brings Sappho’s poem to Paradise Island.
Date Of Completion: July 5, 2010
Date Of Posting: August 5, 2011
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1038
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: Also written for my 2011 Wonder Woman Love Fic/Art 70th Anniversary Celebration Challenge and my 2011 DCU Fic/Art Steve/Diana Challenge.
This series deals with Diana’s Amazon heritage and can be found here.
II
BY THE GRACE OF SAPPHO
"Lo,
Her raiment
Is as the sun,
Gossamer shining,
As she grants
Her children
The gift
Of love."
Sappho
"The Mists Of Mystery"
336 B.C.E.
(Discovered September 27, 2011 C.E.)
“Daughter, a pleasure to see you.”
“Always the same for me as well, Mother.”
The women embraced, and Queen Hippolyta looked at her daughter with curiosity. “And what brings you home on this fine day?”
Diana smiled. “I need your expert opinion on something.”
“Oh?”
“Yes.” Diana hopped back up into her invisible plane and brought out a large metal box. “May we go to the garden?”
“Of course.”
Once in the garden, Diana opened the box and carefully lifted out the tablet, wrapped in a cloth. Once revealed, the Queen gasped.
“Diana, what is this?” Hippolyta’s hands hovered over the tablet.
“Do you not recognize Sappho’s style, Mother?”
Hippolyta read the poem, her eyes misting. “My dear Sappho always had a way with words.”
“So it is authentic?”
“Very much so.” Hippolyta looked at Diana. “Where did you find this?”
“It was in a shipment of artifacts to the Boston Museum Of Fine Arts.”
“Interesting.” Hippolyta sat on a stone bench. “So it must return with you to Boston?”
“Yes. I must return it tomorrow. Jamie wishes to make the announcement before the exhibit next week.”
“Then we must display it for all Amazons to see tonight and tomorrow morning.”
“A fine idea.” Diana sat next to the Queen. “Our people will appreciate such a fine work.”
“Our ideals are closely tied to Sappho’s.” Fond memories played in Hippolyta’s mind. “We have lived by Aphrodite’s Law and Sappho’s Grace for centuries now.”
“All fine guidelines.”
“And how is your Major?”
“Very well.”
Diana enjoyed the breeze that blew through her hair. The ocean sparkled beneath them, the Royal Gardens located on a high point of the island.
“What was Sappho like, Mother?”
“She was an engaging woman.” Hippolyta’s eyes began to register old memories. “She was always laughing and enjoying life. She loved the arts, and sang and danced and played the lute.”
“She sounds like a fine companion.”
Hippolyta nodded, a slight smile on her lips. “She worshipped Aphrodite in all things.”
Diana smiled and squeezed her mother’s hand.
“She put on plays, and our circle acted in them. She was always welcome among the Amazons. She inspired our Sisters to reach down and tap their own creativity.”
The crunch of sandals on gravel signaled an approaching Amazon. Medea appeared, her auburn hair disheveled as she saluted Hippolyta.
“The training went well, my Queen. Princess, a pleasure to see you.”
“Hello, Medea.,” said Diana warmly.
“A rare treasure has been brought to us, Medea,” said Hippolyta.
Medea looked at the tablet, eyes widening. “Is this…?”
“Yes.”
Medea knelt to get a better look. “This is…amazing!”
Diana and Hippolyta smiled at their friend’s enthusiasm. “Agreed,” said the Queen. “Take this tablet and set it up in the Palace. Spread the word that we have it for…"
"…twenty-four hours,” said Diana.
“Yes, before it returns to Man’s World.”
Medea frowned. “It should stay here. Man’s World has no appreciation of Sapphic love.”
“Some do,” Diana demurred.
“Excuse me, Princess, but is not Sappho and the love she preaches disparaged in Man’s World?”
“All too often, but things are changing.”
Medea waved her hand dismissively. “I have no interest in the affairs of males. Amazons follow Sappho in every way.”
“Mostly,” Diana agreed.
Medea looked at her sharply. “Yes, not all.” She rose and picked up the tablet reverently. “I will make all the arrangements, my Queen.”
She stalked off, and Diana said ruefully, “She will never accept my relationship with Steve.”
“No.”
Diana looked at her mother, who was tending a plant. Would her mother ever fully accept it, either? Sighing, she broached a different topic.
& & & & & &
The line stretched out endlessly along the marble steps and into the street below, the Amazons excitedly chattering among themselves as they waited their turn to view the poem. One Amazon brandished a book that contained all of Sappho’s works. She read aloud while an appreciative audience listened. Someone else played a mouth instrument and an impromptu dance sprang up.
Diana was happy to see such joy. By no means was all sweetness and light here in Paradise, but her sisters were always eager to experience joy, a fresh counterpoint to the careworn Man’s World.
“’Shimmering throne/Immortal Aphrodite/Daughter of Zeus/Enchantress/I implore thee/Spare me, O Queen, this agony and anguish/Crush not my spirit.’”
Diana listened to the reading. Always the language of Sappho soothed and excited.
“Princess, you brought us this find!” called out an Amazon.
“It is my pleasure to bring such a treasure.”
“We should keep it here,” said another Amazon.
“Perhaps it will one day end up here. It goes on exhibit next week in Boston.”
“They do not appreciate such a treasure!”
“Perhaps they will learn to.”
Skepticism greeted this statement, but the Amazons were respectful of their Princess.
Diana walked down the line, chatting as she went. Eventually she ended up in the Palace, entering the room where the tablet was on display.
“What a pleasure to view a complete Sappho poem in its original form, instead of just fragments,” Mala said.
“It is a great discovery.” Diana read the poem, delighted with the flow of language.
“I thought that her works had been lost when the Library of Alexandria had been destroyed centuries ago.” Mala shook her head. “I remember hearing about it soon after it happened. Such foolish, ignorant people.”
“Unfortunately, many religions encourage their followers to despise any other faith than their own.”
“But the Library was a center of learning, not a temple.”
“Ah, but the early Christians mistrusted Pagan learning as well as the various religions.”
Mala frowned. “Is it not the same today?”
“Paganism certainly faces prejudices,” Diana admitted.
“Well, let us hope the ignorant gain enlightenment soon,” said Mala, clapping Diana on the shoulder.
“Let us hope.”
As Diana watched her sisters joyfully observe the artifact, she wondered about what Mala had said: with the famous Library destroyed, were there any more of Sappho’s works to be found intact?
It was certainly something to ponder.
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Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Steve/Diana (Steve does not appear in this chapter), Queen Hippolyta, Medea, Mala
Genres: Challenge, Drama
Rating (this chapter): PG-13
Claim: For the dcu_freeforall Challenge (Diana/Steve)
Prompt: T 10; P 26: Library Of Alexandria
Prompt Count: (14/15)
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: An important archeological discovery leads Diana and Steve to the Library of Alexandria site in Egypt.
Chapter Summary: Diana brings Sappho’s poem to Paradise Island.
Date Of Completion: July 5, 2010
Date Of Posting: August 5, 2011
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1038
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: Also written for my 2011 Wonder Woman Love Fic/Art 70th Anniversary Celebration Challenge and my 2011 DCU Fic/Art Steve/Diana Challenge.
This series deals with Diana’s Amazon heritage and can be found here.
II
BY THE GRACE OF SAPPHO
"Lo,
Her raiment
Is as the sun,
Gossamer shining,
As she grants
Her children
The gift
Of love."
Sappho
"The Mists Of Mystery"
336 B.C.E.
(Discovered September 27, 2011 C.E.)
“Daughter, a pleasure to see you.”
“Always the same for me as well, Mother.”
The women embraced, and Queen Hippolyta looked at her daughter with curiosity. “And what brings you home on this fine day?”
Diana smiled. “I need your expert opinion on something.”
“Oh?”
“Yes.” Diana hopped back up into her invisible plane and brought out a large metal box. “May we go to the garden?”
“Of course.”
Once in the garden, Diana opened the box and carefully lifted out the tablet, wrapped in a cloth. Once revealed, the Queen gasped.
“Diana, what is this?” Hippolyta’s hands hovered over the tablet.
“Do you not recognize Sappho’s style, Mother?”
Hippolyta read the poem, her eyes misting. “My dear Sappho always had a way with words.”
“So it is authentic?”
“Very much so.” Hippolyta looked at Diana. “Where did you find this?”
“It was in a shipment of artifacts to the Boston Museum Of Fine Arts.”
“Interesting.” Hippolyta sat on a stone bench. “So it must return with you to Boston?”
“Yes. I must return it tomorrow. Jamie wishes to make the announcement before the exhibit next week.”
“Then we must display it for all Amazons to see tonight and tomorrow morning.”
“A fine idea.” Diana sat next to the Queen. “Our people will appreciate such a fine work.”
“Our ideals are closely tied to Sappho’s.” Fond memories played in Hippolyta’s mind. “We have lived by Aphrodite’s Law and Sappho’s Grace for centuries now.”
“All fine guidelines.”
“And how is your Major?”
“Very well.”
Diana enjoyed the breeze that blew through her hair. The ocean sparkled beneath them, the Royal Gardens located on a high point of the island.
“What was Sappho like, Mother?”
“She was an engaging woman.” Hippolyta’s eyes began to register old memories. “She was always laughing and enjoying life. She loved the arts, and sang and danced and played the lute.”
“She sounds like a fine companion.”
Hippolyta nodded, a slight smile on her lips. “She worshipped Aphrodite in all things.”
Diana smiled and squeezed her mother’s hand.
“She put on plays, and our circle acted in them. She was always welcome among the Amazons. She inspired our Sisters to reach down and tap their own creativity.”
The crunch of sandals on gravel signaled an approaching Amazon. Medea appeared, her auburn hair disheveled as she saluted Hippolyta.
“The training went well, my Queen. Princess, a pleasure to see you.”
“Hello, Medea.,” said Diana warmly.
“A rare treasure has been brought to us, Medea,” said Hippolyta.
Medea looked at the tablet, eyes widening. “Is this…?”
“Yes.”
Medea knelt to get a better look. “This is…amazing!”
Diana and Hippolyta smiled at their friend’s enthusiasm. “Agreed,” said the Queen. “Take this tablet and set it up in the Palace. Spread the word that we have it for…"
"…twenty-four hours,” said Diana.
“Yes, before it returns to Man’s World.”
Medea frowned. “It should stay here. Man’s World has no appreciation of Sapphic love.”
“Some do,” Diana demurred.
“Excuse me, Princess, but is not Sappho and the love she preaches disparaged in Man’s World?”
“All too often, but things are changing.”
Medea waved her hand dismissively. “I have no interest in the affairs of males. Amazons follow Sappho in every way.”
“Mostly,” Diana agreed.
Medea looked at her sharply. “Yes, not all.” She rose and picked up the tablet reverently. “I will make all the arrangements, my Queen.”
She stalked off, and Diana said ruefully, “She will never accept my relationship with Steve.”
“No.”
Diana looked at her mother, who was tending a plant. Would her mother ever fully accept it, either? Sighing, she broached a different topic.
& & & & & &
The line stretched out endlessly along the marble steps and into the street below, the Amazons excitedly chattering among themselves as they waited their turn to view the poem. One Amazon brandished a book that contained all of Sappho’s works. She read aloud while an appreciative audience listened. Someone else played a mouth instrument and an impromptu dance sprang up.
Diana was happy to see such joy. By no means was all sweetness and light here in Paradise, but her sisters were always eager to experience joy, a fresh counterpoint to the careworn Man’s World.
“’Shimmering throne/Immortal Aphrodite/Daughter of Zeus/Enchantress/I implore thee/Spare me, O Queen, this agony and anguish/Crush not my spirit.’”
Diana listened to the reading. Always the language of Sappho soothed and excited.
“Princess, you brought us this find!” called out an Amazon.
“It is my pleasure to bring such a treasure.”
“We should keep it here,” said another Amazon.
“Perhaps it will one day end up here. It goes on exhibit next week in Boston.”
“They do not appreciate such a treasure!”
“Perhaps they will learn to.”
Skepticism greeted this statement, but the Amazons were respectful of their Princess.
Diana walked down the line, chatting as she went. Eventually she ended up in the Palace, entering the room where the tablet was on display.
“What a pleasure to view a complete Sappho poem in its original form, instead of just fragments,” Mala said.
“It is a great discovery.” Diana read the poem, delighted with the flow of language.
“I thought that her works had been lost when the Library of Alexandria had been destroyed centuries ago.” Mala shook her head. “I remember hearing about it soon after it happened. Such foolish, ignorant people.”
“Unfortunately, many religions encourage their followers to despise any other faith than their own.”
“But the Library was a center of learning, not a temple.”
“Ah, but the early Christians mistrusted Pagan learning as well as the various religions.”
Mala frowned. “Is it not the same today?”
“Paganism certainly faces prejudices,” Diana admitted.
“Well, let us hope the ignorant gain enlightenment soon,” said Mala, clapping Diana on the shoulder.
“Let us hope.”
As Diana watched her sisters joyfully observe the artifact, she wondered about what Mala had said: with the famous Library destroyed, were there any more of Sappho’s works to be found intact?
It was certainly something to ponder.
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