PIPES
I am amazed at the sheer amount of ancient stone effigy pipes that have been found all across America. Most seem to be small simple things yet still would have taken perhaps hundreds of man hours of creation. Like the myriad of arrowheads tossed into mounds I doubt these were merely ceremonial objects given over for rituals.
Yes ritual has a very important place in ancient life but I just can't believe every single object that looks odd to modern man must ipso-facto be a religious artifact. People smoke a lot today and they used smoke a lot anciently.
I thought I would post some of the more interesting pipes I have found and tell you to which characters in my book they belong.
This beauty is Akish-Antum's the Gadianton Grand Master and greatest antagonist of Heroes of the Fallen I like the merging of the tarantula and skull, it is truly the most bizarre of all the pipes I have come across.
This bird of prey reclining pipe is featured in chapter one. It belongs to Hiram a judge in Zarahemla.
This interesting piece belongs to Rezon, a caravan leader and self styled Fabulous prince of merchants. I mention the pipe but never actually tell the reader what it looks like-editor asked a couple times but I didn't divulge-but you faithful blog reader now know, what embarrassed Bethia to see him puffing on.
I know I say someone has a frog pipe. But I can't recall who at this moment.
Apophis the king of Tullan has a snorting dragon pipe.
Ah, I love speculative historical fantasy fiction and the true bizarre things that inspire it.
9 comments:
The pipes are very cool. When does your book come out?
I believe January 26th.
Awesome stuff, although I gotta tell you, that the tarantula pipe kinda creeps me out. Seriously!
Well it is the baddest of bad dudes personal pipe. I hope he creeps people out while at the same time charming them.
Very cool. Like the frog pipe! Fascinating.
Very cool. I do like that tarantula and skull. I sometimes think more ancient peoples didn't separate out ritual from everyday life as much. So maybe these pipes did both.
Thanks Terry.
You're right Charles, I could have worded my impression better-that daily life went hand in hand wih belief so that everyday coincided with ritual and routine.
Really enjoyed chatting with you Twitter earlier! Can I say how excited I am to have met you? A local Utah author who likes historical fantasy. You are officially my favorite person for the day ;-)
Great article on the pipes. I'll throw my hat in with the general consensus: the tarantula-skull is my favorite too.
Thanks, Angela. Have to have the coolest pipe belonging to the coolest villain.
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