text:
The Ashkanians (Shahnameh Readalong 31)
Posted on September 30, 2016 by Kate Elliott
This week: The Ashkanians
Synopsis: "The post-Sekandar world is less grandiose than before, with many short-lived kings and an even shorter-lived peace, but we do get a great story about a demon-worm."
TG: The introduction to this section was fascinating, as it basically said "here's what we're going to talk about, and it's not really worth talking about, in fact, we know almost nothing about these kings but their names," and then the section proceeds to go into a lot of detail.
I wonder what the purpose of it was — to assure us that we don't have to worry about another great character like Sekandar? To relate listeners to an episode of history that I'm not familiar with?
That said, this section presented some unique moments (not even including the worm). Babak's reaction to his dream prophecy was a pleasant surprise, in that he didn't get jealous or angry, but instead welcomed this strange prince into his life and allowed Sasan to become his son, and then for Ardeshir to be born.
And Golnar! The king's treasurer. She's not just any slave or mistress, she's trusted with the kingdom's funds, and no matter what else you can say about Ardavan, he loved her, even refusing to start his days without seeing her face for a good omen. That was charming. But Golnar takes destiny (and the story) into her own hands by climbing out of her bower to chase love in the form of Ardeshir. She gives up everything, risks her life, and even uses her power over the treasury to steal from Ardavan. If only she didn't disappear entirely once she served her purpose. I was hoping to discover who her sons and daughters are by Ardeshir. OH WELL.
And then the worm. What a great fairy tale, and it fits into the story here seamlessly. I love the overlooked daughter who finds the worm and instead of fearing it, gives it a home and uses its luck. Too bad this turned into her father's story instead of her own. So it goes. But at least I can imagine she survives and finds continued happiness and success in the rest of her life.
Here's a picture of Ardeshir killing the worm:
King Ardeshir in disguise as a merchant pours hot lead down the throat of the giant worm, which lives in a cistern. His three cronies stand alongside, watching.
And here the girls spinning (I'm fascinated by their spindles)(the piece is a detail from a larger 16th century painting called "The Story of Hafted and the Worm):
five young women seated cross-legged on the ground, amid trees, spinning thread.
KE: The historical discussion here fascinates me. Sekander "kills all the kings" which I would kind of assume must reference his conquest of the Persian Empire and replacing most (although not all) of the local level kings and rulers with Macedonian and Greek men from his army. So there is a violent break in terms of rulership to some degree (although studying the Seleucid period shows that it isn't a clean a break as one might think, and it certainly didn't involve any major changes in the general population demographics). But the narrative seems to skip over the Seluecid period and to a fair extent the Parthian period, as the Ashkanian period seems to include a number of local and regional level rulers without one overall Iranian king as in the previous dynasty.
Maybe this was just me, but I did feel that Ardeshir's narrative has less of a legendary aura to it and felt more realistic. Everything that happens to him (even to some extent the story of the worm with the cunning way he kills it) feels completely believable in the sense that it could easily be translated directly into the plot of a novel and make pragmatic sense. Rostam always feels larger than life. Ardeshir feels like a dude doing things to make his way, and his story also makes political sense, for example, with the idea of him fostering at the court of a more powerful king whom he eventually supplants. Also I loved his charming correspondence with his beloved grandfather, to whom he is evidently closer than his own father.
While I'm on that, how savvy and level-headed is Babak anyway? Seeing how the stars reference this young shepherd as a future king or sire of kings, does he try to murder the man? NO. He promptly marries him off to his daughter so that he, too, can be connected to this coming line of kings. I loved that.
I too loved the story of the worm but I'm sorry we never hear what became of the daughter (the one, the story tells us, that her father never thought about, which is then contrasted with her actions bringing about his wealth and power). I thought her sparing the worm was a nice action but I guess it wasn't? I never figured it out, and she vanishes from the story, still nameless. Alas. Together with the unnamed daughter of Mehrak, who is the only one of his family not put to the sword, because she manages to hide out. Will we see her again in the next chapter? Or is she yet another woman's story hinted at and left untold? It's no wonder I write the books I do, centering women.
Finally, I just absolutely have to do a retelling of Golnar's story because it completely took hold of me and I, too, was irritated that we never hear about her again (unless she turns up in the next chapter, but I have to assume that Ardeshir's heir will be by the princess, not the slave)(although you never know).
Oh, one last thing. For all his legendary status and heroics, Rostam really is a life that flares brightly and yet leaves nothing but his reputation upon his death (although that is considerable), while the hero Esfandyar is now one of the ancestors of the new dynasty and mentioned as such.
Next week: The Reign of Ardeshir & The Reign of Shapur, son of Ardeshir
Previously: Introduction, The First Kings, The Demon King Zahhak, Feraydun and His Three Sons, The Story of Iraj, The Vengeance of Manuchehr, Sam & The Simorgh, The Tale of Zal and Rudabeh, Rostam, the Son of Zal-Dastan, The Beginning of the War Between Iran and Turan, Rostam and His Horse Rakhsh, Rostam and Kay Qobad, Kay Kavus's War Against the Demons of Manzanderan, The Seven Trials of Rostam, The King of Hamaveran and His Daughter Sudabeh, The Tale of Sohrab, The Legend of Seyavash Pt. 1, The Legend of Seyavash Pt. 2, The Legend of Seyavash Pt. 3, Forud the Son of Seyavash, The Akvan Div, Bizhan and Manizheh, The Occultation of Kay Khosrow, Rostam and Esfandyar Pt. 1, Rostam and Esfandyar Pt. 2, The Story of Darab and the Fuller, Sekander's Conquest of Persia, The Reign of Sekander Pt. 1, The Reign of Sekander Pt. 2, The Death of Rostam
This entry was posted in Shahnameh by Kate Elliott. Bookmark the permalink.


shed greenhouse combo a dutch barn wooden garden shed use idea on more attractive garden shed greenhouse combo shed greenhouse combo scotland.
shed greenhouse combo garden shed house plans garden shed greenhouse combination plans garden shed greenhouse combination plans.
shed greenhouse combo garden shed greenhouse combo make your own save some sheds storage gardens and building how to garden shed greenhouse shed greenhouse combo scotland.
shed greenhouse combo greenhouse storage shed greenhouse storage shed our greenhouse shed combos shed greenhouse combo kit.
shed greenhouse combo greenhouse storage shed small shed greenhouse combo pic example small shed greenhouse combo greenhouse shed kit greenhouse shed combo diy.
shed greenhouse combo shed greenhouse combo shed greenhouse combo by 8 garden shed greenhouse combination plans.
shed greenhouse combo gree shed kit garden shed with reclaimed she free plans kits garden shed gree gree shed greenhouse shed combo diy.
shed greenhouse combo greenhouse shed greenhouse shed combo kit greenhouse shed blueprints greenhouse shed greenhouse shed combination greenhouse garden shed combo plans.
shed greenhouse combo greenhouse and shed combo sheds backyard greenhouse greenhouse plans greenhouse gardening greenhouse shed combination canada.
shed greenhouse combo garden shed greenhouse combination sheds and combinations interior combo plans prices greenhouse garden shed combo plans.
shed greenhouse combo greenhouse storage shed combos garden shed and greenhouse combination how does a combined shed and greenhouse greenhouse storage shed combos shed greenhouse combination prices.
shed greenhouse combo greenhouse shed plans garden shed greenhouse plans greenhouse potting shed greenhouse potting shed plans greenhouse shed greenhouse shed shed greenhouse combo uk.
shed greenhouse combo shed greenhouse combo excellent garden shed greenhouse greenhouse shed combinations garden retreat quality combination shed greenhouse shed greenhouse combination plans.
shed greenhouse combo greenhouse shed combination greenhouse shed combination x greenhouse shed garden shed greenhouse combination plans greenhouse storage shed combo plans.
shed greenhouse combo greenhouse shed combination the garden shed greenhouse combination plans shed greenhouse combo scotland.
shed greenhouse combo related post greenhouse shed combo diy.
shed greenhouse combo greenhouse shed combination garden shed and greenhouse combination greenhouse shed combinations shed greenhouse combo garden buildings greenhouse shed greenhouse shed combo diy.
shed greenhouse combo shed greenhouse combo interior decor ideas garden and combination image result for potting plans a shed greenhouse combo shed greenhouse combo scotland.
shed greenhouse combo greenhouse shed combo greenhouse shed hobby greenhouse kits shed greenhouse combo garden buildings garden shed greenhouse combination plans.
shed greenhouse combo greenhouse shed combination image result for shed with greenhouse attached aluminium greenhouse shed combination shed greenhouse combo uk.
shed greenhouse combo shed greenhouse combo shed greenhouse combo canada.
shed greenhouse combo greenhouse shed combinations greenhouse shed combination shed greenhouse combo garden buildings greenhouse garden shed locating free shed greenhouse combination argos.
shed greenhouse combo love this a combination shed and greenhouse absolutely beautiful shed greenhouse combo canada.
shed greenhouse combo garden greenhouse shed simple greenhouse garden shed greenhouse combination plans greenhouse shed combo diy.
shed greenhouse combo look plans garden shed greenhouse combo combination perfect images sheds greenhouse shed combination canada.
shed greenhouse combo diamond greenhouse shed combination combo zoom a std shed greenhouse combo uk.
shed greenhouse combo greenhouse shed plans greenhouse garden shed combination greenhouse ideas garden shed greenhouse shed combination plans greenhouse shed combo diy.
shed greenhouse combo garden shed greenhouse combo shed greenhouse combo kit.
shed greenhouse combo greenhouse shed combination octagonal greenhouse by shed greenhouse combination prices greenhouse garden shed combo plans.
shed greenhouse combo shed greenhouse combo that shed greenhouse combination plans shed greenhouse combo shed greenhouse combo kit.


text:
Carmichael leads fisheries debate - 'Why is the fishing industry having to fight their own government for survival?'
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today led a debate on post-Brexit fisheries, six months on from the UK's departure from the EU and the Common Fisheries Policy. Mr Carmichael and other MPs raised a wide and varied range of concerns from the fishing industries of the UK, including new trade barriers, lack of access to workers, safety problems with non-local boats and a general lack of support for the industry which had been promised a "sea of opportunity" after Brexit.
Mr Carmichael called on the government to hold roundtable meetings with the industry and challenged them to engage with a report he is collating of replies to the fisheries call for evidence.
Introducing the debate, Mr Carmichael said:
"When the holding of today's debate was first announced I put out a call for evidence to hear the views of people in the industry and its associated sectors. I was astonished at the volume and content of what I received. The e-mails came in from all around the coast. From catchers, processors, engineers, traders – all with the same message.
"The deal struck by the Prime Minister on Christmas Eve is not what they were promised and six months in to its first year it is causing massive problems."
Mr Carmichael highlighted the reply from a 19-year-old fisherman from Shetland who asked:
"Why is the fishing industry having to fight their own government for survival? Why do their advisory boards have no qualified fishermen or ex-fishermen or fish processors advising them? Why are they allowing uncontrolled fishing by foreign vessels in our waters?"
He continued:
"In coastal and island communities around the country the anger and frustration felt by fishermen is almost palpable. They feel let down and used and they want answers.
"In January I asked the Secretary of State if he would meet with me and industry representatives to discuss the problems facing the industry. He ignored the request then and since so I make it again today. Will the minister sit down with members and industry representatives? If not then I fear that the anger and frustration that is in the industry is only going to grow."
Speaking after the debate Mr Carmichael said:
"It took some effort to secure this debate – and the Government clearly had no interest in discussing fishing concerns unless forced – but it was an important opportunity to make our voices heard. The feeling the industry has of being ignored has only intensified over time as even some of the most basic issues they are raising – like safety at sea – are not being addressed.
"The dangerous behaviour of gillnetters and other non-local boats has only gotten worse and we have to wonder if it will take a boat going to the bottom of the sea before government will do something. It is simply not good enough.
"I note that the minister again sidestepped calls for a roundtable discussion with the industry. Based on the level of correspondence I received from around the UK that is not sustainable. I will continue collating these messages with a view to creating a report on post-Brexit fisheries. The minister has an open door to engage with this process – whether she does or not will speak volumes about this government's priorities."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Green Party sprouts a candidate
Kristina Calhoun will represent the Green Party in Riverdale North. As such, she's a trailblazer - the party's first territorial candidate.
Roxanne Stasyszyn
Kristina Calhoun will represent the Green Party in Riverdale North.
As such, she's a trailblazer – the party's first territorial candidate.
"We are considering living within our ecological means," said Calhoun, the party's organizer and interim co-leader, explaining the party line.
"It's just common sense. The environment is what supports everything else. It supports the economy. It supports social justice – if we don't ensure that the progress that we make is sustainable and compatible with maintaining a functional environment, then we're really just killing ourselves, or degrading our ability to benefit from our own resources."
Her remarks echoed David Suzuki's speaking notes from his Whitehorse visit on July 29.
The Canadian scientist warned if we continue to use more than the Earth can supply, we risk killing the planet and ourselves.
All who heed his words now have a territorial party to vote for in this upcoming election, said Calhoun.
But, for the moment, only if you live in Riverdale North.
The party has yet to announce any other candidates.
It has no published platform – apart from the vague and sweeping "Charter of Global Greens."
And it doesn't even have a website.
The party, which was registered on February 28, has about 200 "contacts," said Calhoun.
She couldn't say how many registered members it has.
But they need at least two candidates to remain a registered party with Elections Yukon.
So far, Calhoun is the only one to put her name forward.
John Streicker, local climate change scientist and chair of the federal Green Party, has no plans to run for any territorial party.
"National parties and territorial parties are distinct," he said. "So we're separate entities. But we support the principles of the territorial Green Party – the idea of thinking long-term and developing a sustainable future, especially around governance."
And Yukoners don't have to be worried about vote-splitting if they wish to vote Green this election, said Calhoun.
Greens aren't left or right, she said.
"That's a public misconception that we really need to work at re-educating," she said. "We're neither. We're not right or left – it's really just about bringing things to the centre and bringing everything on one track and not being extreme to one side or the other, but just being very focused and being very centered and basing everything on common sense and long-term goals."
The goal for this election is to get one or two candidates into the legislature, said Calhoun.
"So that we can be a green, guiding hand for policies and policy development," she said. "To ensure … they are going to be beneficial for, not only the economy, but also for the people of the Yukon and also for the environment."
Asked whether he is endorsing Calhoun, Streicker noted she wasn't running in his riding.
But she's a "sincere" and "well-intentioned" candidate, he said.
In the end, it's up to Yukoners to determine what they want, he said.
"Ultimately, it's up to the voters to decide whether or not they want to see an extra party, or not, and which parties they want to see," he said.
"But you have to put those choices in front of people, I think."
Contact Roxanne Stasyszyn at
roxannes@yukon-news.com
This is no lottery
A fighter hangs up his gloves