The Legend of Ankh-Helos

 

By Glen L. Bledsoe 

Ankh-Helos (Achilles or Achilles as his story was retold later by the Greeks) was a mighty pharaoh of the early Iron Age who while crossing a shallow stream in a remote area of the lands of the Egypto-Dutch Empire was bathed in the light from a mysterious disk in the sky. Some say it was a meteor of dark matter. Others suggest it was otherworldly visitors. Whatever its source he soon discovered that the parts of his body not submersed in the water became impervious to any weapon known: wood, stone, bronze or iron.

During a battle with the Sea Peoples he lost his lower right leg. To protect his left leg he tasked the Hittites to forge him a war boot made of iron. Then commanded the magicians of Mesopotamia to conjure a throne with feet that would carry him to battle where he would swing his scepter scattering his enemies before him by the score.

The Bather

This illustration depicts the legend of the moment before Dooth, the leader of the Funnelbeaker peoples, first gazes upon Mar-Thol (who is about to disrobe to bath in the Nile) and becomes besotted with her beauty. They marry only later to be cursed with immortality with their memories of each other's appearance erased by Arka-Arkitutti, the Witch-Queen of the Sea Peoples. For eternity they criss-cross the planet searching for one another with aching hearts.

Somebody needs to write an opera about this.

The Curse

 

By Glen L. Bledsoe

The story of how a group of Funnelbeaker tribespeople from the area which today is the Netherlands were driven south by a megadrought 1400 years BC must wait for another day. How Dooth their leader joined forces with Egypt to defeat the Sea Peoples must also be delayed as well as the history of the establishment of the brief but powerful Egypto-Dutch Empire.

Today the tale you will learn is how Arka-Arkitutti, Witch-Queen of the Sea Peoples cursed Dooth when her ships were sunken, and her army made slaves. How she blessed and cursed Dooth as she was about to die.

As Arka-Arkitutti stood bound to the stake she said, "Dooth, you are a mighty warrior and leader of your people. You have defeated me in spite of all my magics and charms. You and the Egyptian Pharaoh will build a mighty but short-lived empire. You and your wife Mar-Thol will live forever as is your reward. Your punishment: you will be separated, perpetually seeking one another across the world and across time. Dooth, while your heart continues to burn with love, you will be unable to remember your wife's face as she will be unable to remember yours. You may cross paths a thousand thousand times looking for each other and not recognize each other's features."

And so across time Dooth, now known as Father Duvall, searches without hope for his wife. He knows not to waste his immortality. He performs good deeds wherever and whenever he is.

The Magical Shepherdess

By Glen L. Bledsoe 

A Shepherdess by the name of Miss Gowz

Tended Sheep the size of large cows

She sold wool to the spinners in town

So they might knit socks, scarves and gowns

Retold Children's Rhyme from the Egypto-Dutch Empire

Father Duvall

 

By Glen L. Bledsoe 

FATHER DUVALL, an itinerant priest, draws crowds to listen to him preach wherever he goes, whichever chapel, church, synagogue, temple, mosque, community center, manor or home invites him. He, in the company of his traveling companion Brother Neb (who in spite of being blind greets everyone he meets by name whether he has met them before or not), travel from village to village, town to town, crossing county and country borders, continents from century to century. 

Father Duvall speaks. Father Duvall takes confession. Father Duvall witnesses. Father Duvall listens and advises. Father Duvall chastens. Father Duvall investigates. Father Duvall aids those who need him in meaningful and life-changing ways. He sometimes is known by other names, other appearances, but his work is always the same.