NaNoWriMo!

NaNoWriMo!

It is that time of year, folks. I haven't done this before, but I'd say it's high time. Especially considering my personal goddess, y'know? National Novel Writing Month is upon us, and I'm going to take the time to write up 50,000 words of poetry, prayers and more featuring the Anunnaki. If anyone has ideas, I'm all ears. This is a very unique combination of despair and delight, I must say. I am so not prepared, but so very ready to do this.

Gugulanna, as depicted by Fate/Grand Order. Most videogame/media depictions of my gods I'm not a huge fan of. Check out Marvel's Ningal to see what I mean. There's DnD's Tiamat, probably Nergal (Nurgle) in Warhammer40k. I don't even like Ishtar in the Fate series, really. But Gugulanna? Good gods this art is beautiful.

Love being brutally called out by the British Library

Teaser for my upcoming video. Incense making is hard when you don't have a functioning nose, but this is why other people are useful. Fun fact: you don't need an expensively carved mortar and pestle, this one was around five bucks. And the Sumerian gods are big on innovation and evolution, so a spice grinder isn't really out of place.

Two Babylonian Lullabies (BM 122691 and OECT 11 002)

This first lullaby is a loose translation, in order to fit a modern musical meter.  It can be sung to “Nettleton” (Come Thou Fount) or Joyful, Joyful (Ode to Joy) — I recommend singing lines 1-8, then repeating 1-6 and finishing with 9-10.  A closer translation of the same text is at the end, followed by a different, longer incantation to help a crying baby sleep.

Little one, who dwelled in darkness,        now you’ve come and seen the sun. Why the crying?  Why the worries?        What has made your peace undone?

You have roused the household spirits;        you have scared the guardian-gods. “Who has roused me?  Who has scared me?”        “Little baby woke you up!”

May you settle into slumber,        sweet as plum-wine, deep as love.

Keep reading

Response to all of the sex bots trying to chat me up: I like big books and I cannot lie. Send me pictures of 19th century enyclopedias and you might get somewhere. Honestly I just assume most poorly worded highly nsfw flirting from strange accounts is going to infect my stuff with something unspeakable, and my digital device is a glorious temple that doesn't need lecherous viruses pawing at it. That said, a bot that tries to sabotage nerds by sending them pictures of 14th century illuminated manuscripts and 15th century block books might have more success. Just a suggestion.