Footnotes

*”Pomp and Circumstance” from Act III, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Othello:

Tiresias – First Tiresias was a character of ancient Greece. He came upon two mystical snakes mating and they transformed Tiresias into a woman. She existed this way for seven years. Upon returning to the place where she encountered the serpents she found them and begged to be changed back. Upon hearing of this, Hera and Zeus called up Tiresias to settle an argument. Which of the sexes enjoys the pleasure of sex the most. Tiresas agreed with Zeus and Hera immediately struck him blind. Zeus was so pleased he gave Tiresias longevity and prophesy. He lived 7 generations.

In T.S. Eliot’s Wasteland III. The Fire Sermon, Tiresias is the hero on the sidelines, the long life observer of the dust blowing in upon civilization.

I, Tiresias, though blind, throbbing between two lives,
Old man with wrinkled breasts, can see 218

These fragments I have shorn against my ruins 431

T.S. Eliot | Collected Poems 1909 – 1962 | Harcourt Brace & Company ©1963, 1991

Krotas – Philolaus of Crotos, the Pythagorean philosopher who is noted as migrating to Greece and influencing mathematical thinking. In this story I have given him longevity through the Pythagorean’s numerical worship and practices in transmigration  that has allowed him to carry his soul and his mission to resurrect Plato, so that he may be The Mathematician on the Council of Philosopher Kings.

∞Ithas – Namesake Prometheus who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans as the first technology. Known as Fire Bearer, Herald of the Titans

ºTHE MOUSAI (Muses) were the goddesses of music, song and dance, and the source of inspiration to poets. They were also goddesses of knowledge, who remembered all things that had come to pass. Goddesses of: Music, poetry, the arts

† The Republic: Book X – “Our defence, then, when we are reminded that we banished poetry from our state, must be that its character was such as to give us good grounds for so doing and that our argument requires it. But in case we are condemned for being insensitive and bad mannered, let us add that there is an old quarrel between philosophy and poetry. One can quote many examples of this ancient antagonism: remarks about the “bitch that growls and carls at her master”, and “a reputation among empty-headed fools”, or “the crowd of heads that know too much” and the subtle thinkers” who are “beggars” none the less.’* However, let us freely admit that if drama and poetry written for pleasure can prove to us that they have a place in a well-run society, we will gladly admit them, for we know their fascination only too well ourselves; but it would be wicked to abandon what seems be the truth. I expect you feel the fascination of poetry yourself, don’t you, I asked, ‘especially when it’s Homer exercising it?’ (said Socrates)

“I do indeed.” (replied Glaucon)

“It is only fair then, that poetry should return. If she can make her defence in lyric or other metre.”

“Yes.”

“And we should give her defenders, men who aren’t poets themselves but who love poetry, a chance of defending her in prose and proving that she doesn’t only give pleasure but brings lasting benefit to human life and human society. And we will listen favourably, as we shall gain much it we find her a source of profit as well as pleasure.”

“Yes, we shall gain a lot.”