Historical Literature at its pure best! .@pruebatten #medieval #historical

Tobias 

Book One of The Triptych Chronicle
by
Prue Batten

Byzantium stretches a weakening grip across Eastern Europe, trying in vain to hold onto all that has made it an empire. Tyrian purple, the unique dye that denotes its power, is held under close guard by the imperial house.

However a Jewish merchant from Venice has sourced an illegal supply and Tobias the dwarf minstrel and his twin brother, Tomas, begin a dangerous journey to retrieve the purple and deliver it into the merchant’s eager hands.

But is this supply as secret as they had hoped?

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Trade is cut throat, men are expendable, money is power and Constantinople provides the exotic backdrop during a time of scimitars and shadows.

This is Tobias – the story of a minstrel and a broken life…

Semi-finalist in 2016 M.m. Bennetts Award for Historical Fiction (UK)

'Authentic characters and a twisting plot move this tale to a gripping end.' Christian Cameron, author of The Chivalry Series

'Although the time and the place of the story is very different, there was something ... that reminded me of the great Patrick O'Brian. For historical fiction, there is really no greater praise.' Matthew Harffy - The Bernicia Chronicles.

‘A powerful tale of violence, treachery, and intrigue, set in the cut-throat world of medieval trade.’ Ann Swinfen, author of The Chronicles of Christoval Alvarez.

‘An atmospheric journey through the seedy underbelly of medieval Europe.’ SJA Turney, author of Marius’s Mules.

Excerpt from

Tobias (The Triptych Chronicle Book 1)

They stopped at the top of the stair. Behind them, the world opened out, tantalising in its vast opportunity. Promising so much, Toby thought. In some monastery chapel close by, men’s voices drifted on the air in a chant, just the one word – Alleluleia, a single voice and then choral responses in tonal rises and falls. Had he come to Constantinople for this? For Divine music and inspirational words? Or for excitement and lust?

But all he could think of as he turned back to the massive doors that made him feel like an ant was, No, I came to buy a lyra.

Dana walked through the south gates and along the narthex, avoiding the imperial gates. He followed like a child, skirting the omphalos, his eyes drifting up to the dome that hung weightless it seemed, above them. Light streamed in through the windows and to anyone who thought God didn’t exist, this sight above all others must change their minds. Toby crossed himself as he spun slowly in a circle, eyes fixed on that sight.

How in Heaven’s name had they created arches strong enough to hold the dome in place?

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His eyes drifted further and what he had thought were smaller buildings, clustered around the skirt of the basilica, were in fact supportive smaller domes. It was a wonder of construction … coloured marbles that reminded him of Dana’s kerkis trees and golden mosaics, a richness that made one question if one was now in Heaven. He stared at the huge silver iconostasis in the distance, but then his glance caught on the most perfect icon – the Pantocrator’s face, placid, wise, all-knowing. He crossed himself again.

‘Tobias,’ hissed Dana. ‘Tobias, pay attention. I have found a priest who can help us…’ She grabbed Toby’s arm and yanked him behind her toward a tall man whose hair flowed luxuriantly and whose beard intermingled with his hair. On his head, a small cloth skoufos balanced precariously and he wore a plain but richly golden pectoral cross. ‘Tobias, this is Father Symeon. He has been within the Church all day and had an enquiry from a small person … did you not, Father?’

‘Indeed. He was … not unlike yourself,’ he nodded at Tobias, a hand reaching for the prayer rope at his wrist and fingering the knots.

He is afraid of me…

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Maimonides and the Question of Modern Ethics

As told by Moses, Son of Maimon

by

Ilil Arbel

I rarely use my magic arts or inventions, particularly my skill of time travel. I am not sure it is an ethical thing to do, and since I don’t know anyone else who had learned to do so, who can I ask for advice? Once in a while, I feel the need to study the events to come. This is only my third time, and I have jumped about eight hundred years into my future. The year is 2015 of the Christian calendar, and 5775 of the Jewish calendar. I have never jumped so far ahead before. 

But this is not all. They have wars, the horror of which even the great Saladin would not be able to understand. Sadly, the fanatics called ISIS remind me of the wild Almohades who had destroyed my beloved Al-Andalus and exiled or killed my entire community. Like the Almohades, ISIS brutally murders other Muslims, Christians, and Jews, pretending to do so in the name of God. What God would want to see the innocents slaughtered? Many of these wars are fought merely for money and power.

Another ethical question is the insane greed the rich are exhibiting. It is worse, much worse, than the habits of the rich in my time. All the money is concentrated in the hands of the few, while the populace is becoming poorer and poorer. Entire nations are losing their wealth to these groups, who do not seem to care at all for their own countrymen and women. Some of the practices they employ in the name of profit I am unable to understand. They seem to be able to employ people on meagre pay in faraway lands, instead of leaving such work in the hands of loyal employees who had served them well. Entire communities have the bread taken from their mouth, while the rich commit excess the likes of which the world has never seen.
They have learned nothing, nothing at all, about ethics. But as I am preparing to go home, I trust that someday in their own future they will see the light. I could not live without hope. 

I have to admit that as a physician, I am very much impressed with their practice of medicine. I have seen people cured from cancer. Artificial hearts save people from certain death. They can create a natural immunity to future diseases by using certain serums. But despite such wonders, they allow those who cannot pay die from illnesses the physicians could cure. I simply cannot understand that – in my time, a good physician would treat them for free. In my own practice, I set aside a time each week for people who cannot afford to pay.

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Ilil Arbel is the author of a number of fiction and non-fiction books, including biographies, memoirs, novels, and mythology/folklore. She has also written articles, short stories, and Judaic myths.

Arbel has a Ph.D. in the field of mythology and folklore but has also devoted much study to her special interest in Jewish history, biography, legends, and myths. She is currently engaged in writing the biography of Hillel the Elder, the first century B.C. leader and religious scholar.

Dr. Arbel was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. She has lived and studied in Tel Aviv, Paris, and New York and currently resides in Manhattan.

 Moses, Son of Maimon

Born into a distinguished family in medieval Cordoba, Spain, the young Moses Maimonides was quickly recognized by his teachers for his outstanding intellectual abilities and extraordinary versatility. At the age of twelve, when his peaceful world was shattered by war and persecution and his family was forced into exile, his religious and secular studies continued. Despite the years of wandering and the harsh conditions, he also developed into a writer and wrote extensively until the end of his life.
 

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After years of wandering and relatively short stays in Morocco and Israel, Maimonides and his family settled in Egypt. The Jewish community quickly recognized his genius, and after completing his important book, the Mishneh Torah, he was recognized internationally as the chief religious and legal authority of the entire Jewish world. He produced many books on diverse subjects such as philosophy, law, religion, and medicine that are considered extremely important to this day by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. Despite experiencing loss and controversies, Maimonides rose to eminence as both the official head of the Jewish community in Cairo and the private physician to the sultan and his court.

His world was full of contradictions. A man who abhorred excess of any kind, Maimonides nevertheless lived as a member of a glittering society. Cairo of that time was full of art, music, literature, elegant fashions, priceless jewelry, and sophisticated food. He moved among the sultan’s wealthy advisors and the elegant ladies of the royal harem during the day, and among the Jewish scholars in the evening. He was accused of supporting corporal punishment for wives, and at the same time, people gasped at his revolutionary defense of women’s rights.

His fame brought controversy that is still raging—eight hundred years after his death. At certain times his books were banned and even burned at the stake. But no one could ever deny that his work was that of a brilliant innovator and scholar who could reconcile religious traditions with science and philosophy like no one else.