Caterwauling

Couple of stories from yesterday's main page BBC caught the attention.

The first related to Jerusalem, not the place but rather the anthem based on William Blake's, And did these feet, poem, which hinted that perhaps Jesus had visited Great Britain  in the company of his uncle, Joseph of Arimathea. It's something we have touched on here relatively often recently in regard to the London Olympics, given Danny Boyle's Green and Pleasant opening ceremony which, apparently,  takes it to heart. That's not forgetting the "bouncy" Stonehenge.

There was no mention of the forthcoming Olympics, or of Boyle's ceremony in the  BBC article, rather it was being suggested by a musicologist, Professor Jeremy Dibble, that Jerusalem is being sung in the wrong manner - basically, the first verse should be solo. The article goes on to mention Prince William and Kate along with an interpretation that Blake's implication was "that a visit of Jesus would briefly create heaven in England, in contrast to the "dark Satanic Mills" of the Industrial Revolution". 

The second story relates that 3 Scottish Universities have joined ranks to let us know that at one time the United Kingdom was much bigger than it is today, and that vast expanses of what are now sea, used to be land. The original article title mentioned Atlantis, although this has now been removed. What we can glean though is that the boffins are calling this "new discovery", Doggerland (BBC).  This is not new news, however for those interested in the subject it is worth checking Jeff Nisbet's, The Pyramids of Scotland, where he compares three islands in the Firth of Forth - Fidra, Lamb, and Craigleith - with the pyramids of Egypt. For those sceptics, add into the equation that, surely dodgy, double eleven infatuated, Uri Geller, is now the owner of Lamb Island, where he claims to believe returning Egyptian princess, Scota, stashed her loot. 

Then today, another story popped up re Danny Boyle's Green and Pleasant opening ceremony. Danny is not happy about "spoilers" appearing in the media regarding the show, urging the "surprise to be saved". One can only assume given the lack of background information that he is making reference to articles like the one I wrote about here, where mention is made of a giant wand wielding Prospero overseeing proceedings - which include visual references to Blake's "Satanic Mills". However, he does mention the animals which will be involved and assures "animal rights campaigners" that "no harm will come to them" (BBC). Just for the record there is to be "a menagerie of 70 sheep, 12 horses, three cows, two goats, 10 chickens, 10 ducks, nine geese and three sheepdogs" (BBC), a grand total of 119; a number which might ring some bells.

cheers

Note also re 119, that 29th April is 119th day of year. Date of Wills/Kate wedding.

A New Eden

Yesterday was day 24 of the Olympic torch relay with another potential "act of God" as the torch went  out, and refused to relight, at the beginning of the event (The Callanish Stones), causing the organisers to "dash" 30 miles back to Stornoway to collect the "mother flame". (Scottish Sun - Panic as Olympic torch is blown out)


Today the torch visits Scone Palace, originally the home of the Stone of Destiny, which some say is Jacob's pillow stone (wiki). Certainly it seems to have been of some significance historically, given it's use as coronation stone for "Kings" of Scotland and indeed the current monarchy.


Coincidentally, today saw the announcement of the final  details of the London Olympics opening ceremony, director Danny Boyle unveiling his masterpiece. Apparently it is a countryside setting with animals and suchlike, together with a recreation of Glastonbury Tor - complete with solitary tree. It is to be titled Green and Pleasant, seemingly because Danny is creating "a picture of ourselves as a nation". (BBC report)


Curiously, "In England's green and pleasant land" - on which the hymn Jerusalem is based - is the  last line of  William Blake's "And did those feet in ancient time" poem, which he based on the "apocryphal story" that a young Jesus Christ visited England  in the company of his uncle, Joseph of Amirathea. According to wiki the legend is linked to an idea in the Book of Revelation describing a "second coming" wherein Jesus establishes a new Jerusalem. Danny doesn't mention any of that, nor that Joseph is alleged to have thrust his staff in the ground at Glastonbury, whereupon a thorn tree grew.

Diversifying very slightly, something I have written perhaps too much about recently is the football club Glasgow Rangers and their precarious financial position since Valentines Day when they entered administration. Cutting to the quick: according to today's BBC, it seems that Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs have rejected the "creditors" deal offered by would-be owner, Charles Green, in terms of outstanding liabilities and as such the club will need to be liquidated and "reborn" as a  same-but-different entity.  I believe that the creditors meeting is to be held on Thursday, the day after the Olympic torch travels from St. Andrew's to  Edinburgh, and "her" Castle -  the current home of the (alleged) Stone of Destiny. One has to perhaps understand fully the William of Orange/King Billy/Protestant angle here in terms of Rangers - and it's impending reincarnation. 

cheers

Middle image - From the film Ben Hur. Ben, dressed in tartan, meets (Druid) Balthazar - one of the three wise men - as he goes to hear Jesus preach. Source: here.

Unhenged

Stonehenge is coming to Glasgow, en-route the London Olympics, according to yesterday's Scotland on Sunday.

It appears that artist Jeremy Deller is to construct a plastic, interactive, replica of the monument, named Sacrilege, which will be initially displayed on Glasgow Green before being transported to London, where it will as based as a "cultural tourist attraction during the Olympic Games".

This, of course, ties in with the semi-obscured British Israel connotations of the forthcoming games and indeed with William Blake's Jerusalem, the latter inspired by the story that Jesus visited Stonehenge / Glastonbury with his uncle, Joseph of Arimathea.


cheers

Bottom image - Olympic lightbringing ceremony.

BBC- Merlin from Glasgow.

wiki - And did those feet in ancient time / Jerusalem.