Astolfo and Persephone's myth
This a speculation after I read the article from digital-dhampirs.
One most interesting thing about Astolfo is his cover which presents a pomegranate.
I found strange nobody talked about this because pomegranate has very strong symbolism, and maybe can be a hint of his story.
First it is possible symbol of his family, because the word Granatum is part of scientific name of pomegranate; Punica granatum.
But the connecting between the family and the fruit doesn’t stop here, because in fact the word “garnet” comes from Latin word granatum from seed or grain, most likely are reference to the seeds of pomegranate fruit.
Pomegranate also has strong Christian symbol because represents martyrs’ blood, which it appropriates for hunter family.
If we remove Astolfo from the cover we have a picture in still life, a work of art using also like metaphor, because pomegranate is also a Christina symbol that represents a priest, hard outside soft inside, but because the corruption around and inside the fruit, the author is talking about corrupt of the Church but I don’t think only about the Beast act but the tragedy of family Granatum.
If we look inside the fruit we can see tubes, I thought can be Chloe library but it is too dark and broken and there are not books, but another place with tubes it is Moreu lab.
Moreu got help from Church now and then, because it is impossible there is no one in Church didn’t know about a secret lab near to their headquarters.
But why Moreu’s lab if Astolfo had never met him and he is not with Ronald about the search.
His sister can be n°70, a child who is been rewriting by 13 marks and from a powerful line of hunters, a subject who Doctor would love to have.
Plush it is possible Granatum family bloodline isn’t completely human, anime color in VNC it only used on vampires/dhams, but from anime we know both siblings has got pink hair/eyes, but there is not other humans with anime colors.
If his sister is n°70 , her and Astolfo has got a lot parallels with Demeter hymn, or more knowing as Persephone myth.
This myth is already showed up in series, when Veronica talks with Domi, she sat down on statue of Ratto of Prosepina, that Latin name of Persephone.
I think this myth is connect with Granatum siblings; Astolfo fills as Demeter and his sister as Kore/Persephone.
The myth is often rewriting as love story between Hades and Persephone but it is far away from original myth.
Demeter’s hymn is part of Eleusinian Mysteries. Her hymn is sole protagonist who is mother in grief for losing of her daughter, and only when she played dirty she can have her daughter back.
After the kidnapping of her daughter she ignored her duties for looking for her with help of Hecate.
Hecate is one who proposed to ask help for Helios, because he can see everything.
Helios has pity of her and only one who shared the truth(other Gods ignored her because they were afraid of Zeus).
After Demeter found out Zeus sold out Kore to Hades, she took all humans hostage by famine, and Zeus had to give in.
Hades tricked Persephone to eat pomegranate seeds, so she cannot completely come back to her mother, because she is part of underground.
So season are born because the staying of Persephone.
Like we can see Demeter is sweet and devote person who can be so powerful turning the world outside down if her beloveds is in dangerous. She can be pretty revengeful and mean, she punishes humans, who are innocent, for bring Zeus to his kneels.
Astolfo is a devote, sweet and self denial person, but also a revengeful force.
During the myth we don’t know how Persephone lives in underground, if she is love with Hades ecc.
The beauty of Anciest Greek mythology is a big mess fandom of fanfictions so you can find a lot version of same myth, and pick your favorite.
But what is sure, Kore that means maiden, from innocent girl turned is a fearful and severe goddess who scared also big heroes like Odysseus.
It is interesting if his sister alive, both they share a lot with myth.
Also Ronald and Oliver can fill in some roles in myth. Ronald like Helios, the god of light, the only one who pitied Demeter and told the truth, Oliver as Hecate, a reasonable figure for Demeter/Astolfo.
Like we see in chap 59,they are only one they give a darm about Astolfo, the other hunters are disinterested or mean to him, like Demeter and other gods.
Ronald was only light for the boy, Oliver used to be near to him, so the relationship is pretty strong like for Demeter with Helios and Hecate.
Like I said before Ratto di Prosepina is other connecting with the myth and possible with Granatum siblings.
“Ratto of Prosepina” can be connect with his sister because this statue represents a sexual assault.
Ratto in old Italian mean marriage by kidnapping or rape, between VNC characters despite there are a lot of violation, Misha, Astolfo and sister are victims of sexual abuse. Astolfo acts a lot like SA victim. Maybe he didn’t suffer by the act but he saw rape on his mother, seeing sexual acts against own will still rape.
Astolfo also said to Noè “My sis was only six when they…!”
The sentence has never ended by implication are grave, because in previous meeting he already told about the torture, so he didn’t need to repeat himself, and we know there were already rapists in group, so we can hope for best but be prepare for worst.
So this version Hades is a terrible monster who violates completely body of people and our doctor Moreu fills the role
My guess his sister is in fact n°70 and possible the first artificial vampire in series.
VNC is a very peculiar vampire media, because we don’t have turning vampire plot, the most similar thing to that is the rewriting.
Rewriting sounds a terrible and mysterious transformation which we and VNC’s world didn’t know enough
So artificial turning in a vampire maybe is not so far away, like for Kore Olympic godess turned in Crhonotic one by tricky and egoism of other.
An another point making believe Astolfo’s sister is alive because she should be chekhov's gun
and the fact Astolfo mirrored Vanitas.
A character is not mentioned if they aren’t necessary for plot. Yes, there are characters like ghost but these ones are alive and often are used like joke.
Astolfo’ sister is not really necessary character for writing his background dark, if we remove her now and making a lone boy who befriend the wrong person still work, but Astolfo is the mirror of Vanitas and what’s happened to Vanitas recently? He found out his brother alive.
So his sister would work like character if she show up in future and if she is counterpart of Misha.
It’d ’ be pretty cool; while Misha uses childshness as coping/manipulation mechanism and cannot move on from his past with Luna and Vanitas, in contrast she’d be more mature of her age and she don’t try to reunite with his brother because she know things wouldn’t be the same and in fact are enemies.
Like Kore from an innocent girl became to fearful goddess.
Turning a really strong vampire, not for her choices(in myth is tricked by pomegranate seeds) but she enjoined the power but still deeply miss Astolfo.
She would be the one who take care of dr Moreu;Vanitas and Misha are clearly avoiding him, but killing him is not only for revenge but also for stopping him.
If Astolfo ‘s sister is Kore, there is an other possible connection with myth; they are both sold off by someone support to protect them.
Astolfo hates himself because he thinks he’s responsible of tragedy, but it ‘s not a tragedy but a full shreme, with a mandate church/charlatan.
The vampires attacked when the mansion was more vulnerable, most hunters leave for looking a group of vampires, they weren’t guards, the presence of 5 powerful vampires and the fact the group didn’t leave.
What criminal stay in crime scene? They stayed for days, giving all time for Marco asking for help, why they stay a place frequented by vampire hunters.
In fact they give enough time to Church to organize itself and kill all them.
And if wasn’t Church, senate could send bourreau. We know bourreau are sniper for rogue vampire, and they act very quickly to act; one day for Mina, and Amelia was afraid to have them on her way.
Now a situation of a rogue group of vampires who assault humans is a big problem to Senate, because peace threat, we see they send Jeanne to Chloè for that.
And not mention killing a family of paladin is the same to send a letter” We want war kisses”.
Like when Charlaton attacked Luca using very similar clothes from hunters, if Luca didn't survive, they would be political consequence between Church and Senate, why didn’t this happened with Granatum tragedy?
Why didn’t these vampires leave? Why there wasn’t a diplomatic accident after that.
That group must have protection until its protect let them die.
“Oh we are sorry,but responsible are dead.”
This group looked like they were used a sacrifical lamb.
Onother points makes me believe Church can be responsible of Tragedy, it is missing of Lousiette.
In anime we see the lord using a rapier not Lousiette, but Charles told Astoldo to take it, that it is means Lousiette is the weapon of Garnet throne.
I think the paladin weapon are unique and best pieces cannot be reproduce so only when somebody become a paladin get one.
Ronald didn’t have Durandal when he met Astolfo, so why Lord Granatum who presumably was a paladin didn't have Lousiette, one of stronger weapons of The Church and a weapon that he was used?
A good weapon and ability to use it, can make difference in battle.
Dr Moreu was able to make disappear a trainer, faking his death, and we see clearly there some members a Church help him,, so kidnapping little girl wouldn’t be hard.
If Church is implicate with Granatum tragedy and sister’s missing, we can have a plot line for Astolfo.
Astolfo isn’t loyal to the Church, his drive is hate for vampires, but if found out everything about his family also what doctor Mareu did to his sister and other people, I cannot see Church survive.
Remember Demeter put down on their kneels Olympus, Underground and Earth, when she went ballistic.
But who represent Zeus, my guess is Charles, he is intrigued on Astolfo, but Gano and his blond vice who were asshole, they were showing pity on him saying Charles is scary and should be let the boy die.
I don’t know how Astolfo reached if his sister is alive and vampire, my guess can be deny but I think his love for her would be stronger; Astolfo hates more himself than vampires.
So maybe they can reunite in future but cannot be together because they belong to two different words.
If I’m right I really serious want their reunion being a reproduction of Frederic Leighton-The Return of Persephone (1891).
Astolfo eyes are drawn empty it ‘d be interesting after he reunite with his sis, got reflex back. I like idea also his sis eyes’ make the same.
And or couse they must go together to kick out some ass together.
In worst case she can be the new vessel of queen but remember Demeter's rage...
PS: I'm sorry for mistakes , English isn't my first languange
27 notes
·
View notes
FROM THE GANGAN JOKER TWITTER
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MEMOIRE 59
Run through Google translate ^
Astolfo is so cute I have never wanted to hug a fictional character more than I do now JUST LOOK AT HIM!
Also is it just me or is Roland more buff. Mochizuki did confess that everytime she draws Roland he gets better physique (and fluffier hair) but wow this is wild.
He’s so cute I can’t take it I love him so much he deserves so much better, if there's any Astolfo haters out there you better keep your opinion to yourself!
We see this panel in the extra chapter from vol 9 it’s just larger this time and notably missing Olivier's glare of annoyance despite the larger space.
Roland looks so sad I need to know what happened between him and Astolfo so bad.
This scene is set up that it makes my immediate thought that it will be the last panel of the chapter or that it will be the last panel before we step away from Astolfo's past and go back to the current timeline (since we know that some panels contain stuff that seems to happen in the current timeline) but I do think it might be the opening page of the chapter since it seems to start where 58 ended.
Translations by me! Sorry if it’s botched I tried making it make sense!
Guess we’re getting more Astolfo pov this chapter and judging by the panels shown earlier (like 10 days ago) I’m guessing the first part is going to be flashbacks about him and it ends suddenly here or adds more?
Either way the characters we see in these panels seem to be from current timeline (these are the panels)
Oh shit. I mean we did get confirmation on this by Georges, once again in the extra chapter (thank you Georges and the extra chapter) but it’s nice getting it straight from Astolfo (or younger Astolfo). Seriously though what happened? Conflicting interests? A vampire attack? The churches interference/manipulation?
In this context, I guess this shows that Roland’s aware of Astolfo’s thoughts on him since it puts focus on his face in the panel. He definitely doesn’t approve of Astolfo's worship of him but I don’t see him confronting him about it though so I don’t know what happened there.
(Sorry for how off centre it is!)
The guy who I presume is Charles' vice captain from the last chapter is behind Roland once again making me believe this is directly what happened after chapter 58 ended since that was were he was when Charles called for Roland.
I do think that it's Charles saying those lines since there wasn't anyone else in the room except the scar guy who doesn't seem to be speaking and Astolfo who clearly isn't saying that.
That seems to be Astolfo going up to Roland since the feet are small and bloodied. I do think that Roland was disappointed in himself for only being able to save one person which is why Charles is getting him to look after Astolfo so he knows he at least saved one life (which is quite sweet but this guy looks like a manipulator so...)
Roland looks so traumatised though and I'm not sure why. Astolfo was in pretty bad shape but the cloak (I think it was Roland's cloak?) was covering his body last chapter and I'm not sure if he still has it on in this panel so maybe that's where all the damage is? Or some other reason, maybe he was just shocked Astolfo was still alive after what happened.
Also I do have a life outside of stalking Mochizuki's twitter page (I just check it every 3 hours every day even in class it's not a problem)
69 notes
·
View notes
The Crooked Man
This one is from Memoirs - we have two more from that collection left to go after this.
Oddly enough I was actually reading this story at around the same time that Watson is reading!
Aldershot was - and still is - a major "garrison town" located 31 miles SW of Charing Cross. Around 20% of the British Army were based there in 1914.
Holmes says "Elementary!"
Aldershot is accessible by direct train from Waterloo - today electric trains serve it from there in just over an hour.
The Crimea of course refers to the Crimean War of 1853-56; the one of the Light Brigade, Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole. It was the first major war to make use of railways, telegraphy and photography.
The Mutiny refers to the common British name for the uprising in India in 1857-58 against the East India Company. Klinger devotes an entire chapter to it. The trigger, although resentments had been around for a while, was rumours that the grease in cartridges for the Lee Enfield rifle requiring the paper to opened using the mouth contained beef tallow and pork lard, offensive to Hindus and Muslims respectively.
When a group of mostly Muslim soldiers refused to accept the cartridges, were court-martialled and were sentenced to hard labour in the city of Meerut, an uprising broke out and spread across much of India. Support for it was by no means universal.
It took over a year for the British to defeat the insurgents in a war that saw many atrocities, the local population suffering the worst. Exaggerated reports of Indian war crimes in the British press fuelled a complete lack of sympathy in British soldiers and public alike.
The conflict ended with the capture or death of the rebel leaders, an amnesty for those who had not murdered Europeans and the end of the East India Company's rule with the Crown taking over, followed by some reforms to involve Indians more in administration.
Roman Catholicism had become tolerated by this point with nearly all legal restrictions removed, although discrimination remained, especially in Ireland.
Brain fever turns up again!
A florin was a two shilling coin.
This is the only short story appearance of a Baker Street Irregular.
Cantonments were military garrisons.
Colour Sergeant is an NCO rank in the infantry regiments of the British Army - while not in actual use at the time, it was commonly used to refer to the quartermaster sergeant i.e. the sergeant in charge of the company supplies. It is the equivalent to Staff Sergeant in other units.
The story of Uriah and Bathsheba can be found in 2 Samuel Chapters 11 and 12. It's a common one for artist because it contains naked lady.
25 notes
·
View notes