An Impossible Choice: Standing Firm (part 3 of 3) by Liisa Eyerly

The Dilemma of Early Christians

Christian exclusivity to the Triune God was seen as a direct challenge to the established order. By refusing to participate in the state religion’s ceremonies—whether offering sacrifices to the emperor or participating in civic feasts—Christians were perceived as subversive, anti-social, and potentially traitors. They were seen as insulting the gods, and the Romans believed that this would bring divine retribution upon them, resulting in public disasters such as famine, plague, or earthquakes.

As Tertullian (c. 155–c. 220 AD) put it, the Christians were blamed for every calamity that befell the empire:

“They think the Christians are the cause of every public disaster, of every affliction with which the people are visited. If the Tiber rises as high as the city walls, if the Nile does not send its waters up over the fields, if the heavens give no rain, if there is an earthquake, if there is famine or pestilence, straightway the cry is, 'Away with the Christians to the lions!'”

The Martyrdom of Justin Martyr 

Justin Martyr (c. 100–c. 165 AD), one of the most well-known Christian apologists of the early church, was among those who refused to deny Christ under pressure. Despite writing multiple defenses of Christianity and attempting to convince the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius to cease persecuting Christians, Justin, as you can guess by his name, failed.

(A bearded Justin Martyr presenting an open book to a Roman emperor. Engraving by Jacques Callot.)

After refusing to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods, Justin and some of his students were scourged and beheaded. He was a philosopher who knew the risks but believed that the Christian faith was worth the cost of his life. He is venerated as a saint by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, and Anglican traditions. (Mosaic of the beheading of Justin Martyr)

A Thin Moral Line

Like many early Christians, the believers in my novels must navigate the thin line between survival and martyrdom. The Roman authorities often gave Christians a choice: deny Christ, offer sacrifices to the Roman gods, and live—or remain steadfast in their beliefs and die. Could a Christian compromise and save their life with a little white lie? 

A “white lie” is often described as a harmless or trivial falsehood, usually told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. But is it always harmless? For a Christian, could lying to save one’s life really be justified if it meant denying their faith?
(15th-century icon of Justin Martyr by Theophanes the Cretan)

“Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 10:32-33 NKJV)

This teaching made the act of sacrificing to the emperor—or denying Christ in any way—a spiritual betrayal, even if the lie were small.

A Modern Dilemma

The early Christians faced a monumental test of faith, but the persecution of Christians continues in many parts of our world, as documented by groups like Voice of the Martyrs. Christians today still face the decision: lie to save their lives or remain true to their faith? 

Would a little white lie be acceptable, or is there always a moral cost to compromising one’s beliefs?  

-Cairns, Earle E. (1996). "Chapter 7:Christ or Caesar". Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church (Third ed.). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. ISBN 978-0-310-20812-9.
-Clark, Mark Edward (1983). "Spes in the Early Imperial Cult: "The Hope of Augustus"". Numen. 30 (1): 80–105. doi:10.1163/156852783X00168. JSTOR 3270103
- Whitby, Michael; Streeter, Joseph, eds. (2006). Christian Persecution, Martyrdom, and Orthodoxy GEM de Ste.Croix. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-927812-1.
-Jump up to:a b Catherwood, Christopher (2011). "Chapter Three, From Christ to Christendom: The Early Church". A Brief History of the Middle East (Second ed.). London: Constable and Robin Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84901-508-0.
-A Short History of the Early Church, By Harry R. Boer page 45
-Bart D. Ehrman, A Brief Introduction to the New Testament (Oxford University Press 2004 ISBN 978-0-19-536934-2), pp. 313–314
-Bryant, Joseph M. (1993). "The Sect-Church Dynamic and Christian Expansion in the Roman Empire: Persecution, Penitential Discipline, and Schism in Sociological Perspective". The British Journal of Sociology. 44 (2): 303–339. doi:10.2307/591221. JSTOR 591221.

Winner of Eric Hoffer's First Horizon Award, Obedient Unto Death launches the thrilling Secrets of Ephesus mystery series, weaving a captivating Christian twist into the heart of the first-century Roman Empire. When a scribe is murdered during an illicit Christian gathering, an innocent bishop is imprisoned. Sabina, a fearless believer, must navigate a treacherous world of deceit and betrayal to save him. With time running out and execution looming, she risks everything to uncover the truth—before the fragile Christian community is torn apart forever. Will Sabina's courage and faith be enough to stop the injustice before it's too late?

Bio: Liisa Eyerly’s Secrets of Ephesus series adds a Christian twist to first-century Roman Empire mysteries. Her debut novel, Obedient Unto Death (2022), won the Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award and first place in Spiritual Fiction. The second book, Fortunes of Death, launched in October. A lifelong mystery lover, Liisa was inspired by the Apostle Paul’s depiction of early Christians. After careers in teaching, librarianship, and stained glass, she began writing full-time at fifty. Liisa lives in northern Wisconsin with her husband and enjoys pickleball, kayaking, Bible study, and visiting Ancient Roman sites.

Visit me at my website or my FaceBook author page.
or
Purchase my books at: CrossRiver Media and on Amazon
Fortunes of Death
Obedient Unto Death
My Amazon book page

Thank you for reading!

Famous Instruments in History: Stradivarius Violins

Blogger: Amber Lemus

Continuing our series on famous instruments in history brings us to Italy in the 1700's where a legendary craftsman created instruments that would live in infamy for hundreds of years. 

A romanticized print of Antonio Stradivari examining an instrument

By Viktor Bobrov - Oberndorfer, Anne Faulkner (1921)

Public Domain

The Stradivarius family, specifically Antonio Stradivarius, was a luthier and craftsman who made stringed instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, and even harps. Antonio was born, raised, lived and died in Cremona, which is present day Italy, and still holds a strong connection to this legendary luthier. The exact year of his birth is unknown, but sometime between 1644-1649. His family was well established in Cremona, although little is known about Antonio's birth and early childhood. The first record of him in Cremona is the label on his first known violin, made in 1666, which also indicated that Antonio may have apprenticed under Nicola Amati during his teenage years. Amati was a well-known and skilled luthier in Cremona, which would have made him a logical choice for Antonio's parents when choosing an apprenticeship for their son. However, other scholars and historians believe that Antonio's workmanship more closely resembled that of another luthier, Francesco Rugeri. 

Antonio married his first wife on July 4, 1667 around the age of twenty. His wife, Francesca, was a young widow with two children. Together they had five children, but sadly, one of them died at only a week old. After 30 years of marriage, Francesca passed away in 1698.  Antonio remarried about a year later to 35 year old Antiona Maria Zambelli, who would have been about twenty years his junior. They had five more children in quick succession between the years of 1700-1708. 

Antonio's reputation began to grow. He crafted violins and experimented with different techniques. But he was not the only luthier in Cremona, in fact, at least two other violin families lived just down the road from him. He continued to hone his craft and began to pick up some high-profile clients. A Venician banker ordered a complete set of instruments from him, which were intended to be gifted to King James II of England, however it is unknown if this gift ever made it to the king. 

Maker's Label from a Stradivarius Violin
Public Domain

Around 1690, something caused Antonio to change his technique and depart from his previous style. First, he began to make a larger pattern which became known as "long Strads." Second, he changed the varnish he was using to a darker toned one. By 1700, he abandoned the long Strad style for a shorter model, which he used until his death. This was about the time he entered what is known as his Golden Period of instrument crafting. 

Stradivarius is said to have produced around 1,116 instruments during his 75-year career. Of those, around 650 survive until today and are highly prized and legendary. It is said that the Stradivarius, particularly the violins, have unmatched sound and almost feel alive to the musician. They have become somewhat relics among the devout musician community, touted to be the finest ever made. 

Fun fact, Sherlock Holmes possessed a Stradivarius Violin in the original works by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 

Instruments made by Stradivarius during his Golden Period of 1700-1725 are the ones that fetch the highest price and sell for millions of dollars today. Just a few months ago, one sold on Sotheby's auction for $11.2 million dollars, but some have sold for even more than that. 

These instruments are so prized that they are subject to theft. There are many Stradivarius violins that have been stolen, but most of them are recovered, since reselling something so well-known is very difficult. However, there are at least 3 Stradivarius violins that have been stolen and are still unaccounted for.

If you are curious to hear what these violins sound like, below is a video that was produced for a Stradivarius violin recently sold at auction. It includes the breathtaking sound, as well as explanations from musicians on how the violin feels to them and why they prize it so highly.

   

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award, Amber Lemus writes enthralling non-fiction for children and adults alike. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior, so her writing is centered around faith, family and history.

She lives near the Ozarks in her "casita" with her prince charming. Between enjoying life as a new mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at www.AmberLemus.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

An Impossible Choice: Consequences (part 2 of 3) by Liisa Eyerly

A Clash of Beliefs 

Being a “good” Roman stopped at the altar of the emperor’s temple. The Bible is clear that the worship of idols and false gods is forbidden. In Deuteronomy 5:9, God warns: 

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.”

Christian’s refusal to participate in the state religion—which had an essential role in both government and society—was seen as a rejection of Roman identity itself. It was a clash of beliefs—that Rome intended to crush—and that led to the Christian martyrdoms of the time.

In my Secrets of Ephesus mystery novels “Fortunes of Death” and “Powers of Death,” my female sleuth, Sabina, grapples with the expectation of Christian participation at civic festivals, athletic games, and theatrical performances where an offering of incense is required to worship the emperor or pagan deities—an act abhorrent to a Christian.

The Choice: Lie or Die?

For early Christians living under the Roman Empire, the decision was stark: lie or die. The persecution of Christians was not always systematic or official at first, and many local governors were left to decide how to handle Christians. Without clear legal guidelines, they had to rely on their own judgment when Christians were brought before them for trial. This created a moral dilemma for Christians caught in the persecution.

In scholar Joseph Bryant's view, "Nero's mass executions ... set [such] a precedent, and thereafter the mere fact of 'being a Christian' was sufficient for state officials to impose capital punishment".

Pliny the Younger’s Letter to Emperor Trajan

One of the most fascinating documents from this period is a letter written by Pliny the Younger, a Roman governor in Bithynia-Pontus (modern-day Turkey), to Emperor Trajan around 112 AD. In his letter, Pliny describes his dilemma over how to deal with Christians: 

(Pergamon Temple of Zeus, now in Berlin) 

“I have never before participated in trials of Christians, so I do not know what offenses are to be punished or investigated, or to what extent… Is pardon to be granted for repentance, or if a man has once been a Christian is it irrelevant whether he has ceased to be one? Is the name itself to be punished, even without offenses, or only the offenses perpetrated in connection with the name?

I interrogated them as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed. (Fragment of an inscription bearing the name Pliny, Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, Milan)

Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, and also cursed Christ - none of which those who are really Christians can, it is said, be forced to do - these I thought should be discharged.”

Pliny was unsure whether merely being Christian was enough to warrant punishment or if only specific offenses related to the faith should be punished. If someone recanted and offered incense to the emperor’s image, they were set free. But those who refused were put to death, or if they were Roman citizens, transferred to Rome for a trial.  (Trajan statue, Glyptothek, Munich)

This letter highlights the precarious position of Christians. Would they deny their faith to save their lives, or would they refuse to conform, knowing it could lead to death?

Next time- An Impossible Choice: Standing Firm (part 3 of 3)

-Cairns, Earle E. (1996). "Chapter 7:Christ or Caesar". Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church (Third ed.). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. ISBN 978-0-310-20812-9.
-Clark, Mark Edward (1983). "Spes in the Early Imperial Cult: "The Hope of Augustus"". Numen. 30 (1): 80–105. doi:10.1163/156852783X00168. JSTOR 3270103 
- Whitby, Michael; Streeter, Joseph, eds. (2006). Christian Persecution, Martyrdom, and Orthodoxy GEM de Ste.Croix. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-927812-1. 
-Jump up to:a b Catherwood, Christopher (2011). "Chapter Three, From Christ to Christendom: The Early Church". A Brief History of the Middle East (Second ed.). London: Constable and Robin Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84901-508-0. 
-A Short History of the Early Church, By Harry R. Boer page 45 
-Bart D. Ehrman, A Brief Introduction to the New Testament (Oxford University Press 2004 ISBN 978-0-19-536934-2), pp. 313–314 
-Bryant, Joseph M. (1993). "The Sect-Church Dynamic and Christian Expansion in the Roman Empire: Persecution, Penitential Discipline, and Schism in Sociological Perspective". The British Journal of Sociology. 44 (2): 303–339. doi:10.2307/591221. JSTOR 591221.

Winner of Eric Hoffer's First Horizon Award, Obedient Unto Death launches the thrilling Secrets of Ephesus mystery series, weaving a captivating Christian twist into the heart of the first-century Roman Empire. When a scribe is murdered during an illicit Christian gathering, an innocent bishop is imprisoned. Sabina, a fearless believer, must navigate a treacherous world of deceit and betrayal to save him. With time running out and execution looming, she risks everything to uncover the truth—before the fragile Christian community is torn apart forever. Will Sabina's courage and faith be enough to stop the injustice before it's too late?

Bio: Liisa Eyerly’s Secrets of Ephesus series adds a Christian twist to first-century Roman Empire mysteries. Her debut novel, Obedient Unto Death (2022), won the Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award and first place in Spiritual Fiction. The second book, Fortunes of Death, launched in October. A lifelong mystery lover, Liisa was inspired by the Apostle Paul’s depiction of early Christians. After careers in teaching, librarianship, and stained glass, she began writing full-time at fifty. Liisa lives in northern Wisconsin with her husband and enjoys pickleball, kayaking, Bible study, and visiting Ancient Roman sites.

Visit me at my website or my FaceBook author page.
or 

Purchase my books at: CrossRiver Media and on Amazon
Fortunes of Death
Obedient Unto Death
My Amazon book page

Thank you for reading!

Famous Instruments in History: Egyptian Harp from the Tomb of Ani

Blogger: Amber Lemus

Continuing our journey through history to find the most famous musical instruments, we come to ancient Egypt somewhere between 1,069-1,550 B.C. During the 18th Dynasty (or 19th by some sources), there lived a Theban Scribe by the name of Ani. He must have been a very rich and influential character, because his tomb is one of the most consequential finds from Ancient Egypt.

During archeological excavations of the city of Thebes, Egypt, they found the tomb of Ani with several legendary artifacts. Not much is known about the actual excavations, and many of the artifacts ended up being sold on illegal antiquities markets.

The most well-known artifact from Ani's tomb, is the Papyrus that was discovered there. It is considered the most complete "Book of Going Forth by Day" or the better-known title, "Book of the Dead" ever discovered. It contains the depiction that all of us imagine when we think of Egyptian art with Anubis weighing the heart of Ani. It is believed that Ani created this papyrus himself.

Papyrus of Ani
Public Domain

The artifact we are interested in today is lesser known. It is a harp made of wood, inlaid with glazed ceramic and bone. It had a length of just over 3 feet, and a width of about 5 inches. This harp had only five strings, and the sound box was shaped as the head of a deity or ruler with a striped headdress and double crown. On the other end of the harp, it features a falcon head. Which was fairly common for this type of instrument. The upper neck of the harp had tuning pegs for the five strings.

The harp was the most important instrument in Ancient Egypt. It was often featured during banquets by male soloists, according to the depictions we find in tombs. Harps during this era usually had nine to twelve strings, making Ani's harp unique. Some harps in this era could be even taller than this one, reaching sometimes to the full height of the person playing it.

Harp of Ani's Tomb on display at the British Museum

Creative Commons: Dreamyshade

It is unclear if this harp was buried with Ani as an item of wealth or possessions, to ensure his comfort in the afterlife, or if it was a prized personal possession. If it were the latter, it would indicate that he probably played the instrument and enjoyed it immensely.

In 1976, this harp appeared in the third volume on musical instruments in the British Museum’s catalog of Egyptian Antiquities, written by the Egyptologist Robert David Anderson.

This beautiful harp currently resides at the British Museum in London.

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award, Amber Lemus writes enthralling non-fiction for children and adults alike. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior, so her writing is centered around faith, family and history.

She lives near the Ozarks in her "casita" with her prince charming. Between enjoying life as a new mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at www.AmberLemus.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

An Impossible Choice (part 1 of 3) by Liisa Eyerly

Why Were Early Christians Persecuted? 

The Roman Empire’s persecution of Christians began sporadically but escalated over the centuries, starting in 64 AD under Emperor Nero and ending in 313 AD when Constantine legalized Christianity across the empire. However, despite this long period of persecution, most emperors showed no animosity toward the small, upstart Christian sect. The question remains: why were Christians specifically targeted, and martyred, whether by Nero tying them to stakes, tarring them, and setting them on fire as human torches, or being torn apart by lions in the arena to the applause and cheers of festive game attendees?

Rome’s Religion and Political Identity

The Roman Empire was famously polytheistic, incorporating gods from many cultures it conquered into the state religion. This policy was a political strategy that allowed the assimilation of a stunning array of gods and practices, all under one big tent, or rather one expansive empire. Worship of these gods and goddesses, particularly the emperor himself (who was considered divine), was seen as a civic duty, an integral part of being Roman.  

Capitoline Triad of Juno, Jupiter, and Minerva)

For Romans, religion was not a particularly personal matter, but rather one enacted through visible family and public rituals, festivals, sacrifices, and processions. A city’s gods were a reflection of its civic and political identity. In this context, religion was a mechanism for social unity and political loyalty.

In my previous blog, “Mean Gods,” I described the control that the Greek and Roman religious system had over the people. From birth to death, the gods were feared and needed to be appeased. Celebrations, sacrifices, and prayers were overseen by public officials, primarily the Roman Senate.

Why Were Christians Targeted?

If so many divinities were brought to Rome and installed as part of the Roman state religion, why not Christianity?

Christians were exhorted by their scriptures and spiritual leaders to be “good” law-abiding citizens. They paid taxes, helped widows and orphans, and believed in Christ’s commandment. ‘Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.’ (Matt. 7:12 NKJV) They weren’t rioting or demanding special concessions; they were simply different. Perhaps, Christ would have been accepted as one of Rome’s many gods had His adherents agreed that He was just one of many.                            (Marcus Aurelius (head covered) sacrificing at the Temple of Jupiter)

They did not.

Unlike the general populace, Christians were not willing to accept the Roman gods as legitimate. The followers of Jesus Christ had a radically different belief system—they were monotheistic and could not reconcile their faith with the polytheistic practices of Rome. 

Christian exclusivity could accept only one divinity, and it wasn't Caesar.

 

(next month Part 2 of 3 The Consequences)

-Cairns, Earle E. (1996). "Chapter 7:Christ or Caesar". Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church (Third ed.). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. ISBN 978-0-310-20812-9. 
-Clark, Mark Edward (1983). "Spes in the Early Imperial Cult: "The Hope of Augustus"". Numen. 30 (1): 80–105. doi:10.1163/156852783X00168. JSTOR 3270103 
- Whitby, Michael; Streeter, Joseph, eds. (2006). Christian Persecution, Martyrdom, and Orthodoxy GEM de Ste.Croix. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-927812-1. 
-Jump up to:a b Catherwood, Christopher (2011). "Chapter Three, From Christ to Christendom: The Early Church". A Brief History of the Middle East (Second ed.). London: Constable and Robin Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84901-508-0. 
-A Short History of the Early Church, By Harry R. Boer page 45 
-Bart D. Ehrman, A Brief Introduction to the New Testament (Oxford University Press 2004 ISBN 978-0-19-536934-2), pp. 313–314

-Bryant, Joseph M. (1993). "The Sect-Church Dynamic and Christian Expansion in the Roman Empire: Persecution, Penitential Discipline, and Schism in Sociological Perspective". The British Journal of Sociology. 44 (2): 303–339. doi:10.2307/591221. JSTOR 591221.

Winner of Eric Hoffer's First Horizon Award, Obedient Unto Death launches the thrilling Secrets of Ephesus mystery series, weaving a captivating Christian twist into the heart of the first-century Roman Empire. When a scribe is murdered during an illicit Christian gathering, an innocent bishop is imprisoned. Sabina, a fearless believer, must navigate a treacherous world of deceit and betrayal to save him. With time running out and execution looming, she risks everything to uncover the truth—before the fragile Christian community is torn apart forever. Will Sabina's courage and faith be enough to stop the injustice before it's too late?



Bio Liisa Eyerly’s Secrets of Ephesus series adds a Christian twist to first-century Roman Empire mysteries. Her debut novel, Obedient Unto Death (2022), won the Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award and first place in Spiritual Fiction. The second book, Fortunes of Death, launched in October. A lifelong mystery lover, Liisa was inspired by the Apostle Paul’s depiction of early Christians. After careers in teaching, librarianship, and stained glass, she began writing full-time at fifty. Liisa lives in northern Wisconsin with her husband and enjoys pickleball, kayaking, Bible study, and visiting Ancient Roman sites.

Visit me at my website or my FaceBook author page.
or 

purchase my books at: CrossRiver Media and on Amazon
Fortunes of Death
Obedient Unto Death
My Amazon book page

Thank you for reading!

Famous Musical Instruments: The Lyres of Ur

Blogger: Amber Lemus

Continuing with our series of famous musical instruments in history, today we travel to ancient Mesopotamia, or modern-day Iraq. 

In 1929, a team of archeologists from the British Museum and the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology teamed up to excavate the site of the Royal Cemetery at the site of ancient Ur. Under the leadership of head archaeologist Leonard Woolley, they made some astounding discoveries, which included the remains of ten women, and among them, fragments of four lyres. Well, technically three lyres and one harp. (In case we have any harp aficionados reading here.)

Leonard Woolley holding the hardened plaster mold
of the Queen's Lyre during excavations in 1922
Public Domain

The archeologists carefully excavated the fragments and then reconstructed and restored them to their former glory. Historians have dated the instruments to the Early Dynastic III Period of Mesopotamia, which makes them over 4,500 years old and the world's oldest surviving stringed instruments. 

Records indicated that one of the woman's remains seemed to have been placed leaning against the lyre, with her hand where the strings would have been. The lyres were made of wood, which had long since deteriorated, however since they were decorated with non-perishable adornments, such as silver and gold, the archaeologists were able to poor plaster into the mold where the wood had previously been and recreate the form.  

The four harps were similar, but distinct. 

The Golden Lyre

The Golden Lyre of Ur
Photo By Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg)
Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

This is the finest of the lyres discovered. It's wooden form was reconstructed but then damaged during the Second Iraq War. A replica of it now belongs to the Iraq Museum in Bagdad and is part of a traveling ensemble. It is also known as the "Bull Harp" because it features a bull head made entirely out of gold. The eyes of the bull were made out of inlaid nacre, and the beard of the animal from lapis lazuli, which is a deep blue semi-precious stone. 

The Queen's Lyre

The Queen's Lyre
Photo By Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
 FRCP(Glasg) - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

The Queen's Lyre is similar in appearance to the Golden Lyre, however it is named such because it was excavated from the tomb of Queen Pu-abi. It is also designed to imitate the body of a bull and has a bull head. However, only the mask of the bull was made of gold and the eyes, hair and beard are all made of the lapis lazuli. There are some minor differences in the appearance of the two bull heads as well. The Queen's Lyre is held at the British Museum in London. 

The Bull-Headed Lyre

Bull Headed Lyre of Ur
Photo By Binxedits - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Again, we see a theme here. This lyre also features a bull head. It's head, face and horns were all wrapped in gold foil, while its beard, hair and eyes were made of lapis lazuli. What is most interesting about this one, is that below the bull's head is a panel that depicts four scenes of what appears to be their religious lore. To me, it is very reminiscent of Egyptian Mythology. This lyre is housed in Philidelphia Pennsylvania at the Penn Museum. 

The Silver Lyre

The Silver Lyre of Ur
Photo By Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
FRCP(Glasg) - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

This one is different, because it is overlaid with silver rather than gold. However it still features the bull head as the others do. It was made of wood but covered in sheets of silver that were fastened with silver nails. The eyes were made of lapis lazuli also. Another notable difference is that this bull does not have a beard, and because of this, some speculate that it is actually a cow rather than a bull. This harp was found in the section of the cemetery that was known as the "Great Death Pitt." It is held by the British Museum in London. 

Depiction of a Lyre Player from the excavations of Ur
Photo Courtesy of the British Museum Collection,
CC BY-SA 4.0

Besides the fact that these are the oldest surviving stringed instruments in history, I also found these interesting because they come from the ancient city of Ur. As Christians, we will recognize that city from the Bible when God called Abraham out of the city of Ur and beckoned him to leave his family and all that he knew to pursue a personal relationship with God. 

Which lyre is your favorite? 

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Lemus inspires hearts through enthralling tales She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".  

She lives near the Ozarks in her "casita" with her prince charming. Between enjoying life as a boy mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at http://www.amberlemus.com/  and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

The Rabbit's Conquest

Blogger: Amber Lemus

Napoleon Bonaparte
Public Domain

In honor of Spring, today we dive into a history of the bunny's most ambitious but little-known conquest. Conquest, you ask. Yes indeed. Bunnies seem so fluffy and innocent, but little did you know that they once set to flight one of the greatest generals in all of history.

It was July of 1807, and the French army under Napoleon Bonaparte was celebrating their victory and the Treaties of Tilsit. Napoleon's Chief of Staff, Louis-Alexandre Berthier, had the idea to host a great rabbit hunt to mark the occasion. He had property near Paris that was perfect for the celebration and the hunt. It was only lacking one thing. Rabbits. And he would need a great number of them for such a grand hunt. He wanted it to be equal to the victory they had experienced and thrill the emperor and his entourage. That was no problem for Berthier, however. He precured one thousand rabbits to be released the morning of the hunt. All was well.

Napoleon and his military officers began the morning with a lavish breakfast at Berthier's property. When they were finished, they made their way down to the park to begin the rabbit hunt. Everything was going exactly as planned.

Then they released the rabbits.

Berthier expected the rabbits to scatter into hiding places so they could be hunted. To behave as rabbits were known to behave. But this particular group of rabbits, the exact number unknown but a horde by all accounts, instead of scattering, began to cluster together. Then, they charged. Running toward the hunters and Emperor Napoleon.

European Rabbit
JM Ligero Loarte, CC BY 3.0 

Initially, the men laughed at the sight. But when the swarm descended upon them, concern began to grow. Berthier thought quickly and assembled a band of coachmen with whips and surrounded the emperor to ward off the swarm of rabbits from him. At first, that seemed to work, and the group of men started to laugh again. Then the unthinkable happened. General Paul Charles François Adrien Henri Dieudonné Thiébault recounted what happened next in his memoir.

They were looking on the incident as a delay - comical, do doubt, but well over - when, by a wheel in three bodies to the right and left, the intrepid rabbits turned the Emperor's flank, attacked him frantically in the rear, refused to quit their hold, piled themselves up between his legs till they made him stagger, and forced the conqueror of conquerors, fairly exhausted, to retreat and leave them in possession of the field.

The rabbits climbed up Napoleon's legs and clung to the sleeves of his jacket. Eventually, the emperor retreated to his carriage, but the rabbits still pursued him. Some historians have described the onslaught as demonstrating “a finer understanding of Napoleonic strategy than most of his generals,”


In addition to the comedic value and irony of this story, there is a deeper moral. It turns out that the rabbits Berthier had acquired were domesticated. Since they hadn't been fed, they swarmed the humans thinking that they would feed them. The moral of the story is that even bunnies can overpower the strongest of men when they are both hungry and united.

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Lemus inspires hearts through enthralling tales She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".

She lives near the Ozarks in her "casita" with her prince charming. Between enjoying life as a boy mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at http://www.amberlemus.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

Spotlight: Jennifer L. Wright

 

I am a nosy person.

I know, I know, I know. This is not something to be proud of. And I am certainly not bragging about it, more stating it as a fact. I have always been a nosy--or, as I like to call it, curious--person. When something piques my interest, I have a hard time letting it go until I've learned everything I possibly can about the topic. It's a personality trait that both served my intellectual side well and drove my teachers nuts. 

It was also a driving force between my desire to become a journalist. Reporters got paid to know all the tidbits, and they got to know them first, before everyone else. It sounded like the perfect profession! Growing up in Indiana, I idolized fellow Hoosier journalist Jane Pauley and grew up wanting to be just like her. I even went so far as to get my Master's in journalism at her alma mater, Indiana University, scoring a job at both the hometown paper and our local NPR station right after graduation. 

The only problem? I hated it. 

Being a journalist took a certain amount of callousness I simply did not possess. In addition, the job was fraught with politics and news stories that weighed heavily on both my heart and my soul. It only took about six months before I was burnt out and searching for another pathway forward. 

Enter the world of Christian fiction. 

In fiction, I found a place where I could fill the world with hope. Rather than spread doom and gloom, I could search the pages of history and shine a light on God's grace, present in even the direst of times. And, even though I'd left my journalist days behind me, I could still use the research and writing skills I had honed in way that didn't make me feel quite so icky. 

So what is it, exactly, that I write? I'm so very glad you asked!

MY BOOKS

If It Rains

A story of resilience and redemption set against one of America’s defining moments―the Dust Bowl. 

Come Down Somewhere

For fans of WWII fiction comes a powerful novel about two young women coming of age during the Trinity nuclear bomb test in 1945.

The Girl From The Papers

Inspired by one of America’s most notorious couples,  a riveting tale set during the public enemy era of the Great Depression.

Last Light Over Galveston (Coming Soon!)

Amid the 1900 Galveston hurricane, one woman’s perseverance is tested in this captivating story from the author whose work has been called “intelligent and arresting” (Foreword Reviews) and “historical fiction as it is meant to be told” (Library Journal).

Releasing August 12, 2025!

History is my passion, and I am so thrilled to be a new addition to the HHH family. If you're interested in reading any of my books, you can find them here or anywhere your favorite books are sold. You can also connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, or my website. 

When I'm not writing, you can find me playing taxi driver for my two busy kids, being a zookeeper for our ever-growing collection of pets, or escaping for a hike in the deserts of southern New Mexico, which my husband and I call home. 

Thanks for reading! For a chance to win one of my books of your choice, comment below with which one you'd be most excited to read! I'll randomly select a winner and notify him/her via comment on this blog on April 5! 

WEDDING SHIVAREES - TRADITIONS OF THE PAST

by Cynthia Roemer

Weddings. What a joy. I was excited to help my oldest son and daughter-in-law plan their wedding as they prepared to take their vows three years ago. Nowadays, wedding celebrations include banquets, toasts, honeymoons, and photo shoots. But there was a time when...

Newlyweds (Public Domain)

It’s almost a forgotten bit of wedding traditions–the shivaree. If you’ve never heard of one, you’re not alone. A shivaree was a raucous and fun-loving way to celebrate a newly married couple’s nuptials. It took place days, weeks, even months following the actual wedding. The element of surprise was key.

Though more prevalent in the 1800’s, my parents have told stories of shivarees that took place in their growing up years (mid-1900s). According to them, the shivaree began with a late-night wake-up call of banging pans and noise-makers. Then the group would serenade the couple with songs such as Let Me Call You Sweetheart. Afterward, the late-night visitors would join the couple for snacks and desserts, often provided by the newlyweds.

Roberto Nickson on upsplash

Nineteenth-Century Shivarees

Shivarees of the nineteenth century were much bolder and at times down right ornery. I didn’t realize just how ornery until I did some research for a scene in my novel, Under Prairie Skies. Set in 1855, the scene has my main characters, Chad and Charlotte, and a host of others, traveling by the light of the moon to the unsuspecting couple’s home.

There, the bride and groom are awakened by rifle fire and banging pans. The barefoot groom is then blindfolded and spirited away in his nightshirt into the timber and left to fend for himself until daybreak. All the while, his poor, bewildered bride is wailing and calling his name. Not the best way to wish a new couple a joyous marriage! I won’t share any spoilers by telling how the scene evolves, but I will say Chad’s actions further endear him to Charlotte.

Will Steward on upsplash - fire in woods

Shivaree Fears

Though I’ve not participated in or even known anyone to be shivareed, my husband attended one for his cousin when he was a boy. So, when we married, he had me more than a little nervous we would end up with his extended family outside our bedroom window some dark night banging pans and serenading us.

My fears never came to fruition, but all that first summer, I did a lot of baking and learned to be a very light sleeper!

Cynthia Roemer is an inspirational, award-winning author who enjoys planting seeds of hope into the hearts of readers. Raised in the cornfields of rural Illinois. She enjoys spinning tales set in the backdrop of the mid-1800's prairie and Civil War era. Cynthia feels blessed the Lord has fulfilled her life-long dream of being a published novelist. It's her prayer that her stories will encourage readers in their faith. She and her husband reside on their farm in central Illinois. Visit Cynthia online at: www.cynthiaroemer.com

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