Star-Gayzing - The Meteorite That Became a God

In recent years the city of Homs in Syria has become known as a war-torn victim of internal conflict. But in ancient times, when it was called Emesa, it was famous as the centre of a cult centred around a large meteorite and an effeminate emperor.

There are a few sacred stones said to have fallen from the sky. Historians and archaeologists are not sure about the exact origin of the Black Stone of Emesa. Probably no-one ever will because (if it still exists) its buried under a mosque. But archaeologists often refer to it as a meteorite. Legend says it fell from the sky directly from the sun god El-Gabal. Considering its size (from depictions on ancient coins it was about the size of the average refrigerator) it must have made a spectacular entrance through the atmosphere. No wonder the locals thought it came from the sun god.

It’s not unusual for such a large object to smash into Earth. The Black Stone of Emesa may have been one of the Apollo asteroids I mentioned in November. A recently as 2008 a similar sized asteroid weighing 80 tons crashed into the Nubian desert.

The Bedouin nomads worshipped the El-Gabal stone and settled in Emesa where they built a shrine around it – they probably got tired of carting it around with them because it was so heavy! The leaders of the tribe became the hereditary kings and high priests of El-Gabal.

The ancient Roman writer Herodian describes this shrine as housed in a huge temple decorated with gold, silver and precious gems. All the neighbouring kingdoms paid tribute to the meteorite every year. He describes the meteorite as a big black stone in a rough conical shape with various markings on its surface (probably ritual carvings made by the early nomads who worshipped it).

This temple housed the meteorite until 218 when it was transferred to Rome by the emperor Bassianus. This teenager was the hereditary high priest of El-Gabal and the meteorite, and he is better known to us by a name taken from his god – Elagabalus. Over a year ago I featured Elagabalus in my Extraordinary Lives series, so I won’t go over it all again here. More appropriately for the Ology of the Month we’ll look at his special relationship with the meteorite.

It wasn’t long after becoming emperor that Elagabalus decided to bring the stone from Homs/Emesa to Rome. In doing so he decided to make El-Gabal superior to the Roman gods. He even married it to a statue of the goddess Astarte.

Just as the El-Gabal meteorite was housed in a luxurious temple in Homs/Emesa, so Elagabalus built one for it in Rome. All of the sacred Roman relics were brought from their own temples. He created a special festival in its honour during which free food was distributed. Another ancient writer, Cassius Dio, also says that boys were sacrificed at this festival.

The first entry of the meteorite into its new temple was a splendidly over-the-top occasion. The stone was placed onto a chariot and pulled by four pure white horses bedecked in gold fittings and ornaments. Elagabalus himself led the horses by the reins, walking backwards in front of them. Following this chariot was a procession of cavalry and guards carrying all the other scared Roman statues, with offerings and imperial insignia. And alongside the procession were the Roman citizens carrying torches and throwing flowers and bouquets at the meteorite as it passed. Beside the emperor were bodyguards to ensure that he didn’t fall over, and he could see his route by the gold dust scattered on the road.

At the new temple Elagabalus climbed up inside the towers and threw gold, silver, rich cloths and clothing wildly to the crowds below. The scramble to grab all these riches caused many citizens to be trampled on or crushed and many lost their lives.

It wasn’t long before the Romans got tired of Elagabalus and his extravagant lifestyle. His worship of the meteorite above the gods of Rome was unpopular, and his general behaviour was that of a spoilt brat. In the end the military got fed up with his effeminate behaviour – dressing in extravagant robes (when he dressed at all) and wearing make up, giving all-male parties, and “marrying” a particularly well-endowed charioteer.

In the end Elagabalus was beheaded whilst trying to escape his own execution. He was just 20 years old.

As for the meteorite – as soon as Elagabalus was out of the way it was shipped back to its temple in Homs. No-one knows where it is now. It may have been smashed up when the temple became a Christian church, or buried underneath the mosque which occupies the site today. But for a couple of years it was the chief deity of the whole of the Roman Empire from Spain to Turkey and from the Atlas mountains to the northern boundary of the Roman Empire marked by the wall built by that other gay emperor, Hadrian.

Ology of the Month

Next month is LGBT History Month in the UK. The theme is Science, Maths and Technology. This was chosen because Alan Turing, the father of the modern computer and computer science, was born a hundred years ago. To celebrate I’m going to carry the theme throughout the year, concentrating on one science each month – what I am calling my “Ology of the Month”.

The first “Ology of the Month” links in with the 12 Gay Days of Christmas theme. The last of this traditional holiday period is Twelfth Night followed by Epiphany. These commemorate the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem and the Wise Men. So the first Ology of the Month is … not actually an ology! It’s ASTRONOMY.

Of course, it wouldn’t be appropriate to choose astrology as it’s a belief rather than a science. However, historically speaking the study of the sky began with astrology. Astrologers were among the first people who tried to make sense of the universe and were pioneers in scientific research. After all, it was observation of the stars which led to the organising of a calendar allowing communities to plan ahead with their harvests, and was instrumental in navigating the oceans. It also helped to plan ahead for seasonal celebrations like New Year. And it also led to the construction of huge monuments likes Stonehenge and the Pyramids which are aligned to specific points in the sky.

Another reason to choose astronomy for this month is because the BBC is holding its third “Star Gazing Live” event from tonight.

For each Ology of the Month subjects I’ll try to mention an appropriate lgbt organisation to go with it. It seems that lgbt scientific groups are more common in the USA than anywhere else, as are named lists of lgbt staff and academics in universities, so it will be seen that most of the groups will be American.

The first group is the Outlist of Lesbian Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Astronomers. This list is compiled by Professor Omer Blaes of the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB). It also includes many lgbt allies who are supportive of the rights of lgbt astronomers and physicists to work in an non-discriminating working environment.

Prof. Blaes studied in London and Italy before becoming an Assistant Professor at UCSB in 1993. He has published many articles and papers on his specialist areas of black hole astrophysics, compact objects and accretion flows (no, I don’t know what that means either!). 

A PERSONAL MESSAGE

Yesterday I reached 10,000 page views on this blog. I never believed it would be a success, or that many people would be interested in anything I wrote. I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you, and hope you will continue to visit my blog.

THANK YOU

On the 12th Gay Day of Christmas ...

My blogger gave to me …

12 SOLDIERS LED BY A DRUMMER

The 12 drummers drumming represent the traditional drummer boy that has become part of the traditional Christmas, as featured in the well-known carol. The drummer boy led troops into battle in days of old.

My Christmas gay days end today with 12 soldiers who would, in old times, have marched behind the drummer boy.

1) ARTHUR PELHAM-CLINTON (1840-1870)

Served with the Naval Brigade during the Indian Mutiny. He committed suicide after being called to give evidence in court against his cross-dressing boyfriend.

2) NICHOLAS DE RAYLAN (1873-1906)

Served in the US army during the Spanish-American War. After his death it was revealed he was a woman – much to the surprise of “his” widow and ex-wife.

3) ERNST ROHM (1887-1934)

Leader of the Nazi paramilitary Strumabteilung (the SA). Hitler knew of his homosexuality, but it was his political threat that led to Rohm’s murder in the Night of the Long Knives.

4) LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1888-1935)

Legendary hero of Arab independence. Following his accidental death Winston Churchill said “We may never see his like again”.

5) KARL WOOD (1888-1958)

My Dad’s art teacher. Injured serving with the Gordon Highlanders in World War I. Painted thousands of UK windmills. Became a Benedictine brother after serving a prison sentence for homosexuality.

6) SIR OSBERT SITWELL (1892-1969)

Commissioned into the Sherwood Rangers cavalry regiment but kept falling off his horse. He said he preferred giraffes. He transferred to the Grenadiers Guards.

7) WILLIAM AALTO (1915-1958)

American who fought for General Franco in the Spanish Civil war. One of his campaigns is said to have inspired the novel “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. Dismissed from the Communist Party due of his homosexuality.

8) MIRIAM BEN SHALOM (b.1948)

Served in the Israeli army before becoming Staff Sgt. in the US army reserves.  Dismissed after coming out, she fought for reinstatement but lost. Founder of American Veterans for Equal Rights.

9) GLENN MARSH (b.1963)

Served in the Royal Marines before turning to acting and producing gay porn under the name Blue Blake. Appropriately for today’s subject, he won the Mr Drummer UK in 1990.

10) ERIC ALVA (b.1971)

Staff Sgt. with the US Marine Corps. He was the first Marine to receive serious injuries in Iraq. Afterwards he campaigned for the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

11) DANIEL CHOI (b.1981)

Iraq veteran, and 2^nd Lt. in the US National Guard. He campaigned for the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, often attracting much publicity.

12) JAMES WHARTON (b.1987)

Lance Corporal in the Household cavalry. He was the first out soldier to feature on the cover of the army’s official magazine. He was part of the Sovereign’s Escort at the royal wedding in 2011.

On the 11th Gay Day of Christmas ...

… my blogger gave to me …

11 POSTPONED PIPERS

In the traditional sequence of gifts from the medieval period the pipers arrived yesterday, and this was the version I was taught at school. However, the modern version moves the pipers back one day to the 11^th day of Christmas, so here are the postponed pipers.

As I said last year you can’t have Christmas without music. Tchaikovsky’s “Sugar Plum Fairy” from “The Nutcracker Suite” is being used in television ads again (this Christmas for Pringles and Barclaycard). On this 11^th Gay Day of Christmas I bring you 11 lgbt music-makers of different genres.

With room for only eleven names it is a difficult task to produce a list that represents the whole range of musical tastes. If your favourite type of music isn’t on the list, don’t worry, it doesn’t mean I don’t like it!

1) Sotiria Bellou (1921-1997)

Rebetiko (traditional Greek folk) singer

2) Mark Chatfield (1953-1998)

Choral and baroque musician

3) Rob Halford (b.1951)

Rock singer, lead singer of Judas Priest

4) k d lang (b.1962)

contemporary pop, ballads and country

5) Ashley MacIsaac (b.1975)

Celtic-folk-rock violinist

6) Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (b.1934)

Composer, and Master of the Queen’s Musick

7) Cole Porter (1891-1964)

Song and musical writer

8) Peggy Seeger (b.1935)

American folk and country singer

9) Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967)

Jazz and swing composer and pianist

10) Junior Vasquez (b.1949)

DJ and record producer

And finally, someone who seems more appropriate for tomorrow,

11) Kate Schellenbach (b.1966)

Drummer with the Beastie Boys.

NOTE : I'm having difficulty inserting images today. Hopefully they'll be back tomorrow.

On the 10th Gay Day of Christmas ...

… my blogger gave to me …

10 LIFE PEERS LEAPING

In the traditional sequence of gifts from the medieval period the leaping lords arrived on the last day of Christmas, and this is how I was taught it as school. However, the modern version moves the lords to the 10^th day today, so I have placed them here to fit the modern version and avoid confusion.

I don’t know if these lords are likely to leap around at Christmas more than anyone else, or more than at any other time of year, but here are 10 living British lords. All except one (at the moment) are Life Peers – people whose titles are not hereditary and belong to them for their lifetime only. It would be wonderful if someone could get them all together next Christmas and get them leaping for charity – it’s been done before several times in recent years with other lords.

1) Rt. Rev. DAVID HOPE, Baron Hope of Thornes (b.1940)

First entered the House of Lords in 1995 as Lord Bishop of London, then became Archbishop of York (he once described his sexuality as a “grey area”). Created a life peer in 2005.

2) WAHEED ALLI, Baron Alli (b.1964)

Media entrepreneur and television producer. Created a life peer in 1998.

3) SIR JOHN BROWNE, Baron Browne of Madingley (b.1948)

Former head of BP. Created a life peer in 2001.

4) CHRIS SMITH, Baron Smith of Finsbury (b.1951)

The first openly gay Cabinet minister. Created a life peer in 2005.

5) SIR TERENCE ETHERTON, Lord Justice Etherton (b.1951)

Former British fencing champion, and Lord Justice of Appeal since 2008. Chancellor of the High Court from next week, with probably a life peerage to go with it later.

6) PETER MANDELSON, Baron Mandelson (b.1953)

Former First Secretary of State. Created a life peer in 2008.

7) GUY BLACK, Baron Black of Brentwood (b.1964)

Executive Director of the Telegraph Media Group. Created a life peer in 2010.

8) DEBORAH STEDMAN-SCOTT, Baroness Stedman-Scott (b.1955)

The only female peer in a civil partnership. Created a life peer in 2010.

9) SIR MICHAEL BISHOP, Baron Glendonbrook (b.1942)

Former boss of British Midland International airline. Created a life peer in 2011.

10) RAY COLLINS, Baron Collins of Highbury (b.1954)

Trade union leader and General Secretary of the Labour Party. Created a life peer in 2011.

On the 9th Gay Day of Christmas ...

… my blogger gave to me ..

9 LADIES DANCING

In the traditional sequence of gifts from the medieval period the dancing ladies arrived on the 11^th day of Christmas, and that was the version I was taught at school. However, the modern version moves the ladies to the 9^th day today, so here they are.

At first I couldn’t think of many lesbian or female bisexual dancers, certainly not as many at 9. So it was back to the books and read up on an area of the performing arts I have to admit I know little about.

I hope that the dancers I’ve chosen offer an insight into the important contribution female choreographers and dancers have made, and continue to make.

Quite often the earliest female dancers courted controversy, for no other reason than by dancing in skimpy costumes when just the sight of a lady’s ankle was risqué. Many contemporary female dancers have continued to push boundaries, including some of those listed here.

1) MAUD ALLEN (1873-1956)

Maud became famous, even notorious, for her “Vision of Salome”, a dance version of the work by Oscar Wilde.

2) ISADORA DUNCAN (1878-1927)

Isadora’s barefoot dancing in long flowing tunics was a deliberate attempt to move away from the more rigid style and look of traditional ballet.

3) ANITA BERBER (1899-1928)

Anita’s use of eroticism, exotic costume and sometimes macabre imagery in her dances is often regarded as the pre-cursor of modern performance art.

4) ANNE BLUMENTHAL

Founder and artistic director of ABD Productions in 1984. Basing her works on feminist concepts and social issues, Anne’s company has won many awards.

5) KRISSY KEEFER (b.1953)

Co-founder in 1984 and artistic director of San Francisco’s Dance Brigade. Her most successful work has been “The Revolutionary Nutcracker Sweetie”.

6) JENNIFER MONSON

Founder and artistic director of iLAND, a research organisation investigating the power of dance. Professor of dance at the University of Illinois.

7) JILL TOGAWA

Founded the Purple Moon Dance Project in San Francisco in 1992 to promote lesbian and ethnic female dance.

8) ANNE GADWA NICODEMUS (b.1980)

Anne described herself as “ a choreographer/art administrator turned urban planner”.

9) SASHA MALLORY

Contestant on the US tv series “So You Think You Can Dance?”. She was criticised by some for NOT coming out on the show.

On the 8th Gay Day of Christmas ...

… my blogger gave to me …

8 DOCTORS IMMUNIZING

Believe it or not, but milkmaids were instrumental in bringing about the eradication of smallpox. Dr. Edward Jenner had noticed that milkmaids who contracted the milder cowpox never got smallpox. From this Jenner began vaccination (from the Latin word for cow) to fight smallpox.

Taking this example as my basis for the 8^th Gay Day of Christmas I bring you 8 lgbt scientists and doctors who have worked in disease research. There are many others around the world. I won’t include lgbt researchers into HIV and AIDS because I intend to cover all aspects of AIDS research next December.

1          P. ROBERT BEATTY

Professor of Immunology and lecturer at the University of California Berkeley. He helped to develop a biochip used to identify specific diseases. For 15 years he focussed his research on T-cell immunology.

2          MARGERY L. COOK, PhD (1925-2001)

Dr. Cook was one of the leading researchers into the herpes virus. She studied and worked at the University of California Los Angeles until her retirement in 1993.

3          ROCHELLE (SHELLEY) DIAMOND, BA

Research biologist at the California Institute of Technology specialising in developmental immunology and flow cytometry. She is chair of NOGLSTP, the National Organisation of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals.

4          JAMES NOWICK, PhD

Professor of Chemistry at the University of California Irvine. His work has included developing new drug designs for neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

5.         LOUISE PEARCE (1885-1959)

Pathologist at the Rockerfeller Institute who helped develop a treatment for sleeping sickness. She also developed tryparsanide, the standard drug to treat syphilis before penicillin was discovered.

6.         DEVIN SOK

Graduate student at the Scripps Research Institute on California working on research into prostate cancer. In 2012 he co-authored a paper on the inhibition of HIV-1 subtype C. Co-founder of QuEST, Queer Engineers and Technical Professionals.

7          RICK TAN, MD

Los Angeles doctor who has researched into allergies, asthma and immunology. He is president of one of the USA’s oldest organisations for lgbt physicians, and president of LA’s Society of Allergy, Asthmas and Clinical Immunology.

8          LADY MARY WORTLEY-MONTAGU (1689-1762)

While living in Turkey Lady Mary saw the use of inoculation against smallpox. She brought the practice back to England, where it received a mixed response, though it eventually became common before Jenner developed vaccination.