Upcoming Themes for CALLIOPE

2011-2012 School Year

Sep: Osiris in the Underworld

One god kills brother, cuts up his body, and tries to hide all from his sister-in-law. What a story - yes, but there's more; The three involved are husband, wife, and brother-in-law, but they are also siblings! Their tale and how the Egyptians saw and honored them is one of the most fascinating stories in Egyptian mythology. But, it goes beyond myth, for the Egyptians related their lives to these three, and it was the murdered brother that they believed they faced as judge in the underworld. How did this all come to be? And what were the rituals involved? AND, what do your pictures and hieroglyphs really say in the tombs? Well, CALLIOPE has it all for you in this issue. Don't miss it!

This will be the scariest issues CALLIOPE's ever done! But, don't miss it! There'll be more than old vampires in it. We're going straight to Romania to get the scoop on Count Dracula. And, did you know there was a noble lady who won for herself the title "Countess Dracula"! You probably won't ever want to meet her, but she was indeed a real person and feared by countless numbers of people. Ever hear of Gorbals Cemetery? Well, centuries ago it was the scene of a vampire hunt-led by children! What contributes to these tales and makes people believe them? For the answer, we've gone to scientists to learn just what does happen to humans after they die, and why what happens has led many to think a corpse was actually undead and could be a vampire. What to do about such undead is another fascinating tale-actually no tale, as the ways to make undead dead and vampires stay buried were studied and observed by thousands. We'll also introduce you to real bloodsuckers-yes, you won't want to get too close to these creatures. So join us-CALLIOPE is just "dying" to take you on this adventure!

Sure you have heard of the Odyssey, the great tale by Homer that tells of a Greek king's 10-year attempt to return home after the Trojan War. But we're sure you have never heard of it in the way the Muse Calliope will bring it to you! She can't wait to introduce you to the characters-and she knew them well! You'll have to be sure and stand back when you meet some like the Cyclopes-who would be all too ready to eat you! But, there's more than just storytelling. Calliope took a whirlwind tour of the ancient sites themselves, and you'll be amazed at what she found -from burned bones to incredibly beautiful painted walls and ceilings to massive walls protected by a 'safety' ditch to fragments with words from a copy of the Odyssey that's about1,700 years old! So, join us, Odysseus would love more than the royal court at Nausicaa's palace to hear his tale!

You've read how Julius Caesar traveled around the Mediterranean, conquering most all in his path. His successor, Augustus, followed in his footsteps and expanded Rome's control. There are many stories about the battles they fought-but what about what they ate? And what morsels did the soldiers have in those huge knapsacks they had to carry? Well, CALLIOPE has the answers for you! So, bring an appetite and perhaps a fork and spoon. We've made arrangements to visit Apicius and learn firsthand just how the Romans cooked their food, especially their vegetables. A special treat will be a factory that once produced a fish sauce that many said was "out of this world." An original play will let you recline with the Romans at a dinner party, with an array of dishes and courses unmatched, it looks, in modern times. But, enough of a peek to whet your appetite! See you with napkin and utensils in hand!

Ever wonder about the name "Confucius"? Does it sound to you more like an ancient Roman name? If you answered "yes" to either or both of these questions, or even if you answered "no," you'll want to check this issue for the answers. But, wait, there's much more about this man whose life and beliefs have so influenced the Chinese for generations. Find out what he taught, as well as who taught him, what his five "virtues" were, why exams were important, and much more! And, you'll have a chance to wish him "Happy Birthday!"

Does weather affect how people react? Definitely, and the historical record has many examples to prove it! We have chosen a few that are sure to make you start searching for more. Here are some examples: winds that affected the fate of a nation, storms that stopped even the mightiest of conquerors, rains that governed the movement of spices, water rapids that protected a country's border, and drought that rearranged a kingdom. Intrigued? Great! CALLIOPE can't wait to take you on this around-the-world adventure, but have your walking shoes, thermal mittens, and rain gear ready!

Yes, history does record many conflicts and wars, but to understand them, we must look "behind the scenes" to meet those who played a pivotal role in each as well as the events that led up to them, and often caused much of the enmity. And, so it "behind the scenes" that we go some 800 years ago. Where? Well, the focus will be Israel, Jordan, and Syria, but we'll also venture into Egypt and England and France, for this conflict involved a host of countries. And, to do this, we are looking at the life of a key figure, a leader named Saladin. He often gets only a paragraph or two in history books, but after this issue, you probably will say he needs a chapter! The East saw him as a hero; the West saw him as a model of chivalry! Why? You'll find all in the issue-don't miss it!

OK - the title of this issue is "The Reformation"-but what's the Reformation? Actually, it is a movement, which some have called a revolt, that not only affected the religious practices of millions of people, but also changed the course of history in many ways. It was a time when those who sought to translate the Bible in to the language of the people could have drastic results. It was also a time of great controversy and debate. Some names may be familiar to you, such as John Calvin and Martin Luther, but others, equally important, may not-Huldreich Zwingli and Jan Hus, for example. And, did you know that the movement changed church music and even religious art. So, while dictionaries can condense their overview of the Reformation into a couple of sentences, you'll find CALLIOPE's thought-provoking account one that engages you and has you eager to learn more about this tumultuous historical period.

A wizard and his magic! A traitor for a sister! A lady in a lake! A sword left stuck in a stone for a son! A green knight! You will meet them in all this issue-and also one of the greatest legendary kings of all time-Arthur. But wait-there's more! An original play about Sir Galahad and his search for the Holy Grail-you might want to compare him with Indiana Jones. We'll also be visiting Tintagel and Camelot-two sites where Arthur was said to have castles. But did he? Join us to discover the answer-and much more!

2012-2013 School Year

Sep: The Pyramids at Giza

Love the Great Pyramid? Always wanted to learn more about it? How about the other two pyramids? And did you know there's much more than just the three famed pyramids on the Giza Plateau? Join us to visit the solar boats (yes, there is more than one), the carefully positioned tombs of the high-ranking people in an Egyptian ruler's world and the workers' village and their tombs. We'll also visit the Giza archives for a 3D look at what the ancients saw. But wait, there's still more: the truth about that gigantic reclining creature near the pyramids! So, circle September 2012 on your calendar-and we'll be there to meet you!

Oct: Rivers: The Foundation of Civilizations

Can you imagine a world without rivers? And, after reading this issue, you will say that such a thought is impossible! But, bring your winged shoes as we have much "flying" to do. We'll be cruising the Nile in Egypt, the Yangtze in China, the Ganges in India, the Mississippi in the United States, the Amazon in Brazil, and many many more But, that's not all, we will find just how levees work, why dams are needed (and also the problems they can cause), and what locks do in canals. We'll also visit a few sites where river water is the powering force. You're sure to look at water differently after reading this issue!

Nov/Dec: High on Mount Olympus

Welcome to Mount Olympus! And what a welcome the Muse Calliope has for you! And why shouldn't she? This is her home, her favorite place, where all her relatives and friends live. Actually, what's been most difficult for Calliope is choosing which tales to include because there are so many! A few of her choices: the fateful wedding of Thetis and Peleus (what joy, but oh what misery this union caused), almost-impossible love of Cupid for Psyche (with a future mother-in-law who takes the prize for being conniving), and the almost-ones (those not chosen to be among the celebrated 12 mighty Olympians but who were pretty great on their own). As a special treat, Calliope will retell the Batrachomyocmachia-now that's a mouthful - and actually the characters in the play are mostly frogs and mice! The details are for you to find out once you get the issue. See you then!

Jan: Why Oil?

Why oil? That's a question that's been asked many, many time through the millennia. Yes, millennia! And CALLIOPE can't wait to have join this incredibly fascinating-and exciting-trip to find the answers. We'll be stopping in India and Iraq and Iran for a look at bitumen, which some ancients called "bulls"! Then, we jump a few centuries to stand on the sidelines as warriors shoot "Greek fire" and shout "Victory!" Another few centuries and the whale is king, but why? And that's not all! We'll visit the oil fields in Baku and at Titusville. Just how did they work? And why was oil at the center of the Industrial Revolution? Find out, too, about the busts and booms-and yes, there have been quite a few of them. There's also an answer-well, answers-to the 21st-century question: What are the alternatives? So, join us. We can't wait to have you part of the issue-and the answer!

Feb: Dictators and Tyrants

Mar: Mahatma Gandhi

Apr: We vs. They (The Two Sides of History)

May/Jun: Meet the Orchestra

Jul/Aug: Jason and the Argonauts

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Updated: 2/10/12 05:19 am
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