Alice Kiss - Crux Legend

[Jollyrei]

Now, I also ran into a pal of mine, name of Bobinder, in Cambridge last week, on Parker's Piece. A very convivial time was had, but I, too, regretted that Alice couldn't be with us. And now, thanks to the Great Madiosi, I have managed to rectify that omission:

View attachment 519442

Cheers Bob!

Cheers Madi!

And, love London though I do, I think she looks pretty good on Parker's Piece!

She certainly does.

 

[bobinder]

What is it about women facing the cross?

I still don't understand that?

An interesting question, Siss. There are a number of positional variations in crucifixion. The usual ones in religious art depict the traditional altarpiece arrangement, St Peter's inverted crucifixion, and St. Andrew's spreadeagled pose. Facing the cross is a pose which seems to be less popular and makes fewer appearances in art, one such example being LmAnt's 'Lost and Found', submitted to DeviantArt on 20 August 2014. There is also my 'East of Eden 1', but many of these depictions are relatively recent.



The historical theory about this form of execution for women comes from the Roman occupation of Judea, which was the only province in which the Romans encountered a nation willing to die for it's faith rather than submit to the religion of the Empire. Consequently the Romans made concessions to Judaic law of a kind which would not have been entertained in other conquered territories.

The Jewish source, 'Mishnah Sanhedrin 6.4' states, "None is hanged save the blasphemer and the idolater. A man is hanged with his face to the people and a woman with her face to the gallows. So R. Eliezer. But the Sages say: A man is hanged but a woman is not hanged. R. Eliezer said to them: Did not Simeon ben Shetah hang women in Ashkelon? They answered: He hanged eighty women."

From this rather confusing precedent, it has been assumed that the Romans sometimes respected the rule of women facing the stake during crucifixion. The Mishnah is a collection of rules and traditions which was formalised some time around 200 AD, although much of it was in existence before then. Whilst facing the stake, gallows or cross might have been intended to reflect the particular disgrace of a female being executed for a crime, it is questionable whether the pose afforded much modesty for a naked woman, and it would surely have provided no less discomfort than the alternative positions on the cross.

Makar made some experiments with alternative poses, including inverted and facing crucifixions. The following examples show Tessa (outdoors), Christina (indoors, facing) and Mila (indoors, inverted and facing the cross.)

 

[messaline]

Never I saw these wonderful pics , Bob! They could be bringing some new idea for a future crucifixion !
I think that face to the cross could be very arousal , but not to a Xcross, rather to a Tcross because I could caress my clit to the wood ; and I dont joke ! Really, it can be sensual ...

 

[bobinder]

Now, I also ran into a pal of mine, name of Bobinder, in Cambridge last week, on Parker's Piece. A very convivial time was had, but I, too, regretted that Alice couldn't be with us. And now, thanks to the Great Madiosi, I have managed to rectify that omission:

View attachment 519442

Cheers Bob!

Cheers Madi!

And, love London though I do, I think she looks pretty good on Parker's Piece!

Well Wragg, I did wonder what it was that compelled me to go to Parker's Piece just before our meeting!

Now I can see that it is the perfect open space for a public execution, and how appropriate to have the church of 'Our Lady and the English Martyrs' in the background. This is as identifiably Cambridge as Jolly's picture is of London - another wonderful souvenir, thanks to you and Madi.

We certainly had a most enjoyable lunch, thank you. And I do recall the subject of Alice entering the conversation during our stimulating discussion of crux art and literature. I am forced to conclude that she is currently making a European Tour in manipulations. Indeed there have been recent sightings at a number of venues:-

Montlucon, France on 30 June by Messa.
Logan Botanic Gardens, Scotland on 5 July by Jollyrei.
Westminster, London on 17 July also by Jolly.
Parker's Piece, Cambridge on 28 July by Madiosi.

Madi has made an excellent job of this manipulation, which presents perfect directional lighting effects - just look at the shadow of the cross with Alice on the lawn behind her! This compliments the long evening shadows (we are looking to the south) and Madi's sympathetic colour adjustment ensures that a suitably golden light now infuses Alice's skin. She certainly does look good in this beautiful picture. It makes me wonder where her next appearance will be?

 

[Wragg]

Madi has made an excellent job of this manipulation, which presents perfect directional lighting effects - just look at the shadow of the cross with Alice on the lawn behind her! This compliments the long evening shadows (we are looking to the south) and Madi's sympathetic colour adjustment ensures that a suitably golden light now infuses Alice's skin. She certainly does look good in this beautiful picture.

She does indeed.

I'm blessed if I know how you artists do it. The lighting is so totally different between the forest original and the park manip. It looks as though Madi was having a stroll through Cambridge, found Alice, and took a picture.

 

[messaline]

Not too much difficult to do : I've just made that ...

 

[Wragg]

View attachment 519471 Not too much difficult to do : I've just made that ...

Not difficult for you, Messa, you're another magician!

Me, I'm just a muggle.

 

[messaline]

No magic in it, only Corell PSP X4 ...

... or perhaps some "Black Magic" ?

 

[Jollyrei]

Madi has made an excellent job of this manipulation, which presents perfect directional lighting effects - just look at the shadow of the cross with Alice on the lawn

I'm blessed if I know how you artists do it. The lighting is so totally different between the forest original and the park manip.

Madiosi is a master with the shadows. I'm still hoping to learn that.

 

[bobinder]

Madiosi has excelled himself in developing his latest theme of crucifixions in the open park called 'Parker's Piece' in Cambridge. His first picture of this location, looking from north to south, shows Alice crucified with the church of 'Our Lady and the English Martyrs' in the background (#1.) The second image is a view across Parker's Piece from south to north, showing the far corner of the park at the end of the distant tree line, where Wragg and I met - precisely in the centre of the picture (#2.)

Madi's second view of this location (#3) looking from the church towards the north, reveals Alice crucified in the middle distance, in exactly the same place as in his first picture, the late afternoon sun casting similar long shadows as before. The detail close-up (#4) confirms that we are indeed seeing the same figure of Alice with her shadow cast behind her. To provide two manipulations from opposite viewpoints, of the same scene with this level of consistency is quite remarkable.

Madi's last picture (#5) demonstrates the popularity of this execution site, with another Makar model from Cruxdreams' 'Master and Slaves' series, crucified in the foreground shadows, cast by the trees on our left. I wonder, how could Wragg and I have missed so much action taking place in the park? Thanks Madi, for these amazing souvenirs of our afternoon in Cambridge!

 

[Wragg]

I wonder, how could Wragg and I have missed so much action taking place in the park?

Well, it's a big park... next time I'll bring binoculars, just to be on the safe side!

 

[phlebas]

Now, I also ran into a pal of mine, name of Bobinder, in Cambridge last week, on Parker's Piece. A very convivial time was had, but I, too, regretted that Alice couldn't be with us. And now, thanks to the Great Madiosi, I have managed to rectify that omission:

View attachment 519442

Cheers Bob!

Cheers Madi!

And, love London though I do, I think she looks pretty good on Parker's Piece!

I do envy you all, meeting up in such wonderful surroundings. I would love to shout you a round and discuss the finer points of crux and photo manipulation in person. Bob, Jolly, Wragg, any of you heading this way let me know.
PP, if you are there, I'm still waiting to see you down here in Sydney!

 

[thehangingtree]

An interesting question, Siss.

The Jewish source, 'Mishnah Sanhedrin 6.4' states, "None is hanged save the blasphemer and the idolater. A man is hanged with his face to the people and a woman with her face to the gallows. So R. Eliezer. But the Sages say: A man is hanged but a woman is not hanged. R. Eliezer said to them: Did not Simeon ben Shetah hang women in Ashkelon? They answered: He hanged eighty women."

An interesting post from Bob yesterday though I believe there is a typo in it. Did not Simeon ben Shetah hang women in Ashkelon? should read Did not Simeon ben Shetah hang women in Arkansas?

Respectfully,

Tree

 

[bobinder]

Never I saw these wonderful pics , Bob! They could be bringing some new idea for a future crucifixion !
I think that face to the cross could be very arousal , but not to a Xcross, rather to a Tcross because I could caress my clit to the wood ; and I dont joke ! Really, it can be sensual ...

Indeed Messa, the inspiration to explore new ideas can be most exciting!

 

[Eulalia]

Madiosi has excelled himself in developing his latest theme of crucifixions in the open park called 'Parker's Piece' in Cambridge. His first picture of this location, looking from north to south, shows Alice crucified with the church of 'Our Lady and the English Martyrs' in the background (#1.) The second image is a view across Parker's Piece from south to north, showing the far corner of the park at the end of the distant tree line, where Wragg and I met - precisely in the centre of the picture (#2.)

Madi's second view of this location (#3) looking from the church towards the north, reveals Alice crucified in the middle distance, in exactly the same place as in his first picture, the late afternoon sun casting similar long shadows as before. The detail close-up (#4) confirms that we are indeed seeing the same figure of Alice with her shadow cast behind her. To provide two manipulations from opposite viewpoints, of the same scene with this level of consistency is quite remarkable.

Madi's last picture (#5) demonstrates the popularity of this execution site, with another Makar model from Cruxdreams' 'Master and Slaves' series, crucified in the foreground shadows, cast by the trees on our left. I wonder, how could Wragg and I have missed so much action taking place in the park? Thanks Madi, for these amazing souvenirs of our afternoon in Cambridge!

View attachment 519479 View attachment 519480 View attachment 519481 View attachment 519482 View attachment 519483

A Cambridge Crucifixion
(With apologies to Rupert Brooke)

Ah God! to see the nailed limbs stir
Across the moon at Grantchester!
To smell the thrilling-sweet and rotten
Unforgettable, unforgotten
Crux-victims’ smell, and hear their pleas
Sobbing, nailed up to their trees.
Say, do the crosses greatly stand
Still guardians of that holy land?
Are girls displayed, with anguished screams,
Beside the academic stream?
Does dawn come peeping, shy and cold
Tinting their bare skins silver-gold?
At sunset, do crowds come to see
From Haslingfield and Madingley?
And after, ere the night is born,
Do whip-marks those fair breasts adorn?
Oh, give them water sweet and cool,
Gentle and brown, from Byron’s pool,
While laughs the immortal river still
She’ll suffer still, she’ll suffer still!
Say, is such beauty yet to find?
Such willing slaves, to fate resigned?
In anguish set, not to forget
The scourge, the thorns, the pain? . . . oh! yet
Stands the Church clock at ten to three?
And is sweet Alice there to see?

 

[Wragg]

A Cambridge Crucifixion
(With apologies to Rupert Brooke)

Ah God! to see the nailed limbs stir
Across the moon at Grantchester!
To smell the thrilling-sweet and rotten
Unforgettable, unforgotten
Crux-victims’ smell, and hear their pleas
Sobbing, nailed up to their trees.
Say, do the crosses greatly stand
Still guardians of that holy land?
Are girls displayed, with anguished screams,
Beside the academic stream?
Does dawn come peeping, shy and cold
Tinting their bare skins silver-gold?
At sunset, do crowds come to see
From Haslingfield and Madingley?
And after, ere the night is born,
Do whip-marks those fair breasts adorn?
Oh, give them water sweet and cool,
Gentle and brown, from Byron’s pool,
While laughs the immortal river still
She’ll suffer still, she’ll suffer still!
Say, is such beauty yet to find?
Such willing slaves, to fate resigned?
In anguish set, not to forget
The scourge, the thorns, the pain? . . . oh! yet
Stands the Church clock at ten to three?
And is sweet Alice there to see?

 

[Wragg]

A Cambridge Crucifixion
(With apologies to Rupert Brooke)

Ah God! to see the nailed limbs stir
Across the moon at Grantchester!
To smell the thrilling-sweet and rotten
Unforgettable, unforgotten
Crux-victims’ smell, and hear their pleas
Sobbing, nailed up to their trees.
Say, do the crosses greatly stand
Still guardians of that holy land?
Are girls displayed, with anguished screams,
Beside the academic stream?
Does dawn come peeping, shy and cold
Tinting their bare skins silver-gold?
At sunset, do crowds come to see
From Haslingfield and Madingley?
And after, ere the night is born,
Do whip-marks those fair breasts adorn?
Oh, give them water sweet and cool,
Gentle and brown, from Byron’s pool,
While laughs the immortal river still
She’ll suffer still, she’ll suffer still!
Say, is such beauty yet to find?
Such willing slaves, to fate resigned?
In anguish set, not to forget
The scourge, the thorns, the pain? . . . oh! yet
Stands the Church clock at ten to three?
And is sweet Alice there to see?

This one needs very little adaptation:

Beauty and Beauty

When Beauty and Beauty meet
All naked, fair to fair,
The cross is crying-sweet,
And scattering-bright the air,
Bobinder, dizzily, closing round,
With Wragg in wondrous laughter;
Veiling all that may befall
After--after--


After Rupert Brooke 1912.

 

[Jollyrei]

The poetic crux muse is certainly having a good day out in Cambridge.

 

[Madiosi]

A Cambridge Crucifixion
(With apologies to Rupert Brooke)

Ah God! to see the nailed limbs stir
Across the moon at Grantchester!
To smell the thrilling-sweet and rotten
Unforgettable, unforgotten
Crux-victims’ smell, and hear their pleas
Sobbing, nailed up to their trees.
Say, do the crosses greatly stand
Still guardians of that holy land?
Are girls displayed, with anguished screams,
Beside the academic stream?
Does dawn come peeping, shy and cold
Tinting their bare skins silver-gold?
At sunset, do crowds come to see
From Haslingfield and Madingley?
And after, ere the night is born,
Do whip-marks those fair breasts adorn?
Oh, give them water sweet and cool,
Gentle and brown, from Byron’s pool,
While laughs the immortal river still
She’ll suffer still, she’ll suffer still!
Say, is such beauty yet to find?
Such willing slaves, to fate resigned?
In anguish set, not to forget
The scourge, the thorns, the pain? . . . oh! yet
Stands the Church clock at ten to three?
And is sweet Alice there to see?

One chance for a Madiosi-manip to come in the next cruxer's digest.

 

[bobinder]

A Cambridge Crucifixion
(With apologies to Rupert Brooke)

Ah God! to see the nailed limbs stir
Across the moon at Grantchester!
To smell the thrilling-sweet and rotten
Unforgettable, unforgotten
Crux-victims’ smell, and hear their pleas
Sobbing, nailed up to their trees.
Say, do the crosses greatly stand
Still guardians of that holy land?
Are girls displayed, with anguished screams,
Beside the academic stream?
Does dawn come peeping, shy and cold
Tinting their bare skins silver-gold?
At sunset, do crowds come to see
From Haslingfield and Madingley?
And after, ere the night is born,
Do whip-marks those fair breasts adorn?
Oh, give them water sweet and cool,
Gentle and brown, from Byron’s pool,
While laughs the immortal river still
She’ll suffer still, she’ll suffer still!
Say, is such beauty yet to find?
Such willing slaves, to fate resigned?
In anguish set, not to forget
The scourge, the thorns, the pain? . . . oh! yet
Stands the Church clock at ten to three?
And is sweet Alice there to see?

That is exquisitely beautiful, Eul, so evocative and remarkably clever. Brooke was writing about Grantchester near Cambridge, whilst he was in Germany, and Madi has created his manips of Cambridge, whilst sitting at his computer in Germany. Your poem is the perfect compliment to his pictures, and I believe they ought to appear together in the next Cruxers' Digest, if Madi will oblige. Thank you for sharing this moment of inspiration.

'And is sweet Alice there to see?'



Oh yes - there she is.