The Circle by Chipka
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Description
At night (during the month of Hetheb) there are campfires. There are women around each. There are men, and children too. For one month out of the year, the flat lands are sacred, and each of the campfires marks a population from Pō, from Nyssem’nen, and from cities even more remote. Where animosity may exist between one city-state and another, there is peace during the Sacred Month.
There is a circle.
It is hewn from local limestone. It is defined by twenty-four pillars: two for each of sign of the celestial zodiac. To look upon the pillars of Leo or Capricorn, Libra or Taurus is to look into the inhuman past. There are seashells in these pillars and in every stone that has been carved in service of the Circle. They are remnants of things that lived in the eons long before humans walked this world and named their city-states according to whatever strange desires sparked (then and now) through the collective Human mind. Some say that the shells are remnants of inscrutable, chthonic gods; others ascribe the shapes to things more mundane. But no matter their ascribed origins, they are a part of the circle and a part of the peace that endures (for the entire month of Hetheb) in the flatlands between city states.
It is not the circle in and of itself that is important. Not the stone or the fossil shells. Instead, it is the flat altar-stone that draws the campers who build fires in the night. The stone is—itself—a marker.
Beneath the altar-stone lie shards of metal and strange, flexible ceramic. These are all that remain of the a vessel now beyond the Human ability to understand. None around the nightly campfires understand the principles of physics and engineering that made such shards possible. But they know the old myths: stories of the Migration. The Circle marks its end, and during the month of Hetheb, a single star centers the hollow ring of pillars. It is said that a priest-man standing upon the altar stone my look directly up and see the ancestral star. It is said that a priest-man of sufficient purity will learn something valuable from what he sees, and so priest-men come from the scattered city-states and on the single night, await their moment on the altar.
Others follow them, the devout from one faith or another, and on that singular night, in accordance with the sacred lotteries, priest-men are elected to stand upon the stone and speak their visions to anyone who might listen.
Now, however, the day is unclear one and those at camp hope for empty skies tomorrow. On tomorrow’s night, the ancestral star will center the circle, and no priest-man is strong enough to receive its transmitted visions through a veil of clouds.
***
This is actually a picture from downtown Chicago, smashed up with another picture of the sky from a couple of days ago. I wanted the pillars, but not the skyscrapers and so this is the slap-dash, quick skirmish result.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you're all having a great week.
Comments (27)
CaressingTheDark
Excellent POV and photography
Crabbycabby
Outstanding work.
Sepiasiren
magnificent
beachzz
Beautiful work, and a mystical tale to go with it. I can almost feel the feel the heat of the fire the way you describe it.
minos_6
Your words invoke memories of a visit to Stonehenge. It was the summer solstice and thousands of people were there, playing music, dancing, performing rituals. And yet there was an eerie calm and quiet to the place, as though the sounds were underwater, and I could almost imagine a thin barrier in time, barely separating me from the mysterious builders of the past. Great captures, and they really work well together. However I'm now curious to see the original take with skyscrapers intact....
durleybeachbum
You did a grand job on the quick skirmish! I watched a documentary about the people of the Nubian desert last night, and your story took me back there.
kgb224
Outstanding capture my friend.
mbz2662
Super work Chip. For some reason, I think it is the image of the priest standing on the alter stone, it reminds me of The 5th Element (one of my all time favorite movies)... Really not any correlation of this work and that movie... but you never know the twist your mind will take. :)
zulaan
Wow ! Outstanding POV. Great postwork !!!
flavia49
fabulous picture!! and splendid text!!
MrsRatbag
I also thought of "The Fifth Element" (also one of my favorite films) and of "Stargate"... must be the reference of looking to the skies for answers. I love the image as well as your little story tease!
marybelgium
splendide !
helanker
SO beautifully done Chip.
sandra46
superlative architectural shot! great POV!
anaber
Really,this is a magical view.Your story and your image together fill us of ancestral memories and mistery in this present.
watapki66
Very nicely captured!
auntietk
Starting with the circle of campfires, the double pillars, the priests, you've created a perfect platform for the weaving of many short tales together. Someone from this camp or that, the story of one of the priests, of a celebrant who didn't make it to the gathering, perhaps lovers from otherwise warring factions. A curious young man wanting to know more about the past ... not a priest, but somehow he stands in the right place at the right time and hears the truth. A woman who comes out of habit and tradition, but who has no hope ... perhaps she is witness to the young man's epiphany. Ah, my friend ... as usual, you make my mind work overtime. This is a wonderful story base, and your image is perfect for it. Excellent work!
Meisiekind
Oh Chip, this is a magnificent piece of art! I am dealing with so much crap at the moment and somehow this image brings some peace to me. The circle embraces, protects! Wonderful! :)
bmac62
Andrea took the words right out of my mouth...like your slap-dash of sky and pillars...they make me want to discover what is going on in your world of writing today. As I read your story introducing the cicle, the people and the sacred month...I sense there is a lot more to come! Just think...maybe these short intro pieces you are writing in 2010 will one day soon be gracing book jackets of new books with your name on them. Now, for a publisher and a deadline for your first one:)
KatesFriend
Your photo work really creates the sense of a very alien place. Similar to Earth but not the same. Different colours, different stars, different weather and probably many ghosts. Perhaps their ancestors crashed on this world. As always your narrative really grabs the imagination. I love to think of all those camp fires glowing in the night and the near and distant voices of people both young and old, talking, laughing, telling stories. All at ease for this was a sacred place and all the old rivalries stay at home.
Alex_Antonov
Very well done!
wild_child
Fantastic shot!
kasalin
Wonderful informations and a stunning capture !!!!
danapommet
We all enjoyed Koosie's "pawn" people and your simple but perfect dedi to her, touched my heart. A very passionate posting Chip. Now for your circle of pillars – who would have known that this was taken in the midst of skyscrapers? This POV is very power and works very well with your informative narrative. Dana
EBSPhotographic
Nice! That's cool as hell! Your POV and toning are outstanding. Really well done!
Ilona-Krijgsman
such an impressive image...with a wonderful pov....superB
FriedaFelicia
For me this is pure magic, an image from paradise. A place where we all want to be, surrounded by classic beauty. Great POV, wonderful colours, an inspiring shot.