# CalMeacham Interviewed on the History Channel **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 1, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934 "2009-08-01T00:23:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/81 "2009-09-01T10:08:34Z")
Random comment from watching the first part [I an sooooo sorry I fell asleep, meds kicked in but I DVR’d it and promise to watch it shortly…] When they were showing the kraters … couldnt find the krater online, but I found a [hunk o marble](http://www.vroma.org/images/mcmanus_images/medusa1.jpg) … Anybody else notice that it matches the face of Kali the indian goddess? tongue out and fangs… [and the thug weapon of ritual killing is a fang of Kali…] Is there perhaps some sort of link? That tongue out thing is interesting… ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/82 "2009-09-01T11:42:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Anybody else notice that it matches the face of Kali the indian goddess? tongue out and fangs… [and the thug weapon of ritual killing is a fang of Kali…] > > Is there perhaps some sort of link? That tongue out thing is interesting… I assume this isn’t a whoosh. They actually covered that in the show, and it comes straight from my book. Over the years various people have noted similarities between the tongue-protruding face of Medusa and of various other divinities – some books on Indian mythology note the similarity between Smashan Kali and the Gorgon, and posit a link. A famous paper observed the similarity between Humbaba in Mesopotamia and Medusa, and thought that the myth of Gilgamesh and Humbaba inspired that of Perseus and Medusa. A.B. Cook thought that Medusa was perhaps inspired by Bes in Egypt. I think that I was the first to point out that there are significant parallels all over the world – I’m struck, in particular, at how closely the face in the center of the Aztec Calendar Stone (said to be the sun god Tonatiuh, although there are other candidates) resembles the archaic Greek Gorgon, yet no one seriously suggests that these two are culturally related. Moreover, the gorgon faces all over the world are used in the same functions – Gorgons on tile antefixes in Greece and later in the Roman Empire resemble Gorgon-like antefixes in China and Japan. Gorgons used as shield devices in Greece (probably their most common function) are exactly like Gorgon shield devces used by the Maya, or by the Iatmul living along the Sepik River in New Guinea. You can’t trace a direct line of cultural influence between these people, so widely separated in space and time. Nevertheless, there IS, I maintain, a connection. They bring it up in the show, but a bit early on. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/83 "2009-09-01T11:49:19Z")
> [@](#): > > but I found a hunk o marble … I believe that’s actually a terra cotta piece. It’s an antefix from an Italian colony in Italy. Antefixes were the semicircular pieces of tile lining the edge of a roof, plugging the semicircular holes left by the roof tiles at the end of a row. I made a reproduction of this one, and it’s hanging in my study. I devote an entire chapter to antefixes in my book – they’re usually decorated, almost always with faces, and the most common one used is a Gorgon. As I noted above, they used antefixes in China and Japan, as well, and their antefixes also often use a very Gorgon-like face. I find this significant, and give my theory about why everyone uses the same face in the same purpose, even when it seems unlikely that there is any direct cultural diffusion. It makes no appeal to Jungian collective subconscious or to time-traveling Van Daniken extraterrestrials. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/84 "2009-09-01T12:14:27Z")
Poster for the Episode: > **[Log in or sign up to view](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2312622&id=75666547205&ref=mf)** > > See posts, photos and more on Facebook. Also a brief clip here: > **[KPI TV](https://www.facebook.com/kpitv/)** > > KPI TV. 1,158 likes. KPI TV — це незалежне студентське телебачення у КПІ. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/85 "2009-09-01T12:49:44Z")
I haven’t posted because I didn’t think I’d get a chance to watch, but I did catch it about halfway through. I was all like, “Yeah, that’s Cal, an old friend of mine…thought about getting married but it didn’t work out…in fact, I think he still owes me money but that’s okay.” 😃 Seriously, you really came across well. We laughed at the James Bond thing too. Good job! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/86 "2009-09-01T12:54:51Z")
How much do I owe you? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/87 "2009-09-01T13:06:20Z")
I think it was like six thousand dollars, but I’d settle for an autograph. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/88 "2009-09-01T13:07:54Z")
"To my Good Buddy, Dung Beetle — C A L M E A C H A M" ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/89 "2009-09-01T13:39:35Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I assume this isn’t a whoosh. T No whoosh … as I said, I sort of fell asleep and havent managed to watch the rest of episode while awake yet … ☹ I love reading mythology, and have enjoyed the whole series so far [though I really wonder at the face painting … I really dont think that the athenians painted their faces in random splortches…] i promise, I will get around to watching the rest of the episode… ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/90 "2009-09-01T13:41:49Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I believe that’s actually a terra cotta piece. It’s an antefix from an Italian colony in Italy. Antefixes were the semicircular pieces of tile lining the edge of a roof, plugging the semicircular holes left by the roof tiles at the end of a row. I made a reproduction of this one, and it’s hanging in my study. I devote an entire chapter to antefixes in my book – they’re usually decorated, almost always with faces, and the most common one used is a Gorgon. As I noted above, they used antefixes in China and Japan, as well, and their antefixes also often use a very Gorgon-like face. I find this significant, and give my theory about why everyone uses the same face in the same purpose, even when it seems unlikely that there is any direct cultural diffusion. It makes no appeal to Jungian collective subconscious or to time-traveling Van Daniken extraterrestrials. I have a chinese antefix with bats on it … How about an appeal to Velikovsky?\ ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/91 "2009-09-01T13:47:26Z")
Velikovsky – right. I’m working on a book about the myth of Phaethon right now. There are a lot of respectable people who think the myth might be inspired by a meteorite fall (I’m not one of them), but I have to keep telling people I’m not a Velikovskian. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the idea that celestial events might have an influence on myths (Heck, I argue for just that, although by a far less spectacular method). But Velikovsky doesn’t know how to build a convincing case, and he assumes readers will readily go along with his prejudices and assumptions. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/92 "2009-09-01T14:23:05Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Moreover, the gorgon faces all over the world are used in the same functions – Gorgons on tile antefixes in Greece and later in the Roman Empire resemble Gorgon-like antefixes in China and Japan. Gorgons used as shield devices in Greece (probably their most common function) are exactly like Gorgon shield devces used by the Maya, or by the Iatmul living along the Sepik River in New Guinea. You can’t trace a direct line of cultural influence between these people, so widely separated in space and time. > Nevertheless, there IS, I maintain, a connection. They bring it up in the show, but a bit early on. Yes – they were all visited by aliens! 😛 (\<- See, these things even exist in our cultural sphere…) ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/93 "2009-09-01T16:00:06Z")
I watched it last night. If you write as well as you do here, you can expect at least one more book sale. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/94 "2009-09-01T16:17:01Z")
Many thanks for the compliment, **Maus Magill**. Nobody at work seems to have caught it. Family and friends did, though. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/95 "2009-09-01T16:22:08Z")
I saw it. Nice job. You looked better than the dweebs wearing ties. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/96 "2009-09-01T16:37:01Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > 4.) Among the theories original to me that showed up were: > > ``` > a.) The association of Zeus' coming as a shower of gold to Danae with the Perseid shower > > b.) The appearance of the Gorgon (and its parallels) with the face of a corpse. > > c.) The three Gaea and their stolen eye being inspired by the three-day period of Algol. > There's a lot more in the book (The Perseid shower is associated with the Graeae as well, Algol is also associated with the Gorgons, and the behavior of the stars also helped determine the part of the story about Andromeda and the Sea Monster -- which they leave out. > > ``` That must cool: to see your theories treated seriously in the mass media. ---
**Author:** ![MN\_Maenad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MN\_Maenad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MN_Maenad)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/97 "2009-09-01T16:38:01Z")
> [@bare](#): > > Can you recommend a simple but good introductory book on the subject? I’ve had good luck with Edith Hamilton’s _Mythology_, but I don’t know how dated it is WRT our current knowledge of Greek history. Need to fire up the DVR and watch Medusa tonight after work. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/98 "2009-09-01T17:36:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Can you recommend a simple but good introductory book on the subject? Sorry i didn’t answerr this earlier. I agree about Edith Hamilton’s [NB]Mythology\*\*. It’s a good basic intro. It’s not dated, because it’s not exactly looking at recent theories on myth, but is simply presenting the myths and telling you the good sources. Thomas Bulfinch’s **Mythology** is an older compendium. he uses the Roman names, but is a pretty good introduction. He goes into Scandinavian mythology and Charlemagne as well. John Pinsent’s book **Greek Mythology** , part of the Paul Hamlyn series of world myth, is pretty good, if slim. It has lots of nice pictures, which I think is essential in understanding myth. I don’t particularly recommend Robert Graves’ **The Greek Myths**. Not only is it a disjoint telling of the myths, with many references back to the exact sources (which makes it a good reference), but Graves keeps putting in his own theories, which are frequently pretty off-the-wall. I’m a fine one to talk, you may say. Yeah, but I identify my conjectures as such. Graves doesn’t. If you’re looking for a comprehensive statement of the myths with references, I’d recommend Karl Kerenyi’s **The Gods of the Greeks** and **The Heroes of the Greeks**. You can’t really beat the original myths, though. **The Iliad** and **The Odyssey** are both highly readable. I like Fitzgerald’s translations, or Fagles’. I have the latter on audio, and have listened to them more times than I can recall. Try **The Voyage of Argo** by Apollonius of Rhodes, too. If you want an ancient compendium, get Apollodorus’ **The Library**. The only translation I know is the Loeb Classical edition. It’s not beautiful, but he tried to make it consistent and complete. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/99 "2009-09-01T17:40:01Z")
I only managed to watch half of it so far, but what I saw was great. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > Then they had me stand in the center of the studio (no sitting). The camera couldn’t get far enough back to ocus, so they shot me from the next room, through the doorway. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > Well. > > 3.) I think the camera adds 300 pounds. My god! They had to move the camera into another room to get in focus, and you claim that’s what added 300 lb? 🙂 > [@](#): > > 5.) They fastened onto the “Medusa was a lovely woman turned into a monster” school told in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Ovid liked this sort of story – he tells others like it – but it’s not true to the oldest roots of the story. In the oldest versions, medusa is one of three monstrous sisters, just like the Graeae. In fact, they’re sisters to the Graeae. But the story of the Once-beautiful Medusa is more tragic, and it lets them wrap up the story with her head going back to her oppressor, Athena. I forgot just how cold and capricious the gods could be - that whole part just freaked me out, especially given it was the goddess of wisdom (though they only described her as war) who decided to punish the victim. So **Cal** , how did the interview process go? Did they ask you leading questions that they wanted you to answer in a certain way? Wide open ones? Could you tell if the interviewers had read your book or not? I’m just wondering if they already had the plot planned, and just spliced in the interview shots that supported/advanced the story, or if they waited till all the interviews were done and then wrote the show. And what was with all the Greeks wearing facepaint? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934/100 "2009-09-01T17:44:45Z")
That was awesome Cal! Well done. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeacham-interviewed-on-the-history-channel/504934.md?page=6)