For my novel, years of research and traveling to England, Spain, Greece, and France culminated in, to me, a very colorful story. Here are some of the figures from Greek mythology that I weave into the tale: Zeus, Prometheus, Hermes, Achilles, Sisyphus, Cybele, and Hades/Pluto. From Persian mythology is Mithras, which Romans built temples to all over Europe, one being built in 240 CE in Londinium (London), which I discuss in the Mithraeum post.
Topics in the book include the history of Jews (in England, France, and Spain), Arabs in Spain and the Reconquista, translating Arab texts to Latin, tributes paid by English ships to fly flag of the Doge of Genoa, 100 Years War, Burghers of Calais, English language in 1352, Tamese River (Thames), Tower of London, London Mithraeum, Toledo, travels of Marco Polo, plague of 1348, value of gold florins, wool exports in Britain and Edward III’s Statute of Limitations, bloomery furnace for making iron, the Bible, Christian world map vs. the globe of Ptolemy, significance of 9 and 108 in Mongolia, paper & ink making, tanning hides, Armagnac and distillation, bone casting, I Ching, Portuguese and Romani healing remedies, Valholl (Valhalla), wine barrel sizes (John Chaucer uses a rundlet – 18 gallons), Dorn’s alchemy notes, and the ravens of Cape St. Vincent in Portugal and at the Tower of London.
Historical figures: King Edward III, Queen Philippa, Duke & Duchess of Lancaster, Archbishop Simon Islip, the Chaucers (John, Agnes, Geoffrey), Ozbeg Khan, Michael Scot, Dante, and Duns Scotus.
Alchemists and alchemy topics: Mary the Jewess, Hildegard von Bingen, Cleopatra, Roger Bacon, Ortolandus, Arnaldus de Villa Nova, Paul of Tarato, Hugh of Evesham, Jean de Roquetaillade, Hermes Trismegistus, Aristotle, Bain Marie, cucurbit, alembic, cinnabar (mercury-quicksilver), Philosopher’s Stone, 12 Stages, Black-White-Red, alchemical symbolism in Notre Dame, quest for gold/riches vs. divinity, and the Quest for eternal life.