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Putri Prihatini

@BlogTolkien

Jun 13

The Ebony Horse in Arabian Nights and Iron Dragons in The Fall of Gondolin shared fascination over mechanical beasts in classic fantasy tales, and how they are viewed in the lens of folktale/fairy tale and modern eyes. 1/4
#TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday #Tolkien

In The Ebony Horse, the flying horse was made by a craftsman who was later imprisoned over a disastrous flying test; he tampered with the horse for revenge. Meglin (Maegln) suggested the Iron Dragons to Melko, who ordered his smiths and sorcerers to make them. 2/4

Note that Tolkien started The Fall of Gondolin after his experiences in the battlefield of Somme. The Iron Dragons, with their "hearts and spirits of blazing fire" and clanging hollow bellies from where Orcs poured out, sounds like magic infused with the image of tanks. 3/4

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Putri Prihatini

@BlogTolkien

May 23

For my second #TolkienTrewsday tweet on "animals": a thread on Tolkien's quaint poem about a dreaming cat. In the legendarium, this poem was written by Samwise Gamgee, showing Hobbits' love toward lighthearted animal lore. 1/12

#TolkienTuesday #Tolkien
🎨: Patrick Tolen

Tolkien wrote it in 1956 for his granddaughter, starting it with a cute image of a cat sleeping. One might think this cat was dreaming of mice and a bowl of cream:

The fat cat on the mat/
may seem to dream/
of nice mice that suffice/
for him, or cream.
But they're wrong!

2/12

This seemingly tame cat dreamed about being a large, ferocious beast. Tolkien described the animal in the cat's dream as its distant kin:

Lean and slim/
or deep in den/
in the East feasted on beasts/
and tender men.

3/12
🎨: Alan Lee

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Putri Prihatini

@BlogTolkien

May 21

#FolkloreSunday 🧵 on whale sharks as local folklore in some areas in Indonesia:

Balikukup locals in my home province East Borneo call them Hiu Nenek ("Grandmother Shark"). Seen as a benevolent grandmother, fisherfolk consider it good luck if a shark swims past their boats. 1/8

Still in East Borneo, fisherfolk of Derawan Islands and Talisayan see the sharks as a blessing, since their appearance signify more fish to catch. In Talisayan, whale sharks even swim up for "breakfast" when fisherfolk throw less-than-ideal fish from their nets to them. 2/8

Villagers of Botubarani, Gorontalo Regency, call whale sharks Munggianggo Hulalo ("Moon Shark"). When they appear, people see it as a good time to fish. Locals feed the sharks fish and shrimp's heads to beckon them, and they are so friendly that children can play with them. 3/8

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Putri Prihatini

@BlogTolkien

May 16

For #TolkienTrewsday theme of favorite character: one part that always makes me see Frodo in special way is when he volunteered to carry the Ring to the fire, but followed it with softer, "Though I do not know the way."

#TolkienTuesday #Tolkien 1/10 🧵
🎨: Jenny Dolfen

This part is so poignant; when all these great Men, Elves, and Dwarves were debating, and no one answered the question about who will carry the Ring, the only one volunteered was this Hobbit who had been hurt by Morgul blade and wanted nothing but going home. 2/10

The fact that he followed it with a soft "I don't know the way" showed his inner strength. He still couldn't see the magnanimity of the situation. He just knew there would be consequences of not destroying the Ring. He volunteered even before thinking about the details. 3/10

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Putri Prihatini

@BlogTolkien

May 16

Suvannamaccha is a mermaid that appeared in various Southeast Asian versions of Ramayana. She spoiled Hanuman's efforts to build a bridge across the sea. When they confronted each other, they fell in love and began a courting dance instead. 1/3

#FairyTaleTuesday #FairyTaleFlash

In Thai and Cambodian versions, Suvannamaccha was the daughter of Ravana, the kidnapper of Sita (who Hanuman was trying to rescue with the bridge). Her and Hanuman had mutual understanding about their actions; the lovers departed amicably after the bridge was finished. 2/3

The courting dance between Hanuman and Suvannamaccha was an inspiration for folk dances, including Thai Khon performance and Cambodian Robam Sovann Macha. The mermaid is a good luck charm in Thai folklore, represented on streamers or framed images in some shops and houses. 3/3

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Putri Prihatini

@BlogTolkien

May 10

A 🧵revisiting various bunny temples and shrines for #WyrdWednesday's Japan week.

1. Okazaki Shrine in Kyoto has bunny statues, wishing plaques, lanterns, and charms. The bunnies symbolize fertility and safe childbirth, and people who wish for those can rub the stone rabbits.

2. Kamakura has Meigetsu-in, or "Temple of the Clear Moon", famous for its hydrangeas, moon-shaped window at the main hall, and various bunny statues, showing the folkloric connection between the moon and bunnies. The temple also takes care of bunnies.

3. Miwa Shrine in Nagoya has a stone hare related to the legend of Hare of Inaba. In the story, a flayed hare was helped by the kind Ōkuninushi, who returned its fur. In gratitude, the hare helped him wooing Princess Yakami of Inaba instead of his selfish older brothers.

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