Magic of Words

The great libraries at Alexandria, Pergamum, and Ephesus held the treasures of early literacy. Science, philosophy, poetry, and math filled the scrolls and informed scholars––those who could read––or perhaps those who could pay a scribe to read for them.

Few elite women could read and write. Even fewer––if any––walked the halls of the great libraries, spread out the scrolls before them, and absorbed the knowledge locked up to ignorance.

Pharaoh Hatshepsut spoke the native languages of the neighboring countries. Like her, centuries later, Pharaoh Cleopatra VII also honed the gift of language. She was the only Ptolemy who ruled Egypt to speak Egyptian, the very language of the people they governed. Neither Hatshepsut nor Cleopatra relied on others to negotiate with viziers and emissaries to carry on diplomatic relations, trade agreements, and treaties. They trusted only themselves to say accurately what the crown required

Fifteen centuries later, Queen Elizabeth I conducted diplomacy through her first hand knowledge of language. Intrinsically these monarchs knew what Shakespeare’s witches would warn, “There are daggers in men’s smiles.”[1] Those three sovereigns could look beyond the fawning subterfuge, listen to what the advisors and lackeys whispered confidentially to each other––and reply in their own language.

Literacy, reading and writing, has power. Yet another kind of literacy also had power. Those ancients who “read” the stars could predict an eclipse and warn the people if they didn’t obey, they had power to bring down darkness across the entire land. Natural phenomena thunder, lightning, eclipses and other terrors fed peoples’ fear the gods were angry and would destroy them. The literacy of science held the people in thrall.

Science, math, religion, philosophy, history, even surgery––all were secreted in the scrolls. Anyone diligent enough, determined enough, and privileged enough could read for themselves the wisdom gained in the past. Perhaps the scholar Hypatia had entered the library of her home in Alexandria. At least she had access to her father’s library, discussions with his learned friends, and eventually communication with scholars from all over the Mediterranean who came to hear the brilliant woman speak.

In the Nineteenth Century, Virginia Woolf studied in her father’s library because she was denied entry to Cambridge. Times seemed to slide backward. However, Woolf, like Hypatia, reached the pinnacle of excellence. She was one of the foremost writers of the famous Bloomsbury group. Her works are Britain’s treasure.

Through the magic of words, native and foreign, women gained power, established their place of greatness in history, and are remembered.

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Points to Ponder:

Pharaoh Hatshepsut’s grandeur was desecrated by a usurper. Egypt: 1507––1458 BCE

The scholar Hypatia was cut into pieces by radical Christians. Alexandria: 355––415 BCE

Pharaoh Cleopatra died in the wake of Rome after the Battle of Actium. Alexandria: 69––30 BCE

Queen Elizabeth I reigned victorious for seventy years. England: 1553-1603 CE, and

Virginia Woolf ended her tragic life when with her coat weighted with stones, she walked into the River Ouse in despair. England: 1882-1941 CE

From a Fifteenth Century BCE pharaoh to a twentieth century CE writer, each made her mark. Each was a power woman of her time, and each story deserves to be read.

Please see Cameos in the series Power Women: Lessons From the Ancient World. © P.D. Sargent 3.21.16.

 

[1] Shakespeare, William, Macbeth, Act III.