Here comes another installment of 20 Questions!
1. Sara Tribble wants to know, “If you could go back in time to see Egypt in its glory–would you? And what would you wanna do first?”
Of course I would want to go! I’d head straight to 1475BC (ish) and make an appointment with Hatshepsut. I would want a tour of her tombs and her mortuary temple at Deir el Bahri, but I’d also want to check out how people lived. There’s an awful lot of tomb evidence for Egypt, but not as much for every day life. The Egyptians were less concerned with this life and built their houses, and even palaces, with mud brick. Needless to say, not much of that has survived.
Oh, and I’d also want to meet Senenmut. *swoon*
2. Amalia asked, “Who are your next favorite historical people, after Egypt? and why?”
My next favorite historical person is Theodore Roosevelt. I would be his groupie if he were still around today.
Seriously.
The man started Progressivism and Imperialism in America, built the Panama Canal, started National Parks, and went after bad businesses with the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, Meat Inspection Act, and Pure Food and Drug Act. All that makes me proud of him, but if you ever read a bio or even watch one on TR, you’ll be struck by his sheer audacity. When he was approached regarding the decimation of bird populations on Pelican Island, Florida (birds back then were being slaughtered for the milliner trade- we ladies liked crazy feathers on our hats) he looked to his lawyers and asked, “Is there anything to prevent me from making Pelican Island a bird sanctuary?”
No… (Except you know, the Constitution doesn’t say the President can do that.)
“Then I so declare it!”
He kind of did the same thing with the Panama Canal, asking the Columbians if the U.S. could build the canal across Panama (then owned by Columbia). Columbia said no, so TR asked the Panamanians if they’d like their independence. Panama, of course, said yes, so Roosevelt conveniently staged U.S. gunboats off Panama’s coast. The Panamanians revolted, the Columbians looked in the harbor, and gave Panama their independence. The U.S. recognized Panama an hour later and asked if we could built a canal across their country. Panama, of course, said yes.
And TR got his big ditch. 🙂
I could go on all day, but I won’t. I love Theodore Roosevelt!
So, which time period would you travel back to if you could? And which cool dead person(s) would you like to meet?
Charlemagne. Or Einstein. Or Jesus (see if he's actually that whole son of God thing or just a yesteryear televangelist)
At the moment, I'd definitely head back to WWI. First-hand research for my WIP would be extremely handy! 😉
I'd like to hear Socrates give a speech or two… or head on further back and see what the real deal was during Akehenaten's reign!
Though it would be great to visit the oracle of Delphi as well… I think maybe I just need a time machine. Lol.
Oops, sorry. I just wanted to post my love for Mr. Lincoln! And the American 1800s in general! Oh, to be a settler in the West…
I'm heading to the period in which I've set my WiP; 1930s England. However, the Tudor period of English history runs a close second.
Bane- I've always liked Charlemagne. And wouldn't it be cool to sit down and talk to Jesus? Of course, no one would probably believe you when you got back and reported on the conversation.
K.M.- Man, firsthand knowledge would definitely help with writing. It's one thing to read about the stuff, but another thing entirely to see it.
Faith- All good choices! With hindsight it's hard to pick!
K.Marie- I love Lincoln! He's definitely our greatest president, despite my love for TR. They say the times make the man and the Civil War definitely made Lincoln.
Elspeth- I adore Tudor England. However, I feel like it's being beaten to death in novels right now. How many novels about Anne Boleyn can the market take?
Theodore Roosevelt! I'd be his groupie, too!
A cool dead person to meet? Beethoven. Most definitely.
Elizabethan England to meet Shakespeare. Regency England to meet Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters.
The Renaissance to meet Rembrandt and Michaelangelo. I'd love to meet Edmund Blair Leighton and John William Waterhouse. I think it'd be cool to meet the men who signed the Declaration. Abe Lincoln.
Yeah, I'm trite like that.
I love TR as well! We must be twins or something. 🙂
I wrote a long comment listing a few people, but then I realized that I had mentioned about a dozen, and I wasn't happy with ANY of them. So.
My answer is there are too many for me to choose. 🙂
I didn't know that's how the construction of the Panama Canal went down. TR rocks!
Jesus would be my first pick, but then Nikola Tesla is next after that. I'd love to sit there and ask them both loads of questions. (Obviously about very different things lol)
I have a question for your 20 questions bit, maybe you can add it as the bonus 21st question, here it is: "What are you going to name your blog once Hapshetsup is published and you begin a new novel?"
I would love to meet Mother Teresa and William Wordsworth. I get teary just thinking about the possibility.
I just traced my genealogy back 2000 years and discovered that I am a direct descendent of Old King Cole. How I'd love to find out if he truly was a "Merry old soul"!!!
Can I come with you back to ancient Egypt!? Except, I've always wanted to see when the sphinx was built. There's those theories that the head was originally an older rock formation, with the body added later, and I'd like to know.
Great post! I think I'd most like to meet Michelangelo – such a fascinating brain!
Oh, this is such a tough question…I think I'd maybe go with Mary Magdalene.
Leonardo da Vinci, Heron of Alexandria, Archimedes, and Winston Churchill.
As for time periods, I'd go with the late 1800s, the 1200s or roughly 200 — i.e. right around the height of the Roman Empire.
I'd love to be in Paris during the Nouveau and/or Deco movements.
The person I would most love to meet is Abraham Lincoln. I admire what he did and how he spoke/wrote so much.