Domina Tempora

Marianne Fisher

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Domina Tempora examines the myths, symbols, and forgotten histories that shaped the ancient world. Hosted by Marianne Fisher, each episode explores how stories of gods, women, monsters, and power were created, interpreted, and transformed. Thoughtful, atmospheric, and sharply researched—this is history told with clarity, elegance, and a touch of danger.

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14: Melusine, or: Why Medieval Men Kept Marrying Monsters

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we descend into the misty forests and ancient fountains of medieval Europe to uncover the enigmatic legend of Melusine — the beautiful fairy with two serpent tails, spirit of fresh water, builder of castles, and mysterious ancestress of kings. Born of the fairy Pressyne and cursed by her mother to transform into a serpent (or fish) from the waist down every Saturday, Melusine marries the noble Raymondin on one condition: he must never spy on her during her secret day of seclusion. Under her guidance, the region of Poitou flourishes with new cities and grand castles. She bears him ten sons — some marked by strange deformities — whose descendants would found royal dynasties across France, Cyprus, and beyond. Yet like so many fairy tales, curiosity and broken promises bring tragedy. When Raymondin spies on her and later denounces her as a monster, the heartbroken Melusine sprouts wings and flies away, forever circling her beloved castles with mournful cries. Her story echoes across Luxembourg, where she still awaits redemption, and her iconic two-tailed image endures today — even as the hidden inspiration for the Starbucks logo. We explore how this powerful serpent-fairy mother embodies themes of fertility, prosperity, betrayal, and the supernatural origins claimed by European nobility in turbulent times. If tales of forbidden love, powerful women who straddle the human and the monstrous, divine curses, and ancestral magic resonate with you, my debut novel Clotho Unbound is waiting. In its pages, Clotho — the Fate who has spun death for Zeus across the ages — becomes entangled with Aphrodite in stolen, blasphemous nights of passion that make the Loom of Fate itself tremble. Their love is treason. Their desire could unravel destiny. Clotho Unbound is out now — order your copy today on Amazon. Direct link:https://www.amazon.com/Clotho-Unbound-Marianne-Fisher/dp/B0GTZ8PZFV Thank you for listening.Until next time — may your promises hold and your waters run deep.

13 min
17 juin

13: Sacred Waters and Toilet Demons: The Ancient Magic of Cleanliness

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we dive into the sacred, surprising, and sometimes terrifying world of ancient hygiene — where cleanliness was far more than physical. Water was a divine force of purification, capable of washing away both dirt and spiritual pollution, while the humble latrine held its own powerful guardians and lurking dangers. From Egyptian priests bathing multiple times daily before rituals, to Hindu ritual bathing in sacred rivers, Roman public baths, Japanese toilet gods promising beautiful children, and the Chinese Purple Goddess Zi Gu — we explore how every culture infused washing and waste with deep mythological and spiritual meaning. Meet Sulis of the healing springs, Cloacina the Roman goddess of sewers, the Babylonian demon Sulak who punished improper toilet etiquette, and a host of fertility deities and vengeful spirits who watched over the most private spaces of daily life. This episode reveals how ancient peoples understood the profound link between bodily purity, divine favor, and cosmic order — turning even the most mundane acts into sacred rituals. If the powerful intersection of ritual, desire, divinity, and the raw realities of human existence calls to you, my debut novel Clotho Unbound is waiting. In its pages, Clotho — the Fate who has spun death for Zeus across the ages — becomes entangled with Aphrodite in stolen, blasphemous nights of passion that make the Loom of Fate itself tremble. Their love is treason. Their desire could unravel destiny. Clotho Unbound is out now — order your copy today on Amazon (Kindle, paperback, and audiobook coming soon). Direct link:https://www.amazon.com/Clotho-Unbound-Marianne-Fisher/dp/B0GTZ8PZFV Thank you for listening.Until next time — may your waters be sacred and your guardians watchful.

13 min
10 juin

12 : The Good, the Bad and the Deadly: Ancient Symbolism of the Owl

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we spread our wings into the shadowed realm of the owl — a creature of night, mystery, and duality that has haunted and inspired humanity for millennia. Regarded as the “monster of the night” and harbinger of death by Pliny and many ancient cultures, the owl was linked to desolation, ill omens, and the underworld. From the ukuku of Sumerian curses and Phoenician funeral rites to its transformation into the demonic Lilith, and its ominous appearances before the falls of emperors and armies, the owl has long been a messenger of doom and darkness. Yet this nocturnal predator also embodied profound wisdom and fortune. As the sacred companion of Athena, the owl graced Athenian coins as a symbol of strategic brilliance and victory in battle. In Hindu tradition, it served as the vahana of Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity, representing the light of wisdom piercing through ignorance. Across cultures, its cry could foretell both disaster and triumph, its gaze both a warning and a blessing. We explore this ancient tension — the owl as bird of death and symbol of enlightenment, associate of witches and goddess of strategy, creature of fear and bringer of prosperity. If the seductive interplay of darkness and wisdom, divine power, and dangerous omens resonates with you, my debut novel Clotho Unbound is calling. In its pages, Clotho — the Fate who has spun death for Zeus across the ages — becomes entangled with Aphrodite in stolen, blasphemous nights of passion that make the Loom of Fate itself tremble. Their love is treason. Their desire could unravel destiny. Clotho Unbound is out now — order your copy today on Amazon (Kindle, paperback, and audiobook). Direct link:https://www.amazon.com/Clotho-Unbound-Marianne-Fisher/dp/B0GTZ8PZFV Thank you for listening.Until next time — may your omens be wise and your nights watchful.

14 min
3 juin

11: The Regency Problem: When the Emperor Needs a Nap

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we explore the dangerous, glittering world of child emperors — infants and teenagers who sat on thrones while others truly ruled. From frightened toddlers crowned in grand ceremonies to boys who grew into legendary conquerors, these stories reveal how fragile power can be when placed in small hands. We meet the outrageous teenage Emperor Elagabalus of Rome, a boy priest of a Syrian sun god who was smuggled into power by his ambitious mother and grandmother. Their ruthless maneuvering kept the empire under female control — until family betrayal and the Praetorian Guard intervened. We journey to Persia, where the Sassanid nobles crowned the unborn Shapur II, who would later become one of history’s longest-reigning and most formidable kings. And in China, we examine the young Kangxi Emperor, who ascended at age seven under the watchful eye of his formidable grandmother, the Grand Empress Dowager, and four powerful regents — eventually claiming his destiny and ushering in an era of prosperity. These tales expose the complex dance of regency: the ambition of those ruling from the shadows, the vulnerability of divine-right children, and the high-stakes games of empire that could end in triumph or rivers of blood. If the intoxicating blend of power, ambition, divine favor, and human frailty stirs something deep within you, my debut novel Clotho Unbound awaits. In its pages, Clotho — the ancient Fate who has spun death for Zeus across the ages — becomes entangled with Aphrodite in stolen, blasphemous nights of passion that threaten to unravel the Loom of Fate itself. Their love is treason. Their desire could shatter destiny. Clotho Unbound is out now and available to order on Amazon (Kindle, paperback, and audiobook coming soon). Grab your copy today on Amazon Thank you for listening.Until next time — may your throne be steady and your regents loyal.

15 min
27 mai

10: Dionysus Said ‘Relax’… They Heard ‘Destroy Everything’

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we unleash the wild, sacred power of the Maenads — the raving priestesses and fierce warriors of Dionysus, god of wine, ecstasy, vegetation, and divine madness. Adorned with ivy, snakes, and panther skins, these women were far more than “mad” followers. They were holy initiates who danced in frenzied ecstasy to the thunder of drums, performed miracles that summoned wine from the earth and milk from stones, and wielded superhuman strength in service to their god. As both celebrants and soldiers, they tore apart the enemies of Dionysus — from the dismembered Orpheus to the doomed King Pentheus, whose own mother Agave, still in divine frenzy, carried his severed head as a hunting trophy. We explore their dual nature: bringers of joy and terror, voluntary devotees and those driven mad as punishment, miracle-workers and destroyers. From the tragic fate of Lycurgus to the protective sisterhood shown by the women of Amphissa, the Maenads reveal the untamed, dangerous heart of Dionysian worship — where ecstasy and violence, life and death, blur into one. If the intoxicating pull of divine frenzy, forbidden rites, and the raw power of ancient passion calls to you, my debut novel Clotho Unbound is waiting. In its pages, Clotho — the Fate who has spun death for Zeus across the ages — becomes entangled with Aphrodite in stolen, blasphemous nights of desire that make the Loom of Fate itself tremble. Their love is treason. Their passion could unravel destiny. Clotho Unbound is out now — order your copy today on Amazon (Kindle, paperback, and audiobook coming soon). Direct link:https://www.amazon.com/Clotho-Unbound-Marianne-Fisher/dp/B0GTZ8PZFV Thank you for listening.Until next time — may your thyrsus strike true and your frenzy set you free.

18 min
20 mai

9: Burning Curiosity: The Mythology of ‘What If I Just Try This?’

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we follow the daring tricksters and rebellious heroes who stole fire from the gods — that most sacred and dangerous element — to place its creative and destructive power into human hands. From the Titan Prometheus, who defied Zeus by smuggling heavenly fire to humanity in a hollow reed, only to suffer eternal torment as an eagle devoured his regenerating liver, to the cunning Polynesian demigod Maui, who tricked the terrifying fire goddess Mahuika and brought flame to his people at the risk of his own life. We journey across cultures to meet other fire-thieves: the Ojibwa hare Nanabozho, the Armenian dragon-slayer Vahagn, and various animal tricksters in African and Indian traditions. Along the way, we explore fire as both divine gift and forbidden knowledge — the spark of civilisation, ritual, purification, and punishment. These myths reveal humanity’s eternal hunger for godlike power, the price of rebellion, and the double-edged nature of the flame that warms, transforms, and consumes. If stories of defiant passion, stolen power, and the dangerous dance between mortals and immortals ignite something in you, my debut novel Clotho Unbound is waiting. In its pages, Clotho — the Fate who has spun death for Zeus across the ages — becomes entangled with Aphrodite in stolen, blasphemous nights of desire that make the Loom of Fate itself tremble. Their love is treason. Their passion could unravel destiny. Clotho Unbound is out now — order your copy today on Amazon (Kindle, paperback, and audiobook coming soon). Direct link:https://www.amazon.com/Clotho-Unbound-Marianne-Fisher/dp/B0GTZ8PZFV Thank you for listening.Until next time — may your fire burn bright, but never consume you.

13 min
13 mai

8: From Aphrodite to Hollywood: The Cult of Blonde

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we uncover the ancient obsession with blond hair — a shimmering symbol that has represented divinity, erotic rebellion, political power, and dangerous desire for thousands of years. From the golden tresses of Aphrodite and Freyja, to the fair-haired gods and heroes of Homer, Hesiod, and Pindar, blonde hair was repeatedly linked to the divine. Sculptors like Pheidias and Praxiteles crowned Athena and Aphrodite in gold, while Roman matrons and prostitutes alike bleached, dyed, and adorned themselves with the hair of northern captives. We explore how blondness became entangled with purity and temptation, nobility and subversion: the sacred glow of goddesses and the Virgin Mary, the provocative wigs of Messalina, the moral panic of Roman lawmakers, and the erotic charge that made blonde hair both a status symbol and a mark of transgression. Across cultures and centuries — from Sappho’s praise of golden locks to Ovid’s wry commentary on “captured hair,” from medieval angels to rebellious medieval heroines — blond hair has never been neutral. It has been weaponised as a marker of fertility, beauty, conquest, and defiance. If the seductive interplay of beauty, power, myth, and forbidden desire speaks to you, immerse yourself in my debut novel Clotho Unbound. In its pages, Clotho — the ancient Fate who has spun death for Zeus across the ages — becomes entangled with Aphrodite in stolen, blasphemous nights of passion that make the very Loom of Fate tremble. Their love is treason. Their desire could unravel destiny itself. Clotho Unbound is out now and available to order on Amazon (Kindle, paperback, and audiobook coming soon). Grab your copy today:https://www.amazon.com/Clotho-Unbound-Marianne-Fisher/dp/B0GTZ8PZFV Thank you for listening.Until next time — may your threads shine golden.

14 min
6 mai

7: Apollo: God of Light, Music… and Terrible Dating Choices

In this episode of Domina Tempora, we step into the radiant and ruthless light of Apollo — the eternally youthful god who embodied the Hellenic ideal, yet whose arrows could bring both healing and devastating plague. Far more than the charming patron of music, poetry, and prophecy, Apollo is a god of striking polarities. He is the protector of children and young men, the gentle teacher of Chiron, Asclepius, and countless seers. He is the founder of cities, the giver of law, the chorus leader of the Muses, and the slayer of the monstrous Python who claimed Delphi for himself. Yet the same god who purifies and pardons is the one who punishes without mercy. His failed loves tell haunting stories of transformation and torment: Daphne fleeing into laurel bark, Coronis slain on her pyre, and the Sibyls — Cassandra, Deiphobe, and others — cursed with prophecy that brings only madness and despair. We explore Apollo’s deep grudges and swift vengeance: the killing of the Cyclopes, the orchestration of Achilles’ death, and the merciless slaughter of Niobe’s children. Kind, cruel, near and far, purifying and polluting — Apollo stands as one of the most complex and ambivalent deities of the ancient world, a god who watches from afar yet strikes with devastating precision. If the dangerous beauty of the gods, their passions, curses, and cruel mercies call to you, my debut novel Clotho Unbound awaits. In its pages, Clotho — the Fate who has spun death for Zeus across the ages — becomes entangled with Aphrodite in forbidden, blasphemous nights that threaten to unravel the Loom of Fate itself. Their love is treason. Their desire could shatter destiny. Clotho Unbound is out now — order your copy today on Amazon (Kindle, paperback, and audiobook coming soon). Direct link:https://www.amazon.com/Clotho-Unbound-Marianne-Fisher/dp/B0GTZ8PZFV Thank you for listening.Until next time — may your oracles be clear and your arrows true.

20 min

Tout afficher (35)

Domina Tempora examines the myths, symbols, and forgotten histories that shaped the ancient world. Hosted by Marianne Fisher, each episode explores how stories of gods, women, monsters, and power were created, interpreted, and transformed. Thoughtful, atmospheric, and sharply researched—this is history told with clarity, elegance, and a touch of danger.

Création

Marianne Fisher
Années d’activité

2021 - 2026
Épisodes

35
Classification

Contenu explicite
Copyright

© Marianne Fisher
Site web de l’émission

Domina Tempora