mina, 11 days ago to random

Tonight's picture isn't a nightmare (as yesterday), but one of our #LadiesAndSwords to guard your sleep (if this is, what you're up to, now).

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🖼️ The Valkyrie's Vigil by Edward Robert Hughes

The painting seems to be inspired by Richard Wagner's opera cycle "The Ring of the Nibelung".

In its last part "The Twilight of the Gods", the hero Siegfried frees Brünhilde, the Valkyrie, from the ring of fire where, Wotan, the Gods' boss, had confined her, his favourite daughter for disobeying

1/2

mina, 25 days ago to random

*** Don't you dare! ***

I love her intense look.

On a side note: I get it that film makers and photographers are in love with two-handed and bastard swords: They are long and look impressive, but not necessarily the best choice for real fights, unless you're a very large and strong person (Think of GoT's Brienne of Tarth or The Mountain).

Better use a spear or a shorter sword and a shield!

🖼️ stock photo without credit

#LadiesAndSwords

mina, 28 days ago to sweden

For today's #LadiesAndSwords we have Queen Christina of #Sweden (1626-1689).

Whether this scene in Mika Kaurismäki's 2015 film "The Girl King" is historically accurate, I doubt. I still liked the film.

On her 18th birthday, Christina is given her father's sword by a cleric to rule the empire with it. In the next scene, we see her cousin sword practising with a friend. Christina appears and takes the friend's place. She and her cousin start fighting. Her cousin is trying to flirt with her during the fight. In a moment, they are very close, she pretends to kiss him, and uses his distraction to push him on the ground and put her sword on his chest.