Anacharsis the Scythian was once asked, which were more numerous, the living or the dead? He replied, "In which category, then, do you place those sailing the seas?" ~ ~ ~ We are snugly insulated from the natural world. The ancient Greeks spoke of those that they themselves considered ancient, the forerunners who roamed the lands to destroy dangerous beasts like the lions that once inhabited Europe. Long before writing was developed, prehistoric tales overflowed with heroes slaying nature’s dangers, and taming the rest.
"I had not thought death had undone so many." Such quality, Simon. It exudes quality, new and old at the same time. Excited for more.
Great post, Simon. I'd read a similar tale to the one in the last paragraph in Tolstoy's Confessions.
Yes, that's where it's from! Though Tolstoy credits it as an older "Eastern tale", and I've never been able to find the tale he's referring to.
Hey Simon, I knew what the story is. It's the same, but with a tiger and a strawberry. A version can be found here: http://users.rider.edu/~suler/zenstory/cliffhanger.html . Thank you for the post!
Oh wow, thank's very much Simon! (feels a little funny to call someone else by that name, I don't know any another Simons in person)
You're welcome! Where I live, in Belgium, there are a lot of people with our name, still feels weird, Simon.