(urth) do the Hierogrammates *care* about the megatherians?

[Lee Berman]

>Gerry Quinn: The story of the Boy Called Frog, which clearly originates in a synthesis of 
>Romulus and Remus combined with The Jungle Book, has also incorporated 
>snippets of other mythologies and of ways that people of one era would have 
>understood things of the past....
 
Nice response, Gerry! I would agree with most of it. I agree that if Ymar is meant to be Frog
it was a contrivance made for UotNS only. It would involve Wolfe saying, "okay, I've included
a historical view of Typhon but who can I add to show that Frog was also a real
historical figure...hm..who founded the Commonwealth...ah! Ymar.
 
 
>There is of course a strong echo here of the idea of bees with swords, which was the concept of 
>bees held by the people immured for generations in the Antechamber.  Perhaps Wolfe is suggesting 
>that the tales were transmitted via some antechamber folk who found their way out.
 
It's possible. A good idea. But the story of wolves carrying knives might also be akin to the 
stories we hear of lower animals developing versions of human speech and writing. Or it could be a
degenerate, wolf-like group of humans who retain manual dexterity.  Or it could be that Frog was raised 
by a human group known as the Wolf Clan and the tales converted them to their namesake. 
 
But you are correct in thinking it doesn't matter too much. What matters is that we get the interactive 
relationship between reality, history and mythology. I think you've denied that relationship as relevant 
to Wolfe's writing in the past but perhaps there is a growing awareness of how essential it is for 
understanding. Your quick switch from denial of Jungle Book influence on the Frog story to assimilation
was impressive.
 
 
>We cannot reject Typhon as Spring Wind arguments on account of the absence of two-headedness.
 
 
Correct, but not for the reason you suggest. On the Whorl, Typhon's two-headedness is common knowlege.
Not so on Urth. It was a recent development and a deep secret. Thus Spring Wind (the youthful, sober
thoughtful Alexander) would never have two heads in legends that circulated on Urth. It is the wind
allusions and the youth/older life history of Alexander which connect Spring Wind and Typhon, not heads.
 
 
>Is there a 1000 year old witch in BotNS?   None that is human, I believe.
 
I didn't say "human" witch. If Ymar and twin sister are descendents of Typhon can we be sure the whole 
family is (fully) human? I don't think so. Since I question whether Severian is fully human, I don't have 
much of a problem asking the same question about Ymar.  Morover a snake-essense daughter of Typhon fits 
rather nicely with his mythological namesake. Wouldn't the snaky Cumaean make a nice sister or half-sister 
to snaky Scylla?
 
>As for Inire, if I recall correctly he is said in BotNS to date from the time of Ymar
 
In my view that is when he started using the name "Inire". But in UotNS, Severian rather inexplicably 
encounters a real wizard/necromancer named Ceryx. Immediately after their encounter, Severian is captured 
and brought in front of the highly sequestered Typhon. Rather than dismiss Ceryx as a one-off, I think he
is the vizier (and magic investigator) for Typhon. In other words, he is Inire, serving in the same 
capacity that he will serve the Autarchs.
 
In my view, most of Severian's adventures (Dorcas, Sanguinary Fields, Vodalus/Thecla, Old Leech etc.) are 
pieces set up by this necromancer to try to winnow from him the secret of true resurrection. 
 
(p.s.thanks for the Cadmus related info.)