While looking for the title of a specific book (Eros and Magic in the Renaissance by Culiano and Cook) that I knew to be in one of my research notebooks, I came across a little scrap of paper on which I had written a description of a masked ceremonial dance -- probably something from the phallic cults of Dionysus because I also wrote the phrase "Evohle Bacche!" (the invocation to Bacchus) right next to it. Though it's also possible I was reading about the origins of theatre's twin comedy/tragedy masks. Here's what I wrote:
"Men and damsels dancing, each having two masks -- one in front was smiling, the back one weeping...arms linked man to man, maiden to maiden. Happy face always turned toward the sad face of the next person."
I have no idea from what book I captured this scene -- but I still find it compelling, something that should find its way somewhere in a story. It's also a good reminder for me to re-read my notes more often.
Midori Snyder is the author of nine books for children and adults, published in English, French, Dutch, and Italian. She won the Mythopoeic Award for The Innamorati, a novel inspired by early Roman myth and the Italian "Commedia dell'Arte" tradition....
