Hermes - draughts patron.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

We all know that Kaissa, The God from Greek mythology, patronates chess. Should we choose Hermes as draughts patron ?

The famous myth says that Hermes played draughts with Moon and won five extra days which were added to 360, totalling 365 days.

Here is a short quote from Plutarch:

"They say that Helios, when he became aware of Rhea's intercourse with Kronos, invoked a curse upon her that she should not give birth to a child in any month or year; but Hermes, being enamoured of the goddess, consorted with her. Later, playing at draughts with the moon, he won from her the seventieth part of each of her periods of illumination, and from all the winnings he composed five days, and intercalated them as an addition to the three hundred and sixty days. The Egyptians even now call these five days intercalated and celebrate them as the birthdays of the gods." - Plutarch, On Isis and Osiris 12

[john reade]

Have you seen this?

http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Draughts

[Alex_Moiseyev]

John, I think I read this once. But if we have a choice and have to decide and choose draughts patron (it's in our hands, isn't ? ) - I would certainly prefer Hermes. He was a God, and Odyssey was a man.

In addition, I think Hermes not only played draughts with Moon, but also developed this game. I am trying now to find a prove of this.

If my assumption is incorrect and Hermes (Mercury in Rom mythology) didn't develop and created draughts - this simply means that draughts were known on Olymp for lo-o-o-ng time

[john reade]

Alex,

The problem is we have no idea what game Hermes is supposed to have played.

It could have been Chinese checkers!

John.

P.S. Don't get me wrong. I'm OK with Hermes.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

I'm OK with Hermes.

Great ! Any other opinions regarding choice of draughts patron ?

We trully need today someone from Olymp who can help us to solve our problems. If we choose Hermes (or someone else) - we have to use this symbol in all future publications, media and references. And do it consistantly for years.

Remember - Hermes also patronated commerce which means draughts and Wall Street have the same sponsor/patron !

[jaguar72]

Ah, well, Hermes is fine by me but does that mean we all gotta wear winged' hats...and shoes? I checked with Footlocker...they don't have any.

John, I suppose you could always add a pair o' wings to your famous checkers hat...pretty spiffy.

I doubt if there would be a trademark problem, but you never know; Hermes should, you would think, be public domain...probably... .

V/R,

Gary Jenkins/jaguar72

[Alex_Moiseyev]

BTW. My Russian checkers players friends are in favor of choosing Damiana, because in many countries Dam, Dama, Damka is synonym of draughts

Another idea was - FORTUNE

[john reade]

I have heard the name Dameh used as though she were some kind of godess of draughts.

Anybody know anything about that?

[liam stephens]

Ah, Dameh ! intellectual sport,
At thy sweet shrine the muse I court,
Ascend thro' clouds to realms above,
The lure of of wealth, of power and love,
And find a joy, a blessful peace
When all my daily labours cease;
Afar from soulless haunts of man,
Thy wondrous mysteries to scan.


Neil T. Byars

[Ingo_Zachos]

I will ask Caissa if she also wants to be the patron of checkers.
She already is a honoraray member of many chess clubs callesd"Caissa"

Here she is:
http://www.deutsche-schachjugend.de/1862.html

Well, actually her parents (both chess players) named her after the muse of chess.
BTW: Her family name "Klug" translates to "smart".

Joking aside:
Who needs a patron?
I don't see any use in it.

Maybe we sould "pray" to the holy Andrew Anderson and the holy James Wyllie, but being raised as a protestant, I am not really thinking that a game needs a patron osr a saint anything of that sort.

But I prefer to play on the board, as that is not the place for praying.


Greetinx form disappointed Dortmund (Argh. Again they did not attack the Spains in their own half. Like in 2008. In 1982 they did and won with ease! "A Spaniard is lost without a ball" as the late Helmut Schoen used to say. Also they hadbetter chances when they attacked early as after the goal...)

Ingo Zachos

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Joking aside:
Who needs a patron?
I don't see any use in it.

Even if we don't beleive in God, it shouldn't stop him to help us

And yes, we cerainly need some help and symbols in order to to improve public view.

But we don't need Caissa help - she is already booked and busy and all after all - she does her patron job quite well !

Backing Netherland, but Spain looks stronger. For 3rd place backing Urugway, but Germany also looks stronger. Podolsky is awesome.

Alex