I've been doing a lot of cleaning lately, and, for a pack rat such as myself, it's sort of like undergoing an archaeological dig of my life. I've been finding a lot of mementos. Two of the items I've stumbled upon are "souvenirs" from my time on the island of Guam. One is a bullet I found while snorkeling in a tidal pool circa 1978. It was a remnant of the ferocious Battle of Guam, fought some 34 years before I found it that calm afternoon. That bullet may have more significance than anything I own, because it fired my imagination and kick started my interest in history at the tender age of eight. I ended up majoring in history, so that's got to count for something.The other is this pendant. I have a penchant for finding things, and I found this on the schoolyard one day. It, too, has always fired my imagination. The dragon (with crown) around the edges is fascinating enough, but what's always intrigued me are the markings in the middle. This pendant is not worn at all, the outer detail is sharp, and yet the markings seem faint, as if they are shrouded in mist. Were they intended to be that way? And what do they mean, or stand for, if anything? They've always reminded me of a maze or labyrinth, which seems fitting.
Still, while I love a good mystery, I like a good answer, too. There are no markings on the back that lead me toward any jeweler or manufacturer. The only possible clue is that while this looks to be made of silver on the front, it's more like an alloy on the back. It's not ancient. It might not even be old. However, it's nonetheless intriguing. It meant something to someone once, but, to the rest of the world, it carries an air of the mystical.
Of course my superstitious side has wondered from time to time if the damned thing summons evil spirits and has somehow cursed my life. But you know, I wouldn't trade it for anything. This is the only life I know.
The markings look familiar, and the medal reminds me of Catholic pendants I used to have when I was young. That backwards 3 figure is especially familiar, know I've seen it somewhere.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny the way we become interested in subjects.
You are indeed brilliant, Mendelssohn. Backwards three's! I'd never thought of searching that. I'll let you know if it generates a lead.
ReplyDeleteIt is funny how random events can lead us down avenues we never would have thought of otherwise. Maybe something else would've pulled me into history, or maybe it was genetically built in and bound to happen one way or another, but we can never know for sure. It's fun to think about, though!