It Has To Be a Coincidence
(Warning: Dual Geek Mode Ahead)
So, I sit down this morning with the copy of Abbot Suger: On the Abbey Church of St-Denis and its Art Treasures that I borrowed from Larissa ages ago intending to read a chapter or two before church.
I immediately come upon a discussion (on page 5!) of the "Oriflamme" of St. Denis, its use as a war banner by Louis le Gros against HRE Henry V in 1124 and the way that use made the King of France a de facto vassal of the Abbey of St. Denis. In the end notes about the Oriflamme, there is the further note that the more important domains of St-Denis were administered by officials who who acted as deputies of the Abbot: Prevotes (provosts) and Prieures (priors).
Perhaps only I went "huh" at the connection in a few short sentences of "Ori" "flame" and "Prior", but maybe radishmatriach, ashendari and Daniel did too. Could it be that one of the writers of Stargate SG-1 knew something of the history of 12th century France and used it as inspiration? Given that the anomosity/rivalry between the Cistercians (Abbot Bernard) and the Cluniacs (Abbot Suger) is both legendary and mirrored in the split between the Others (ascended Alterans/Ancients) and the Ori I'm thinking so. Also the Cisterians favoured isolation and non-interference (like the Others) and the Cluniacs under Suger thought of "lex et rex" as receptacles of the same superior power of government and that it was the "sacred duty" of the king to subdue all forces conducive to internal strife. That and Bernard was made a saint (ascended?) while Suger was not.
In addition there is the strong "Merlin/Arthur/Grail" thread in the SG-1 storyline and the stories of Arthur and his knights were hugely popular in the 12th century (most of our modern version of the stories date to that time).
Things that make me go "hmmm."
So, I sit down this morning with the copy of Abbot Suger: On the Abbey Church of St-Denis and its Art Treasures that I borrowed from Larissa ages ago intending to read a chapter or two before church.
I immediately come upon a discussion (on page 5!) of the "Oriflamme" of St. Denis, its use as a war banner by Louis le Gros against HRE Henry V in 1124 and the way that use made the King of France a de facto vassal of the Abbey of St. Denis. In the end notes about the Oriflamme, there is the further note that the more important domains of St-Denis were administered by officials who who acted as deputies of the Abbot: Prevotes (provosts) and Prieures (priors).
Perhaps only I went "huh" at the connection in a few short sentences of "Ori" "flame" and "Prior", but maybe radishmatriach, ashendari and Daniel did too. Could it be that one of the writers of Stargate SG-1 knew something of the history of 12th century France and used it as inspiration? Given that the anomosity/rivalry between the Cistercians (Abbot Bernard) and the Cluniacs (Abbot Suger) is both legendary and mirrored in the split between the Others (ascended Alterans/Ancients) and the Ori I'm thinking so. Also the Cisterians favoured isolation and non-interference (like the Others) and the Cluniacs under Suger thought of "lex et rex" as receptacles of the same superior power of government and that it was the "sacred duty" of the king to subdue all forces conducive to internal strife. That and Bernard was made a saint (ascended?) while Suger was not.
In addition there is the strong "Merlin/Arthur/Grail" thread in the SG-1 storyline and the stories of Arthur and his knights were hugely popular in the 12th century (most of our modern version of the stories date to that time).
Things that make me go "hmmm."