Restoration Theatre; An introduction

 

Restoration Theatre 

 

The Restoration Period points out to a period in English history between 1660 and 1688. After the collapse of Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth, with the return of Charles to the English throne, this period began. During this age; arts, literature, and culture flourished and underwent restoration in England. In addition to cultural changes, the Restoration Period witnessed significant political and social changes such as theatre, and many folk rituals were banned by Puritans in 1642. The monarchy was restored, and the power of the aristocracy increased. Generally, the Restoration Period was a significant period in English history in terms of cultural, artistic, and intellectual pursuits, as well as important political and social developments.  

 

The literature of the Restoration period dealt with themes of love, sexual matters, and politics. During the time between Charles's Restoration and the start of sentimental comedy in the 1700s, comedy reigned, but there was plenty of heroic tragedy. One of the most famous writers of this period is John Dryden, who is known for his poetry and plays. He is considered the leading literary figure of the Restoration era. Other known writers include Aphra Behn, Samuel Pepys, John Wilmot and Earl of Rochester. Restoration literature provided the cultural and social alterations that happened during this time in English history. 

 

Restoration Comedy is known as artificial or comedy of manners. Restoration comedies often focused on the social codes of the middle and upper classes; sexual matters and aristocratic characters, including their affairs, marriages of convenience, and other romantic entanglements. 

Reconstruction based on a drawing of Drury Lane by Christopher Wren, the theatre's architect (1674) 

 

Mummification Process

Mummification Process

Mummification was developed by the ancient Egyptians to preserve the body for the afterlife. Typically, all internal organs are removed before mummification, except the heart. But in this case, the heart is removed, and the lungs are left intact. Next, the body is covered with salt and left for about 40 days, until all moisture is eliminated. Perfumed oils and plant resins are rubbed on the body. Thick layers of resin are applied to glue the strips of linen that were wrapped around the body. The mummy is placed on a wooden board and more wrappings bound them together. A mysterious pouch, perhaps of religious significance, is placed on the chest. A mummified ibis*, a wading bird with a slender, down-curved bill, is placed on the abdomen. Ibis mummies commonly served as votive offerings to the gods, but this is an unusual case of a bird being mummified with a deceased human. Long linen strips further secured the wrappings. Large linen cloth was wrapped around the mummy. The shroud is painted red with an imported lead-based pigment. This treatment is rare, very few red shroud mummies exist. Egyptian symbols of protection and rebirth are painted on the outer cloth with pigments and gold. After the mummification process is completed, if the person is a king, they are placed in three coffins, one of which is gold and the other wooden, and the 70-day mummification process is completed. 

*Ibis-The unusual covering of a votive ibis mummy—a shell of linen and plaster—reproduces the bird's long beak and head, with glass beads added for eyes. Millions of votive ibis mummies were dedicated in Egypt during the first millennium B.C. 

Marcus Aurelius

The Philosopher Emperor: A Journey into the Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161 to 180, is renowned as a philosopher-king and author of the 12-volume work Ta eis Eauton (Meditations), written in Greek and deeply influenced by Stoic philosophy. This seminal work has come to symbolize the intellectual and moral ideals of the Roman Empire's Golden Age.

Chosen as a future co-emperor before the age of 17, Marcus did not ascend to the throne until he was 40. Known for his diligence, intelligence, and integrity, he pursued a rigorous education in Greek and Latin literature, rhetoric, and philosophy. His intellectual journey was profoundly shaped by Stoic teachings, particularly through his studies of Diatribai (Discourses) by Epictetus. Philosophy became his lifelong passion.

Despite his personal disdain for Christianity, Marcus did not enact systematic persecution against Christians during his reign. While Christianity remained a punishable offense under Roman law, prosecutions were sporadic and localized rather than a result of imperial policy.

Meditations reflects Marcus’s deeply personal and philosophical musings, recorded as a form of self-examination. These writings reveal a man striving to reconcile the transience of life and the imperfections of human nature with his Stoic ideals. He grappled with questions of mortality, humility, and the fleeting nature of worldly accomplishments. Though deeply committed to his role as emperor, Marcus often viewed himself as an ephemeral presence in a vast, rational cosmos.

While Meditations is widely regarded as one of the greatest works of philosophy, much of its content builds upon earlier Stoic principles, particularly those of Epictetus. The Stoics believed in a unified universe governed by reason, with the human soul as a fragment of the divine rational mind. Some of Marcus’s reflections, however, diverge slightly from traditional Stoicism, displaying influences from Neo-Platonism.

Key Philosophical Insights from Meditations:

• "If you end your perceptions, desires, and instincts, your soul is free."
• "You must stand erect; let others not keep you upright."
• "Power is in your mind, not outside it. When you understand this, you will also find your strength."
• "Our life is what our thoughts make it."
• "Your own happiness depends on yourself."