RHC Fortnightly Quotemail
Compiled & Edited by Rob Chappell (@RHCLambengolmo
on X)
Vol. XXIX, No. 16: July 2025
Co-Editor: Sophie Fairgate
Editorial Associate: Wendy Applegate
Art Director: Verena Keegan (Designer of the Masthead
at Left)
Editor’s
Note
Pluto was my
favorite planet when I was growing up as a young astronomy enthusiast in the
1970s. I really liked the idea of Pluto being a lonely outpost on the outer
edge of the Solar System. Today, of course, we know that Pluto is just one Kuiper
Belt object among many – but I still think of it as a planet, and so I was very
excited to watch the TV specials in July 2015 that celebrated the successful
flyby of Pluto by the New Horizons space probe. This issue of the blog is dedicated to Pluto, the planet
Pluto, and the mythological figure that it represents – the ruler of the postmortal
Otherworld in many ancient belief systems.
Exactly 10 years
ago this month, a spacecraft named New Horizons made history by
becoming the first spacecraft to explore Pluto. This remarkable feat was
achieved thanks to the hard work and dedication of NASA and its partners across
the globe. Pluto is a small, icy world that was discovered in 1930 by Clyde
Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. This dwarf planet has
five moons, and it is believed to contain a subsurface ocean of liquid water
mixed with ammonia.
The planet Pluto, in a digital image created by the Editor, based on
photos taken by the New Horizons space probe in 2015.
“The Story of Pluto – So Far”
By Kendra Tiwari, Staff Writer
In 1930, Clyde Tombaugh, at the Lowell Observatory in
Flagstaff, Arizona, made a groundbreaking discovery that would change our
understanding of the Solar System forever - the planet Pluto. The discovery of
Pluto came at a time when the Solar System was thought to consist of only eight
planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Pluto's discovery expanded the Solar System to include a new ninth planet.
When Pluto was first discovered, it was thought to be
a large planet, similar in size to Earth or Mars. However, subsequent
observations and measurements revealed that Pluto is much smaller. It is now
known to have a diameter of approximately 2,390 kilometers (1,480 miles),
making it far less than half the size of our own planet. Pluto is located in
the outer reaches of the Solar System, beyond the orbit of Neptune. It takes
248 years to orbit the Sun once, and its distance from the Sun ranges from 3.6
billion to 7.3 billion miles.
In the decades since its discovery, Pluto has been
the subject of much scientific study and research. Astronomers have discovered
five moons orbiting the dwarf planet: Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra.
The largest and most prominent of these moons is Charon, which is almost half
the size of Pluto itself.
One of the most significant developments in Pluto's
history came in 2006, when the New Horizons spacecraft was
launched towards the Solar System's final frontier. The spacecraft took nine
years to reach Pluto, and in 2015, it passed by the dwarf planet, collecting
valuable data and images. The information gathered by the New Horizons
mission has greatly expanded our understanding of Pluto and its moons.
The New Horizons mission provided the
first-ever close-up images of Pluto's surface, revealing a diverse and
intriguing terrain. The dwarf planet has a range of features, including
mountains, plains, and bright and dark regions. The mission also discovered
evidence of seasonal changes on Pluto, with certain areas becoming brighter as
the dwarf planet approaches its closest point to the Sun.
One of the most interesting and unexpected
discoveries made by the New Horizons mission was that Pluto has a
subsurface ocean. Scientists believe that this ocean may be located beneath the
frozen ice of the dwarf planet's surface, and it could potentially support some
form of extraterrestrial life. This finding has sparked much speculation and
excitement in the scientific community.
The New Horizons mission also sent back
a series of stunning images of Pluto’s moons. Charon, the largest of Pluto’s
moons, has a unique and intriguing surface, which includes bright, smooth
regions and large cracks and canyons. The other moons – Styx, Nix, Kerberos,
and hydra – are much smaller and less studied, but they still hold many secrets
yet to be unveiled.
Although Pluto was officially demoted from a planet
to a dwarf planet in 2006, it still retains its significance in the scientific
community. The New Horizons mission not only provided us with
valuable data and information about the dwarf planet and its moons, but it also
sparked new questions and spurred further research. Continued exploration of
Pluto and its moons holds the promise of even more discoveries in the future.
“Memories of Pluto Explorers”
By Carolyn McNealy, Staff Writer
Editor’s Note: This poem is based on memories of the Editor and Carolyn playing
“Pluto Explorers” together at recess during January 1978, when the Editor was
in 4th grade and Carolyn was in the 6th grade. Carolyn
had “adopted” the Editor as her “honorary cousin” in November 1977, and
together, they explored the frozen landscape of Pluto, based on the frozen
landscape of their school’s athletic field, just north of the playground. 😊
Beneath Pluto's frosted
face, we wandered
In realms of fantasy and
space,
Two cousins brave,
unafraid,
In our imaginations we'd
trace.
A vast universe to
explore,
And with a laugh, we'd
set the pace,
With childlike wonder our
adventures flared,
In a world where anything
was possible.
As we grew, our games
evolved,
And memories of our fun
we would strive
To keep alive forever and
ever.
The Editor (at left) and his honorary cousin Carolyn (at right) in
their imaginary space shuttle on its approach to Pluto. Notice the image of
Pluto on the viewscreen in the upper left quadrant of the picture. (Image
Credit: Digital artwork created by the Editor.)
“Orpheus and Eurydice”
Excerpted from Chapter 17 of The Age of Fable by Thomas Bulfinch
Orpheus was the son of Apollo and the muse Calliope.
He was presented by his father with a lyre and taught to play upon it, and he
played to such perfection that nothing could withstand the charm of his music.
Not only his fellow mortals, but wild beasts were softened by his strains, and
gathering round him laid by their fierceness, and stood entranced with his lay.
Nay, the very trees and rocks were sensible to the charm. The former crowded
round him and the latter relaxed somewhat of thei hardness, softened by his
notes.
Hymen had been called to bless with his presence the
nuptials of Orpheus with Eurydice; but though he attended, he brought no happy
omens with him. His very torch smoked and brought tears into their eyes. In
coincidence with such prognostics Eurydice, shortly after her marriage, while
wandering with the nymphs, her companions, was seen by the shepherd Aristaeus,
who was struck with her beauty, and made advances to her. She fled, and in flying
trod upon a snake in the grass, was bitten in the foot and died. Orpheus sang
his grief to all who breathed the upper air, both gods and men, and finding it
all unavailing resolved to seek his wife in the regions of the dead. He
descended by a cave situated on the side of the promontory of Taenarus and
arrived at the Stygian realm. He passed through crowds of ghosts, and presented
himself before the throne of Pluto and Proserpine.
Accompanying the words with the lyre, he sung,
"O deities of the underworld, to whom all we who live must come, hear my
words, for they are true! I come not to spy out the secrets of Tartarus, nor to
try my strength against the three-headed dog with snaky hair who guards the
entrance. I come to seek my wife, whose opening years the poisonous viper's
fang has brought to an untimely end. Love had led me here, Love, a god all
powerful with us who dwell on the earth, and, if old traditions say true, not
less so here. I implore you by these abodes full of terror, these realms of
silence and uncreated things, unite again the thread of Eurydice's life. We all
are destined to you, and sooner or later must pass to your domain. She too,
when she shall have filled her term of life, will rightly be yours. But till
then grant her to me, I beseech you. If you deny me, I cannot return alone; you
shall triumph in the death of us both."
As he sang these tender strains, the very ghosts shed
tears. Tantalus, in spite of his thirst, stopped for a moment his efforts for
water, Ixion's wheel stood still, the vulture ceased to tear the giant's liver,
the daughters of Danaus rested from their task of drawing water in a sieve, and
Sisyphus sat on his rock to listen. Then for the first time, it is said, the
cheeks of the Furies were wet with tears. Proserpine could not resist, and
Pluto himself gave way. Eurydice was called. She came from among the
new-arrived ghosts, limping with her wounded foot. Orpheus was permitted to
take her away with him on one condition, that he should not turn round to look
at her till they should have reached the upper air. Under this condition they
proceeded on their way, he leading, she following, through passages dark and
steep, in total silence, till they had nearly reached the outlet into the
cheerful upper world, when Orpheus, in a moment of forgetfulness, to assure
himself that she was still following, cast a glance behind him, when instantly
she was borne away.
Stretching out their arms to embrace one another they
grasped only the air. Dying now a second time she yet cannot reproach her
husband, for how can she blame his impatience to behold her? "Farewell,"
she said, "a last farewell," and was hurried away, so fast that the
sound hardly reached his ears.
Orpheus endeavored to follow her, and besought
permission to return and try once more for her release but the stern ferryman repulsed
him and refused passage. Seven days he lingered about the brink, without food
or sleep; then bitterly accusing of cruelty the powers of Erebus, he sang his
complaints to the rocks and mountains, melting the hearts of tigers and moving
the oaks from their stations. He held himself aloof from womankind, dwelling
constantly on the recollection of his sad mischance. The Thracian maidens tried
their best to captivate him, but he repulsed their advances. They bore with him
as long as they could; but finding him insensible, one day, one of them,
excited by the rites of Bacchus, exclaimed, "See yonder our
despiser!" and threw at him her javelin. The weapon, as soon as it came within
the sound of his lyre, fell harmless at his feet. So did also the stones that
they threw at him. But the women raised a scream and drowned the voice of the
music, and then the missiles reached him and soon were stained with his blood.
The maniacs tore him limb from limb, and threw his head and his lyre into the river
Hebrus, down which they floated, murmuring sad music, to which the shores
responded a plaintive symphony. The Muses gathered up the fragments of his body
and buried them at Libethra, where the nightingale is said to sing over his
grave more sweetly than in any other part of Greece. His lyre was placed by
Jupiter among the stars. His shade passed a second time to Tartarus, where he
sought out his Eurydice and embraced her, with eager arms. They roam through
those happy fields together now, sometimes he leads, sometimes she; and Orpheus
gazes as much as he will upon her, no longer incurring a penalty for a
thoughtless glance.
“Hymn to Yama” (Rig Veda 10.14)
Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith
Editor’s Note: In Hinduism (and Buddhism), Yama is the king of the realm of the
dead. This Vedic hymn, committed to writing perhaps as early as 1500 BCE,
portrays Yama as a benevolent king who welcomes the souls of the departed into
a celestial realm of rest with their ancestors.
1. Honor the King with
thine oblations, Yama, Vivasvān's Son, who gathers men together,
Who travelled to the
lofty heights above us, who searcbes out and shows the path to many.
2 Yama first found for us
a place to dwell in: this pasture never can be taken from us.
Men born on earth tread
their own paths hat lead them whither our ancient Fathers have departed.
3 Mitali prospers there
with Kavyas, Yama with Aṅgiras' sons, Bṛhaspati with Rkvans:
Exalters of the Gods, by
Gods exalted, some joy in praise and some in our oblation.
4 Come, seat thee on this
bed of grass, O Yama, in company with Aṅgirases and Fathers.
Let texts recited by the
sages bring thee O King, let this oblation make thee joyful.
5 Come, Yama, with the
Aṅgirases the Holy, rejoice thee here with children of Virūpa.
To sit on sacred grass at
this our worship, I call Vivasvān, too, thy Father hither.
6 Our Fathers are
Aṅgirases, Navagvas, Atharvans, Bhṛgus who deserve the Soma.
May these, the Holy, look
on us with favor, may we enjoy their gracious loving-kindness.
7 Go forth, go forth upon
the ancient pathways whereon our sires of old have gone before us.
'Mere shalt thou look on
both the Kings enjoying their sacred food, God Varuṇa and Yama.
8 Meet Yama, meet the
Fathers, meet the merit of free or ordered acts, in highest heaven.
Leave sin and evil, seek
anew thy dwelling, and bright with glory wear another body.
9 Go hence, depart ye,
fly in all directions: this place for him the Fathers have provided.
Yama bestows on him a
place to rest in adorned with days and beams of light and waters.
10 Run and outspeed the
two dogs, Saramā's offspring, brindled, four-eyed, upon thy happy pathway.
Draw nigh then to the
gracious-minded Fathers where they rejoice in company with Yama.
11 And those two dogs of
thine, Yama, the watchers, four-eyed, who look on men and guard the pathway,—
Entrust this man, O King,
to their protection, and with prosperity and health endow him.
12 Dark-hued, insatiate,
with distended nostrils, Yama's two envoys roam among the People;
May they restore to us a
fair existence here and to-day, that we may see the sunlight.
13 To Yama pour the Soma,
bring to Yama consecrated gifts:
To Yama sacrifice
prepared and heralded by Agni goes.
14 Offer to Yama holy
gifts enriched with butter, and draw near:
So may he grant that we
may live long days of life among the Gods.
15 Offer to Yama, to the
King, oblation very rich in meath:
Bow down before the Ṛṣis
of the ancient times, who made this path in days of old.
16 Into the six Expanses
flies the Great One in Trkadrukas.
The Gāyatrī, the Tṛṣṭup,
all meters in Yama are contained.
“Homage to King Yama”
By Rania Himmel, Staff Writer
Hail Yama, the King of
the Ancestors,
The mighty lord who
guides the souls of the departed,
With open arms, you
welcome those who pass on,
Providing solace and
peace in the land of the dead.
“A Pluto Haiku”
By the Editor
On Pluto’s landscape,
Never-melting snowflakes
fall.
Peace and quiet reign.
The Sun sets on Pluto, bathing the snowy landscape in wan light.
Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, is a crescent in the eastern sky, above the
sunrise. (Digital image created by the Editor.)
The Bardic Gorsedd
An Original Poem by Viviana Rivera, Staff Writer
“The Hidden Strength of Pluto”
Pluto, the outcast of the planets' pack,
Seen as small and insignificant by the others' mark,
But look more closely, and you'll soon learn,
There's a strength that Pluto yearns to burn.
Pluto feels underestimated, unappreciated,
Cast aside as if its existence is just fabrication,
But in its core, a hidden fire burns,
A resilience that cannot be denied or spurned.
Pluto knows the pain of discrimination and scorn,
Of being labeled as different and never fitting in,
Yet it refuses to give up or submit to fate,
With resolve and courage, it will make its mark, not
wait.
Pluto's story is a reminder to us all,
Of the strength that lies within and must be held
tall,
That even when we feel small and unseen,
We can find courage to rise and be seen.
Catena Aurea (The Golden
Chain)
By Tamsin Lambengolmo, Staff Writer
The Dream of Scipio from Cicero's De Republica is a beautiful and thought-provoking work! The part about celestial immortality is particularly poetic. Here's a relevant passage from the text:
"But when the soul leaves this mortal body and is separated from the earth, from whose womb it was born, it takes its place among the heavenly bodies, which it imitates in beauty and in immortality."
Certainly. Cicero's vision of celestial immortality in the "Dream
of Scipio" is a powerful reminder of the soul's innate connection to the
cosmos. The idea that the soul is immortal and aspires to the beauty and
eternity of the heavenly bodies highlights the profound and enduring nature of
the human spirit. This passage encourages us to look beyond the temporary and
finite aspects of our earthly existence and to recognize the divine potential
within ourselves.
Here's a quote from the Sutra of 42 Sections that portrays Yama in a positive light:
"Yama is the Lord of the Underworld, and he is extremely wise, compassionate, and just. He punishes only those who deserve it and helps those who are virtuous and kind."
This quote shows that Yama is not simply a judge who punishes the
wicked, but he is also a protector who looks out for the virtuous and rewards
them. He is compassionate and wise, and his role in the afterlife is not solely
one of punishment, but also one of guidance and help.
In Buddhist
teaching, the punishments experienced in the afterlife are seen as corrective,
not punitive. The karmic consequences of one's actions in life manifest as both
positive and negative experiences in the afterlife. These experiences are not
meant to punish but rather to help individuals to correct their actions and
lead them towards enlightenment.
Moreover, in the Buddhist belief in the cyclical nature of
existence and the concept of rebirth, all beings are believed to have the
potential to attain enlightenment (nirvana) through the process of samsara. The
aim of Buddhist practice is to break free from the cycle of rebirth and
suffering and attain liberation.
Yama, as the
Lord of the Underworld, is often considered a protective and compassionate
deity who serves as a guide and teacher to individuals in the afterlife. In
many traditions, he is also viewed as a bodhisattva who delays his own
enlightenment to help others find their way to liberation and enlightenment.
His role as a judge in the afterlife is seen as a way to teach individuals
about the consequences of their actions and how to correct their paths towards
enlightenment. Yama's compassion and justice make him a revered figure in many
cultures and faiths.
Bushido
Wisdom
By Toni
Thorvald, Staff Writer
Here's a Bushido quote about resilience:
"The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists." - Japanese Proverb (Bushido)
This proverb highlights the importance of adaptability,
flexibility, and resilience in facing life's challenges. Just like bamboo,
which can bend in strong winds without breaking, we should also be able to
adapt and respond to difficult circumstances without being brittle and breaking
under pressure. Resilience, or the ability to recover from challenging
experiences, is a key aspect of both the Aikido and the Bushido philosophies.
For Further
Reading
The Editor
recommends the following resources to learn more about historical conceptions
of the postmortal Otherworld across cultures and centuries.
·
The
Katha Upanishad @ https://www.yoga-age.com/upanishads/katha.html
à
A classical Hindu scripture in which a young Brahmin has an insightful dialogue
with Yama, the king of the postmortal Otherworld.
·
The
Myth of Er @ https://www.thoughtco.com/the-myth-of-er-120332
à
Plato’s parable about the afterlife, contained in the tenth book of dialogue, The
Republic.
·
The
Dream of Scipio
@ https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cicero_dream_of_scipio_02_trans.htm
à
Cicero’s Stoic vision of the afterlife, which was a bestseller in medieval
Europe.
·
The
Gospel of Nicodemus @ https://sacred-texts.com/bib/lbob/lbob10.htm
à
An ancient Christian mystery-drama, perhaps performed on Easter Eve, tells how
Hades was conquered and its denizens were liberated.
·
Sir
Orfeo @ https://chaucer.fas.harvard.edu/sir-orfeo
à
A wonderful Middie English adaptation of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, this
time with a happy ending.
