Path of Air

António Pedro Marques · 18 Aug 2010, 13:36 · from 2010-August.txt.gz

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From: entonio at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?B?QW50w7NuaW8gUGVkcm8gTWFycXVlcw==?=)
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:36:17 +0100
Subject: (urth) Path of Air
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Lee Berman wrote (18-08-2010 12:58):

> I think Valeria remains a possible candidate as Severian's missing twin
> sister. The wife of Roman emperor valentinianus was named Valeria
> Severa.

This I think is worth exploring.

- When Severian goes to Yesod, Valeria remains in his place for decades. Why 
would this be tolerated? We're told of no similar thing in the history of 
the Autarchy.

- What's Severian's attraction to Valeria? He met her when both were 
reasonably young. Then years pass and suddenly upon becoming Autarch he 
realises he must go get her. Why?

- I don't know what to make of the names. The -ian in Severian's name was 
sometimes used in Rome to indicate adoption. Otoh Valeria would simply be 
the name of a woman born to perhaps the most noble family in roman history, 
while at the same time one that generally stood for the rights of lower 
strata of society. So, the names seem to fit, but do they tell us anything new?

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