Agilus and Agia

DAVID STOCKHOFF · 01 May 2013, 15:45 · from 2013-May.txt.gz

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From: dstockhoff at verizon.net (DAVID STOCKHOFF)
Date: Wed, 1 May 2013 08:45:45 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: (urth) Agilus and Agia
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References: <BLU175-W4C28048A55FD1FD33A057CFBC0 at phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <1367423145.41594.YahooMailNeo at web84503.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>

I find those points difficult to argue with. I also had not considered the misericorde-Pelerine connection---it seems strong.

It reminds me that one of the things that makes BNS hard to sort out is that Wolfe's archaisms can hide correspondences. If one woman has a stiletto or a rondel and another a misericorde, we think at first read that the author is merely being pedantic. But the symbolism of the misericorde cannot be set aside. Wolfe used that term for its precise meaning: mercy.Terminus Est is also a misericorde of sorts, but Severian is a kind of misericorde for Urth. Several characters seem to have an unhealthy fascination with death, in sharp contrast with Severian's professional demeanor; is it much surprise that Agila and Hethor end up together?

I think Agilus is definitely intended to be read as a wearer of masks. The ribbons stay on because he keeps them on, ready to put on another mask at a moment's notice. He wears a mask (with the same ribbons) under his septentrion's helm---whether it's the same death's head mask or not---and this is of course a clue that it's him. The wearing of masks points to the warlocks. I don't think the ribbons need to be painted on---such behavior does not correlate with anything.

>________________________________
> From: Lee Berman <severiansola at hotmail.com>
>To: "urth at urth.net" <urth at urth.net> 
>Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2013 10:54 AM
>Subject: (urth) Agilus and Agia
> 
>
>>aaron: I have always wondered about the ribbons above Agilus' ears, though. And
>>Borski's explanation doesn't satisfy.
>
>I don't remember Borski's explanation on the ribbons but I think there are a number 
>of subtle hints to be found in the various attributes and acoutrements of these two. 
>For example, Agia mentions inheriting a "misericorde" from her mother. This is a slim 
>blade used for the purpose of battlefield mercy killings. This is enough for me to 
>conclude that their mother was a Pelerine, though I'm sure not all would concur. For
>me these clues plus others help me place the twins within Severian's family tree.
>
>Agia is observed scratching out a depiction of a "jurupari". This is the name for a 
>certain S.A. fish whose name translates to "demon eartheater" and also a S.A. mythical
>monster that swallows its human prey whole so that they think they are in a cave. I think
>this is a foreshadow of the man-ape cave to which Agia leads Severian and helps explain
>the enormous being Severian senses below it. (it connects to the Fish Mouth/Fomalhaut 
>theme also)
>
>With regard to Agilus' apparently painted on head stripes, my best guess is that this
>foreshadows and connects to the face and body painting of the Jungle Sorcercers. They, 
>like Agilus, use trickery in an attempt to take Terminus Est from Severian.
>
>Moreover these clues plus others (e.g. the black bean or seed) seem to connect these twins,
>like the Jungle Sorcerers, to an anti-New Sun cult which is likely connected to the 
>megatherians curently ruling Urth. As the caloyer of Saltus tells us, such beings will
>be swept away by the coming of the New Sun. Agia and Agilus are part of a series of traps
>or tests which have been set for Severian to encounter on his journey. ??? ???  ??? ?  ??? ??? ? 
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