Florence Wallin
Florence Wallin Talks About Her Life With Helen And Before.
One day in Greece my combined interest in mythology, archaeology, and anthropology, flashed a message of insight in my brain, stirring up an inclination to write a book.. There was a different story to be told if Marija Gimbutus' theory about matriarchal culture in old Europe was added to the stew.
My husband, Franklin (Wally) and I lived aboard a thirty‐two foot sail boat for quite a few years, cruising around Sardinia, Italy Sicily, Greece, and Turkey. We sailed out of a 'home port' like Dubrovnik, in Croatia or Nidri, in Greece, and visited other ports and sites of ancient ruins and archaeological digs. We both read the old literature by Homer, and all sorts of related volumes. We examined every museum we found, and finally, it hit me. The matrilineal culture was present in the Mycenaean age, but it is not reflected in the myths or Homer's tales.
Originally, our plan was to set our busy lives aside and sail in Aegean waters for an indefinite period. The dream gradually became reality as we gave up jobs, broke up housekeeping, passed precious items to our four children, put as little as possible in storage, and attempted to reduce our responsibilities of jobs and ownership to a minimum.
Quest our sail boat, was a thirty two foot sloop we had owned for many years: a proven home at sea for every summer vacation. We made mile-long lists for boat repairs, replacements and additions. Over a couple of summers we attended to them, then began to buy stores and find places to put everything. We made the ocean crossing in the summer of 1981, returned to work for two more years, taking vacations on the boat in Europe, and moved on board in 1983. We led the idyllic life in Mediterranean waters for six years. Every winter we left the boat for about four months and engaged in creative activities related to our former life.
We continued our adventures on Quest becoming ever more interested in civilizations way before Homer. We always looked for the oldest evidence in any ruin, and soon came to realize they were often female, usually a temple to Hera. Creation myths seemed to include water, rivers, and seas, rivulets and streams. We noticed wells or springs usually were near by these early female temples, such as in Delphi and Delos. It became easy to locate the oldest places; we just looked for the well or spring. In Dodona we were mystified for a while. This ancient place had a Roman Amphitheater. The last people to redo this archaic monument were the Romans. It would be hard to find the oldest place. Then we noticed a spigot in the ground. Drops of water dripped steadily from it. That must indicate a spring. We inquired about these old walls and were told, "Oh, I think it was some old temple to Hera"
I kept adding to my note book information about matrilineal societies, my flash of insight. Eventually, in 1889‐90 we turned towards home and I began to write it all down. Along about 1991 the story was in mind. I had written half of it, but I was handicapped because there were some places I had not seen. We returned to check out these spots by land. We went to Troy for the first time, and to Mt Ida, Limera Bay, Aulis, Sparta, and Mycenae. We went to Istanbul's Archaeological Museum, the museum in Canakkale not far from Troy and the museum in Naplion near several important Mycenaean sites. We wandered through the National Museum of Archaeology in Athens with fresh eyes. We even drove in our rental car north from Athens to find the Fortress of Aphidnae, so important in the story. Wally took pictures and I wrote in the journal. I came home and finished the story over the next few years. It was finally published in 1997.
My training and experience as a librarian (MSLS Wayne State University 1968) was a big help as was my husband's PhD in European History, with one of three specialties in Greek and Roman History. I was born and grew up in Wausau, Wisconsin. Wally and I met at the University of Wisconsin in Madison where we both earned BAs. We have four children, all married and engaged in interests of their own. We have twelve grand-‐children. Over the years I have lived in Wausau, Wisconsin, Hillsboro, Texas; Berkeley California; Detroit Michigan; Paris, France; Geneva, Switzerland; Hamilton, New York; Richmond Indiana, and now. Asheville North Carolina.
