Song of Siwa

Song Of Siwa: Chapter Summaries . Beginning (Lines 1-65). Ethereal Description Of The Hidden Valley Siwa;Marzuk And His Clan Of Ice-Age Hunters Seek Protection From Environmental Changes; Marzuk Senses Approaching Ice Will Doom His People; Marzuk Leads His Clan To New Caves Near The Sea Of Vanton; Pine-Tree Spirits Speak To Marzuk That Death Awaits If His Clan Remains By The Sea; Marzuk Completes Construction Of Pine-Log Rafts To Cross The Sea Of Vanton; Clan Members Debate Whether Or Not To Trust And Follow Marzuk; Marzuk And Followers Depart While The Others Remain Behind; Wind And Waves Batter The Rafts As They Cross The Sea Of Vanton; Weakest Clan Members Are Swept Overboard And Disappear; Survivors Reach The Shore Of What Is Now North Africa; Clan Members Who Remained Behind Perish Under Layers Of Grinding Glacial Ice; The Hidden Valley Siwa Awaits Its First Human Occupants.Eastward (Lines 66-149). The North African Coastal Lands Breed Illness And Danger Among Marzuks Clan; The Clan Splits: Marzuk Leads His Faction Southward While Others Remain Along The Coast;The Clan Passes Through High Mountains Into The Vast Sahara Region;Illness And Danger Continue To Plague Marzuks Clan During Their Journey;Many Clansmen Lose Hope And Begin To Murmur;God Zaghilie Sends Messenger Bird And A Life-Saving Spring Is Revealed;Gosla Marzuks Mate Promises To Erect A Temple To God Zaghilie At Journeys End;Feathers From The Messenger Bird Float Earth-Ward As Symbols Of Hope And Safety;Renewed In Spirit Marzuks Clan Continue Their Eastward Trek.Promise (Lines 150-277).The Long March Continues As Clan Members Fear God-Sent Promise Was Only A Vision;Advance Scouts Cross The Great Sand Sea And View The Siwa For The First Time;Scouts Report That The Siwa Is Filled With Wild Game And Springs Of Clear Water; Marzuks Clan Reaches The Siwa And Establishes Their Settlement Near Aghourmi Hill;Clan Members Erect Zaghilis Temple Atop Aghourmi Thus Fulfilling Goslas Promise;Clan Members Offer Sacred Green Stones As Ritual Offerings To God Zaghili;Zaghili Descends And Promises Clan Protection If His Rules Are Followed;Rules For Clan Behavior Personal Dress And Body Ornamentation Are Identified;Mothers Must Display Sunburst Designs On Their Dress Symbolic Of Zaghilis Feathers;Fathers Must Prepare Silver Disks For Virgin Daughters To Wear;Daughters Must Wear Their Disks Until Marriage Then Pass Them To Younger Sisters;Sons Must Honor Their Fathers And Mothers;Zaghili Promises Gosla The Line Of Marzuk Will Flourish If His Requirements Are Followed;Zaghili Requires Clan Leaders To Wear The Horns Of Gurzel [Ram-God] As A Symbol Of Power;Zaghili Specifies Rules For Maintaining Aghourmis Temple Flame;Zaghili Promises That If Rules Are Kept Marzuks Line Will Not Experience Strife;Zaghili Blocks The Suns Light; The Clan Agrees To Honor Zaghilis Requirements And Sunlight Returns To The Siwa; The Grace Of Zaghili Now Resides Within The Line Of Marzuk. Manhood (Lines 278-489).Relation On Clan Hunting And Tracking Skills;Relation On The Valor And Strength Of Marzuk;Gosla Becomes Pregnant;Relation On Clan Birth Practices;Gosla Delivers Twins As Birth Attendants Watch In Fear;Gosla Rejects Clan Tradition That Requires The Death Of One Twin;Relation On The Growth And Maturation Of The Twins Zel And Zechen;Zel And Zechen Mature And Undergo Initiation Scarification Rituals And Fasting;Each Twin Required To Prepare Spear Points Track And Kill A Farna [Leopard];Zechen Killed By A Farna During His Hunting Initiation;Zel Kills A Farna Honors His Father And Becomes A Man.Death (Lines 490-573).Marzuk Anguishes Over The Death Of His Son Zechen;Glims Cautionary Words Uttered At The Birthing Time Of The Twins Are Recalled; Relation On The Aging Of Marzuk And Gosla;Relation On Goslas Illness And Impending Death;Death Of Gosla;Rela