Rhea

"What do you want to write about in your dissertation, Mr. Ronan?" "I am fascinated by Mnêmê the Thrice Goddess, Professor." "You will find that my work on this myth is quite exhaustive. Some people study the social impact of the myth on the movement towards the Emancipation but that type of work requires sociological tools you don't have and I can't provide. I am an historian, although my life's work focused on a myth, or rather the history of its preservation and codification, the manuscripts and their variants, retracing the path from the extant documents to the myth's origins." "That is why I would like you, Professor, to be my guide. I would like to explore the hypothesis that the myth is based on an historical ruler or rulers. Analyzing the mythical narrative to identify elements that may be based on reality." "An interesting approach. Quite courageous. I am afraid you might run into considerable opposition. Ever since the Cult of the Dragon Queen (what a misguided lot!) academics have been reluctant to give any grounds, however feeble, to those who could accuse us of supporting the cultists." "You are most likely correct, Professor. My work may cause me trouble. But, I am self-funded, and I would like to study something I feel passionately about." "Research cannot be done without passion. It's too dry and dreary otherwise, and one can get easily distracted and discouraged. Yes, passion... Very well, Mr. Ronan. Bring me your project outline, and we shall proceed..."