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March 28, 2025 • 13 mins
In this episode of the Bell's Books and Blog Podcast, hosted by Jane M. Bell, the audience is taken on a historical journey starting with an alternate version of Shakespeare's 'Sonnet 116' which suggests the work was possibly rewritten for political purposes during the English Civil War, shedding new light on the political climate of 17th-century England and challenging previous beliefs about the popularity and flexibility of Shakespeare's work. From England, the listeners are then transported to Southern Greece, where a recently uncovered lost port city from the Bronze Age offers insights into ancient trade networks and construction practices. Lastly, the episode concludes with a feature about the unexpected discovery of a 700-year-old Vishnu statue on an Indian beach, a mystery that connects the audience with the spiritual and cultural heritage of a distant past. Throughout each discovery, Bell emphasizes how each finding reshapes our understanding of history, demonstrating its evolving nature and the interconnectedness of our world.
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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to The Bell's Books and Blog podcast, the place
where history, mystery, and suspense converge. I'm your host, author
Jane M. Bell. In today's episode, we're diving into some
truly captivating discoveries that recently made headlines and could reshape
our understanding of history. We'll start by exploring a fascinating
alternate version of Shakespeare's Sonnet one sixteen that may have

(00:27):
been rewritten for political purposes during the English Civil War. Next,
will journey to southern Greece, where underwater archaeologists have uncovered
the remnants of a lost port city, revealing secrets from
the Bronze Age. Finally, we'll head to the shore of
an Indian beach to learn about the mysterious appearance of
a seven hundred year old Vishnu statue that's left experts

(00:47):
both puzzled and excited. Whether you're a history buff, a
literature lover, or simply captivated by ancient mysteries, you won't
want to miss these incredible stories. Let's begin with the
story behind one of the most beloved poems of all time,
Shakespeare's Sonnet one sixteen. Imagine the scene You're at Oxford's

(01:09):
Bodilian libraries. Leafing through an old manuscript, when something catches
your eye, This is exactly what happened to researcher Lea Varenesi.
While examining the pages, she stumbled upon a handwritten copy
of Sonnet one sixteen. But something immediately seemed different. The
familiar lines we all know so well had been dramatically altered.

(01:30):
Shakespeare's original Sonnet, published in sixteen o nine, begins with
the powerful lines let me not to the marriage of
true minds, admit impediments. Love is not love which alters
when it alteration finds. But in this newly discovered version,
the opening lines read self blinding error sees all those
minds who with false appellations call that love which alters

(01:52):
when it alteration finds. Additional lines, a rewritten ending, and
even musical settings were added, transforming the poem into something
quite different. Now you might wonder why would anyone rewrite
Shakespeare's work. The answer lies in the political context of
the time. The altered Sonnet appeared in a seventeenth century miscellany,

(02:14):
a collection that included numerous political texts and banned Christmas
carols with hidden royalist messages. This collection once belonged to
Elias Ashmole, a staunch royalist and supporter of King Charles
the First during the English Civil War, This period, marked
by battles between the monarchy and parliament, left England deeply divided.

(02:35):
Royalists like Ashmole supported King Charles the Fir, while parliamentarians
sought to reduce the King's power. In this tumultuous environment,
rewriting a sonnet to emphasize loyalty to the crown made
perfect sense. Instead of celebrating romantic love, the revised lines
promoted political constancy, an unwavering devotion to the monarchy. This

(02:58):
practice of reimagining literary works for political purposes underscores the
flexibility and adaptability of literature. Shakespeare's text was not static.
It was reshaped to fit the changing cultural and political landscapes.
This discovery also challenges long standing beliefs about Shakespeare's popularity.
Scholars have always thought that his sonnets were not widely

(03:20):
read until the eighteenth century. However, the existence of this
rewritten manuscript suggests that his works were recognized and circulated
much earlier than previously believed. Moreover, it highlights how literary
works can be continuously reinterpreted. This sonnet is a poetic
time capsule, offering insight into the turbulent political climate of

(03:41):
seventeenth century England and showing us that literature and history
are deeply intertwined. The political adaptations and reimaginings of Shakespeare's
work serve as a reminder that literature is never isolated
from the era in which it exists. From this single discovery,
we gain a richer understanding of how powerful Shakespeare's words
were and how they could be wielded to reflect the

(04:03):
needs of the time. It's a fascinating glimpse into a
world where even the most romantic lines could serve a
very political purpose. Moving from the literary world of seventeenth
century England, let's now plunge into the azure waters of
southern Greece. Imagine the sun is shining and underwater archaeologists
are gearing up to explore the depths off Kstraki Beach,

(04:26):
just east of Tolo. This serene location has long fascinated historians,
but it wasn't until twenty twenty one that a comprehensive
underwater survey began revealing secrets hidden beneath the waves. Using
sophisticated photogrammetry tools, the team captured stunning images of large
artificial plateaus and stone structures submerged under water. These findings

(04:49):
pointed to a massive port facility integral for trade and
travel during the Bronze Age. Between October seventh and eleventh,
twenty twenty four, the archaeology team Meticulate excavated a sixteen
square meter section of the submerged city. They found large
stone built platforms that had retained their original shapes, likely
serving as loading docks or staging areas for ships. Fragments

(05:13):
of amphaae ceramic vessels used for transporting goods like olive, oil, wine,
and grains were scattered around. Even the remnants of ancient
dwellings were uncovered, offering a rare glimpse into daily life
in this coastal settlement. The Amphori fragments, in particular, are pivotal.
They might have been left during the port's final days,
or discarded when the city was abandoned or destroyed. By

(05:37):
examining these relics, researchers hoped to accurately date Assini's last
operational period, potentially solving one of the lingering mysteries surrounding
this ancient city. Now, let's delve into the compelling history
of Assceni itself. According to Greek legend, the region was
first settled by the Dryopes, a tribe forced out of
Mount Parnassus by Hercules. While the mythical elements are open

(06:00):
to interpretation, archaeological evidence confirms human activity in the area
as early as the sixth millennium BCE. Assceni flourished during
the Mycenian era around seventeen fifty to ten fifty BCE,
becoming a significant trade hub. Unlike many other Bronze Age
cities that crumbled, Assceni endured. However, the city faced its

(06:21):
share of conflicts. In the eighth century BCE, it was
destroyed by rival Argive forces during a battle with Sparta.
Despite this devastation, Assceni eventually recovered and was later occupied
during both the Roman and Byzantine periods. Sadly, many of
the city's ancient ruins suffered severe damage during World War II,

(06:42):
when Italian forces used the site as a military base
and bombarded its historic structures. The recent underwater discoveries offer
invaluable insights into Assinees maritime history, which has remained shrouded
in mystery until now. The port infrastructure indicates that the
city played a crucial role in mid Mediterranean trade networks,
exporting goods and welcoming merchants. The amphray fragments are especially

(07:06):
promising for researchers. By analyzing their composition and contents, archaeologists
may be able to pinpoint the port's operational period, identify
the types of goods traded, and understand the cultural and
economic connections between Assini and other ancient civilizations. Furthermore, the
preserved structures give us a fascinating glimpse into the city's

(07:27):
urban planning, potentially revealing details about how Mycenian port cities
were constructed and organized. These findings collectively paint a vivid
picture of a bustling port city that was deeply connected
to the broader Mediterranean world. They tell us about trade,
daily life, and the resilience of a community that weathered
both natural and human made challenges. As the underwater archaeology

(07:51):
team continues its work, we can look forward to even
more revelations about Assini, its people, its culture, and the
forces that shaped its destiny. Now, let's head east to
the shores of India, where an astonishing discovery has recently
emerged from the sands of Petarushikonda Beach. On the evening

(08:11):
of March twenty first, twenty twenty four, Depali Naidu was
enjoying a peaceful walk along the beach when she spotted
something unusual partially buried near the water's edge. Imagine her
surprise when she realized that it was a weathered stone statue,
a centuries old idol of Vishnu, the Hindu god known
as the protector and preserver of the universe. Naidu quickly

(08:32):
notified the authorities, and by the next day the statue
was carefully transported to the Visaka Museum. Experts have been
eagerly examining this ancient relic to determine its origins and significance.
The statue is set to go on display soon, giving
the public a chance to marvel at this incredible find.
What makes this statue particularly intriguing is its unusual granite composition.

(08:55):
During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, most sculptures from the
north on Threa Pradesh region were carved from condolite stone,
a common material in the area. The use of granite
suggests that this idol likely originated from outside the region.
The statue depicts Vishnu in his Janardanaya Avatar, one of
his twenty four divine forms. In this form, Vishnu is

(09:18):
revered as the remover of suffering and the protector of
his devotees. However, the idol is missing one of its arms,
which likely held a shanka or kanch shell, one of
Vishnu's four symbolic attributes. Experts believe that the statue may
have once been part of a temple complex before being
discarded into the Bay of Bengal, a common practice for

(09:39):
damaged or decommissioned deity statues. The statue's journey through time
and tides is truly fascinating. How did it end up
in the ocean? Was it part of a temple complex
destroyed by time, war, or natural disasters. Could it have
been a victim of coastal erosion or flooding, swept out
to sea and recently deposited on the shore. Or did

(10:00):
it sink aboard a ship lost to the Bay of
Bengal centuries ago, only to resurface now. In Hindu tradition,
Vishnu represents preservation, protection and divine order. His Janardanaia Avatar
emphasizes his role as the remover of suffering, providing solace
to his devotees. The missing shanka adds another layer of
symbolic significance In Hinduism. The kank shell represents divine sound

(10:25):
and cosmic energy, the ocean and creation, and wealth and prosperity.
The emergence of the Vishnu statue from the sea seems
almost poetic given the kank shell's connection to the ocean
and Hindu belief. The statue's mysterious appearance deepens our understanding
of ancient practices and beliefs, reminding us that history is
still alive, waiting to be uncovered. This remarkable find not

(10:49):
only enriches our knowledge of the past, but also connects
us to the spiritual and cultural heritage of a distant era,
leaving us in awe of the stories yet to be discovered.
What you leave behind is not what is engraved in
stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.
This quote from Pericles provides us with food for thought,

(11:10):
and from Marcus Aurelius we learn that time is a
sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current.
No sooner is a thing brought to sight than it
is swept by, and another takes its place. Both these
quotes seem to fit the theme of this week's blog.
Now it's your turn to get involved. If you could
spend a day in any ancient civilization, which one would

(11:32):
you choose? Imagine walking through the bustling streets of Rome,
sailing on a Phoenician ship, or exploring the temples of Egypt.
Send me a message and let me know where your
historical curiosity would take you. Last week, I asked you
which Celtic legend sends a shiver down your spine the most.
Thanks to see V for sharing that the Banshee legends

(11:53):
are particularly chilling. It's fascinating to hear your thoughts and
dive into these fun new finds together. Well. That apps
up this week's episode of The Bell's Books and Blog podcast.
From the political intrigue hidden in Shakespeare's rewritten Sonnet one sixteen,
to the submerged city of Assini revealing secrets of the
Bronze Age, and the mysterious emergence of a seven hundred

(12:14):
year old Vishnu statue on an Indian beach, It's been
a fascinating journey through history. Each of these discoveries offers
us valuable insights into our past and shows just how
interconnected our world has always been. Don't forget. You can
find the Bell's books and blog podcast on Amazon Music, Audible,
Apple Podcasts, cast Box, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Geosovin Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify,

(12:41):
and Spreaker. Make sure to check the show notes for
any links or additional articles mentioned in today's episode. Thank
you for tuning in, and as always, I'm your host,
Jane M. Bell. Stay curious, keep exploring, and remember the
past is always alive in the stories we uncover together.
Until next time, keep the past alive.
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