Tartarus: a sunless abyss, below Hades in which Zeus imprisoned the Titans.
That doesn’t necessarily sound like a natural abode for a delicate soul like me, but for Ann-Christine of the esteemed Lens-Artist quartet, I will climb the highest mountain, sail the seven seas, dive the deepest ocean and while at the bottom enter a sunless abyss below Hades to find Delicate Colours for Lens-Artists Photo Challenge#98
“In Greek mythology, Tartarus … is the deep abyss that is used as a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked and as the prison for the Titans. Tartarus is the place where, according to Plato’s Gorgias (c. 400 BC), souls are judged after death and where the wicked received divine punishment. Tartarus is also considered to be a primordial force or deity alongside entities such as the Earth, Night and Time”. From Wikipedia
Anne-Christine mentioned that in spring delicate colours: are everywhere in nature, but also to be found anywhere you look, in for example fashion, art and architecture. I am certainly disappointed that she didn’t mention other obvious places like dungeons used for torment and suffering! It would have made my life much easier.
Like one of the other quartet members Tina Schell I also did not know how to approach this challenge, but she spoke to a friend which reminded her of the sweetgrass of Kiawah and her post was born. I decided to follow a similar methodology , except that in my case the friend was virtual.
I share photos with friends on Google Photos due to having shared hiking trail adventures with them and as these photos are searchable I started here. I typed in Delicate Colours but my friend unashamedly informed me that there is no results and I should try a synonym or more general keyword. Let’s make it simpler: C-O-L-O-U-R-S. Same result – thus no result. But then I had a moment of deep insight, linguistic brilliance I dare say old chap. I realized that I was metaphorically, speaking Greek to my virtual American friend and decided to type: C-O-L-O-R-S! My friend was happy to present me with results and viola my post was born!! While there were results for colors they were random. In the end I searched for flowers and the logarithm brain of my friend interpreted one of these photos incorrectly to be a flower and that is actually when the post was born.

Cave flower
These colours are caused by an organism which name I can’t remember but it is delicate in appearance and colour. And certainly a surprise. I have been in many caves but Tartarus despite the mythological meaning was the first cave I entered which shimmered like this. It proved to be an enjoyable visit as the smiles on my hiking companions’ faces bare witness to.

Banished to Tartarus

Delicate colours not ruled by darkness

Gold fever

Eikosigon
One day in 2019 and thus before Covid19 we visited Muizenberg, Tartarus and Boomslang (Tree snake) caves. We started hiking very early and on the way to Muizenberg cave, I saw this intricately delicate eikosigon. As it was early hundreds if not thousands water pearls were clinging to the threads. An eikosigon, is familiy of a pentagon and a hexagon, those pyramid shapes named by the amount of sides they have. I counted 20 “sides” some of them much wider than others on this absolutely amazing spiderweb, an engineering miracle.
Eikosi means 20 in Greek. It is pronounced similar to 2 Xhosa words Enkosi (thank you) and Nkosi (Lord as in God). Thank you Lord 20 times over for the privilege to experience the beauty of nature and for friends to experience it with.
COVID19 will pass – stay safe
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1
Wow Abrie, who knew you could be so erudite (pretty good, eh?). And of course you needed to spell color correctly to get results😊! But seriously, as one who is immensely claustrophobic I will never experience this beauty directly so thanks so much for sharing your images. I loved the creativity of your response and even more the starring roles of your friends. “The beauty of nature and friends to share it with” indeed, it does not get better than that
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Erudite? Teacher by heart Tina teacher by heart. While studying I was and a guide at the Cango caves, South Africa’s premier cave (and I dare say on of the world’s premier caves). Thus it is somewhat in my blood. The tourist section is known as Cango 1. One night the person whi discovered can go 2 to the temporary guides through to Cango 3. We went in at 5pm and came out 9 hours later at 2 am. It was an amazing experience. Cango three is an exquisite active cave. No other cave comes close to what I saw there but alas no photos of it. Thanks Tina appreciate the comment
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I’ll have night terrors just thinking about 9 hours in a cave Abrie. In NZ we went to the glow worm caves. The minute I could no longer see daylight I left the tour. In Vietnam I couldn’t enter the Chu Chi tunnels. In charleston I tried to tour a moored submarine and had to turn around and go back out the entrance. I admire your adventurous spirit but I draw the line at caves and tunnels!
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It felt strange almost a surprise to come out of the cave in the dark for the first time. You certainly also have an adventurous spirit. You need not enter caves to qualify for that
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Soos altyd plaas jy weer ń skitterende skrywe, Abrie!
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Baie dankie Una ek waardeer jou vrymoedige ondersteunende opmerkings
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I have enjoyed visiting several caves and then – out of the blue – discovered I am not able to deal with the claustrophobic dark tunnels and holes in the walls: such a pity for they are mysterious and very interesting places. The spider web is BRILLIANT!
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Indeed that spider web is absolutely amazing haven’t seen such a three dimensional Eikosicon before or after. Thanks Anne
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Dis so lekker om jou soms weer raak te loop, Abrie, en jou foto’s laat my altyd verstom. Hierdie laaste een – die spinnerak – het my asem weggeslaan. Jy kan gerus meer dikwels kom inloer, sommer net met ‘n lawwe geselsie. Goed gaan en veilig wees!
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Baie dankie HESTER. Baie dankie Hester BAIE DANKIE HESTER
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Beautiful, inspiring, creative….Wonderful post! That was a great idea to highlight the cave flowers. Surprising blooms even in gloomy surroundings–a wonderful metaphor for what’s happening during the pandemic!!
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Thank you Patti, those are lot of meaningful adjectives – appreciate it
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Oh, gorgeous colours, Abrie – just a bit sad that Google or Wikipedia cannot spell correctly in British English as well as in American English “…didn’t mention other obvious places like dungeons used for torment and suffering! It would have made my life much easier.” I am afraid I have to apologise for this post and for the whole idea, Abrie, since it brought only difficulties and trouble. Sorry…
Your friends look happy though, and I am happy you joined in anyway…
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Ann-Christine you need not apogize for anything. It was a fun post enjoyed by me and I am sure everyone who participated. My mention of you not mentioning dungeons for torment was an attempt at humour. Google itself does recognize the different spellings. but this is a Google photo app searching on my photos only. It is only in this app where it doesn’t recognise colours.
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Thank you, Abrie – I was attempting to be ironic and funny, but I guess I failed…but we both had some fun at least! ♥
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Wow, creative take on the challenge. Thank goodness for fellow Americans. Wink. Dungeons would be fun. haha. loved that and I loved how you finally came about your contribution. Looks like great fun. Hope you are well. Donna
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Thank you Donna, yes was a peculiar way to get the images, thus I had to tell it. Thanks fo the visit(s). I appreciate it.
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That is one crazy spider web 🕸 😳
Looks like quite an adventure.
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Hi welcome as a comment making blogger on my blog 🙂 But I have noticed your presence before. I have visited your blog as well and thank you very much for the follow.
After deep thought about the subject I came to the conclusion that the spider/s who build that web are on a pilgrimage and decided to enhance their spiritual journey by building a temple 🙂
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