Updates on Past Stories
My Chemical Wedding: “Chemical Wedding”, the film about Aleister Crowley written by Iron Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson, has finished shooting and is now in post-production.
“…principal photography on Chemical Wedding, which was written by Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson and directed by Julian Doyle, has completed and the film is now in post … Simon Callow stars as a stuttering, shy professor who accidentally reanimates the spirit of famed Satanist Aelister Crowley, dubbed “The most evil man in Britain”, transforming into a charismatic, but seriously depraved, reincarnation of Crowley. He wreaks havoc among the students of the Cambridge campus he works for.”
Judging by the poster, I dare say that “havoc” may include some gratuitous nudity (perhaps even inside an inverted pentacle). Not that Crowley, ever a lover of controversy, would necessarily disapprove (though considering Crowley’s open bisexuality, one hopes it is equal-opportunity nudity).
As for the quality of the finished picture, we’ll have to wait and see. Who knows? Perhaps Aleister Crowley will become a new cinematic villain/antihero spawning scores of “Chemical Wedding” sequels. For my original post of this project, click here.
The Cave of Romulus: It looks like Cambridge classics professor Mary Beard isn’t the only one skeptical about the veracity of a site in Italy that some are claiming to be the Cave of Romulus (aka the Lupercal). Adriano La Regina, Rome’s superintendent of archeology from 1976 to 2004, says he is certain that this grotto isn’t the site of the mythical founder’s cave.
“La Regina … said ancient descriptions of the place suggest the Lupercale is elsewhere – 50 to 70 metres northwest of the cave discovered near Emperor Augustus’ palace. “I am positive this is not the Lupercale,” Mr La Regina told Reuters in an interview. Instead, he believes the cave – which ministry pictures show is decorated with well-preserved seashells and coloured mosaics – was a room in Nero’s first palace on the Palatine Hill, which burnt down in 64 AD in the great fire of Rome.”
Interior view of the grotto.
La Regina was also quoted as saying that this is still an important find, even if it isn’t the Lupercal, due to the well-preserved state of the site (which he believes was a nymphaeum used to entertain guests). No word yet from the Italian Culture Ministry, who said they were “reasonably certain” this was the Lupercal. You can read my original post on this subject, here.
One response so far
looking forward to this film; I am teaching a course on the occult in cinema in the spring and hope to be able to discuss it if I can find some more materials on it, or a preview screener.
BTW There is an excellent contemporary novel entitled The Chymical Wedding that every modern pagan ought to read.