Nate's "Allegory of the Oasis" Graphic

We are now requiring that new registrants confirm their request for an account by email.  Once you complete the "Sign Up" process to set up your user name and password, please send an email to the New Accounts Administator to obtain new account approval.

Regularly Checking In On A Small Screen Device? Bookmark THIS page!

    Nate I see the title "Allegory of the Oasis" is still there.... which is fine....I wonder if some other general label or box might still serve to tie the whole thing together and explain the scenario --- for example box 1 starts with "We" -- who is "we" and how might it be conveyed to the viewer what role the viewer should assume in reading through the progression?

    I've been going back-and-forth, trying to decide if I want to include the word "Epicurean" in the title, or if it would be sufficient to stamp a 'Society of Epicurus' emblem on it.

    I want to make it known that this is the allegory of a philosophical school with specific historical implications, but also, I don't want that to make it inaccessible in any way to anyone turned off by philosophical names and words with which they are not already familiar. Some people may take "Epicurean" to mean cuisine or gluttony, so, if I leave the word off of the image, it reinforces the idea that the 'path to pleasure' is for everyone, and not just Epicurean initiates.

    I'm open to suggestions, though. Nothing is set in stone.

    Also, here's a better First Panel:

    I think what you're going back and forth on is part of the issue. Somebody looking at panel one at first glance might think the entire theme is "Stormy Dialectic" due to the placement of that term in the center.

    Maybe we're so close to the details that we need some fresh eyes to ask some fresh questions like "What is this all about?" or whatever. Maybe it might be a good idea to start a new post at FB with some kind of general question like "Give me your general thoughts on seeing this for the first time?" (not good phrasing) or something that would help us get an idea of what a new person would ask in order to get oriented.

    And maybe that plays into the issue of how to fit the two panels together. One above the other with some kind of huge arrows pointing out the pathway? Or side by side?

    I think somehow we're missing an in-your-face method of telling people what this is.

    You know, the second panel has the Epicureans lined up facing toward the oasis with Epicurus at the end, and that works well I think. The first panel, however-- I'm not sure that it has the same kind of "theme" that pulls it together in the same way or shows that it is a progression (still thinking)

    Nate I'm still wondering if things would be more clear if there was a character in the picture representing the "We" who is referenced in first bubble of panel one. On panel two, you have animals moving toward the oasis, but not one thing representing the "we." Would it be more clear if the "we" were represented by a uniform someone/something moving through the diagram and encountering those people? To some extent that's the way the cave analogy worked, with the main character moving from place to place in the landscape.

    Check out these changes for the 'First Panel'. We have (1) a unique, less developed garden with little animals, (2) the pitfalls of the journey populated with Epicurus' opponents, (3) additional pig images that show his emotional journey, (4) a Grim Reaper as one of the 'mirages', and (5) a much enlarged Father Creator in the back.

    I think this is coming along VERY well! Let me check your other posts.

    I hope others will comment! One minor thought going through my mind is that our stoic friends might quibble with the wording of the mountain of virtue description - they probably see their mountain not as much of a "dismissal of anguish" or a "sanctuary from the storm" as much as glorious height to be scaled or a "better" or "more worthy" way....

Unread Threads

    1. Title
    2. Replies
    3. Last Reply

    2. Beyond Stoicism (2025) 20

      • Don
      • August 15, 2025 at 4:28 PM
    3. Replies
      20
      Views
      570
      20

    4. Don

      August 15, 2025 at 4:28 PM

    2. Immutability of Epicurean school in ancient times 11

      • TauPhi
      • July 29, 2025 at 2:14 PM
    3. Replies
      11
      Views
      1k
      11

    4. Eikadistes

      July 29, 2025 at 2:14 PM

    2. Recorded Statements of Metrodorus 11

      • Cassius
      • July 28, 2025 at 7:23 PM
    3. Replies
      11
      Views
      842
      11

    4. Cassius

      July 28, 2025 at 7:23 PM

Finding Things At EpicureanFriends.com

What's the best strategy for finding things on EpicureanFriends.com? Here's a suggested search strategy:

  • First, familiarize yourself with the list of forums. The best way to find threads related to a particular topic is to look in the relevant forum. Over the years most people have tried to start threads according to forum topic, and we regularly move threads from our "general discussion" area over to forums with more descriptive titles.
  • Use the "Search" facility at the top right of every page. Note that the search box asks you what section of the forum you'd like to search. If you don't know, select "Everywhere." Also check the "Search Assistance" page.
  • Use the "Tag" facility, starting with the "Key Tags By Topic" in the right hand navigation pane, or using the "Search By Tag" page, or the "Tag Overview" page which contains a list of all tags alphabetically. We curate the available tags to keep them to a manageable number that is descriptive of frequently-searched topics.