Morta (died c. 1263) was wife of Mindaugas, the first known ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. She was the Grand Duchess of Lithuania (until 1253) and later Queen consort of Lithuania (1253–1262). Very little is known about her life. Probably, Morta was Mindaugas' second wife as Vaišvilkas, the eldest son of Mindaugas, was already a mature man active in international politics when Morta's sons were still young and dependent on the parents. After her death, Mindaugas married her sister, the wife of Daumantas. In revenge, Daumantas allied with Treniota and assassinated Mindaugas and two of Morta's sons in 1263.
Origin
Her pagan name is unknown. The only clue into her origin or birthplace is a short mention in the comments following the treaty signed in 1219 between the Lithuanian dukes and Galicia–Volhynia. It says that Mindaugas killed many members of the Bulaičiai family, including Vismantas whose wife Mindaugas took for himself. The Hypatian Codex elaborates that Vismantas was killed in 1251–1253 during an attack against Vykintas' castle (often assumed to be in Tverai). It is generally assumed that Morta was Vismantas' wife. Lithuanian historian Edvardas Gudavičius analyzed toponyms and determined that the Bulaičiai family most likely hailed from the Šiauliai region. Based on this extrapolation, residents of Šiauliai call the city home of Morta.
In Roman mythology, Morta was the goddess of death. She is one of the Parcae, related to the Roman conception of the Fates in Greek mythology, the Moirai. Her Greek equivalent is Atropos, She is responsible for pain and death that occurs in a half wake half sleep time frame. Her father is the god of darkness and her mother is the goddess of night. She visits and warns in advance of the pain or death about to be endured.
Bog-wood, also known as abonos and morta, especially amongst pipesmokers, is a material from trees that have been buried in peatbogs and preserved from decay by the acidic and anaerobic bog conditions, sometimes for hundreds or even thousands of years. The wood is usually stained brown by tannins dissolved in the acidic water. Bog-wood represents the early stages in the fossilisation of wood, with further stages ultimately forming lignite and coal over a period of many millions of years. Bog-wood may come from any tree species naturally growing near or in bogs, including oak (Quercus– "bog oak"), pine (Pinus), yew (Taxus), swamp cypress (Taxodium) and kauri (Agathis). Bog-wood is often removed from fields etc. and placed in clearance cairns. It is a rare form of timber that is "comparable to some of the world's most expensive tropical hardwoods".
Formation process
Soils that are mostly wet, sandy, gravel and clay-like -- usually found above high underground waters -- are the most suitable habitats for oak forest. These forests thrive best on lowland and slight upland soils of the diluvial geological era, the vallies of river basins being especially suitable sites for this type of oak.
Mademoiselle remembers too well How once she was belle of the ball Now the past she sadly recalls. Mademoiselle lived in grand hotels Ordered clothes by Chanel and Dior Millionaires queued at her door. Oh, she pleased them and teased them She hooked them and squeezed them Until like their empires they'd fall She very soon learned That the more love she spurned The more power she yearned Until she was belle of the ball. Oh, Mademoiselle, such a soft machiavel Would play bagatelle with the hearts of young men as they fell Mademoiselle would hide in her shell Could then turn cast a spell on any girl That got in her way. She would crave all attention Men would flock to her side Woe betide any man who ignored For she'd feign such affection Then break down their pretension When she'd won she would turn away. Turn away, thoroughly bored. Mademoiselle, long ago said farewell To any love left to sell, for the sake of being belle of the ball Mademoiselle knows there's no way to quell Her own private hell, just a shell, With no heart left at all. Poor old Mademoiselle.
