It is said that Caligula, the cruel and delusional Roman emperor who refused to accept that anything could exist outside his power and command, encountered unfavourable sea waves during his campaign toward Britain and declared war upon the sea.

He ordered his soldiers to attack the waves with their swords. Then, in order to demonstrate that he had won, he ordered the Roman soldiers to collect seashells, as evidence of how much booty he had taken from the sea and how severely he had punished it.

You too should look carefully at the sea represented by these people. You can attack it and gather “Uncle Sadeqs” from its shore like seashells. But it is futile. Seashells did not make the sea, and no ruler has ever defeated the sea with a sword. Some, however, have insisted very strongly on turning themselves into the comedy of history, leaving behind astonishment, smiles and lessons for future generations.

Aydin Areta