Traveling Man Magazine
Dear Reader,
To travel is to indulge in one of the greatest pleasures one can experience. To bear witness for the first time to the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of a different cultural tradition is truly a blessing. Travel reshapes our beliefs, heightens our senses, and can simultaneously inspire in us both an unbridled craving for adventure as well as the humble desire to seek peaceful self-reflection. The goal of this magazine is to distill the spirit of adventure into pearls of wisdom gleaned from some of The Copernicus Society’s most avid travelers in an effort to broaden our horizons while showcasing to the world, that for all our differences, we are more alike than we are unalike. As the political rhetoric of our day increasingly strives to sow division and fear by way of disinformation, we propose a different tact—to facilitate camaraderie, kindness and fellowship though the exchange of personal stories that remind us of our shared humanity.
To that end, Traveling Man Magazine chronicles the travels of ordinary people, through the use of photography and editorial pieces, to spotlight different cultural traditions from around the globe. It is my most sincere hope to inspire in you the same curiosity to travel as was kindled in me, as well as to give our membership a chance to share their stories, lessons, tips, and tricks on how to navigate the most remote corners of the globe or even the very city beneath one’s feet. Though headquartered in Philadelphia where the language du jour is English, The Copernicus Society is exploring the potential for interviews in other languages and regions. I would invite you, should you have traveled recently or in the distant past, to contact me so that we may learn from your stories. I hope that you enjoy the words of those who have trod long and far across the place we all call home, this splendid Planet Earth.
With great thanks,
Spencer Talbot
Editor-in-Chief, Traveling Man Magazine
A Journey to Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a country currently known the world over for its opulence, its oil, and its role as a global economic juggernaut situated at the heart of the Arabian Peninsula. Many civilizations have laid claim to Saudi Arabia, contributing to the region’s rich history of conquest and settlement. Pre-Islamic Arabia was formerly the site of the Kingdom of Lihyan from 600 BCE to 200 CE, whose people worshipped a pantheon of deities represented by sacred stones. An important religious center for this empire was Mecca which would later serve as the holiest city in the Islamic tradition. Pockets of Jewish and Christian influence—the latter controlling large swathes of territory—had established settlements on the western edge of the peninsula. The northwestern section of the peninsula was later renamed Arabia Petraea by the Roman Empire following their annexation of the region in 106 CE—dominion which would last until 630 CE.
The following exchange is from an interview between Bros. Spencer Talbot and Joseph Benzon—both of William L. Elkins Lodge No. 271—where the latter details his most recent trip to the Arabian Peninsula.