This season’s best reads feature an eclectic mix of novels and two extraordinary story collections.
I can't stop laughing! 🤣😂
Ostensibly written by an English knight, the Travels purport to relate his experiences in the Holy Land, Egypt, India and China. Mandeville claims to have served in the Great Khan's army, and to have travelled in 'the lands beyond' - countries populated by dog-headed men, cannibals, Amazons and Pygmies. Although Marco Polo's slightly earlier narrative ultimately proved more factually accurate, Mandeville's was widely known, used by Columbus, Leonardo da Vinci and Martin Frobisher, and inspiring writers as diverse as Swift, Defoe and Coleridge. This intriguing blend of fact, exaggeration and absurdity offers both fascinating insight into and subtle criticism of fourteenth-century conceptions of the world.
These extraordinary prints fr show a 20-year-old Albert, Prince of Wales, future king relaxing away from the sorrow and shame engulfing him in England.
"Worshippers hold up candles as they gather in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem for the Orthodox ceremony of the Holy Fire. This photograph, in Gali Tibbon’s exhibition Echoes of Christian Jerusalem, is part of Visa Pour L’image, the international festival of photojournalism at Perpignan, France, until 12 September." "The Holy Fire is described by Christians as a miracle that occurs every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Holy Saturday, the day preceding Orthodox Easter. It is considered by many to be the longest-attested annual miracle in the Christian world... Before entering the Tomb of Christ, the patriarch is examined by Jewish Israeli authorities to prove that he does not carry technical means to light the fire. This investigation used to be carried out by Muslim Turkish Ottoman soldiers... the Holy Fire spontaneously descends on 33 white candles tied together by the Patriarch while he is alone inside the tomb chamber of Jesus... As with all alleged miracles, many question the validity of the Holy Fire, noting, for instance, that cold-handed pilgrims generally withstand the fire for the same very brief periods of time as can be achieved with any fire. Criticism dates at least to the days of Islamic rule of Jerusalem, but the pilgrims were never stopped, because of the significant revenue they brought to local governments even at the end of the first millennium. When the apparently uninitiated Crusaders took over the Orthodox clergy in charge of the fire, it failed to appear, increasing the scepticism among Western Christians. But feeling the lack of pilgrim revenues, Baldwin I of Jerusalem reinstated the Orthodox priests in charge, and the fire, as well as the stream of revenues, returned... In 2005 in a live demonstration on Greek television, Michael Kalopoulos, author and historian of religion, dipped three candles in white phosphorus. The candles spontaneously ignited after approximately 20 minutes due to the self-ignition properties of white phosphorus when in contact with air. According to Kalopoulos' website: If phosphorus is dissolved in an appropriate organic solvent, self-ignition is delayed until the solvent has almost completely evaporated. Repeated experiments showed that the ignition can be delayed for half an hour or more, depending on the density of the solution and the solvent employed.Kalopoulos also points out that knowledge of chemical reactions of this nature was well known in ancient times, quoting Strabo, who states "In Babylon there are two kinds of naphtha springs, a white and a black. The white naphtha is the one that ignites with fire." (Strabon Geographica 16.1.15.1-24) He further states that phosphorus was used by Chaldean magicians in the early fifth century BC, and by the ancient Greeks, in a way similar to its supposed use today by the Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem."
Between 1147 and 1415 holy wars raged in the lands on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe.
The Rotunda is located in the centre of the Anastasis, beneath the larger of the church's two domes. In the centre of the Rotunda is the chapel called The Edicule, which contains the Holy Sepulchre itself. The Edicule has two rooms. The first one holds The Angel's Stone, a fragment of the stone believed to have sealed the tomb after Jesus' burial. The second one is the tomb itself.
Jerusalem, Israel Join me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoamCPhotographer
Italian painting from the second half of the 17th century. Oil artwork on canvas depicting the martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle. He was one of the closest disciples to Jesus and has been represented countless times by great artists because he suffered one of the most brutal tortures suffered by the holy martyrs. In fact, he was captured and skinned alive because he had brought the word of Christ to distant lands. A painting from the Neapolitan school of great pictorial quality, particularly evident in the representation of the Saint's complexion and in the magnificent robes of his executioners. 20th century frame in carved, gilded and painted wood with a faux marble effect, with some signs of aging. Painting that has undergone restoration with relining, replacement of the frame and restoration of color in some places. Overall in good state of conservation. Sight size H 120 x W 86 cm. less
David and I flew from Athens, the birthplace of western civilization, to the cradle of the world’s religions: Israel. We were joined by a few of our friends who flew in from around the Middle…
Photos Gratuites de le Pictorial Library of Bible Lands
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We hadn't been to the Menacuddle Holy Well and Chapel for quite a while. When we arrived today it was very noticeable that there has been some love and attention given to the site. The Chapel dates back to the 15th century and is now a Grade II listed building. It is aligned east-west with the east wall built against the natural rock face. Below is an old etching of the chapel I came across a while back - a little artistic licence has been used by the artist! This is the reality as to how the Menacuddle Well Chapel looks today (below). The photo below, of the entrance to the chapel, shows how it is built against the rock face. The chapel now looks all neat and tidy - perhaps a little too clean? A matter of opinion, of course. On a previous visit I snapped a photo and there was moss and lichen on the roof and sides of the chapel. This somehow made it more mysterious and gave the building a different feel. The Holy spring water was once held in high regard for its curative powers. Sick children were regularly bathed here and the Victorians recommended the drinking of its salubrious fluid. It was also used to treat ulcers. A local tradition was to throw a bent pin into the water for good luck. The waterfall is part of the St.Austell River, or Vinnick River, and was often known as the White River. In certain weather conditions the water would become a milky white from local china clay. On the opposite of the river to the chapel is the Druids Chair made from solid granite - as below. It has also been called King Arthur's Seat. A bit of a mystery - but it's quite comfortable - for a rock! A couple of photos now of the small gardens and pond. Ah yes, and I saw this painted stone on the wall. On the back it says that it was painted by Rosie, aged 8. So there is still magic here, it hasn't all been swept away. Menacuddle isn't that well sign posted. If visiting by car take the the Bodmin Road from St.Austell town. It's only a few minutes drive but can easily be missed. The entrance only has a small sign …. Look out for the Elderly People sign - the entrance is just after this. There is parking but only for about four cars. But, in saying this, I have never seen anyone else at the chapel and well when I have made a visit.
Corinth Museum
Looking for the best virtual tours of historic sites? Interact with these 15 incredible top tourist destinations for yourself! Xian Warriors blew me away.
Charles V, Holy Roman emperor (1519–56), king of Spain (as Charles I; 1516–56), and archduke of Austria (as Charles I; 1519–21), who inherited a Spanish and Habsburg empire extending across Europe from Spain and the Netherlands to Austria and the Kingdom of Naples and reaching overseas to Spanish America.
