From "Alexander the not so Great: History through Persian eyes", Prof Ali Ansari
Institute of Iranian Studies, St Andrews University
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18803290
"There is a wonderful account provided by Lysander, a Spartan general, who happened to visit Cyrus the Younger in the provincial capital at Sardis. Lysander recounts how Cyrus treated him graciously and was particularly keen to show him his walled garden - paradeisos, the origin of our word paradise - where Lysander congratulated the prince on the beautiful design.
When, he added, that he ought to thank the slave who had done the work and laid out the plans, Cyrus smiled and pointed out that he had laid out the design and even planted some of the trees.
On seeing the Spartan's reaction he added: "I swear to you by Mithras that, my health permitting, I never ate without having first worked up a sweat by undertaking some activity relevant either to the art of war or to agriculture, or by stretching myself in some other way."
Astonished, Lysander applauded Cyrus and said: "You deserve your good fortune Cyrus - you have it because you are a good man.""
Friday, July 27, 2018
Sunday, July 22, 2018
Endymion
In ihm ist Jagd noch. Durch sein Geäder
bricht wie durch Gebüsche das Tier.
Täler bilden sich, waldige Bäder
spiegeln die Hindin, und hinter ihr
hurtigt das Blut des geschlossenen Schläfers,
von des traumig wirren Gewäfers
jähem Wiederzergehn gequält.
Aber die Göttin, die, nievermählt,
Jünglingin über den Nächten der Zeiten
hingeht, die sich selber ergänzte
in den Himmeln und keinen betraf,
neigte sich leise zu seinen Seiten,
und von ihren Schultern erglänzte
plötzlich seine Schale aus Schlaf.
(Rainer Maria Rilke)
La caccia è ancora in lui. Attraverso le sue vene
l'animale scorre come tra i cespugli.
Si formano le valli, le acque dei boschi
riflettono la cerva e dietro di lei
corre il sangue del dormiente rinchiuso in sé,
dal sognar fantasticamente confuso
e agitato come da improvviso risveglio.
Ma è la dea, lei non sposata,
giovane donna che vaga nelle notti
del tempo, che si completava
nei cieli e a nessuno interessata,
che ora si è appoggiata al suo fianco.
E brilla dalle sue spalle
improvvisamente il suo guscio di sonno.
Annibale Carracci, Galleria Farnese
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Torino è l'altra faccia della stessa Roma
Torino un pugno al cielo di terra buona.
Sì, ma per due che come noi si sono amati e poi
trovati qui come disperati, Torino sei
un mare nero per i figli tuoi
Torino occhi aperti non tradirmi mai
Torino strade dritte tu mi perderai.
Dimmi tu come stai in questa città malata di malinconia.
Sì, ma per due che come noi si sono amati e poi
trovati qui come disperati, Torino sei
un mare nero per i figli tuoi
Torino occhi aperti non tradirmi mai
Torino strade dritte tu mi perderai.
Dimmi tu come stai in questa città malata di malinconia.
da Torino, Antonello Venditti
3D Giulio Cesare
Roberta Fontana al link
http://www.robertafontana.com/portfolio-lavori/personaggi/gaio-giulio-cesare-2/
ci presenta i suoi bellissimi lavori in 3D.
http://www.robertafontana.com/portfolio-lavori/personaggi/gaio-giulio-cesare-2/
ci presenta i suoi bellissimi lavori in 3D.
Giulio Cesare in 3D
Friday, July 20, 2018
3D Julius Caesar
Here the link to 3D models og Julius Caesar.
"Ebbe un ruolo cruciale nella transizione del sistema di governo dalla forma repubblicana a quella imperiale. Fu dictator di Roma alla fine del 49 a.C., nel 47 a.C., nel 46 a.C. con carica decennale e dal 44 a.C. come dittatore perpetuo, e per questo ritenuto da Svetonio il primo dei dodici Cesari, in seguito sinonimo di imperatore romano."
http://www.robertafontana.com/portfolio-lavori/personaggi/gaio-giulio-cesare-2/
"Ebbe un ruolo cruciale nella transizione del sistema di governo dalla forma repubblicana a quella imperiale. Fu dictator di Roma alla fine del 49 a.C., nel 47 a.C., nel 46 a.C. con carica decennale e dal 44 a.C. come dittatore perpetuo, e per questo ritenuto da Svetonio il primo dei dodici Cesari, in seguito sinonimo di imperatore romano."
http://www.robertafontana.com/portfolio-lavori/personaggi/gaio-giulio-cesare-2/
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Arles bust
Lifelike rendering of the Arles bust
More at SSRN
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Il Re di Pietra e Chaucer
A prohemie, in which discryveth he,
Pemond, and of Saluces the contree,
And speketh of Appenyn, the hilles hye,
That been the boundes of West Lumbardye,
And of Mount Vesulus in special,
Wher as the Poo out of a welle smal,
Taketh his first spryngyng and his cours
That eastward ay encresseth in his cours
To Emele-ward, to Ferare and Venyse;
The which a long thyng were to devyse.
(Geoffrey Chaucer, "The Clerk's Tale," from The Canterbury Tales)
Pemond, and of Saluces the contree,
And speketh of Appenyn, the hilles hye,
That been the boundes of West Lumbardye,
And of Mount Vesulus in special,
Wher as the Poo out of a welle smal,
Taketh his first spryngyng and his cours
That eastward ay encresseth in his cours
To Emele-ward, to Ferare and Venyse;
The which a long thyng were to devyse.
(Geoffrey Chaucer, "The Clerk's Tale," from The Canterbury Tales)
A dir la verità, questo racconto mostra un uomo molto cattivo, ma a Saluzzo sono tutti buoni come il pane!
Comparing the Profiles of Caesar's Heads given by the Pantelleria Marble Bust and by a Coin of 44 BC
Comparing the Profiles of Caesar's Heads given by the Pantelleria Marble Bust and by a Coin of 44 BC: Here we want to show an interesting fact concerning the profile of the Caesar’s head, which is portrayed in the Pantelleria marble bust. It is the same of the portrait of Caesar given by a coin of 44 BC. The coin was struck just after Caesar's refusal of the crown offered by Mark Antony during the Lupercalia.
The Profiles of Caesar's Heads given by Tusculum and Pantelleria Marbles
The Profiles of Caesar's Heads given by Tusculum and Pantelleria Marbles: Here we want to show a comparison of the profiles of Julius Caesar’s head, as portrayed in Tusculum and in Pantelleria marbles. These profiles are in good agreement and are in good agreement to that given in a coin of 44 BC, struck one month before Caesar’s assassination.
Sikandar the Destroyer - Gaza
From Wikipedia
Upon arriving, Alexander camped near the southern side of the city and deemed the southern walls as the weakest.[4] Near these weak points, Alexander built the mounds that were eventually used to enter the city.[4] It is alleged the mounds were built quickly, despite the engineers' belief they could not be completed due to the nature of Gaza's fortifications.[5]
One day during the siege, the Gazans made a sortie against enemy siege equipment constructed on site, and Alexander led his shield bearing guards into counterattack. Alexander's shoulder was injured in the attempt.[5] According to Arrian, the rest of the mound was completed shortly after, around the whole of Gaza.[5] At some undefined period after this, the siege equipment from Tyre arrived, and was put into use also. It was after this that major sections of the wall were broken by the Macedonians.[5] After three attempts to enter the city, the Macedonians finally entered the city. The Gazans fought bitterly.
Batis refused to surrender to Alexander. When Gaza was taken, the male population was put to the sword and the women and children were sold into slavery.
According to the Roman historian Quintus Curtius Rufus,[6] Batis was killed by Alexander in imitation of Achilles' treatment of the fallen Hector. A rope was forced through Batis's ankles, probably between the ankle bone and the Achilles tendon, and Batis was dragged alive by chariot beneath the walls of the city. Alexander, who admired courage in his enemies and might have been inclined to show mercy to the brave Persian general, was infuriated at Batis's refusal to kneel and by the enemy commander's haughty silence and contemptuous manner.
As a result of the Siege, Alexander was allowed to proceed south into Egypt securely, without his line of communications being threatened from the North by Batis from Gaza.
Upon arriving, Alexander camped near the southern side of the city and deemed the southern walls as the weakest.[4] Near these weak points, Alexander built the mounds that were eventually used to enter the city.[4] It is alleged the mounds were built quickly, despite the engineers' belief they could not be completed due to the nature of Gaza's fortifications.[5]
One day during the siege, the Gazans made a sortie against enemy siege equipment constructed on site, and Alexander led his shield bearing guards into counterattack. Alexander's shoulder was injured in the attempt.[5] According to Arrian, the rest of the mound was completed shortly after, around the whole of Gaza.[5] At some undefined period after this, the siege equipment from Tyre arrived, and was put into use also. It was after this that major sections of the wall were broken by the Macedonians.[5] After three attempts to enter the city, the Macedonians finally entered the city. The Gazans fought bitterly.
Batis refused to surrender to Alexander. When Gaza was taken, the male population was put to the sword and the women and children were sold into slavery.
According to the Roman historian Quintus Curtius Rufus,[6] Batis was killed by Alexander in imitation of Achilles' treatment of the fallen Hector. A rope was forced through Batis's ankles, probably between the ankle bone and the Achilles tendon, and Batis was dragged alive by chariot beneath the walls of the city. Alexander, who admired courage in his enemies and might have been inclined to show mercy to the brave Persian general, was infuriated at Batis's refusal to kneel and by the enemy commander's haughty silence and contemptuous manner.
As a result of the Siege, Alexander was allowed to proceed south into Egypt securely, without his line of communications being threatened from the North by Batis from Gaza.