Tag

History And Culture

All articles tagged with #history and culture

history-and-culture1 year ago•3 min saved

"Unearthing Cross-Cultural Treasures: Astrolabes and Scientific Exchange in Italian Museums"

An 11th-century astrolabe found in an Italian museum bears inscriptions in Muslim, Hebrew, and Christian languages, indicating cross-cultural exchange. The artifact, used to chart stars and heavenly bodies, is a rare record of scientific collaboration between Arabs, Jews, and Christians. The astrolabe, originating from Muslim-ruled Spain, features Arabic and Hebrew inscriptions, as well as Western numerals, and was likely used in Spain, Morocco, or Egypt. This remarkable find sheds light on religious harmony and the interconnectedness of Islamic, Jewish, and European cultures.

via USA TODAY|

#astrolabe #cross-cultural-exchange #history-and-culture

history-and-culture1 year ago•5 min saved

"1,000-Year-Old Astrolabe Reveals Jewish-Islamic Scientific Exchange"

An 11th-century Islamic astrolabe with Arabic and Hebrew inscriptions, discovered in Verona, Italy, is one of the oldest of its kind and showcases centuries of adaptation and translation by Muslim, Jewish, and Christian users in Spain, North Africa, and Italy. The astrolabe, resembling a portable model of the universe, was used for various calculations and was modified by different users, reflecting a rich history of scientific exchange between Arabs, Jews, and Christians. The instrument's inscriptions suggest its circulation within Sephardi Jewish communities in Spain and Italy, and its corrections and translations in Hebrew and Western numerals indicate its use by diverse linguistic and cultural groups.

via Good News Network|

#cultural-exchange #history-and-culture #islamic-astrolabe

history-and-culture1 year ago•6 min saved

"Scientists Uncover Earliest Recorded Romantic Kiss from 4,500 Years Ago"

A recent study published in the journal Science revealed that kissing dates back at least 4,500 years, pushing back the history of the practice by about 1,000 years. The findings were based on references to kissing found on thousands of clay tablets from Mesopotamia. This discovery challenges the previous belief that romantic kissing originated in India, as it was widely known among Assyriologists that evidence of kissing existed in Mesopotamia even earlier than in India. The study also explores the cultural and evolutionary significance of kissing, shedding light on taboos and practices surrounding romantic intimacy in ancient Mesopotamia and other cultures.

via CNN|

#ancient-civilizations #history #history-and-culture

history-and-culture1 year ago•8 min saved

"Unveiling the Enigmatic Legacy of Dragons: From Ancient Myth to Modern Art"

Dragons have a 4,000-year history with diverse interpretations across cultures, from the ethereal Chinese dragons associated with wind to the fire-breathing monsters of English mythology. The oldest known word for dragon, "ušum-gal", originated in ancient Mesopotamia and was likely inspired by a combination of snakes and lions. Chinese dragon myths may have been influenced by real-world snakes or the endangered Chinese alligator, while English dragon legends are linked to creatures like the wyrm and may have been inspired by real-life snakes. These dragon myths reflect humanity's relationship with nature and the collective act of imagination across different cultures.

via BBC.com|

#culture #dragons #history

history-and-culture2 years ago•3 min saved

"Exploring the Ancient Palace of Alexander the Great's Coronation 2,300 Years Later"

The Palace of Aigai, the site where Alexander the Great was proclaimed king over 2,300 years ago, has fully reopened in northern Greece after a 16-year renovation costing over 20 million euros. The palace, built during the reign of Alexander's father, Philip II, was the largest building of classical Greece and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The restoration included reassembling marble columns and intricate mosaics, revealing the grandeur of the ancient Macedonian capital. The site, which also includes royal tombs discovered in the 1970s, will be open to the public.

via The Associated Press|

##alexanderthegreat #ancientgreece

history-and-culture2 years ago•3 min saved

"U.S. Mint Unveils Commemorative Harriet Tubman Coins for Preorder"

The U.S. Mint has released commemorative coins to honor abolitionist Harriet Tubman, including $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar coins, with preorders starting Thursday and shipping in February. This initiative follows a proposal by former President Obama to feature Tubman on the $20 bill. The coins carry surcharges that will benefit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and The Harriet Tubman Home, Inc. Tubman is celebrated for her role in the Underground Railroad, her service in the Union Army during the Civil War, and her activism in the women's suffrage movement.

via USA TODAY|

##abolitionist #commemorativecoins

history-and-culture2 years ago•2 min saved

"Hercules Identity and Army Role: Cerne Abbas Giant Mystery Unraveled"

New research by Oxford University academics suggests that the Cerne Abbas Giant, a chalk hill figure in Dorset, was originally carved to represent Hercules and served as a muster station for West Saxon armies. Previously thought to be prehistoric or more recent, the figure was actually created in the Anglo-Saxon period. The giant was later reinterpreted by local monks in the 11th Century to associate it with Saint Eadwold, their patron saint, to align with Christian beliefs and claim the saint's relics. The findings provide a deeper understanding of the figure's historical significance and are set to be published in the journal Speculum.

via Yahoo! Voices|

##anglosaxon #archaeology