Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation’s Post

Aerial view of the Sphinx. One of the great masterpieces of Egyptian civilization is that this legendary sculpture, which was carved with the body of a lion and the head of a human being, has been lying for thousands of years in Giza protecting the pyramids, and now it has become a masterpiece of human heritage. The Sphinx is considered the oldest known huge sculpture, its length is about 73.5 meters, including 15 meters the length of its front feet, its width is 19.3 meters, and its highest height from the surface of the earth is about 20 meters to the top of the head. It is believed that the ancient Egyptians built it during the reign of King Khafra (2558 BC -2532 BC), the builder of the Middle Pyramid in Giza.

In the process of restoring this 18th century marble statue

Traditional Syrian glassblowing is an artisanal craft that has been inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2023 This craft involves creating glass objects using pieces of waste glass, which are melted inside a handmade brick oven. The craftsman then twists the molten glass around a hollow metal rod and blows into it to inflate the glass, using metal tongs to mold it into the desired shape, such as a cup, vase, or lamp. Some key aspects of traditional Syrian glassblowing include: • Colors and Decorations: The craft is characterized by the use of white, blue, green, and crimson colors, as well as painted gold motifs. • Family Tradition: In the past, the practice remained within specific families, with the father passing on the secrets of the craft to his children Today, the craft is still passed down informally through hands-on practice and the Traditional Syrian glassblowing is not only a source of livelihood for artisans but also contributes to a sense of continuity and belonging. #syria #culture #heritage #archaeology #glassblowing #history

Cyprus Ktisis mosaic Marble and Venetian smalti on honeycomb Irregular aluminium frame 37xm x 40cm x 2cm The word "KTICIS” (Kτίσις) in Greek means "creation" or “foundation”. This abstract concept of creation transforms into an allegorical representation of a female figure holding a roman-foot measuring instrument. This is my execution of “KTICIS” , the centre figure of an impressive mosaic floor in the House of Eustolius in Kourion of Cyprus late 4th century.

Plate: the king Yazdegerd I, slaying a stag The king as hunter became a standard image on silver plates during the reign of Shapur II (r. 310–379). The motif symbolizes the prowess of Sasanian rulers, and these royal plates were often sent as gifts to neighboring and vassal courts. The scene on this example is striking: the king is depicted standing and slaying a rearing stag, whose protruding tongue indicates that he is either dying or already dead. The king is identifiable as Yazdegerd I (r. 399-420) due to his crown, although it is topped with a striated globe rather than the cloth-covered one with which he is normally represented. His beaded skirt resembles those shown on the rock reliefs of Shapur II (r. 310-379), Shapur III (r. 383-388) and Ardashir II (r. 379-383) at Taq-i Bustan, Iran. The crescent-tipped spear with a counterweight in the form of a human fist is unique amongst weapons represented on Sasanian silver plates. Sasanian silver plates were usually hammered into shape and then decorated using a variety of complex techniques. On this example, gilding covers the entire design except for the king’s face and hands, and pieces of metal were added to create high relief in several areas. The inscription on the foot is too damaged to be legible, but most likely mentions the king’s name and the plate’s weight. Title: Plate: the king Yazdegerd I, slaying a stag Period: Sasanian Date: ca. 399–420 CE Geography: Iran Culture: Sasanian Medium: Silver, mercury gilding Dimensions: 1 5/16 × 9 3/16 × 9 3/16 in., 1.6 lb. (3.3 × 23.4 × 23.4 cm, 713g) #museum #history #sasanian #kingdom #silver #iran #tourism #tourguide #crown #plate #king

Please note the height difference between the two standing workers. One on the left is a deceased ancient, Gilding the golden Wooden Shrine, the right is a living human. Also note the motifs of the first and largest gilded Shrine of King Tut, where the Finished Prepared Bull symbol is on the doors. The Finished Bull is a direct reference to the Pharoahs and their preserved meats, focusing on Apis Bull industry. Refering the the Pharoah as the Great Bull, etc.

The use of logos for branding dates back to ancient civilizations. For example, in ancient Egypt, artisans would mark their stone and pottery works with symbols to indicate their origin, a practice akin to modern branding. #branding #symbols #logos

Terracotta artifacts from Southern Italy, particularly those associated with Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, fertility, and theater, often showcase a rich blend of Greek and indigenous Italian artistic traditions. These terracotta pieces typically include decorative elements such as theatrical masks, satyrs, maenads, and scenes from Dionysian rituals and mythology. Southern Italy, especially regions like Apulia (ancient Apulia), was deeply influenced by Greek colonization, which began around the 8th century BCE. This influence is evident in various aspects of art, culture, and even language. Terracotta works from this region reflect this cultural fusion, with Greek mythological themes being depicted alongside local Italian motifs. The terracotta artifacts from this period are significant not only for their artistic merit but also for what they reveal about the cultural exchange and interaction between Greek colonizers and indigenous Italian populations. These artifacts provide valuable insights into the religious beliefs, social practices, and artistic tastes of ancient Southern Italy.

Creative views from our ancestors: Shell Grotto of Margate: The world is brimming with places that come with such a mysterious history that they have been the object of fascination for generations. Göbekli Tepe, Stonehenge, and the Egyptian pyramids are all some of the most famous sites that come with a confounding backstory, and due to humanity’s natural propensity to investigate and question, these places will continue to be met with curiosity and scrutiny until their full story is told, if this eventuality ever occurs. Whilst these places are famous because of their importance in the grand scheme of civilisation’s development, there exist many other much smaller but no less captivating sites that have also been the source of much questioning since they were uncovered. In the United Kingdom, no place fits into this category better than The Shell Grotto is an ornate subterranean passageway in the form of a shell grotto, a feature that was popular in many British country houses in the 17th and 18th centuries. This is no country house, though, and is much more remarkable, with almost the entirety of the walls and roof adorned with mosaics that consist of 4.6 million shells, covering an estimated 2,000 square feet. https://lnkd.in/ekPJGCKP The Mysterious Underground Shell Grotto of Margate https://lnkd.in/e3-DxihZ

A solitary, unmarked gravestone stands tall amidst modern construction, a few hundred feet outside the current boundary wall of #Chinsurah's #Dutch #Cemetery. Old maps and accounts of the area suggest that the entire neighbourhood just beyond the Dutch fortification walls was a burial ground, where the burials took place throughout the Dutch and later, #English presence in the city. This rather large grave therefore would have originally been inside the cemetery land, sections of which were later given up for redevelopment. Who did this grave belong to? We simply do not know. The plaque has gone missing a long time back it seems! However, we have a hunch. This could be the grave of Sir Cornelius De Jonce of Middlenburg in Zeeland province of the #Netherlands. The tomb is the first grave in the Dutch Cemetery mentioned on the Complete Monumental Register of 1814-15, but wasn’t mentioned at all in the Bengal Obituary, a similar register of graves in 1851 and later in 1896 by CR Wilson’s collection of inscriptions of monuments. It is likely that this inconsistency can be explained by the location of the grave at what was probably one corner of the site, which may have been overgrown and obscured in 1851. The style of this grave construction and the brick size also refers to an 18th century rather than a 19th century date. If this is indeed De Jonce’s grave then this is the oldest recorded one in the cemetery. He died on 10th October 1743 in Chinsurah. Join Chelse and Madhurima on Other Colonies Day Tour this Sunday morning to explore more. Book here: https://lnkd.in/gmguWpaY #LinkInBio . . . #ImmersiveTrails #ImmersiveExperiences #ExploreCalcutta #ExperienceKolkata #Kolkata #Calcutta #Bengal #ExploreBengal #ExperienceBengal #BengalBeyondObvious #BengalDiscoveryTrails #Travel #HeritageWalk #HeritageTrail #WalkingTour