Greenwich Village Greenwich Village,[note 1] often referred to by locals as simply "the Village", is a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan, New York City. Greenwich Village has been known as an artists' haven, the Bohemian capital, the cradle of the modern LGBT movement, and the East Coast birthplace of both the Beat and '60s counterculture movements. Groenwijck, one of the Dutch names for the village (meaning "Green District"), was Anglicized to Greenwich.[4][note 2] New York University (NYU) is located in Greenwich Village.[6][7] Greenwich Village has undergone extensive gentrification and commercialization;[8] the four zip codes that constitute the Village – 10011, 10012, 10013, and 10014 – were all ranked among the ten most expensive in the United States by median housing price in 2014, according to Forbes.[9] Geography[edit] Boundaries[edit] Grid plan[edit] The intersection of West 4th and West 12th Streets History[edit] Early years[edit] Map of old Greenwich Village. Postwar[edit] Comics Film
Neo-Assyrian Empire Historical state in Mesopotamia The Neo-Assyrian Empire (Assyrian cuneiform: mat Aš-šur)[a] was an Iron Age Mesopotamian empire, in existence between 911 and 609 BC,[10][11][12] and became the largest empire of the world up until that time.[13][unreliable source?] The Assyrians perfected early techniques of imperial rule, many of which became standard in later empires.[14] The Assyrians were the first to be armed with iron weapons, and their troops employed advanced, effective military tactics.[15] The Neo-Assyrian Empire succeeded the Old Assyrian Empire (c. 2025–1378 BC), and the Middle Assyrian Empire (1365–934 BC) of the Late Bronze Age. Upon the death of Ashurbanipal in 631 BC, the empire began to disintegrate due to a brutal and unremitting series of civil wars in Assyria proper. Background[edit] Assyria was originally an Akkadian kingdom which evolved in the 25th to 24th centuries BC. Middle Assyrian Empire[edit] Middle Assyrian Empire seal. 1400-1100 BCE. History[edit] A.W. Army[edit]
Cyrus the Great Cyrus II of Persia (Old Persian: [6] Kūruš; New Persian: کوروش بزرگ c. 600 BC or 576 BC–530 BC[7]), commonly known as Cyrus the Great,[8] also known as Cyrus the Elder, was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire.[9] Under his rule, the empire embraced all the previous civilized states of the ancient Near East,[9] expanded vastly and eventually conquered most of Southwest Asia and much of Central Asia and the Caucasus. From the Mediterranean Sea and Hellespont in the west to the Indus River in the east, Cyrus the Great created the largest empire the world had yet seen.[10] His regal titles in full were The Great King, King of Persia, King of Anshan, King of Media, King of Babylon, King of Sumer and Akkad, and King of the Four Corners of the World. He also proclaimed what has been identified by scholars and archaeologists[who?] The reign of Cyrus the Great lasted between 29 and 31 years. So said the Lord to His anointed one, to Cyrus Background[edit] Etymology[edit] Dynastic history[edit]
Bohemianism This use of the word bohemian first appeared in the English language in the nineteenth century[1] to describe the non-traditional lifestyles of marginalized and impoverished artists, writers, journalists, musicians, and actors in major European cities. Bohemians were associated with unorthodox or anti-establishment political or social viewpoints, which often were expressed through free love, frugality, and—in some cases—voluntary poverty. A wealthy and privileged, even aristocratic, bohemian circle is sometimes referred to as the haute bohème[2] ("high bohemians").[3] The term Bohemianism emerged in France in the early nineteenth century when artists and creators began to concentrate in the lower-rent, lower class, gypsy neighborhoods. Bohémien was a common term for the Romani people of France, who had been wrongly considered to reach France during the 15th century via Bohemia,[4] at that time the only protestant and therefore heretic country among Western Christians. Origins[edit] Europe
Perseus Ancient Greek hero and founder of Mycenae Etymology[edit] Because of the obscurity of the name "Perseus" and the legendary character of its bearer, most etymologists presume that it might be pre-Greek; however, the name of Perseus' native city was Greek and so were the names of his wife and relatives. There is some idea that it descended into Greek from the Proto-Indo-European language. The further origin of perth- is more obscure. Mythology[edit] Origin at Argos[edit] Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danaë, the daughter of Acrisius, King of Argos. Fearful for his future, but unwilling to provoke the wrath of the gods by killing the offspring of Zeus and his daughter, Acrisius cast the two into the sea in a wooden chest.[7] Danaë's fearful prayer, made while afloat in the darkness, has been expressed by the poet Simonides of Ceos. Overcoming the Gorgon[edit] When Perseus was grown, Polydectes came to fall in love with the beautiful Danaë. Marriage to Andromeda[edit] Oracle fulfilled[edit]
Darius I Darius is mentioned in the Biblical books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, Haggai, and Zechariah. Darius organized the empire by dividing it into provinces and placing satraps to govern it. He organized a new uniform monetary system, along with making Aramaic the official language of the empire. Darius also worked on construction projects throughout the empire, focusing on Susa, Pasargadae, Persepolis, Babylon and Egypt. Darius devised a codification of laws for Egypt. He also had the cliff-face Behistun Inscription carved, an autobiography of great modern linguistic significance. Etymology[edit] Dārīus and Dārēus are the Latin form of the Greek Dareios (Δαρεῖος), itself from Old Persian Dārayauš (𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎢𐏁), which is a shortened form of Dārayavauš (𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁). The Modern Persian form is Dāryūsh (داریوش). Primary sources[edit] Darius left a tri-lingual monumental relief on Mount Behistun which was written in Elamite, Old Persian and Babylonian between his coronation and his death.
List of most expensive paintings Background[edit] The world's most famous paintings, especially old master works done before 1803, are generally owned or held at museums, for viewing for patrons. The museums very rarely sell them, and as such, they are quite literally priceless. Guinness World Records lists the Mona Lisa as having the highest insurance value for a painting in history. Van Gogh and Picasso[edit] Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso are by far the best represented artists in the list. List of highest prices paid at auctions or private sales (inflation adjusted)[edit] This list is ordered by consumer price index inflation-adjusted value[note 1] (in bold) in millions of September 2013 United States dollars. See also[edit] Notes[edit] Jump up ^ Using the U.S. References[edit] External links[edit]
First Babylonian dynasty Map of Iraq showing important sites that were occupied by the First Babylonian Dynasty (clickable map) Maximum extent of the First Babylonian Empire during the reign of King Hammurabi's son, Samsu-iluna of Babylon reaching as far west as Tuttul (light green), c. 1750 BC – c. 1712 BC Chronology of ancient Mesopotamia showing the domination of the First Babylonian Empire between c. 1763 BC – c. 1594 BC The First Babylonian Empire is dated to c. 1830 BC – c. 1531 BC, and comes after the end of Sumerian power with the destruction of the 3rd dynasty of Ur, and the subsequent Isin Dynasty. The chronology of the first dynasty of Babylonia is debated as there is a Babylonian King List A[1] and a Babylonian King List B.[2] In this chronology, the regnal years of List A are used due to their wide usage. Before the First Dynasty[edit] First Dynasty: short chronology[edit] The short chronology is: Origins of the First Dynasty[edit] The first kings of the dynasty[edit] King Hammurabi[edit] Seals[edit]
Persepolis Persepolis (Old Persian: Pārśa,[2] New Persian: پرسپولیس) literary meaning "city of Persians",[3] was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550–330 BC). Persepolis is situated 70 km northeast of city of Shiraz in the Fars Province in Iran. The earliest remains of Persepolis date from around 515 BC. It exemplifies the Achaemenid style of architecture. UNESCO declared the citadel of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979.[4] Name[edit] To the ancient Persians, the city was known as Pārsa (𐎱𐎠𐎼𐎿). Construction[edit] Archaeological evidence shows that the earliest remains of Persepolis date from around 515 BC. Darius ordered the construction of the Apadana Palace and the Council Hall (the Tripylon or three-gated hall), the main imperial Treasury and its surroundings. Archaeological research[edit] Odoric of Pordenone passed through Persepolis c.1320 on his way to China. Persepolitan architecture is noted for its use of wooden columns. Geographic Location[edit] Ruins[edit]
National Gallery of Art National Gallery of Art The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden are a national art museum in Washington, D.C., located on the National Mall, between 3rd and 9th Streets, at Constitution Avenue NW. Open to the public and free of charge, the museum was privately established in 1937 for the people of the United States of America by a joint resolution of the United States Congress. Andrew W. Mellon donated a substantial art collection and funds for construction. The Gallery's campus includes the original neoclassical West Building designed by John Russell Pope, which is linked underground to the modern East Building, designed by I. History[edit] Pittsburgh banker (and Treasury Secretary from 1921 until 1932) Andrew W. Designed by architect John Russell Pope (who would go on to design the Jefferson Memorial), the new structure was completed and accepted by President Franklin D. National Gallery of Art logo. Operations[edit] Architecture[edit] The East Building Renovations[edit]
Medusa Goddess from Greek mythology In Greek mythology, Medusa (; Ancient Greek: Μέδουσα, romanized: Médousa, lit. 'guardian, protectress'),[1] also called Gorgo, was one of the three Gorgons. Medusa is generally described as a human female with living venomous snakes in place of hair; those who gazed into her eyes[citation needed] would turn to stone. Most sources describe her as the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto,[2] although the author Hyginus makes her the daughter of Gorgon and Ceto.[3] Medusa was beheaded by the Greek hero Perseus, who then used her head, which retained its ability to turn onlookers to stone, as a weapon[4] until he gave it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield. Mythology Near them their sisters three, the Gorgons, winged With snakes for hair—hatred of mortal man[5] In most versions of the story, she was beheaded by the hero Perseus, who was sent to fetch her head by King Polydectes of Seriphus because Polydectes wanted to marry Perseus's mother. Modern interpretations
Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat (December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988) was an American artist, musician and producer.[1] Basquiat first achieved notoriety as part of SAMO, an informal graffiti group who wrote enigmatic epigrams in the cultural hotbed of the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City during the late 1970s where the hip hop, post-punk and street art movements had coalesced. By the 1980s he was exhibiting his Neo-expressionist and Primitivist paintings in galleries and museums internationally. The Whitney Museum of American Art held a retrospective of his art in 1992. Early life[edit] Jean-Michel Basquiat, born in Brooklyn, New York, was the second of four children of Matilda Andrades (July 28, 1934 – November 17, 2008)[4] and Gerard Basquiat (1930 – July 7, 2013).[5][6] He had two younger sisters: Lisane, born in 1964, and Jeanine, born in 1967.[4] In September 1968, when Basquiat was about 8, he was hit by a car while playing in the street. Basquiat dropped out of Edward R.
Apotropaic magic Type of magic intended to turn away harm or evil influences Symbols[edit] Egypt[edit] An ancient Egyptian apotropaic wand shows a procession of protective deities. Objects were often used in these rituals in order to facilitate communication with the gods. Likewise, protective amulets bearing the likenesses of gods and goddesses like Taweret were commonly worn. Ancient Greece[edit] Among the ancient Greeks, the most widely used image intended to avert evil was that of the Gorgon, the head of which now may be called the Gorgoneion, which features wild eyes, fangs, and protruding tongue. Evil eye[edit] Eyes were often painted to ward off the evil eye. Grotesquerie[edit] Similarly the grotesque faces carved into pumpkin lanterns (and their earlier counterparts, made from turnips, swedes or beets) at Halloween are meant to avert evil: this season was Samhain, the Celtic new year. Other[edit] Mirrors and other shiny objects were believed to deflect the evil eye. Good luck tokens and charms[edit]