Dale here. Hello from Paris for the last time. I leave for exotic points east tomorrow and will update in a few days. Hopefully I will meet up with Adam as he is starting on the new CJ3 jet now. The hotel here is in a great location and the frequent walks took us to the Corniche on the River Seine passing many cafes, and historic buildings. Behind the hotel one block is this beautiful church. If curious cut and paste this website for more great photos.
http://www.parisphotogallery.com/Paris/photos/monuments/church/St-Eustache/photos_selection_St-Eustache.htm
http://www.parisphotogallery.com/Paris/photos/monuments/church/St-Eustache/photos_selection_St-Eustache.htm
For those who were curious about Cyprus and our new village, I have found the latest news on the reason why we won't lose our view. I mentioned to many that UNESCO has deemed it an Historic site. Here are the details...
Rare ancient coffin found in Cyprus
KOUKLIA, Cyprus, March 20 (UPI) -- A sarcophagus of unique archaeological value was reportedly discovered during the weekend at a Cyprus dig.
The sarcophagus is reportedly identical to two found in other areas of Cyprus during the early 19th century, the Cyprus Mail reported Monday.
A sarcophagus is a coffin usually made of stone that in ancient times was decorated with carvings of the deceased or religious icons.
Archaeological excavations began Sunday at Kouklia, where the sarcophagus was found.
Then as similar article a few days later with more detail
Rare ancient coffin found in Cyprus
KOUKLIA, Cyprus, March 20 (UPI) -- A sarcophagus of unique archaeological value was reportedly discovered during the weekend at a Cyprus dig.
The sarcophagus is reportedly identical to two found in other areas of Cyprus during the early 19th century, the Cyprus Mail reported Monday.
A sarcophagus is a coffin usually made of stone that in ancient times was decorated with carvings of the deceased or religious icons.
Archaeological excavations began Sunday at Kouklia, where the sarcophagus was found.
Then as similar article a few days later with more detail
March 22, 2006
Archaeologists unearth ancient sarcophagus
A 2,500-year-old sarcophagus with vivid colour illustrations from Homer's epics has been discovered in western Cyprus, archaeologists said on Monday. Construction workers found the limestone sarcophagus last week in a tomb near the village of Kouklia, in the coastal Paphos area. The tomb, which probably belonged to an ancient warrior, had been looted during antiquity. "The style of the decoration is unique, not so much from an artistic point of view, but for the subject and the colours used," said Pavlos Flourentzos, director of the island's antiquities department. Only two similar sarcophagi have ever been discovered in Cyprus before. One is housed in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and the other in the British Museum in London, but their colours are more faded, Flourentzos said. Flourentzos said the coffin painted in red, black and blue on a white background dated to 500 BC, when Greek cultural influence was gaining a firm hold on the eastern Mediterranean island. Pottery discovered in the tomb is expected to provide a precise date. Experts believe the ornate decoration features the hero Ulysses in scenes from Homer's Iliad and Odyssey both hugely popular throughout the Greek world. In one large painting, Ulysses and his comrades escape from the blind Cyclops Polyphemos' cave, hidden under a flock of sheep. Another depicts a battle between Greeks and Trojans from the Iliad. Archaeologists think the scenes hint at the status of the coffin's occupant. "Why else take these two pieces from Homer and why deal with Ulysses? Maybe this represents the dead person's character who possibly was a warrior," Flourentzos said. Other drawings depict a figure carrying a seriously injured or dead man and a lion fighting a wild boar under a tree. These are not believed to be linked with Homer's poems. Reflecting a long oral tradition loosely based on historic events, Homer's epics were probably composed around 800 BC and written down in the 6th century BC. The tomb was found in an area containing several ancient cemeteries which belonged to the nearby town of Palaepaphos, 17.6 kilometres inland from modern Paphos. First settled around 2800 BC, Palaepaphos, now Kouklia, was the site of a temple of Aphrodite the ancient goddess of beauty who, according to mythology, was born in the sea off Paphos.
Finally, some crazy news again...
Aphrodite perfumes sniffed out
22nd March 2007
The world’s oldest perfumes have been found on Cyprus by a team of archaeologists.
The perfumes were scented with extracts of lavender, bay, rosemary, pine or coriander and kept in tiny, translucent alabaster bottles. The remaining traces found in Pyrgos, in the south of the island, are more than 4000 years old.
The scents were discovered inside what archaeologists believe was an enormous, 4000sq m factory.
Italian archaeological team leader Maria Rosa Belgiorno said: “We were astonished at how big the place was. Perfumes must have been produced on an industrial scale.”
At least 60 distilling stills, mixing bowls, funnels and perfume bottles were found preserved at the site, which had been blanketed in earth after a violent earthquake about 1850BC.
The abundance of perfumes fits well with the mythological status of Cyprus as the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.
Pavlos Flourentzos, head of Cyprus’ Antiquities Department, said: “The myth of the goddess was strongly linked to the perfume she used to get what she wanted.”
The finds are on display at the Capitoline Museum in Rome. Four of the perfumes have been recreated from residues found at the site.
An Italian foundation which aims to recreate antique traditions distilled them according to techniques described by Pliny the Elder, by grinding the herbs, adding them to oil and water, then burying them in a small, long-necked jug over hot embers for 12 hours.
Museum visitor Alessia Affinata, 30, said: “They smell good but strong.”
ROME
Who'd a thought.... Take care..
Archaeologists unearth ancient sarcophagus
A 2,500-year-old sarcophagus with vivid colour illustrations from Homer's epics has been discovered in western Cyprus, archaeologists said on Monday. Construction workers found the limestone sarcophagus last week in a tomb near the village of Kouklia, in the coastal Paphos area. The tomb, which probably belonged to an ancient warrior, had been looted during antiquity. "The style of the decoration is unique, not so much from an artistic point of view, but for the subject and the colours used," said Pavlos Flourentzos, director of the island's antiquities department. Only two similar sarcophagi have ever been discovered in Cyprus before. One is housed in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and the other in the British Museum in London, but their colours are more faded, Flourentzos said. Flourentzos said the coffin painted in red, black and blue on a white background dated to 500 BC, when Greek cultural influence was gaining a firm hold on the eastern Mediterranean island. Pottery discovered in the tomb is expected to provide a precise date. Experts believe the ornate decoration features the hero Ulysses in scenes from Homer's Iliad and Odyssey both hugely popular throughout the Greek world. In one large painting, Ulysses and his comrades escape from the blind Cyclops Polyphemos' cave, hidden under a flock of sheep. Another depicts a battle between Greeks and Trojans from the Iliad. Archaeologists think the scenes hint at the status of the coffin's occupant. "Why else take these two pieces from Homer and why deal with Ulysses? Maybe this represents the dead person's character who possibly was a warrior," Flourentzos said. Other drawings depict a figure carrying a seriously injured or dead man and a lion fighting a wild boar under a tree. These are not believed to be linked with Homer's poems. Reflecting a long oral tradition loosely based on historic events, Homer's epics were probably composed around 800 BC and written down in the 6th century BC. The tomb was found in an area containing several ancient cemeteries which belonged to the nearby town of Palaepaphos, 17.6 kilometres inland from modern Paphos. First settled around 2800 BC, Palaepaphos, now Kouklia, was the site of a temple of Aphrodite the ancient goddess of beauty who, according to mythology, was born in the sea off Paphos.
Finally, some crazy news again...
Aphrodite perfumes sniffed out
22nd March 2007
The world’s oldest perfumes have been found on Cyprus by a team of archaeologists.
The perfumes were scented with extracts of lavender, bay, rosemary, pine or coriander and kept in tiny, translucent alabaster bottles. The remaining traces found in Pyrgos, in the south of the island, are more than 4000 years old.
The scents were discovered inside what archaeologists believe was an enormous, 4000sq m factory.
Italian archaeological team leader Maria Rosa Belgiorno said: “We were astonished at how big the place was. Perfumes must have been produced on an industrial scale.”
At least 60 distilling stills, mixing bowls, funnels and perfume bottles were found preserved at the site, which had been blanketed in earth after a violent earthquake about 1850BC.
The abundance of perfumes fits well with the mythological status of Cyprus as the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.
Pavlos Flourentzos, head of Cyprus’ Antiquities Department, said: “The myth of the goddess was strongly linked to the perfume she used to get what she wanted.”
The finds are on display at the Capitoline Museum in Rome. Four of the perfumes have been recreated from residues found at the site.
An Italian foundation which aims to recreate antique traditions distilled them according to techniques described by Pliny the Elder, by grinding the herbs, adding them to oil and water, then burying them in a small, long-necked jug over hot embers for 12 hours.
Museum visitor Alessia Affinata, 30, said: “They smell good but strong.”
ROME
Who'd a thought.... Take care..
No comments:
Post a Comment