#380 Corridor | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

nellywrisource · 7 months

Text

A writer’s guide to art and civil construction: worldbuilding insights – #1 Early Christian art (Part I)

In this guide, which delves into the history of art and civil construction, my aim is to explore the cultural and anthropological factors that influenced the emergence of particular art forms within their respective historical contexts. The goal is to inspire and offer practical insights for those engaged in worldbuilding, especially in crafting art and urban environments that resonate with their chosen settings. Throughout the guide, I will analyze various historical periods from a cultural and historical perspective, providing inspiration rather than prescriptive worldbuilding advice. It's worth noting that the focus will primarily be on the Mediterranean and Europe (I'm Italian ✨ so my academic studies focus on Italy and its surroundings), spanning from the end of the ancient age to the contemporary age.

The emergence of stylistic elements in early Christian art is fascinating because it inspires envisioning the characteristics of religious buildings in a situation where two coexisting religions, one significantly older, shape the cultural landscape.

Diachronic excursus

Let's briefly summarize the historical context surrounding early Christian art to better understand the culture and motivations behind the stylistic choices in urban and rural settings, as well as the care or neglect of these environments.

Two key points to focus on for understanding this historical reality through our chosen lens are:

Spread of Christianity

Germanic invasions (which we'll discuss in the next post)

The spread — not birth — of Christianity occurred gradually, beginning around the time of the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, issued by Constantine, which declared Christianity a religio licita, meaning that it granted freedom of worship. It was further established as the “state religion” with the Edict of Thessalonica by Theodosius I in 380, mandating worship.

While Constantine had political motives for issuing this edict (yes, the legend about Constantine’s vision is just that), our focus lies on the socio-cultural context in which an emperor favored a religion amidst a predominantly pagan Roman aristocracy.

Origins of early Christian art

In its early stages, before Christianity became the state religion, Constantine, who oversaw the construction of the first Christian places of worship, took into account the pagan sensitivities of the aristocracy. As a result, these early buildings exhibited the following characteristics:

Located outside the city center, where pagan temples were typically found (often situated beyond the city walls, as was the case in Rome);

Featuring a simple exterior, often constructed with common brick (laterizio) and lacking elaborate decorations;

Boasting monumental dimensions to accommodate the public liturgy of Christianity, inspired by the Last Supper, as well as reflecting Roman appreciation for grandeur.

The decision to depart from classical norms stylistically served both to avoid offending the aristocracy and to visually distinguish Christian structures symbolically from classical temples.

Types of buildings

Basilica

The basilica, which predates Christianity, emerged in Italy following the Second Punic War in the first half of the 3rd century BC. Originally serving administrative functions, it featured a rectangular layout with three naves (side corridors) and two apses (semicircular protrusions) on either side, with the entrance situated along the longer side.

The architectural design of basilicas was chosen for its spacious layout, although modifications were made to suit the needs of Christian worship. Unlike their original purpose, which varied, Christian basilicas typically adopted a longitudinal plan with three or five naves. They featured an entrance on one of the shorter sides, leading to a single apse opposite the entrance.

This adaptation involved repurposing buildings originally intended for other functions, driven primarily by practical considerations. An important detail regarding the structural elements is seen in the narthex and the quadriportico.

Narthex: a sort of rectangular entrance area.

Quadriportico: a large external four-sided portico attached to the entrance wall.

Both spaces were used to accommodate catechumens (the unbaptized) and penitents¹. Initially, the quadriportico fulfilled this role, but it was gradually replaced by the narthex between the 6th and 8th centuries.

This transition was prompted by changes in baptismal practices. As the custom of adult baptism declined, it became apparent that many individuals were already baptized, rendering the extensive space for catechumens unnecessary. Consequently, the need for a large quadriportico diminished.

The narthex, too, began to decline in importance from the 7th century onward, reflecting a decrease in the number of unbaptized individuals attending services.

Another fascinating aspect illustrating the synthesis of paganism, Roman art, and Christianity is evident in the architectural feature known as the triumphal arch. Typically semicircular, the arch serves as a division between the central nave and either the presbyterial area.

The architectural concept of the basilica’s arch finds its origins in the Roman triumphal arch, a grand structure with one or more openings (fornix) traditionally erected to commemorate military victories. In Christianity, this symbol was reimagined to signify Jesus' triumph over evil and death. Moreover, the arch served a dual purpose as both a symbolic gateway between the space reserved for worshipers and that designated for the clergy (the presbyterial zone).

Now, I won't dive into discussing every single architectural detail of basilicas or the liturgical furnishings (although, if anyone desires, they can ask, and I'll gladly provide a glossary). Instead, let's briefly look at the different floor plans a basilica can have:

Latin cross: this design is longitudinal, with a shorter horizontal section intersected by a transept, either about ¾ along its length (immissa) or closer to the apse (commissa or tau).

Greek cross: here the transept intersects at the center, with arms of equal length to the nave. This layout was more prevalent in the Eastern tradition.

Circiform: this is a distinctive basilica design used for cemeteries, as well as for hosting specific masses like funeral banquets and an annual mass in honor of the titular saint's martyrdom. It lacks a transept and features a ring corridor intended for burials.

Baptistery

The baptistery was a centrally planned building², often octagonal, specifically designed for conducting baptisms, with the baptismal font positioned at its center.

Was traditionally distinct from the main body of the church, it was commonly situated adjacent to or in front of the main facade, especially until the Gothic period, notably in Italy.

The octagonal design held symbolic significance; eight represented an eschatological number, closely linked with the Resurrection of Christ, who rose eight days after his entry into Jerusalem. Thus, the octagon came to symbolize the concept of eternal life conferred upon the faithful through baptism.

This architectural feature reflects influence from Roman traditions, drawing inspiration from thermal buildings, particularly the frigidarium, which the Romans referred to as a baptisterium (derived from the Greek, meaning “place where one receives enlightenment”). Hence, the origin of the term can be traced back to this context.

Martyrium

Another centrally planned building (circular or polygonal) prevalent in the 4th century, the martyrium (from the Greek “witness”) was erected on the site of a martyrdom or over the tomb of a martyr.

Over time, they also began to serve as repositories for the remains of martyrs, often located at the center of the building. The martyrium's origins lie in the cult of martyrs, which itself evolved from the more common pagan reverence for the dead. Its architectural design was influenced by classical mausoleums, grand tombs traditionally used to house the remains of significant individuals.

Images, iconography, and iconology

The influence of architecture extends to imagery as well; Christianity originally spread through pagan iconography and symbolism. Art served as a means of proselytism. Why? Because classical art had long been used to convey the divine, and Christianity also drew inspiration from Roman culture in this aspect.

Even the artistic techniques bore similarities to those of the pagans:

Sculpture, as evidenced by sarcophagi.

Mosaics, widely employed for adorning basilicas (which in Roman art were mainly used for floors but eventually shifted to the apse — see subsection on the hierarchy of light).

It can be argued that from this classical influence emerged the conceptual link between wealth, splendor, and divine grandeur; gold symbolized divine light (indeed, numerous mosaics featured golden backgrounds) — a motif that would resonate throughout the Middle Ages — reminiscent of the portrayal of the deified emperor in the declining centuries of the Roman Empire. Pagan iconographies were thus reinterpreted, with scenes of apotheosis transformed into representations of the Ascension, pastoral imagery adapted to depict the Good Shepherd, and even the apostles portrayed akin to philosophers.

A clearer Christianization and a distancing from pagan iconography will be seen as we move forward in time, in the upcoming posts. If you're interested in a post focused on the various iconographies and their resemantization, lemme know!

Acheropite images

An intriguing outcome of the fusion between ancient cultural practices and evolving concepts of imagery is the phenomenon of “acheropite images”.

It's essential to understand that early Christians adhered closely to Jewish traditions, which forbade the creation of divine images to prevent the risk of idolatry. Moreover, due to the threat of persecution, early Christians concealed references to their faith in the catacombs through subtle allusions understood only by fellow believers, akin to a form of coded language.

The incorporation of images into Christianity, particularly in the Western world, occurred gradually, as apprehension about inadvertently creating idols spawned legends surrounding acheropite images - icons purportedly “not made by human hands”, but possessing a “miraculous” origin. These images were believed to be not products of human craftsmanship, but rather “revealed” through divine intervention, thereby attaining status as revered relics (e.g., the Shroud of Turin, the Madonna of Guadalupe, etc).

The hierarchy of light

Why do mosaics transition from the floors to the apse and, more broadly, to the walls?

We first notice this transition at the onset of the 5th century, exemplified by the apse mosaic of the Basilica of Santa Pudenziana in Rome. The driving force behind this change is light, or more precisely, the hierarchy of light. This hierarchy derives from the earlier discussed concept: the translation of divine light into the symbolism of gold and actual illumination within a basilica.

Light holds great significance in this context. It is strategically channeled through windows, particularly illuminating the apse (the sanctuary area closest to God, traditionally restricted to the clergy) and the central nave, with the side naves receiving less light. Mosaics, meticulously crafted with tesserae to reflect and enhance light, are placed in the apse to intensify this effect, emphasizing the hierarchical importance of light in this central space.

¹Penitents: in the ancient and medieval Christianity, penitents were faithful individuals who, after committing serious sins post-baptism, sought forgiveness from God. They publicly assumed a specific status within the community. ²Central plan: buildings where all parts are organized around a center are termed as having a central plan. This plan can take the form of a square, a circle, an octagon, or other regular polygons, such as a Greek cross. The centrality of space is usually emphasized by a dome.

This blog is supported through tips here on Tumblr. If you’d like to support me, please consider giving a tip.

#writing advice #writing help #writing reference #writing tips #worldbuilding through art #worldbuilding insights #worldbuilding tips #worldbuilding #fantasy worldbuilding #creative writing #writing #writeblr

33 notes · View notes

nekoannie-chan · 5 months

Text

Coincidence

Summary: You and Steve met in a particular way.

Warnings: Fluff

Pairings: Steve Rogers X Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.!Reader.

Square Filled: 2 “Meet cute”.

Word Count: 380 words.

A/N: This is my entry to @avengersbingo Avengers Bingo Round 4.

You can read it on Wattpad and Ao3 too.

@saiyanprincessswanie.

My native language is Spanish so I wanna improve my writing skills in English if you notice any mistakes, please let me know and I will correct them.

I don’t give any kind of permission for my fics to be posted on other platforms or languages (I translate myself my work) or the use of my graphics (my dividers are included in this), I did them exclusively for my fics, please respect my work and don't steal it. There are some people here who make dividers that anyone can use, mine is not this type, please look for the other people. The only exception is the ones I gifted 'cuz now belong to someone else. If you find any of my works on a different platform and are not one of my accounts, please let me know. Reblogs and comments are always welcome.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Marvel's characters (unfortunately), except for the original characters and the story.

Add yourself to my taglist here.

My other media where I publish: Ao3, Wattpad, ffnet, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter.

If you like it, please vote, comment, and give me feedback to improve my skills and reblog.

Tags: @sinceimetyou @unnuevosoltransformalarealidad @navybrat817 @angrythingstarlight @shield-agent78 @charmed-asylum @pandaxnienke @real-fbi @smokeandnailz @white-wolf1940 @tenaciousperfectionunknown @xoxonotme @bluemusickid @leyannrae @harrysthiccthighss @marvelatthisone @caplanbuckybarnes @sapphire-rogers @lizzieolseniskinda @notyourtypicalrose @hallecarey1 @nana1000night @talia-rumlow @writingshae @alexxavicry @azulatodoryuga @daemonslittlebitch @chaoticcollectivenightmare @endlesstwanted @chemtrails-club @marigoldreamer @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @here4thefanfics @theestorm @patzammit @kmc1989 @somegirlfromasgard @rogersbarber

Steve was still not comfortable with this time; absolutely everything was so different. He still needed a lot of time to get to grips with his surroundings, and sometimes he needed to be distracted too to avoid feeling overwhelmed. He looked out the window; it was a sunny spring afternoon, and he decided it was a good time to walk the streets of New York. As she crossed a corner, her gaze met yours as you were trying to hold a stack of books while she tried to put a piece of paper in her pocket. Steve rushed to help her, holding up some of the books so you could put her paper away.

“Thank you! “you said with a small smile.

“Gladly,” Steve replied, also smiling. “Do you need help with those books? You look like you've got a whole library with you."

“Well, almost. I'm trying to do some research for a project I'm working on,” you replied.

“What are you working on?“ Steve asked, sounding interested, but deep down he hoped it was something he knew perfectly well.

“You couldn't say much about your work; it wasn't safe to go around bragging that you were a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and had just returned from a mission,” he said.

Steve arched an eyebrow, intrigued, but one of the things he had learned was that he could find out what he wanted to find out another way.

The two of you started talking about unimportant things; you even exchanged phone numbers, and he walked you to your car to put the books away.

A couple of days later, Steve was strolling through the offices of S.H.I.E.L.D. As he was walking down the corridors, he stopped dead in his tracks as soon as he saw you, frowning in confusion. Why were you there? You were talking to Natasha, animatedly discussing a report they were preparing. Steve waited until Natasha had left before approaching you.

“Hi again!" You greeted him as soon as you saw him, and suddenly it all seemed to make sense.

“Hello,” Steve replied. “I didn't expect to see you here.“

“I don't suppose your real name is Steve Roppers, is it?“

Steve shook his head, smiling sheepishly. He had never expected them to work in the same place.

#avengersbingo #steve rogers x reader

19 notes · View notes

akhabarfactory · 2 months

Text

Ceigall India IPO: Key Dates, Details, and Insights

Put dates in your calendars! The dates of the Ceigall India IPO are August 1, 2024, and August 5, 2024. With a new issue of ₹684.25 crores and an offer to sell up to 14,174,840 equity shares at ₹5, the business hopes to raise about ₹1,252.66 crores. Retail quota is 35 percent; QIB is 50 percent; and HNI is 15 percent. Known for its proficiency in constructing elevated roadways, flyovers, bridges, tunnels, highways, expressways, and runways, Ceigall India was founded in July 2002. With a three-year revenue CAGR as of Fiscal 2023, Ceigall India is acknowledged as one of the fastest-growing EPC businesses. The company has completed over 34 projects, comprising 16 EPC and one HAM project. There are fifteen active projects that the organization is working on right now, ranging from multi-lane highways and expressways to elevated corridors and bridges. Ceigall India also has experience subcontracting projects and operates and maintains (O&M) projects in accordance with its EPC/HAM concession agreements. Goals of the ProblemEvaluation of the IPO and Brokerage ViewsInformation about the IPOSpecifics of the Market Lot and ApplicationImportant DatesFinancial PerformanceValuation (FY2024)Peer GroupCompany PromotersContact Information

Goals of the Problem

- Purchasing Equipment - Repayment/Prepayment of Debt for General Corporate Purposes of the Company and Its Subsidiary, CIPPL

Evaluation of the IPO and Brokerage Views

Brokerage companies such as Capital Market, Religare Broking, Hem Securities, and Arihant Capital will soon provide reviews.

Information about the IPO

- Open Date: August 1, 2024 - Close Date: August 5, 2024 - IPO Size: Approx. ₹1,252.66 Crores (31,238,480 shares) - Fresh Issue: Approx. ₹684.25 Crores (17,063,640 shares) - Offer for Sale: Approx. ₹568.41 Crores (14,174,840 shares) - Face Value: ₹5 Per Equity Share - Price Band: ₹380 to ₹401 Per Share - Listing: BSE & NSE - Retail Quota: 35% - QIB Quota: 50% - NII Quota: 15%

Specifics of the Market Lot and Application

- Minimum Market Lot: 37 shares with an application amount of ₹14,837 - Retail Investors: Up to 13 lots - S-HNI Minimum: 14 lots - B-HNI Minimum: 68 lots

Important Dates

- Basis of Allotment: August 6, 2024 - Refunds: August 7, 2024 - Credit to Demat Account: August 7, 2024 - IPO Listing Date: August 8, 2024 You can download IPO forms from the websites of the NSE and BSE, or you can apply for the Ceigall India IPO using ASBA in your bank account.

Financial Performance

Valuation (FY2024)

- EPS: ₹19.37 per Equity Share - RoNW: 33.57% - NAV: ₹57.68 per Equity Share

Peer Group

- PNC Infratech Limited - G R Infraprojects Limited - H.G. Infra Engineering Limited - KNR Constructions Limited - ITD Cementation India Limited - J Kumar Infraprojects Limited

Company Promoters

- Ramneek Sehgal - Sons HUF and RS Family Trust

Contact Information

Registrar: Link Intime India Private Ltd | Phone: +91-22-4918 6270 | Email: [email protected] Company Address: Ceigall India Limited, A-898, Tagore Nagar, Ludhiana 141 001, Punjab, India | Phone: +91 161 4623666 | Email: [email protected] | Website: www.ceigall.com Also Read : TVS Supply Chain Solutions: June 2024 Net Profit Increases Despite Sales Decline Read the full article

#CeigallIndiaIPO #CeigallIndiaIPONews #CeigallIndiaIPOToday

0 notes

summersplumbingheating1 · 5 months

Text

The Ins and Outs of HVAC Repair Contractors Near You

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems play a pivotal role in maintaining the comfortable environment in homes and businesses. Yet, as with any other system, HVAC units are susceptible to wear and tear or occasionally breaks down due to various reasons. When these situations arise, finding reliable local HVAC repair contractors is crucial. This article navigates through the significance of their services and factors to consider when seeking their help.

Importance of Local HVAC Repair Contractors

HVAC repair contractors near you stand as your first line of defense when fitness issues strike your heating or cooling appliances. These professionals have expertise in identifying the root cause of problems quickly while recommending appropriate solutions that extend the system's lifespan and enhance its efficiency. Finding local contractors brings additional advantages such as easy accessibility during emergencies, quicker response times, personalized service experiences, and a comprehensive understanding of climate-specific cooling or heating challenges.

Services Provided by Local HVAC Repair Contractors

Your local contractor capabilities stretch beyond basic trouble-shooting. They cover an expansive list of services designed to keep your home or businesses comfy all year round. For one thing, they handle typical repairs that could occur due to age-related wear and tear or usage malfunctions. These might relate to fractures in ductwork, faulty wiring, low refrigerant levels, or impaired fan motors. Routine maintenance is another vital service provided by these practitioners. Preventive upkeep serves to preempt complications upfront rather than allowing them to progress into expensive repair jobs down the line. It generally includes tasks like cleaning filters and coils besides checking for potential problems ahead of each season. Their expertise also extends into installation roles wherein they guide customers towards selecting suitable units considering variables like room size or energy efficiency ratings before fitting them out professionally ensuring optimal functioning right from day one.

Choosing Reliable HVAC Repair Contractors Near Me

Selecting the ideal HVAC contractor can be daunting, especially when a plethora of options are seemingly available at the tip of your fingers. However, certain attributes distinguish trustworthy professionals from the rest. First off, licensure and certifications bear testimony to a contractor's competence in industry norms, safety guidelines, and recent technological advancements. Such credentials act as key indicators of their commitment to quality service delivery. Good contractors carry insurance coverage for potential job site accidents or unexpected damages during service provision. This assurance provides peace of mind to customers regarding unforeseen financial burdens. Reputation is another determining factor that takes into account previous customer feedbacks, years in business, and expertise levels. Online reviews and ratings offer a fair understanding of an HVAC repair contractor’s credibility in real-world scenarios. Lastly, excellent customer support denotes their willingness to stand by their workmanship besides responding proactively to queries or concerns. In conclusion, HVAC repair contractors near me encompass not just quick fixes but represent long-term partners looking after your heating and cooling needs. Their repertoire includes repairs, maintenance worksites installations replete with professional insights that shape fine-tuned decisions related to capacity or energy efficiency. While choosing such contractors comes down to reviewing qualifications such as licensure or insurance besides gauging their reputation based on past projects or customer-centricity.

Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling

4130 Corridor Dr Suite A, Warsaw, IN , 46582

574-380-0010

#HVAC contractor #hvac repair contractors near me #hvac repair contractors warsaw #ac & heating repair contractor

1 note · View note

megatronlogistics · 2 years

Text

Budget 2023: Vision for Logistics Enterprise May also Enhance India’s Scores Globally

India has the world's fifth-largest economy and has the vision to reach a $5 trillion economy by 2025. With this growth, it is expected that the logistics industry will play a major role.

By the end of 2025, India will have the employment of 22 million people and will act as the backbone for multiple industries. Investing in infrastructural development by creating a dedicated freight corridor will improve connectivity by rail, road, and sea, and it will enable technology-driven solutions for the improvement that is visible across the supply chain, which will be critical if India has to sustain and accelerate GDP growth.

In 2021, the logistics industry in India was valued at $250 billion, and with the market poised to grow to an impressive $380 billion by 2025, it will give growth to logistics companies like the Best logistics Company in Guwahati. However, the environment still faces many challenges, with India ranked 44th in the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) published by the World Bank, and industry experts agree that costs must be reduced quickly.

The cost of logistics in India is expected to hover around 12% to 13% of the GDP mark, which will be much higher compared to the US at 9.5%, Germany at 8%, or the BRICS countries at 11%. The government has already laid out an outline with many steps to bring this number to 8% by 2030, which will result in driving the enterprise efficiently.

There are a lot of expectations surrounding the Union Budget for 2023, most notably concerning implementing plans from the National Logistics Policy (NLP), which Prime Minister Modi launched in September 2022. NLP is intended to improve economic growth by increasing employment and improving domestic products' competitiveness abroad. It will also establish a single window to the e-logistics market that will make it easier for goods to move between different parts of the country.

The natural next step is to follow the Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which seeks the urgent improvement of first- and last-mile connectivity and continues to be a roadblock for players like e-commerce and MSMEs across the board.

Endnotes

The implementation of ULIP would prove to be the game changer in times that come by improving the visibility multi-folding, cutting down expenses delays, and enhancing enterprise efficiency, expensive delays, and transport costs. And Logistics company in Assam will play a vital role in strengthening and adaptation of these open-source protocols that will break down silos in communication, improve service quality assessment, and improve automation for greater reliability and ease of doing business.

With more than 60% of all cargo in India transported by road (compared to the global average of 25%), Indian roads are the lifeline for freight transport. And initiatives like FASTag help to reduce driving and transportation time. However, in this budget, the companies hope to contribute to the creation of dedicated freight corridors (DFCs) and the creation of multimodal parks, as well as air terminals and better rail connectivity, for the trade of goods across the state.

#Transport Service in Guwahati #Transport Service in Assam #transport service in Durgapur

0 notes

twotrojanwomen · 2 years

Text

Helen's Farewell

In the morning, when I wake, the smell of the corpses roasting of funeral pyres remind me of the foul nightmare I have lived in these past two decades. [1] Each day, those fallen in battle are given their rites and released into the starless void of eternal rest, and each day, when I wake, I am met with their mothers and daughters and sisters creeping through my chambers, attending to my needs all the while whispering to me that their sons and brothers and husbands died on my behalf. I can do nothing to ease their pain, gods know I've tried, so I spend my days in silence, speaking only to manage the home. [2]

Today, however, I have no grief to soothe but my own. For it is not bodies that burn below my towers windows, but Troy itself. The cries echoing off the city's wall and the rush of men sealing any possible passage into Paris' home tells me that it is the Achaeans doing. I am not surprised. There were whispers in the corridors saying that the Greeks have fled, worn down and lacking their champion and a large wooden horse left with a single soldier as offering to Athena. What fools they were to drink themselves unconscious at the first sign of victory.

I stayed away from the revelry. In these past years, I promised myself that I would observe better, not allow myself to be swept away with pretty words or a rough hand. I know that I was right to stay by my loom, weaving by the light of a small fire by my window, but now hours later, I hear the screams of young maidens, and I still can't help but regret it.

It always circles back to regret for me. In my life, I have made one choice of my own. It wasn't borne from love or lust, as most think it to be, but from understanding. Paris was so like me at the time. We knew the cost of our beauty; we had both already seen the consequences of it. He saw me for who I was and I him, for we were the same person. But all the same, I went with him to Troy.

Perhaps I was wrong. I've had the thought recently as our arguments grow more frequent and my distance becomes more constant that he never saw me as more than a doll. I was gifted to him by the gods, that much we all know, but I had believed he saw more than that. Was I just deluding myself? Is it just that no man can see beyond their lust? Or am I truly meant to be a doll for their entertainment and use? I can’t stand that thought but at times it feels overwhelmingly true.

I suppose, in the coming hours we shall see. Perhaps I am the doll I am made out to be. Useless now that I have expressed a will of my own. [3] I know I must make my way down to the temple of our lady Athena. For sanctuary of course, stepping foot in the streets would no doubt result in my being torn limb from limb, but also to ask her final guidance.

I have yet to decide how I will face my once husband. It will end in my death, of that I am sure, but what part will I play? I suppose, I shall leave it to the gods and men to decide. And so, this shall act as my final farewell.

[1] Butler, Samuel. trans., The Iliad of Homer Book XXIV, (San Diego: Canterbury Classics, 2011), 355.

[2] Scott, Michael, “The Rise of Women in Ancient Greece," History Today 59, no. 11, November, 2009, https://search-ebscohost-com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rch&AN=45086611&site=eds-live&scope=site. 34-40.

[3] Katz, Marilyn, “Ideology and ‘The Status of Women’ in Ancient Greece,” History and Theory 31, no. 4, December 1, 1992, doi:10.2307/2505416, 70–97.

[Image Credit] Hellen and Paris, c. 380 – c. 370 BC, Side A from an Apulian red-figure bell-krater, Tales of Times Forgotten, 602 x 494 cm, https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2019/08/24/what-did-helen-of-troy-look-like/.

1 note · View note

milllascl · 2 years

Text

Train simulator 2016 steam edition manual

TRAIN SIMULATOR 2016 STEAM EDITION MANUAL SIMULATOR

train simulator 2013 gp9 locomotives debundle.ncf.train simulator 2013 class 66 locomotives debundle.ncf.train simulator 2013 class 158 dmu debundle.ncf.train simulator 2013 class 08 shunters debundle.ncf.train simulator 2013 - union pacific challenger.ncf.train simulator 2013 - union pacific big boy.ncf.train simulator 2013 - lner thompson b1.ncf.train simulator 2013 - ice3 train assets.ncf.train simulator 2013 - class 66 freightliner.ncf.train simulator 2013 - class 101 strathclyde dmu (wcml).ncf.train simulator 2013 - a3 flying scotsman wartime black.ncf.train simulator 2012 munich augsburg.ncf.train simular 2013 ukwagons01 debundle.ncf.railworks glasgow airport rail link dlc.ncf.railworks bonusscenario01 cotswold line.ncf.railworks 3 trains vs zombies dlc.ncf.railworks 3 super express train dlc.ncf.railworks 3 southern pacific cabforwards.ncf.railworks 3 settle steam specials.ncf.railworks 3 sd70ace locomotives debundle.ncf.railworks 3 sd70 volume 2 debundle.ncf.railworks 3 lner a1 tornado locomotives debundle.ncf.railworks 3 legacyscenariosfictional.ncf.railworks 3 legacyroutesfictional.ncf.railworks 3 ice3m high speed train.ncf.railworks 3 f40ph california zephyr pack.ncf.railworks 3 donner pass southern pacific.ncf.railworks 3 class 86 locomotives debundle.ncf.railworks 3 class 67 locomotives debundle.ncf.railworks 3 class 67 diamond jubilee.ncf.railworks 3 class 390 emu debundle.ncf.railworks 3 class 380 emu debundle.ncf.railworks 3 class 33 locomotives debundle.ncf.railworks 3 class 325 express mail.ncf.railworks 3 class 325 emu debundle.ncf.railworks 3 class 31 locomotives debundle.ncf.railworks 3 class 170 dmu debundle.ncf.railworks 3 class 111 dmu debundle.ncf.railworks 3 c44-9w locomotives debundle.ncf.railworks 2 portsmouth direct line.ncf.railworks 2 northeast corridor dlc.ncf.railworks 2 granfield branch line dlc.ncf.railworks 2 edinburgh glasgow dlc.ncf.

#Train simulator 2016 steam edition manual

0 notes

minefield-of-a-ninja · 2 years

Text

A Home For You In My Skin - Jensen Ackles x female reader/you

Summary: He has sharp teeth.

Warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY, Jensen’s smile, Jensen’s teeth, biting during sex

Words: 380

Angeles - Jensen Ackles x female reader/you

Summary: “It started with being in the same place at the same time, friends in common, similar interests in music and movies. Then you touched his knee and laughed when he said something funny – and the look in his eyes left you hot and shivering.”

Warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY

Words: 1,600

Dressed In White Noise - Jensen Ackles/female reader

Summary: She’s finally met the man of her dreams.

Warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY, light Dom/sub, consent is sexy (almost like it’s a kink), light Bondage, light Spanking (bc me), light name-calling, Rimming, Blow Job, Come Marking, showering (obvi – it’s me), light threat of choking (I mean… again, me), happily ever after (you’re welcome)

Words: 2,500

Erotica - Jensen Ackles x female reader

Summary: He always makes me come.

Warnings/tags: mature

Words: 350

The Evening Tide - Norman Reedus x female reader

Summary: I always feel sexy when I’m getting ready to go somewhere special, spending time on my hair and makeup and picking just the right outfit. Colors and fabrics and fragrances can be such sensual things, heightening the experience — and having him watch me like this is decadent.

Warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY, established relationship

Words: 2k

Give Me A Reason - Norman Reedus x female reader/you

Summary: Discovering a kink you never knew you had.

Warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY, bondage

Words: 800

In For A Penny - Jensen Ackles x female reader

Summary: This is what they want. This is what they need.

Warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY, implied infidelity, no condoms, Dom/sub undertones, clothed sex, dirty talk, panty ripping, breast slapping, ass play, anal sex, size kink, Daddy used as title, butt plug, female ejaculation/squirting, slight sensory deprivation, clit and pussy slapping, riding crop, object insertion, dirty talk, bathing

Words: 7K

In His Bed - Jensen Ackles x female reader

Summary: She needs a rebirth.

Warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY

Words: 500

Like Summer Rain - Jensen Ackles x original female character

Summary: Jensen’s had a long hard go of it at work lately and decides to take a step in their sexual relationship to ease the stress.

Warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY, ripping clothes, rimming, teasing at choking

Words: 2,300

Scotch On Ice - Keanu Reeves x female reader/you

Prompt: 1) Watch Always Be My Maybe 2) Keanu Reeves 3) Suit and tie (on him, not the floor, please) 4) Single malt scotch on ice 5) Biting

Warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY, the c-word

Words: 850

Strawberries & Wine - Jensen Ackles x female reader

Summary: Kind of a 9 ½ Weeks redux.

Warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY, blindfold, bondage, sensation play, food during sex

Words: 580

Wrecked - Jensen Ackles x female reader/you

Summary: After the show, alone in a dark corridor, he shows you exactly what that song means.

Warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY, biting, Jensen Ackles in that fucking CBGB t-shirt and hat and the wallet chain WTF dude

Words: 1,050

We Be All Night - Norman Reedus x female reader/you

Summary: The best sex, the most sex, the hottest sex, the raunchiest sex – the sex you’ll never forget, is with him.

Warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY, rough sex, semi-Public Sex, the jockey is my favorite sexual position, references to bloodplay, biting, sex that makes your neighbors hate you, fuck-you-into-the-floor sex, drunk in love, talking smack with your sex partner, squirting

Words: 2,060

#jensen ackles smut #norman reedus smut #keanu reeves smut

96 notes · View notes

thisisdrea · 2 years

Text

Discover the Best Kept Secret in Celina - Parks at Wilson Creek

Located on the Collin County Outer Loop If you’re looking for a peaceful, nature-filled community in Celina, Texas, look no further than Parks at Wilson Creek. This charming development offers stunning views, top-notch amenities, and a fantastic location. Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or looking for your next family home, Parks at Wilson Creek has everything you need. At Parks at…

View On WordPress

#380 Corridor #Celina Texas #Collin County Outer Loop #David Weekley Homes #Highland Homes #Parks at Wilson Creek #Perry Homes #Tradition Homes

2 notes · View notes

hogwartsfirebolt · 3 years

Text

Desvelo (or: The Case of Subject A1534: Harry James Potter)

Draco turned on the recorder as soon as he walked into the lab. Two of his colleagues stood by the main table, fastening the unconscious subject’s limbs, and a third one handed him his notes, which he took without looking up as he unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves.

There was a hum of magic around the body, keeping it safe, keeping it still. He forced himself not to think too hard about who it belonged to.

“What’s the status?” he asked the room at large, approaching the table.

“Alive, under a magically induced coma to prevent strain to the core. We haven’t identified the curse,” replied Zeller, holding her hands over the subject’s head to hold the charm. Draco nodded at her, turned his face towards the recorder and spoke clearly.

“This is Draco Malfoy, code DM17008512, head of the Dark Arts BioStudies division, reporting from Level 9, on the 25th of June, 2008.” He walked around the exam table, lowered Zeller’s charms and replaced them with his own, finding the subject’s vitals with his magical awareness. “Subject A1534, Harry James Potter, is alive, kept under a magical coma. Slight bradycardia, as expected, blood pressure of 110/60, core unstable at 250 joules and climbing by the second.”

The manic energy of Harry’s magic zinged his forearms, crazed, looking for an outlet. Draco felt it around his fingers, underneath his nails. He clenched his teeth.

“This is Rose Zeller,” she picked up as he fell silent, “code RZ19003276, member of the Dark Arts BioStudies division, reporting from Level 9 on the 25th of June, 2008. Subject Harry James Potter arrived unconscious in the emergency department of St Mungo’s Hospital in the early hours of the 24th of June, 2008, and was referred to the Dark Arts Biostudies division that very morning, after the medics failed to identify the curse responsible for his condition.”

Draco knew all that, and yet it made his hackles rise once again to remember what the medics had said, the call he’d received the previous day, informing him of his new subject. He looked at Harry’s prone form now, the easy rise and fall of his chest as the coma imitated sleep, the peaceful drop of his eyelids, and had to will himself not to think as he ran his hands down the tan neck, the long clavicles. This was just a subject, he told himself. Nothing was different. He cleared his throat, “Curse entry identified over second rib, at midclavicular line on the right side. Trifocal, seeming to suggest a curse of the Imperial family. No exit mark apparent upon inspection.”

He took his hands off the body, clasping them together so he could pretend they weren’t shaking, and retracted his magic, pulling it free of the magnet of Harry’s. It was quiet, only the static hum of the spells keeping Harry unconscious broke the silence of the insular room. His soft breaths. The occasional brush of Zeller’s pen against paper. Draco tried not to stare, and couldn’t. There was so much brown naked skin on display, so much history, that no matter how hard he attempted to root himself to the present, he found himself falling into memories of that body, of those hands, of years of watching. Years of wanting.

“No exit mark apparent upon inspection,” he repeated. Made up his mind. “Impossible to reach further conclusions until the subject is woken up. Zeller, Nott, rennervate him. I shall stabilize his core.”

It was a testament to how far he’d come that neither of them thought to argue. They moved, one of them standing at each of Harry’s sides, and Draco stayed near his head, reaching towards his core with his magic, coaxing it into stillness, easing it from the entropy the curse had unleashed.

“Rennervate,” Zeller and Nott whispered in unison.

Harry’s core cells shook against Draco’s hold, fought the intrusion for a moment, but he held on, and soon enough Harry’s eyes popped open, frantic, his body immediately battling the restraints, thrashing, attempting to free his arms and legs, to flee. But still Draco held on, and at last, when Harry looked up and their eyes met, he stopped struggling, as sudden as a bucket of water dousing a fire.

“Potter,” Draco muttered through clenched teeth, as he reined in Harry’s core cells. “You need to tell us what they hit you with.”

He felt Zeller’s magic join his own, take some of the brunt of Harry’s magic, lift a bit of weight off his shoulders. His breaths came more easily.

“W-what?” Harry asked, still confused, still looking at Draco, only at Draco.

“You’re in the Department of Mysteries,” Draco said, “you were attacked. Do you remember what they hit you with?”

“I don’t— what? Department of— Do I know you?”

“Boss, his core is nearing 300 joules,” Nott said. “We need to put him down again.”

But Draco barely heard him. “You don’t remember me?”

Harry blinked, confused, tried to stand up, shook his wrists against his restraints when he found he couldn’t. “No. I was hit?”

“Yes, with a curse. Did you have the chance to hear what it was?” Zeller asked when Draco, stunned into silence, didn’t continue the interrogation.

“A curse? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Harry said. “Did you kidnap me? I — what’s happening?”

“Boss, core at 325”

“You’re the boss?” Harry asked Draco, looking right into his eyes once again. “I thought… you feel familiar but I don’t really—?”

“Boss, 350.”

“Mr Potter,” Rose said, “We really need you to...”

“Potter?” Harry asked.

Draco felt faint.

“360”

“Am I—?” Harry didn’t look away from Draco, his eyes pleading.

“380”

“Put him down,” Draco said.

Nott did.

The silence that followed ringed in Draco’s ears. They were all quiet, stunned into it. Harry lay unconscious on the table once again. Draco could still hear his pained confusion.

“Subject appears to suffer from severe amnesia,” he said at last. “Recording over.”

They’d kissed once.

It could almost have been passed off as an accident, brief and light as it was.

To Draco, it counted.

It had been four years before, the night Harry graduated from the Auror Academy. Him and the other 24 graduates had piled up into a bar and made a big deal of it, gotten drunk out of their minds. Draco’s presence had been a mere coincidence, his getting drunk a very conscious decision once he’d seen the boisterous, red-coated lot.

His memories were confusing, the images blurring into each other as the night progressed in increasingly drunker increments, but he remembered stumbling into the bathroom and finding Harry there, broad shoulders free of his coat, with Ron weeping into his arm and saying, “I just love you so much, you’re my best friend I love you sooo—“ and Harry patting his shoulder and saying, “I know, I know, I love you too.” He remembered, somehow, ending up at their table. Doing shots with them. A confusing few minutes on the dance floor. He remembered standing outside the bar in the rain and then, right there, the kiss. He couldn’t remember what had led up to it, but the fact of it had sobered him up immediately, and he remembered it, crystal clear, himself leaning against the wall, wet from the rain, and Harry, a long line of heat along his side, their lips pressed together. He remembered pushing for more, and then Harry pulling back. Harry saying, “Oh god.”

Then, the night dissolved in his mind and the next thing he remembered was waking up the following morning, hungover.

He’d not seen Harry for weeks after that, and when they’d finally met again at an interdepartmental meeting, Harry had given him a mere nod, eyes sliding right past him. As if nothing had happened. Perhaps, to him, it hadn’t. But to Draco, it counted.

“What’s the plan now, boss?” Nott asked him, droplets of sweat high on his brow from maintaining the charm keeping Harry down.

Draco took a deep breath. “We got some information. Find all references to amnesia linked to a curse of the Imperial class on the records.”

“On it.” Zeller said.

Harry lay unconscious once again, incongruous in the calmness of his induced sleep. A tamed lion. Draco reached forward, removed his glasses, folded the temples carefully. Then, he ran his knuckles along the dark, freckled cheekbones.

“I’m going to talk to The Professor,” he said. His colleagues hummed their assent.

The Professor’s office stood right at the end of Level 9, a door you might not see if it didn’t feel like being seen, in a corridor that, at times, didn’t exist at all. Fitting for the head of the department of mysteries.

The door opened for him before he knocked, which told him he was expected. When he walked inside, Hermione Granger stood beside her desk, two books in her hands.

“Professor,” Draco said. “You heard the recording.”

“Yes,” she replied, fingers quick on the pages of one of the books she held. “I want nothing more than to go see him myself, but I have to meet the minister right now. I did find these, I hope they help,” she handed Draco the books, one of them open to a specific page. Her level, browned eyed gaze was harsh on him. “The only reason I’m not storming your lab is that I know you’re capable. Take care of him.”

“I will.”

She nodded. “Do whatever it takes to bring him back.” He would.

Back in his lab, Draco sat on top of his desk and paged through the books Hermione had given him. The first one, the one she had handed him open, was on mind magic.

The dissolution of memories following an attack with dark magic, the title read at the top of the page.

A clear marker of mind magic is its lightness. Schuester and Neels classify the magical particles that travel through neurons as a follow-up to their natural action potential into two large groups: permalight and everblue. The permalight particles possess an immutable quality that ensures their stability, whereas everblue particles, in charge of the pathways pertaining to memory, when disturbed by specific dark curses (especially those dealing with the proceedings of the magical center in the medulla oblongata) become overactive, releasing an increased amount of energy that forces the magical core into a state of overcompensation. Cases with magical cores that reach up to 500 joules have been documented, and the main consequence is a loss of the overactive everblue particles and the resultant dissolution of memories.

“Found it,” Draco said, marking the page down and putting the book aside before reaching for the second one. “Nott, give me a rundown of the state of his everblue particles.”

“Got it,” Nott replied. After a couple seconds, he added, surprised, “the everblue particles are… going haywire, just frantic, it’s hard to say. They’re definitely more active than they should be.”

“Attempt to stabilize, give me a second,” Draco opened the second book. It was a Mind Potions manual. He paged through it, looking, looking, until he found what he was looking for. “McKinney, get me a silver cauldron.”

“There’s an antidote?” Zeller asked.

Draco nodded. “It will take a few hours to brew, but if I’m right, he should be out of here by tomorrow morning.”

“Baseline?” McKinney asked.

“Memory potion. Get me one as well, I’ll modify as needed.”

In a second, they were all working again. Draco went to the supply closet and picked out the ingredients carefully, one finger over the page that held the instructions. If he did it right, Harry would be back the next day. That was all that mattered. That was all he cared about.

“You need help?” McKinney asked him when he took the cauldron from her. He didn’t, not really, but one look at Harry lying on the exam table and at the clock on the wall had him nodding.

He would bring him back, and he would do it as soon as possible.

“Yes. Chop the staghorn.” He got the fire going, crushed the neem leaves, squeezed the valerian root. Together, he and McKinney completed the ingredient list, and Draco added them to the cauldron one by one, paying attention to the scent of the fumes, the color of the smoke. Once he had a royal blue potion, he turned the fire down.

“It needs to simmer for two hours. After that, I’ll need your help to wake him up and make him drink it.”

Mckinney cringed. Draco nodded, sympathetic. He wasn’t keen on forcing Harry, either.

“Will he have his memories back, boss?”

“The important ones, right away. He should remember the rest in the next few days.”

“Everything he remembered before?”

Draco nodded. “If I did it right, yes.” He was looking at the clock, at the slow tick of the thin hand marking the seconds. “You should all go grab lunch, I will need you sharp. I can guard the subject.”

They all recognized it as the order it was and, after taking off their aprons and offering to bring him coffee once they returned, they left him alone. The room was eerily silent in their wake. Draco brought a stool next to the exam table and sat there, right beside Harry. His hand, wide and open, lay next to his body. Draco swallowed, brought his hand up and ran the tips of his fingers down Harry’s palm.

Would he remember, Draco wondered.

He supposed it didn’t really matter.

When he’d mentioned the graduation party, over a year after it happened, Harry had simply stared at him blankly.

“You were there?” And then, sheepish, “Oh, man, I was so drunk I don’t remember a single thing. I’m sorry, did I do something embarrassing? Do you have embarrassing stories about me?”

Draco laughed it off, relayed the story of a weepy Ron in the bathroom of the bar, and Harry laughed along.

They’d become friends by then, were already past the tentative first drinks, well into the stage of inside jokes, of shared meals. And now Draco knew that Harry didn’t remember.

For a while, he willed himself to forget. Once he realized it was impossible, he resigned himself to living with his one-sided crush. Harry’s friendship was already so much more than he could’ve ever hoped for, his hyper-distilled attention heady enough as it was. It was enough.

“Ready?” Draco asked, holding the vial between his fingers. Zeller, Nott and McKinney stood at Harry’s sides. He waited for their nod before giving the order, “Now.”

“Rennervate.”

Once again, Harry woke up fighting, struggling with his binds before even becoming fully conscious. This time, though, Draco was right there, a hand to Harry’s sweaty nape, the short hair at the back of his head.

“Hey, it’s okay. Harry, wake up.”

Harry did, his eyes overtaken by his pupils for a couple seconds before adjusting to the bright lights of the lab. He looked at Draco, right at him as he had before, just as confused. “What’s happening?”

“You lost your memories,” Draco whispered, disarmed by the absolute trust in Harry’s eyes. “We can help you, but you have to drink this. Will you?”

He showed him the vial. Harry eyed it, swallowed. “Yeah, okay.”

Draco breathed out, relieved. “Here, I’ll help you.” He tipped Harry’s head back, brought the vial close to his lips. “It tastes good, I promise. I made it specially for you.”

Harry nodded, didn’t look away from him for a second as he swallowed, and soon enough, the vial was empty.

The potion acted immediately. The monitors beeped as Harry’s pulse skyrocketed, his breath quickening, but his core began to regain stability, the number climbing down from 400. His hand shot forward, clung to Draco’s arm, and Draco let him, watched him ride the waves of memories.

At last, Harry’s eyes fell closed, a faint sheen of sweat covering his forehead. The monitors showed his core at 80 joules.

“What’s your name?” Draco asked softly, gently.

“Harry James Potter,” Harry whispered, eyes still closed. He brought a hand up, covered his eyelids.

“Do you know what they hit you with?”

“Desvelo”

Unveiling.

Draco nodded at Zeller. She nodded back, took off her apron and walked out of the lab, to investigate previous uses of the curse on their records. Draco turned back to Harry.

“Do you know who I am?”

Harry stayed still for a moment, then nodded, a slight jerk of his chin. He didn’t say anything.

“How are you feeling, Harry?”

“My head really hurts.”

Draco moved his sweaty hair away from his forehead, still gentle, still speaking low. “Do you want a painkiller?”

Harry nodded.

“Nott, bring me ibuprofen, 650 milligrams,” he didn’t turn to see if Nott had listened, instead ran his fingers through Harry’s hair once again. “Anything else?”

He saw Harry’s Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. “Yes. Back when— On the day of my graduation I—“

“Oh god, no,” Draco said quickly, hands stilling in Harry’s hair. “You don’t have to say anything. Please, just… you need to rest.”

“I do. But… we’ll talk about it later?”

Draco took a deep breath. “Yes. We’ll talk about it later.”

“Good.”

This is my gift to the amazing, lovely @onbeinganangel for the Wheel of Drarry Mini Exchange. Mari, you are the absolute loveliest and just, omg, give all of us on the server so much every single day, with your time and encouragement. It was a joy to get to write for you. I really hope you like it!! Infinite thanks to @moonstruckwytch for betaing this for me ❤️

#drarry #drarry fic #draco malfoy #harry potter #wheel of drarry mini exchange #mine #mywriting

296 notes · View notes

and-they-were-tombmates · 2 years

Text

If the Ancient Romans had Google Maps

By FRANK JACOBS

OmnesViae is a modern route planner based on the roads of the Roman Empire.

Like us, the Romans were adept at scrolling — except they used actual, unwieldy scrolls. They would have loved OmnesViae, a handy online route planner, just for Roman roads. Handy, yes. But crossing the empire would still be a schlep of more than 250 days.

In 20 BC, the emperor Augustus had a giant gilded spike installed next to the Temple of Saturn on the Forum Romanum. This was the Milliarium Aureum, or Golden Milestone, from which distances to cities throughout the empire were measured — and the true subject of the saying: omnes viae Romam ducunt (“all roads lead to Rome”).

It was a boast with more than a little truth to it. The Roman Empire’s extensive network of well-engineered, preferably straight roads was one of its main unifying features, a fact Augustus himself was very aware of. He put considerable effort into his reform of the road administration, had several roads built out of his own pocket, and created a courier service to optimize the usefulness of the network.

Not for nothing did his litany of honorifics include the title Curator Viarium (“Steward of the Roads”).

ROME'S ROADS REALLY TIED THE EMPIRE TOGETHER

In its heyday, Rome’s cursus publicus (“public road network”) consisted of about 380 interconnected roads, totaling around 50,000 miles (app. 80,000 km). Way stations and milestones facilitated the movement of traders and soldiers. In other words, they where vectors for the extension of Rome’s wealth and power. And they really did tie the empire together. Find yourself anywhere on the network, from the frozen wastes of northern Britannia to the shores of the Persian Gulf, and you easily could find your way back to Rome.

Easily perhaps, but not necessarily quickly. Lacking motorized transport, Romans could travel only as fast as legs could carry them — their own, or if they could afford them, those of their horses.

Unfortunately, ancient Rome also lacked a decent internet connection, otherwise travelers could have looked up the course and duration of their trip on OmnesViae.com, the online route planner the Romans never knew they needed.

OmnesViae leans heavily on the Tabula Peutingeriana, the closest thing we have to a genuine itinerarium (“road map”) of the Roman Empire.

Ancient Rome certainly had maps, but none from that time survive. The Peutinger Map, a 13th-century parchment scroll, is a copy of a much older map, which is only two “possibles” away from the Steward of the Roads himself: It may date from the 4th or 5th century, and that version may be a copy of a map prepared for Augustus around year 1 AD.

One argument in favor of the Augustan link: the map includes ancient Pompeii, which was destroyed by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD and never rebuilt, which points to an earlier origin. (Modern Pompei was founded only in 1891.) Yet it also includes Constantinople and prominently features Ravenna, which suggest the map copied by that anonymous 13th-century monk was an updated version from the 4th century (at the earliest), or more likely the 5th, as it splashes the name Francia (France) — after the newly arrived Germanic tribe of the Franks — across what until then was known exclusively as Gallia (Gaul).

ROMAN MAPS WERE JUST LIKE... TUBE MAPS?

Whatever its ultimate age, the shape of the Tabula — about a foot high and 22 feet long (33 cm by 6.75 m) — tells us that it cannot be topographically accurate. Instead, it focuses on presenting road corridors and connectors, with a few branches forking off through Persia all the way to India. By sacrificing topographic accuracy for network connectivity, the Peutinger Map is strangely reminiscent (or should that be “predictive”) of the London Tube map and other modern metro maps.

Geolocating thousands of points from Peutinger, OmnesViae reformats the roads and destinations on the scroll onto a more familiarly landscaped map. The shortest route between two (ancient) points is calculated using the distances travelled over Roman rather than modern roads, also taking into account the rivers and mountains the network must cross.

The Peutinger, for all its historical value, is not complete: It misses Britain and Spain. The roads of those Roman provinces were reconstructed using other sources, including the Itinerarium Antonini, a register (rather than a map) of Roman roads, way stations, and distances, possibly based on an empire-wide survey carried out in the time of Augustus.

GOODBYE, FLOUR SACKS!

So, what’s the farthest distance you could travel on Roman roads? From Blatobulgium to Volocesia must come pretty close. Blatobulgium was a Roman fort in what is now Dumfriesshire, Scotland, at the northern terminus of Route 2 in the Antonine Itinerary (also known as Watling Street). The fort’s name, Brittonic in origin, may mean something like “Flour Sacks” — a reference to the place’s granaries. It was occupied for about a century following 79 AD.

Volocesia, placed by OmnesViae near the Kuwaiti island of Bubiyan, is sometimes identified with a modern place called Abu Halafiya, on the banks of the Tigris in southern Iraq. According to OmnesViae, the distance between both is MMMDCCLI (3,751) Roman miles (about 4,100 modern miles, or slightly more than 5600 km). That trip would take you CCLI (251) days to complete.

That’s not a road trip to undertake casually, but a life-altering (and possibly life-ending) journey. Come to think of it, the same could very well be said today of a walk (or even a ride on horseback) from Scotland to Kuwait — and that’s with Google Maps.

Source: https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/omnesviae-roman-roads-map/

#all roads lead to rome #topography #roman history #archaeology

5 notes · View notes

violetsandshrikes · 4 years

Text

Avon-Ōtākaro Forest Park developed to conceptualise, promote and actively encourage the development of an indigenous forest and wetland park in land cleared of residential housing after the Canterbury Earthquakes in New Zealand. This land is still frequently referred to as the Red Zone or more accurately as the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor.

They are dependent entirely on donations or grants to buy plants, mulch, tools, plant guards and weed mats!!

They’re currently at $380 out of $5550 as of the 22nd of November 2020!

#conservation #donations #fundraiser #restoration #planting #regeneration

257 notes · View notes

takahero · 3 years

Text

in honour of finishing inkspell, here are some basta observations I picked up along the way. also, inkspell spoilers warning! i also have MANY MANY thoughts so i’d love to hear what you guys think to some of the questions raised

“He hadn’t changed: the same thin face, the same way of narrowing his eyes, and there was an amulet dangling around his neck to ward off the bad luck that Basta thought lurked under every ladder, behind every bush.” — pg.138

“Basta’s left hand was bandaged, Elinor noticed when he took his fingers away from her mouth.” — pg.139

“‘I’d have been here much sooner, believe you me, but they put me in jail for a while on account of something that happened years ago. No sooner was Capricorn gone than all the people who’d been too scared to open their mouths suddenly felt very brave.’” — pg.140 (see they never tell us WHY he was in prison, do they? the possibilities are endless. we know he committed atrocious things, like arson, but imagine if he got put in jail for something completely different…LOL)

“‘You wouldn’t believe how often I’ve told him there’s nothing to be ashamed of in going to jail, particularly when your prisons here are so much more comfortable than our dungeons at home.’” — pg.140 (OHHHTMGOD MEME IDEA)

“Basta flung his arm so roughly round Orpheus’ neck that his glasses slipped down his nose.” — pg.141

“‘Hold your tongue, Basta!’ Mortola interrupted him abruptly. ‘You’ve always liked the sound of your own voice.’” — pg.141

“‘Well, Silvertongue, I’m sorry it’s taken some time,’ he said in his soft, cat-like voice.” — pg.180

“‘My son always said revenge was a dish best eaten cold,’ observed Mortola.” — pg.181 (question. did basta find out about mortola’s true identity between inkheart & inkspell? do u think he realised it when mortola cried when capricorn died?)

“Basta passed a finger over his throat and winked at him.” — pg.186 (wink 2 LMAO)

“Basta bent down and picked up a rusty helmet lying at his feet. ‘What do you expect me to say?’ he growled, throwing the helmet back into the grass with a gloomy expression, and giving it a kick that sent it clattering against the wall. ‘Of course it’s our castle. Didn’t you see the figure of the goat on the wall there? Even the carved devils are still standing, though they wear ivy crowns now — and look, there’s one of the eyes that Slasher liked to paint on the stones.’” — pg.190

“‘So Basta was right after all. He’s dead, here and in the other world too.’” — pg.191 (interesting….so Basta knew Mortola’s plan wouldn’t work? he just wanted a ride home?)

“‘I’d really like to know what happened!’ he muttered. ‘I always said Capricorn wasn’t here, but what about the others?…What are we going to do if they’re all gone?’ Basta sounded like a boy afraid of the dark. ‘Do you want us to live in a cave like brownies until the wolves find us? Have you forgotten the wolves? And the Night-Mares, the fire-elves, all the other creatures crawling around the place…I for one haven’t forgotten them, but you would come back to this accursed spot where there are ghosts lurking behind every tree!’ He reached for the amulet dangling around his neck, but Mortola did not deign to look at him.

“‘Oh, be quiet!’ she said, so sharply that Basta flinched.” — pg.192

“‘You’re going to leave them here?’ That was Basta’s voice.” — pg.193 (at first I was like oh so he has a heart….but then he was mean to resa straight after this 🙄)

“‘Sorry, but he must have overlooked me, shut up in that cage as I was,’ purred Basta in his catlike voice.” — pg.377

“‘Wasn’t it Mortola who had you put in the cage to be fed to the Shadow?’ Basta just shrugged his shoulders and flung back his silver-grey cloak. Of course, he had his knife. A brand new one, it seemed, finer than any he’d ever had in the other world, and undoubtedly just as sharp.

“‘Yes, not very nice of her,’ he said as his fingers caressed the handle of the knife. ‘But she’s really sorry.’” — pg.377 (okay so it SOUNDS like he threatened/made some kind of bargain with his knife, but I strongly doubt that considering how afraid he seems of her?? i know he’s technically working for the adderhead but even by the end of the book, it seems he is far closer to mortola than adderhead. what is their relationship? or does he sincerely think she’s sorry/has deluded himself into believing such? UGH SO MANY QUESTIONS)

“Basta had always liked describing his own and other people’s abominable deeds in detail.” — pg.378

“‘But we’re not going to shoot you.’ Basta came a little closer to Fenoglio, his face as intent as that of a stalking cat.” — pg.378 …. living for all the cat references tbh

“‘He wants you to crawl on your belly to him, that’s what our noble lord and master likes. But never mind, he pays well!’” — pg.378 (yes basta all abt getting that bread LMAOOOO)

“He slowly drew the knife from his belt. Its blade was long and slightly curved.” — pg.379

“‘Hey Basta, I know you like the sound of your own voice.’” — pg.379 (AHAHAHAHA HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE CALLED OUT BASTA ON THIS NOW? IVE LOST TRACK)

“With a regretful sigh, Basta put the knife back in his belt. ‘Yes, very well, you’re right,’ he said in surly tones. ‘I need to take my time with this sort of thing. Questioning people is an art, a real art.’” — pg.380 (LMAOOOOOOO HE IS SUCH A DRAMA QUEEN)

“Basta. The same thin face, the same twisted smile. Only the clothes were different. Basta was no longer wearing his white shirt and black suit with the flower in his buttonhole. No, Basta now wore the Adderhead’s silvery grey, and he had a sword at his side. With a knife in his belt too, of course. But he was holding a dead chicken in his left hand.” — pg. 455

“‘Yes, they are!’ purred Basta. ‘The little witch, and the fire-eater into the bargain. It was well worth the wait. Even though I’ll probably never get that damned flour out of my lungs again.’” — pg.455 (ok….so who’s gonna draw basta sitting amongst the flour AAHHAHA)

“‘Servant? Who’s a servant here? Just listen to him. As bold as if he’d never felt my knife! Have you forgotten how you screamed when it cut your face?’” — pg.457 … don’t call basta a servant…..noted

“‘Oh, don’t look so disbelieving, little witch, I still can’t read and I don’t intend to learn, but there are enough fools around the place who can, even in this world.’” —pg. 457 (i wonder how much capricorn influenced basta’s views on reading. because capricorn said that he learnt how to read from a maid, right? so basta certainly wouldn’t have trash-talked reading in front of him. and even after living in OUR world for nine years, I’m still surprised that he never attempted to learn, given how dependent we are on it. anyway my headcanon is that he secretly wants to, but doesn’t want to give others the satisfaction of knowing they have something he doesn’t. also nobody he knows would be willing to teach him (unless he threatened them) bc of his obviously violent and short-tempered nature…and learning requires so much patience. still, though, would love a fic of basta being taught how to read in secret and having some kind of positive interaction)

“‘You’re even more talkative than you used to be, Basta.’ Dustfinger’s voice sounded as if he found this tedious.” — pg.458 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH IM DYING. honestly the animosity between them was just. A+++

“Basta was in an even worse state. He was sitting close to Mortola, his face so red and swollen that Meggie almost failed to recognise him. But he had escaped death once again. Perhaps the good-luck charms he always wore worked after all.” — pg.526

“The sunlight falling into the room made Basta’s face look like a boiled lobster.” — pg.575

“Basta put his hand to the amulet hanging around his neck. It was not a rabbit’s paw, as he had worn in Capricorn’s service, but something that looked suspiciously like a human finger-bone.” — pg.581 (THIS STILL IRKS ME SO MUCH)

“The Piper straightened his back, as ready to attack as the viper on his master’s coat of arms…He was a good head taller than Basta.” — pg.582 WHY DO I KEEP FORGETTING HES NOT TALL LMFAO

“The two men were standing so close that the blade of Basta’s knife wouldn’t have fitted between them.” — pg.582 HAHAHAJAHAAJAHAHHAAHAHAHAH PKESJENE I LOVE THIS SO MUCH … IMAGINE BASTA SQUARING UP W HIS NOSE JUST SMACK BANG IN THE MIDDLE OF PIPER’S CHEST OR SOMETHING

“The Piper struck Basta in the face so hard that his head hit the door frame. Blood ran down his burned cheek in a trail of red. He wiped it away with the back of his hand. ‘Take care to avoid dark corridors, Piper!’ he whispered. ‘You don’t have a nose any more, but one can always find something else to cut off.’” — pg.582-583 THIS SCENE WAS SIMPLY……CHEF’S KISS

are you serious is he dead??? WHAT. okay I knew dustfinger’s love for farid would be the end of him and basta being the instrument to rip that away from him was totally heartrending. i WISH it had been more climactic? like dustfinger unleashing his fury and fighting basta, blind with anger and grief. THE DIALOGUE POTENTIAL BETWEEN THEM AS THEY FINALLY TALK ONE-ON-ONE, and then some revisiting of the scene where dustfinger has the opportunity to kill basta but AGAIN withholds because killing is not in his nature….THEN MO IN SHINING ARMOUR SWOOPS IN TO DO THE JOB

now, off to inkdeath!

#inkspell #inkspell spoilers #basta #inkheart trilogy #BASTAAAAAA

35 notes · View notes