A Thing of Beauty

The above is a carved gemstone ring found in a Mycenaean tomb, (In 2015), dated to c. 1650 - 1500 B.C.E. It is believed that this gemstone came originally from the island of Crete. It is only about 1 and a half inch long in size.

The ring is an absolutely stunning example of fine detailed craftsmanship.

For a more detailed picture click on the photo.

Pierre Cloutier

Embattled Journey

One of the most interesting phenomena in the last couple of decades is the rise of Japanese Manga in the West. In fact now you can easily find shelves and shelves of translated Japanese Manga in book stores throughout Europe and North America north of the Rio Grande.

Now Manga are Japanese comics but they come from a quite different tradition of publishing going back to a long history of printing wood cut prints to illustrate the books that the Japanese read. also in Japan Manga are used not just entertain and titillate, (Erotic and Pornographic Manga are common.), but also to educate and teach, such things as calculus, and even engineering. Further unlike much of the West, Manga's main audience has in fact been adults. In fact in much of the West comics are usually considered entertainment for children and teens, and only in the last 30 years has that begun to change in the West.1

Some Art

 

 

Here are some pictures of some art I saw in New York City.

 

 

Greek Vase
Showing Orestes murder of Clytemnestra

Maya Writing Tools

A Brief Note

Mayan Scribe at work

The Maya had a sophisticated system of writing. They also created some very beautiful books so what were the tools that they used in writing those books?

Sistine Chapel

The ceiling Frescoes of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo  are among the greatest works of art ever conceived of by anyone. Here are some pictures of the Frescoes.

Plan of Frescoes in the Sistine Chapel