The Great Sphinx was believed to stand as a guardian of the Giza Plateau, where it faces the rising sun. It was the focus of solar worship in the Old kingdom, centered in the adjoining temples built around the time of its probable construction. Its animal form, the lion, has long been a symbol associated with the sun in ancient nears eastern civilizations. Images depicting the Egyptian king in the form of a lion smiting his enemies appear as far back as the Early Dynasty period of Egypt. During the New Kingdom, the Sphinx became more specifically associated with the god Hor-em-akhet ( Greek Harmachis) or Horus at the Horizon, which represented the Pharoah in his role as the Shesep ankh of Atum (living image of Atum). A temple was built to the northeast of the Sphinx by King Amenhotep II, nearly a thousand years after its construction, dedicated to the cult of Horemakhet.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
The Great Sphinx of Giza
The Great Sphinx was believed to stand as a guardian of the Giza Plateau, where it faces the rising sun. It was the focus of solar worship in the Old kingdom, centered in the adjoining temples built around the time of its probable construction. Its animal form, the lion, has long been a symbol associated with the sun in ancient nears eastern civilizations. Images depicting the Egyptian king in the form of a lion smiting his enemies appear as far back as the Early Dynasty period of Egypt. During the New Kingdom, the Sphinx became more specifically associated with the god Hor-em-akhet ( Greek Harmachis) or Horus at the Horizon, which represented the Pharoah in his role as the Shesep ankh of Atum (living image of Atum). A temple was built to the northeast of the Sphinx by King Amenhotep II, nearly a thousand years after its construction, dedicated to the cult of Horemakhet.
Jakarta - Capital of Indonesia
Monument National
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The Pisa Tower
The Tower is the bell tower of the Cathedral. Its construction began in the second half of the XII century.
Characteristics of the Tower
- The height of the building from the foundations to the belfry is c. 60m- The ring shaped foundation has an external diameter of 19.6m- The Tower weighs c. 14,500 tonnes- The Tower is shaped like a hollow cylinder formed by two concentric walls (in marble blocks) which contain mortar and other matter- A spiral stair within the cylindrical body allows access to the arcaded storeys and to the summit of the tower- The thickness of the wall at the first level is 4.1m. At higher levels it is 2.7m - The inclination is c. 5½ degrees towards the south; this means that the seventh cornice protrudes about 4.5m over the first cornice.
Construction history
The Tower was constructed in the course of about 200 years- The history of the building works is only partially documented, and has been reconstructed on the basis of indirect sources- Work on the foundation began on 9 August 1173.- The third order had only just been completed when, in c. 1178, the building works were suspended.- Around 1272 the construction was recommenced, only to be interupted again, at the level of the 7th cornice, in c. 1278.- The construction of the belfry (8th order) began around 1360 and was completed c. 10 years later.- The Tower has subsided vertically by c. 2.8m as a result of the unstable nature of the underlying ground. The catino at the base was excavated in 1838 to bring to light the bases of the columns which had sunk underground.- The differential subsidence is 1.89m; this means that the extreme north and south have subsided by 1.86m and 3.75m respectively.
The Passion of Travelling
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
London Eye
This picture is taking from http://www.infolondon.co.uk
Adult: £14.50 to £29.50 per ticket
Child: £7.25 to £9.00 per ticket
Concession: £11.00 per ticket
London - Big Ben Tower
The Clock Tower
The clock tower looks spectacular at night when the four clock faces are illuminated. Each dial is 23 feet square, the minute hand is 14 feet long and the figures are two feet high. A special light above the clock faces is also illuminated, letting the public know when parliament is in session.
Big Ben's timekeeping is strictly regulated by a stack of coins placed on the huge pendulum. Big Ben has rarely stopped and even after an incendiary bomb destroyed the Commons chamber during the Second World War. The clock tower survived and Big Ben continued to strike the hours.
The chimes of Big Ben were first broadcast by the BBC on 31 December 1923, a tradition that continues to this day.
Big Ben History
The Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire in 1834. In 1844, it was decided that the new buildings for the Houses of Parliament should include a tower and a clock. The bell was refashioned in Whitechapel in 1858 and the clock first rang across Westminster on 31 May 1859.
Just two months later, Big Ben cracked. A lighter hammer was fitted and the bell rotated to present an undamaged section to the hammer. This is the bell as we hear it today.
Why Ben?
The origin of the name Big Ben is not known, although two different theories exist.
The first is that is was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the first commissioner of works, a large man who was known affectionately in the house as 'Big Ben'.
The second theory is that it was named after the champion of the prize ring at that time, Benjamin Caunt. Also known as 'Big Ben' this nickname was commonly bestowed in society to anything that was the heaviest in its class.
Visiting Big Ben
The clock tower is not open to the general public. However, it is possible for UK residents to arrange a visit by writing to their MP. Applications should be made in writing, as far in advance as possible, to:
House of CommonsWestminsterLondonSW1A 0AA
It is not possible for overseas visitors to tour the clock tower.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Paris, the romantic city
Image from http://middlezonemusings.com/.../03/eiffel-tower.jpg
The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous monuments in the world. There are 3 levels where you can have a look at the centre of Paris. The first 2 levels you can reach by stairs, or elevator if you prefer. And for the last one to the top you have to buy an extra ticket for the elevator. But it's worth it for the view you get there.
The Arc de Triomphe
Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_de_Triomphe
Montenegro
Montenegro is a country with bright sun, deep blue sea, crystal clear rivers, mountains that reach the sky, dense forests, lakes full of fish, and all that in the south of Europe, for just a 2 or 3 hour flight away from the main capitals of the old continent.Looking forward to outwit the ruthless tempo of contemporary lifestyle and comprehend primeval beauty? Then Montenegro is your best destination.
Save your time and choose the biggest concentration of quality. Feel the adrenaline surge while rafting down on the crystal clear water of the canyon of the Tara River, the deepest canyon in Europe. Get accustomed to nature again in the virgin beauty of Biogradska gora, the last of the untouched forests in Europe.
Feel the beat of Arcadian life in the Kotor Bay, the southernmost fjord in the world.
It is up to you to choose an exalted life on one out of 117 sandy beaches at the Adriatic sea, on coastal towns with renaissance charm or idyllic Montenegrin mountains beside glacier lakes.
Discover a part of the mystic formula on which the seductiveness of Montenegro rests in conquering the irresistible peaks of Durmitor mountain. Cruise along the largest lake and the biggest bird reservation in Europe - the Skadar Lake. Reveal the special dimension formed in intersection of specific Montenegrin combination of ethics and aesthetics, which makes the soul of Montenegro. Montenegro is one of the last undiscovered secrets of the world, one of the last Wild beauties of Europe, a country whose biggest natural and spiritual values refuse to fit into any commercial patterns. Challenge and provocation, adventure and love, the combination of the incompatible, unbelievable but it does exist - Montenegro is waiting for you. http://www.cipatravel.com
Disneyland - Florida
Discover the magic of Disney World with a variety of Disney World vacation packages. Whether traveling as a couple or an entire group, there are a variety of options to help you have a great time in the Orlando area.
http://www.tour-florida.com/