Archaeology · Art · Museums · Observations · Paris

If you hurried through the Egyptian hall of the Louvre to get to the tiny Mona Lisa sooner, I advise you to correct the mistake and make the acquaintance, at the very least, of the figure of the Seated Scribe Kay

If you hurried through the Egyptian hall of the Louvre to get to the tiny Mona Lisa sooner, I advise you to correct the mistake and make the acquaintance, at the very least, of the figure of the Seated Scribe Kay. He is undeservedly neglected, although many historians and art

NB! · Mores · Humour

The Viewer's Armchair Was Invented Long Before the Television

NB! · Archive · Art · Paris

The Vitruvian Man dances on the cover of the programme for the 21st season of Sergei Diaghilev's Russian Ballets at the Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt in Paris, 1928

Archive · Mores · Nature

Tomatoes in Russia and Europe in the 18th century as love apples and an ornamental crop

As you can see, in the first half of the nineteenth century tomatoes were still a curiosity in Russia, and it had to be explained not only how they were cultivated, but how they were to be eaten. At that time tomatoes were called amorous or love apples, after the

Museums · Observations · Saint Petersburg · Ethnography · Humour

1980s notice of the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography refusing to show freaks and monsters

The essence of the Kunstkamera, Peter's legendary cabinet of curiosities, in a single sentence. Our museum is about the culture and way of life of the peoples of the world, and therefore it does not display the freaks, dwarfs, giants and other monsters who amused the grandees of

Archive · People

Yuri Gagarin signing autographs at an evening reception in Stockholm Town Hall, 1964

Photo by Valentin Cheredintsev

Black-and-white photo of a dark-haired man in a light uniform and open greatcoat seated on a chair, a bicorne hat on the floor. The walls have rococo-style ornament.

NB!

Man in a military uniform and greatcoat seated in a room with carved panelling

NB! · Cinema · Observations · Pop Culture · Humour

Marlon Brando as Napoleon is, on the whole, better than Napoleon as Napoleon

Aristocracy · Archive · Monarchies · Mores

Yakov Ulfeld describes Ivan the Terrible and his play with the orb at an embassy reception

Jacob Ulfeldt described Russian court etiquette with great astonishment and displeasure. Ivan the Terrible he characterises as an arrogant, swaggering, vain and abrupt man, surrounded by dull-witted boyars and streltsy. The prince, moreover, was wholly inattentive and simply did not listen as the embassy's letters and addresses

Lithograph portrait of an elderly monk with long light hair and a beard, a cross on his chest and a prayer rope in his hands

Faith

Saint Seraphim of Sarov on a peaceful state of mind and spiritual gifts

When a man walks in a peaceful frame of mind, he is as if scooping up spiritual gifts with a spoon (lzhitsa). The holy fathers, having a peaceful disposition and being overshadowed by the grace of God, lived long lives. Saint Seraphim of Sarov

NB! · Observations · Humour

Can Anyone Explain How Joan of Arc Ended Up in This Company?

Bronze figure of a winged deity with a radiating halo around the head and outstretched arms, against a golden background.

NB! · Archaeology · Faith · Museums

The Etruscan sun deity Kave on a bronze fitting from a chariot

The Etruscan deity of the rising sun, Cavatha, depicted on a bronze chariot plaque. One of the most powerful figures in the Etruscan pantheon, to whom 80 sacrifices were offered each year

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