The East · Science · Ethnography
This mysterious dragon-shaped boat is a Chinese fire clock, known since the 6th century. The principle is simple: an incense stick is placed in the dragon's hollow body and lit at the head. As it burns, it consumes the threads from which small weights are suspended at
Architecture · The East · Science · Rome
Time's up! The expression comes from the water clocks so popular in antiquity. Devices for measuring time, based on the properties of water and vessels, were much in vogue both in Ancient Rome and in the East. But in the Dark Ages the European art of building clepsydras
Faith · The East · Observations · Science
Irina Vasilyevna Pozdeyeva used to say that Saint Nicholas of Japan taught the Japanese language to Academician Huber, but only 12 years passed between the birth of the latter and the death of the former. That leaves the possibility that Huber studied Japanese as a child, given his noble origins;
Archive · The East · Books · Monarchies · Moscow
The German Olearius witnessed a visit by a Kabardian delegation to the Tsar's court in 1634. What particularly struck Olearius was that the Kabardians arrived in modest array and with no particular occasion or pretext for conversation with the Tsar's officials, yet were presented with silk
The East · Mores · Humour
Rather tiring, as one must wear formal clothing in sombre shades at all times and drink champagne wistfully in ancient Egyptian temples
Archaeology · The East · Monarchies · Museums · Science · Paris · Humour
In September 1976 Egypt issued a passport for the Pharaoh Ramesses II. The document certified that Ramesses II was indeed the Pharaoh of Egypt and had been born in 1303 BC. Egyptian scientists had noticed that the pharaoh's body had begun to decay rapidly, possibly owing to the
NB! · Faith · The East · Art · Museums
The Archangel Gabriel from the Antalya Archaeological Museum. The relief bears not only Greek lettering but also Arabic, over the medallion in Gabriel's hands
NB! · Faith · The East · Mores · Ethnography
Faith · The East · Monarchies · People · Humour
It is well known that in 1891 Nicholas II travelled in Japan and had a dragon tattooed on his forearm. So what are we to make of it: holy relics with a dragon tattoo?
Archaeology · Faith · The East · Ethnography
The farmers of ancient Qatar spent most of the winter painting pebbles with horsehair brushes, which they sowed in spring together with the grain. The intricately decorated pebbles were meant to scare off greedy spirits that spoil the seed
NB! · Faith · The East · Ethnography
Among the Japanese supernatural creatures, the yokai, there is an old woman called Amazake Baba, who knocks at doors in winter and calls out to the householders; whoever answers will fall mortally ill. The old crone can be frightened off with a cedar branch
NB! · Faith · The East · Ethnography · Humour
This hideous dwarf with his tongue lolling out and his legs bowed is the Egyptian deity Bes, patron of house, home and hearth. The cult is believed to derive from the cat, though possibly from a shrewish mother-in-law