Antique engraving of a statue of a woman in long draped robes holding a snake, captioned Hygie.

NB! · Observations · Science

The origin of the word hygiene in the name of Hygieia, goddess of health

The word "hygiene" derives from the name of the goddess Hygieia, goddess of health, healing and cleanliness. After all, places of healing must, above all, be clean. Apollo is the patron of medicine, but it is Hygieia who is nonetheless answerable for health.

NB! · Observations

No, You Did Not Imagine It

A black dress with a white graphic pattern of lines on a mannequin in a wood-framed glass case, with black-and-white photographs of models on the wall nearby.

NB! · Moscow · Museums · Observations · Pop Culture

1967 Outfit by Tamara Feidel and Sulamif Zaslavskaya at the “House of Fashion” Exhibition at the Museum of Moscow

In my view, this 1967 ensemble of dress and coat by Tamara Feidel and Sulamif Zaslavskaya could well have been an exhibit at the Musée des arts décoratifs de Paris, but it is on show at the Museum of Moscow, at the exhibition «Dom modelei. Industriya obrazov» [House of Fashion.

Notre-Dame de Paris covered in scaffolding, with a yellow tower crane, behind the stone embankment of the Seine.

NB! · Architecture · Faith · Observations · Heritage · Paris

Reconstruction of Notre-Dame de Paris continues, seen from the Seine embankment

Work on the reconstruction of Notre-Dame de Paris is in full swing. But, frankly, one dreads to imagine what it will look like inside

Painted portrait of a young woman in a white dress and pearl necklace beside red drapery, with a globe and books nearby.

NB! · Monarchies · Observations · Humour

Queen Victoria, aged 18, convened her first council at 11 in the morning

A reminder that one need not postpone life until noon. The eighteen-year-old Queen Victoria convened her first council at 11 o’clock in the morning

Archaeology · Architecture · London · Monarchies · Observations

Artist Bob Marshall reconstructs 200 years of Windsor Castle's history in three drawings

I adore reconstructions like this! The artist Bob Marshall, drawing on sketches, plans, archaeological evidence and the findings of GPS surveys, has recreated the story of how Windsor Castle grew from a wooden fortress built by William the Conqueror in the eleventh century into the palace that serves today as

Art · Observations · Paris

Compositional Similarity of Caillebotte’s “The Floor Scrapers” of 1875 and “The Oarsmen” of 1877

Note the striking similarity: Gustave Caillebotte, The Floor Scrapers, 1875, and Gustave Caillebotte, Oarsmen, 1877. Moreover, in both the same rather unusual viewpoint from above has been chosen. Perhaps this is explained by the fact that Caillebotte was not so good at capturing faces, and so quite naturally sought compositional

Monarchies · Observations · People

Camilla's title after the coronation and those of earlier queens consort

How many times must it be repeated: Camilla will be queen consort and nothing else. I am tired of the cheap headlines that speculate on the subject. Yes, at the coronation she will be called queen. And she will be crowned as queen. Do understand that it is not necessary

Monarchies · Observations · Heritage

Amid the protected Scottish forests and heather moors of the Cairngorms rises a veritable stone pyramid, 10.6 metres high

Amid the protected Scottish forests and heather moors of the Cairngorms rises a veritable stone pyramid, 10.6 metres high. The pyramid stands a few miles from the royal castle of Balmoral. No, the English did not steal it from Egypt. The structure was raised at the wish of Queen

NB! · Cinema · Observations · Pop Culture · Humour

It seems Bonaparte himself was not as good at being Napoleon as Marlon Brando managed to be in 1954

Marble statue of a bearded Christ with a bare torso and drapery at the hips, in a dark gallery with a red-lit wall.

NB! · Faith · Art · Observations

Jacopo Fantoni’s Marble Risen Christ of 1520 with Unusual Facial Features

What unexpected features and expression the Risen Christ of Jacopo Fantoni, 1520, possesses. And he looks far older than in the traditional iconography

NB! · Observations · Nature · Humour