virtual-artifacts:

'Tikam' (hip/waist ornament)

 ca. early 20th century

Bontoc people, Igorot group, Philippines

The edge of the mother of pearl shell is decorated with incised geometric designs.

lunacylover:

Halfway between Giza and Saqqara lies the site of Abusir. The main monuments are three Fifth Dynasty Pyramids (the Fifth Dynasty is dated approximately from 2494 to 2345 BC). A short distance north lies Abu Ghurab with a sun temple constructed by the orders of Nyuserre Ini, the sixth king of the fifth dynasty of Egypt.

1. The ruined Pyramid of the Pharaoh Sahure viewed from its causeway.
2. The Cartouche of the Pharaoh Sahure in the courtyard of the temple in front of his Pyramid.
3. Two palm shaped columns in the funerary temple on the east of Sahure’s Pyramid.
4. The private tomb of Ptahshepses, a vizier and judge in the reign of Sahure.
5. The sarcophagus of Ptahshepses and that of his his wife.
6. Neferirkare Pyramid’s ruined and isolated blocks of stones is all that remains.
7. The Pyramid of the Fifth Dynasty Pharaoh Niuserre at Abusir.
8. A basin in the Pyramid complex of Niuserre.
9. Situated in front of the Sun Temple of Niuserre is a large ‘sacrificial’ alter in the form of four hetep hieroglyphic symbols.
10. A view from the Sun Temple of Niuserre to the Pyramids of Abu Sir.

dwellerinthelibrary:

From a modern tapestry scroll depicting the White Hare of Inaba as it runs across the sea - actually on the backs of sharks or crocodiles (there seems to be some debate) tricked into acting as a bridge.

ancientpeoples:

Hemispherical bowl with scenes of wine making

6th-7th Century AD

Sasanian

Iran

(Source: The Metropolitan Museum)

uneditededit:

Wisps

 Wisp is the most common name given to the mysterious lights that were said to lead travelers from the well-trodden paths into treacherous marshes. The tradition exists with slight variation throughout Britain, the lights often bearing a regional name.

There are various explanations for the Will o’ the Wisps, the most general being that they are malevolent spirits either of the dead or non-human intelligence. They have a mischievous and often malevolent nature, luring unwary travelers into dangerous situations. Wirt Sikes in his book British Goblins alludes a common story about a Welsh Will o’ the Wisp; a peasant, who is travelling home late in the evening sees a bright light travelling before him, looking closer he sees that the light is a lantern held by a “dusky little figure” which he follows for several miles, suddenly he finds himself standing on the edge of a great chasm with a roaring torrent of water rushing below him. At that moment the lantern carrier leaps across the fissure, raises the light over its head and lets out a malicious laugh, after which it blows out the light leaving the unfortunate man far from home, standing in pitch darkness at the edge of a precipice. They were not always so dangerous, and there are tales told about the Will o’ the Wisp being guardians of treasure, leading those brave enough to follow them to sure riches.

Alan Stephens Foster - The Fall

sosuperawesome:

Cathy McMurray on Etsy