We know now that more than one knight who went to the Holy Lands ostensibly to "rout out the infidel" actually had a more pragmatic agenda: they brought home loot, everything they could physically handle plus anything more they could load on pack an Continue Reading...
Thomas Aquinas led the move away from the Platonic and Augustinian and toward Aristotelianism and "developed a philosophy of mind by writing that the mind was at birth a tabula rasa ('blank slate') that was given the ability to think and recognize f Continue Reading...
Indeed, the first use of the term 'architect' as against 'master mason' in France dates from 1511 and reflects the increasing influence of Italian ideas" ( P88). Heller goes on to state that "…humanist learning in architecture not only raised Continue Reading...
In this regard it should also be noted that the architect faced a number of obvious constraints in his design of the Square. These constraints were from existing structures such as the Vatican Palace as well as the granite fountain. To incorporate t Continue Reading...
The second stage was of the Ionic order and with windows, rising to the level of the first apartments of the papal palace and of those of the Belvedere; to form subsequently a loggia more than four hundred paces on the side towards Rome and another Continue Reading...
Memories and History
Aya Sofia's Rich History
One should look no further in one's search for the most long-standing symbol of religion, culture, and history than the Aya Sofia. The building, found within the heart of a massively cultural city, has Continue Reading...
Religion
Vocabulary, Christianity: citing your sources:
• Gospel -- pertains to one of the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), or refers more generally to the life and teachings of Jesus (Babylon)
• par Continue Reading...
Modernism made its mark on Berlin's architectural trends, too. The Bauhaus style of modernism is characteristic of many of Berlin's social housing projects that sprouted up in the 1920s, and which recently became designated UNESCO World Heritage Si Continue Reading...
This also forms a connecting point between the works, where buildings are used not only to house those who praise God, but also as functioning works of praise themselves.
In short, Sinan uses prose and poetry first to praise God, and then progressi Continue Reading...
Many people today still have trouble interpreting and understanding some of his works, thus proving that his thinking was way ahead of his time. Da Vinci's works are probably among the most parodied ideas that have ever existed, as a series of indiv Continue Reading...
Botticelli's Birth Of Venus And Duccio's Maesta
The representation of women in Western art has changed throughout history, and for much of Western history this representation was oriented around the dominant female figure in contemporary society; th Continue Reading...
high degree of misinformation I had received from traditional teachings about the church and the beginning of Christianity. Moreover, I was struck by the notion that most other people in the Western world receive this same degree of intentional misi Continue Reading...
In conclusion, Saint Leo the Great has been called the first true Roman Catholic Pope. His reign lasted twenty-one years, and they were some of the most influential years in Church history. Leo earned the title "Saint," and was named a Doctor of th Continue Reading...
The Amiens Cathedral, on the other hand, was constructed over a much longer period of time. From beginning to end the Amiens Cathedral's construction took 190 years. As a result of this fact, there is little likelihood that the original plans used t Continue Reading...
Roman mosaics were more frequently used to adorn the floors, and thus used less glass, gold, and elaborate materials. Perhaps the most famous Byzantine mosaics are those found in the Hagia Sophia, the most famous church in Eastern Christianity. On t Continue Reading...