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dead sea pictures day and night
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dead sea pictures day and night
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night
This first picture is of the last part of 10 - 15 minute walk in a narrow space between two rocks (missing the right english word at the moment), it is called the siq. At the end you see exactly as in this picture:
and than ten steps further you enter a "sqaure" with this magnificant building. It looks two stories high (each story random guessing 10 meters), only later they found out, they were actually looking at the first and second floor, a third layer (not visible in this picture) is under the ground under this building. This building is could the treasure.
it is build by the nabateers (using the dutch word), they were the inhabitors/rulers of Petra. What really interests me is the history of Petra in a broader context. Most of the information there is mainly focussed on Petra an how great the nabateers were (and of course they were). But, as today, no society stands on it self, it is always influenced by other societies. in that time, the greece and later the romans. The last time I was here in Jordan, I just read/heared all the information, but had actually no idea, how the romans got there and when. Now I have because I am studying cultural science at the open university in the Netherlands and did a subject on ancient history (about romans - greece). What I found interesting on the treasure (in this picture) is that some of the figures on the building are from greece descent, they think is Zeus (hope this is the english word for this greece god) and his sons.
I will post this and add the rest of the information in a minute
I apologize for the bad spelling.
and than ten steps further you enter a "sqaure" with this magnificant building. It looks two stories high (each story random guessing 10 meters), only later they found out, they were actually looking at the first and second floor, a third layer (not visible in this picture) is under the ground under this building. This building is could the treasure.
it is build by the nabateers (using the dutch word), they were the inhabitors/rulers of Petra. What really interests me is the history of Petra in a broader context. Most of the information there is mainly focussed on Petra an how great the nabateers were (and of course they were). But, as today, no society stands on it self, it is always influenced by other societies. in that time, the greece and later the romans. The last time I was here in Jordan, I just read/heared all the information, but had actually no idea, how the romans got there and when. Now I have because I am studying cultural science at the open university in the Netherlands and did a subject on ancient history (about romans - greece). What I found interesting on the treasure (in this picture) is that some of the figures on the building are from greece descent, they think is Zeus (hope this is the english word for this greece god) and his sons.
I will post this and add the rest of the information in a minute
I apologize for the bad spelling.
What I was trying to say the crafted figures at ground level (actually first floor since there is another story below it) are thought to be the sons of Zeus. The central figure above the entrance is a source of speculation: they think it is an assimilation of the Egyptian goddess Isis and the Nabataea goddess All-Uzza, while others think it is Tyche the roman goddess of fortune.
Okay you can take this information as facts, but it tells me (and what makes my so excited about it), that it shows the influence of the Greece culture, roman culture and Egyptian culture in Petra. I have always wondered how the Greece culture ended up in the Middle East. Well in two ways, first the Greece culture has been a dominant culture in that part of the world for a couple of hundred years (like 500 - 300) the classical time. As we do now, the nabateers just copied the Greece culture or invited Greece architects to help them to develop their buildings. We may think that the American/European culture as dominant world culture for the whole world and the globalisation (having coca cola and a mac from china, Africa, Europe and America) is something new, well it is not. It always has been like this (very interesting in this aspect are books of Jared Diamond).
Another way how the Greece culture was spread from the western mediterrain to (almost) India, is Alexander the Great, he only got 30 or 40 years and ruled if I am right only for 10 years, but his influence was amazing. He was on a long battle (the only thing he did in his live) with an army of 10.000 - 100.000 soldiers (mostly Greece), after he conquered a place, a couple of his soldiers would stay there, in this way, the Greece culture was. New cities were built with the classical Greece city as the example. Probably also in Petra.
After Alexander the Great died (of something simple a virus or something like that), his "empire" was divided between his generals (after several wars). One empire was the one of ptomata...(something forgot the real name), empire which hat is home base in Egypt. Isis is an Egyptian god. So maybe that explains Isis on the front of a big building in Petra (the treasury).
Another interesting feature is the mixture (assimilation) of different goddesses in front of the treasure. What I have learned from my study at the Open University in the ancient history course is that at that time (any civilisation in that area before Christianity starts) that a mixture of goddesses of different cultures was very common. If any civilisation conquered a new part for their empire they just invited the gods and goddesses of the enemy into the temple of their own gods and goddesses. They just include the gods and goddesses of the new culture in their own and sometimes new gods and goddesses developed over time.
Sorry maybe this sounds all a bit rambling. But at the moment I am so excited, I have the feeling parts of the puzzle are start to fall in place. My two earlier visits here, my study at the Open University, the books I have been reading of Jared Diamond. This is what I want to focus on, read more about, the history of Jordan and connect it societies of the same time. What will be next I don't know, maybe writing a book about it, or writing articles about it? And another challenge I want to do it in English. The last two year in Groningen I did some freelance work for a foundation that helps foreigners that come to the North of the Netherlands to help to settle in. A lot of members/workers of that foundation are native English people, I am sure they will be very helpful in correcting my English.
It is one of those aha moments. All those things I have being doing over the last two/three years, going on a holiday here, subjects I have followed at the open university, building up an international contact network, freelance work I have been doing the last two years
Okay you can take this information as facts, but it tells me (and what makes my so excited about it), that it shows the influence of the Greece culture, roman culture and Egyptian culture in Petra. I have always wondered how the Greece culture ended up in the Middle East. Well in two ways, first the Greece culture has been a dominant culture in that part of the world for a couple of hundred years (like 500 - 300) the classical time. As we do now, the nabateers just copied the Greece culture or invited Greece architects to help them to develop their buildings. We may think that the American/European culture as dominant world culture for the whole world and the globalisation (having coca cola and a mac from china, Africa, Europe and America) is something new, well it is not. It always has been like this (very interesting in this aspect are books of Jared Diamond).
Another way how the Greece culture was spread from the western mediterrain to (almost) India, is Alexander the Great, he only got 30 or 40 years and ruled if I am right only for 10 years, but his influence was amazing. He was on a long battle (the only thing he did in his live) with an army of 10.000 - 100.000 soldiers (mostly Greece), after he conquered a place, a couple of his soldiers would stay there, in this way, the Greece culture was. New cities were built with the classical Greece city as the example. Probably also in Petra.
After Alexander the Great died (of something simple a virus or something like that), his "empire" was divided between his generals (after several wars). One empire was the one of ptomata...(something forgot the real name), empire which hat is home base in Egypt. Isis is an Egyptian god. So maybe that explains Isis on the front of a big building in Petra (the treasury).
Another interesting feature is the mixture (assimilation) of different goddesses in front of the treasure. What I have learned from my study at the Open University in the ancient history course is that at that time (any civilisation in that area before Christianity starts) that a mixture of goddesses of different cultures was very common. If any civilisation conquered a new part for their empire they just invited the gods and goddesses of the enemy into the temple of their own gods and goddesses. They just include the gods and goddesses of the new culture in their own and sometimes new gods and goddesses developed over time.
Sorry maybe this sounds all a bit rambling. But at the moment I am so excited, I have the feeling parts of the puzzle are start to fall in place. My two earlier visits here, my study at the Open University, the books I have been reading of Jared Diamond. This is what I want to focus on, read more about, the history of Jordan and connect it societies of the same time. What will be next I don't know, maybe writing a book about it, or writing articles about it? And another challenge I want to do it in English. The last two year in Groningen I did some freelance work for a foundation that helps foreigners that come to the North of the Netherlands to help to settle in. A lot of members/workers of that foundation are native English people, I am sure they will be very helpful in correcting my English.
It is one of those aha moments. All those things I have being doing over the last two/three years, going on a holiday here, subjects I have followed at the open university, building up an international contact network, freelance work I have been doing the last two years
Harma,
Just fascinating! And how wonderful about your "aha" moment!
Listen, anyone who can use the term "aha moment" appropriately should have no problem writing a book in English. Seriously. After reading your post, I would look forward to your book with great anticipation. Very interesting insights. Keep those observations and photos coming - I am living vicariously, thanks to you.
Love,
Polly
Just fascinating! And how wonderful about your "aha" moment!
Listen, anyone who can use the term "aha moment" appropriately should have no problem writing a book in English. Seriously. After reading your post, I would look forward to your book with great anticipation. Very interesting insights. Keep those observations and photos coming - I am living vicariously, thanks to you.Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
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wonderwoman
- Rockhopper Penguin
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- Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:59 pm
- Location: Sun City, AZ
Dear Harma
This is great! Next see if the Mesopotamian and Hindu cultures predate Greek culture. The Greek pantheon of gods mirror the Hindu gods, but probably post-date them. Just as the great Indian epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana predate the great Greek myths like Ulysses.
The search for knowledge and adventure keeps us alive!
Best, ant
This is great! Next see if the Mesopotamian and Hindu cultures predate Greek culture. The Greek pantheon of gods mirror the Hindu gods, but probably post-date them. Just as the great Indian epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana predate the great Greek myths like Ulysses.
The search for knowledge and adventure keeps us alive!
Best, ant
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Linda in BC
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 801
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:39 am
- Location: Creston British Columbia
WOW!
Harma, the picture of the beautiful building and your post are absolutely fascinating. Thank you for taking the time to write it and share your theories and thoughts on this with us. ! The goddesses aside, just those columns on the front of the building look so greek or roman. I don't know what most buildings in Jordan look like , but aren't arches more common in Arabic architecture ?(this I remember from my own visit to Morocco) Also, a question.. is that building front carved out of the cliff!! It must be! And so the interior must also be carved out .. what does it look like inside? Were you able to go inside? wow, I am just in awe of such history! Being from Western Canada where few buildings are over 100 years old, (not to mention the country itself!) to see man made things that are hundreds or even a thousand years old boggles my mind.
Thanks again for your great post,
Linda
Thanks again for your great post,
Linda
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."
The 13th Dali Lama
The 13th Dali Lama
Linda,
I had the same thoughts, and look at the size of the columns, compared with the people in front of them. Imagine how long it took to do all that work. As you say, it boggles the mind, when you consider that it all had to be done by hand, with a hammer and chisel - there were no pneumatic hammers, or air drills, in those days.
Tex
I had the same thoughts, and look at the size of the columns, compared with the people in front of them. Imagine how long it took to do all that work. As you say, it boggles the mind, when you consider that it all had to be done by hand, with a hammer and chisel - there were no pneumatic hammers, or air drills, in those days.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Linda in BC
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- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:39 am
- Location: Creston British Columbia
yes linda those building are actually caves with a very fancy outside front. Inside they look quite pale, just how any other "cave" would look like but then with polished walls. Three years ago, you could still enter the building, this year not anymore. These buildings are way beyond the arab culture, arab culture more or less starts with the upcoming of the islam. the first arab empires where islamic empires. This started between 600 and 700 AD. One empire, I think it was the omayaden empire reaches from spain, nothern africa, middle east into afghanistan. Later if fall into pieces (as any great empire always did after a couple of hundred years). What is seen as specific arab (read islamitic) architecture is coming from this period and later. What can been seen in petri dates from 500 bc until 300 - 500 ad (so before the arab empires and arab architecture). I shall look up the details later about petra. The end of Petra as a city/important place of an empire was caused by an earth quack.
Yesterday I moved to another place, I am in the city of amman now, down town you call it I think. My god this is something different than Groningen, what a noise. Traffic, people at the street, seems likes to go on for 24 hrs and lets not forget every morning (oh on he will never skip a morning) he will wake up the whole city at 5 o'clock with his first prayer from the mosque (this is really the only thing I don't like at all here, it is loud, really loud, can'be missed and goes on with pauzes for about an hour). I have no internet anymore, but I found a nice terrace with free internet access.
yesterday I did another try of cutting down the entocort and I am going to try every other day. Till so far it goes well
Yesterday I moved to another place, I am in the city of amman now, down town you call it I think. My god this is something different than Groningen, what a noise. Traffic, people at the street, seems likes to go on for 24 hrs and lets not forget every morning (oh on he will never skip a morning) he will wake up the whole city at 5 o'clock with his first prayer from the mosque (this is really the only thing I don't like at all here, it is loud, really loud, can'be missed and goes on with pauzes for about an hour). I have no internet anymore, but I found a nice terrace with free internet access.
yesterday I did another try of cutting down the entocort and I am going to try every other day. Till so far it goes well
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Linda in BC
- Rockhopper Penguin
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- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:39 am
- Location: Creston British Columbia
Thanks for the explanation, Harma. so old... almost beyond my ability to conceive. I had not realized that places like Jordan were not always under Arabic ( we call it the Ottoman empire) influence. I guess I thought that the Ottoman empire originated in that area and spread out from there. Yes, I saw it's influence and architecture when I was in Spain (visited the Al Hambra.) Lucky you were able to see the inside on your last trip. I just found a website with very good explanation of the various occupations of Jordan and it's history and read it. I understand now what you are talking about (the link to this info is http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/his_nabateans.html, if anyone is interested. ) Very interesting!!! I can see why you are so fascinated by the place!
I have great pictures in my mind of what it looks like around you, thanks to your posts; the city teeming with life at all hours; the man calling everyone to prayers at 5 o"clock am. Perhaps eventually you will not even hear him in your sleep. It is amazing what we can get used to. We have a train track right above our place and every night a 11:30 pm a very loud train comes by. When we first moved here, it woke me up every night but now I seldom hear it.
I hope you find your new place comfortable and that it will meet all your needs.
Best regards,
Linda
I have great pictures in my mind of what it looks like around you, thanks to your posts; the city teeming with life at all hours; the man calling everyone to prayers at 5 o"clock am. Perhaps eventually you will not even hear him in your sleep. It is amazing what we can get used to. We have a train track right above our place and every night a 11:30 pm a very loud train comes by. When we first moved here, it woke me up every night but now I seldom hear it.
I hope you find your new place comfortable and that it will meet all your needs.
Best regards,
Linda
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."
The 13th Dali Lama
The 13th Dali Lama