Building J at Monte Alban at the Zapotec Site

The mysteriously-shaped Building J at the Zapotec site of Monte Albà ¡n in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, has been thought to have been built for astronomical and ritual purposes. Building J was likely first built about 1AD, with three main phases of construction, the most recent one between about AD 500-700. Architectural Design The building has a roughly pentagonal outline and it is skewed 45% in orientation from the remainder of the buildings at the site by many degrees. The building is oddly shaped, and its shape been variously described as a baseball diamond, home plate, or arrowhead. Low relief carvings on the building include a crossed-sticks glyph, thought to represent astronomical symbols. In addition to its remarkable exterior outline, it has a horizontal tunnel cut through it, and an outer staircase thats skewed another few degrees from the direction of the door. Orientation and the Star Capella Building Js architectural orientation is thought by researchers to point to the location of the star Capella. Capella is indicated by the orientation point of the building on May 2, when the sun reaches its zenith and passes directly overhead. Also Known  As:  Monticulo  J Sources There are more ancient observatories to read about; and more about Monte Alban and the Zapotecs as well. Aveni, Anthony. 2001. Building J at Monte Alban. pp 262-272 in Skywatchers: A Revised and Updated Version of Skywatchers of Ancient Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin. Peeler, Damon E. and Marcus Winter 1995 Building J at Monte Alban: A correction and reassessment of the astronomical hypothesis. Latin American Antiquity 6(4):362-369.

Pardoners in the Middle Ages Essay - 1041 Words

Though told by a self-confessed liar and hypocrite, the tale has a powerful moral and imaginative effect. How far do you agree with this view of the text? Chaucer’s pardoner is an enigmatic, paradoxical figure, both intriguing yet repulsive. From the very beginning of his Prologue the Pardoner makes no attempts to hide his â€Å"ypocrise,† instead taking a perverse pleasure in the extent of his corruption. As seen in the portrait of the Monk in The General Prologue, Chaucer allows the Pardoner to condemn himself. He purposely reveals his methods of extracting money from† the povereste widwe in a village† his contempt for his usual audience of â€Å"lewed peple† and complete disregard for the doctrines of the Church. The Pardoner’s†¦show more content†¦Of course, we have to bear in mind that while the pilgrims hear the Pardoner’s rhetorical skills we hear Chaucer’s skill as a poet. In his digression the Pardoner melodramatically denounces a number of sins, making extensive use of rhetorical devices such as hyperbole, anaphora and apostrophe: â€Å" O glotonye, ful of cursednesse! O cause first of oure confusioun! O original of oure dampnacioun.† He seems to use these to involve and unnerve his audience and effectively keep all eyes on him. He alludes to both the Bible and classical mythology, citing Biblical prophets, historical figures and philosophers. In contrast the tale itself is relatively plainly told and we can safely assume that the Pardoner is well practiced in the art of telling this specific tale and even inserts some of his sermon into it. His sermon is based on several medieval conventions, such as that of the mysterious old man, whom Dr. McIntyre identifies as a â€Å"representation of the immanence and inescapability of death,† something which would have struck a chord with a medieval audience suffering from the onslaught of the Black Death. The tale is an example of a very well defined genre with its own conventions and devices; nevertheless the pardoner makes it his own through his own use of rhetorical flourishes and poetic detail. HeShow MoreRelatedThe Pardoners Prologue And Tale By Chaucer Essay1425 Words   |  6 Pagespeople for financial gain, which was relevant in society during the Middle Ages. In Chaucer’s story, the Pardoner uses his influence and tells a tale of three men to convince the people to pay for him to pardon their sins. Chaucer’s tale and story is often used to emphasize the moral values in our society. There are many points in the tale that are based on the theme of greed being the cause of all evil in humanity, and the Middle Ages was a period of great societal change in Europe. â€Å"The Pardoner’sRead MoreChaucer s The Canterbury Tales1064 Words   |  5 PagesGeoffrey Chaucer, The Author of the Canterbury Tales, is known as the Father of English Literature and is one of the greatest English Poets of the Middle Ages. Chaucer was a soldier, a diplomat, a civil servant, and a courtier, enabling him to experience different aspects of each social ranking, which he demonstrated through his poetry. The Canterbury Tales, his most famous work, is a collection of short stories within a frame story, making for an interesting and memorable narrative about 29 pilgrimsRead More Canterbury Tales Essay - Sexuality in The Wife of Bath and the Pardoner1711 Words   |  7 Pagesand the Pardoner In Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, an eclectic mix of people gathers together at Tabard Inn to begin a pilgrimage to Canterbury. In the General Prologue, the readers are introduced to each of these characters. Among the pilgrims are the provocative Wife of Bath and the meek Pardoner. These two characters both demonstrate sexuality, in very different ways. Chaucer uses the Wife and the Pardoner to examine sexuality in the medieval period. The Middle Ages were a timeRead MoreEssay on Geoffrey Chaucer1158 Words   |  5 Pagespromotes her view that women wish to have authority over men. 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The physical and personal descriptions of the Miller, the Wife of Bath and the Pardoner are some characters criticized by the other pilgrims. One physical and personal profile that is criticized is that of the Miller. He is mostly described in a physical manner,â€Å"  The  Miller  was a strong man I own;/ A stout fellow, big in brawn andRead More The Moral Implications of The Pardoner?s Tale and The Nun?s Priest?s T810 Words   |  4 Pages During the Middle Ages, England was a nation in social chaos. Deception of every kind was rampart throughout the lands. Many people felt that there was a great need for moral improvement in society. In Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales he clearly brings to light his thoughts and concerns of â€Å"ethical cleansing.† No tale more fully expresses this idea than that of â€Å"The Pardoner’s Tale† and â€Å"The Nun’s Priest’s Tale.† â€Å"The Pardoner’s Tale† suggests a profile of the Pardoner as a moral man, aRead More Canterbury Tales Essay646 Words   |  3 PagesMueller 2 Chaucer explains that he breaks the written laws and precedents set by people recognized as Saints and highly acclaimed people. The Monk is a lazy, disgusting man who lived a dishonest and imprudent life. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Pardoner and Summoner appear together in amp;#8220;The Prologue.; They further illustrate an example of Chauceramp;#8217;s awareness of a defiled Church. 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Armistice Day - Veterans Day free essay sample

This paper discusses the history of Armistice Day that began after WWI. This paper looks at the origins and rituals surrounding Armistice Day, or as it came to be known, Veterans Day. The author explains how Armistice Day began after WWI and how was treated as a holiday and, from the time it was created, the many different rituals carried out as part of the celebration. The paper also describes the changes that have taken place in the way Americans have celebrated Armistice Day since WWI to the present. `At 11 a. m. on November 11, 1918, the imperial German army radioed to the world that it had signed the Allied unconditional terms of surrender, and had agreed to the laying down of arms. The guns of the Great War became silent, and were replaced by outbursts of joy across the nation. It was finally over, over there. In 1995, New York City commemorated this event with 500,000 cheering, flag-waving spectators lining the roads. We will write a custom essay sample on Armistice Day Veterans Day or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page With thundering drums punctuating nostalgic Glenn Miller swing music, tens of thousands of proud American warriors marched out of the past and up Fifth Avenue in New Yorks largest Veterans Day Parade since the end of World War II. This 1995 parade was a victory of sorts due to the fact that, in recent years, Veterans Day observations have become, as Robert McFadden says, desultory at best, with spectators often limited to passers-by walking their dogs or heading out for a quart of milk. This parade was evidence of a revival in veteran appreciation, and a renewal of Veterans Day as a much-celebrated American holiday. But while this parade can be used to model a renewal in ceremony and enthusiasm, the true meaning of Veterans Day, or Armistice Day as it was originally called, has been lost through name changes and changes in those it is supposed to honor.`

Contextual Study Questions Essay Example For Students

Contextual Study Questions Essay Who is the Artist? What kind of Artist are they? Where do they live and work? The artist of the image is Andy Warhol, and is most notable for his works in the Pop Art movement; he lived from 1928 to 1987 and spent the majority of his life in New York City. What is the piece of work? The piece of work in question is an illustration of a variety of beauty products in monochrome with multicultural rectangles spread around the page, all atop a black background. When was it made? Does it have a title? The image was made in 1956, and while having no official title, was an illustration for Harpers Bazaar. What do you think might have inspired the artist? What might the piece be about? The most likely source of inspiration for this piece was from fashion in general as the piece was centered around beauty products, furthermore, as the piece was designated for Harpers Bazaar, which is a fashion magazine, which also brings up the possibility that Andy Warhol was simply told to illustrate the piece by the company. This also ties into what the image is about as it too can most likely credited to Andy Warhol being commissioned to do an illustration for Harpers Bazaar, of which the piece is centered about. What materials and processes have been used? From the image, it appears to be made from pencil or graphite with a transparent material of sorts over the illustrations before being printed together on one layer as it was designated for a magazine. Can you describe the use of color? The use of color throughout the piece is conservative as it is only used on the multicultural transparent rectangles that are spread throughout the piece.