Benny

This 600-year-old picture conceals a secret. It may appear to be a typical Renaissance work of art, but upon closer inspection, the halo around Mary's head bears an inscription in Arabic. What exactly does it say? That's when things start to become interesting...  Masaccio, an influential Florentine artist, produced that depiction of the Madonna and Child in the 1420s. The "Arabic" he scribbled on Mary's halo is nonsense — it's a copy of Arabic, not the actual thing. Masaccio used this technique in several of his other paintings. However, Masaccio's usage of pseudo-Arabic (also known as pseudo-Kufic) was not unusual. Throughout the Italian Renaissance, this type of mangled Arabic calligraphy was commonly used to embellish the halos or gowns of Mary and Jesus. But, why? The story, however, begins several centuries earlier.  Because Renaissance "pseudo-Arabic" is far from the only example of Christian Europe adopting elements of Islamic art, archit...

Nicholas was born at Patara, a seaside town in Licia, in southern Turkey, in the third century. He came from a good family that raised him as a Christian. His life, from his earliest days, was marked by obedience. When he was orphaned at a young age, Nicholas, remembering the rich young man in the Gospel, used his inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the poor. He was elected Bishop of Myra, and under the emperor Diocletian was exiled and imprisoned. After being freed, he attended the Council of Nicea in 325. He died in Myra on 6 December 343. Many stories have been handed down about Nicholas, all testifying to a life spent in service to the weak, the small, and the defenceless. One of the most ancient stories about Saint Nicholas involves a man with three daughters of marriageable age. The family was poor, and the young girls were in danger of being forced into prostitution, because their father could not afford to offer a suitable dowry. One night, Nicholas went to the famil...

In the 1800s, an enigmatic person known as the "Leatherman" would frequently travel a 365-mile circuit with no apparent reason. He gained notoriety as a well-liked local hero despite no one ever learning his name, area of origin, or reason for traveling. The Leatherman wore a boot suit, a costume composed of tattered leather boots and ties that weighed more than 60 pounds, in all sorts of weather and all four seasons. Because he slept in caverns and was so good at keeping his routine, locals could tell the time based on his whereabouts. The Leatherman traveled between the Hudson and Connecticut rivers in 34 days, going through 40 little villages. Both adults and kids in the community looked forward to his visits, despite the fact that he never said more than a few grunts in either English or French. Schoolchildren behaved themselves in the hopes of being picked to bring the Leatherman food as he passed their campuses since it was an honor when the Leatherman dropped by a home...

Howard Carter examines the mummy of a pharaoh for the first time.   The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 is one of the most significant archaeological finds in history. The tomb belonged to the pharaoh Tutankhamun, who ruled Egypt during the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom period (around 1332-1323 BCE). The unbroken seal on the tomb, which had remained untouched for over 3,000 years, added an extraordinary element of mystery and excitement to the discovery. The exploration of the tomb was led by British archaeologist Howard Carter, who had been excavating in the Valley of the Kings, near Luxor, Egypt, since 1915. After years of searching, Carter's team discovered the entrance to the tomb on November 4, 1922. The unbroken seal on the tomb indicated that it had not been opened or looted in ancient times, raising hopes that it might contain a wealth of undiscovered treasures and artifacts. This was a rare find, as most royal tombs in Egypt had been plundered by tomb robbers...

  Police in Turkey have successfully recovered an ancient Bible believed to be around a thousand years old. The sacred text, discovered in the city of Tokat, central Turkey, is written in the ancient Assyriac language. The invaluable manuscript was retrieved following an attempt by smugglers to sell it to undercover officers. The origin of the Bible remains unknown, although it is written in the ancient Assyriac language. While its cover is reportedly damaged, its remaining 51 pages feature intricate images and religious motifs crafted in gold leaf. Among its contents are depictions of Jesus Christ and various other figures from biblical lore. According to reports, a series of operations were launched in Tokat's city center and the neighboring Turhal district. As a result, ten individuals were apprehended, and additional valuable items such as jewelry and ancient coins were seized. The Bible itself was promptly delivered to a museum. Scholars and historians anticipate that this a...

The Term "Horsemaning" is derived from the headless Horseman, a character  from Washington Irving's Famous Novel. "the sleepy hallow". the term gained popularity due to its playful and whimsical natures well as the creative possibilities it offered for capturing unique and humorous photographs.   Horsemaning, also known as the headless posing. was a popular photography trend that emerged in the 1920s. It involved creating the illusion of a decapitated body by positioning two people in such a way that one person head was hidden while the other person appeared to hold the detached head. the resulting photo gives the impression of a headless body with a detached head held separately. To appear headless while taking a photo, known as "horsemaning", was a popular way to pose in the 1920's. Horsemaning became a widespread phenomenon, with people of all ages and backgrounds participating in this peculiar form of photography. It was especially popular amon...

  The photograph titled "The Hooded Man" captured in 2003 depicts a distressing and unsettling scene that may resemble an eerie image often found on creepypasta or strange websites. However, it is essential to acknowledge that this photograph is an authentic representation of a real event. The image portrays an Iraqi prisoner enduring torture within the confines of Abu Ghraib prison. It is worth noting that this particular picture is relatively less severe compared to a series of photos illustrating US soldiers engaging in acts of torture against Iraqi detainees. Originally employed by Saddam Hussein as a symbol of terror, Abu Ghraib prison later became a facility utilized by the United States to detain suspected insurgents. Staff Sergeant Ivan Frederick, responsible for capturing this photograph, documented thousands of images during his time at the prison. The imprisoned individual shown in the photograph is subjected to both psychological and physical torment. Stripped of ...

1. Oubaitori: 2. Kaizen: 3. Wabi-Sabi: 4. Gaman: 5. Ikigai: 6. Shikita ga nai: 7. Shu-Ha-Ri: