Showing results by author "Jesse Harasta" in All Categories

From the moment Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortés first found and confronted them, the Aztecs have fascinated the world, and they continue to hold a unique place both culturally and in pop culture. Nearly 500 years after the Spanish conquered their mighty empire, the Aztecs are often remembered today for their major capital, Tenochtitlan, as well as being fierce conquerors of the Valley of Mexico who often engaged in human sacrifice rituals.

Um homem caolho, com uma capa cinza e um chapéu de abas largas apoiando-se em uma bengala. Um andarilho que aparece quando menos esperado, trazendo triunfo ou perdição. O deus da profecia, poesia e destino. Um metamorfo. Um feiticeiro. O deus Odin representa uma figura dramática na mitologia nórdica e permanece uma parte da imaginação popular. Ele é a inspiração para personagens como Gandalf o Cinza de J.R.R. Tolkien, e ainda faz parte de literatura moderna tão variada quanto histórias em quadrinhos da Marvel bem como o romance de Neil Gaiman Deuses Americanos.

Um homem caolho, com uma capa cinza e um chapéu de abas largas apoiando-se em uma bengala. Um andarilho que aparece quando menos esperado, trazendo triunfo ou perdição. O deus da profecia, poesia e destino. Um metamorfo. Um feiticeiro. O deus Odin representa uma figura dramática na mitologia nórdica e permanece uma parte da imaginação popular. Ele é a inspiração para personagens como Gandalf o Cinza de J.R.R. Tolkien, e ainda faz parte de literatura moderna tão variada quanto histórias em quadrinhos da Marvel bem como o romance de Neil Gaiman Deuses Americanos.

Un anciano con un solo ojo, con un manto gris y sombrero de ala ancha, apoyándose de un bastón. Un vagabundo que aparece cuando menos se le espera, trayendo triunfo o perdición. El dios de la profecía, la poesía y el destino. Un cambiaformas. Un hechicero. El dios Odín es una figura dramática en la mitología nórdica y es aún parte del imaginario popular. Ha sido la inspiración para figuras como Gandalf el Gris, de J.R.R. Tolkien, y todavía figura en literatura moderna tan variada como los cómics de Marvel o la novela de Neil Gaiman American Gods (2001).

Um martelo que mortal algum pode levantar. Um deus da tempestade com cabelos de fogo. Um alienígena-herói-deus de histórias em quadrinho que defende a humanidade. A suástica. Até mesmo o dia da semana, “Thursday” - quinta feira em inglês - tem seu nome (“Thor’s Day”, o dia de Thor). Apesar do virtual desaparecimento da religião e mitologia nórdica vários séculos atrás, a sociedade moderna ainda frequentemente depara-se com o deus da tempestade Thor, que continua a ser trazido de volta à vida na forma da literatura, e foi recentemente o protagonista de filmes de grande orçamento de Hollywood.

Un anciano con un solo ojo, con un manto gris y sombrero de ala ancha, apoyándose de un bastón. Un vagabundo que aparece cuando menos se le espera, trayendo triunfo o perdición. El dios de la profecía, la poesía y el destino. Un cambiaformas. Un hechicero. El dios Odín es una figura dramática en la mitología nórdica y es aún parte del imaginario popular. Ha sido la inspiración para figuras como Gandalf el Gris, de J.R.R. Tolkien, y todavía figura en literatura moderna tan variada como los cómics de Marvel o la novela de Neil Gaiman American Gods (2001).

Un martillo que ningún mortal puede levantar. Un flamante dios de la tormenta, con cabello cual llamas. Un héroe-dios-alienígena que defiende a la humanidad. La esvástica. Incluso el nombre Thursday [jueves en inglés] es “Thor’s Day” [el día de Thor]. A pesar de la virtual desaparición de la religión autóctona y mitología nórdica siglos atrás, aún se encuentra con regularidad en la sociedad moderna al dios de la tormenta, Thor, quien continúa siendo traído de vuelta a la vida en forma de literatura y más recientemente, como protagonista de películas taquilleras de Hollywood.

Few ancient ruins capture the imagination like the mighty holy site of Tiwanaku, located on the high Andean altiplano plateau outside of La Paz, Bolivia. Unlike some ancient sites, such as Machu Picchu in neighboring Peru or Chichen Itzá in Mexico, Tiwanaku has never been “lost”; on the contrary, it has been marveled over for centuries by Incan nobles, Spanish Conquistadores, modern backpackers, and UFO fanatics alike. Despite this history of amazement, Tiwanaku has remained something of an enigma until recently, but it appears that this would have probably been pleasing to its creators. It was created to be a mysterious, sacred, and beautiful place, one with many secrets and a public face characterized by PT Barnum-like showmanship.

Diferentes ramas de la misma religión son la excepción más que la regla, y han tenido un profundo impacto en la historia. Hoy, la división religiosa más importante es entre los sunitas y los chiíes (chiítas) dentro del Islam. A diferencia de las divisiones en otras religiones (entre judíos conservadores y ortodoxos o católicos y cristianos protestantes) la división entre los sunitas y los chiíes ha existido desde hace tanto como la propia fe, y surgió rápidamente de las tensiones creadas por la crisis política después de la muerte del Profeta Mahoma.

Machu Picchu es uno de los mejores puntos turísticos de América del Sur, y las ruinas han sido incluso votadas como una de las Siete Nuevas Maravillas del Mundo. Pero a pesar de que Machu Picchu es ahora la más conocida de todas las ruinas incas, su función en la civilización inca aún no está clara. Machu Picchu: La historia y el misterio de la ciudad inca cubre de manera integral la historia de la ciudad, así como la especulación sobre el propósito de Machu Picchu y el debate sobre los edificios.

The ancient world often evokes wonder and even confusion, and few places accomplish any of that more than the incredible ruined stone temple of Puma Punku. Puma Punku is a marvel of engineering, stonemasonry and design. These facts are obvious to even the lay observer, as Puma Punku’s stonework is remarkable even for the Andes where visitors have long wondered at ancient stone joints where even a knife bade could not fit between the stones.

Even centuries before the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, the leaders of Mecca established that their city was the preeminent holy site in Western Arabia and established a truce for pilgrims to the city. In the process one effect of this was that Mecca became a center for what might today be described as tourism, as even ancient visitors needed places for food, water, and sleep. Of course Mecca is now best known for being Islam's holiest city, revered as the birthplace of Muhammad and the site where Allah first revealed the Qu'ran to him.

Centuries before the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, Jews settled on the land to escape persecution at the hands of the Babylonians and Romans, meaning the area and its arid environment brought inhabitants precisely because it wasn't an attractive or resource rich area. In fact, the city fated to become the second holiest city in Islam earned that spot simply by straddling trade routes to the religious city of Mecca, which brought traders and pilgrims in large enough numbers to make it a trade center.

The Mayans maintained power in the Yucatan for over 1,000 years, and at the height of its Classical era, the city of Tikal was one of the power centers of the empire. Archaeologists believe Tikal had been built as early as the fifth or fourth century BC. Eventually it became a political, economic, and military capital that was an important part of a far-flung network across Mesoamerica.

Thriving between AD 100-750, Teotihuacan was one of the largest cities in the ancient world, with a population estimated at upwards of 150,000-250,000, over three times the size of contemporary Mayan capitals. Furthermore, Teotihuacan was a supremely well-planned and efficient city that was able to field massive armies and extend its power far beyond its home base. Teotihuacan not only served as a vital center for trade in Ancient Mesoamerica, but also spread its architecture, art, religion, and culture.

Centuries before the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, the leaders of Mecca established that their city was the pre-eminent holy site in western Arabia and established a truce for pilgrims to the city. One effect of this was that Mecca became a center for what might today be described as tourism. Of course, Mecca is now best known for being Islam's holiest city, revered as the birthplace of Muhammad and the site where Allah first revealed the Qu'ran to him. Within Mecca is the Ka'aba, a building housed within the Al-Masjid al-Haram (Great Mosque), considered the holiest site.

Mexico City is not a new place. Mexico City instead has much in common with cities like London, Delhi or Cairo in the East in that it is an ancient city dating back centuries before the arrival of Colombus in Hispañola. For, while much (including the name) has changed, Mexico City is the mighty Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire and the great American metropolis of the Spanish Empire. There has been no break in occupation, and despite much devastation, the city was never fully destroyed.

The Cherokees might be the most famous tribe in the country. If so, the person most responsible for it is Sequoyah, whose invention of the Cherokee syllabary also played a prominent role in facilitating the assimilation between the Cherokee and Americans. Sequoyah began work on devising the writing and reading system around 1809, and it was instantly popular among Cherokees, to the extent that it was being used in written publications among the tribe by the 1820s. The syllabary has been in use ever since, both within the tribe and among outsiders.

Many ancient civilizations have influenced and inspired people in the 21st century. The Greeks and Romans continue to fascinate the West today. But of all the world's civilizations, none have intrigued people more than the Mayans, whose culture, astronomy, language, and mysterious disappearance all continue to captivate people.

The Greek god Hades is something of an enigma. On the one hand, people can view him through a lens that was a byproduct of the Christian tradition: as a terrifying lord of death seated upon his ebony throne, an unseen force of power moving through the world. Certainly, many of the ancient Greeks themselves saw the god in this light.