This runic stone is a memorial from Danish King Harald Bluetooths (c. 940-987) for his parents Gorm his father and Thyra his mother.
Harald took over power just before 960, so Gorm must have been born between 908 and 923 . Gorm was announced king at the beginning of 940s, therefore the stone must have been erected between 940s and 958.
The words ”King Gorm ” are almost a headline, as the runes here are bigger than in the other lines. The word ”kumler” is plural and means memories, so there must have been more than one runic stone. Thyre was buried in a stone circle with the runic stone as a tomb stone.
Their are three sides to this runic ston. Sides 2 and 3 are framed by unbroken bands and ropes which indicate that they should be read as a unified whole perhaps a tribute or epitaph. Side 1 is what captured my attention. This is the oldest picture of Christ. Here we see a man in a tunic with his arms spread out and a halo above his head. King Harald ruled all of Norway and Demark and the Danes had accepted Christianity however Norway didn't become Christian till around 1015. This level of detail is quite amazing expressing love, rembrance and spirtuality that has withstood the test of time.
My second picture is the
Basilica Palladiana centrally located in Vicenza's Piazza dei Signori in Italy. While reading about Roman Art and Basilica's construction, this brought back fond memories of growing up in Vicenza as a child and teenager passing the building as I walked to school. I have not been back to Italy since I came over to the United States, but my heart still remains in Italy and this October we will be heading back and I can't wait to apply what I have learned to Italian Art.
The first picture is my 1958 Porshe Speedster. It represents a stylish, powerful and beautiful piece of Automotive History. The car was all hand built that's the truth, because the entire aluminum body was hand beaten over a wooden buck. All the engine and drivetrain components were made without a machine shop. Working as IT Achitect position in the Coporate World, the long hours and stress of the workplace can cause havok. During those time, I sometimes head out to the parking lot and take her for a drive. By the time I get back I typically am smiling admiring her beauty with respect and also at the magic she has to change my day.
The next one is my 1967 Mustang Fastback. This was my first car and I purchased in 1981 while in High School. This car is called the "Bullitt Mustang" inspired from the Movie "Bullitt" featuring Steve McQueen as a San Francisco cop determined to find the underworld kingpin that killed the witness in his protection. Bullitt is probably best-remembered for its
car chase scene through the streets of
San Francisco, regarded as one of the most influential car chase sequences in movie history. Here is a link that defines this cars attitude.
http://www.seero.com/video/Steve_McQueen_3To me both are amazing yet so different to drive and represent unique ideas, styles, and artistry for their decades.
The Rooster has long been the symbol of Portugal, as the eagle is for the United States of America. A delightful moral tale is traditionally credited with the selection of the rooster.The story is set in the era of the early regional kings of Portugal. It tells of a humble villager who is accused of theft and sentenced to death.The man loudly proclaimed his innocence and demanded to be set free. His jailors paid him no mind and laughed at his cries for freedom. As his execution day neared, one of the jailors promised to speak to the king on his behalf.The jailor had no opportunity to approach the king until the day of the execution. The jailor carried the condemned man’s plea to the king during a large banquet. In good humor due to the festive occasion, the king granted his request for the audience and the villager was brought before him.
So you are innocent, are you?” laughed the king.“Yes Sir, I am. Before God, I swear it,” answered the villager.“Ah, but you have been accused and sentenced to death, and I can’t change the sentence on just your word without proof. How do you think you can prove your innocence, my good man?”“But Sir, I swear that I am innocent,” the man insisted. He looked around the banquet room in desperation, seeking some way, some help. His eyes fell on a servant carrying in a large platter of fowl, steaming with seasonings. He fell to his knees.“Lord God,” he prayed, “as Peter, your servant, denied you at the cock’s crow, would that you show my innocence as your humble servant by this rooster’s crow…”All eyes turned to the platter of steaming cooked fowl and widened in wonder and amazement as the rooster got up, ruffled his feathers and crowed loudly.“The Lord has indeed spoken,” the king said softly, and raising his voice, he proclaimed, “Let this be a lesson to each of us never to sit in quick judgment of our fellow man. The rooster, henceforth, shall be a reminder to us and to our children after us, of this, the Lord’s message. So shall it be in our land forever!”
The rooster, gaily decorated with bright designs, remains Portugal’s symbol and can be seen in almost every home and on every festive occasion, shaped in loaves of holiday bread and stamped on children’s candies. I chose this as this is part of my heritage and our family has given many roosters to friends and family and this is considered by Portuguese people as a symbol of faith in the greatness of God.
UNDIRECTED BLOG #1
As this is my first college class in Twenty Five years, I really didn't know what to expect. I decided to finish what I started back in1983 and so far experience is mixed with emotions of elation, nervousness and at sometimes just pure curiousity.
When I signed up for Art History I had no idea what that meant but it sounded interesting. After some of the Chapter readings my viewpoint of art now leads me to visualize and question the art and artist versues just blindly viewing art.
This has definitley peaked my curiousity and I am looking forward to learning more and applying what I learn. In regards to blogs, this is the first blog I have ever created and I hope it helps to interpret my views.
