Gary Cunningham
@garyrc1453
Aspiring historical novelist & historian with graduate degrees in Classics/Ancient History, European History, Labor/Industrial Relations. I believe in human rights, animal rights, academic freedom, historic preservation, and environmental protection.🏳️🌈 🇵🇸 🌏
“Please try to remember that what they believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure does not testify to your inferiority, but to their inhumanity.” -James Baldwin
As a lifelong fan of Ray Bradbury, I’m embarrassed to say that I’m just now reading this one. It’s brilliant from the first paragraph.
How many modern Greeks believe Odyssey 8:490-495 is history? "the building of the horse of wood, which Epeius made with Athena's help, the horse which once Odysseus led up into the citadel [of Troy]…” Fewer than the number of people who believe Genesis 9:12-16 is history?
Is ChatGPT fed psychedelic mushrooms? It frequently hallucinates. To my inquiry on non-whites in 17th-Century England, it provided me with six recommended books, three of which don’t exist.
Greek influence persisted in central Asia centuries after Alexander and his army invaded and left. This bowl shows scenes from the plays of the Greek playwright Euripides. Origin: likely Afghanistan, Sasanian period, 5th-7th century CE, Silver and gilt. Smithsonian Museum of Asian Art (photo: mine)
A 1,000-year-old reclining bronze statue of Vishnu recovered in 1938 from a forgotten burial, from an island temple in Siem Reap province of Cambodia. It’s on display, along with some other artifacts, at the Smithsonian Museum of Asian Art. Photos by me.
For Pride Month, remembering some LGBTQ icons/heroes. Alan Turing Oscar Wilde James Baldwin Harvey Milk
I enjoyed a nice exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of Asian Art yesterday: "Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India's Himalayan Kingdoms." A collection of works from the 17th to 18th centuries. There were probably 20-25 paintings, of which I’m sharing a few of my favorites. Photos are my own. 1/2
For Pride Month, just a few of our modern female icons / heroes. Jane Addams Billie Jean King Sally Ride Virginia Woolf
Dedicated on this day in 1922 to a president who, though not perfect, deserves to be remembered with reverence.
Today, Vesek (Buddha Day) is celebrated among Buddhists in the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, and Vietnam, and in those communities in other countries. It celebrates the birthday of Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha), traditionally around 563 BCE.
As a lifelong Sci-Fi fan, I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that I am just now reading this classic novel. I really grok it.
Some people need to understand and comprehend government and history.
#3. Selections from the Amitāyus Sutra, important in Pure Land Buddhism.
Post 2 for the “National Jubilee Of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving.” Sappho to Aphrodite.
Since this Sunday has been declared “A National Jubilee Of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving,” in the U.S., I’ll be posting a series of prayers/recognition for various deities who have served the human race across the past few millennia.