A small college town in southwest Florida was planned with this large Oratory church in the center. The facade of the building displays sculptor Márton Váró's 30-foot-tall (9 m) sculpture of the Annunciation, depicting the Archangel Gabriel greeting the Virgin Mary with the words "Ave Maria" (Hail Mary). Váró's "Good Shepherd" sculpture is also featured inside the Oratory, also carved in marble from Cave Michelangelo in Carrara, Italy.

 

This Oratory serves as the home of the Roman Catholic Quasi-parish of Ave Maria Oratory, part of the Diocese of Venice, which serves as the parish for the university and the local residents. One of the oratory's most distinctive characteristics is its steel structure, much of which is exposed internally and externally.

 

The landmark church received an architectural award from the American Institute of Steel Construction in 2008. Tom Monaghan, Ave Maria founder, has had a significant interest in architecture for more than 50 years and has been one of the world's largest collectors of the works and memorabilia of Frank Lloyd Wright. He drew the oratory's first sketches himself on a tablecloth and then Cannon Design, a Grand Island, N.Y.-based architecture firm, took it from there.

 

This massive chapel to date is the largest concrete pour in Florida and stands out as the largest structure in the town of Ave Maria. The project is the architectural design of Harry L. Warren, AIA, of Cannon Design, Grand Island, NY. Original plans for this church called for a 185-foot-tall building with 3,300 seats. Due to rising costs, the structure was reduced to 104 feet with 1,100 seats and an overall size of 25,755 square feet.

 

Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ave_Maria,_Florida

www.avemaria.com/

www.sacredarchitecture.org/articles/everglade_oratory/

 

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

The distinctive white painted houses of Casares as seen from the castle.

 

Casares is a town and municipality in Spain, located in Málaga province, in the autonomous community of Andalusia.

 

In Roman times the spa of la Hedionda, located on the road to Manilva, was already well known, and this is where Julius Caesar was cured of a liver complaint, supposedly thanks to the sulphuric waters that still pour out of the local spring. It was for this reason that during the Roman Empire Casares was allowed to mint its own coins, a permission granted by the emperor in gratitude for the curing of a skin disease after bathing in the village's sulphuric and alkaline waters. Evidence of the Moorish presence can still be seen here in the 12th century Castle, around which grew the present town centre. In 1361, Pedro the Cruel and the dethroned Mohamed V of Granada signed the Pact of Casares, by which the Moorish King recuperated his throne, leaving Casares as part of the Nazrid kingdom. The town surrendered to the Catholic forces after the fall of Ronda in 1485 and was handed over to Rodrigo Ponce de León, Duke of Cádiz, as part of his domain. Here too the Duke of Arcos accepted the surrender of the rebel Moriscos, the Moors who had "converted" to Christianity. Casares had taken an active part in this rebellion, put down by Don Juan de Austria. The town separated from Manilva in 1795, being granted the title of Villa. At a later period, Casares was the only town, apart from Cádiz, that the Napoleonic troops has not been able to take.

 

More recent history indicates the old village as the birthplace of the father of Andalusian nationalism, Blas Infante Perez de Vargas, labour lawyer, politician, and writer, who is considered to be the largest historic figure in Andalucia. He was born in 1885 and died during the civil struggle in 1936.

 

Since 1978 the historical and artistic heritage of the village has been officially protected.

The crested caracara (Caracara plancus) is a striking bird of prey found across the Americas, from the southern United States to South America. With its distinctive black and white plumage, bright orange facial skin, and prominent crest, this raptor stands out among other birds of prey. Unlike many raptors, it is a versatile forager, often scavenging carrion but also hunting small animals. The crested caracara thrives in open landscapes like grasslands and savannas, where it can be seen walking or running in search of food. Known for its bold, confident behavior, the caracara is an opportunistic and social bird, sometimes seen in small groups when feeding. Despite some localized threats, it remains widespread and is classified as of Least Concern by the IUCN.

The poppy has a long association with Remembrance Day. But how did the distinctive red flower become such a potent symbol of our remembrance of the sacrifices made in past wars?

 

Scarlet corn poppies (popaver rhoeas) grow naturally in conditions of disturbed earth throughout Western Europe. The destruction brought by the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th Century transformed bare land into fields of blood red poppies, growing around the bodies of the fallen soldiers.

 

In late 1914, the fields of Northern France and Flanders were once again ripped open as World War One raged through Europe's heart. Once the conflict was over the poppy was one of the only plants to grow on the otherwise barren battlefields.

EDT HERCULES 9491422 with her distinctive Ulstein X-Bow.

 

Sailing from her berth North Sea Supply Base H/L & No.1 @ Teesport to her next Port Saint-Nazaire, which is where the Third Reich built 1 of their 5 large submarine pens in WW2

This view is of two different layers of rock forming spectacular cliffs some 100m high in the Capitol Reef National Park in Utah.

 

The pale blocky and angular material at the top is the Shinarump Conglomerate, a highly-resistant coarse-grained sandstone and pebble conglomerate, sometimes forming a caprock as in this instance because of its hardness, cementation, and erosion resistance. It was laid down in the late Triassic period.

 

Beneath is the distinctive reddish-orange, evenly-bedded, Moenkopi siltstone, laid down in the early Triassic. This is a much more friable material than the Shinarump. This is very clear above, where the hard Shinarump protects the softer, more easily eroded Moenkopi. It is likely that the Moenkopi erodes out from under the Shinarump, elements of which then break off.

 

Note that even after eroding out of the cliff the two types retain their erosional properties - the fine material making up the scree slopes appears almost entirely to be Moenkopi. Sliding down the scree and at the bottom of the slope are boulders of the resistant Shinarump.

 

Capitol Reef National Park encompasses the Waterpocket Fold, a warp in the Earth's crust that is 65 million years old. It is the largest exposed monocline in North America. In this fold, multiple layers of earth folded over each other in an S-shape. This warp, probably caused by the same colliding continental plates that created the Rocky Mountains, has weathered and eroded over millennia to expose layers of rock and fossils. The park is filled with brilliantly-coloured sandstone cliffs, gleaming white domes, and contrasting layers of stone and earth.

' The writing on the wall. '

.....Banksy's latest work appeared last week in a street in north London, on the side wall of a pharmacy !

.....Banksy is the well-known, pseudo-anonymous and elusive English graffiti artist ( whose identity is still uncertain ) and is famous for his artworks in a distinctive stencilling technique, which encompass topics such as politics, culture and ethics.

..........His works have sold for hundreds and thousands of pounds and have attracted many Hollywood celebrities !

..........( Essex Road - London.)

Winter's Hollow is now open with distinctively unique items for your Second Life.

 

Exclusive accessories for body and home, Discounts, Solstice gifts and a Hunt will enrich your holiday season.

 

(Outfit shown is Winter Spirit from Faunus)

 

Info & links on my Dark Blog ~ aznanasaccouterments.blogspot.com/2024/12/122024wh01.html

The distinctive architecture and interior design of Grand Central Terminal's station house have earned it several landmark designations, including as a National Historic Landmark. Its Beaux-Arts design incorporates numerous works of art. Grand Central Terminal is one of the world's ten most visited tourist attractions, with 21.6 million visitors in 2018, excluding train and subway passengers. The terminal's Main Concourse is often used as a meeting place, and is especially featured in films and television. Grand Central Terminal contains a variety of stores and food vendors, including upscale restaurants and bars, two food halls, and a grocery marketplace.

 

The Godfather and the Pelican.

 

Distinctive hood ornaments were in fashion well into the 1950s in American automobiles. But, historians say, Packard Motor Car Co. patented 28 hood ornaments, or mascots, more than any other American car maker. (1)

 

The Godfather

 

“In the 1972 movie “The Godfather” (Francis Ford Coppola) Don Vito Corleone (The Godfather) is taken to the cemetery in this very hearse, a 1948 Henney Landau 3-way Hearse. Henney Body, of Freeport, Illinois produced a total of 1,942 professional cars in 1948, the majority of which were hearses and ambulances.” (2). “By 1934 Henney had abandoned assembly of their own chassis and were building on the chassis of Packard and others.” (3).

 

“356 cu. in., straight eight; 160 BHP @ 3600 rpm; 3-speed manual transmission; 156” wheelbase; curb weight 6,100 lbs; $6,735 when new” (2).

 

The Pelican

 

In reading about the many Packard hood ornaments, I’ve learned that there is considerable disagreement as to whether this particular bird is a pelican or a cormorant. While I don’t pretend to know the real answer (and am in no way a car expert), I did find the following:

 

“The Packard Family's coat of arms [which featured a pelican] was adopted by the Packard Motor Car Company in 1928 after the death of James W. Packard, builder of the first Packard in 1899.

 

The Packard Pelican hood ornament was first used in 1932 on the ninth series cars. There were many different variations of this design from 1932 until it was last used in 1957. This hood ornament evolved from the pelican on the Packard coat of arms.

 

In 1939, Packard Motor Car Co. called the pelican hood ornament on the seventeenth series a Cormorant for the first time. Many owners sent letters to Packard in 1939 and during the years after, disapproving of the name Cormorant. In 1951, Packard changed the name of the hood ornament back to Pelican because of all these letters from loyal Packard owners.”(4)

 

Sources: (1). Ron Devlin. Available at www.readingeagle.com/drivetime/article/packards-goddess-o...

(2). America’s Packard Museum. Exhibit Plaque.

(3). www.coachbuilt.com/bui/h/henney/henney.htm

4). www.packardaustralia.com. Retrieved from: www.carstyling.ru/en/entry/Packard_Mascot_1932_57_Pelican...

another lisbon story

 

texture:texturemattic

Distinctive mural

A distinctive chestnut, white, and black waterbird with a sky-blue bill and enormous feet. The immature lacks the blue bill and shield and is brown-headed. Resident and nomadic, this species trots on the surface of water lilies and other aquatic vegetation, using its long legs and ludicrously elongated toes to prevent it from sinking.

Highly unusual mating system in which one dominant female maintains a harem of multiple males. After egg-laying, each male will raise a brood alone.

In the last few weeks I've been enjoying myself building a few interesting cars in colours that are somewhat unusual for LEGO models. From left to right: a 1965 Pontiac Bonneville in sand blue, a Citroën CX in dark orange and a BMW 635Csi in olive green.

 

I don't want to dismiss the skill that goes into building a virtual model and I can understand that not everybody has the means to buy the parts needed to construct them in the real world, but as an admin and moderator of a number of LEGO-related groups, in the last year or so I've been growing increasingly frustrated with the endless stream of often mediocre renders flooding almost all of these groups, seemingly cranked out at the push of a few buttons. To each their own, but to me a virtual model is still a somewhat poor substitute for the real thing. When building a real-world model, one doesn't have the luxury of having every conceivable part in whatever colour is needed.

Distinctive quail-like ground bird,the sole member of its family,which is closer to the waders than the quail.use of similar habitat seems to be reflected not only in appearance,but also in polyandrous breeding.Habitat is predominantly natural open grassland,treeless with patches of open grassland.Most common in the Riverina of NSW And in NW Vic.

These distinctive cliffs surrounding Southerndown are 180-290 million years old, and are packed with fossils such as the Devil's Toenail - an old version of today's oyster.

The layers are made up of liassic limestone, sandwiched by shale, a brittle substance much like modern earth. It is this substance that makes the cliffs unstable and dangerous, the major reason for erosion and fall.

This spot become a notorious accident spot, with nine deaths since December 2000 plunged into the Dunraven Bay over the 250 metre height cliffs .Climbers are advised to head further West towards Ogmore-by-Sea where the cliffs are more solid.

 

"Can I help you?"

"I need a new bag."

"Our brown bag is our best seller."

"I want the pink one."

"Are you sure? Everyone chooses the brown bag. It goes with everything."

"Pink goes with me."

 

Lego minifigures

This distinctive, colorful wildflower lines many a roadside around Austin, Texas

A distinctive, rather large flycatcher of tropical and subtropical forest and woodland, heard far more often than seen. Feeds from the forest floor to the canopy; has a habit of strongly flicking its tail up and down while perched. Readily identified by its staring face with orange eyes; stout, slightly hooked pinkish bill; and streaked breast. The bright tawny rump can be hard to see. Loud, strident, whistled song given at any time of day, but especially around dawn.

Tico Rainforest B&B, Horquetas de Sarapiqui, Costa Rica.

The distinctive outline of SR WC 'Spamcam' 34092 'City of Wells' is silhouetted against the late afternoon sun as it climbs past Burrs Country Park, ELR with the 16.10 Bury - Ramsbottom freight on 25th February during the ELR Winter Steam Gala.

The Mithraic Mysteries were a mystery religion practised in the Roman Empire from about the 1st to 4th centuries AD. The name of the Persian god Mithra (proto-Indo-Iranian Mitra), adapted into Greek as Mithras, was linked to a new and distinctive imagery. Writers of the Roman Empire period referred to this mystery religion by phrases which can be anglicized as Mysteries of Mithras or Mysteries of the Persians; modern historians refer to it as Mithraism,[1] or sometimes Roman Mithraism.The mysteries were popular in the Roman military.

Worshippers of Mithras had a complex system of seven grades of initiation, with ritual meals. Initiates called themselves syndexioi, those "united by the handshake".They met in underground temples (called mithraea), which survive in large numbers. The cult appears to have had its centre in Rome.

Numerous archaeological finds, including meeting places, monuments and artifacts, have contributed to modern knowledge about Mithraism throughout the Roman Empire.The iconic scenes of Mithras show him being born from a rock, slaughtering a bull, and sharing a banquet with the god Sol (the Sun). About 420 sites have yielded materials related to the cult. Among the items found are about 1000 inscriptions, 700 examples of the bull-killing scene (tauroctony), and about 400 other monuments.[9] It has been estimated that there would have been at least 680 mithraea in Rome.[10] No written narratives or theology from the religion survive, with limited information to be derived from the inscriptions, and only brief or passing references in Greek and Latin literature. Interpretation of the physical evidence remains problematic and contested.

The Romans regarded the mysteries as having Persian or Zoroastrian sources. Since the early 1970s the dominant scholarship has noted dissimilarities between Persian Mithra-worship and the Roman Mithraic mysteries. In this context, Mithraism has sometimes been viewed as a rival of early Christianity with similarities such as liberator-saviour, hierarchy of adepts (archbishops, bishops, priests), communal meal and a hard struggle of Good and Evil (bull-killing/crucifixion).The name Mithras (Latin, equivalent to Greek “Μίθρας” is a form of Mithra, the name of an Old Persian god– a relationship understood by Mithraic scholars since the days of Franz Cumont. An early example of the Greek form of the name is in a 4th century BC work by Xenophon, the Cyropaedia, which is a biography of the Persian king Cyrus the Great.

The exact form of a Latin or classical Greek word varies due to the grammatical process of declension. There is archeological evidence that in Latin worshippers wrote the nominative form of the god’s name as “Mithras”. However, in Porphyry’s Greek text De Abstinentia («Περὶ ἀποχῆς ἐμψύχων»), there is a reference to the now-lost histories of the Mithraic mysteries by Euboulus and Pallas, the wording of which suggests that these authors treated the name “Mithra” as an indeclinable foreign word.

Related deity-names in other languages include

Sanskrit Mitra (मित्रः), the name of a god praised in the Rig Veda.In Sanskrit, "mitra" means "friend" or "friendship"

the form mi-it-ra-, found in an inscribed peace treaty between the Hittites and the kingdom of Mitanni, from about 1400 BC.

Iranian "Mithra" and Sanskrit "Mitra" are believed to come from an Indo-Iranian word mitra meaning "contract, agreement, covenant".

Modern historians have different conceptions about whether these names refer to the same god or not. John R. Hinnells has written of Mitra / Mithra / Mithras as a single deity worshipped in several different religions. On the other hand, David Ulansey considers the bull-slaying Mithras to be a new god who began to be worshipped in the 1st century BC, and to whom an old name was applied.

Mary Boyce, a researcher of ancient Iranian religions, writes that even though Roman Empire Mithraism seems to have had less Iranian content than historians used to think, still "as the name Mithras alone shows, this content was of some importance.Much about the cult of Mithras is only known from reliefs and sculptures. There have been many attempts to interpret this material.

Mithras-worship in the Roman Empire was characterized by images of the god slaughtering a bull. Other images of Mithras are found in the Roman temples, for instance Mithras banqueting with Sol, and depictions of the birth of Mithras from a rock. But the image of bull-slaying (tauroctony) is always in the central niche.Textual sources for a reconstruction of the theology behind this iconography are very rare. (See section Interpretations of the bull-slaying scene below.)

The practice of depicting the god slaying a bull seems to be specific to Roman Mithraism. According to David Ulansey, this is "perhaps the most important example" of evident difference between Iranian and Roman traditions: "... there is no evidence that the Iranian god Mithra ever had anything to do with killing a bull."n every Mithraeum the centrepiece was a representation of Mithras killing a sacred bull, called the tauroctony.

The image may be a relief, or free-standing, and side details may be present or omitted. The centre-piece is Mithras clothed in Anatolian costume and wearing a Phrygian cap; who is kneeling on the exhausted bull, holding it by the nostrils[33] with his left hand, and stabbing it with his right. As he does so, he looks over his shoulder towards the figure of Sol. A dog and a snake reach up towards the blood. A scorpion seizes the bull's genitals. A raven is flying around or is sitting on the bull. Three ears of wheat are seen coming out from the bull's tail, sometimes from the wound. The bull was often white. The god is sitting on the bull in an unnatural way with his right leg constraining the bull's hoof and the left leg is bent and resting on the bull's back or flank.[34] The two torch-bearers are on either side, dressed like Mithras, Cautes with his torch pointing up and Cautopates with his torch pointing down. Sometimes Cautes and Cautopates carry shepherds' crooks instead of torches.

Tauroctony from the Kunsthistorisches Museum

The event takes place in a cavern, into which Mithras has carried the bull, after having hunted it, ridden it and overwhelmed its strength.[38] Sometimes the cavern is surrounded by a circle, on which the twelve signs of the zodiac appear. Outside the cavern, top left, is Sol the sun, with his flaming crown, often driving a quadriga. A ray of light often reaches down to touch Mithras. At the top right is Luna, with her crescent moon, who may be depicted driving a biga.[39]

In some depictions, the central tauroctony is framed by a series of subsidiary scenes to the left, top and right, illustrating events in the Mithras narrative; Mithras being born from the rock, the water miracle, the hunting and riding of the bull, meeting Sol who kneels to him, shaking hands with Sol and sharing a meal of bull-parts with him, and ascending to the heavens in a chariot.[39] In some instances, as is the case in the stucco icon at Santa Prisca mithraeum, the god is shown heroically nude. Some of these reliefs were constructed so that they could be turned on an axis. On the back side was another, more elaborate feasting scene. This indicates that the bull killing scene was used in the first part of the celebration, then the relief was turned, and the second scene was used in the second part of the celebration.Besides the main cult icon, a number of mithraea had several secondary tauroctonies, and some small portable versions, probably meant for private devotion, have also been found.[The second most important scene after the tauroctony in Mithraic art is the so-called banquet scene.The banquet scene features Mithras and the Sun god banqueting on the hide of the slaughtered bull. On the specific banquet scene on the Fiano Romano relief, one of the torchbearers points a caduceus towards the base of an altar, where flames appear to spring up. Robert Turcan has argued that since the caduceus is an attribute of Mercury, and in mythology Mercury is depicted as a psychopomp, the eliciting of flames in this scene is referring to the dispatch of human souls and expressing the Mithraic doctrine on this matter. Turcan also connects this event to the tauroctony: the blood of the slain bull has soaked the ground at the base of the altar, and from the blood the souls are elicited in flames by the caduceus.Mithras is depicted as being born from a rock. He is shown as emerging from a rock, already in his youth, with a dagger in one hand and a torch in the other. He is nude, standing with his legs together, and is wearing a Phrygian cap.

However, there are variations. Sometimes he is shown as coming out of the rock as a child, and in one instance he has a globe in one hand; sometimes a thunderbolt is seen. There are also depictions in which flames are shooting from the rock and also from Mithras' cap. One statue had its base perforated so that it could serve as a fountain, and the base of another has the mask of the water god. Sometimes Mithras also has other weapons such as bows and arrows, and there are also animals such as dogs, serpents, dolphins, eagles, other birds, lion, crocodiles, lobsters and snails around. On some reliefs, there is a bearded figure identified as Oceanus, the water god, and on some there are the gods of the four winds. In these reliefs, the four elements could be invoked together. Sometimes Victoria, Luna, Sol and Saturn also seem to play a role. Saturn in particular is often seen handing over the dagger to Mithras so that he can perform his mighty deeds.

In some depictions, Cautes and Cautopates are also present; sometimes they are depicted as shepherds.

On some occasions, an amphora is seen, and a few instances show variations like an egg birth or a tree birth. Some interpretations show that the birth of Mithras was celebrated by lighting torches or candles.[One of the most characteristic features of the Mysteries is the naked lion-headed figure often found in Mithraic temples, named by the modern scholars with descriptive terms such as leontocephaline (lion-headed) or leontocephalus (lion-head). He is entwined by a serpent (or two serpents, like a caduceus), with the snake's head often resting on the lion's head. The lion's mouth is often open, giving a horrifying impression. He is usually represented as having four wings, two keys (sometimes a single key), and a scepter in his hand. Sometimes the figure is standing on a globe inscribed with a diagonal cross. In the figure shown here, the four wings carry the symbols of the four seasons, and a thunderbolt is engraved on the breast. At the base of the statue are the hammer and tongs of Vulcan, the cock, and the wand of Mercury. A more scarcely represented variant of the figure with a human head is also found.

Although animal-headed figures are prevalent in contemporary Egyptian and Gnostic mythological representations, an exact parallel to the Mithraic leontocephaline figure is not found.

The name of the figure has been deciphered from dedicatory inscriptions to be Arimanius (though the archeological evidence is not very strong), which is nominally the equivalent of Ahriman, a demon figure in the Zoroastrian pantheon. Arimanius is known from inscriptions to have been a god in the Mithraic cult (CIMRM 222 from Ostia, 369 from Rome, 1773 and 1775 from Pannonia).

While some scholars identify the lion-man as Aion (or Zurvan, or Cronus) others assert that it is Ahriman.[51] There is also speculation that the figure is the Gnostic demiurge, (Ariel) Ialdabaoth. Although the exact identity of the lion-headed figure is debated by scholars, it is largely agreed that the god is associated with time and seasonal change.[53] An occultist, D. J.Cooper, speculates to the contrary that the lion-headed figure is not a god, but rather represents the spiritual state achieved in Mithraism's "adept" level, the Leo (lion) degree. Rituals and worship[edit]

According to M. J. Vermaseren, the Mithraic New Year and the birthday of Mithras was on December 25. However, Beck disagrees strongly.Clauss states: "the Mithraic Mysteries had no public ceremonies of its own. The festival of natalis Invicti [Birth of the Unconquerable (Sun)], held on 25 December, was a general festival of the Sun, and by no means specific to the Mysteries of Mithras." Mithraic initiates were required to swear an oath of secrecy and dedication, and some grade rituals involved the recital of a catechism, wherein the initiate was asked a series of questions pertaining to the initiation symbolism and had to reply with specific answers. An example of such a catechism, apparently pertaining to the Leo grade, was discovered in a fragmentary Egyptian papyrus (P.Berolinensis 21196),and reads:

... He will say: 'Where ... ?

... he is/(you are?) there (then/thereupon?) at a loss?' Say: ... Say: 'Night'. He will say: 'Where ... ?' ... Say: 'All things ...' (He will say): '... you are called ... ?' Say: 'Because of the summery ...' ... having become ... he/it has the fiery ... (He will say): '... did you receive/inherit?' Say: 'In a pit'. He will say: 'Where is your ...?... (Say): '...(in the...) Leonteion.' He will say: 'Will you gird?' The (heavenly?) ...(Say): '... death'. He will say: 'Why, having girded yourself, ...?' '... this (has?) four tassels. Very sharp and ... '... much'. He will say: ...? (Say: '... because of/through?) hot and cold'. He will say: ...? (Say): '... red ... linen'. He will say: 'Why?' Say: '... red border; the linen, however, ...' (He will say): '... has been wrapped?' Say: 'The savior's ...' He will say: 'Who is the father?' Say: 'The one who (begets?) everything ...' (He will say): '('How ?)... did you become a Leo?' Say: 'By the ... of the father'. ... Say: 'Drink and food'. He will say '...?'

'... in the seven-...

Almost no Mithraic scripture or first-hand account of its highly secret rituals survives;with the exception of the aforementioned oath and catechism, and the document known as the Mithras Liturgy, from 4th century Egypt, whose status as a Mithraist text has been questioned by scholars including Franz Cumont. The walls of Mithraea were commonly whitewashed, and where this survives it tends to carry extensive repositories of graffiti; and these, together with inscriptions on Mithraic monuments, form the main source for Mithraic texts.

Nevertheless, it is clear from the archeology of numerous Mithraea that most rituals were associated with feasting – as eating utensils and food residues are almost invariably found. These tend to include both animal bones and also very large quantities of fruit residues.The presence of large amounts of cherry-stones in particular would tend to confirm mid-summer (late June, early July) as a season especially associated with Mithraic festivities. The Virunum album, in the form of an inscribed bronze plaque, records a Mithraic festival of commemoration as taking place on 26 June 184. Beck argues that religious celebrations on this date are indicative of special significance being given to the Summer solstice; but this time of the year coincides with ancient recognition of the solar maximum at midsummer, whilst iconographically identical holidays such as Litha, St John's Eve, and Jāņi are observed also.

For their feasts, Mithraic initiates reclined on stone benches arranged along the longer sides of the Mithraeum – typically there might be room for 15 to 30 diners, but very rarely many more than 40 men. Counterpart dining rooms, or triclinia, were to be found above ground in the precincts of almost any temple or religious sanctuary in the Roman empire, and such rooms were commonly used for their regular feasts by Roman 'clubs', or collegia. Mithraic feasts probably performed a very similar function for Mithraists as the collegia did for those entitled to join them; indeed, since qualification for Roman collegia tended to be restricted to particular families, localities or traditional trades, Mithraism may have functioned in part as providing clubs for the unclubbed.However, the size of the Mithraeum is not necessarily an indication of the size of the congregation.

Each Mithraeum had several altars at the further end, underneath the representation of the tauroctony, and also commonly contained considerable numbers of subsidiary altars, both in the main Mithraeum chamber and in the ante-chamber or narthex.[68] These altars, which are of the standard Roman pattern, each carry a named dedicatory inscription from a particular initiate, who dedicated the altar to Mithras "in fulfillment of his vow", in gratitude for favours received. Burned residues of animal entrails are commonly found on the main altars indicating regular sacrificial use. However, Mithraea do not commonly appear to have been provided with facilities for ritual slaughter of sacrificial animals (a highly specialised function in Roman religion), and it may be presumed that a Mithraeum would have made arrangements for this service to be provided for them in co-operation with the professional victimarius of the civic cult. Prayers were addressed to the Sun three times a day, and Sunday was especially sacred.

It is doubtful whether Mithraism had a monolithic and internally consistent doctrine. It may have varied from location to location. However, the iconography is relatively coherent. It had no predominant sanctuary or cultic centre; and, although each Mithraeum had its own officers and functionaries, there was no central supervisory authority. In some Mithraea, such as that at Dura Europos, wall paintings depict prophets carrying scrolls,but no named Mithraic sages are known, nor does any reference give the title of any Mithraic scripture or teaching. It is known that intitates could transfer with their grades from one Mithraeum to another.

Mithraeum

See also: Mithraeum

A mithraeum found in the ruins of Ostia Antica, Italy

Temples of Mithras are sunk below ground, windowless, and very distinctive. In cities, the basement of an apartment block might be converted; elsewhere they might be excavated and vaulted over, or converted from a natural cave. Mithraic temples are common in the empire; although unevenly distributed, with considerable numbers found in Rome, Ostia, Numidia, Dalmatia, Britain and along the Rhine/Danube frontier; while being somewhat less common in Greece, Egypt, and Syria.According to Walter Burkert, the secret character of Mithriac rituals meant that Mithraism could only be practiced within a Mithraeum.Some new finds at Tienen show evidence of large-scale feasting and suggest that the mystery religion may not have been as secretive as was generally believed.

For the most part, Mithraea tend to be small, externally undistinguished, and cheaply constructed; the cult generally preferring to create a new centre rather than expand an existing one. The Mithraeum represented the cave to which Mithras carried and then killed the bull; and where stone vaulting could not be afforded, the effect would be imitated with lath and plaster. They are commonly located close to springs or streams; fresh water appears to have been required for some Mithraic rituals, and a basin is often incorporated into the structure. There is usually a narthex or ante-chamber at the entrance, and often other ancillary rooms for storage and the preparation of food. The extant mithraea present us with actual physical remains of the architectural structures of the sacred spaces of the Mithraic cult. Mithraeum is a modern coinage and mithraists referred to their sacred structures as speleum or antrum (cave), crypta (underground hallway or corridor), fanum (sacred or holy place), or even templum (a temple or a sacred space).

In their basic form, mithraea were entirely different from the temples and shrines of other cults. In the standard pattern of Roman religious precincts, the temple building functioned as a house for the god, who was intended to be able to view through the opened doors and columnar portico, sacrificial worship being offered on an altar set in an open courtyard; potentially accessible not only to initiates of the cult, but also to colitores or non-initiated worshippers.Mithraea were the antithesis of this.

Degrees of initiation

In the Suda under the entry "Mithras", it states that "no one was permitted to be initiated into them (the mysteries of Mithras), until he should show himself holy and steadfast by undergoing several graduated tests."Gregory Nazianzen refers to the "tests in the mysteries of Mithras".

There were seven grades of initiation into the mysteries of Mithras, which are listed by St. Jerome.Manfred Clauss states that the number of grades, seven, must be connected to the planets. A mosaic in the Ostia Mithraeum of Felicissimus depicts these grades, with symbolic emblems that are connected either to the grades or are just symbols of the planets. The grades also have an inscription beside them commending each grade into the protection of the different planetary gods. In ascending order of importance, the initiatory grades were:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraic_mysteries

In the Mithraic ceremonies, there were seven degrees of initiations: Corax (Raven), Nymphus (Bridegroom), Miles (Soldier), Leo (Lion), Perses (Persian),Heliodromus (Courier of the Sun), and Pater (Father). Those in the lowest ranks, certainly the Corax, were the servants of the community during the sacred meal of bread and water that formed part of the rite.

The area where the concentration of evidence for Mithraism is the most dense is the capital, Rome, and her port city, Ostia. There are eight extant mithraea in Rome of as many as seven hundred (Coarelli 1979) and eighteen in Ostia. In addition to the actual mithraea, there are approximately three hundred other mithraic monuments from Rome and about one hundred from Ostia. This body of evidence reveals that Mithraism in Rome and Ostia originally appealed to the same social strata as it did in the frontier regions. The evidence also indicates that at least some inhabitants knew about Mithraism as early as the late first century CE, but that the cult did not enjoy a wide membership in either location until the middle of the second century CE.

 

As the cult in Rome became more popular, it seems to have "trickled up" the social ladder, with the result that Mithraism could count several senators from prominent aristocratic families among its adherents by the fourth century CE. Some of these men were initiates in several cults imported from the eastern empire (including those of Magna Mater and Attis, Isis, Serapis, Jupiter Dolichenus, Hecate, and Liber Pater, among others), and most had held priesthoods in official Roman cults. The devotion of these men to Mithraism reflects a fourth-century "resurgence of paganism," when many of these imported cults and even official Roman state religion experienced a surge in popularity although, and perhaps because, their very existence was increasingly threatened by the rapid spread of Christianity after the conversion of the emperor Constantine in 313 CE.

global.britannica.com/topic/heliodromus

 

Mithraism had a wide following from the middle of the second century to the late fourth century CE, but the common belief that Mithraism was the prime competitor of Christianity, promulgated by Ernst Renan (Renan 1882 579), is blatantly false. Mithraism was at a serious disadvantage right from the start because it allowed only male initiates. What is more, Mithraism was, as mentioned above, only one of several cults imported from the eastern empire that enjoyed a large membership in Rome and elsewhere. The major competitor to Christianity was thus not Mithraism but the combined group of imported cults and official Roman cults subsumed under the rubric "paganism." Finally, part of Renan's claim rested on an equally common, but almost equally mistaken, belief that Mithraism was officially accepted because it had Roman emperors among its adherents (Nero, Commodus, Septimius Severus, Caracalla, and the Tetrarchs are most commonly cited). Close examination of the evidence for the participation of emperors reveals that some comes from literary sources of dubious quality and that the rest is rather circumstantial. The cult of Magna Mater, the first imported cult to arrive in Rome (204 BCE) was the only one ever officially recognized as a Roman cult. The others, including Mithraism, were never officially accepted, and some, particularly the Egyptian cult of Isis, were periodically outlawed and their adherents persecuted.

ecole.evansville.edu/articles/mithraism.html

 

Some words were enough for God to precipitate the most beautiful of his creatures at the bottom of the abyss. Lucifer, the carrier of Light, pulled(entailed) with him a third(third party) of the angels in its revolt. Hell was created for him. We know the continuation(suite) … The column of July Place de la Bastille, was set up between 1833 and 1840. In its summit, thrones the "Spirit of liberty" conceived(designed) by the sculptor Auguste Dumont. Curious tribute returned by Louis Philippe to the insurgents who knocked down(spilled) Charles X and the Absolute monarchy three years earlier. Lucifer picked up. No detail misses(is lacking) … Torch in the hand, the Angel has just broken his chains(channels) and dashes to new conquests. Under its impressive base is a crypt sheltering some 500 rests of Fighters of 1830, as well as Egyptian mummy brought back(reported) by Napoleon.Durant la commune de Paris en 1870, après avoir abattu la colonne Vendôme, les communards s’en prirent à celle de la Bastille… sans succès. Ni le dispositif d’explosifs souterrains, ni le tir d’une trentaine d’obus depuis les buttes Chaumont n’en virent pas à bout. La flamme du porteur de Lumière refusa de s’éteindre…

During the municipality of Paris in 1870, having brought(shot) down the column Vendôme, the Communards took themselves in that of the Bastille unsuccessfully. Neither the device(plan) of subterranean explosives, nor the shooting(firing) of around thirty shells since mounds Chaumont transfer(fire) it to end. The flame of the carrier of Light refused to go out …Lucifer was so far away...?

 

« Non Serviam »- « Je ne servirai pas ! »

 

Quelques mots suffirent à Dieu pour précipiter la plus belle de ses créatures au fond de l’abîme. Lucifer, le porteur de Lumière, entraîna avec lui un tiers des anges dans sa révolte. L’enfer fut créé pour lui. Nous connaissons la suite…La colonne de Juillet Place de la Bastille, fut érigée entre 1833 et 1840. À son sommet, trône le « Génie de La Liberté » conçu par le sculpteur Auguste Dumont. Curieux hommage rendu par Louis Philippe aux insurgés qui renversèrent Charles X et la Monarchie absolue trois ans plus tôt. Lucifer a repris du poil de la bête. Aucun détail ne manque… Torche à la main, l’Ange vient de briser ses chaînes et s’élance vers de nouvelles conquêtes. Sous son imposant piédestal se trouve une crypte abritant quelques 500 restes des combattants de 1830, ainsi qu’une momie égyptienne rapportée par Napoléon.Durant la commune de Paris en 1870, après avoir abattu la colonne Vendôme, les communards s’en prirent à celle de la Bastille… sans succès. Ni le dispositif d’explosifs souterrains, ni le tir d’une trentaine d’obus depuis les buttes Chaumont n’en virent pas à bout. La flamme du porteur de Lumière refusa de s’éteindre…

  

www.pariszigzag.fr/histoire-insolite-paris/qui-est-vraime...

PT98 has worked Tobyhanna, and now the engineer cracks open the throttle, producing some distinctive Alco combustion by-product. Concrete tower is still in use by maintenance forces.

Distinctive large chunky shorebird of rocky coasts, adjacent sandy beaches and river mouths. The only all-dark oystercatcher in South America, readily identified by wholly dark plumage, long orange-red bill, thick pinkish legs. Found as singles and pairs, less often small flocks (mainly when roosting), and associates readily with Magellanic and especially American Oystercatchers. (eBird)

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We were bobbing along in a small fishing boat, exploring a small island just off shore when we came across this pair perched just above the shoreline. The only time we saw them during our time in Peru.

 

Isla Pucusana, south of Lima, Peru. October 2018.

Peru Birding Tours.

The distinctive front end of a 16V Fiat Grande Punto. The car's bodywork was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro who also designed the body of the Nikon camera that took the shot. Photo was taken in the Wicklow Mountains.

A large duck, generally common and familiar within its extensive range.

Males (as here) are distinctive with iridescent green head, yellow bill, chestnut breast, and grey body. Females are mottled brown with orange and black splotches on the bill. Found anywhere with water, including city parks, backyard creeks, and various wetland habitats.

Often in flocks, and frequently mixes with other duck species.

This distinctive-looking dog breed has a proud, independent spirit that some describe as catlike.

With his deep-set eyes and large head, accentuated by a mane of hair, the Chow Chow (Chow for short) is an impressive-looking dog. His looks might make you think he's mean or ill-tempered, but a well-bred and well-raised Chow isn't aggressive.

Instead, it's said that the Chow combines the nobility of a lion, the drollness of a panda, the appeal of a teddybear, the grace and independence of a cat, and the loyalty and devotion of a dog. He's also dignified and aloof, as befits a breed that was once kept in imperial Chinese kennels.

Italien / Südtirol - Drei Zinnen

 

The Tre Cime di Lavaredo (pronounced [ˌtre tˈtʃiːme di lavaˈreːdo]; Italian for '"Three Peaks of Lavaredo"'), also called the Drei Zinnen (pronounced [ˌdʁaɪ ˈtsɪnən]); German for '"Three Merlons"'), are three distinctive battlement-like peaks, in the Sexten Dolomites of northeastern Italy. They are probably one of the best-known mountain groups in the Alps. The three peaks, from east to west, are:

 

Cima Piccola / Kleine Zinne ("little peak")

Cima Grande / Große Zinne ("big peak")

Cima Ovest / Westliche Zinne ("western peak").

 

Tre Cime as seen from the foot of Torre di Toblin mountain

 

The peaks are composed of well-layered dolomites of the Dolomia Principale (Hauptdolomit) formation, Carnian to Rhaetian in age, as are many other groups in the Dolomites (e.g., the Tofane, the Pelmo or the Cinque Torri).

 

Until 1919 the peaks formed part of the border between Italy and Austria-Hungary. Now they lie on the border between the Italian provinces of South Tyrol and Belluno and still are a part of the linguistic boundary between German-speaking and Italian-speaking majorities. The Cima Grande has an elevation of 2,999 metres (9,839 ft). It stands between the Cima Piccola, at 2,857 metres (9,373 ft), and the Cima Ovest, at 2,973 metres (9,754 ft).

 

Location and surroundings

 

The Three Peaks rise on the southern edge of the extensive pinnacle plateau with the Langen Alm (La Grava Longa), an alpine plateau at around 2200 m to 2400 m, which here forms the end of the Rienz Valley (Valle della Rienza). There are three small mountain lakes, the Zinnenseen. This area north of the mountains to the peaks to the municipality of part Toblach in South Tyrol and the Natural Park Three Peaks (up to 2010 Sesto Dolomites Nature Park), the since 2009 is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

 

The ridge of the battlements, which runs in a west-east direction, forms the border with the municipality of Auronzo di Cadore in the province of Belluno, which also represents the German-Italian language border. To the northeast, this ridge continues to the 2454 m high Paternsattel (Forcella Lavaredo), where it turns north to the mountains Passportenkopf (Croda di Passaporto, 2719 m) and Paternkofel (Monte Paterno, 2744 m). In the west it sits across the Forcella Col di Mezzo (2315 m) transition to the Zinnenkuppe (Col di Mezzo, 2254 m) and on to the 2252 m high Katzenleiterkopf (Croda d'Arghena).

 

To the southwest of the Drei Zinnen, the Forcella Col di Mezzo is followed by the Plano di Longeres plateau above the Valle di Rinbianco, a side valley of the Rienz Valley. Immediately south of the western pinnacle, the Forcella di Longeres saddle (2235 m) separates the Plano di Longeres from the Vallone di Lavaredo, a side valley of the Piave valley. To the south lies the Cadini group.

 

Cortina d'Ampezzo, 17 kilometers southwest, is the largest city in the area. Other larger towns are Toblach 13 kilometers northwest and Innichen 12 kilometers north.

 

Cabins and access

 

The most easily accessible support point around Drei Zinnen is Rifugio Auronzo (Auronzo hut, 2320 m). The cottage, which belongs to the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI), is located immediately south of the massif above Forcella di Longeres, and has good road connections to the tourist resort of Misurina (toll road). The cabin can be reached on foot from Lavaredodalen in the southeast.

 

About one kilometer east of Rifugio Auronzo and from there via a wide hiking trail lies the privately run Rifugio di Lavaredo (2325 m) at the southeast foot of the Kleine Zinne.

 

Northwest of the peaks is the summer-open, privately run farmhouse Lange Alm (also Lange Alpe) at 2296 m. One hiking trail goes from the Auronzo hut over the Forcella Col di Mezzo, another from the north comes from the Rienztal.

 

CAI's Dreizinnenhütte (Rifugio Locatelli, 2438 m) is located approximately one kilometer northeast of Drei Zinnen. The cabin, which is well known for its view of the north wall, can be reached from Auronzohytta via Paternsattel on a wide hiking trail. Other access options are from Sexten through Fischleinboden from the east, and also from Sexten from the north through the Innerfeldtal and through the Rienztal from Höhlenstein (Landro) in the Höhlensteintal (Valle di Landro). From the southeast, the cabin can be reached from Lange Alm.

 

Climate, flora and fauna

 

The Sexten Dolomites are surrounded by other mountain ranges on all sides, and this sheltered location in the interior of the Alps provides relatively favorable climatic conditions considering the altitude. Nevertheless, when cold fronts pass the area, rapid weather changes with fog, wind and heavy rainfall can occur, even as snow, even in high summer. In shady gorges and under north walls, the snow can lie until late summer, sometimes all year round, even though there are no glaciers here.

 

The alpine vegetation zone around Drei Zinnen is dominated by the raibl layer's alpine mats. The plateau around Lange Alm is one of the few areas with grazing land in the nature park. Alpines are strikingly flowery; examples of plants that thrive here are beard bell, edelweiss and Gentiana clusii. The alpine marmot is a numerous mammal; there are also hares and chamois. On the other hand, there are no ibex in the Sexten Dolomites. Of birds there are Rock ptarmigan, ravens and golden eagles, and also hubriscan often be found hunting at this altitude. Vipers, especially the black variety, can be found at the unusual (for reptiles) altitude of 2600 m.

 

The vegetation on the vast clocks and on the southern flanks of the peaks is characterized by plants that are able to adapt to the constant movements of the stone clock. Examples of these are alpine cod mouth (Linaria alpina), French edible acid (Rumex scutatus), Thlaspi cepaeifolium, Potentilla nitida and alpine poppy (Papaver alpinum). In crevices are trickled Saxifraga squarrosa, cruciferous Kernera saxatilis, carnation Minuartia sedoides and the rare Paederota bonarota. In the steep, shady north walls there is hardly anyvascular plants; the most conspicuous vegetation is next to moss and low large carpets with blue-green bacteria, which appear especially on moist rock walls in the form of characteristic «ink lines». A mammal that moves all the way into the cliff areas is the snow field mouse (Chionomys nivalis). Insects (Tichodroma muraria) and alpine quays (Pyrrhocorax graculus) hunt insects here.

 

First ascents

 

The first ascent of the Cima Grande (Große Zinne) was on August 21, 1869, by Paul Grohmann with guides Franz Innerkofler and Peter Salcher. The Cima Ovest (Westliche Zinne) was first climbed exactly ten years later, on August 21, 1879, by Michel Innerkofler with G. Ploner, a tourist. The Cima Piccola (Kleine Zinne) was first climbed on July 25, 1881, by Michel and Hans Innerkofler. The routes of these three first ascents are still the normal ascent routes; the Cima Piccola's route is the most difficult of the three. A climbing route, the Dibona Kante, on the Cima Grande is named after Angelo Dibona.

 

Emilio Comici was the first to climb the north face of the Cima Grande in 1933 in a party of three, after an ascent time of 3 days and 2 nights. This partly overhanging northern face is considered by climbers to be one of the great north faces of the Alps.

 

Tourism

 

Tre Cime Natural Park is named after the famous peaks. The visitor centre provides information concerning the trails, natural and man-made landscapes of the Sexten Dolomites and it is located at the former Grand Hotel in Dobbiaco.

 

Numerous well-marked routes lead from the surrounding communities to and around the peaks. The most common route is from Paternkofel/Monte Paterno to the alpine hut Auronzo at 2,333 m (7,654 ft), over Paternsattel (Patern Pass) to the Locatelli alpine hut (Dreizinnenhütte) at 2,405 m (7,890 ft), and then to the peaks. There are a number of other routes as well.

 

Nearby communities include Auronzo di Cadore (in the province of Belluno, region of Veneto), Toblach/Dobbiaco, Sexten/Sesto, and the Puster Valley (in the province of Bolzano, region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol).

 

The area has also staged many finishes in Giro d'Italia.

 

History

 

Since the front line between Italy and Austria-Hungary during World War I ran through the Tre Cime peaks, there are a number of fortifications, trenches, tunnels, iron ladders, and commemorative plaques in the area. There was intense fighting throughout the so-called "White War" between 1915 and 1917.

 

Film and television appearances

 

Tre Cime has been used as a filming location for:

 

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles

Solo: A Star Wars Story

 

(Wikipedia)

 

Die Drei Zinnen (italienisch Tre Cime di Lavaredo) sind ein markanter Gebirgsstock in den Sextner Dolomiten an der Grenze zwischen den italienischen Provinzen Belluno im Süden und Südtirol im Norden.

 

Die höchste Erhebung der Gruppe ist die 2999 m s.l.m. hohe Große Zinne (ital. Cima Grande). Sie steht zwischen den beiden anderen Gipfeln, der Westlichen Zinne (Cima Ovest, 2973 m) und der Kleinen Zinne (Cima Piccola, 2857 m). Neben diesen markanten Felstürmen zählen noch mehrere weitere Gipfelpunkte zum Massiv, darunter die Punta di Frida (2792 m) und der Preußturm, auch Kleinste Zinne (Torre Preuß, Cima Piccolissima, 2700 m).

 

Seit der Erstbesteigung der Großen Zinne im Jahr 1869 zählen die Drei Zinnen bei Kletterern zu den begehrtesten Gipfelzielen der Alpen. Sie sind durch zahlreiche Kletterrouten verschiedener Schwierigkeitsgrade erschlossen und wurden so zu einem Zentrum des alpinen Kletterns, von welchem viele wichtige Entwicklungen in der Geschichte dieses Sports ihren Ausgang nahmen. Darüber hinaus sind sie aufgrund ihrer leichten Erreichbarkeit eine Attraktion für den Massentourismus. Insbesondere die Ansicht der steilen Nordwände gehört zu den bekanntesten Landschaftsbildern der Alpen und gilt als Wahrzeichen der Dolomiten. Während des Gebirgskriegs im Ersten Weltkrieg waren die Drei Zinnen und ihre Umgebungsgebiete als Teil der Front zwischen dem Königreich Italien und Österreich-Ungarn heftig umkämpft.

 

Lage und Umgebung

 

Die Drei Zinnen erheben sich am Südrand des weitläufigen Zinnenplateaus mit der Langen Alm (La Grava Longa), einer alpinen Hochfläche auf ungefähr 2200 m bis 2400 m, die hier den Abschluss des Rienztals (Valle della Rienza) bildet. Dort liegen drei kleine Gebirgsseen, die Zinnenseen. Dieses Areal nördlich der Berge bis zu deren Gipfeln gehört zum Gemeindegebiet von Toblach in Südtirol und zum Naturpark Drei Zinnen (bis 2010 Naturpark Sextner Dolomiten), der seit 2009 Teil des UNESCO-Weltnaturerbes ist.

 

Der in West-Ost-Richtung verlaufende Kamm der Zinnen bildet die Grenze zur Gemeinde Auronzo di Cadore in der Provinz Belluno, die zugleich die deutsch-italienische Sprachgrenze darstellt. Nach Nordosten führt dieser Kamm weiter zum 2454 m hohen Paternsattel (Forcella Lavaredo), wo er nach Norden zu den Bergen Passportenkopf (Croda di Passaporto, 2719 m) und Paternkofel (Monte Paterno, 2744 m) abbiegt. Im Westen setzt er sich über den Übergang Forcella Col di Mezzo (2315 m) zur Zinnenkuppe (Col di Mezzo) (2254 m) und weiter zum 2252 m hohen Katzenleiterkopf (Croda d’Arghena) fort.

 

Südwestlich der Drei Zinnen schließt sich an die Forcella Col di Mezzo das Plateau Plano di Longeres oberhalb des Valle di Rinbianco, eines Seitentals des Rienztals, an. Unmittelbar südlich der Westlichen Zinne trennt der Sattel Forcella di Longeres (2235 m) den Plano di Longeres vom Vallone di Lavaredo, einem Seitental des Piavetals. Südlich liegt die Cadini-Gruppe.

 

Über den 2454 m hohen Paternsattel als tiefsten Punkt lässt sich der Zwölferkofel als nächster Gipfel erreichen, der höher als die Große Zinne ist. Damit beträgt die Schartenhöhe der Großen Zinne 545 m, die Dominanz beträgt 4,25 km.

 

Cortina d’Ampezzo, 17 Kilometer südwestlich gelegen, ist die größte Stadt in der Umgebung. Weitere größere Ortschaften sind Auronzo di Cadore 12 Kilometer südöstlich, Toblach 13 Kilometer nordwestlich und Innichen 12 Kilometer nördlich.

 

Orte, Stützpunkte und Wege

 

Der am leichtesten erreichbare Stützpunkt in der Umgebung der Drei Zinnen ist die Auronzohütte (Rifugio Auronzo, 2320 m). Diese Schutzhütte des Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) liegt unmittelbar südlich des Massivs oberhalb des Forcella di Longeres und ist vom südwestlich liegenden, zu Auronzo gehörenden Hotelort Misurina aus durch eine asphaltierte Mautstraße erschlossen. Von Südosten her kann die Hütte vom Lavaredotal über einen Wanderweg erreicht werden.

 

Etwa einen Kilometer östlich der Auronzohütte und von dort über einen breiten Fahrweg erreichbar liegt am Südostfuß der Kleinen Zinne die privat bewirtschaftete Schutzhütte Rifugio di Lavaredo (2325 m).

 

Nordwestlich der Zinnen liegt die im Sommer bewirtschaftete Almhütte Lange Alm (auch Lange Alpe, 2296 m). Ein Wanderweg führt von der Auronzohütte über die Forcella Col di Mezzo dorthin, ein weiterer von Norden aus dem Rienztal.

 

Die im Besitz des CAI befindliche, 2438 m hoch gelegene Dreizinnenhütte nordöstlich der Drei Zinnen ist mit etwa einem Kilometer etwas weiter von dem Massiv entfernt. Sie ist besonders für den Ausblick auf die Nordwände bekannt und kann über einen breiten Wanderweg von der Auronzohütte aus über den Paternsattel erreicht werden. Weitere Zustiegsmöglichkeiten gibt es von Sexten durch den Fischleinboden von Osten, von Innichen aus durch das Innerfeldtal von Norden und durch das Rienztal von Höhlenstein (Landro) im Höhlensteintal (Valle di Landro). Von Südosten ist die Hütte von der Langen Alm her erreichbar.

 

Die Drei Zinnen

 

Große Zinne

 

Die Große Zinne (Cima Grande), die mittlere der Drei Zinnen, ist mit 2999 m der höchste Gipfel der Gruppe. Sie fällt durch ihre 500 Meter hohe, senkrechte bis überhängende Nordwand auf, die manchmal zu den Großen Nordwänden der Alpen gezählt wird, obwohl sie im Gegensatz zu den anderen dieser Wände keine Eispassagen aufweist. Die Südseite ist weit weniger steil und von zahlreichen Bändern und Schuttterrassen durchzogen. Durch diese Südwand führt auch der Normalweg, mit einer Schwierigkeit von III (UIAA) die leichteste Route, die auch als Abstieg vom Gipfel genutzt wird. Weitere bekannte Kletterrouten sind die Nordostkante (Dibonakante, IV+), Dabistebaff (V) an der Nordostwand und Dülfer (V+) an der Westwand. Die Routen durch die Nordwand sind wesentlich schwieriger, hier sind vor allem die Direttissima (auch Hasse/Brandler, VIII+, VI A2), Sachsenweg (auch Superdirettissima, V A2), Via Camillotto Pellesier (X, V+ A2), Comici (VII, V+ A0), ISO 2000 (VIII+), Claudio-Barbier-Gedächtnisweg (IX-A0), Alpenrose (IX-) und Phantom der Zinne (IX+) zu nennen.

 

Im Osten liegen hinter der alpinistisch unbedeutenden Pyramide (ca. 2630 m) die Zinnenscharte und die Kleine Zinne. Im Westen bildet die Große Zinnenscharte die Abgrenzung zur Westlichen Zinne.

 

Die Erstbesteigung der Großen Zinne erfolgte am 21. August 1869 von Süden.

 

Der Schweizer Dani Arnold erklomm die Große Zinne 2019 über die klassische Nordwandroute (Comici-Dimai-Route) in nur 46 Minuten und 30 Sekunden.

 

Westliche Zinne

 

Die 2973 m hohe Westliche Zinne (Cima Ovest), früher auch Vordere oder Landroer Zinne genannt, ähnelt in ihrer Form der Großen Zinne. Ihre Nordwand weist allerdings noch wesentlich stärker überhängende Passagen auf, die bis zu einer horizontalen Distanz von 40 Metern über den Wandfuß herausragen, so dass die Nordwand der Westlichen Zinne auch als „Größtes Dach der Alpen“ bezeichnet wird. Wegen ihres stufenförmigen Aufbaus wird sie auch häufig als „umgekehrte Riesentreppe“ beschrieben und gilt als eine der markantesten Felsformationen der Alpen.

 

Der Berg wird west- und südseitig von einem massiven Vorbau umgeben, der mit dem Torre Lavaredo 2536 m, dem Zinnenkopf (Sasso di Landro, 2736 m), Croda di Mezzo (2733 m), Croda del Rifugio, auch Hüttenkofel (ca.2730 m), Il Mulo (ca.2800 m), Croda degli Alpini (2865 m), Croda Longéres und Torre Comici (2780 m) mehrere weitere Gipfelpunkte aufweist. Dieser Vorbau ist von der Westlichen Zinne durch die Westliche Zinnenscharte getrennt, in seinem Westen liegt die Forcella Col di Mezzo. Im Osten ist der Westlichen Zinne zur Großen Zinnenscharte hin der Torre di Forcella della Grande vorgelagert.

 

Der Normalweg zur Westlichen Zinne führt von der Westlichen Zinnenscharte südwestseitig im Schwierigkeitsgrad II zum Gipfel, er ist heute hauptsächlich als Abstiegsroute von Bedeutung. Wichtige Routen sind der Dülferkamin (IV) in der Südwand, Innerkofler (IV) in der Ostwand, Langl/Löschner (IV) in der Nordostwand, die Demuthkante (Nordostkante, VII, V+ A0), Dülfer (IV+) in der Westwand und die Scoiattolikante (VIII, V+ A2). Durch die Nordwand führen die Schweizer Führe (VIII+, 6 A3), Cassin/Ratti (VIII, VI-A1), Baur-Dach (VI+ A3), Alpenliebe (IX), Jean-Couzy-Gedächtnisführe (auch Franzosenführe, X, 5+ A3), Bellavista (XI-, IX A3), PanAroma (XI-, IX A3) und Pressknödl (7c).

 

Die Erstbegehung der Westlichen Zinne erfolgte am 21. August 1879 von Süden.

 

Kleine Zinne, Punta di Frida und Preußturm

 

Das Massiv der Kleinen Zinne (Cima Piccola, 2857 m) ist im Vergleich zu Großer und Westlicher Zinne wesentlich stärker gegliedert und weist mit der Punta di Frida (2792 m) und dem Preußturm (2700 m) weitere bedeutende Gipfelpunkte auf. Weiterhin zu erwähnen sind die Anticima, ein südlicher Vorgipfel der Kleinen Zinne und die Allerkleinste Zinne (Torre Minor, oft auch nur als „Vorbau“ bezeichnet), ein kleiner Felsturm vor dem Preußturm.

 

Die Kleine Zinne, die sich durch die schlanke Form ihres Gipfelaufbaus von den anderen Zinnen unterscheidet, gilt mit einem Normalweg im Schwierigkeitsgrad IV (über die Südwestwand) als der am schwierigsten zu erreichende Zinnengipfel. Weitere wichtige Anstiege sind die Gelbe Kante (Spigolo Giallo, VI, V+ A0) an der Südkante, Innerkofler (IV+) und Fehrmannkamin (V+) an der Nordwand, Langl/Horn (V) an der Ostwand und Orgler (VI-), Egger/Sauscheck (VI+, V+ A0), Ötzi trifft Yeti (VIII+) und Gelbe Mauer (auch Perlen vor die Säue, IX-) an der Südwand.

 

Auf die Punta di Frida führt der Normalweg (III) von Westen sowie mehrere weitere Routen wie Dülfer (IV+) in der Nordwand oder Zelger (IV) in der Südostwand.

 

Der Preußturm (Torre Preuß), ursprünglich als Kleinste Zinne (Cima Piccolissima) oder Punta d’Emma bekannt, wurde 1928 nach seinem Erstbesteiger Paul Preuß benannt. Während dieser Name in Italien schnell beliebt war, wurde er im deutschsprachigen Raum wegen Preuß' jüdischer Herkunft bald verschwiegen und ausschließlich die (von Preuß selbst geprägte) Bezeichnung „Kleinste Zinne“ gebraucht. Seit den 1960er Jahren findet zunehmend wieder der Name „Preußturm“ Verwendung. Der wichtigste Anstieg ist der nordostseitig gelegene Preußriss (V), weiterhin sind die durch die Südostwand führenden Routen Cassin (VII-, VI A0) und Via Nobile (IX+) zu erwähnen.

 

Die Erstbesteigung der Kleinen Zinne erfolgte am 25. Juli 1881 von Südwesten.

 

Geologie

 

Die Drei Zinnen bestehen aus Hauptdolomit, der in der Trias vor etwa 200 bis 220 Millionen Jahren durch Sedimentation in Flachwasserbereichen des Urmeeres Tethys entstand. Als Fossilien sind daher hauptsächlich marine Lebewesen wie Megalodonten und Gastropoden zu finden. Bedingt durch Gezeiten und andere Schwankungen des Meeresspiegels, die zu abwechselnden Perioden der Überflutung und des Trockenfallens weiter Landstriche führten, und gleichzeitiges stetiges Absinken des Untergrundes kam es zu einer Ablagerung des Gesteins in Form von übereinanderliegenden Schichten. Der Fels der Drei Zinnen weist daher eine deutliche und gleichmäßige Bankung auf, wobei zwischen den einzelnen Dolomitschichten dünne Lagen von Ton zu finden sind.

 

Im Zusammenspiel mit dieser horizontalen Bankung führten vertikale Klüfte zu Brüchen in rechtwinkligen Formen, die sich deutlich an den häufig würfelförmigen Felsbrocken der ausgedehnten Schutthalden am Fuß der steilen Wände zeigen. Wesentlicher Mechanismus der Erosion ist die Frostsprengung, die neben ständigem Steinschlag häufig auch größere Felsstürze zur Folge hat. So kam es etwa im Jahr 1948 zu einem großen Felssturz aus der Südwand der Großen Zinne, im Juli 1981 stürzte eine Felsbrücke zwischen Allerkleinster Zinne und Preußturm, die bis dahin häufig von Kletterern begangen worden war, in sich zusammen.

 

Gefördert wird das Wegbrechen großer Felsteile durch die Instabilität des Untergrunds. Das weitläufige Zinnenplateau, das die Basis der Gruppe bildet, ruht auf einem Sockel aus Schlerndolomit. Dieser wird von Moränen aus der Würmeiszeit, vor allem aber von relativ leicht verwitterbaren Gesteinen der Raibler Schichten überlagert. Die Erosion dieser Schichten entzieht den auf ihnen liegenden Felstürmen allmählich die Basis und führt zum Wegbrechen exponierter Felspartien. Diese bis heute anhaltenden Prozesse führten zur Entwicklung der steilen Formen der Zinnen und insbesondere der stark überhängenden Felsdächer der Nordwände.

 

Massentourismus und Vermarktung

 

Im Bewusstsein der ansässigen Bevölkerung scheinen die Drei Zinnen bis ins 19. Jahrhundert kaum eine besondere Rolle gespielt zu haben. So ist etwa im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen markanten Felsformationen in der Umgebung keine Sage über die Zinnen bekannt. In Reiseberichten aus dem frühen 19. Jahrhundert sind nur grobe Beschreibungen aus großer Entfernung zu finden. Ab der zweiten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts wurde das Hochpustertal zu einem Ziel für Sommerfrischler. Reiseberichte, die die internationale Bekanntheit der Drei Zinnen wesentlich steigerten, waren The Dolomite Mountains von Josiah Gilbert und George Cheetham Churchill 1864 und Untrodden peaks and unfrequented valleys. A midsummer ramble in the Dolomites von Amelia Edwards im Jahre 1873. Darüber hinaus waren die zu dieser Zeit in Mode gekommenen Ansichtskarten Grundlage für die bald steigende Popularität der Drei Zinnen auch außerhalb von Alpinistenkreisen. In Höhlenstein, dem einzigen Talort mit Blick auf die Zinnennordwände, entstand eine Kolonie von Luxushotels.

 

Der Erste Weltkrieg brachte zwar den Tourismus zum Erliegen, die Bilder von den Kämpfen am Zinnenplateau steigerten jedoch den Bekanntheitsgrad der Berge. In der Kriegspropaganda dienten die Zinnen auf beiden Seiten als Sinnbilder für das Gebirge schlechthin. Sie wurden dabei als Grenzmarkierung und Festung inszeniert. Bekannt wurde etwa ein Bild von der Bergung der Leiche des 1915 am Paternkofel gefallenen Sepp Innerkofler im Jahr 1918. Die Darstellung des Leichenzugs vor dem Hintergrund der Zinnen diente zur Verklärung Innerkoflers als Märtyrer und verfestigte den Mythos der Berge. Während der folgenden Zeit des Faschismus stilisierten südtirolpatriotische Bewegungen die Drei Zinnen zu einer Ikone Gesamttirols, wobei das Bild der Berge mit religiöser und politischer Symbolik aufgeladen wurde. So symbolisierten die Drei Zinnen auf Postkarten und Plakaten die ehemalige Gesamttiroler Grenze, indem sie etwa bei der Darstellung kämpfender Tiroler als Hintergrund dienten. Besonderen Anteil an der Popularisierung der Ansicht der Drei Zinnen hatte die Landschaftsfotografie, die zu dieser Zeit in Südtirol eine Blüte erlebte. Die vordergründig ideologiefreien Gebirgsaufnahmen transportierten in verdeckter Form politische Botschaften, die den Repressionen des faschistischen Staates kaum zugänglich war.

 

Bereits aus dem Jahr 1900 sind erste Verwendungen der Drei Zinnen in der Werbung bekannt, bis heute wird ihr Name häufig als Werbeträger genutzt. Insbesondere Gastronomiebetriebe der näheren Umgebung verwenden die Drei Zinnen gern als Namensbestandteil: so wird Toblach als „Gemeinde der Drei Zinnen beworben“. Seit 1998 wird ein knapp 20 Kilometer langer Berglauf von Sexten zur Dreizinnenhütte ausgetragen, der als „Drei-Zinnen-Lauf“ bezeichnet wird. In der Tourismuswerbung Südtirols stellen die Drei Zinnen ein häufig verwendetes Sujet dar. Der NS-Schriftsteller Karl Springenschmid nannte die Gipfelgruppe „Gottes eigenwilligste Schöpfung der Alpen“. Die italienische Post gibt seit 24. Juli 2008 eine Briefmarke mit einer Zeichnung der Berge im Rahmen der Serie Tourismus heraus. Stilisierte Darstellungen der Zinnen sind in den Logos mehrerer Unternehmen zu finden. Ihre Form wurde auch von einer Fruchteissorte namens Dolomiti nachempfunden, die in den 1980er Jahren populär war.

 

Der Wandertourismus erlebte zu Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts einen ersten Höhepunkt. Im Jahr 1908 besuchten bereits mehr als 2000 Menschen die 1881 erbaute Dreizinnenhütte. In der Zwischenkriegszeit nahm der Tourismus weiter zu. Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg wurden viele alte Kriegswege, darunter auch die Auronzostraße, für touristische Zwecke ausgebaut, was einen neuerlichen Anstieg der Besucherzahlen zur Folge hatte. Eine Verlängerung der Autostraße bis zur Dreizinnenhütte wurde bereits des Öfteren in Erwägung gezogen, bislang aber verhindert.

 

Die Umrundung der Drei Zinnen gilt als eine der beliebtesten Wanderstrecken der Dolomiten, da das Gebiet durch die mautpflichtige Straße zur Auronzohütte leicht erreichbar ist. Der Weg von der Auronzohütte zum Paternsattel und zur Dreizinnenhütte ist darüber hinaus sehr breit ausgebaut und weist nur geringe Steigungen auf. Er ist daher auch für ungeübte Wanderer leicht begehbar, sodass es an manchen Tagen durch den hohen Andrang zu regelrechten Staus kommt. Die Dreizinnenhütte bietet 140 Übernachtungsplätze an, mit den zahlreichen Tagesgästen hat sie bis zu 2000 Besucher täglich zu verzeichnen.

 

(Wikipedia)

Although this distinctive twin tower complex in the foreground is called "CITIC Pacific Group Headquarters", it will actually be occupied by CITIC Pacific Group and the Agricultural Bank of China. The shape is intended to form a visual gateway from the river towards Lujiazui and vice versa.

 

Design Architect:

Arquitectonica

Architect of Record:

East China Architectural Design & Research Institute

Structural Engineering, Curtainwall:

Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong / Arup International Consultants Shanghai

 

Height: 218m

Floors: 49

 

No PP at all, completely SOOTC. View on a black background

 

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

I loved the way the evening sunlight defined the trees on the ridge as semi-silhouettes, particularly that one in the middle, 610 m away: a black skeleton with a halo of vibrant green.

 

The severity of the background helped. That's the Langdale Pikes, of course: Pavey Ark on the right, 7.3 km away, leading left to the distinctive profile of Harrison Stickle (736 m), then Thorn Crag (641 m) and Loft Crag (682 m) (the latter hiding Pike of Stickle) beyond Dungeon Ghyll.

Pero's Bridge (or Horny Bridge as known locally) is a pedestrian bascule bridge that spans St Augustine's Reach in Bristol Harbour. It links Queens Square and Millenium Square. The most distinctive features of the bridge are the pair of horns which act as counterweights for the lifting section.

 

I took this when I first got my DSLR back in 2008, however, whilst it lived on Flickr for a while I removed it as was not very happy with it. I recently revisited to improve the composition, sadly though, the lights on the two horns are no longer lit (as suggested by staff in neighbouring pub); it could be a seasonal thing? So for now, I have given this a makeover with some fresh processing and despite a few composition/exposure niggles I am much happier with it. Plus, I have a shot with the horns lit up so feel it belongs on Flickr for all to see.

 

Have a great weekend all! Here's hoping that damn rain stops soon!

The distinctive shape of Arthur's Seat, snow-dusted peaks towering up on Edinburgh's skyline, viewed from the Meadows (in the second, closer pic you can just make out some people on the summit).

 

This huge, extinct volcano sits right in the middle of the city, surrounded by a royal park, with the palace and the parliament adjacent. It means that in Edinburgh you can go hill walking without leaving the city! And you get excellent views from up there across the city. It's not just a remarkable piece of city landscape, it's also an important part of the growth of our understanding of the Earth, inspiring Hutton, the father of geology, into studies of how our world formed (and continues to form).

Distinctive in the Fall as well. Lake St. Clair.

Distinctive warbler with bold black-and-white stripes over entire body. Adult males have black throat and cheek; females and immatures have white throat and paler cheek. Creeps along branches like a nuthatch, searching for insects. Breeds in mature deciduous or mixed forests; winters in a wider variety of wooded habitats as far south as northern South America. Listen for high pitched “squeaky-wheel” song.

The distinctive 'Big C' liveried Alexander-bodied Leyland Olympians were the backbone of Citybus non-franchised operations until the fleet expanded in 1993 and a revised livery layout was adopted. This batch of 11 coach-seated 12 metre vehicles had remarkably long careers in Hong Kong, with all of them notching up over 20 years service. 335, seen here at Fo Tan depot in its Skylink livery back in October 1992, had entered service just a few weeks earlier.

 

This image is copyright and must not be reproduced or downloaded without the permission of the photographer.

Highly distinctive, the male lion is easily recognised by its mane, and its face is one of the most widely recognised animal symbols in human culture.

During confrontations with others, the mane makes the lion look larger. Some males exceeding 250 kg in weight.

  

Many thanks to everyone who chooses to leave a comment or add this image to their favorites, it is much appreciated.

  

©Elsie van der Walt, all rights reserved. Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. If you are interested in using one of my images, please send me an E-mail (elsie.vdwalt@gmail.com).

 

Epilobium hirsutum

 

Photos shows the distinctively very large pollen grains of this flower that are attached to this nice dark bee. Although the few bees on these flowers that day were all working the flowers for nectar rather than pollen.

 

Orange Juice - Simply Thrilled Honey

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX2Em1bQ6UY

   

Large distinctive city centre pub; the original building was called The Peacock from 1770 and renamed The Londonderry in 1834. The current grade II listed building dates from 1901 and renamed back to the Peacock in 2017. There is a Sunderland Historic Buildings blue plaque on the wall of the pub.

 

The building is V shaped inside with long bar to the left and smaller lounges to the right. 4 handpulls offer up to 4 real ales . There is a pleasant outside seating area. Meals are served between noon and 7pm. There is a quiz every Thursday night . There is a pool table and there is a free pool evening ( 4pm-7pm) every Friday .

 

There is a music venue/event space on the first floor ( called Waves ) and recording studios on the second floor.

 

A monthly film club was launched in January 2022.

Karasawa-yari, the distinctive peak in upper left center, the landmark of Karasawa Col/Cirque in the Northern Japanese Alps.

On the farhtest right is the west face of Mt Kitaho, the ridgeline of which leads all the way to Karasawa-yari to Karasawa-dake to Mt Okuho. What I'm going to tackle today is Mt Kitaho, via its South Face, where (though far trickier than when dealing with Seitengrad, green patches on the mid to upper left-hand side, which leads you to Okuho Hut) a *safe route* to take is clearly marked. Double-click on the image so you can locate throngs of (tiny) hikers trekking on the rocky and barren trail right in the middle of this photo, now going to tackle Seitengrad. (Maybe you'll know the grandeur of Karasawa Col/Cirque and surrounds.) Seitengrad looks like an easy trek, doesn't it, seen from here? But if so, that belies your thought. Better safe than sorry as they say. A couple of hikers lost their lives on Seitengrad last summer.

distinctive nose view,always..

The distinctive feature of this annual wildflower is the scent of its leaves which smell just like pineapple. It forms extensive patches on disturbed ground, tracks, pathways & other well-trodden places. It is quite unusual in that it is without ray florets, having only small greenish-yellow conical heads of disc florets.

 

Also known as Disc Mayweed & Pineapple Mayweed, this plant is used in the preparation of herbal tea. The early leaves are also used in salads.

 

Wild flower photo 47/100 for the 100 Flowers 2018 Group HGGT!

Distinctive architecture in Holborn.

A distinctive wading bird found along coastlines and estuaries across Europe, parts of western Asia, and North Africa. Preferring habitats such as rocky shores, tidal mudflats, and sandy beaches, these birds are highly dependent on coastal environments for feeding and nesting. In some inland areas, particularly in northern Europe, oystercatchers may also breed near rivers, lakes, and agricultural land, showing a remarkable adaptability in nesting sites.

 

In terms of distribution, the European Oystercatcher breeds in the northern and western regions of Europe, from Iceland and Scandinavia down through the British Isles, the Low Countries, and into parts of Germany and France. Migration patterns vary widely among populations. Birds from the far north, such as those in Iceland and northern Scandinavia, are long-distance migrants, wintering as far south as the coasts of West Africa. Meanwhile, populations from western Europe may only move short distances or remain largely resident year-round, depending on local climate and food availability.

Raucous, conspicuous shorebird. Distinctive color pattern with black breast, white belly, gray head, and bronzy shoulder. Wings boldly patterned in flight. Often in pairs or small flocks in open habitats, usually near water but also in dry pastures. Loud grating call is a good clue to its presence.

 

This one was photographed in Panama guided by Neotropic Photo Tours.

This distinctive plant is unique to serpentine soils in openings on the north side of Mount Diablo, California. It is a truly narrow endemic and is seen here from the general vicinity of Murchio Gap, Mount Diablo. June 14th 2014, image I14-7000.

Distinctively wedge shaped! This is the second Lotus Eclat I have seen within weeks, and like the last one, this is also out of action having been on SORN for the last three years...

Distinctive seeds of the Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) glisten at The Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College campus.

Distinctive small tanager, widespread in lowlands and foothills up to 1,800m across much of South America.

 

We watched this female busily gathering nesting material in a small park in the middle of Mindo (Pichincha/Ecuador).