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the conversion of constantine
the conversion of constantine, and thereby the late roman empire, has had an enormous impact on world history. i have always wondered how a break away minor jewish sect based on the short and confused ministry of yeshua ben pantera was transformed into the christian juggernaut. the early christian community (from the death of yeshua to the 4th century) was an often persecuted lot. the common history is that christ appeared to constantine before the battle at pons milvius (where constantine was leading a machiavellian challenge for the control of the western half of the roman empire against the legitimate emperor) and bid him to follow the banner of the cross to victory. after said victory under said banner, constantine relaxed proscriptions against the christian community, and eventually adopted christianity as the legal state religion of the empire. this formal sanction led to the explosive political growth of the church [catholic and otherwise] and is the reason we worship christ the savior.
however, but for a figurative coin toss of history, we would be praying to mithra the redeemer. mithra who? you say. mithraism was another near east faith based on a son of god as savior motif very popular in the eastern half of the roman empire at the time of constantine.
mithra:
the cult of mithra (sidebar) was revered as a light-bringer, a protector and judge of immortal souls. mithra the god-figure remained celibate throughout his life, and valued self-control, renunciation and resistance to sensuality among his worshippers. mithras represented a system of ethics in which brotherhood was encouraged in order to unify against the forces of evil. mithraic rituals involved the symbolic consumption of wine/blood and bread/flesh, baptismal purification, and celebrated the birthday of mithra on december 25th. sound familar? consider then, that the myth of mithra predates christianity by many many centuries. cross-pollination of myths and ethos in the ancient near east was very common. it is important to understand that there is no single pure theology. they are all quilt-work.
the mithraic belief system was focused on the role of mithra as enforcer of truth. the avesta, the zoroastrian holy book, relates that ahura-mazda, the zoroaster Lord figure, sent mithra to guarantee the sanctity of promises and bonds. in fact, mithra is persian for 'contract'. mithras was worshipped as guardian of arms, and patron of soldiers and armies. the handshake was developed by those who worshipped him as a token of friendship and as a gesture to show that you were unarmed. when mithras later became the Roman god of contracts, the handshake gesture was imported throughout the mediterranean and europe by roman soldiers.
mithraism was adopted first by the roman legions garrisoned in the east during the republic. i presume they were attracted to its emphasis on honor, strength, and action. by the late empire under diocletian (284 - 305 AD), mithra was the de facto (and de jure) state religion. mithraic temples, known as mithraeum, were found at all corners of the empire, from northern england to northern africa.
mithraism was a revealed mystery faith. you did not merely convert to mithraism with a ritual baptism and declaration of submission. like the free masons, you had to be chosen and initiated in secret ceremonies into the ranks of the believers. perhaps this was a critical shortcoming of the faith in competition against the more liberal membership rites of christianity. an initiate was first required to prove their courage and strength in tests of danger (crossing swift rivers, jumping through fire bound and blindfolded, etc...) the mithraic initiation process led the acolyte through seven stages of greater revealed knowledge: Corax (Raven), Nymphus (Male Bride), Miles (Soldier), Leo (Lion), Peres (Persian), Heliodromus (Sun-Runner), and Pater (Father); each respective grade protected by Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, the Moon, the Sun, and Saturn.
mithraism was the faith of the realm for several centuries before constantine supplanted it. but for his conversion, the west, and the world would be a dramatically different place.
Before conversion into single-car units, 155324 entertains passers-by on the seafront at Dawlish with a stopping service from Exeter to Penzance in August 1989.
Sawtoothphoto (Fred) did a Black and White conversion on this photo. I think he did a wonderful job! I really like it this way. Thanks Fred! This is Pettit Lake located outside of Stanley, Idaho. If you want to see this in color it is in my photostream under Pettit Lake. I am so glad that I was at this beautiful spot, at the perfect time of day to capture this.
(...)
El Señor la abrazó, tomó su alma santa y la puso en las manos de Miguel, el cual la envolvió en pieles más brillantes de cuanto se pueda decir. Y nosotros, apóstoles, vimos el alma de María entre las manos de Miguel; tenía una perfecta semejanza humana, excepto que no era ni masculino ni femenino, no tenía sino la semejanza del cuerpo y un esplendor siete veces más grande que el sol.
(...)
Entonces hizo una señal a Miguel, y Miguel habló con voz de ángel, y las nubes descendieron hasta él. Y el número de ángeles en cada nube era de mil ángeles. Estaban en pie ante el Señor para cantar. Y el Señor ordenó a Miguel tomar el cuerpo de María sobre una nube y depositarlo en el paraíso. Cuando el cuerpo fue llevado, el Señor dijo a los apóstoles que se acercaran a él; y cuando también ellos fueron izados a la nube, cantaban con voz de ángel, y el Señor ordenó a las nubes que se dirigieran por el oriente hacia las regiones del paraíso.
Cuando llegaron al paraíso depositaron el cuerpo de María bajo el árbol de la vida. Miguel trajo su alma santa y la colocaron en su cuerpo. Y el Señor envió de nuevo a los apóstoles a sus lugares para la conversión y salvación de los hombres.
(...)
Libro de Juan Teólogo y Evangelista, ca. 500
MÚSICA: André Campra - Tota pulchra es
A northbound flask train stands in the centre roads at Workington on 7 June 1984. Between the two RBX barrier wagons is MJJ flatrol 550003 built in 1969 at Shildon. The TOPS codes for these wagons seemed to change frequently and were always a bit confusing to me. The batch that included 550003 (seen here) is often quoted in railway publications as XKB (until 1983 when they became air brake only and designated FNA). The TOPS panel on this picture is unclear but has obviously been overpainted to (possibly) FKB or FXB. This overpainting probably reflects the modification made to this wagon when it had a sliding cover added.
In the 1980s BNFL decided they wanted flasks to be covered. This gave an extra level of security but also weather protection. In the 1970s, radioactive contamination was occasionally detected on flasks in transit. The levels were extremely low, but one source of the contamination was thought to be rainwater flushing out small amounts of material from areas of the flask that were normally inaccessible. Keeping the flasks dry also ensured nothing could be flushed off the wagon.
The new design of stainless clad FNAs were introduced in 1984 but - as an interim measure - older open, steel framed wagons like this one were converted, with the new girder work to support the sliding cover clearly visible here. Also, note the fillet inserted to block the gap between the sliding cover support girder and the floor of the well.
Making a Class 69 out of a Class 56.
CCTV keeps a close watch on the site. Turned wheels are ready for delivery.
1:76 scale OO gauge
Wakefield Model Railway Show 2022.
Manage to catch exactly the effect I was looking for with this one with a textbook image of a conversion being kicked.
River Alne flowing over a Weir at Wootton Wawen long exposure
with a black and white conversion done in LR6 CC
Hover conversions for classic vehicles! Keep those old cars on the new roads with hover-drive retrofit kits from Sirius Cyberdine Industries! Don't be bound to the ground any longer! No more expensive tires! Greater comfort and ride-handling! Each kit is custom-designed for the classic auto of choice, and once prototyped, will be available in SCI inventory until all documented examples of that make/model are extinct. From cruisers, to sports cars, to utility vehicles, let SCI become your vendor of choice for updating your ride!
Latest acquisition: a Leica II of 1932 however modified by Leitz probably in the early 1950-ties:
1. addition of synchronized flash, flash became very popular short after WWII, therefore Leitz offered this conversion for older Leica models;
2. upgraded shutter speed: top speed became 1/1000 sec in stead of the old 1/500.
3. apart from these technical bits, the camera was completely overhauled, and therefore it became a new topplate and baseplate, a new shell, new chromium knobs and fittings in stead of the older nickel ones. Therefore almost a complete new camera which explains why these factory conversions were very expensive at the time.
Just finished up this model! I had a lot of fun working on this guy for my collection, I just might make another one!
Photo shows this conversion at the 'virtually completed' stage - the finished pics were for some reason not good enough to use.
The conversion involved two Britbus Omnidekkas cut and joined to create the long 12M version as used by Brighton & Hove.
Open top conversion needed the front upper side windows to be formed, which was done from 1mm brass sheet, brass panelling fitted along each upper side and a re-shaped rear end.
Lower deck was then a doddle with a new set of extended windows made from 1mm clear Plasticard.
The conversion was once again guided by one of Terry Blois' excellent drawings.
Hover conversions for classic vehicles! Keep those old cars on the new roads with hover-drive retrofit kits from Sirius Cyberdine Industries! Don't be bound to the ground any longer! No more expensive tires! Greater comfort and ride-handling! Each kit is custom-designed for the classic auto of choice, and once prototyped, will be available in SCI inventory until all documented examples of that make/model are extinct. From cruisers, to sports cars, to utility vehicles, let SCI become your vendor of choice for updating your ride!
A conversion to black & white using Silver Efex Pro 2. This is a look to the southeast while enjoying a drive along the Cactus Forest Scenic Loop Drive. Off in the distance are peaks of the Rincon Mountains range. On a future trip back to Tucson and this national park, I hope to enjoy a hike up to Tanque Verde Peak, but for this trip my time was short. I could just enjoy the views of the desert landscape and the rugged mountainside...
Yet another one that's spent many months awaiting completion! This is another client commission which sees the OOC Wright Eclipse 1 converted into the low entry, high floor version christened the Commuter by Wrights.
An interesting concept that never took off with very few hitting the road - one as a demonstrator with Translink, a couple with Stagacoach and other odd examples spotted in Yorkshire and Scotland. According to 'The Wright Way' book, there were only four actually built.
I doubt I will exceed that number of conversions!!
Thanks are particularly due here to Paul Dudfield and James Dawkins without whose help in providing essential information, the conversion would still be on the outstanding job list. Thanks Guys!!
Time to move on from the Streetdeck I think! It's a complex conversion to achieve with every version demanding something different , and it's getting very time consuming at the expense of other projects. With a real danger now that it will become a chore rather than an enjoyable exercise.
So there will be no more Streetdeck conversions done for the forseeable future.
There are other interesting projects lined up for the new year, some very complex, others routine - but for now at least, they won't include Streetdecks in any variation.
Another Ragged Victorian B&W conversion. I am experimenting with Lightroom, Photoshop and Nik Effex to try to get the right look.
Circus Fantasia's 45year young ex Army Scammell Crusader Eka recovery conversion heads to a new venue earlier this afternoon with its two living van trailers.
Hover conversions for classic vehicles! Keep those old cars on the new roads with hover-drive retrofit kits from Sirius Cyberdine Industries! Don't be bound to the ground any longer! No more expensive tires! Greater comfort and ride-handling! Each kit is custom-designed for the classic auto of choice, and once prototyped, will be available in SCI inventory until all documented examples of that make/model are extinct. From cruisers, to sports cars, to utility vehicles, let SCI become your vendor of choice for updating your ride!
[...] el hecho me dolió, pues comprendí que el incesante y vasto universo ya se apartaba y que ese cambio era el primero de una serie infinita. Cambiará el universo pero yo no, pensé con melancólica vanidad [...]
El Aleph
Norman M. Dean's 120 medium format film conversion for the iconic and beloved Polaroid Automatic Land Camera. Blog and discussion on today's Film Photography Podcast Ep. 241.
Please share the excitement!
filmphotographyproject.com/podcast/2020/01/podcast-episod...
Can't agree more that LSAs look best with their tails low and nose raised high, ready to leap off the ground as soon as we push the throttle in ^.^
((DLM RP90 Zenith LSA by DLM Aerospace. Taildragger conversion by me))
while in albay, bicol, philippines my son and i came across this old cemetery , which is always a lure for a taphophile like me. took photos of some niches and gravestones, some dating back to the 19th century. after some research and investigation i found out that the land of this cemetery had been sold and will be due for conversion and development into a mall or a shopping centre. well, i'm lucky i was able to take some photos for posterity. here are some images of this moment
NS 1801 which is part Norfolk Southern's newest rebuild projects, has been converted from NS 2548. These units were replaced with SD70ACe style cabs, new control stands, AC traction motors were installed, as well as PTC system and other various electronic equipment.
This unit is in Altoona getting it's final testing, and will be completely repainted, and put into service.