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A solar deity (also sun god/dess) is a sky deity who represents the Sun, or an aspect of it, usually by its perceived power and strength. Solar deities and sun worship can be found throughout most of recorded history in various forms
Entry to Innovalug's "Style it up" contest, week 2. The challenge was to make a 100% symmetrical build.
Outdoor stucco of the Airavatesvara Temple, in Darasuram, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. South India.
One of the "Great Living Chola Temples" qualified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
On Pilgrimage (Deity in the light) :
LEICA M4 / VOIGTLÄNDER COLOR-SKOPAR 35mm F2.5 P II /
XP2 super (EI200) /
Chichibu, Saitama / April 28, 2017 / 1280px
Created for the Morning Rituals challenge at Vivid:
www.flickr.com/groups/vividimagination/discuss/7215763009...
The symbolic bell - gets me every time!! Procaffeine - The tendency of not starting anything until you’ve had a coffee! A chai lover at heart, admittedly the best Americano’s I’ve had are here in Uttarakhand! The world order is indeed changing
(I know that this description is lengthy. I tried to make it as short as possible.)
~ Of the Seven Divines ~
"A Primer on the Worship of the Major Gods and Goddesses in the Lands of Galacia and Beyond."
Thorne Babblebrook ~ Willowstone Historian
Since the dawn of civilization in the lands of Galacia and beyond, there have been stories told of beings that exist beyond our sight and comprehension who have shaped the mortal realm. These unseen forces have guided the fate of all beings from an unknown and unglimpsed realm known as the Vale of the Mists. The invisible hands of these deities have helped to raise great kingdoms and topple them down again. They are responsible for the changes in the seasons, the rising and setting of the sun, and the victory or defeat of armies on the field of battle. The Seven Divines, as they have become known, represent the major forces of the natural world.
Enril – Enril is the patron god of justice, honor, and light. He is seen as being the chief of all the Seven Divines and one of the beings of the Holy Triad. Enril has ruled over the mortal realm since time immemorial. It was Enril who first decided bestow upon the world the races of men, dwarves, elves, and orcs, and to these races he gave the initial spark of civilization. Enril is seen as being a distant god, only because he prefers to allow his races to prove themselves worthy of the gifts that he has given them. Enril is also seen as being responsible for the celestial movements of the heavenly bodies and the natural rhythm of the universe. Enril is worshipped by a majority of followers. Kings, rulers, and clerics especially appreciate him for his emphasis on justice and light.
Gnar – Gnar is the patron god of the wisdom, magic, and the earth. Gnar, the blind god, is another of the Holy Triad, and the oldest of the Seven Divines. Ancient beyond description, Gnar maintains all of the collected knowledge of the ages and he is the god responsible creating the force known as magic and bestowing the gifting upon a selected few. Wizards, mages, and historians all revere the wisdom of Gnar, and through complicated rituals they commune with his knowledge of the unknown as they unravel the various mysteries of the universe. Residing mostly in his dimly lit cavern, Gnar is more than happy to depart shreds of wisdom upon the worthy, but never so much so that a mortal may become too powerful in their pursuit of the arcane.
Zephyria – Zephyria is the patron goddess of life, nature, and the winds. She is the final member of the Holy Triad, and she is the second most widely worshipped deity. Zephyria, the most involved of the Seven Divines in the lives of mortals, loves all living things and sees each being as one of her children. Zephyria is also seen as being responsible for weather patterns, climates, and the winds, it is for this reason that farmers, archers, rangers, and sailors worship her with reverence. She is also the creator of all the flora and fauna that exists beneath the heavens and in the sea. Zephyria has molded new races in her image, such as the dryad, satyr, and other spirits of the natural realm who live to protect the wilderness that Zephyria loves so dearly.
Argoth – Argoth, the only god of the Seven Divines recognized by the barbarian Morni of Grey Fogg, is the patron god of warfare, fire, and steel. By most, Argoth is worshipped as a god who appears in the form of a man, though the Morni have taken to associating the powerful Argoth with the form of a strong mountain bear. Often times, the superstitious Morni refer to Argoth as the Great Bear of the North. Outside of Grey Fogg, the main groups who worship Argoth are those of the warrior class, fighting men who value strength and courage, and those who work the forge. He is a very primitive and unforgiving god, and his followers rarely pray to him as they feel it will do them no good since Argoth will not save those weak enough to plead for his help. Though, soldiers will often utter a few solemn words in Argoth’s honor prior to a battle, asking for him to guide their hand in battle so that they may send him the souls of fellow warriors for judgement before his granite throne.
Narci – Narci is the patron goddess of love, beauty, and the arts. Being a lesser deity, and a creation of Gnar, Narci does not have the power wielded by those in the Holy Triad. Even so, she does have a strong following amongst those involved in the world of art. Many playwrights, painters, and musicians look to Narci as their muse. Lovers also look to Narci as a source of inspiration, and marriage ceremonies are generally conducted in her honor. Narci’s major weakness is her extreme vanity, which tends to get her into trouble with the other Divines.
Tidus – Tidus is the patron god of the tides and of all the seas of the mortal world. He is also known as the Sea King of Unda, the realm of the sea nymphs and the mermaids. Tidus, initially a creation of Zephyria, was raised to the level of a Divine in order to better protect the seas and waterways of the mortal realm, and to rule over the submariner race spirits known as the Nereid. Tidus has been known to give in to intense bouts of anger that lead to great storms, crashing waves, and devastating whirlpools. It is for this reason that sailors, fishermen, and ship makers take their worship of the temperamental god seriously.
“The Black One” – It has no name, no form, and no voice... but all are aware of the existence of this being of pure darkness. It is the patron god of death, destruction, and evil. “The Black One” exists for the sole purpose of sowing discord amongst the races of the mortal realm. Few chose to worship this Divine, though it has collected a small following amongst necromancers, thieves, outcasts, and others who live on the shadowy fringe of society. “The Black One” was once a respected Divine, however it lusted for power and was cast out of the Vale of the Mists for conspiring against its kin. “The Black One” now languishes and waits for its opportunity to strike back at the deities who cast it out. To aid in spreading death and destruction, this deity has created various repulsive races such as the vampires, werewolves, and gargoyles that favor the darkness of night and tread more in the realm of the dead than the land of the living.
BUSY WEEKEND!
Some Portraits of The expectant Goddess'
TWINS@ 2 Baby different Showers I attended 01/30/21
A small shrine to local deities in a room at the Asgiriya Maha Viharaya (High Temple) in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Towards the left in the Hall of the Three Saints is altar to Dà Bó Gōng (大伯公; which means Old Uncle); Tai Pak Koong in the Hakka didlect, Tua Pek Kong in the Hokkien dialect.
Dà Bó Gōng is a Taoist deity that originated with the ethnic Chinese community in Malaysia. There are many Tua Pek Kong temples in Malaysia, and he is also worshiped in Singapore, and parts of Indonesia.
He is depicted here as an old man holding a stack of gold. He is commonly associated with good luck/prosperity, but also with the ideal of sworn brotherhood.
Tua Pek Kong is said to be an incarnation/variation of the god Fu (福), the god of good luck and prosperity, one of the Three Star (三星) gods of "Fu Lu Shou" (福 禄 壽).
Some believe Tua Pek Kong's Malaysian origin is from an amalgamation of several persons who were said to be incarnations of Fu (福).
One such "Tua Pek Kong" was said to be a Hakka Chinese named Zhang Li (張理) whose boat was diverted by a storm to Penang Island in the early 1700s. There he founded the first Chinese settlement in Penang. The oldest/first Tua Pek Kong temple is at that settlement in Tanjung Tokong, just outside George Town, Penang.
At the Hall of the Three Saints, Nirvana Memorial Gardens, Semenyih; September 2023
Bhutanese "good wealth" Thangka, representing the Buddhist deity Vaiśravaṇa (locally called Dzombla), holding a mongoose which is spitting jewels from its mouth. The mongoose is the enemy of the snake, a symbol of greed or hatred. The ejection of jewels represents generosity.
Artist: Vishal Lama
Painting (Lha-zo) is one of the 13 Traditional Arts and Crafts (Zorig Chusum) in Bhutan.
Thangka: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thangka
Vaiśravaṇa: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vai%C5%9Brava%E1%B9%87a
The Four Heavenly Guardian Kings: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Heavenly_Kings
Mongoose: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_grey_mongoose
Bhutanese Art: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutanese_art
Vajrayana Buddhism: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajrayana
Bhutan: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutan
An alabaster head from a statue of a prince or a deity.
18th dynasty, from Abydos
JE18538 / CG706
Sohag Museum
The ceiling of the Hypostyle Hall at Dendera Temple is enriched with an incredible amount of figurative detail carved in low relief and painted in subtle shades against a blue background. The subjects include numerous deities and hybrid figures (some familiar, others much less so) and even astrological elements, such as recognisable figures from the zodiac.
Over the centuries the ceiling had become so darkened by dirt and soot to become heavily obscured and hard to read, and this is how I saw it for the first time in the 1990s, when many visitors probably missed it altogether. Now it has been fully cleaned and restored it shines again not only as one of the glories of the temple but one of the most remarkable surviving decorative schemes of ancient Egypt. The contrast with its previous blackened, unrestored condition is dramatic, giving an entirely different impression from our previous visit.
The Temple of Hathor at Dendera is one of Egypt's best preserved and most beautiful ancient shrines. This magnificent edifice dates to the Ptolemaic period, late in Egyptian history, though the site long had been the cult centre for the goddess Hathor for centuries before (the earliest extant remains date to c360BC but a temple is recorded here as far back as c2250BC). Most of the main building dates to the reigns of the last Cleopatras and further decoration and building work within the complex continued in the Roman period up to the reign of Trajan.
The dominant structure in the complex is the Temple of Hathor, an enormous structure with a rectangular facade punctuated by the Hathor-headed columns of the hypostyle hall within. This hall is an architectural wonder, a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian design and decoration, which covers every surface and has been recently cleaned, revealing a superb astrological ceiling in all its original vibrant colours.
Sadly there was much iconoclasm here during the early Christian period and most of the reliefs of the walls and pillars have been defaced. Worse still is the damage to the 24 Hathor-head capitals: not one of the nearly a hundred huge faces of the goddess that once smiled down on this hall has been left unblemished, most with their features cruelly chiselled away.
The main temple building is otherwise structurally intact, and extends into further halls and chapels beyond, again with much relief decoration (much of which is again defaced). In one corner is an entrance to a crypt below, an unusual feature in Egyptian temple architecture consisting of several narrow passages adorned with carved relief decoration in good condition.
There are further sanctuaries and chapels above on the roof of the temple, accessed by a decorated staircase and including the room where the famous Dendera Zodiac was formerly located (today its place in the ceiling taken by a cast of the original, now displayed in Paris). The highest part of the roof complex is no longer accessible to tourists, but I can still recall making the ascent there on our first visit in 1992.
Several other buildings surround the main temple, the most impressive of which is the mammisi or 'birth-house'. This consists of a large rectangluar hall surrounded by a colonnade near the entrance to the site and has some well preserved relief decoration on its exterior. Most of this structure dates to the Roman period, but the ruins of its predecessor built under Nectanebo II (Egypt's last native pharoah) stand nearby.
Dendera temple is one of the most rewarding in Egypt and shouldn't be missed. It is one of the most complete and evocative ancient monuments in the country and its recent restoration has revealed a surprisingly extensive amount of colour surviving within (we were amazed by the dramatic contrast with the soot-blackened ceiling we'd beheld on our previous visit in the 1990s). Despite its relative youth (in Egyptian terms at least!) it is easily one of my favourite sites in Egypt.
Managing a Hindu deity's arrival at Parade the Circle is no easy task given the winds on this 90F day. #Managing a Hindu deity's arrival at Parade the Circle is no easy task given the winds on this 90F day. #paradethecircle2016
Etruscan mirror from Vulci [325-300 BC] -
Paris BNF wm;
The mirror, whose handle in perishable material has disappeared, presents on the back of the formerly polished disc, on three registers, a complex decoration with thirteen characters, identified by engraved inscriptions.
main decor, upper register:
Hercules (Herclé) presenting Eros (Epiur) to Jupiter (Tinia). The latter, in the center, is seated on a richly decorated throne. His chest is bare but his legs are wrapped in a chlamys decorated with embroidery. In his left hand, he holds his thunderbolt which is leaning on his shoulder. His feet rest on a stepladder supported by two sphinxes. His head, diademed, is turned to the left, in the direction of little Eros (Epiur) carried by Hercules (Herclé). The hero is diademed, beardless and naked. He faces the viewer and looks at Jupiter. He carries his club, leaning on his shoulder with his right hand and holds Eros with his left arm covered with lion skin. The child is naked, his wings outstretched. On either side of this central group are depicted two goddesses seated on richly decorated stools. The one behind Jupiter is an Etruscan Venus, Thalna. A swan is placed at her feet. Behind Hercules is another Etruscan Venus (Turan). She leans with her right hand on a scepter adorned with a pomegranate. A branch of myrtle is placed at her feet.
main decoration, lower register:
In the center Hélène (Elina), dressed in a rich Phrygian costume and seated on a throne decorated with lion heads. She presents her hand to a bearded and richly dressed man arriving from the right, Agamemnon (aχmemrun). The king of Mycenae has his head covered with his shroud. Between them, and facing the spectators, is shown Menelaus (Menle) simply dressed in a chlamys. He leans with his left hand on a spear and holds a phial in his right hand. On the other side of Helena is represented Pâris-Alexandros (elχsntre), half-naked, facing left. He holds a spear in his right hand and walks towards Mean (Etruscan deity personifying Victory), who presents him with a large band. A doe is standing at his feet. Behind her stands Aevas (Memnon or Ajax) beardless and naked. He is simply wearing a Phrygian cap.
main decor, at the bottom:
Lasa racuneta lying on a flower chalice. She is naked and diademed. Her neck is adorned with a collar and her wings are spread. She holds an alabastron (perfume vase) in her left hand and a sort of stylus in her right.
Source: BNF
medaillesetantiques.bnf.fr/ws/catalogue/app/collection/re...
Location shoot with artist Redd Walitzki at the newly-opened Seattle Art Hostel in Belltown.
August 2009.
Photos by Libby Bulloff.
hostelartcollective.wordpress.com/
Redd designed and painted this goddess on the wall of her room in the Art Hostel. Love the decadence and mash-up of genres.
Muthappan is the principal deity in the ritualistic Theyyam dance performed in the famous Parassinikkadavu temple in Kerala. This folk Hindu deity is commonly worshiped in North Malabar region of Kerala and Coorg region of Karnataka, in India.
AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT CORVUS CORONE
LEGEND AND MYTHOLOGY
Crows appear in the Bible where Noah uses one to search for dry land and to check on the recession of the flood. Crows supposedly saved the prophet, Elijah, from famine and are an Inuit deity. Legend has it that England and its monarchy will end when there are no more crows in the Tower of London. And some believe that the crows went to the Tower attracted by the regular corpses following executions with written accounts of their presence at the executions of Anne Boleyn and Jane Gray.
In Welsh mythology, unfortunately Crows are seen as symbolic of evilness and black magic thanks to many references to witches transforming into crows or ravens and escaping. Indian legend tells of Kakabhusandi, a crow who sits on the branches of a wish-fulfilling tree called Kalpataru and a crow in Ramayana where Lord Rama blessed the crow with the power to foresee future events and communicate with the souls.
In Native American first nation legend the crow is sometimes considered to be something of a trickster, though they are also viewed positively by some tribes as messengers between this world and the next where they carry messages from the living to those deceased, and even carry healing medicines between both worlds. There is a belief that crows can foresee the future. The Klamath tribe in Oregon believe that when we die, we fly up to heaven as a crow. The Crow can also signify wisdom to some tribes who believe crows had the power to talk and were therefore considered to be one of the wisest of birds. Tribes with Crow Clans include the Chippewa (whose Crow Clan and its totem are called Aandeg), the Hopi (whose Crow Clan is called Angwusngyam or Ungwish-wungwa), the Menominee, the Caddo, the Tlingit, and the Pueblo tribes of New Mexico.
The crow features in the Nanissáanah (Ghost dance), popularized by Jerome Crow Dog, a Brulé Lakota sub-chief and warrior born at Horse Stealing Creek in Montana Territory in 1833, the crow symbolizing wisdom and the past, when the crow had became a guide and acted as a pathfinder during hunting. The Ghost dance movement was originally created in 1870 by Wodziwob, or Gray Hair, a prophet and medicine man of the Paiute tribe in an area that became known as Nevada. Ghost dancers wore crow and eagle feathers in their clothes and hair, and the fact that the Crow could talk placed it as one of the sages of the animal kingdom.
The five day dances seeking trance,prophecy and exhortations would eventually play a major part in the pathway towards the white man's broken treaties, the infamous battle at Wounded knee and the surrender of Matȟó Wanáȟtaka (Kicking Bear), after officials began to fear the ghost dancers and rituals which seemed to occur prior to battle.
Historically the Vikings are the group who made so many references to the crow, and Ragnarr Loðbrók and his sons used this species in his banner as well as appearances in many flags and coats of arms. Also, it had some kind of association with Odin, one of their main deities. Norse legend tells us that Odin is accompanied by two crows. Hugin, who symbolizes thought, and Munin, who represents a memory. These two crows were sent out each dawn to fly the entire world, returning at breakfast where they informed the Lord of the Nordic gods of everything that went on in their kingdoms. Odin was also referred to as Rafnagud (raven-god). The raven appears in almost every skaldic poem describing warfare.Coins dating back to 940's minted by Olaf Cuaran depict the Viking war standard, the Raven and Viking war banners (Gonfalon) depicted the bird also.
In Scandinavian legends, crows are a representative of the Goddess of Death, known as Valkyrie (from old Norse 'Valkyrja'), one of the group of maidens who served the Norse deity Odin, visiting battlefields and sending him the souls of the slain worthy of a place in Valhalla. Odin ( also called Wodan, Woden, or Wotan), preferred that heroes be killed in battle and that the most valiant of souls be taken to Valhöll, the hall of slain warriors. It is the crow that provides the Valkyries with important information on who should go. In Hindu ceremonies that are associated to ancestors, the crow has an important place in Vedic rituals. They are seen as messengers of death in Indian culture too.
In Germanic legend, Crows are seen as psychonomes, meaning the act of guiding spirits to their final destination, and that the feathers of a crow could cure a victim who had been cursed. And yet, a lone black crow could symbolize impending death, whilst a group symbolizes a lucky omen! Vikings also saw good omens in the crow and would leave offerings of meat as a token.
The crow also has sacred and prophetic meaning within the Celtic civilization, where it stood for flesh ripped off due to combat and Morrighan, the warrior goddess, often appears in Celtic mythology as a raven or crow, or else is found to be in the company of the birds. Crow is sacred to Lugdnum, the Celtic god of creation who gave his name to the city of Lug
In Greek mythology according to Appolodorus, Apollo is supposedly responsible for the black feathers of the crow, turning them forever black from their pristine white original plumage as a punishment after they brought news that Κορωνις (Coronis) a princess of the Thessalian kingdom of Phlegyantis, Apollo's pregnant lover had left him to marry a mortal, Ischys. In one legend, Apollo burned the crows feathers and then burned Coronis to death, in another Coronis herself was turned into a black crow, and another that she was slain by the arrows of Αρτεμις (Artemis - twin to Apollo). Koronis was later set amongst the stars as the constellation Corvus ("the Crow"). Her name means "Curved One" from the Greek word korônis or "Crow" from the word korônê.A similar Muslim legend allegedly tells of Muhammad, founder of Islam and the last prophet sent by God to Earth, who's secret location was given away by a white crow to his seekers, as he hid in caves. The crow shouted 'Ghar Ghar' (Cave, cave) and thus as punishment, Muhammad turned the crow black and cursed it for eternity to utter only one phrase, 'Ghar, ghar). Native Indian legend where the once rainbow coloured crows became forever black after shedding their colourful plumage over the other animals of the world.
In China the Crow is represented in art as a three legged bird on a solar disk, being a creature that helps the sun in its journey. In Japan there are myths of Crow Tengu who were priests who became vain, and turned into this spirit to serve as messengers until they learn the lesson of humility as well as a great Crow who takes part in Shinto creation stories.
In animal spirit guides there are general perceptions of what sightings of numbers of crows actually mean:
1 Crow Meaning: To carry a message from your near one who died recently.
2 Crows Meaning: Two crows sitting near your home signifies some good news is on your way.
3 Crows Meaning: An upcoming wedding in your family.
4 Crows Meaning: Symbolizes wealth and prosperity.
5 Crows Meaning: Diseases or pain.
6 Crows Meaning: A theft in your house!
7 Crows Meaning: Denotes travel or moving from your house.
8 Crows Meaning: Sorrowful events
Crows are generally seen as the symbolism when alive for doom bringing, misfortune and bad omens, and yet a dead crow symbolises potentially bringing good news and positive change to those who see it. This wonderful bird certainly gets a mixed bag of contradictory mythology and legend over the centuries and in modern days is often seen as a bit of a nuisance, attacking and killing the babies of other birds such as Starlings, Pigeons and House Sparrows as well as plucking the eyes out of lambs in the field, being loud and noisy and violently attacking poor victims in a 'crow court'....
There is even a classic horror film called 'THE CROW' released in 1994 by Miramax Films, directed by Alex Proyas and starring Brandon Lee in his final film appearance as Eric Draven, who is revived by a Crow tapping on his gravestone a year after he and his fiancée are murdered in Detroit by a street gang. The crow becomes his guide as he sets out to avenge the murders. The only son of martial arts expert Bruce Lee, Brandon lee suffered fatal injuries on the set of the film when the crew failed to remove the primer from a cartridge that hit Lee in the abdomen with the same force as a normal bullet. Lee died that day, March 31st 1993 aged 28.
The symbolism of the Crow resurrecting the dead star and accompanying him on his quest for revenge was powerful, and in some part based on the history of the carrion crow itself and the original film grossed more than $94 Million dollars with three subsequent sequels following.
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK
So let's move away from legend, mythology and stories passed down from our parents and grandparents and look at these amazing birds in isolation.
Carrion crow are passerines in the family Corvidae a group of Oscine passerine birds including Crows, Ravens, Rooks, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Treepies, Choughs and Nutcrackers. Technically they are classed as Corvids, and the largest of passerine birds. Carrion crows are medium to large in size with rictal bristles and a single moult per year (most passerines moult twice). Carrion crow was one of the many species originally described by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (Carl Von Linne after his ennoblement) in his 1758 and 1759 editions of 'SYSTEMA NATURAE', and it still bears its original name of Corvus corone, derived from the Latin of Corvus, meaning Raven and the Greek κορώνη (korōnē), meaning crow.
Carrion crow are of the Animalia kingdom Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Corvus and Species: Corvus corone
Corvus corone can reach 45-47cm in length with a 93-104cm wingspan and weigh between 370-650g. They are protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in the United Kingdom with a Green UK conservation status which means they are of least concern with more than 1,000,000 territories. Breeding occurs in April with fledging of the chicks taking around twenty nine days following an incubation period of around twenty days with 3 to 4 eggs being the average norm.
They are abundant in the UK apart from Northwest Scotland and Ireland where the Hooded crow (Corvus cornix) was considered the same species until 2002. They have a lifespan of around four years, whilst Crow species can live to the age of Twenty years old, and the oldest known American crow in the wild was almost Thirty years old. The oldest documented captive crow died at age Fifty nine. They are smaller and have a shorter lifespan than the Raven, which again is used as a symbol in history to live life to the full and not waste a moment!
They are often mistaken for the Rook (Corvus frugilegus), a similar bird, though in the UK, the Rook is actually technically smaller than the Carrion crow averaging 44-46cm in length, 81-99cm wingspan and weighing up to 340g. Rooks have white beaks compared to the black beaks of Carrion crow, a more steeply raked ratio from head to beak, and longer straighter beaks as well as a different plumage pattern. There are documented cases in the UK of singular and grouped Rooks attacking and killing Carrion crows in their territory. Rooks nest in colonies unlike Carrion crows. Carrion crows have only a few natural enemies including powerful raptors such as the northern goshawk, the peregrine falcon, the Eurasian eagle-owl and the golden eagle which will all readily hunt them.
Regarded as one of the most intelligent birds, indeed creatures on the planet, studies suggest that Corvids cognitive abilities can rival that of primates such as chimpanzees and gorillas and even provide clues to understanding human intelligence. Crows have relatively large brains for their body size, compared to other animals. Their encephalization quotient (EQ) a ratio of brain to body size, adjusted for size because there isn’t a linear relationship is 4.1. That is remarkably close to chimps at 4.2 whilst humans are 8.1. Corvids also have a very high neuronal density, the number of neurons per gram of brain, factoring in the number of cortical neurons, neuron packing density, interneuronal distance and axonal conduction velocity shows that Corvids score high on this measure as well, with humans scoring the highest.
A corvid's pallium is packed with more neurons than a great ape's. Corvids have demonstrated the ability to use a combination of mental tools such as imagination, and anticipation of future events. They can craft tools from twigs and branches to hook grubs from deep recesses, they can solve puzzles and intricate methods of gaining access to food set by humans., and have even bent pieces of wire into hooks to obtain food.
They have been proven to have a higher cognitive ability level than seven year old humans. Communications wise, their repertoire of wraw-wraw's is not fully understood, but the intensity, rhythm, and duration of caws seems to form the basis of a possible language. They also remember the faces of humans who have hindered or hurt them and pass that information on to their offspring.
Aesop's fable of 'The Crow and the Pitcher, tells of a thirsty crow which drops stones into a water pitcher to raise the water level and enable it to take a drink. Scientists have conducted tests to see whether crows really are this intelligent. They placed floating treats in a deep tube and observed the crows indeed dropping dense objects carefully selected into the water until the treat floated within reach. They had the intelligence to pick up, weigh and discount objects that would float in the water, they also did not select ones that were too large for the container.
Pet crows develop a unique call for their owners, in effect actually naming them. They also know to sunbathe for a dose of vitamin D, regularly settling on wooden garden fences, opening their mouths and wings and raising their heads to the sun. In groups they warn of danger and communicate vocally. They store a cache of food for later if in abundance and are clever enough to move it if they feel it has been discovered. They leave markers for their cache. They have even learned to place walnuts and similar hard food items under car tyres at traffic lights as a means of cracking them!
Crows regularly gather around a dead fellow corvid, almost like a funeral, and it is thought they somehow learn from each death. They can even remember human faces for decades.Crows group together to attack larger predators and even steal their food, and they have different dialects in different areas, with the ability to mimic the dialect of the alpha males when they enter their territory!
They have a twenty year life span, the oldest on record reaching the age of Fifty nine. Crows can leave gifts for those who feed them such as buttons or bright shiny objects as a thank you, and they even kiss and make up after an argument, having mated for life.
In mythology they are associated with good and bad luck, being the bringers of omens and even witchcraft and are generally reviled for their attacks on baby birds and small mammals. They have an attack method of to stunning smaller birds before consuming them, tearing violently at smaller, less aggressive birds, which is simply down to the fact that they are so highly intelligent, and also the top of the food chain. Their diet includes over a thousand different items: Dead animals (as their name suggests), invertebrates, grain, as well as stealing eggs and chicks from other birds' nests, worms, insects, fruit, seeds, kitchen scraps. They are highly adaptable when food sources grow scarce. I absolutely love them, they are magnificent, bold, beautiful and incredibly interesting to watch and though at times it is hard to witness attacks made by them, I cannot help but adore them for so many other and more important reasons.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE PAIR IN MY GARDEN
Crows have been in the area for a while, but rarely had strayed into my garden, leaving the Magpies to own the territory. Things changed towards the end of May when a beautiful female Carrion crow appeared and began to take some of the food that I put down for the other birds. Within a few days she began to appear regularly, on occasions stocking up on food, whilst other times placing pieces in the birdbath to soften them. She would stand on the birdbath and eat and drink and come back over the course of the day to eat the softened food.
Shortly afterwards she brought along her mate, a tall and handsome fella, much larger than her who was also very vocal if he felt she was getting a little too close to me. By now I had moved from a seated position from the patio as an observer, to laying on a mat just five feet from the birdbath with my Nikon so that I could photograph the pair as they landed, scavenged and fed. She was now confident enough to let me be very close, and she even tolerated and recognized the clicking of the camera. At first I used silent mode to reduce the noise but this only allowed two shooting frame rates of single frame or continuous low frame which meant I was missing shots. I reverted back to normal continuous high frames and she soon got used to the whirring of the mechanisms as the mirror slapped back and forth.
The big fella would bark orders at her from the safety of the fence or the rear of the garden, whilst she rarely made a sound. That was until one day when in the sweltering heat she kept opening her beak and sunning on the grass, panting slightly in the heat. I placed the circular water sprayer nearby and had it rotating so that the birdbath and grass was bathed in gentle water droplets and she soon came back, landed and seemed to really like the cooling effect on offer. She then climbed onto the birdbath and opened her wings slightly and made some gentle purring, cooing noises....
I swear she was expressing happiness, joy....
On another blisteringly hot day when the sprayer was on, she came down, walked towards it and opened her wings up running into the water spray. Not once, but many times.
A further revelation into the unseen sides to these beautiful birds came with the male and female on the rear garden fence. They sat together, locked beaks like a kiss and then the male took his time gently preening her head feathers and the back of her neck as she made tiny happy sounds. They stayed together like that for several minutes, showing a gentle, softer side to their nature and demonstrating the deep bond between them. Into July and the pair started to bring their three youngsters to my garden, the nippers learning to use the birdbath for bathing and dipping food, the parents attentive as ever. Two of the youngsters headed off once large enough and strong enough.
I was privileged to be in close attendance as the last juvenile was brought down by the pair, taught to take food and then on a night in July, to soar and fly with it's mother in the evening sky as the light faded. She would swoop and twirl, and at regular intervals just touch the juvenile in flight with her wing tip feathers, as if to reassure it that she was close in attendance. What an amazing experience to view. A few days later, the juvenile, though now gaining independence and more than capable of tackling food scraps in the garden, was still on occasions demand feeding from it's mother who was now teaching him to take chicken breast, hotdogs or digestive biscuits and bury them in the garden beds for later delectation. The juvenile also liked to gather up peanuts and bury them in the grass. On one occasion I witnessed a pair of rumbunctious Pica Pica (Magpies), chasing the young crow on rooftops, leaping at him no matter how hard he tried to get away. He defended himself well and survived the attacks, much to my relief.
Into August and the last youngster remained with the adults, though now was very independent even though he still spent time with his parents on rooftops, and shared food gathering duties with his mum.Hotdog sausages were their favourite choice, followed by fish fingers and digestive biscuits which the adult male would gather up three at a time.
Corvus Corone.... magnificently misunderstood by some!
Paul Williams June 4th 2021
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Photograph taken at an altitude of Sixty two metres at 07:18am on a cold but bright summer morning on Monday 24th May 2021, off Hythe Avenue and Chessington Avenue in Bexleyheath, Kent.
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Nikon D850 Focal length 420mm Shutter speed: 1/200s Aperture f/6.0 iso1250 Tripod mounted with Tamron VC Vibration Control set to position 3. Image area FX (36 x 24) NEF RAW L (4128 x 2752). JPeg basic (14 bit uncompressed) AF-C Priority Selection: Release. Nikon Back button focusing enabled. AF-S Priority selection: Focus. 3D Tracking watch area: Normal 55 Tracking points Exposure mode: Manual exposure mode Metering mode: Spot metering White balance on: Auto1 (6200k) Colour space: RGB Picture control: Neutral (Sharpening +2)
Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2. Nikon GP-1 GPS module. Lee SW150 MKII filter holder. Lee SW150 95mm screw in adapter ring. Lee SW150 circular polariser glass filter.Lee SW150 Filters field pouch. Hoodman HEYENRG round eyepiece oversized eyecup.Manfrotto MT057C3-G Carbon fiber Geared tripod 3 sections. Neewer Carbon Fiber Gimble tripod head 10088736 with Arca Swiss standard quick release plate. Neewer 9996 Arca Swiss release plate P860 x2.Jessops Tripod bag. Mcoplus professional MB-D850 multi function battery grip 6960.Two Nikon EN-EL15a batteries (Priority to battery in Battery grip). Black Rapid Curve Breathe strap. My Memory 128GB Class 10 SDXC 80MB/s card. Lowepro Flipside 400 AW camera bag.
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LATITUDE: N 51d 28m 27.99s
LONGITUDE: E 0d 8m 10.43s
ALTITUDE: 54.0m
RAW (TIFF) FILE: 130.00MB NEF FILE: 92.7MB
PROCESSED (JPeg) FILE: 32.00MB
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PROCESSING POWER:
Nikon D850 Firmware versions C 1.10 (9/05/2019) LD Distortion Data 2.018 (18/02/20) LF 1.00
HP 110-352na Desktop PC with AMD Quad-Core A6-5200 APU 64Bit processor. Radeon HD8400 graphics. 8 GB DDR3 Memory with 1TB Data storage. 64-bit Windows 10. Verbatim USB 2.0 1TB desktop hard drive. WD My Passport Ultra 1tb USB3 Portable hard drive. Nikon ViewNX-1 64bit Version 1.4.1 (18/02/2020). Nikon Capture NX-D 64bit Version 1.6.2 (18/02/2020). Nikon Picture Control Utility 2 (Version 2.4.5 (18/02/2020). Nikon Transfer 2 Version 2.13.5. Adobe photoshop Elements 8 Version 8.0 64bit.
I spent the day with ( www.flickr.com/photos/jshillaw/favorites/ ) John Shillaw, ( www.flickr.com/photos/138058889@N08/ ) John Knorr, and ( www.flickr.com/photos/125401806@N03/ ) Callum Colquhoun. We were shooting in rural areas of Okazaki before driving to Shitara. It was very cold and windy.
This is a narrow lane in a small village with small statues of deities on one side. This view is looking down the lane we walked up to visit a shrine.
Visited Narmada Park during a day trip to explore Lombok, Indonesia.
Vacation with me in my blog: @Lombok, Indonesia
Dragon Deity Swallowing The Sword (Incarnation Of Acala) :
LEICA M5 / SUMMILUX-M 35mm F1.4 ASPHERICAL /
XP2 super (EI200) /
June 26, 2018 / 1280px
Lambayeque Culture
Ca. 700-1300 A.D. North Coast, Peru.
Archeological Museum, Belén Cultural Complex (Conjunto Monumental Belén), Cajamarca, Peru.
巴基斯坦－Punjab省－Lahore－拉合尔博物馆－木雕佛像
A splendid wooden relief of Hindu deities, on display inside Lahore Museum, situated in the City of Lahore, in Punjab Province, Pakistan.
The Lahore Museum was originally established in 1865-66 on the site of the hall or building of the 1864 Punjab Exhibition, and later shifted to its present site located on The Mall, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan in 1894. The current building of Lahore Museum was designed by the well-known architect Sir Ganga Ram. The Museum is the biggest museum of the country. It has one of the best collections of arts and artifacts in its galleries in South Asia.
Lahore Museum contains some fine specimens of Mughal and Sikh door-ways and wood-work and has a large collection of paintings dating back to the Mughal, Sikh and British periods. It includes a collection of musical instruments, ancient jewellery, textiles, pottery, and armory. There are important relics from the Indus Valley civilisation, Gandhara and Graeco-Bactrian periods as well as some Tibetan and Nepalese work on display. The museum has a number of Greco-Buddhist sculptures, Mughal and Pahari paintings on display.The Fasting Buddha from the Gandhara period is one of the most famous objects of the museum.
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