Latest news with #Mesopotamians
Evening Standard
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Discover the best mother-of-pearl jewellery for timeless elegance
Mother-of-pearl can be traced back to the Mesopotamians in 2500BC, and China's Ming and Shang dynasties (the latter goes back to 1500BC). The Victorians, never ones to shy away from the ornate and beautiful, were huge fans. And today, household names like Michelle Obama and Rihanna are known for their love of pearl jewellery.
Business Mayor
08-05-2025
- Science
- Business Mayor
Marco Compardo Revives an Ancient Glassworking Technique with a Digital Twist
There was a period in human history where we developed glass, but hadn't yet figured out glassblowing. In order to shape the glass into vessels, Mesopotamians got creative and developed a technique called slumping. They started with the glass ingots they were able to produce, and fused several of them together to create a larger mass. This was then placed over a form made of clay or stone, then placed into a kiln. Firing the kiln heated the glass, which then began to slump down over the form. In this manner, they were able to produce glass bowls and plates. Industrial designer and design researcher Marco Compardo demonstrates the technique here, which he worked on at the UK's Grymsdyke Farm, an experimental design lab. 'These are photos of the slumping process, showing how heat and gravity are used to shape glass (and ideas) over a mold. As the glass softens in the kiln, it gently conforms to the form beneath it—capturing smooth, organic curves without the need for cutting.' ''Unroll' is a butter tray conceived through digital calculations, designed to create a seamless, wrinkle-free dome using the slump glass technique. The outcome recalls the material handling found in ceramics.' 'Although rooted in contemporary, digital methods, the design resonates with processes that are more closely associated with the tactile, hands-on approach of ceramics, where craftsmanship and material manipulation are key elements.' You can see more of Campardo's work here.
National Geographic
01-04-2025
- General
- National Geographic
A visit to the Louvre can be a gastronomic adventure—if you know where to look
Move forward almost a thousand years in time to one of the most important works of the Louvre, the black stone stele carved in cuneiform script with the ancient legal text known as the Code of Hammurabi, in Room 227 of the Richelieu wing. Peering into the glass cases nearby, I discovered that Babylon's Hammurabi was more than a king who created the most complete code of laws in antiquity; he was also an epicure. (His favorite treat was a strongly spiced quail tart.) In a glass vitrine in the same room I spotted a shallow round dish decorated with four concentric circles and made of biscuit-colored white clay. In the center were indentations in the shape of animals—four with large ears that could have been donkeys and six with raised tails that could have been dogs. 'Kitchen mold,' the label read. There was nothing unusual about this simple object, but its date jumped out at me. It was about 3,800 years old, found in what is now eastern Syria. Molds—with designs of animals and of pregnant women—were customarily used to make savory tarts and sweet cakes for the royals. And the ancient Mesopotamians, known for their wines, were the first known makers of beer and made the world's first ice creams, too. Where kingdoms and dynasties have not survived, royal eating utensils often have. In one display, in Room 527 of the Richelieu wing, I came across a 16th-century spoon and fork set from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), carved from rock crystal and decorated with rubies set in gold. The spoon was the oldest eating utensil, the fork a more recent invention. At that time, Ceylonese craftsmen mainly worked in ivory to make such objects, but in this case, rock crystal was used, probably to emphasize rarity and royal prestige. The Apollo Gallery, just around the corner from the "Winged Victory of Samothrace," contains France's crown jewels. The most beautiful jewel box in the world, the gilded gallery was built by King Louis XIV to show off his grandeur. But most of the crown jewels were sold off at auction in the 19th century, so the room has been filled with the king's exuberant collections of dishes, plates, and containers, some set in gold and carved from minerals or mineral aggregates like lapis lazuli, agate, amethyst and jade. They convey a sense of the grand couvert, a ridiculously artificial and formal ritual at Versailles: almost every evening King Louis XIV, usually with the queen and their progeny, dined in public. (His successor and great-grandson, Louis XV, preferred to dine alone.)
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Engineers build 30-feet-long all-glass bridge using 6,000-year-old technique
Architect and structural engineer Masoud Akbarzadeh has challenged conventional wisdom by constructing a bridge from a material deemed unsuitable: glass. The architect has created a 30-foot-long bridge built entirely of interlocking 16-millimeter (0.63 inches) hollow glass pieces. It looks incredibly fragile and beautiful, like a shimmering, light-filled, translucent structure. "All these pieces alone, hollow glass units, might seem quite brittle—and they are, but depending on how you design to put these glass units together, they start relying on each other, and the units' assembly establishes a path for the load to be transferred efficiently. Thus, the bridge gains strength as a whole," said Akbarzadeh, an associate professor of architecture at the Weitzman School of Design. Over three weeks in 2024, the team constructed this final structure, dubbed 'Glass Bridge: The Penn Monument for Hope.' The journey to create this masterpiece was anything but simple. It took six years of planning, drafting, and revising. The bridge draws on millennia-old engineering and architectural principles, particularly those associated with funicular design. This means the bridge is built to naturally handle forces, primarily using compression (pushing forces) to stay strong and stable. This concept, focused on balancing forces through arches and vaults, was employed as far back as 4000 BCE by the Mesopotamians and later by the Romans in their iconic structures. The first step was a modest but crucial 10-foot prototype, a proving ground for their digital machinations. The bridge prototype used hollow glass units, which interlocked to form the bridge's arch. A major challenge was finding a way to connect the glass pieces without causing them to crack. Eventually, structural double-sided VHB tape and precision-cut acrylic connectors were used. Acrylic connectors joined the glass units, ensuring accurate alignment and load transfer. In stress testing, this prototype glass unit successfully withstood a significant amount of compressive force (41.6 kilopounds). "This approach permitted the necessary tolerance and ease of assembly without compromising the integrity of the glass," said Yao Lu, a core member of the design team. Villanova University helped the team find a material to prevent glass pieces from cracking when they are touched. They discovered that polyvinyl butyral (PVB), commonly used in safety glass, worked perfectly as an interface material. This laminate material acted as a buffer between glass modules, preventing direct contact and stress concentrations. Building the glass bridge required far greater precision than a standard bridge. The steel or concrete may allow for slight imperfections, but the glass units had to fit together with near-perfect accuracy — with a tolerance of only 0.1 millimeters. This incredibly tight margin of error made the construction extremely challenging. "But with these connectors, every cut, every angle, every dimension had to be accurate within 0.1 millimeters," Akbarzadeh said. "When you're dealing with 124 separate glass units, even the tiniest misalignment can multiply across the entire span. If we didn't maintain that level of precision, the whole structure could have collapsed under its own weight," he added in the press release. To reach the required precision, the team partnered with firms located in Germany and China. On November 30th, after a week of long days and late nights, the bridge stood tall. The Glass Bridge is currently on exhibit at the Corning Museum of Glass until September 1st. Before the exhibit opened, Greenhouse Media filmed the bridge's construction and interviewed the team, creating a documentary about the project. The bridge construction has been reported in the journal Engineering Structures.
Observer
05-03-2025
- Observer
The Magan Civilisation: A glimpse into ancient trade and culture
The Magan civilisation, often associated with the region of modern-day Oman, played a significant role in the trade networks of the ancient world, particularly during the Bronze Age. Frequently mentioned in Mesopotamian texts, Magan is renowned for its rich resources, especially copper, which was vital for various industries of the time. Magan is believed to be located in the southeastern Arabian Peninsula, primarily in what is now Oman. Its strategic position enabled extensive trade with neighbouring regions, including Mesopotamia. This advantageous location facilitated the exchange of goods and ideas, establishing Magan as a crucial player in ancient trade networks. The Magan Civilisation: A glimpse into ancient trade and culture The Mesopotamians greatly valued Magan for its high-quality copper, essential for crafting bronze tools and weapons. In return, Magan imported bitumen, a valuable resource used for waterproofing boats and construction. The trade routes connecting Magan to Mesopotamia not only facilitated the exchange of tangible goods, but also fostered cultural and technological interactions, underscoring the interconnectedness of ancient civilisations. The Magan Civilisation: A glimpse into ancient trade and culture The Magan civilisation is often linked to the Indus Valley Civilisation through archaeological findings and trade artefacts. This connection suggests a complex network of trade that extended across the Arabian Sea, influencing cultural exchanges between these ancient societies. Similar artistic and architectural styles indicate a rich tapestry of interactions that shaped the development of both civilisations. Among the most distinctive features of the Magan civilisation are the beehive-shaped tombs found throughout northern Oman. These stone structures reflect the social complexity of the time and offer insights into the burial practices and belief systems of the Magan people. The design of these tombs bears a resemblance to similar structures in the Indus Valley, suggesting a shared culture and ideology. The Magan Civilisation: A glimpse into ancient trade and culture In the National Geographic programme featuring Albert Lin, the exploration of ancient trade routes and civilisations sheds light on the significance of Magan. Lin's work underscores the importance of archaeological research in understanding the complexities of ancient trade networks and their impact on the development of civilisations. I was fortunate to work alongside Albert Lin, a renowned presenter for National Geographic, in guiding him and his team through fascinating petroglyphs and beehive tombs in Wadi Tanuf in 2023. This exploration formed part of an episode about the Magan civilisation in the series 'Lost Civilisations'. The Magan Civilisation: A glimpse into ancient trade and culture Working with Albert was an inspiring experience. He is not only an accomplished engineer and scientist but also an adventurer who has triumphed over significant challenges. Following a severe accident in 2016 that resulted in the amputation of part of his right leg, Albert has continued to lead physically demanding expeditions with the aid of a high-tech prosthetic limb. His capacity to climb and navigate challenging terrains during our explorations was truly impressive. Among our adventures was a descent into the 7th hole, a major sinkhole in the Selma Plateau. The Magan Civilisation: A glimpse into ancient trade and culture One of the most intriguing petroglyphs we encountered in Wadi Tanuf depicts a central human figure flanked by two Indian cattle, signifying close ties to the Indus Valley —an image that stirred curiosity about the cultural narratives of the time. This rock art panel was first discovered by my dear friend Jeffrey Rose, a renowned archaeologist who has dedicated over 20 years to exploring human prehistory in Oman. The Magan civilisation stands as a fascinating example of how trade and cultural exchange shaped the ancient world and nurtured its prosperity. Its connections with Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley highlight the significance of regional interactions in the development of early societies. As research continues, our understanding of Magan's role in the broader context of ancient history will undoubtedly deepen, revealing more about the intricate web of human connections that defined the Bronze Age. Through ongoing exploration and study, we can uncover the rich legacy of this remarkable civilisation and its contributions to the tapestry of human history.
