The Aristogeiton statue is almost correctly identified on the label as a statue of the 5th century, though in reality it belongs to a set of two statues, the other one of a younger man called Harmodios. These are the famous in Greece Tyrannicides (the slayers of the tyrant) who in 514 BCE killed Hipparchos, the brother of Hippias the tyrant. When democracy was restored in Athens in 510 BCE, these two were honored with the very first portrait statues, and the earliest in bronze for restoring democracy in Athens. This set was displayed a short time later, ca. 506 BCE. They became so famous that when the Persians entered an empty Athens in 480 BCE, they moved these statues to their capital in Persia. The Athenians replaced them with a second set in 476 BCE (the date next to the statue you show). There is more to their story: in 330 BCE, Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire, found these statues and returned them to Athens, so that after this time there were two sets in the Agora (Forum). A last chapter of this story may happen soon in Italy.
BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF A GREAT SCULPTURE PARK!
Do you have close-ups of some of the sculptures?
MAGNIFICENT! May I show your work to my colleague William/Bill Wallace, am expert on Michelangelo and an author of several important books on him. I am sure he would love to show your wonderful work to his classes!
A very rare spelling error (those Greeks!): it's Hercules and Caucus (Cacus=bad, opposite of calos=good, as in ok= ola kala).
Sarantis (a bad Greek)
I double-click on your well focused pictures and I get to roll spectacular panoramic images. I didn't know that Florence has mostly 3-storied buildings. You captured Arno being muddy from the spring rains. I remember meeting a Florentine restorer of marble sculptures at the National Museum in Rome. He complained that the Romans couldn't remember his last name: Valdarnini, the easiest to memorize name in Florence (the man from the valley of the Arno).
Thanks for the great images!
Sarantis
CHG_CANON wrote:
No one ever created a great image while admiring their cameras on the shelf.
As always, you are correct Paul. The Nikonians I know are a community of practicing photographers actively using the latest equipment, like you, but also passionate about the historical development of the legendary brand. My question concerns the passionate aspect of Nikon history. After all, someone needs to preserve the equipment.
I am aware of the Nikonians, photographers who are fanatic about using and collecting Nikon equipment. I wonder whether there is a similar group for Canon.
Sad news, the end of a wonderful era!
riderxlx wrote:
Oh thank you. This is good to know. The pictures posted here look a bit flat or smooth. They looked a lot better when I was there.
Pictures made without a tripod and appropriate settings look good when small but betray their faults when magnified.
When shooting without a tripod, make sure not to shake the camera and also increasing the shutter speed to at least 1/500.
I believe this statue is a modern version of the famous ancient story of the young man Daphnis with his beloved Chloe, first reported by the ancient writer Theocritus. The French composer Ravel composed wonderful music for a ballet "Daphnis and Chole".
Welcome back Mark and Gail! Your last set is great as usual and it shows clearly that people are living in some boats. True?
Can't wait to see your Italy!
Sarantis
She was from Saint Louis, MO
Nikon just announced that a new camera the Zfc, based on the very successful FM2 body and the Z50, will accept all Nikon lenses. It appears to be like the Nikon Df was for the SLR cameras. It was announced yesterday at the PetaPixel site.
As always, your posts are superb photographic and explanatory records but you two are the best US ambassadors that need to be officially recognized!
Sarantis