This small Book of Hours is especially interesting for its profusion of humorous drolleries. Humans, animals, and hybrids are featured in the margins of each page of the book. The artists rendered in small scenes a variety of actions, like cooking, playing game, climbing, fishing, making music or moving the bodies in a dance. These drolleries amuse the faithful during his prayers, while showing scenes that work as metaphors of the soul fighting the vices. The original female owner seems to…

This hymnal was completed in Constantinople on August 15, 1678 [AE 1127], by the priest Yakob Pēligratc‘i, having been commissioned by Člav, son of Nawasard, as a dedication to his sons, Astuacatur and Sahak. The structure of the hymns adheres approximately to the standard Armenian hymnal (Շաբակնոց), with minor variations in order and a few substitutions (see Sanjian in the bibliography). The book is illuminated extensively, with 38 full- and half-page polychrome miniatures against gold…

Fictitious animals on 16th and early 17th century maps hint at how people's perception of the ocean has changed over time

World antique and bizarre maps, Africa, Ancient World Map, Asia, past, Europe, maps, Monsters, ocean, political, satirical map, Sea Serpents, ships

In this tapestry we witness the antics of a shepherd and two shepherdesses in the fields. An older woman grabs a shepherd and he raises his hand in protest while a younger shepherdess, at the right, also raises her arm

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Flickr is almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world. Show off your favorite photos and videos to the world, securely and privately show content to your friends and family, or blog the photos and videos you take with a cameraphone.

There are two types of Asian Mermaids, including the Matsyāṅganā, originating in India, that exists within Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Burma, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and the Japanese Ningyo. Believed to be the first recording of mermaids in history, Matsya (Sanskrit: मत्स्य, literally "Fish") is the avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu in the form of a fish. Often listed as the first avatar in the lists of the ten primary avatars of Vishnu, Matsya is described to have rescued the first…