Walls (V – VI century) – cyclopean buildings
In the cultural layers of Derbent dassanetch time were found the excavations conducted by archaeological expeditions under the leadership of Professor A. Kudryavtseva. evidence of the occurrence of the settlement here five years ago. In the book “Muslim city of Dagestan” Alexander Kudryavtsev Abakarovich notes: “the Territory of the Derbent hill continued to settle at the end of the P – beginning I thousand BC In the first quarter of the I Millennium BC on the basis of ancient settlements that existed on the Derbent hill, appeared the first fortification, the ancient fortress-refuge, which was, in fact, the earliest “node”, “castle” famous “Gates”, i.e., “Derbent”, vposledstvii received such wide acclaim.
Research of ancient fortifications of Derbent proved that these fortifications, lying mostly under the walls of the medieval citadel of the city, now known as the Naryn-Kala, was a strong fortress, almost completely similar in layout citadel of feudal times.”
Ancient writers and modern researchers is the construction of the fortifications of the processed stones in the Caspian passage associated with the names of the 4 kings of the Sassanid – Yezdigerd II. Perosa, Kawada and Khosrow I Anushirwan .
K. V. Trever construction of the Derbent defensive system considers it possible to date Continue reading
The Gothic quarter
Woven from the labyrinth of mysterious streets, talansky ancient mansions, churches and merchants ‘ houses, the Gothic quarter of Barcelona with its ancient enchanting beauty every day attracts crowds of tourists. This place, or Barri Gotic, as it is called, remembers the end of the Roman Empire. Then he was not the heart of the Catalan capital, and the settlement of Barcino.
The most famous building in the quarter, is Barcelona Cathedral. The building has also another international name is the Cathedral of the Holy cross and Saint Eulalia. The architecture of the Cathedral combines Gothic and Catalan elements. At first glance, the building, like its relatives in other countries, it seems heavy and imposing, but upon closer inspection, you notice the smooth curve and the elegance of the ornament. From the dome of the Cathedral offers a wonderful view, magically opening the city from a different perspective.
In addition to the role of the architectural monument and tourist object the Cathedral and performs its job. Contrary to erroneous opinion, it is the Church of Barcelona, which are of primary importance.
In the Gothic quarter is not less interesting places to visit. For example, the plaça Sant Jaume, the main square of the quarter, which has preserved its historical view of the times of the Middle ages. there are buildings Continue reading
Picnic at family tower
Military towers is preserved in many Caucasian republics. They are in remote areas of Dagestan, they are collected almost again in Chechnya, they are proud of in North Ossetia and Georgian Svaneti. But only in Jeirakh district of Ingushetia have Targonsky the basin in which all sides are piled real tower of the city, and some “skyscrapers” reach the height of a modern ten-storied house. And these stone villages still continue to live. On the weekends here come the lowland Ingush — to have a picnic near the family tower of his family and to tidy up the ancient stones. Summer wrestlers from around the world gather in the valley for the tournament “Battle in the mountains”. Shepherds lead the flock trails blazed by their ancestors. Almost every mountaineer invites travellers to visit for tea. But don’t believe them. Actually, instead of tea waiting for you a complete meal with a whole mountain of local dishes and a long leisurely conversations about life. A pair of these “cups of tea” — and a full belly is already thoroughly prevents mountain climbing. But to retreat when in front of towering proud ledged roof, impossible.
Finally, all the obstacles behind. Before us is a tower complex, a real medieval castle, with all the usual attributes: high stone walls, narrow staircases and even an analogue aerial lift bridge.
On the ground floor a wide residential tower (gala) kept cattle. On the second — staged home. The pagans believed that the fire is inhabited by the souls of the dead, Continue reading
Megaliths are prevalent worldwide mainly in coastal areas. In Europe they mostly date back to the Eneolithic and bronze age (3rd — 2nd Millennium BC), with the exception of the British Isles. Portugal and France. where megaliths belong to the Neolithic period (for example, Carrowmore in Ireland. Almendres in Portugal, Barnen in Brittany and Buganski necropolis in the Department of Poitou — Charentes. France). Megalithic monuments are especially numerous and diverse in Brittany. Also a large number of megaliths found on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. in Portugal. part of France. on the West coast of England, in Ireland. Denmark. on the southern coast of Sweden and in Israel. In the early twentieth century it was widely believed that all megaliths belonged to one global megalithic culture. but modern research and Dating methods disprove this assumption.
The most common megalithic structure in Europe — the dolmen is a chamber or vault standing upright hewn monoliths, on which rests one or more large flat stones that make up the “roof”. Many of them, though not all, contain the remains of people buried inside. If the main purpose of burial buildings, or humans were sacrificed, was buried in in connection with the execution of Continue reading
The builders of Gothic cathedrals
The origins of the spiritual search
Historian Christian Jacques in the book “the Message of the builders of the cathedrals” writes about the medieval master masons: “there is No romanticism in extremely harsh work these people, no exaggerated sentimentality constant routine construction projects. A spiritual search for them — everyday an adventure, a battle to reveal their true nature, to know yourself through the truth of architecture, sculpture and the mastery of professional skills”.
The origins of this spiritual quest, this active spiritual life to be found in the monasteries of that time. They at the end of the Millenniu Continue reading