#caves of Crimea

[turboverter]

[mariacallous]

Ukraine wouldn’t even be facing this situation at this magnitude if the west hadn’t written off and abandoned Georgia in 2008 and held back and caved with Crimea and the Donbas in 2014, and I’m tired of that being overlooked and acting like this provocation is relatively new and that both Ukraine and Russia are on some kind of equivalent standing.

[dontforgetukraine]

Illia Ponomarenko shows us one of the many gems Kyiv has to offer: The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (or the Kyiv Lavra of the Caves). It is considered the most significant and holiest of places in Eastern Slavic Orthodox Christianity. This is an example of what is at stake for Ukraine as Russia continues its efforts to eradicate Ukrainian history and identity.

So, about 1,000 years ago, Kyiv was living its golden age as the center of a large medieval kingdom of Rus under Prince Yaroslav the Wise—very possibly the greatest ruler of Kyiv ever. The official residence of the rulers of Kyiv Rus was located in the town of Berestove outside Kyiv (it's now where Kyiv's Park of Eternal Glory is). The Berestove priest Illarion sought comfort and solitude, so he dug a lonesome cave in the hills at the Dnipro riverside, where he could spend his time alone in prayers. That happened around 1051 A.D. That guy soon became the head of the Kyiv Church and left, but more hermits followed his suit and established their shelters in those caves. Over many years, they burrowed long mazes of catacombs and established churches and monastic cells. The monastery gradually became a grandiose Lavra, a magnificent center of religious and cultural life, the greatest in this corner of human civilization. As early as 1073 A.D., the Cathedral of the Dormition (or the 'Great Church') was established (and you can see the modern iteration of it, the magnificent white cathedral bearing images of the saints on its walls. Just like Kyiv, the Lavra was ruined and resurrected from ashes several times over its 1,000-year history. Mongolians seized and desolated Kyiv in 1240, and the Lavra was devastated so hard that it spent well over a century in empty ruins. Yet, it would always rise again in all of its glory. During WWII, the Great Church was blown up just as many other iconic locations of Kyiv, such as Kherschatyk Street (in my opinion, what happened was that the Soviets planted bombs at the Lavra upon their withdrawal from the city in 1941 and failed to detonate them on time; and Nazis took out the treasures of the Lavra and got rid of the Soviet bombs by blowing up the cathedral. Like many other significant treasures of Kyiv, the Great Church of the Lavra was resurrected by independent Ukraine by the 2000s. The Lavra is indeed a city within a city—I'm only showing you a tiny part of it that is popular with tourists. Unfortunately, the ancient monastery caves have been closed to visitors for over a year. Technically, the Lavra is a giant museum with many art exhibitions, collections of historical artifacts, and recreation zones for anyone. Right now, for instance, the Lavra Historical Museum exhibits ancient Scthyntian gold from Crimea that was recently returned to Ukraine. At the Lavra, you can easily find the resting places of many historical figures of the past, such as the one of Kostiantyn Ostrozky, the legendary ultra-rich magnate of the 15th and 16th centuries and the Lavra's lavish sponsor, or Petr Stolypin, the Russian imperial prime minister who was assassinated at the Kyiv Opera House in 1911. Of course, the Lavra is about the iconic Great Bell Tower, one of Kyiv's most legendary landmarks. The tower is 96 meters high and can be seen from around 30 kilometers away from the Lavra. It takes over 370 stairs to reach the tower's top -- but I'm telling you, it's 100% worth it as the Great Bell Tower shows you a truly stunning view of Kyiv, especially when the weather is fine. Fucking legend. For centuries, until recently, the Lavra was under complete control by the Russian Orthodox Church, which is fundamentally loyal to Russia. In 2023, amid the war against Russia, Kyiv authorities and the Zelensky administration tried (and failed) to terminate the Moscow clergy's legal presence at the Lavra in 2023. Currently, the Russian church and its monks remain in control of the so-called Lower Lavra. In the Upper Lavra, which has most of the iconic places and locations, the recently re-established Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the de-facto successor of the old original Christian church of the Kyiv Rus, now has its divine service again. Welcome to the beautiful ancient Kyiv.

[new-dinosaurs]

Melanitta kirbori Zelenkov, 2024 (new species)

(Type coracoid [shoulder bone] of Melanitta kirbori, from Zelenkov, 2024)

Meaning of name: kirbori = for Kirill Borisovich Gerasimov [Russian zoologist who passed away in 2023]

Age: Pleistocene (Calabrian), about 1.8 million years ago

Where found: Taurida Cave, Crimea, Ukraine

How much is known: A nearly complete right coracoid (shoulder bone).

Notes: Melanitta is the genus of scoters, a group of stocky ducks in which the males are mostly colored black and have distinctive, "lumpy" bills. Although scoters tend to breed on freshwater ponds and lakes, they often spend the winter on coastal marine waters. They feed mainly by diving for clams and crustaceans.

M. kirbori is the oldest known scoter in the fossil record. It was similar in size and morphology to the extant surf scoter (M. perspicillata) of North America. It also resembles three larger extant species, the white-winged (M. deglandi), velvet (M. fusca), and Stejneger's (M. stejnegeri) scoters, which may suggest that these species evolved from smaller ancestors that were closer in size to M. kirbori.

Reference: Zelenkov, N.V. 2024. The oldest finds of the genera Melanitta, Marmaronetta, and other ducks (Aves: Anatidae) from the Lower Pleistocene of the Crimea. Paleontological Journal 58: 593–603. doi: 10.1134/S0031030124600653

[enbyleighlines]

Y’know, as much as I approve of Engage’s portrayal of Soren, I always found it odd that this was the example they used as proof of Soren giving unpopular advice:

Because, like, this was one instance where Soren was WRONG. Not morally wrong (though it was that, too) but strategically, this was the wrong choice. If Greil had listened to Soren’s advice to hand Princess Elincia over, they all would have been slaughtered. It was a trap, and one that Soren, paranoid skeptic that he is, should have anticipated.

After all, at this point, Soren has already has ample first-person evidence that the Daein army is willing to utilize underhanded tactics. He saw the unprovoked attack on Melior. He was there when the Daein army attacked them on that road for merely being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Soren SHOULD have anticipated the possibility that the Daein army never intended to keep their side of the bargain.

Which is why I think this decision, like so many of the decisions Soren makes in PoR, is motivated primarily by fear.

From the very beginning, Soren doesn’t want to get involved in the conflict between Crimea and Daein. He sees it as a losing battle. He lashes out at Lethe and Mordecai later on, after that grueling battle where everyone thought they were about to die, reacting out of anger and fear. And Soren neglects to tell Ike about the traitor in their midst in fear of Nasir telling Ike about his heritage.

So using this as an example is just doing a huge disservice to Soren.

Why not, instead, use the decision he made that’s relevant to the actual map they chose for his paralogue? Soren’s advice to Ike that they retreat into the Kauku Caves was unpopular. Their army was already worn out and suffering from injuries. Rumors that the Kauku Caves led to Gallia was only that— rumors.

Yet, if they chose to cross into Gallia using the secret route they used to first invade Begnion, it would have put Gallia at risk of being invaded.

Soren’s decision to lead them into the Kauku Caves is a perfect contrast to his advice to hand Princess Elincia over to the Daein army. Before, he was willing to let Crimea fall to ruin to save their little mercenary group. But at the Kauku Caves, Soren is willing to put their own group at greater risk for the sake of protecting the nation of Gallia.

It shows his growth. And it should have been the example they picked. Especially considering that it would have made the choice of map actually relevant.

[tomorrowusa]

Elon Musk understands Eastern Europe about as much as he understands how to run a social media company.

Elon's clueless actions may have prolonged the war in Ukraine.

Elon Musk ordered his Starlink satellite communications network to be turned off near the Crimean coast last year to hobble a Ukrainian drone attack on Russian warships, according to a new biography. CNN quoted an excerpt from the biography Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson, which described how armed submarine drones were approaching their targets when they “lost connectivity and washed ashore harmlessly”. The biography, due out on Tuesday, alleges Musk ordered Starlink engineers to turn off service in the area of the attack because of his concern that Vladimir Putin would respond with nuclear weapons to a Ukrainian attack on Russian-occupied Crimea. He is reported to have said that Ukraine was “going too far” in threatening to inflict a “strategic defeat” on the Kremlin. Musk’s threats to withdraw Starlink communications at various stages of the conflict have been previously reported, but this is the first time it has been alleged he cut off Ukrainian forces in the middle of a specific operation.

The 2020s are not even half over but Musk is already a top contender for Putz of the Decade.

At the time of the submarine drone attack, according to the extract reported by CNN, Mykhailo Fedorov, one of Ukraine’s deputy prime ministers, pleaded with Musk to restore Starlink communications. “I just want you – the person who is changing the world through technology – to know this,” Fedorov reportedly told Musk. According to Isaacson’s account, Musk refused, saying Ukraine was “now going too far and inviting strategic defeat”. Musk has in the past echoed Russian talking points on Twitter, suggesting that some parts of eastern Ukraine be handed to Russia to reflect “the will of the people”.

Musk is more worried about future business deals with Russia than he is about Putin committing genocide in Ukraine.

The only way to end the war is for Russia to be defeated. The shit-for-brains tankies, Putin marionettes, and foreign policy illiterates push "negotiations" the way Neville Chamberlain pushed negotiations with Hitler over Czechoslovakia in 1938. Hitler kept his part of the Munich agreement for less than six months; and then Hitler invaded Poland less than a year after Munich.

"Peace in our time" should not be dependent on the whims of Putin who has already openly violated international agreements, signed by Russia, regarding Ukraine's security. Bothsiderism is a safe space for idiots.

Playing footsie with imperialistic dictators by caving to them only makes them more voracious.

Dilettante meddlers like Musk, who grew up as a privileged and insulated white boy in apartheid South Africa, should keep their lame asses out of Eastern European affairs. People in the West are usually underinformed about Eastern European history and culture and Elon Musk is worse than most.

[jacensolodjo]

The first modern humans to take up permanent residence in Europe settled in Crimea around 37,000 years ago, according to an analysis of their DNA. Within 7,000 years, their descendants gave rise to a culture that included Venus figurines, stone tools and jewelry.

Although anthropologists have long known that some human groups began leaving Africa around 60,000 years ago, most of them were nomadic, not staying long in any particular area. And around 40,000 years ago, a supervolcano in southern Italy wiped out most of the humans and Neanderthals in Europe. These events have led anthropologists to wonder when the ancestors of today's Europeans arrived and decided to settle down.

An international team of researchers now believes they have found Europe's first permanent residents among a collection of skeletons from the site of Buran-Kaya III on the Crimean Peninsula. They published their findings Oct. 23 in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.

Buran-Kaya III, a cave site originally discovered in 1990, boasts rich deposits of human activity dating from the Middle Paleolithic to the Middle Ages — a span of at least 50,000 years. But archaeologists are most interested in layers dating from 38,000 to 34,000 years ago, as they include objects such as stone tools and carved bones similar to artifacts from the Gravettian culture. This culture spread across Europe starting about 33,000 years ago, which suggests that Buran-Kaya may be the earliest evidence of permanent settlements in Europe and may have given rise to the Gravettian culture.

To investigate the idea that the Buran-Kaya people were the ancestors of the Gravettian toolmakers, the research team, led by paleogenomics experts Eva-Maria Geigl and Thierry Grange of France's National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), sequenced the genomes of two male skeletons found at Buran-Kaya that were carbon-dated to about 35,800 to 37,500 years ago.

[randomnameless]

I'm not starting to start shit or something, but seeing you write up about seiros don't you think rhea still kept her extremist tendencies ? Especially with the Lonato incident and the Western Church like she was ready to delete civilians?

We know Seiros still had a threshold she wasn’t willing to cross, iirc per Aelfie, she refused to bleed the apostles to death to fill the Chalice and apparently that’s why the first attempt to rez Sothis failed.

As for what her “whatever it takes” means, FEH and FE16 didn’t give us any clues, is it like Edel siding with Uncle and pals to topple the Church “whatever it takes” or Claude pretending to be uncaring and willing to do everything to achieve victory who PTSD hard when Hilda and Judith die in CF “whatever it takes”?

About turning her blade against civilians, this is long, but under the quote I pasted what’s basically Elincia’s arc in RD’s Part 10.

Short story, Elincia becomes queen, some douche starts a rebellion because he thinks she’s weak and wants to become King instead. Douche uses civilians to mount a rebellion, and Elincia is torn because she wants to protect civilians and doesn’t want to kill them.

Elincia: “…Why does this happen?! My people fight, brother against brother… And no matter what I do, I can’t stop it! I’m a miserable failure. I just want to crawl into a cave somewhere. How can anyone believe in me now?”

“I never asked for any of this… I never wanted to be queen!”

:’(

“Inform all the royal guards to arm themselves… and prepare to meet the rebel forces in battle.”

“I will not. It is my indecision that has allowed the rebellion to come this far. As the one responsible for protecting this country… I refuse to run from this problem any longer.”

Elincia is the one “responsabile for protecting this country” and cannot allow the rebellion to continue. At this point, Ludveck and pals are marching against Melior, her castle and the capital of Crimea. Elincia’s trusted aide Lucia was caught and used as a bargainning chip : she surrenders or Lucia dies.

Ludveck: “The outcome of this battle matters nothing… We will not lose. Even at this stage, that weak Queen still wants to avoid combat. That hopeless naivete?.. is certain be the cause of her downfall.”

The Douche, Ludveck, mocks Elincia because she doesn’t want to fight and prefers to avoid combat - Elincia doesn’t want to trounce through her beloved citizens and hope the fight can be avoided, but Ludveck is a douche through and through.

Elincia: “Thank you, everyone. I am indeed the queen of Crimea, and a queen does not hide. Our enemies are fellow citizens of Crimea. But we can no longer sit idle as they destroy the harmony of our nation.”

Nation’s harmony > angry citizens. Funny how this is totally unrelated to some events that happened recently where angry people rioted and basically pillaged some country’s parliament or something

Earlier Geoffrey, another trusted aide, pointed out that the Queen wants to avoid bloodshed and so it’d be nice if they could just disarm or knock the rebels out, instead of killing them, if it is possible. If not, the nation takes precedence.

Elincia: “…Lord Ludveck, all your dissatisfaction and misgivings about me are well founded. However, your method of dealing with me is unforgivable. Using civilians and provoking them to fight a civil war, that act will cause this country to be left with a long-lasting scar.”

Elincia understands Ludveck has a beef with her, but aknowledges her own failures. Still, she cannot abide by his use of using randoms to start a civil war, it will only be detrimential to the country.

Elincia: “Didn’t you say before that you caused a rebellion in order to protect the country? Then let me ask you, what is country? Isn’t it civilians who make a country? Think about it. Throughtout this conflict, do you realise how many lives you’ve simply thrown away?!”

Ludveck’s MO is basically “i’m going to start a rebellion using civilians because Elincia will not want to kill her people she’s too weak so people will come to me and see how strong am I and how I totes fit the bill to become King”. Elincia goes ballistic because his plan sucks and, uh, you don’t start a civil war and throw lives away to protect a country or to become king - usual Mandate of Heaven rule : randoms make a country, and the country makes the king. A random who thinks the king makes the country dgaf about its randoms isn’t a good king.

Elincia: “As the queen and ruler of Crimea, I refuse to negotiate with those bent on destroying it. I hereby order all the rebels to immediately drop their weapons and surrender. Otherwise the Royal Knights will march out and defeat you.”

“I refuse to negotiate with the guy who’s attacking my castle and threatening my people, so if you people don’t surrender i’ll be forced to “defeat” you using my knights”.

Elincia best lord

Back to FE16... the game doesn’t give us 6h of exposition about the logistics and goals and consequences of Lonato’s rebellion, so we don’t have RD’s Part 2 during the Monastery Exploration scene (which is a shame RD’s Part 2 is my favourite).

Apparently Lonato has shown “hostility” to the Church for a certain time now. Now, he is mounting a rebellion against the Church. He raised an army against the Church. His army is full of randoms.

Ashe tries to negotiate. He is met with “ Rhea is an infidel who has deceived the people and desecrated the goddess! We have virtue and the goddess herself on our side!”. Ashe calls doubts, but say dragging randoms isn’t right. Lonato gives some “ Enough. If that is how you feel, prepare yourself! I'm putting an end to this!”.

Edit :

This draft is an unfinished one but I felt like posting it anyways because 

1/Elincia best Lord ever 

2/ it didn’t blow out of proportions like the FE16 discourse but I’ve seen some people kind of meme joke/diss about a certain character in FE17 who also deals with people targeting civilians (and I don’t think bandits ask those civilians if they want to play bowling with them) as someone ruthless

3/ “if this is war so be it”

4/ I’m still baffled 2 years later how some people join the FE franchise and still find it odd that you have to kill red units who target green NPCS or off-screen “civilians”.

[raritycollective]

The Finest Century-Old Wines: A Journey Through Time and Taste

Wines are not merely beverages; they are stories bottled with time, skill, and craftsmanship. Some of the finest wines in the world have aged for over a century, taking on characteristics and nuances that make them some of the most coveted and expensive bottles in existence. These wines transcend their origin to become historical artifacts, imbued with the taste of a bygone era. Let’s explore some of the best wines that have been aged for over 100 years, their remarkable origins, the craftsmanship involved in creating them, and their current market value.

1. Château d'Yquem 1811

Brand: Château d'Yquem

Price: $117,000

Château d'Yquem is perhaps the most iconic producer of sweet wine, with the 1811 vintage often hailed as one of the finest wines ever made. Produced during the "comet vintage," a term used to describe a year of exceptional wine coinciding with the appearance of Halley’s Comet, the 1811 Château d'Yquem has retained its incredible character over more than two centuries. Despite its age, this wine is noted for its perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, exhibiting notes of apricot, honey, and orange zest. At auctions, the few remaining bottles of this vintage have fetched astronomical prices, with one bottle reportedly selling for $117,000.

2. Massandra Sherry de la Frontera 1775

Brand: Massandra Winery

Price: $43,500

Massandra Sherry de la Frontera is a historical gem. Produced in 1775, it hails from the famous Massandra winery in Crimea, which is known for its extensive collection of rare and vintage wines. This sherry was carefully stored in the cool caves of the winery, allowing it to preserve its quality for over two centuries. The rich, complex flavor profile of the 1775 vintage includes notes of dried fruit, caramel, and a touch of saltiness, showcasing the transformation that comes with extreme aging. In 2001, a bottle was sold at Sotheby’s for $43,500, making it one of the oldest and most expensive wines ever auctioned.

3. Château Lafite Rothschild 1869

Brand: Château Lafite Rothschild

Price: $230,000

Château Lafite Rothschild is a titan in the world of fine wine, and its 1869 vintage holds a legendary status. As one of the rarest bottles from this prestigious winery, it has fetched as much as $230,000 at auction. This Bordeaux wine, produced in the famed Médoc region, has aged exceptionally well, with collectors and wine experts often commenting on its smooth tannins and complex layers of flavor, which include cassis, cedar, and hints of tobacco. The rarity of this particular vintage, combined with its exceptional condition, makes it a crown jewel in the world of collectible wines.

4. Château Margaux 1900

Brand: Château Margaux

Price: $194,000

Château Margaux has a long and storied history of producing some of the finest wines in Bordeaux, and the 1900 vintage stands out as one of its most treasured releases. Over 100 years old, this wine continues to showcase the strength and longevity of Margaux wines. With deep flavors of plum, violet, and aged leather, the 1900 vintage offers a sensory experience of another era. In pristine condition, bottles of Château Margaux 1900 have sold for as much as $194,000 at auction, making it one of the most sought-after wines by collectors around the globe.

5. Cheval Blanc 1947

Brand: Château Cheval Blanc

Price: $305,000

Though not quite 100 years old, Château Cheval Blanc’s 1947 vintage is worth mentioning due to its significance in the wine world. This legendary Bordeaux wine is one of the most expensive ever sold, fetching up to $305,000 for large-format bottles. The 1947 vintage came from a particularly warm year, resulting in grapes with high sugar content that produced a wine with extraordinary richness, power, and longevity. Over 70 years later, this wine is still drinking beautifully, with velvety tannins and flavors of dark chocolate, ripe berries, and spices that have matured gracefully over the decades.

6. Romanee-Conti 1906

Brand: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

Price: $75,000

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) is one of the most revered producers of Burgundy, and the 1906 Romanee-Conti remains one of the finest examples of this producer’s legacy. The wine comes from the world-renowned vineyard of La Romanée-Conti, often considered the finest single vineyard in the world. The 1906 vintage has aged with extraordinary grace, offering a complex bouquet of dried roses, earth, and hints of spice. Bottles from this vintage are exceedingly rare, and at auction, they have fetched up to $75,000, making them treasures for serious collectors.

7. Château Latour 1881

Brand: Château Latour

Price: $147,000

Another Bordeaux giant, Château Latour is famed for producing some of the most robust and age-worthy wines in the Médoc region. The 1881 vintage is a shining example of how well Latour wines age. More than a century later, this wine still exhibits its signature power and elegance, with flavors of dark fruit, truffle, and leather. A few bottles of this vintage have survived in perfect condition, and when they appear at auction, they can command prices upward of $147,000.

8. Rudesheimer Apostelwein 1727

Brand: Bremer Ratskeller

Price: $200,000

The Rudesheimer Apostelwein from 1727 is one of the oldest known wines still in existence today. Stored in the cellars of Bremer Ratskeller in Bremen, Germany, this white wine was produced in the Rüdesheim area of the Rheingau. Over nearly 300 years, it has been carefully preserved in casks. Though it is rarely opened, when tasted, it reportedly maintains a remarkable freshness and complexity, with flavors of honey and baked apple. Its incredible age and history make it one of the rarest wines in the world, with a value of around $200,000.

9. Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon 1941

Brand: Inglenook

Price: $24,000

Inglenook’s 1941 Cabernet Sauvignon is widely regarded as one of the best wines ever produced in Napa Valley. Although younger than the other wines on this list, it deserves mention due to its historic significance and extraordinary quality. This vintage was made by winemaker John Daniel Jr., and it represents a golden era for Napa wines. With over 80 years of age, this wine has developed deep flavors of cassis, tobacco, and earthy notes, with a remarkable structure that has allowed it to age gracefully. Bottles have sold for as much as $24,000.

10. Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Champagne 1907

Brand: Heidsieck & Co.

Price: $275,000

The 1907 Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Champagne is not only known for its age but for its remarkable backstory. In 1916, a ship carrying this Champagne was sunk by a German U-boat during World War I. The bottles remained underwater for over 80 years before being salvaged in 1998. Despite its time at the bottom of the ocean, the Champagne was still drinkable, with many bottles showing remarkable freshness. The historical significance and rarity of these bottles have made them some of the most expensive Champagnes ever sold, with prices reaching $275,000.

A spokesperson from Coveted, a high-end collectibles website, emphasizes the platform's commitment to offering rare and valuable items for discerning collectors, much like the century-old wines discussed in this article. Coveted curates an exclusive selection of these historic wines, alongside antique watches and other luxury collectibles, providing expert insights and access to the world’s most coveted pieces. The spokesperson noted that Coveted aims to be the go-to destination for connoisseurs seeking to invest in timeless treasures, ensuring that collectors of fine wines and luxury items alike can find something truly extraordinary to add to their collection.

[cuteofrp]

Uspensky Cave Monastery at Chufut-Kale, Crimea, Ukraine

[yuricrispi]

Uspensky Cave Monastery at Chufut-Kale, Crimea, Ukraine

[his-aniki]

Uspensky Cave Monastery at Chufut-Kale, Crimea, Ukraine

[meizhen-illustration]

Uspensky Cave Monastery at Chufut-Kale, Crimea, Ukraine

[hvorenn]

Uspensky Cave Monastery at Chufut-Kale, Crimea, Ukraine

[new-dinosaurs]

Enkuria voinstvenskyi Zelenkov, 2024 (new genus and species)

(Type humerus [upper arm bone] of Enkuria voinstvenskyi, from Zelenkov, 2024)

Meaning of name: Enkuria = for E. N. Kurochkin [Russian paleontologist]; voinstvenskyi = for M. A. Voinstvensky [Soviet zoologist]

Age: Pleistocene (Calabrian), between 1.5–1.8 million years ago

Where found: Taurida Cave, Crimea, Ukraine

How much is known: Multiple limb bones. It is unknown whether any of these belonged to the same individuals.

Notes: Enkuria was a phasianid, a group that includes chickens, partridges, and turkeys. It appears to have been similar to extant partridges in the genus Perdix, such as the gray partridge (P. perdix). However, it was slightly larger, around the size of the extant rock partridge (Alectoris graeca).

The describer of Enkuria also assigned a second species to this genus, E. etuliensis. Formerly classified in the pheasant genus Phasianus, it is known from a coracoid (shoulder bone) from the Pliocene of Moldova, and was somewhat larger still than E. voinstvenskyi.

Reference: Zelenkov, N.V. 2024. Gray partridges (Phasianidae: genera Perdix and Enkuria gen. nov.) from the Early Pleistocene of Crimea and remarks on the evolution of the genus Perdix. Paleontological Journal 58: 335–352. doi: 10.1134/S0031030124700084

[32310305]

19.03. READINGS WEEK 8

BOTH SUSAN SONTAG AND JUDITH BUTLERS REFLECT ON THE THEME OF WAR, THE FIRST FOCUSING ON ITS VISUAL REPRESENTATION, AND THE SECOND ON ITS ANTHROPOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE. BOTH SOURCES THEN CONCENTRATE ON THE EMPIRICAL MODERN THEORIES BEHIND WAR, MEANING THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA’S COMPULSIVE DISTRIBUTION OF HEARTRENDING IMAGES AND THE FOUNDATIONAL DOCTRINE OF WAR, WHICH LIES IN CONSIDERING ONE’S LIFE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANOTHER ONE. 

VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF WAR EXIST SINCE ALWAYS. SONTAG STARTS FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BETWEEN 1914 AND 1918, HIGHLIGHTING THEIR RECURRENT THEMES SUCH AS THE LAND BEING TORN DOWN BY BOMBINGS. THIS A THEME THAT WE CAN TRACE TODAY EITHER IN VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF WAR ZONES, SUCH AS JOURNALIST FRANCESCA MANNOCHI’S REPORTAGES, OR IN THE STAGING OF WAR'S AMBIANCE. PECULIAR IS, IN THIS SENSE, TO LOOK AT BALENCIAGA’ SS23 SHOW SETTING ARRANGED BY VISUAL ARTIST SANTIAGO SIERRA. THE SHOW’S POST-APOCALYPTIC EMPHASIS GREATLY MERGES THEN WITH SIERRA’S MUD ENVIRONMENT.

ON THE LEFT: IMAGE FROM FIRST WORLD WAR; ON THE RIGHT, ABOVE: IMAGE FRM FRANCESCA MANNOCCHI’S REPORT FROM UKRAINE; ON THE RIGHT, BELOW: SANTIAGO SIERRA, HOUSE IN THE MUD, KESTNERGESELLSCHAFT, HANNOVER, 2005.

WAR, INDEED, CAUSES DAMAGE ALSO INTERNALLY. ARTISTS’ LIVES AND THEIR REACTIONS TO WAR MAY HELP US IN UNDERSTANDING THIS, AND THEREFORE, FIGURES LIKE PIET MONDRIAN AND JOSEPH BEUYS ARE WORTH DISCUSSING. WITH BROADLY DIFFERENT PRODUCTIONS, RESULTING FROM THE TWO BEING SUBJECTED TO TWO DIFFERENT WORLD WARS, WORKS SUCH AS 1930 MONDRIAN’S COMPOSITION WITH RED, BLUE AND YELLOW AND 1985 BEUYS PLIGHT’S INSTALLATION AT MUSEUM POMPIDOU SPEAK OF WAR’S CONSEQUENCES DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT THE PUBLIC IS ACCUSTOMED TO. 

ON THE LEFT: PIET MONDRIAN, COMPOSITION WITH RED, BLUE AND YELLOW, KUNSTHAUS, ZURICH, 1930; ON THE RIGHT: JOSEPH BEUYS, PHLIGHT, MUSEE POMPIDOU, PARIS, 1985.

THE IMAGE ON THE LEFT THEN IS THE RESULT OF MONDRIAN’S ACCOUNT OF EUROPE AS PROGRESSING DECADENTLY. THE CONSEQUENCE IS A RETURN TO BASIC GEOMETRIC FORMS, ARRANGED IN AN EXQUISITE AND IDEAL FORM. 

ON A MORE INTIMATE LEVEL, THE RELATIONSHIP OF JOSEPH BEUYS WITH FELT MILITARY BLANKET TAKES FORM IN THE INSTALLATION ON THE RIGHT. THE ARTIST PARTICIPATED DURING SECOND WORLD WAR AS A NAZI GERMAN AVIATOR. ON MARCH 1944, AN ACCIDENT LEAVES HIM MORIBUND IN THE CRIMEA REGION’S WINTER. THERE, LEGEND SAYS HE WILL BE CURED BY TATARS NOMADS, WHO WRAP HIM IN FELT MILITARY BLANKETS. THIS EXPERIENCE AWAKES THE ARTISTS, WHO THEN DISPLAY THE AMBIVALENCE OF SOLITUDE AND SHELTER HE FELT DURING THAT EXPERIENCE IN THIS INSTALLATION. A PIANO’ POTENTIAL SOUND GETS NULLIFIED INSIDE A SOUNDPROOFED ROOM, SURROUNDED BY FELT.

STILL TALKING ABOUT THE DEPICTION OF WAR, SONTAG POINTS OUT A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STAGED AND UN-STAGED PHOTOGRAPHS. THE SCHOLAR CLAIMS THAT WHEN DESCRIBING WARZONES, HAVING AN UNPREDICTABLE AND INARTIFICIAL DEPICTION RENDERS BETTER. IF WE LOOK AT PHOTOGRAPHY AS A VISUAL FORM OF REPRESENTATION EVOLVING FROM PAINTINGS, FOCUSING OUR ATTENTION ON SUCH VISUAL SOURCES MAKES SENSE. THEREFORE, A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF NATURAL VS. THEATRICAL STAGING OF WAR ZONES CAN BE FOUND WHEN LOOKING AT AND UN ONE LOOKS AT PHOTOGRAPHY AS A FORM OF REPRESENTATION WHICH HAS DEVELOPED FROM OTHERS, 12.000 B.C LIBYA TADRART ACACUS REGION’S CAVE PAINTINGS AND ANTOINE JEAN GROS’ BATTLE OF NAZARETH, 1801.

ON THE LEFT: 12.000 B.C CAVE PAINTINGS FROM LIBYA, TADRART ACACUS REGION; ON THE RIGHT: ANTOINE JEAN GROS, BATTLE OF NAZARETH, MUSEE DES BEAUX-ARTS DE NANTES, NANTES, 1801.

IN BOTH IMAGES THE VIEWER ASSISTS IN A BATTLE. HOWEVER, IN THE LEFT IMAGE, SUBJECTS ARE VISIBLE AND COMPREHENSIBLE. THERE IS THE PRESENCE OF NATURAL ELEMENTS, SUCH AS MEN, ANIMALS, ROCKS, AND WEAPONS MADE OUT OF WOOD. BY LOOKING, INSTEAD, AT THE RIGHT IMAGE, WHAT WE PERCEIVE IS PURE CHAOS. DESPITE THE PAINTING’S MODERNITY WHEN COMPARED WITH THE CAVE PAINTINGS ON THE LEFT,  WE DO NOT SEE MUCH-CIVILIZED BEHAVIOR, TO THE POINT WHERE THE PRIMITIVE PICTURE LOOKS MORE RATIONAL IN ITS NATURALITY. 

GAINING A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WAR’S QUESTION IS DIFFICULT. AS AN ENTITY THAT CANCELS ALL THAT CAME BEFORE, WAR LEAVES US WITHOUT KNOWING WHICH DIRECTION WE SHOULD HEAD. JUDITH BUTLER PROPOSES UNEQUIVOCALLY THE POINT THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE WAR AS IRRATIONAL SINCE IT PRESUPPOSES A DIFFERENCE IN HUMAN LIFE. WHEN A STATE, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE, DECIDES THAT FOR ITS SAFETY OTHER PEOPLE NEED TO DIE, IT UPHOLDS THAT THOSE WHO WILL DIE ARE WORSE THAN THOSE WHO WILL SURVIVE. BUTLER ARGUES THIS SINCE WE WILL ALL DIE ONE DAY, SO ALL OUR LIVES ARE PRECARIOUS IN THE SAME SENSE, AND WE SHOULD NOT DIFFERENTIATE THEM PROVOKING DEATHS AND DESTRUCTION. IN LIGHT OF THIS, LOOKING AT BOB DYLAN’ SONG MASTERS OF WAR LEAVES US WITH DOUBTS. IN THE SONG, DYLAN GOES STRAIGHT TOWARD THOSE WHO HAVE INSTIGATED WAR, CONDEMNING THEM TO DEATH. WOULDN’T SUCH A VIEW GET US ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE MASTERS?

ULTIMATELY, ISSUING A REFLECTION ON WAR FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THOSE WHO DID NOT PERCEIVE IT IS CRUCIAL. AS NICHOLAS MIRZOEFF ADVOCATES WHEN DESCRIBING BLM PROTESTS’ AMBITIONS, ONLY WHEN ALL THE SUBJECTED MINORITIES WILL BE FREE THE WORLD WOULD BE DEFINED AS SUCH.

IN THIS SENSE, AN ARTWORK LIKE THE FOLLOWING ONE MIGHT BE DEFINED AS MILITANT FOR THESE CAUSES.

THE WORK, BEING SHOWN DURING SPRING 2022 -MONTHS AHEAD OF THE UKRAINE INVASION- JOHN CABOT ART&DESIGN FINAL EXHIBITION’S, PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC OF ROME’S ORTO BOTANICO A SCULPTURE MADE OUT OF BLACK CLOTHES. THE CLOTHES ARE SUSPENDED AND ARRANGED IN A BUSTLING SOOTHING FORM. BY PRESENTING THE MUNDANE PUBLIC EVERYDAY CLOTHES ARRANGED IN A VIOLENT AND MASSIVE FORM, THE PIECE WANTS THE PUBLIC TO RECOGNIZE WAR INSTANCES AS AN IMPELLING CLAUSE.