text:
import string
import sys

class CrfTokenizer:
    """The tokenization rules take into account embedded HTML tags and
entities. HTML tags begin with "<" and end with ">". The contents of a
tag are treated as a single token, although internal spaces, tabs, and
newlines are stripped out so as not to confuse CRF++. HTML entities
begin with "&" and end with ";", with certain characters allowed
inbetween. They are treated as single tokens.

HTML tags and HTML entities optionally can be skipped (omitted form the
output array of tokens) after recognition.

There are risks to the HTML processing rules when the text being
tokenized is not proper HTML.  Left angle brackets can cause the
following text to become a single token.  Ampersands can merge into
the following textual word.

A possible solution to the bare ampersand problem is to recognize only
the defined set of HTML entities. It is harder to think of a solution
to the bare left angle bracket problem; perhaps check if they are
followed by the beginning of a valid HTML tag name?

There is also special provision to group contiguous punctuation characters.

The way to use this tokenizer is to create an instance of it, set any
processing flags you need, then call the tokenize(value) function,
which will return the tokens in an array.

To tokenize, breaking on punctuation without recognizing HTML tags and
entities, try:

t = CrfTokenizer()
tokens = t.tokenize(value)

To tokenize, breaking on punctuation and recognizing both HTML tags and
entites as special tokens, try:

t = CrfTokenizer()
t.setRecognizeHtmlEntities(True)
t.setRecognizeHtmlTags(True)
tokens = t.tokenize(value)

To tokenize, breaking on punctuation, recognizing and HTML tags and
entities, and skipping the tags, try:

t = CrfTokenizer()
t.setRecognizeHtmlEntities(True)
t.setRecognizeHtmlTags(True)
t.setSkipHtmlTags(True)
tokens = t.tokenize(value)

The following sequence will tokenize, strip HTML tags, then join the tokens
into a string.  The final result will be the input string with HTML entities
treated as single tokens, HTML tags stripped out, punctuation separated from
adjacent words, and excess white space removed.

t = CrfTokenizer()
t.setRecognizeHtmlEntities(True)
t.setRecognizeHtmlTags(True)
t.setSkipHtmlTags(True)
result = t.tokenize(value).join(" ")

The same as above, but with punctuation remaining glued to adjacent words:

t = CrfTokenizer()
t.setRecognizePunctuation(False)
t.setRecognizeHtmlTags(True)
t.setSkipHtmlTags(True)
result = t.tokenize(value).join(" ")
    """

    whitespaceSet = set(string.whitespace)
    punctuationSet = set(string.punctuation)
    htmlEntityNameCharacterSet = set(['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f', 'g', 'h', 'i', 'j', 'k', 'l', 'm',
                                      'n', 'o', 'p', 'q', 'r', 's', 't', 'u', 'v', 'w', 'x', 'y', 'z',
                                      'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E', 'F', 'G', 'H', 'I', 'J', 'K', 'L', 'M',
                                      'N', 'O', 'P', 'Q', 'R', 'S', 'T', 'U', 'V', 'W', 'X', 'Y', 'Z',
                                      '0', '1', '2', '3', '4', '5', '6', '7', '8', '9', '#'])
    START_HTML_TAG_CHAR = "<"
    END_HTML_TAG_CHAR = ">"
    START_HTML_ENTITY_CHAR = "&"
    END_HTML_ENTITY_CHAR = ";"

    def __init__ (self):
        self.groupPunctuation = False
        self.recognizeHtmlEntities = False
        self.recognizeHtmlTags = False
        self.recognizePunctuation = True # Notice
        self.skipHtmlEntities = False
        self.skipHtmlTags = False
        self.tokenPrefix = None

    def setGroupPunctuation (self, groupPunctuation):
        """When True and self.recognizePunctuation is True, group adjacent punctuation
        characters into a token.

        """
        self.groupPunctuation = groupPunctuation

    def setRecognizeHtmlEntities (self, recognizeHtmlEntities):
        """When True, assume that the text being parsed is HTML.  Recognize HTML
        entities, such as ">", and parse them into single tokens (e.g.,
        ">" instead of ["&", "gt", ";"]).

        """
        self.recognizeHtmlEntities = recognizeHtmlEntities

    def setRecognizeHtmlTags (self, recognizeHtmlTags):
        """When True, assume that the text being parsed is HTML.  Recognize HTML tags,
        such as "<bold>", and parse them into single tokens (e.g., "<bold>"
        instead of ["<", "bold", ">"]).

        """
        self.recognizeHtmlTags = recognizeHtmlTags

    def setRecognizePunctuation (self, recognizePunctuation):
        """When True, treate punctuation characters as separate tokens.

        """
        self.recognizePunctuation = recognizePunctuation

    def setSkipHtmlEntities (self, skipHtmlEntities):
        """When True and when self.recognizeHtmlEntities is True, skip HTML entities instead of storing them as tokens.

        """
        self.skipHtmlEntities = skipHtmlEntities

    def setSkipHtmlTags (self, skipHtmlTags):
        """When True and when self.recognizeHtmlTags is True, skip HTML tags instead
        of storing them as tokens.

        """
        self.skipHtmlTags = skipHtmlTags

    def setTokenPrefix (self, tokenPrefix):
        """When non None, a string that should be prepended to each token. This may be
        useful when tokens are being generated from different sources, and it
        is desired to be able to distinguish the source of a token.

        """
        self.tokenPrefix = tokenPrefix

    def tokenize (self, value):
        """Take a string and break it into tokens. Return the tokens as a list of
        strings.

        """

        # This code uses a state machine:
        class STATE:
            NORMAL = 0
            GROUP_PUNCTUATION = 1
            PROCESS_HTML_TAG = 2
            PROCESS_HTML_ENTITY = 3

        # "state" and "token" have array values to allow their
        # contents to be modified within finishToken().
        state = [STATE.NORMAL]
        token = [""] # The current token being assembled.
        tokens = [] # The tokens extracted from the input.

        def clearToken():
            """Clear the current token and return to normal state."""
            token[0] = ""
            state[0] = STATE.NORMAL

        def emitToken():
            """Emit the current token, if any, and return to normal state."""
            if len(token[0]) > 0:
                tokens.append(token[0])
            clearToken()

        def fixBrokenHtmlEntity():
            # This is not a valid HTML entity.
            # TODO: embedded "#" characters should be treated better
            # here.
            if not self.recognizePunctuation:
                # If we aren't treating punctuation specially, then just treat
                # the broken HTML entity as an ordinary token.
                #
                # TODO: This is not quite correct.  "x& " should
                # be treated as a single token, althouth "s & "
                # should result in two tokens.
                state[0] = STATE.NORMAL
                return
            if self.groupPunctuation:
                # If all the saved tokens are punctuation characters, then
                # enter STATE.GROUP_PUNCTUATION insted of STATE.NORMAL.
                sawOnlyPunctuation = True
                for c in token[0]:
                    if c not in CrfTokenizer.punctuationSet:
                        sawOnlyPunctuation = False
                        break
                if sawOnlyPunctuation:
                    state[0] = STATE.GROUP_PUNCTUATION
                    return

            # Emit the ampersand that began the prospective entity and use the
            # rest as a new current token.
            saveToken = token[0]
            token[0] = saveToken[0:1]
            emitToken()
            if len(saveToken) > 1:
                token[0] = saveToken[1:]
            # The caller should continue processing with the current
            # character.

        # Process each character in the input string:
        for c in value:
            if state[0] == STATE.PROCESS_HTML_TAG:
                if c in CrfTokenizer.whitespaceSet:
                    continue # Suppress for safety. CRF++ doesn't like spaces in tokens, for example.
                token[0] += c
                if c == CrfTokenizer.END_HTML_TAG_CHAR:
                    if self.skipHtmlTags:
                        clearToken()
                    else:
                        emitToken()
                continue

            if state[0] == STATE.PROCESS_HTML_ENTITY:
                # Parse an HTML entity name. TODO: embedded "#"
                # characters imply more extensive parsing rules should
                # be performed here.
                if c == CrfTokenizer.END_HTML_ENTITY_CHAR:
                    if len(token[0]) == 1:
                        # This is the special case of "&;", which is not a
                        # valid HTML entity.  If self.groupPunctuation is
                        # True, return to normal parsing state in case more
                        # punctuation follows.  Otherwise, emit "&" and ";" as
                        # separate tokens.
                        if not self.recognizePunctuation:
                            # TODO: This is not quite correct.  "x&;" should
                            # be treated as a single token, althouth "s &;"
                            # should result in two tokens.
                            token[0] = token[0] + c
                            state[0] = STATE.NORMAL
                        elif self.groupPunctuation:
                            token[0] = token[0] + c
                            state[0] = STATE.GROUP_PUNCTUATION
                        else:
                            emitToken() # Emit the "&" as a seperate token.
                            token[0] = token[0] + c
                            emitToken() # Emit the ";' as a seperate token.
                        continue
                    token[0] = token[0] + c
                    if self.skipHtmlEntities:
                        clearToken()
                    else:
                        emitToken()
                    continue
                elif c in CrfTokenizer.htmlEntityNameCharacterSet:
                    token[0] = token[0] + c
                    continue
                else:
                    # This is not a valid HTML entity.
                    fixBrokenHtmlEntity()
                    # intentional fall-through

            if c in CrfTokenizer.whitespaceSet:
                # White space terminates the current token, then is dropped.
                emitToken()

            elif c == CrfTokenizer.START_HTML_TAG_CHAR and self.recognizeHtmlTags:
                emitToken()
                state[0] = STATE.PROCESS_HTML_TAG
                token[0] = c

            elif c == CrfTokenizer.START_HTML_ENTITY_CHAR and self.recognizeHtmlEntities:
                emitToken()
                state[0] = STATE.PROCESS_HTML_ENTITY
                token[0] = c

            elif c in CrfTokenizer.punctuationSet and self.recognizePunctuation:
                if self.groupPunctuation:
                    # Finish any current token.  Concatenate
                    # contiguous punctuation into a single token:
                    if state[0] != STATE.GROUP_PUNCTUATION:
                        emitToken()
                        state[0] = STATE.GROUP_PUNCTUATION
                    token[0] = token[0] + c
                else:
                    # Finish any current token and form a token from
                    # the punctuation character:
                    emitToken()
                    token[0] = c
                    emitToken()

            else:
                # Everything else goes here. Presumably, that includes
                # Unicode characters that aren't ASCII
                # strings. Further work is needed.
                if state[0] != STATE.NORMAL:
                    emitToken()
                token[0] = token[0] + c

        # Finish any final token and return the array of tokens:
        if state[0] == STATE.PROCESS_HTML_ENTITY:
            fixBrokenHtmlEntity()
        emitToken()

        # Was a token prefix requested? If so, we'll apply it now.  If the
        # normal case is not to apply a token prefix, this might be a little
        # more efficient than applying the prefix in emitToken().
        if self.tokenPrefix is not None and len(self.tokenPrefix) > 0:
            tokens = map(lambda x: self.tokenPrefix + x, tokens)

        return tokens

def main(argv=None):
    '''this is called if run from command line'''

    t = CrfTokenizer()
    print t.tokenize("This is a sentence.")
    print t.tokenize("Buy???This...Now!!!")
    print t.tokenize("The <bold>only</bold> source.")
    print t.tokenize("The<bold>only</bold>source.")
    print t.tokenize("Big>little.")
    print t.tokenize("Big & little.")
    print t.tokenize("blond&curly.")
    print t.tokenize("&brokenHtml")
    t.setGroupPunctuation(True)
    t.setRecognizeHtmlTags(True)
    t.setRecognizeHtmlEntities(True)
    print t.tokenize("Buy???This...Now!!!")
    print t.tokenize("The <bold>only</bold> source.")
    print t.tokenize("The<bold>only</bold>source.")
    print t.tokenize("Big>little.")
    print t.tokenize("Big & little.")
    print t.tokenize("blond&curly.")
    print t.tokenize("&brokenHtml")
    t.setSkipHtmlTags(True)
    t.setSkipHtmlEntities(True)
    print t.tokenize("Buy???This...Now!!!")
    print t.tokenize("The <bold>only</bold> source.")
    print t.tokenize("The<bold>only</bold>source.")
    print t.tokenize("Big>little.")
    print t.tokenize("Big & little.")
    print t.tokenize("blond&curly.")
    print t.tokenize("&brokenHtml")
    t.setTokenPrefix("X:")
    print t.tokenize("Tokenize with prefixes.")
    t.setTokenPrefix(None)
    print t.tokenize("No more  prefixes.")
    t.setRecognizePunctuation(False)
    print t.tokenize("This is a sentence.")
    print t.tokenize("Buy???This...Now!!!")
    print t.tokenize("The <bold>only</bold> source.")
    print t.tokenize("The<bold>only</bold>source.")
    print t.tokenize("Big>little.")
    print t.tokenize("Big & little.")
    print t.tokenize("blond&curly.")
    print t.tokenize("&brokenHtml")

# call main() if this is run as standalone
if __name__ == "__main__":
    sys.exit(main())

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Is the New York Times required to register with the government under the same Foreign Agents Registration Act that Robert Mueller has cited against former Trump aides Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn? That's the topic of my latest column. Please check it out in full at the New Boston Post (here), New York Sun (here), and Newsmax (here).


Jan.15 (GMM) Singapore's formula one street layout is likely to undergo changes ahead of the 2009 race, a spokesman for the grand prix organiser has confirmed.
Reports recently suggested the first sequence of corners could be reshaped to aid overtaking, while the track's harsh bumps could be smoothed out.
A spokesman for organisers Singapore GP said talks with the FIA about changes to the night venue are taking place.
"We are currently reviewing all the areas of the track and the event with the FIA," he told the Straits Times. "However, it is too early to make any specific comments."


When you need added services or special handling of any kind, CES is there to make it happen around the corner or around the world. Continental Expedited Services has everything on hand to safely package, transport and unload virtually anything.
CES makes simplicity a priority. Our staff is trained to handle all the details, paperwork and red-tape associated with special transportation needs so that you don't have to.
Cuando requieres servicio con valor agregado y manejo especial para cualquier tipo de mercancía.
Entregas y recolecciones en eventos especiales.


text:
Be in touch.
9865 W. Leland Ave.
Schiller Park, IL 60176
Market update: China and Hong Kong react to COVID Omicron Wave
As the U.S. deals with COVID-driven staffing shortages throughout supply chain actors here, the reaction in China and Hong Kong has not been to work through them, but to further constrict and constrain. Much of this is driven by China's "Zero COVID tolerance" policy, which means one infection is one infection too many and they will react swiftly and strongly to prevent further transmission.
In the northern port city of Tianjin, reporting is that port operations are back to normal, but the government has imposed quarantine requirements on drivers moving between provinces, preventing truckers from returning until fourteen days later after bringing a load to the port. This of course affects the ability to move loaded and empty containers bi-directionally between the port and factories.
The border between Shenzhen and Hong Kong remains virtually closed following the discovery of COVID-positive travelers. China has claimed that the virus was brought into the country on imported goods, a sparsely-supported theory.
On the airside, Hong Kong has instituted a two-week ban on flights from travelers from a list of countries that began January 8th. Subsequent to that announcement, they announced restrictions on transit passengers from 150 countries, further crippling Hong Kong's status as both an originator of flights and a hub for people traveling between other countries in the region and around the world.
In a move that upset the U.S. government and is perhaps retaliatory in nature, China has increased the cancellation of flights between the U.S. and the mainland, further reducing shipping options for companies needing to urgently move their goods by air in order to avoid the delays plaguing the ocean modality.
We continue to work with our partners throughout the region to react as quickly to this ever-changing landscape. For more information, feel free to reach out to your Camelot representative with any questions.
Ask Camelot: Incoterms®
Prior to the rapid ascent of freight rates and imposition…
Prior to the rapid ascent of freight rates and imposition of storage, demurrage, and detention charges, the importance of Incoterms was limited to basic cost items such as freight charges, destination terminal charges and duties and taxes. Today, as importers are engaged in a battle with carriers, terminals and sometimes…
Dutiable deductions: Yours for the taking
"Things as certain as death and taxes, can be more…
"Things as certain as death and taxes, can be more firmly believ'd." Daniel Dafoe, The Political History of the Devil, 1726 We can definitively say there's a third you can add to that list: "If you overpay Customs, they won't send you a refund. If you underpay Customs, they'll send…
Camelot is a full service Customs Brokerage and freight forwarding company located near O'Hare airport in Chicago, IL, offering worldwide logistics services.
Terms & Conditions and Sitemap
// OTI: 003137NF
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Vicki Lambert
Form W-2 and Form W-4 for 2022: The Information You Need to Know!
It is the end of the old year, and the start of the New Year! And so is the workload of Payroll Forms and filings. Are you and your payroll department ready? The end of the month of January marks the filing deadline of various Forms.
Join Clatid, with "The Payroll Advisor" Vicki M. Lambert, CPP as she helps you to understand the proper procedures for completion of Form W-2 and Form 941 for 2021 and reviews the Form W-4 for 2022. In this information-packed webinar. We will:
-Examine the requirements for completing and filing Form W-2 including a box-by-box explanation.
-Explore best practices for completing and reconciling Form W-2
-Discuss how to use the new form W-4 including the various new tables
-To understand the employer instructions in publication 15-T
Areas Covered in the Training
-Changes to the Form W-2 for 2022
-Line by line completion of the Form W-2
-Understanding the new W-2 codes
-Reconciliation of Form W-2 to Form 941-best practices on when and why it must be done
-Updated legislation impacting the 2021 Form W-2 and Updated legislation to consider for W-2 and 2022
-Review of the Form W-4 for 2022
-How to use the new Form W-4 including the various new tables
-Discover the various methods of calculating income tax withholding using current and prior year Forms W-4.
-Review of the employer instructions and publication 15-T
Suggested Attendees
-Payroll Executives/Managers/Administrators/Professionals/Practitioners/Entry Level Personnel
-Human Resources Executives/Managers/Administrators
-Accounting Personnel
-Business Owners/Executive Officers/Operations and Departmental Managers
-Lawmakers
-Attorneys/Legal Professionals
-Any individual or entity that must deal with the complexities and requirements of
-Payroll compliance
Vicki M. Lambert, CPP, is President and Academic Director of The Payroll Advisor™, a firm specializing in payroll education and training.
With nearly 40 years of hands-on experience in all facets of payroll functions as well as over three decades as a trainer and author, Ms. Lambert has become the most sought-after and respected voice in the practice and management of payroll issues. She has conducted open market training seminars on payroll issues across the United States that have been attended by executives and professionals from some of the most prestigious firms in business today.
A pioneer in electronic and online education, Ms. Lambert produces and presents payroll-related audio seminars, webinars, and webcasts for clients, APA chapters, and business groups throughout the country. Ms. Lambert is an adjunct faculty member at Brandman University in Southern California and is the creator of and instructor for their Practical Payroll Online program, which is approved for recertification hours by the APA. She is also the instructor for the American Payroll Association's "PayTrain" online program also offered by Brandman University.


text:
LIAM HENDRIKS
Astros dismiss sign-stealing implications by Chisox pitcher
The Houston Astros have found themselves in familiar territory, brushing aside comments by Chicago White Sox reliever Ryan Tepera after he implied they stole signs while winning the first two games of the AL Division Series in their ballpark.
García, Grandal star as White Sox beat Astros 12-6 in ALDS
Leury García and Yasmani Grandal homered, and Grandal's borderline baserunning helped the Chicago White Sox top the Houston Astros 12-6 to stay alive in their AL Division Series.
MLB draws 45.3M as fans return, down from 68.5M before COVID
Major League Baseball drew 45.3 million fans this year as fans gradually were allowed to return, down from 68.5 million over 2019 in the last season before the coronavirus pandemic.
Turner, Gurriel win batting titles in boom-and-bust season
Trea Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston's Yuli Gurriel won their first batting titles in a season of boom and bust that saw four teams lose 100 games for only the third time, and four 90-game winners in the AL East alone.
White Sox clinch AL Central with victory over Indians
The Chicago White Sox clinched their first AL Central title since 2008 with a 7-2 win over the Cleveland Indians behind two home runs by Tim Anderson in the opener of a doubleheader spit.
Gallo homers twice, Judge goes deep again, Yanks top ChiSox
Joey Gallo hit a two-run shot in the 10th inning for his second homer of the game, Aaron Judge went deep again and had four RBIs, and the New York Yankees outlasted the Chicago White Sox 7-5 in another back-and-forth thriller.
Anderson HR for Chisox, walkoff end in Field of Dreams game
Tim Anderson hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning into the cornfield to end the Field of Dreams game in cinematic fashion.
Chisox, Yanks go deep into corn; Field of Dreams hosts more
The New York Yankees, the Chicago White Sox and fans all over were in awe at the scene at the Field of Dreams game.
Goodwin homers, White Sox regroup to beat Cubs 8-6 in 10
Brian Goodwin led off the 10th inning with a two-run homer, and the Chicago White Sox regrouped after Craig Kimbrel blew a three-run lead against his former team to beat the rebuilding crosstown Cubs 8-6 at Wrigley Field.
White Sox rookie Zavala hits 3 HRs; Indians rally, win 12-11
White Sox rookie Seby Zavala hit the first three home runs of his career, including a grand slam, but the Cleveland Indians rallied to beat Chicago 12-11.
White Sox get closer Kimbrel from Cubs for Madrigal, Heuer
The Chicago White Sox have acquired closer Craig Kimbrel from the crosstown Cubs.
A uniform opinion: All-Star duds don't draw All-Star reviews
The All-Star uniforms were widely criticized on social media as the game was going on.
Giolito fires back at Donaldson, White Sox beat Twins 7-6
Lucas Giolito lobbed an expletive-laced response in Josh Donaldson's direction after the slugger appeared to yell "Not sticky anymore," after a first-inning homer, overshadowing Gavin Sheets' successful debut for the White Sox in a 7-6 victory over the Twins.
La Russa passes McGraw on wins list as White Sox beat Tigers
Tony La Russa moved into sole possession of second on baseball's career manager wins list, snapping a tie with John McGraw by directing the Chicago White Sox to a 3-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Mercedes hit in 9th, Chisox top Tigers; La Russa ties McGraw
Rookie Yermín Mercedes hit a game-ending single, Yasmani Grandal homered twice and the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 9-8.
Giolito fans 12, White Sox send Orioles to 13th loss in row
Lucas Giolito struck out 12 and the Chicago White Sox sent Baltimore to its 13th straight loss, beating the Orioles 3-1.
Hamilton, Abreu homer as White Sox complete sweep of Orioles
Billy Hamilton hit a solo home run, Jose Abreu hit a two-run homer, and Lance Lynn pitched five scoreless innings as the White Sox completed a sweep of their doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles with a 3-1 victory.
Giolito, White Sox beat Flaherty, Cards 8-3 in HS reunion
Lucas Giolito beat Jack Flaherty in a major league matchup of former high school teammates, leading the Chicago White Sox to an 8-3 victory over the sloppy St. Louis Cardinals.
More Inside a Studio Artists Captivating Ceramic Practice
Imbuing figurative forms with everyday function, Carmen D'Apollonio breathes new life into clay and metal Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
Chicago White Sox's Tony La Russa's managerial mistakes continue to mount
Questions surrounding the Chicago White Sox's offseason hiring of 76-year-old Tony La Russa as manager remain pertinent.
La Russa's extra-inning gaffe stings White Sox in loss
Hall of Famer manager Tony La Russa's second stint with the Chicago White Sox is off to a bumpy start.
Mercedes gets 1st 5 career hits, White Sox beat Angels 12-8
Yermín Mercedes got his first five major league hits and drove in four runs, and José Abreu hit a grand slam for the Chicago White Sox in their 12-8 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
Now in Chisox 'pen, Kopech makes debut after 2020 opt-out
TWINS 1, ORIOLES 0 (7 INNINGS)Minnesota ace Kenta Maeda allowed one hit in three innings, striking out four in his second start. Baltimore's Dean Kremer fared better in his second start, allowing a hit and a walk in three scoreless innings. Deivi García pitched three shutout innings in his second start for the Yankees. Nick Pivetta made his second start for Boston, allowing a run on three hits with three strikeouts in three innings. Alex Wood worked two innings in the start for San Francisco and gave up a home run to Omar Narvaez.
White Sox finalize deal with Athletics closer Hendriks
The Chicago White Sox have finalized a $54 million, three-year deal with Oakland Athletics closer Liam Hendriks, another big move as they set their sights on a championship run. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)CHICAGO – Liam Hendriks saw the talent the Chicago White Sox had and knew he wanted to join the team. Chicago finalized a $54 million, three-year deal with the former Oakland Athletics' closer, another big move as the White Sox set their sights on a championship run. I want to pitch everyday."Hahn acknowledged the White Sox are taking a risk, given Hendriks' age. The White Sox made the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and ended a string of seven losing seasons.
Freeman among trio of Braves on All-MLB first team
Freeman easily won the NL MVP award Thursday, Nov. 12, topping off a trying year that saw him become so ill with COVID-19 he prayed please dont take me. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)NEW YORK – National League MVP Freddie Freeman was one of three Atlanta Braves selected to the All-MLB first team on Wednesday night. San Diego had two players on the top team: shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and third baseman Manny Machado. AL MVP José Abreu of the Chicago White Sox was the first baseman on the second team, which also included Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto, Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe, Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager and Indians third baseman José Ramírez.
Pinder's HR helps rally A's past Astros 9-7, trail ALDS 2-1
Oakland Athletics' Chad Pinder, right, celebrates with manager Bob Melvin after the Athletics defeated the Houston Astros in Game 3 of a baseball American League Division Series in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. And just in case Laureano's words did not get the message across, he ripped a double as the A's got a pair of sacrifice flies in the eighth to rally past the Houston Astros 9-7 on Wednesday and avoid elimination in their AL Division Series. "It was awesome."Houston leads the best-of-five series 2-1 and can advance to its fourth straight AL Championship Series with a victory in Game 4 on Thursday. Pinder hit a first-pitch slider to the opposite field for Oakland's fifth homer, a drive chased by right fielder Kyle Tucker until he ran out of room at the short wall. Houston took a 7-4 lead with five runs in the fifth, when the Astros sent 10 batters to the plate.
No days off puts stress on pitchers in Division Series, LCS
(AP Photo/David Dermer)NEW YORK – Postseason games come at an unprecedented pace starting Monday in this year of the pandemic. Teams could play the Division Series over five straight days, take a single day off and then contest the League Championship Series on seven consecutive days. The last to pitch for seven straight days was San Francisco's Steve Kline from July 31 to Aug. 6, 2007. The League Championship Series has had a 2-3-2 format since 1985, with days off between Games 2 and 3, then another between Games 5 and 6. To start twice in the Division Series, Game 1 pitchers would have to come back on three days' rest.
LEADING OFF: Cubs' Darvish tries to save season vs Marlins
A look at what's happening around the majors Friday:___TRY AGAINThe Cubs and Marlins resume their series a day after poor weather caused a postponement at Wrigley Field. He wasn't in the starting lineup for Thursday's postponed game, but manager Don Mattingly had not ruled out using him. The ace right-hander was a steady presence for the Cubs throughout the pandemic-shortened season, joining the NL Cy Young Award conversation. The Marlins will counter with 22-year-old Sixto Sánchez, who debuted Aug. 22 and posted a 3.46 ERA in seven starts. "That's the thing."The Braves won't play again until Tuesday, when they'll open an NL Division Series against either the Cubs or Marlins in Houston.
Pinder delivers timely hit, A's advance in playoffs at last
Oakland stopped a nine-game losing streak in winner-take-all postseason games, a major league record that dated to the 1973 World Series. "I woke up this morning feeling like this was going to be a hard game and it was a hard game," Melvin said. The low-budget A's had not captured a winner-take-all postseason game since beating Hall of Famer Willie Mays and the New York Mets. That prompted White Sox star Tim Anderson to say, "I guess they haven't done their homework.""It's a tough one to swallow but we've got to keep going," Anderson said. HURLING ITThe 17 pitchers, nine by Chicago, were the most in a nine-inning postseason game.
A's hold off Abreu, White Sox 5-3, force series to Game 3
Now, the slugging A's are right back in a familiar fall position: one winner-take-all postseason game with the season on the line. Semien and Davis connected early and Oakland's bullpen barely held off José Abreu and the Chicago White Sox late for a 5-3 win Wednesday that sent the AL playoff series to a deciding Game 3. The White Sox went 14-0 in the regular season against left-handed starters and beat southpaw Jesús Luzardo in the playoff opener. "I'm pretty sure we're pretty dang confident in anyone we throw against the White Sox," Bassitt said. He went just 3 for 18 against the White Sox last season.
Piscotty slam ties it in ninth, A's beat Giants 8-7 in 10th
San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto works against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto works against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)SAN FRANCISCO Stephen Piscotty hit a tying grand slam in the ninth inning, Mark Canha's sacrifice fly put Oakland on top in the 10th, and the Athletics stunned the San Francisco Giants 8-7 on Friday night in the opener of the Bay Bridge Series. Oakland trailed by five in the ninth inning but rallied to win from such a deficit for the first time since July 15, 1952, according to STATS. The Giants hadn't lost after leading by five or more runs in the ninth inning or latter since June 25, 1929. The ball carried on a rare hot evening in San Francisco, where first-pitch temperature reached 85 degrees.
Piscotty hits A's 2nd walkoff slam this year, beats Rangers
Oakland Athletics' Stephen Piscotty celebrates with teammates after a game-ending grand slam against the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)OAKLAND, Calif. Stephen Piscotty hit Oaklands second walkoff grand slam of the year and the Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 5-1 Tuesday night for their fourth straight win. Volquez retired Robbie Grossman on a popup before Piscotty hit a first-pitch drive over the wall in center to match the opening night 10th-inning slam by Matt Olson against the Angels. The 22-year-old lefty was the youngest As pitcher to start a game since Brett Anderson in 2010 and lived up to the hype. He overpowered the Rangers at times, striking out Joey Gallo on a 96 mph to end the first.
Sho No! Angels' Ohtani doesn't record out in return to mound
Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani throws against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, July 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)OAKLAND, Calif. Shohei Ohtani didnt record an out in the two-way stars long-awaited return to the mound for the Los Angels Angels, allowing the first six Oakland batters to reach base before his day was done in a 6-4 loss to the Athletics on Sunday. Robbie Grossman singled in another run, and Angels manager Joe Maddon replaced Ohtani (0-1) with Matt Andriese down 4-0. Ohtani made his first appearance on the mound since Sept. 2, 2018 after not pitching last season following Tommy John surgery. Ohtani threw 30 pitches, reaching 94.7 mph with his fastball he averaged 96.7 mph and touched 100 mph in 2018.
In 1st MLB game with new extra-inning rule, A's slam Angels
Oakland Athletics players celebrate after Matt Olson, center left, hit a grand slam home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the tenth inning a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Friday, July 24, 2020. According to STATS, Olson became the third player to hit a walkoff grand slam on opening day. The game went to the 10th tied at 3 after Jason Castros tying homer in the ninth against As closer Liam Hendriks. The Angels didn't deliver a win for Maddon in his Angels managerial debut. UP NEXTLHP Sean Manaea, who went 4-0 last season in September after returning from shoulder surgery before losing the wild card game, pitches Saturday opposite Angels RHP Dylan Bundy.


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Q: Return Information of the Stock with the Biggest Percent Change I was wondering if anyone could help me develop the method needed in order to print out only the information of a stock with the biggest percent change between it's previous closing price and current closing price. Here is a bit of the code that may help with understanding what I'm referring to.
public class driveStockList {
public static void main(String[] args) {
    //Stock stock = new Stock();

    Stock[] Stocks = new Stock[6];

    Stocks[0] = new Stock("ORCL", "Oracle Corporation");
    Stocks[0].setPreviousClosingPrice(34.50);
    Stocks[0].setCurrentPrice(34.35);
    Stocks[0].getChangePercent();

    Stocks[1] = new Stock("MSFT", "Microsoft Corporation");
    Stocks[1].setPreviousClosingPrice(90.13);
    Stocks[1].setCurrentPrice(90.19);
    Stocks[1].getChangePercent();

    Stocks[2] = new Stock("GOOGL", "Alphabet Inc.   ");
    Stocks[2].setPreviousClosingPrice(1139.10);
    Stocks[2].setCurrentPrice(1139.0);
    Stocks[2].getChangePercent();

    Stocks[3] = new Stock("AAPL", "Apple Inc.      ");
    Stocks[3].setPreviousClosingPrice(179.10);
    Stocks[3].setCurrentPrice(179.45);
    Stocks[3].getChangePercent();

    Stocks[4] = new Stock("NFLX", "Netflix, Inc.    ");
    Stocks[4].setPreviousClosingPrice(217.50);
    Stocks[4].setCurrentPrice(217.69);
    Stocks[4].getChangePercent();

    Stocks[5] = new Stock("INTC", "Intel Corporation");
    Stocks[5].setPreviousClosingPrice(44.39);
    Stocks[5].setCurrentPrice(44.59);
    Stocks[5].getChangePercent();

    outputStockItems (Stocks);
    outputStockBiggestChange(Stocks);
}

private static void outputStockItems(Stock[] Stocks) {
    System.out.printf("Symbol\t \tName         PreviousClosingPrice\tCurrent Price");
    System.out.printf("\n----------------------------------------------------------------------");
    for ( int i = 0; i < Stocks.length; i++ ) {
        System.out.printf("\n" + Stocks[i].getSymbol());
        System.out.printf("\t" + Stocks[i].getName());
        System.out.printf("\t     " + Stocks[i].getPreviousClosingPrice());
        System.out.printf("       \t" + Stocks[i].getCurrentPrice());
    }

}

public static void outputStockBiggestChange(Stock[] p) {
for ( int i = 5; i < Stocks.length; i++ ) {
        System.out.printf("\n" + Stocks[i].getSymbol());
        System.out.printf("\t" + Stocks[i].getName());
        System.out.printf("\t     " + Stocks[i].getPreviousClosingPrice());
        System.out.printf("       \t" + Stocks[i].getCurrentPrice());
}

I have the method set out, but I'm not sure how to go about singling out a singular maximum element/value for the percent change. The body provided for outputStockBiggestChange() is what I believe singles out the stock with the highest change, but I'm sure the code is meant to go through all the values instead of manually directing it to this element.

A: float maxDiff = 0;

for ( int i = 0; i < Stocks.length; i++ ) {
    float diff = Stocks[i].getPreviousClosingPrice() - Stocks[i].getCurrentPrice();
    diff = Math.abs(diff);
    if(diff > maxDiff) {
        maxDiff = diff;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Cameroon: Migrants tell of Libya's slave market hell
Dramatic, Refugees scramble for safety on Greek island
Libya holds municipal elections in first vote for five years
Only nine out of 69 municipal councils in southern and western Libya voted on Saturday, officials said. No violence or sabotage was reported.
Libya held rare municipal elections in nine communities on Saturday, although turnout in the country's first voting for five years reached only about 38 percent.
The North African state, which has been mired in conflict and chaos since the 2011 toppling of Muammar Gaddafi, has not held any elections since 2014, when a heavily contested national vote ended up splitting the country into rival administrations and parliaments.
Libya: Post-Gaddafi chaos fuels EU migrant crisis
Libya's parliament rejects UN-backed unity government
Libya's rival factions announce new unity government
Officials: Gadhafi son freed after 7-plus years in detention
Prime Minister-designate Abdul Hamid Dbeibah said in a tweet early Monday that al-Saadi Gadhafi had been released in compliance with a previous court order.
Libyan authorities on Sunday released one of Muammar Gadhafi's sons after more than seven years of detention in the capital of Tripoli following his extradition from neighboring Niger, the country's interim leader said.
Over 53,000 Ghanaian illegal migrants still in Libya – Report
President Nana Akufo-Addo had vowed to reverse the trend of illegal migration by Ghanaians, by building a sound economy with opportunities for all.
A report from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has revealed that about 53, 200 illegal Ghanaian migrants are still in Libya. This revelation comes months after some 127 Ghanaian detainees were rescued from Libya, following reports that Africans there had been subjected to inhumane treatment after giving away their life's earnings, to make the torturous journeys through the Sahara, hoping to make it big in Europe.
Thousands of migrants rescued off Italian coast amid smuggler surge
U.S. warns of Russian bid for Libya stronghold after warplane delivery
Libya is once more on the brink after years of chaos that followed the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. With more arms and fighters flowing in, Libyans fear an unending conflict fueled by outside powers.
The U.S. military believes a Russian introduction of warplanes into Libya may not tip the balance in its stalemated civil war but could further help Moscow eventually secure a geostrategic stronghold in North Africa, a U.S. general said on Friday.


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Q: Not able to fetch the complete source code from the PHP script <?php
$url = "http://www.justdial.com/Delhi-NCR/Pizza-Outlets-%3Cnear%3E-Okhla/";
$ptr = fopen("op.txt","w");
$data = file_get_contents($url);
print_r($data);
$result = htmlentities($data);
$doc = new DOMDocument();
@$doc->loadHTML($result);
$finder = new DOMXPath($doc);
$node = $finder->query("//h3[contains(@class, 'r')]");
?>

Above is the code which I have written to fetch the source code of justdial. The only output which I get is the first pizza outlet.How can I fetch all the results which are shown on the justdial website.
Thanks in advance.

A: All items are part of the '<div id="tab_block">' html element which its content is built by javascript/AJAX calls, so they cannot appear in the HTML file you load via file_get_contents() since you will get the HTML definition only without the javascript code being interpreted.
However, it means you can access the items/database directly by code if you know the endpoints.
For example (url are shown as when I tested them)
This url will return the first few items of the complete list. It will return something like (in JSON format):
[{docid: "011PXX11.XX11.151106170721.W5H9",…}, {docid: "011PXX11.XX11.140302105210.Y9N8",…},…]
  0: {docid: "011PXX11.XX11.151106170721.W5H9",…}
      disp_pic: "http://images.jdmagicbox.com/delhi/h9/011pxx11.xx11.151106170721.w5h9/catalogue/6cf575ffbd1090f5a314d2cf40451c88.jpg"
      docid: "011PXX11.XX11.151106170721.W5H9"
  1: {docid: "011PXX11.XX11.140302105210.Y9N8",…}
      disp_pic: "http://images.jdmagicbox.com/delhi/n8/011pxx11.xx11.140302105210.y9n8/catalogue/ecfd2106644df17013e98bb60f40c527.jpg"
      docid: "011PXX11.XX11.140302105210.Y9N8"
      video: "http://videos.jdmagicbox.com/delhi/n8/011pxx11.xx11.140302105210.y9n8/video/fc2a62242ae03c74c15436dbcc04c33a_m.jpg"
  ...

the docid can be used to do further query on a particular item, while the disp_pic url will return the image
This url will return the image of the 1st item too but use some parameters
In any case, I just scratch the surface of the whole issue to demonstrate how to proceed. You would need to understand the site logic to read the complete dataset, but it would be easier to contact the webmaster and ask him to describe its API/endpoints for you to access the data. As well as asking him permission to use it even if the 'API' is not protected.
Once you know the endpoint, structure and data description, you can use a PHP library like mashape\unirest to do queries like this:
Unirest\Request::verifyPeer (false) ;
$response =Unirest\Request::get (
    'http://www.justdial.com/functions/sortbyphotosnew.php?contractid=011PXX11.XX11.151106170721.W...,
    array ( 'Accept' => 'application/json' ),
    null
) ;

if $response->code == 200 then the $response->body is your JSON object containing the document array.


Parchi has lived unto the expectations as Weekend has gone toward 2.9 Crore approx.
Film had opened really well on Friday and then saw solid growth on Saturday. Sunday has held well as Sunday numbers are coming similar to Friday.
Few places have fallen more than Friday but those places had opened strong on Friday! Film's Weekend numbers are little batter than Verna which had much bigger names attached but film has much favourable genre compared to Verna but still going ahead of Verna over the Weekend is very good result for film like Parchi.
In Just three days film has beaten Week One numbers of Furkey Returns which was also a comedy flick!


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Epispadias
Division of Urology
Appointments, Referrals and Video Visits
What is epispadias?
Epispadias is a rare congenital (present at birth) anomaly involving the development of the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder). The urethra does not develop into a full tube and the urine exits the body from an abnormal location. In boys with epispadias, the urethra generally opens on the top or side of the penis rather than the tip. From the meatal opening to the tip of the penis, the penis is split and is opened, forming a gutter. The penis also usually has some degree of curvature or chordee. In girls, the opening of the urethra is usually between the clitoris and the labia, but may be in the belly area.
The causes of epispadias are unknown at this time. It may be related to improper development of the pubic bone. Epispadias is associated with bladder exstrophy, an uncommon birth defect in which the bladder is inside out, and sticks through the abdominal wall. Nearly all boys with bladder exstrophy will also have epispadias. Most girls with exstrophy also have epispadias. Epispadias can occur in both boys and girls who are otherwise healthy with no other abnormalities.
Epispadias occurs in 1 in 117,000 newborn boys and 1 in 484,000 newborn girls. The condition is usually diagnosed at birth or shortly thereafter, based on a physical examination. Very mild cases may be missed at birth and not be diagnosed until later, if the child (usually female) leaks urine after toilet training.
Classification of epispadias is based on the location of the meatus (opening where the urine comes out) on the penis. It can be positioned on the glans (glanular), along the shaft of the penis (penile) or near the pubic bone (penopubic). The position of the meatus is important because it predicts the degree to which the bladder can store urine (continence). The closer the meatus is to the base of the penis, the more likely the bladder will not hold urine.
Surgical repair of epispadias is recommended in patients where the epispadias is more than mild. Our surgical team includes urologists and an orthopaedic surgeon who work together to do this repair. Our research has shown that having an orthopaedist do osteotomies during the first surgery makes a difference in long-term continence, especially for our patients with epispadias.
Leakage of urine (incontinence) is common in children with epispadias. A second operation or operations may be necessary to correct incontinence. In the Division of Urology, our comprehensive team of epispadias experts will help your family determine what is best for your child.
As your child nears adulthood, our dedicated Urology Transitional Care Program is here to help you and your child prepare for the transition from pediatric to adult medical care. For patients with complex urologic conditions like epispadias, it is especially important that the care they receive remains effective and streamlined. Learn more about how this collaboration between CHOP and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) can support you through this process.
Reviewed by: Division of Urology
Providers Who Treat Epispadias
Douglas A. Canning, MD
R. Caleb Kovell, MD
Sameer Mittal, MD, MSc
Aseem R. Shukla, MD
Dana A. Weiss, MD
Your Child's Urology Surgery
Find information to help you prepare for your child's upcoming urology surgery at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
The Division of Urology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is consistently ranked as one of the top pediatric urology programs in the nation.
A Team Approach to Bladder Exstrophy Care
Watch this video to learn how three institutions are uniting to improve bladder exstrophy treatment.
Urology Transitional Care Program
For patients with complex urologic conditions, our Urology Transitional Care Program can help ease the transition to adult medical care.
Pursuing Her Dreams
Maddie didn't let a diagnosis of hydronephrosis and surgery to remove her kidney stand in the way of her passion: helping others.
Interior Menu Condition
Epispadias Home


We remove the leaves and clean up the property to prepare for winter.
Rake and bag your leaves: Having too many leaves on your lawn invites mold, fungus, and disease. That is because they reduce water evaporation and block sunlight. Leaves, twigs, and other yard debris can build up in your window wells and landscape beds as well. We use power rakes, leaf blowers, and other equipment to gather leaves and yard debris and then bag it and haul it away.
Weeding: It's not too late to get rid of your weeds if you didn't do so in the spring or summer. In fact, weeding in the fall is one of the best ways to ensure your lawn is healthy next spring.
Gutter cleaning: Completing this chore in the fall prevents moisture from leaves and rain water from attracting insects, mold, and mildew that can sit in your gutters all winter long. Wet leaves prevent water from moving through the gutters and can cause a clog. Standing water can even freeze and cause roof damage if the temperature gets low enough.
Fertilizing: Applying a slow-release fertilizer in autumn gives your grass the nutrients it needs and helps it recover from the stress and heat of summer. Learn more about fertilizing.
Aeration: Removing thatch build-up allows your grass to receive the sunlight, moisture, and oxygen it needs to remain healthy during the cooler weather of an Oklahoma winter. Learn more about aeration.
These are just some of the cleaning and maintenance tasks we can help you with in the fall season. We're always open to your special requests.
We provide our leaf removal and fall clean up services to homeowners in the Edmond, Yukon, Moore and other nearby areas. We are also fully insured to protect everyone involved. To get your free quote, simply complete the form below or call (405) 323-8702.


text:
HomeByzantine Art
Posts in category: Byzantine Art
by admin ArtByzantine ArtByzantine JewelryByzantiumEarly Christian ArtJewelryStudent ActivitiesWorksheets
Chain and Pendant with the Bust of an Empress, 379–395 AD, Gold, garnet, sapphire, glass, 6.4 cm, The J. Paul Getty Museum, CA, USA http://colorsandstones.eu/2020/11/08/necklace-with-a-pendant-roman-overview/
St. Ambrose describes her, Aelia Flacilla, wife of emperor Theodosius I, as "a soul true to God" (Fidelis anima Deo. – "De obitu Theodosii", n. 40, in P. L., XVI, 1462). In his panegyric, St. Gregory of Nyssa bestowed the highest praise on her virtuous life and pictured her as the helpmate of the emperor in all good works, an ornament of the empire, a leader of justice, an image of beneficence. He praises her as filled with zeal for the Faith, as a pillar of the Church, and as a mother of the indigent. Theodoret in particular exalts her charity and benevolence (Hist. Eccles., V, xix, ed. Valesius, III, 192 sq.). He tells us how she personally tended cripples and quotes a saying of hers: "To distribute money belongs to the imperial dignity, but I offer up for the imperial dignity itself personal service to the Giver." Could the Pendant with the Bust of an Empress in the Getty Collection depict this extraordinary Early Christian Empress? https://www.ecatholic2000.com/cathopedia/vol6/volsix114.shtml
Let's answer some questions.
When did the Getty Museum acquire the Pendant with the Bust of an Empress? Yes, we do… Barbara Deppert-Lippitz, a most reputable expert archaeologist in ancient gold, contributed an article, titled A Group o f Late Antique Jewelry in the Getty Museum (pages 107-140) in Studia Varia from the J. Paul Getty Museum: Volume 1 (OPA 8), 1993. Let me quote… The majority of Late Roman and Early Byzantine jewelry that we do have has no known provenance and is undated. Our knowledge of jewelry of the period is based mainly on a few larger hoards with recorded find spots but without any external evidence for dating. It is therefore fortunate that in 1983 the Getty Museum was able to acquire a group of fifteen pieces of jewelry buried around A.D . 400. https://www.getty.edu/publications/virtuallibrary/0892362030.html page 107
Where were the Late Antique pieces of jewelry, including the Pendant with Empress, found? We do not exactly know… but according to Barbara Deppert-Lippitz… As all pieces had a similar patina, it need not be doubted that the group was, indeed, found together. They are all in very good condition, except for missing pearls on some items. Nothing is known about the previous history of this hoard, but no treasure corresponding to the present one is recorded as having been excavated anywhere during this century There are, however, certain indications that the hoard must have come from the eastern part of the Roman Empire. Further interesting observations point out that… The Getty hoard belongs among the well-known treasures from the Hill of Saint Louis in Carthage, Tunisia, and from Ténès in Algeria, both now generally agreed to belong to the period around A.D . 400, and the one from Thetford at Gallows Hill, near Thetfordin Norfolk, dated to the late fourth century A.D. All these hoards are dated on a purely stylistic basis, with no external evidence. https://www.getty.edu/publications/virtuallibrary/0892362030.html page 107, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carthage_Treasure and https://www.persee.fr/doc/rbph_0035-0818_1960_num_38_1_2309_t1_0098_0000_2 and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thetford_Hoard
How did the Getty Museum acquire the Late Antique pieces of Jewelry? In 1983, the J. Paul Getty Museum purchased the group of fifteen pieces of Late Antique pieces of jewelry from the Company of "Robin Symes, Limited," founded in 1977 and dissolved in 2005. https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/103VE6#full-artwork-details
How can you describe the Pendant with the Bust of an Empress? This is actually a necklace consisting of a chain and a circular medallion. The gold ropelike multiple loop-in-loop chain shows remarkable workmanship. It ends with a hook-and-eye clasp, decorated with openwork circlets as well as filigree and granulation. The medallion-shaped pendant displays a frontal female bust flanked by two Victory Goddesses holding wreaths. A circular outer band, with inset garnets, and blue and green glass beads, serving as a frame to the repoussé medallion, was a rather primitive later addition to the original jewel. Three chain pendants and two strong rings attached to either side of the medallion were also added later. Today, only one pendant chain remains attached to the outer frame, holds an emerald, and terminates in a decorative scroll ornament. https://www.getty.edu/publications/virtuallibrary/0892362030.html pages 109-111.
Chain and Pendant with the Bust of an Empress (Detail), 379–395 AD, Gold, garnet, sapphire, glass, 6.4 cm, The J. Paul Getty Museum, CA, USA
http://colorsandstones.eu/2020/11/08/necklace-with-a-pendant-roman-overview/
Who is the depicted woman? It most probably is Aelia Flacilla, the first wife of Emperor Theodosius I. According to Barbara Deppert-Lippitz… a small but significant detail, the diadem, the Empress wears, offers valuable information. Based on numismatic evidence, similar diadems have been worn only by the empresses Aelia Flacilla, wife of Theodosius I, whose coinage commenced in A.D . 383 and who died in 386, and by her daughter-in-law Eudoxia, wife of Arcadius (A.D . 383-408). This narrows the chronological range of the medallion pendant to the last two decades of the fourth century A.D. The differences between the coin portraits of Flacilla and of Eudoxia are marginal. However, the oval face with a short straight nose, small mouth with thick lips, and energetic chin seem to be closer to the portrait on certain issues of Flacilla than to that of Eudoxia. https://www.getty.edu/publications/virtuallibrary/0892362030.html page 110
For a Student Activity, please… Check HERE!
Nativity scene from the Menologion of Basil II
by admin ArtByzantine ArtByzantine ManuscriptByzantiumStudent ActivitiesWorksheets
Menologion of Basil II, The Nativity of Christ, c. 1000, Illuminated Manuscript, Vatican Library (Ms. Vat. gr. 1613)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menologion_of_Basil_II
Η Γέννησίς Σου, Χριστέ ο Θεός ημών, ανέτειλε τω κόσμω το φως το της γνώσεως· εν αυτή γαρ οι τοις άστροις λατρεύοντες, υπό αστέρος εδιδάσκοντο, Σε προσκυνείν, τον Ήλιον της δικαιοσύνης, και Σε γινώσκειν εξ ύψους ανατολήν, Κύριε, δόξα Σοι. (Απολυτίκιο των Χριστουγέννων, ήχος δ΄). Your birth, O Christ our God, dawned the light of knowledge upon the earth. For by Your birth those who adored stars, were taught by a star, to worship You, the Sun of Justice, and to know You, Orient from on High. O Lord, glory to You. (Christmas Apolytikion: Fourth Tone)… Merry Christmas… Best Wishes for Peace, Health, and Happines! Enjoy the Day with the Byzantine Nativity scene from the Menologion of Basil II. https://www.pemptousia.gr/2021/12/i-gennisis-sou-christe-o-theos-imon/ and https://www.goarch.org/-/hymns-of-nativity
One of the most luxurious of all Byzantine manuscripts, the Menologion of Emperor Basil II (958 – 1025)in the Vatican Library (Ms. Vat. gr. 1613), contains 430 amazing miniatures in 272 folios! It is a treasure cove for Byzantine Art and a high point of the Macedonian Renaissance.
The Byzantine Menologio, a book arranged according to the months, is a liturgical book of the Greek Orthodox church. Simply put, it is a Book of Saints, presenting short information on the saint's life and martyrion. It is read on the Saint's feast day, during the morning matins, and serves as a Church Calendar.
The Menologion of Basil II has compiled ca. 1000 AD, under the auspices of the Byzantine Emperor Basil II of the Macedonian Dynasty. It is an unusually opulent manuscript, created at Constantinople for liturgical use, and in its present form, covers the first six months of the Byzantine liturgical year, from September through February. The portrait of Emperor Basil II, one of the most successful military leaders of the Byzantine Empire, shows him as a warrior defending Orthodoxy, standing on a low podium, clad in his military regalia, graciously accepting his enemies' submission.
The manuscript contains around 430 miniature paintings executed by eight different artists. The artists identified by their name written at the edge of each miniature are: Pantoleon, who seems to have been in charge of the group, Georgios, Michael the Younger, Michael of Blachernai, Simeon, Simeon of Blachernai, Menas, and Nestor.
The Nativity scene, celebrating the Birth of Jesus and the Annunciation to the Shepherds, was painted by Symeon of Blachernae. It is a well-balanced composition achieved within a typical Byzantine 'Nativity' Landscape comprised of a mountain cave executed in the typical 'broken terrace' motif of the Greco-Roman tradition.
The central axis of the composition is dedicated to the presence of God, as exemplified by the Bethlehem Star at the very top, the newborn Child in a manger, and a midwife bathing Christ at the lower part of the scene… The Star of Bethlehem is heraldically flanked by two rejoicing angels, festively dressed in sky-blue and taupe-coloured garments. To the right, Simeon of Blachernai presented the Annunciation to a rather rugged-looking Shepherd. To the left, the depicted Virgin sits near Christ, but Joseph, in the lower left corner of the miniature from the Menologion of Basil II, seems distant and thoughtful. What an amazing Nativity scene this is!
For a Student Activity inspired by the Menologion of Basil II – The Nativity of Christ Scene, please… Check HERE!
Αn Annotated Picture of the Nativity scene
Interesting to read… The Illuminators of the Menologium of Basil IIby Ihor Ševčenko, Dumbarton Oaks Papers, Vol. 16 (1962), pp. 243+245-276 (43 pages) https://www.jstor.org/stable/1291164?read-now=1#page_scan_tab_contents
Byzantine Silver Bucket
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The Vrap Treasure: Silver Bucket, 600s, Silver, 18.4×14.1 cm, 481g, the MET, NY, USA
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464115?searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&ao=on&showOnly=
openAccess&ft=Byzantine+art&offset=0&rpp=40&pos=15
Vrap (it means 'running' in Albanian) is a town located in Albania about 20 km south of Tirana, the country's capital town. In 1901, in the Vrap area, near the ancient city of Durazzo and Via Egnatia, an exceptional hoard of silver and gold was discovered within a buried copper cauldron. This amazing treasure, known today as the Vrap Treasure is over twelve pounds of gold and three pounds of silver, including ten silver or gold vessels; thirty gold belt fittings; parts of a golden candlestick; and several gold bars and strips! My favourite amongst them is a Byzantine Silver Bucket! https://books.google.gr/books?id=6M7WCQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false p. 36
The Byzantine Silver Bucket from Albania is a deep, footed Bowl with geometric, beaded, diamond patterns around the exterior. Set within the diamonds are birds, flowers, and various other objects, like palmettes, baskets, urns, and edifices(?). The design executed in the repoussé technique is simple but well-finished by an accomplished Byzantine provincial silversmith. Was the Vrap Silver Bucket an incense censer or was it used for drawing water? There is no definite answer.
The Vrap Treasure: Silver Bucket (Detail of the Byzantine Seal), 600s, Silver, 18.4×14.1 cm, 481g, the MET, NY, USA https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464115 and https://archive.org/details/byzantin00dodd/page/246/mode/2up
Scholars have been debating for years over the owner of the Vrap Treasure, and the identity of the silversmiths who created its artifacts. One thing is certain, the Vrap Treasure includes only two objects that most scholars today would describe as Byzantine: the discussed Silver Bucket, and a silver pitcher, both with what appear to be imperial control stamps. The stamp on the Bucket looks hexagonal (?), possibly containing a monogram, but no inscription can be traced. It is also difficult to say whether the stamp was applied before or after the vessel was decorated. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464115?searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&ao=on&showOnly=openAccess&ft=Byzantine+art&offset=0&rpp=40&pos=15 and https://archive.org/details/byzantin00dodd/page/246/mode/2up
The "archaeology" of the Treasure's discovery is best described by J. Strzygowski in 1917… An Albanian farmer near Vrap . . . uncovered in a field a copper kettle which he appropriated, and concerning himself little with the contents, he sold it, for a pair of medschidjes, to three Albanians, who brought it to their residence tower in the vicinity of Arbõna, a place to the north of Vrap . . . The subsequent attainment of individual pieces dragged on for about five years, in part under romantic circumstances. There would be no scholarly interest in going into more detail. The Vrap Treasure, including the Byzantine Silver Bucket, was bought by J. Pierpont Morgan on April 4, 1912. In 1917 the Vrap Treasure was donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Why these varied objects were brought together remains a mystery. Some scholars have suggested that the objects were part of a treasure belonging to an Avar chief; others have speculated that they were the property of an Avar craftsman. It will be interesting to know… https://www.academia.edu/7674370/Ugly_but_important_the_Albanian_Hoard_and_the_making_of_the_archaeological_treasure_in_the_early_twentieth_century_The_making_of_the_archaeological_treasure and file:///C:/Users/aspil/Downloads/The_Arts_of_Byzantium_The_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art_Bulletin_v_58_no_4_Sp ring_2001.pdf page 32
For a Student Activity, please… Check, HERE!
The Vrap Treasure, 600s (bucket)–700s, Gold and Silver, the MET, NY, USA https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/700984
Breck, Joseph, and Meyric R. Rogers, The Pierpont Morgan Wing: A Handbook. 1st ed. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1925. p. 35, fig. 15, ill. p. 36. https://books.google.gr/books?id=6M7WCQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Melanie Holcomb, Ugly but . . . important': the Albanian Hoard and the making of the archaeological treasure in the early twentieth century: The making of the archaeological treasure, page 11 https://www.academia.edu/7674370/Ugly_but_important_the_Albanian_Hoard_and_the_making_of_the_archaeological_treasure_in_the_early_twentieth_century_The_making_of_the_archaeological_treasure
Dodd, Erica Cruikshank. Byzantine Silver Stamps. Washington: J. J. Augustin, 1961. no. 88, pp. 246–247 https://archive.org/details/byzantin00dodd/page/246/mode/2up
Brown, Katharine R., Dafydd Kidd, and Charles T. Little, ed. From Attila to Charlemagne: Arts of the Early Medieval Period in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York and New Haven: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000. p. 185, 343, fig. 18,16.7.https://books.google.gr/books?id=FYI8xsBHeSMC&printsec=frontcover&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Miniature Mosaic Icon of Saint Demetrios in Sassoferrato
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Mosaic Icon of Saint Demetrios at Sassoferrato, Mosaic Icon: 14th or 15th century, Ampulla: 13th or 14th century, Silver Frame: mid-15th century, Mosaic set into wax on a poplar board, paint, silver-gilt (frame), lead (ampulla), 24.3 X 16 cm, Museo Civico, Sassoferrato, Italy https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2015/11/a-14th-century-byzantine-icon-of-st.html
One of the inscriptions in the Miniature Mosaic Icon of Saint Demetrios in Sassoferratoinforms us that… This ampulla (at the top of the Icon), bears holy oil drawn from the well in which the body of the divine Demetrios reposes, which gushes here and accomplishes miracles for the entire universe and for the faithful… What a remarkable way to remember Saint Demetrios and celebrate his feast day!
In 1472, Niccolò Perotti (1430-1480), secretary to Cardinal Bessarion and archbishop of Siponto, donated to Sassoferrato, the city of his birth, a collection of reliquaries, including the Mosaic Icon of Saint Demetrios. That was a notable donation considering Niccolò Perotti's position. As Cardinal Bessarion's secretary, he was able to travel as far as Trebizond in the East, and acquire a collection of valuable reliquaries, manuscripts, and icons. It has been suggested that the Mosaic Icon of Saint Demetrios was gifted to Perotti by no other than Bessarion himself, known to be the owner of a collection of Late Byzantine Mosaic Icons… but there is no proof for this. https://www.academia.edu/39903340/Displaying_an_Icon_The_Mosaic_Icon_of_Saint_Demetrios_at_Sassoferrato_and_its_Frame
The Mosaic Icon of Saint Demetrios at Sassoferrato as displayed in the Museo Civico, Sassoferrato, Italy https://www.raffaelloresidence.it/2020/08/22/museo-civico-archeologico-di-sassoferrato/ and https://www.inspirock.com/italy/sassoferrato/museo-civico-archeologico-raccolta-perottiana-a8400217787
The Museu Civico in Sassoferrato is fortunate to hold such an important and rare relic of the Palaiologan Renaissance, the final period in the development of Byzantine art. On a poplar board, slightly excavated at its center, rendered in micromosaic, stands Saint Demetrios, patron Saint of Thessaloniki. He is placed against a gold background and a tiled ground. He is in military garb, holds a lance with his righthand, and, with the left, a blue shield decorated with a heraldic white lion against a ground strewn with gold stylized flowers. Based on stylistic analysis, according to Martin Donnert, the mosaic icon at Sassoferrato was executed in the 14th century as a typical work of Palaiologan art. This date is further confirmed by the radiocarbon analysis dating of the wooden support of the icon to 1279 ± 26 years, which gives a terminus post quem. Byzantium: Faith and Power (1261–1557), Evans, Helen C., ed., with essays by… https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/Byzantium_Faith_and_Power_1261_1557 pp. 231-233 and https://www.academia.edu/39903340/Displaying_an_Icon_The_Mosaic_Icon_of_Saint_Demetrios_at_Sassoferrato_and_its_Frame
Mosaic Icon of Saint Demetrios at Sassoferrato (details), Mosaic Icon: 14th or 15th century, Ampulla: 13th or 14th century, Silver Frame: mid-15th century, Mosaic set into wax on a poplar board, paint, silver-gilt (frame), lead (ampulla), 24.3 X 16 cm, Museo Civico, Sassoferrato, Italy https://twitter.com/byzanzfreiburg/status/1151222386190180352
The ampulla at the top of the Icon's frame is a wonderful rarity! It turns the Mosaic Icon into a precious reliquary of Saint Demetrios's cult. The text, on the right side of the Icon's frame, explains the reasons why the ampulla was added to the Icon's composition. Prof. Martin Donnert clarifies that …Since the 12th century, the existence of miraculous oil (the Myron) connected with the cult of St Demetrios is well attested in the sources. He also adds that lead ampullae from the late 12th to the 14th centuries that contained the holy Myron for pilgrims to the saint's tomb, called koutrouvia… were found at various places in northern Greece and the Balkans. One of these ampullae, a cherished relic in itself, is the one incorporated at the top of the icon frame… showing St Demetrios holding a cross on one side, and, on the opposite side, St Theodora, the second myron-giving saint of Thessaloniki. https://www.academia.edu/39903340/Displaying_an_Icon_The_Mosaic_Icon_of_Saint_Demetrios_at_Sassoferrato_and_its_Frame
The silver-gilt frame, dated during the mid-15th century is rich in information. A number of inscriptions within star-shaped cartouches, along with the imperial symbol of the double-headed eagle and the tetrabasileion, may indicate a distinguished member of the Palaiologan family, to be the original commissioner of the Icon. Furthermore, Prof Martin Donnert suggests Demetrios Palaiologos and the Palaiologoi of Montferrat! https://www.academia.edu/39903340/Displaying_an_Icon_The_Mosaic_Icon_of_Saint_Demetrios_at_Sassoferrato_and_its_Frame
Interesting to read: The Historical Significance of the Mosaic of Saint Demetrius at Sassoferrato byA. A. Vasiliev, Dumbarton Oaks Papers, Vol. 5 (1950), pp. 29+31-39 (10 pages) https://www.jstor.org/stable/1291074
The Enthroned Christ and Emperor Leo VI the Wise
The Enthroned Christ and Emperor Leo VI the Wise, around the year 920, mosaic decorating the lunette over the Imperial Door in the Narthex of Hagia Sophia, the Great Church of the Byzantine Empire, Istanbul, Turkey https://www.pallasweb.com/deesis/inner-outer-narthex-hagia-sophia.html
I like what the late Professor Nicolas Oikonomides wrote about the Byzantine mosaics in the vestibule and the narthex of the Great Church of Hagia Sophia… The imperial mosaics of Saint Sophia, beyond their artistic value, are of considerable historical importance… and… mosaics were made in the hope that they would survive ad saecula saeculorurn. Consequently, although representing a particular scene, or event, or idea that prevailed at the time of their composition, they were also supposed to bequeath their presumably understandable message to future generations. I am reading his article, Leo VI and the Narthex Mosaic of Saint Sophia, follow his steps, and learn interesting facts about the Enthroned Christ and Emperor Leo VI the Wise, the mosaic decorating the lunette over the Imperial Door of the Great Church. Dumbarton Oaks Papers, Vol. 30 (1976), pp. 151+153-172 (26 pages) https://www.jstor.org/stable/1291393 and http://archive.eclass.uth.gr/eclass/modules/document/file.php/SEAD336/Oikonomides-Leo%20VI.pdf
In 1930 Thomas Whittemore, an American scholar, archaeologist, and restoration expert founded the Byzantine Institute of America and in 1931 took over the responsibility of recovering the mosaics of Hagia Sophia after receiving the approval of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Kemal Ataturk, who turned Hagia Sophia into a museum four years later. 1n 1933 Whittemore uncovered and restored the mosaic decorating the lunette over the Imperial Door of Hagia Sophia. This mosaic, featuring the enthroned Christ in the center, a Byzantine Emperor in a prostrate position to his right, Whittemore identified him as Leo VI the Wise, and two medallions presenting the Mother of God and the Archangel Gabriel, is most unusual-a hapax in Byzantine art, according to Nicolas Oikonomides. https://greekreporter.com/2020/07/14/the-american-who-restored-hagia-sophias-ancient-mosaics-to-their-former-glory/ and The Mosaics of St. Sophia at Istanbul by Thomas Whittemore, American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 42, No. 2 (Apr. – Jun. 1938), p 220 https://www.jstor.org/stable/499667?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3A6760f2942e2ab709e12081a284c41584&seq=3#page_scan_tab_contents and file:///C:/Users/aspil/OneDrive/Blog/Byzantium%20Mosaics/Leo%20the%20Wise%20Oikonomides.pdf
Byzantinologists agree that the Hagia Sophia Mosaic over the Imperial Door (Christ and Emperor Leo VI, the Wise) is to be dated to the second half of the ninth century or the beginning of the tenth. There is a disagreement, however, over the meaning of the whole composition, on which Oikononides gives an explanation I find interesting. file:///C:/Users/aspil/OneDrive/Blog/Byzantium%20Mosaics/Leo%20the%20Wise%20Oikonomides.pdf page 154
The Enthroned Christ and Emperor Leo VI the Wise (detail), around the year 920, mosaic decorating the lunette over the Imperial Door in the Narthex of Hagia Sophia, the Great Church of the Byzantine Empire, Istanbul, Turkey https://el.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%91%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%BF:Detail_of_the_Imperial_Gate_mosaic_in_Hagia_Sophia_showing_Leo_VI_the_Wise.jpg
Prof. Nicolas Oikonomides presents, I believe, a very persuasive argument over the meaning of the composition. He stresses the idea of how unique and unusual the theme of an emperor prostrating himself in front of Christ is in Byzantine imperial iconography and questions… Is the depicted Emperor exhibiting extreme humiliation or repentance? Oikonomides is in favor of repentance over humiliation. To support his case, he recalls that the initial meaning of the Greek word μετάνοια is repentance. He also recalls that since early Byzantine times, the same term, μετάνοια. is used by Orthodox Greeks to mean prostration, because prostration was-and still is, an act of penance, a normal way for the Orthodox Greeks to show repentance. He then compares the Emperor depicted in the Hagia Sophia mosaic to famous manuscript illuminations depicting the Repentance of David, the Biblical King, and he concludes that the Hagia Sophia mosaic of an Emperor in a prostrate position shows a repentant emperor. file:///C:/Users/aspil/OneDrive/Blog/Byzantium%20Mosaics/Leo%20the%20Wise%20Oikonomides.pdf Pages 154-158
The Hodegetria Plaque
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The Hodegetria with St. John the Baptist and St. Basil, Second half of 10th century, Ivory, 16.3×10.5 cm, Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, DC, USA http://museum.doaks.org/objects-1/info?query=Portfolios%20%3D%20%222608%22&sort=0&page=5
In 1939, John Hanson writes, Mildred Bliss brought this plaque, The Hodegetria Plaque, to Princeton for advice from the most important authority on Byzantine ivory carving at the time, Kurt Weitzmann who, with Adolf Goldschmidt, had published the corpus of Byzantine ivories in 1930 and 1934. He later recalled Mrs. Bliss showing him the piece: When I showed my enthusiasm for this entirely unknown ivory I was courteously reprimanded for having made my judgment too quickly—"It would have taken Dr. Goldschmidt a little longer to make up his mind." http://museum.doaks.org/objects-1/info?query=Portfolios%20%3D%20%222608%22&sort=0&page=5
This amazing Ivory Plaque intrigued me… particularly John Hanson's reference to the Louvre Ivory relief of St. Theodore… Weitzmann succeeded, Hanson writes, in identifying a relief of St. Theodore in the Louvre as one of the wings for the Dumbarton Oaks ivory. Fascinated, I searched the Louvre Byzantine Collection of Ivory carvings and digitally "reunited" the left wing (in the Louvre) of the original triptych, with the Dumbarton Oaks central plaque. Both Ivories show exceptional quality of artisanship – seen in the subtlety of the drapery folds and the noble bearing of the figures – suggesting an aristocratic owner, perhaps even an emperor.http://museum.doaks.org/objects-1/info?query=Portfolios%20%3D%20%222608%22&sort=0&page=5 and https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010112514
The left panel of a triptych: Saint Theodore, Second half of 10th century, Ivory, 16.8×13.4 cm, the Louvre, Paris, France https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010112514
The Louvre Ivory wing presents St. Theodore as a dignified, and bearded mature man, standing tall, facing the viewer. His head is, however, turned to the left, and presented slightly bent. Although St. Theodore is a military saint, is presented, in this case, wearing civilian clothes. I particularly like his coat… fastened on the right shoulder, and beautifully embellished with embroideries like the "tablion" element, noticeably, and centrally placed. https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010112514
The Dumbarton Oaks ivory group of Panagia Hodegetria with St. John the Baptist and St. Basil is equally impressive! It is an understated, yet majestic Deësis (intercession) scene. St. John the Baptist, and St. Basil, their heads bent and hands pleading, take the role of intercessors…. while the Hodegetria, tall and elegant, rises over them.
Searching for information and answers… I was charmed by the way Hayford Peirce, and Royall Tyler described the Ivory Plaque as possessing… unobtrusive grace, a reconciliation of the extremes of elegance and austerity and suppleness to drapery, by introducing shallow folds between the deep ones. An Ivory of the Xth Century by Hayford Peirce and Royall Tyler, Dumbarton Oaks Papers, Vol. 2, Three Byzantine Works of Art (1941), pp. 11+13-18 (29 pages) https://www.jstor.org/stable/1291034?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3Adddb1a0fffb6beb88c85fcb7f5253cca&seq=2
An article titled Two Images of the Virgin in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection by Sirarpie der Nersessian in Dumbarton Oaks Papers, Vol. 14 (1960), pp. 69+71-86 was equally interesting. The author describes the Hodegetria as exhibiting the finest qualities of the sculpture of the tenth century… https://www.jstor.org/stable/1291145?read-now=1&seq=5
For a Student Activity on Panagia Hodegetria with St. John the Baptist and St. Basil, please… Check HERE!
Christ Pantocrator in the Byzantine Monastery of Daphni
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Daphni Monastery Pantocrator Mosaic, 11th century, Attica, Greece
https://www.efada.gr/%CE%91%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B1%CE%B9%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%AF-%CE%A7%CF%8E%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B9-%CE%9C%CE%BD%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%B1/%CE%9C%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%AE-%CE%94%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%BF%CF%85
Christ Pantocrator in the Byzantine Monastery of Daphni… whose great eyes, dark and exorbitant and cast almost furtively over one shoulder, at total variance with His right hand's serene gesture of blessing and admonition, spell not only pain but fear, anguish and guilt, as though He were in flight from an appalling doom. The only fit setting for such an expression is the Garden of ! Gethsemane; but this is a Christ-God in His glory, the All-Powerful One. It is tremendous, tragic, mysterious and shattering… writes Patrick Leigh Fermor in his travel book Mani. Travels in the Southern Peloponnese of 1958. https://patrickleighfermor.org/tag/mani/ and https://www.biblio.com/mani-by-fermor-patrick-leigh/work/20200
The sight of the Pantocrator image at Daphni is indeed breathtaking, and I particularly like Fermor's use of adjectives… tremendous, tragic, mysterious, and shattering! Whether Fermor was right or not in his description… whether the Daphni Pantocrator survives today exactly as it was created by the anonymous 11th century Byzantine master… is not easy to answer, but was expertly addressed by Robin Cormack in his 2009 article Rediscovering the Christ Pantocrator at Daphni. Professor Cormack takes his reader on a wonderful journey as he "deciphers" the secrets of this amazing mosaic and the wondrous ways of mosaic restoration. Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, Vol. 71 (2008), pp. 55-74 (20 pages) Published By: The University of Chicago Press https://www.jstor.org/stable/20462776?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3Aefe48f19a158ab3c7526e9941fbf2d9f&seq=20
Daphni Monastery (South View), 11th century, Attica, Greece
Visiting the Daphni Monastery has always been a wonderful experience! Built on the slopes of Mount Egaleo in the grove of Haidari, next to the ancient Athenian Ιερά Οδό (Sacred Road) that connected Athens with Eleusis, the site of the eponymous Eleusinian Mysteries, lies the Byzantine Monastery of Daphni. It is only interesting that the Monastery was built on the location of the ancient sanctuary of Apollo Daphnaios, destroyed during the invasion of the Goths in 395 AD. Unfortunately, of the old temple only one Ionic column still remains in the colonnade of the narthex, while the rest were removed by Lord Elgin in the 19th century. http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh251.jsp?obj_id=1514
Daphni Monastery (Katholiko NE View), 11th century, Attica, Greece
According to the Greek Ministry of Culture (ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ site), the first monastic community at Daphni was organized during the 6th century AD and was enclosed by strong defensive walls, almost square in plan. The catholicon was a three-aisled basilica which stood in the center of the courtyard. Along the inner NE side of the walls, two-storied buildings were constructed, containing the cells of the monks. A reception hall and a second block of cells were attached on the north wall of the enclosure. http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh251.jsp?obj_id=1514
What we see today is the 2nd phase of development and construction, dating from the 11th century (around 1080). The Monastery's Katholikon is a cross-in-square church of the octagonal type, surmounted by a broad and high dome. It has a narthex, formed as an open portico… The exonarthex was constructed a little later, in the early 12th century and the chapel to the west was added in the 18th century… The porch with the three pointed arches in the west facade of the narthex was added in the 13th century by the Frankish monks and certainly points to western influence… The walls of the church are built in the simple cloisonne masonry with poor brick decoration, restricted on the windows… The monastery is protected by a square enclosure fortified with towers and ramparts, with two entrance gates on its east and west sides. http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh251.jsp?obj_id=1514
For an interesting Video on the Daphni Monastery, please Check… https://www.archaeology.wiki/blog/video/daphni-monastery/
Silver Flabellum in the Collection of the Dumbarton Oaks
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Flabellum, 565 – 578, silver and gilding, 30.9 x 24.77 x 1.91 cm, Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, DC, USA http://museum.doaks.org/objects-1/info/27007
A flabellum (plural flabella), in Christian liturgical use, is a fan, made of metal, leather, silk, parchment, or feathers, intended to keep away insects from the consecrated Body and Blood of Christ and from the priest, as well as to show honour. The Apostolic Constitutions, a work of the fourth century, state (VIII, 12): "Let two of the deacons, on each side of the altar, hold a fan, made up of thin membranes, or of the feathers of the peacock, or of fine cloth, and let them silently drive away the small animals that fly about, that they may not come near to the cups.". The 6th century Silver Flabellum in the Collection of the Dumbarton Oaks is not only liturgical but a work of great art as well! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flabellum
The Bliss-Tyler Correspondence, always fascinating, provides two references to the purchase of the Silver Flabellum/ Rhipidion (in Greek)/Fan of the Dumbarton Oaks Collection by Robert Woods Bliss in 1936, in Paris, France. The first reference is made in a letter dated February 1, 1936… I'm much excited about your recent acquisitions. Hurrah for the Drey cross! And for the Rhipidion (fan). And I'm prepared to enthuse about the pyx when I see it or a photo. The second reference is dated March 6, 1936… The rhipidion (flabellum) is certainly early VIe cent. The hallmarks make that certain, and the style is perfectly consistent. https://www.doaks.org/resources/bliss-tyler-correspondence/letters/01feb1936 and https://www.doaks.org/resources/bliss-tyler-correspondence/letters/06mar1936
Riha Silver Group, 6th century AD, silver and gilding, Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, DC, USA http://museum.doaks.org/objects-1/info/27007
During the turbulent years (7th century) of the Sasanian and then the Arab invasions of Syria, devoted Christians buried a precious collection of liturgical vessels for safekeeping, hoping they will be able to reclaim them when peace would have prevailed. The silver Rhipidion, along with an amazing Paten and a Chalice, all three of them in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection today, were discovered at Riha, a small village south of Aleppo in central Syria. It has been written by Stephen Zwirn of the Dumbarton Oaks, that the Riha Treasure along with silver treasures from nearby Stuma, Hama, and Antioch were discovered at about the same time, and it has been suggested that these hoards actually constituted one large group brought together for protective burial, which was divided into smaller sets after it was unearthed early in the twentieth century. The original owners never came back to retrieve their treasures… and thus, many centuries later, they ended up in different Museums and private collections around the world! http://museum.doaks.org/objects-1/info/27007http://museum.doaks.org/objects-1/info/27007 and https://www.doaks.org/resources/bliss-tyler-correspondence/annotations/silver-treasure
The Riha chalice, paten, and fan were each impressed, writes Stephen Zwirn, with stamps that indicate the emperor's reign during which they were made. The chalice was fabricated during the reign of Justinian I (527–65), while the paten and fan belong to the reign of his successor, Justin II (565–78)… They form a set for use in the Orthodox Eucharist, or Communion: the paten held the leavened bread, still a tradition in Orthodox worship, the chalice contained the wine, and the fan was used to keep insects away from the bread and the wine. It has been suggested that they were produced in Constantinople and purchased by Megalos and Nonnous, a couple named in the inscription of the paten, for presentation to a church in Syria soon after 577. http://museum.doaks.org/objects-1/info/27007 and file:///C:/Users/aspil/OneDrive/Blog/Byzantium/Age_of_Spirituality_Late_Antique_and_Early_Christian_Art_Third_to_Seventh_Century.pdf pages 617-18
Flabellum (detail), 565 – 578, silver and gilding, 30.9 x 24.77 x 1.91 cm, Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, DC, USA http://museum.doaks.org/objects-1/info/27007
The silver Flabellun/Rhipidion/Fan in the Dumbarton Oaks is engraved with sixteen peacock feathers around its scalloped rim. On its central disk, the 6th-century silversmith, engraved a tetramorph cherubim, the four-winged creature described in Ezekiel 1:4–21. The same tetramorph has been, summarily, engraved on the reverse side as well. The luxury of all liturgical vessels discovered in Syria indicates the splendor of the Early Christian Church Service, and the magnificent silver Rhipidion in particular, the ceremonial status altar fan had during the Orthodox Eucharist or Communion Service. file:///C:/Users/aspil/OneDrive/Blog/Byzantium/Age_of_Spirituality_Late_Antique_and_Early_Christian_Art_Third_to_Seventh_Century.pdf pages 617-18
For a Student Activity inspired by the Silver Flabellum in the Collection of the Dumbarton Oaks, please… Check HERE!
Triptych Leaf with St. Constantine
Triptych Leaf with St. Constantine, mid-10th century, Ivory, 16.4×6.5 cm, Dumbarton
Oaks, Washington, DC, USA
http://museum.doaks.org/objects-1/info/27455
It was but recently the whole human race celebrated various ten-year periods for the great Emperor with festive banquets. It was but recently we ourselves hymned the conqueror with praises for his twenty years, taking the floor at the Council of God's ministers. Just now we wove garlands of words also for his thirty years, in the very palace hardly yesterday to crown his sacred head. But today our thought stands helpless, longing to express some of the conventional things, but at a loss which way to turn, stunned by the sheer wonder of the amazing spectacle. Wherever it casts its gaze, whether east or west, whether all over the earth or up to heaven itself, every way and everywhere it observes the Blessed One present with the Empire itself… writes Eusebius PamphiliOn the Life of the Blessed Emperor Constantine back in the 4th century AD. Today, celebrating Emperor Constantine's Name-Day, I present you a Triptych Leaf with St. Constantine from the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and wish every person named Constantine or Constantina… Health, Happiness, and Prosperity! http://archive.eclass.uth.gr/eclass/modules/document/file.php/SEAD260/%CE%95%CF%85%CF%83%CE%AD%CE%B2%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%82%2C%20Life%20of%20Constantine%20%28trans.%20Averil%20Cameron%20-%20Stuart%20Hall%29.pdf
Emperor Constantine is often described as the most important emperor of Late Antiquity. His political and military acumen, foresight, and sagacity mark his rule as a significant pivot point between Ancient History and the Middle Ages. His reign was eventful and brutal, but his momentous decisions created a whole new world for Europe and parts of the Eastern Mediterranean… He legalized and supported Christianity, and he founded the "New Rome," mythical Constantinople, the city that ruled supreme in beauty, and power, for a thousand years! Emperor Constantine, while alive, was revered and feared at the same time. He was the greatest of statesmen… he became a Saint of the Christian faith, and a shining example for Emperors to come into the world! https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/constantine
Originally in the Collection of the famed connoisseur of European paintings and of objects of fine art from many cultures, Count Grigory Sergeievich Stroganoff (1829-1910) of Rome, Paris, and St Petersburg, the Triptych Leaf with St. Constantine entered the Dumbarton Oaks Collection in 1947. The small ivory representation of a Saint dressed in Imperial attire, a loros wrapped around his body and a crown with pendilia, is identified with Emperor/Saint Constantine I (208?-337 AD). Along with his mother St. Helena, according to John Hanson of Dumbarton Oaks, also dressed in royal robes, these saints were often shown flanking a representation of the True Cross. In all probability, this is the case for the Dumbarton Oaks Ivory panel. It was the left-wing of a precious triptych.. http://museum.doaks.org/objects-1/info/27455
Triptych Leaf with St. Constantine (detail), mid-10th century, Ivory, 16.4×6.5 cm, Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, DC, USA
There were no less than eleven Byzantine Emperors by the name of Constantine, the number rising to twenty-two if children and relatives with little or no independent power were added to the list. They all wanted to connect with the Empire's founder and share his legacy. It is perhaps for this reason that the saint's features resemble, as stated by John Hanson, the facial features of early 10th century Byzantine Emperors, the time when the Triptych Leaf with St. Constantine was created. If the identity of the emperor was specifically Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos, the resemblance creates a complex sign of authority and sanctity, aligning the living emperor with his imperial namesake. https://www.persee.fr/doc/numi_0484-8942_2005_num_6_161_2594 and http://museum.doaks.org/objects-1/info/27455
For a Student Activity on the Triptych Leaf with St. Constantine, please… Check HERE!
Good Friday – Μεγάλη Παρασκευή
by admin ArtByzantine ArtByzantine IvoriesByzantiumPowerpoints
Book cover with a silver-gilt Spanish setting of a Byzantine Ivory Crucifixion, 10th century (ivory); late 11th century (setting), silver-gilt with pseudo-filigree, glass, crystal, and sapphire cabochons, ivory on wood support, Overall: 26.4 × 21.9 × 2.5 cm, the MET, NY, USA https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464015
Today he who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon a Tree. He who is King of the Angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns. He who wraps the heaven in clouds is wrapped in mocking purple. He who freed Adam in the Jordan receives a blow on the face. The Bridegroom of the Church is transfixed with nails. The Son of the Virgin is pierced by a lance. We worship your Sufferings, O Christ. Show us also your glorious Resurrection. (Good Friday – Μεγάλη Παρασκευή Twelfth Antiphon – plagal fourth mode) http://www.hchc.edu/assets/files/CD/All_Creation_Trembled_ebook.pdf
Σήμερον κρεμᾶται ἐπὶ ξύλου ὁ ἐν ὕδασι τὴν γῆν κρεμάσας. Στέφανον ἐξ ἀκανθῶν περιτίθεται ὁ τῶν Ἀγγέλων Βασιλεύς. Ψευδῆ πορφύραν περιβάλλεται ὁ περιβάλλων τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐν νεφέλαις. Ῥάπισμα κατεδέξατο ὁ ἐν Ἰορδάνῃ ἐλευθερώσας τὸν Ἀδάμ. Ἥλοις προσηλώθη ὁ Νυμφίος τῆς Ἐκκλησίας. Λόγχῃ ἐκεντήθη ὁ Υἱὸς τῆς Παρθένου. Προσκυνοῦμέν σου τὰ Πάθη, Χριστέ. Δεῖξον ἡμῖν καὶ τὴν ἔνδοξόν σου Ἀνάστασιν/ (ΜεγάληΠαρασκευή Ἀντίφωνον ΙΒ΄ – ἦχος πλ. δ΄) http://www.hchc.edu/assets/files/CD/All_Creation_Trembled_ebook.pdf
Panel with a Byzantine Ivory Carving of a Crucifixion, 10th century, Ivory, the MET, NY, USA https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464015
Byzantine Panels of Ivory Carvings were precious and treasured… just like the Ivory Panel in the MET coming from the Nunnery of Santa Cruz de la Serós in Spain. Set within an amazing gold frame of a Spanish goldsmith, the Byzantine Ivory Crucifixion Panel becomes an important testimony of Western admiration for the artistry of Byzantine craftsmanship, the high esteem accorded such Byzantine objects, and the cultural exchange, the artistic emulation, Byzantine artifacts initiated. The Glory of Byzantium, Art and Culture of the Middle Byzantine Era https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/The_Glory_of_Byzantium_Art_and_Culture_of_the_Middle_Byzantine_Era_AD_843_1261 p. 466
The Crucifixion plaque of Santa Cruz de la Serós originally formed the center of a Byzantine three-paneled icon. Typical to Byzantine Iconography, a Triumphant Christ stands erect on the Cross, his face serene, the eyes closed, his arms effortlessly horizontal, and his feet supported by a projecting platform. The "monumental" Cross in the center, seems to divide the compositional panel into 4 parts. The upper two smaller in size parts exhibit the sun and the moon, and two Angels. Standing under them, flanking the Cross, are the weeping Virgin Mary, and Saint John the Evangelist. They are both depicted holding a Book, an open one by Mary, and a bejeweled closed Book, by Saint John. Could the two represented Books be meant to remind the plaque's viewer of Christ's message of hope and redemption? https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464015
The Metropolitan Museum Ivory is associated (by Goldschmidt and Weitzmann) with the Cortona Reliquary of the True Cross Ivory panel, and a collection of Ivory plaques known as the Nikephoros Group. These Ivories display simplicity of composition, stylistic homogeneity, rough but monumental style of carving, broad, blunt facial features, and rather large hands. The Nikephoros Group Ivories are dated to the middle of the 10th century because of an inscription on the back of the Cortona Reliquary of the True Cross Ivory panel mentioning emperor Nikephoros, most certainly the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas (963-969). https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/The_Glory_of_Byzantium_Art_and_Culture_of_the_Middle_Byzantine_Era_AD_843_1261 p. 466
The MET Byzantine Ivory of the Crucifixion has been one of the many gifts to the Nunnery of Santa Cruz de la Serós, outside the royal capital of Jaca, which was founded by Queen Felicia (d. 1085), wife of Sancho V Ramírez (r. 1076–94), king of Aragon and Navarre. It entered the Metropolitan Museum Collection in 1917 as a gift from J. Pierpont Morgan. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464015?&exhibitionId=0&oid=464015&pkgids=722 and https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/464015
A PowerPoint of all artworks presented for the Holy Week in the Greek Orthodox Church, 2022… is HERE!