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'Prison Bakery' in ancient Pompeii
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10 Dec 2023, 23:51
Archaeologists excavating the ancient Roman city of Pompeii have uncovered a "prison bakery" where slaves and blindfolded donkeys were kept locked up underground to grind grain for bread, officials said this week.
Underneath a house in the ruins they found "a cramped room with no view of the outside world and with small windows high in the wall, with iron bars, to let the light in", the Archaeological Park of Pompeii announced on Friday (Dec 8).
Archaeologists deduced they had found a "prison bakery", the UNESCO World Heritage Site near Naples, southern Italy, said on its website.
They also discovered "indentations" in the floor "to coordinate the movement of the animals, forced to walk around for hours, blindfolded".
The house, on the 44-hectare site that is currently under excavation, was divided into a residential area "decorated with exquisite Fourth Style frescoes" and a "productive quarter", the bakery.
Three skeletons were discovered in one room of the bakery, showing that the house was inhabited.
- 'Shocking' side of ancient world -
"It is, in other words, a space in which we have to imagine the presence of people of servile status whose freedom of movement the owner felt the need to restrict," wrote Pompeii director Gabriel Zuchtreigel in a scholarly article.
"It is the most shocking side of ancient slavery, the one devoid of both trusting relationships and promises of manumission, where we were reduced to brute violence, an impression that is entirely confirmed by the securing of the few windows with iron bars."
The public can view more evidence of this harsh daily life in an exhibition called "The Other Pompeii: Ordinary Lives in the Shadow of Vesuvius" which opens at the Palestra Grande in Pompeii on December 15.
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Ways to celebrate a long-distance Mother's Day
Mother's Day is celebrated every year on the second Sunday of May and is observed in different forms throughout the world. Though it's a very special day and it's significance is indescribable, is everyone planned for their mother on this day? It's a joy for every child to be able to surprise mom with something special one day a year. It's very easy to surprise your mother from very close, but is it always be possible to be near your mom?
You may live in a different town or city, or in a different country, where you've built your life and had your own experiences. That doesn't mean that you've forgotten her. With all of the phone- and video calls, you're still as close as ever. Surprise her with a sweet gesture at a distance, such as a personalised Mother's Day card or a small but personal gift. She'll love it!
Mother's Day can be a mixed emotional bag if you find yourself away from your mom. Distance, naturally, can make the celebration options far more limited. Sometimes, beyond our best efforts, we can't be with our moms for Mother's Day. But that doesn't mean we can't celebrate together. There are several things to do on Mother's Day that don't require both to be in the same room.
Here are some virtual options to consider-
Send a genuine Mother's Day card
A beautiful Mother's Day card never fails to put a smile on her face. Write a heartfelt message inside that shows how much she means to you so the card stands out. Then take a few extra seconds to schedule it to be sent on the actual holiday to ensure her gift lands in her inbox right when you want it to.
Host a virtual open house
Families who live across different time zones often struggle to get together for Mother’s Day. Set up a virtual meeting for an extended time, and invite loved ones to drop in and give a toast to mom when they can. If sitting online for a long time is stressful for your mom, record the virtual toasts and let her watch it in her own time.
Create art together
Great minds think alike, no matter how physically far apart they are. Order the same art supplies for your mom and you, and have them delivered to your respective homes. On Mother's Day, use a guided painting video to create something together as you catch up over a virtual meeting. Reveal your masterpieces at the end of the call. As a bonus, send each other your paintings as a keepsake.
Stream her favorite movie
There's nothing like curling up on the couch and watching a classic movie, but streaming it together comes close. Find a streaming service that's showing her favorite movie and watch it virtually together. Send her some virtual popcorn for an added treat.
Take a virtual tour
In the 21st century, we don't even need to leave our homes to see the world. Take a virtual tour together this Mother's Day to see priceless pieces of art, stunning wonders of nature, and historic accomplishments of mankind.
Plan a future visit
Sometimes it can be comforting to look forward to something in the future. If you cannot spend the day with your mother on the actual day, you can plan a fun activity or adventure to do with her the next time you see her. This can include planning on going on a hike, going to the pool or going shopping together.
Grab a bite to eat
This idea is easier for people who are a couple of hours away from their mothers. She can pick a restaurant that is half the distance between you, and you can meet her there. Although it could be a short visit, it can still be worthwhile.
The largest ever Thai New Year celebrations
Under the sweltering Bangkok sun, revelers of all ages dressed in vibrant floral shirts and armed with colorful water guns and buckets douse each other in a playful celebration of Songkran, the Thai New Year. Laughter and shrieks fill the air as icy water splashes across smiling faces, while the aroma of Thai street food mingles with the soaked festivities on Khaosan Road, the iconic epicenter for the nationwide water fight as part of the kingdom’s annual Songkran celebrations.
Later in the day, Buddha statues are paraded through the streets over which locals gently pour lustral water to pay respects and pray for prosperity. Amid the splashing water and joyous chaos, the scene beautifully captures the blend of tradition and fun that defines this traditional Thai New Year festival.
Celebrating Culture, Kinship, and Community
Inscribed in 2023 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Songkran marks the celestial event of the sun’s annual entry into the Aries constellation, thus heralding the start of the new year. The festival, Thailand’s biggest and most significant on the annual calendar, takes place in mid-April, following the rice harvest, when people across Thailand reunite with their families, reinforcing social bonds and reverence for elders in the community.
Water pouring plays a significant role in the festivities as a symbolic act of cleansing the old to welcome the new, particularly during the ceremony where young people prepare scented water to wash their parents’ or elders’ hands and ask for blessings, as well as the ritual where participants bathe important Buddha images. Impromptu water parties spring up on streets across the country—including legendary festivities along Khaosan and Silom roads in Bangkok that offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience—with revelers dancing to exuberant music and splashing water on passersby in a spirit of goodwill.
Traditionally celebrated for three days, from April 13 to 15, Songkran has historically marked a time of renewal and festivity across Thailand. To honor its recent UNESCO designation, the 2024 festival will be extended to three weeks, from April 1 to 21, uniting all 77 provinces in a celebration of unmatched scale.
A World-Class Festival
Over 500,000 international tourists are expected to converge in Bangkok for the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 from April 11 to 15, joining locals and domestic travelers at the extravaganza at the heart of this year’s celebration. The festivities will take place in the historic area of Thailand’s bustling capital along Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue and at Sanam Luang near the iconic Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
The five-day event kicks off with the Maha Songkran Parade, featuring 20 grand processions and over 1,000 performers. The parade, a hallmark of Songkran celebrations, dazzles spectators with participants in traditional Thai costumes, alongside a range of cultural performances, including traditional Thai dances and music. Highlighting the parade are floats beautifully decorated with flowers, carrying representations of Lady Songkran—goddesses from a myth that tells the story of a deity and his seven daughters, one representing each day of the week.
At the main stage in Sanam Luang, attendees will be treated to a diverse line-up of cultural and musical performances, including the classical Khon masked dance drama and the Southern Thai Nora dance drama, both recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage performing arts. The festival also offers contemporary music and orchestral performances, merit-making ceremonies, and workshops on local arts and crafts, as well as a designated water zone, complete with a musical dancing fountain, a gigantic wading pool, and water stations, promising a delightful and refreshing experience for all.
A Cultural Mosaic
While Songkran traditions from Thailand’s five regions will be showcased in a dedicated zone at the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 in Bangkok, travelers with more time can also experience firsthand the festivities unique to each region.
For instance, in the northern city of Chiang Mai, once the capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, visitors have the opportunity to celebrate with locals by partaking in traditions reflective of the region’s identity. Amidst colorful parades and processions, revelers bring sand to temples—to return the sand they may have inadvertently carried away on the bottoms of their shoes over the year—and build sand pagodas decorated with colorful ceremonial flags, flowers, and sticks of incense.
Source: CNN
