Wednesday, March 18, 2015
COLLECTED GEMS
HOW TO DEVELOP POWER OF BELIEF
- Think success, dont think failure
- Remind yourself regularly that you are beter than you think you are
- Believe Big
STUDY PEOPLE
Vaccinate yourself against exquisites : the DISEASE OF THE FAILURES
FOUR COMMON FORMS OF EXQUISITIS
- BUT MY HEALTH ISNT GOOD
- Four things you can do too lick health exquisitis
- Refuse to talk about your health
- Refuse to worry about your health
- Be genuinely grateful that your health is good as it is
- Remind yourself often "It is better to wear out than rust out"
- Refuse to talk about your health
- YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE BRAINS TO SUCCED TWO ERRORS
- We underestimate our own brain power and
- We overestimate the other fellows brain power
- Three ways to cure Intelligence exquisitis
- Never underestimate you own intelligence; dont sell yourself short. Concentrate on your assets ; discover your superior talents
- Remind yourself several times daily "my attitudes are more important than my intelligence"
- Remember that the ability to think is of much greater value than the ability to memorize facts
- Never underestimate you own intelligence; dont sell yourself short. Concentrate on your assets ; discover your superior talents
- We underestimate our own brain power and
STRIVING TALENTS
ACHIEVER : | A drive that is internals constant and self imposed |
KINESTHETIC: | A need to spend physical energy |
STAMINA | Capacity for physical endurance |
COMPETITION | A need to gauge your success comparatively |
DESIRE | A need to claim significance through independence excellence, risk and recognition |
COMPETENCE | A need for expertise or mastery |
BELIEF | A need to orient your life around certain prevailing values |
MISSION | A drive to put your belief into action |
SERVICE | A drive to be of service to otheres |
ETHICS | A clear understanding of right and wrong which guides your actions |
VISION | A drive to paint value-based word pictures about the future |
|
|
THINKING TALENTS
FOCUS: | An ability to set goals and to us them everyday to guide actions |
DISCIPLINE | A need to impose structure onto life and work |
ARRANGER | An ability to orchestrate work orientation. A need to be mentally rehearse and review |
GESTALT | A need to see order and accuracy |
RESPONSIBILITY | A need to assume personal accountability for your work |
CONCEPT | An ability to develop a frame work by which to make sense of things performance orientation. A need to be objective and to measure |
STRATEGIC THINKING | An ability to play out alternative scenarios in the future |
BUSINESS THINKING | The financial application of the strategic thinking talent |
PROBLEM SOLVING | An ability to think things through with incomplete data |
NUMERICAL | An affinity to numbers |
CREATIVITY | An ability to break existing configurations in favor of more effective/ appealing ones. |
RELATING TALENTS
WOO | A need to gain approval of others |
EMPATHY | An ability to identify the feelings and prospectives of others |
REALTOR | A need to build bonds that lasts |
MULTIREALTOR | An ability to build an extensive network of acquaintances |
INTERPERSONAL | An ability to purposely capitalize upon relationships |
INDIVIDUAL PERCEPTION | An awareness of and attentiveness to individual differences |
DEVELOPER | A need to invest in others and derive satisfaction in so doing |
STIMULATOR | An ability to create enthusiasm and drama |
TEAM | A need to build feelings of mutual support |
BUSINESS SYSTEMS | A system is nothing but an organized and coordinated way of performing a series of tasks to accomplish an objective |
FIRST LAW OF SUCCESS
ACTION IS MORE LIKELY TO SUCCEED THAN INACTION
WE sense acceptance and rejection.
Acceptance feels better
SHIV KHERA:
- Attitude is the key to success
- Develop a "CAN DO" attitude
- WINNING STRATEGIES
- Winners will have WILL POWER
- Losers have WONT power
- WINNERS EDGE
- DO THE RIGHT THINGS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS
- Winners will have WILL POWER
- ATTITUDE determines ALTITUDE.
- Respond to life more enthusiastically both at work and home
- Respond to life more enthusiastically both at work and home
EMOTIONAL THINKING AND ANALYTICAL THINKING
When you are thinking through a process or problem or a situation or condition we need the following :
- Raw data which contains facts about what your thinking
- Objective to be achieved
…TO BE CONTINUED
Brittle Stars
The swaying fronds of red seaweed that fringe rockpools near the low tide level on the seashore are home to a wealth of miniature marine life, less spectacular than the inhabitants of coral reefs but every bit as intriguing. I found scores of these tiny brittle stars, the largest no larger than a centimetre across (including arms), on a visit to the Northumberland coast at the weekend. Brittle stars, or ophiuroids, are relatives of starfish and sea urchins, in the phylum Echinodermata (which means spiny skin - a feature many members of the phylum share). The view above is of the underside of one of the brttle stars, showing the mouth fringed with five teeth formed from calcareous plates.
Seen from above, five arms radiate from the pentangular body. Each arm is formed from articulated segments linked by muscles and these are very flexible, so the animal often curls the tip of an arm around a seaweed frond to stop itself from being washed away by currents. If its alarmed the muscles between the arm segments contract and then the arms become very brittle.....
... and it doesnt take much force to snap them, as has happened here with the upper arm. This is not a problem, as....
... arms can easily be regenerated, as is happening here with the middle, lower arm. This capacity for shedding and regenerating arms is analogous to the way that lizards shed their tails (autotomy) if they are picked up by that appendage.
At higher magnification you can see the anatomy of the arms more clearly. Each calcareous segment bears spines and a pair of tube feet, that are all interconnected by a hydaulic system of radial canals that run along the arms and a ring canal that runs around the central body. Local relaxation or contraction of muscles, compressing liquid within, elongates or retracts the tube feet.
When theyre fully grown some brittle star species can reach 60 centimetres in diameter (not in Britain, though), but they all begin life as planktonic larvae, often settling into the shelter of seaweeds on the nursery slopes of rock pools or coastal shallow seas, which are of such importance for the health of the oceans.
You can see a YouTube vieo sequence of an adult brittlestar here.
Unlike the tube feet of starfish which have suckers on their tips and are used for walking, those of brittle stars are primarily for sensory purposes and to assist in feeding, by secreting adhesive mucus. In this higher magnification image you can see that the tube foot is hollow.
The ring of tube feet around the mouth on the underside, where the arms converge, help to sweep food particles beyond the five calcareous teeth)....
.... into the muscular oesophagous, and then into ....
... the stomach. The tiny central body also contains gonads, that produce eggs and sperm that give rise to the planktonic ophiopluteus larvae.
When theyre fully grown some brittle star species can reach 60 centimetres in diameter (not in Britain, though), but they all begin life as planktonic larvae, often settling into the shelter of seaweeds on the nursery slopes of rock pools or coastal shallow seas, which are of such importance for the health of the oceans.
You can see a YouTube vieo sequence of an adult brittlestar here.
Pegasus Greek Mythology
Pegasus was a beautiful winged horse who sprang from the body of Medusa when she was slain by the hero Perseus, the son of Zeus and Danaë. Spreading out his wings he immediately flew to the top of Mount Olympus, where he was received with delight and admiration by all the immortals. A place in his palace was assigned to him by Zeus, who employed him to carry his thunder and lightning. Pegasus permitted none but the gods to mount him, except in the case of Bellerophon, whom, at the command of Athene, he carried aloft, in order that he might slay the Chimæra with his arrows.
The later poets represent Pegasus as being at the service of the Muses, and for this reason he is more celebrated in modern times than in antiquity. He would appear to represent that poetical inspiration, which tends to develop mans higher nature, and causes the mind to soar heavenwards. The only mention by the ancients of Pegasus in connection with the Muses, is the story of his having produced with his hoofs, the famous fountain Hippocrene.
It is said that during their contest with the Pierides, the Muses played and sang on the summit of Mount Helicon with such extraordinary power and sweetness, that heaven and earth stood still to listen, whilst the mountain raised itself in joyous ecstasy towards the abode of the celestial gods. Poseidon, seeing his special function thus interfered with, sent Pegasus to check the boldness of the mountain, in daring to move without his permission. When Pegasus reached the summit, he stamped the ground with his hoofs, and out gushed the waters of Hippocrene, afterwards so renowned as the sacred fount, whence the Muses quaffed their richest draughts of inspiration.
Text:
Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome
Author: E.M. Berens
Published: 1880
The Project Gutenberg E-Book
Produced by Alicia Williams, Keith Edkins and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Read more »
The later poets represent Pegasus as being at the service of the Muses, and for this reason he is more celebrated in modern times than in antiquity. He would appear to represent that poetical inspiration, which tends to develop mans higher nature, and causes the mind to soar heavenwards. The only mention by the ancients of Pegasus in connection with the Muses, is the story of his having produced with his hoofs, the famous fountain Hippocrene.
It is said that during their contest with the Pierides, the Muses played and sang on the summit of Mount Helicon with such extraordinary power and sweetness, that heaven and earth stood still to listen, whilst the mountain raised itself in joyous ecstasy towards the abode of the celestial gods. Poseidon, seeing his special function thus interfered with, sent Pegasus to check the boldness of the mountain, in daring to move without his permission. When Pegasus reached the summit, he stamped the ground with his hoofs, and out gushed the waters of Hippocrene, afterwards so renowned as the sacred fount, whence the Muses quaffed their richest draughts of inspiration.
Text:
Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome
Author: E.M. Berens
Published: 1880
The Project Gutenberg E-Book
Produced by Alicia Williams, Keith Edkins and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
GROW TULSI BANISH POLLUTION
TULSI
Tirupathi, has established that the TULSI Plant exhales Ozone,the molecules of which contain three atoms of oxygen in place of ordinary atmospheric oxygen which has only two atoms in each molecule.According to reports published by the Vallabhbhai Patel Vriksha Sansthan, Delhi, an oily substance found in TULSI actively destroys Tuberculosis bacilli.
TULSI is said to contain about 27 minerals and is used extensively in the preparation of more than 300 Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic medicines.It destroys disease-carrying germs and is used in the treatment of several ailments including Asthma, Tuberculosis, Leprosy etc.It also purifies blood and improves digestive system.
Things exposed to the aroma of TULSI or placed near a TULSI Plant will not deteriorate or get spoiled quickly.A deadbody too does not decay rapidly if placed among TULSI Plants.Perhaps the ritual of putting TULSI leaves in the mouth of a dying person or keeping a TULSI Plant near a dead body originated on the basis of this fact.There is also a tradition of placing TULSI leaves in foods and drinks that have to be stored during solar and lunar eclipses.The bacteriocidal properties and electrical energy of the leaves protect the stored victuals from the adverse effects of the rays of the eclipsed luminaries.
TULSI has a salutary effect not only on the body, but also on the thoughts, tendencies and inclinations of the mind.It is stated in the Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda, that wherever the aroma of TULSI is carried by the wind, it purifies the atmosphere and frees all animals from all baser tendencies.TULSI helps not only in curing physical ailments but also in promoting purity, sanctity and spiritual progress.A TULSI Plant is sure to act as a centre for spreading positive and ennobling thoughts.In view A Tulsi Plant (Holy Basil) at the doorstep of the house or in its vicinity keeps the atmosphere pure, supplies oxygen in greater quantities, ensures the health of its occupants and keeps it free from poisonous insects.The contribution of the TULSI Plant to the purification of polluted air is unrivalled.It possesses bacteriocidal properties.The emanations from TULSI Plants are in fact fatal to mosquitoes.Even snakes cannot tolerate the aroma of TULSI and keep
away from it.
A special kind of vapour is released by a TULSI Plant into the air which purifies the atmosphere.This is actually an essential fragrant oil present in the TULSI Plant which evaporates and spreads through the air, rendering it free from bacteria and other substances likely to cause diseases.It is reported that a study undertaken by the S.V. University, of the unrivalled qualities of TULSI, our ancient Sages have with great foresight recommended that there should a TULSI Plant in the courtyard of every dwelling - a recommendation that reveals their profound wisdom.
Early in the morning, after your bath, sit in the proximity of or circumambulate around a TULSI Plant so as to allow the fragrance emanating from its leaves, inflorescences and stem to mix with the air you inhale and to fill your entire being with ecstasy.Inhale deeply and hold your breath.Let the maximum amount of the fragrance enter your lungs.Let this fragrant air laden with salubrious chemicals penetrate your body as deeply as possible.Let this divine aroma pervade every drop of your blood and purify it.This fragrance is very effective in increasing the beauty, health and radiance of your body.
Please take to this inexpensive but most effective method of combating pollution of air and thoughtsaround us, and feel the difference.
Let us plant a few TULSI Plants in pots and place the pots during the day in every one of the rooms we commonly use.The pots may be taken out into the open in the evenings and left there overnight, to be brought back in the morning.This will keep the atmosphere in the house fresh.Even people living in apartments having no open ground can easily raise one or two TULSI Plants in their corridors and balconies of their flats.
Affluent philanthropists with the welfare of the people at heart may set up TULSI-VANAS in the vacant space around their bungalows, and permit every one suffering from an illness to have free access to TULSI Plants.
Some Simple, Tested, Home Remedies withTULSI
vA person that eats even five leaves of Tulsi a day is protected from a large number of diseases.
vA daily morning dose of 2 to 3 spoonfuls of Tulsi Juice taken on empty stomach helps to develop bodily strength, memory and an impressive personality.
vIf eleven Tulsi leaves are taken with four black pepper seeds, Malaria, periodic fever and such other fevers will be cured.
vTulsi quickly reduces blood cholesterol to normal levels.
vWhether one wants to lose weight or gain weight Tulsi is equally beneficial.It helps to develop a healthy and well-proportioned body.
vA few drops of Tulsi Juice with a little salt dropped into the nostrils of an unconscious person helps him quickly regain consciousness.
vTea brewed with Tulsi leaves is a good remedy for fevers, colds and muscular pains.
vTaking 10 gms of Tulsi Juice with 5 gr. of honey will cure hiccups and asthma.
vDrinking Tulsi decoction to which some Saindhav Salt and powdered dry ginger have been added, cures constipation.
vDigestion is stimulated by chewing five leaves of Tulsi after mid-day meal, or indeed at any other time.
vDrinking 10 gms of Tulsi Juice mixed with 5 gr. of honey and 5 gr. of powdered black pepper is good remedy for poor digestion.
vPolluted water is purified and sanctified by dropping a few fresh green Tulsi leaves in it.
vSwallowing five leaves of Tulsi with water every morning protects one from infectious diseases, removes weakness of the brain and improves memory.
vA few drops of warmed Tulsi Juice in the ears will relieve ear ache.
vFour or five roasted cloves chewed with Tulsi leaves are beneficial in all types of Coughs.
v Chest pains and coughs are relieved by drinking Tulsi Juice with crystal sugar.
v Rubbing Tulsi Juice over affected parts cures ringworm, eczema and other skin diseases.
vA paste obtained by grinding Tulsi leaves in lemon juice can also be applied to cure itching and eczema.
vThe chief merit of Tulsi is that it is equally beneficial in diseases of men, women and children and causes absolutely no adverse effects.
--
Tirupathi, has established that the TULSI Plant exhales Ozone,the molecules of which contain three atoms of oxygen in place of ordinary atmospheric oxygen which has only two atoms in each molecule.According to reports published by the Vallabhbhai Patel Vriksha Sansthan, Delhi, an oily substance found in TULSI actively destroys Tuberculosis bacilli.
TULSI is said to contain about 27 minerals and is used extensively in the preparation of more than 300 Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic medicines.It destroys disease-carrying germs and is used in the treatment of several ailments including Asthma, Tuberculosis, Leprosy etc.It also purifies blood and improves digestive system.
Things exposed to the aroma of TULSI or placed near a TULSI Plant will not deteriorate or get spoiled quickly.A deadbody too does not decay rapidly if placed among TULSI Plants.Perhaps the ritual of putting TULSI leaves in the mouth of a dying person or keeping a TULSI Plant near a dead body originated on the basis of this fact.There is also a tradition of placing TULSI leaves in foods and drinks that have to be stored during solar and lunar eclipses.The bacteriocidal properties and electrical energy of the leaves protect the stored victuals from the adverse effects of the rays of the eclipsed luminaries.
TULSI has a salutary effect not only on the body, but also on the thoughts, tendencies and inclinations of the mind.It is stated in the Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda, that wherever the aroma of TULSI is carried by the wind, it purifies the atmosphere and frees all animals from all baser tendencies.TULSI helps not only in curing physical ailments but also in promoting purity, sanctity and spiritual progress.A TULSI Plant is sure to act as a centre for spreading positive and ennobling thoughts.In view A Tulsi Plant (Holy Basil) at the doorstep of the house or in its vicinity keeps the atmosphere pure, supplies oxygen in greater quantities, ensures the health of its occupants and keeps it free from poisonous insects.The contribution of the TULSI Plant to the purification of polluted air is unrivalled.It possesses bacteriocidal properties.The emanations from TULSI Plants are in fact fatal to mosquitoes.Even snakes cannot tolerate the aroma of TULSI and keep
away from it.
A special kind of vapour is released by a TULSI Plant into the air which purifies the atmosphere.This is actually an essential fragrant oil present in the TULSI Plant which evaporates and spreads through the air, rendering it free from bacteria and other substances likely to cause diseases.It is reported that a study undertaken by the S.V. University, of the unrivalled qualities of TULSI, our ancient Sages have with great foresight recommended that there should a TULSI Plant in the courtyard of every dwelling - a recommendation that reveals their profound wisdom.
Early in the morning, after your bath, sit in the proximity of or circumambulate around a TULSI Plant so as to allow the fragrance emanating from its leaves, inflorescences and stem to mix with the air you inhale and to fill your entire being with ecstasy.Inhale deeply and hold your breath.Let the maximum amount of the fragrance enter your lungs.Let this fragrant air laden with salubrious chemicals penetrate your body as deeply as possible.Let this divine aroma pervade every drop of your blood and purify it.This fragrance is very effective in increasing the beauty, health and radiance of your body.
Please take to this inexpensive but most effective method of combating pollution of air and thoughtsaround us, and feel the difference.
Let us plant a few TULSI Plants in pots and place the pots during the day in every one of the rooms we commonly use.The pots may be taken out into the open in the evenings and left there overnight, to be brought back in the morning.This will keep the atmosphere in the house fresh.Even people living in apartments having no open ground can easily raise one or two TULSI Plants in their corridors and balconies of their flats.
Affluent philanthropists with the welfare of the people at heart may set up TULSI-VANAS in the vacant space around their bungalows, and permit every one suffering from an illness to have free access to TULSI Plants.
Some Simple, Tested, Home Remedies withTULSI
vA person that eats even five leaves of Tulsi a day is protected from a large number of diseases.
vA daily morning dose of 2 to 3 spoonfuls of Tulsi Juice taken on empty stomach helps to develop bodily strength, memory and an impressive personality.
vIf eleven Tulsi leaves are taken with four black pepper seeds, Malaria, periodic fever and such other fevers will be cured.
vTulsi quickly reduces blood cholesterol to normal levels.
vWhether one wants to lose weight or gain weight Tulsi is equally beneficial.It helps to develop a healthy and well-proportioned body.
vA few drops of Tulsi Juice with a little salt dropped into the nostrils of an unconscious person helps him quickly regain consciousness.
vTea brewed with Tulsi leaves is a good remedy for fevers, colds and muscular pains.
vTaking 10 gms of Tulsi Juice with 5 gr. of honey will cure hiccups and asthma.
vDrinking Tulsi decoction to which some Saindhav Salt and powdered dry ginger have been added, cures constipation.
vDigestion is stimulated by chewing five leaves of Tulsi after mid-day meal, or indeed at any other time.
vDrinking 10 gms of Tulsi Juice mixed with 5 gr. of honey and 5 gr. of powdered black pepper is good remedy for poor digestion.
vPolluted water is purified and sanctified by dropping a few fresh green Tulsi leaves in it.
vSwallowing five leaves of Tulsi with water every morning protects one from infectious diseases, removes weakness of the brain and improves memory.
vA few drops of warmed Tulsi Juice in the ears will relieve ear ache.
vFour or five roasted cloves chewed with Tulsi leaves are beneficial in all types of Coughs.
v Chest pains and coughs are relieved by drinking Tulsi Juice with crystal sugar.
v Rubbing Tulsi Juice over affected parts cures ringworm, eczema and other skin diseases.
vA paste obtained by grinding Tulsi leaves in lemon juice can also be applied to cure itching and eczema.
vThe chief merit of Tulsi is that it is equally beneficial in diseases of men, women and children and causes absolutely no adverse effects.
--
MARS Roman God Roman Mythology
The Roman divinity most closely resembling the Greek Ares, and identified with him, was called Mars, Mamers, and Marspiter or Father Mars.
The earliest Italian tribes, who were mostly engaged in the pursuit of husbandry, regarded this deity more especially as the god of spring, who vanquished the powers of winter, and encouraged the peaceful arts of agriculture. But with the Romans, who were an essentially warlike nation, Mars gradually loses his peaceful character, and, as god of war, attains, after Jupiter, the highest position among the Olympic gods. The Romans looked upon him as their special protector, and declared him to have been the father of Romulus and Remus, the founders of their city. But although he was especially worshiped in Rome as god of war, he still continued to preside over agriculture, and was also the protecting deity who watched over the welfare of the state.
As the god who strode with warlike step to the battlefield, he was called Gradivus (from gradus, a step), it being popularly believed by the Romans that he himself marched before them to battle, and acted as their invisible protector. As the presiding deity over agriculture, he was styled Sylvanus, whilst in his character as guardian of the state, he bore the name of Quirinus.
The priests of Mars were twelve in number, and were called Salii, or the dancers, from the fact that sacred dances, in full armour, formed an important item in their peculiar ceremonial. This religious order, the members of which were always chosen from the noblest families in Rome, was first instituted by Numa Pompilius, who intrusted to their special charge the Anciliæ, or sacred shields. It is said that one morning, when Numa was imploring the protection of Jupiter for the newly-founded city of Rome, the god of heaven, as though in answer to his prayer, sent down an oblong brazen shield, and, as it fell at the feet of the king, a voice was heard announcing that on its preservation depended the future safety and prosperity of Rome. In order, therefore, to lessen the chances of this sacred treasure being abstracted, Numa caused eleven more to be made exactly like it, which were then given into the care of the Salii.
The assistance and protection of the god of war was always solemnly invoked before the departure of a Roman army for the field of battle, and any reverses of fortune were invariably ascribed to his anger, which was accordingly propitiated by means of extraordinary sin-offerings and prayers.
In Rome a field, called the Campus Martius, was dedicated to Mars. It was a large, open space, in which armies were collected and reviewed, general assemblies of the people held, and the young nobility trained to martial exercises.
The most celebrated and magnificent of the numerous temples built by the Romans in honour of this deity was the one erected by Augustus in the Forum, to commemorate the overthrow of the murderers of Cæsar.
Of all existing statues of Mars the most renowned is that in the Villa Ludovisi at Rome, in which he is represented as a powerful, muscular man in the full vigor of youth. The attitude is that of thoughtful repose, but the short, curly hair, dilated nostrils, and strongly marked features leave no doubt as to the force and turbulence of his character. At his feet, the sculptor has placed the little god of love, who looks up all undaunted at the mighty war-god, as though mischievously conscious that this unusually quiet mood is attributable to his influence.
Religious festivals in honour of Mars were generally held in the month of March; but he had also a festival on the Ides of October, when chariot-races took place, after which, the right-hand horse of the team which had drawn the victorious chariot, was sacrificed to him. In ancient times, human sacrifices, more especially prisoners of war, were offered to him; but, at a later period, this cruel practice was discontinued.
The attributes of this divinity are the helmet, shield, and spear. The animals consecrated to him were the wolf, horse, vulture, and woodpecker.
Intimately associated with Mars in his character as god of war, was a goddess called BELLONA, who was evidently the female divinity of battle with one or other of the primitive nations of Italy (most probably the Sabines), and is usually seen accompanying Mars, whose war-chariot she guides. Bellona appears on the battle-field, inspired with mad rage, cruelty, and the love of extermination. She is in full armour, her hair is dishevelled, and she bears a scourge in one hand, and a lance in the other.
A temple was erected to her on the Campus Martius. Before the entrance to this edifice stood a pillar, over which a spear was thrown when war was publicly declared.
Text:
Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome
Author: E.M. Berens
Published: 1880
The Project Gutenberg EBook
Produced by Alicia Williams, Keith Edkins and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Read more »
The earliest Italian tribes, who were mostly engaged in the pursuit of husbandry, regarded this deity more especially as the god of spring, who vanquished the powers of winter, and encouraged the peaceful arts of agriculture. But with the Romans, who were an essentially warlike nation, Mars gradually loses his peaceful character, and, as god of war, attains, after Jupiter, the highest position among the Olympic gods. The Romans looked upon him as their special protector, and declared him to have been the father of Romulus and Remus, the founders of their city. But although he was especially worshiped in Rome as god of war, he still continued to preside over agriculture, and was also the protecting deity who watched over the welfare of the state.
As the god who strode with warlike step to the battlefield, he was called Gradivus (from gradus, a step), it being popularly believed by the Romans that he himself marched before them to battle, and acted as their invisible protector. As the presiding deity over agriculture, he was styled Sylvanus, whilst in his character as guardian of the state, he bore the name of Quirinus.
The priests of Mars were twelve in number, and were called Salii, or the dancers, from the fact that sacred dances, in full armour, formed an important item in their peculiar ceremonial. This religious order, the members of which were always chosen from the noblest families in Rome, was first instituted by Numa Pompilius, who intrusted to their special charge the Anciliæ, or sacred shields. It is said that one morning, when Numa was imploring the protection of Jupiter for the newly-founded city of Rome, the god of heaven, as though in answer to his prayer, sent down an oblong brazen shield, and, as it fell at the feet of the king, a voice was heard announcing that on its preservation depended the future safety and prosperity of Rome. In order, therefore, to lessen the chances of this sacred treasure being abstracted, Numa caused eleven more to be made exactly like it, which were then given into the care of the Salii.
The assistance and protection of the god of war was always solemnly invoked before the departure of a Roman army for the field of battle, and any reverses of fortune were invariably ascribed to his anger, which was accordingly propitiated by means of extraordinary sin-offerings and prayers.
In Rome a field, called the Campus Martius, was dedicated to Mars. It was a large, open space, in which armies were collected and reviewed, general assemblies of the people held, and the young nobility trained to martial exercises.
The most celebrated and magnificent of the numerous temples built by the Romans in honour of this deity was the one erected by Augustus in the Forum, to commemorate the overthrow of the murderers of Cæsar.
Of all existing statues of Mars the most renowned is that in the Villa Ludovisi at Rome, in which he is represented as a powerful, muscular man in the full vigor of youth. The attitude is that of thoughtful repose, but the short, curly hair, dilated nostrils, and strongly marked features leave no doubt as to the force and turbulence of his character. At his feet, the sculptor has placed the little god of love, who looks up all undaunted at the mighty war-god, as though mischievously conscious that this unusually quiet mood is attributable to his influence.
Religious festivals in honour of Mars were generally held in the month of March; but he had also a festival on the Ides of October, when chariot-races took place, after which, the right-hand horse of the team which had drawn the victorious chariot, was sacrificed to him. In ancient times, human sacrifices, more especially prisoners of war, were offered to him; but, at a later period, this cruel practice was discontinued.
The attributes of this divinity are the helmet, shield, and spear. The animals consecrated to him were the wolf, horse, vulture, and woodpecker.
Intimately associated with Mars in his character as god of war, was a goddess called BELLONA, who was evidently the female divinity of battle with one or other of the primitive nations of Italy (most probably the Sabines), and is usually seen accompanying Mars, whose war-chariot she guides. Bellona appears on the battle-field, inspired with mad rage, cruelty, and the love of extermination. She is in full armour, her hair is dishevelled, and she bears a scourge in one hand, and a lance in the other.
A temple was erected to her on the Campus Martius. Before the entrance to this edifice stood a pillar, over which a spear was thrown when war was publicly declared.
Text:
Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome
Author: E.M. Berens
Published: 1880
The Project Gutenberg EBook
Produced by Alicia Williams, Keith Edkins and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
A pillow of winds Perspectives
I LOVE,LOVE LOVE THIS SONG. I have posted about it here. already.
My favourite lines are :
Now wakes the hour
My favourite lines are :
Now wakes the hour
Now sleeps the swan
Behold the dream
The dream is gone.
Green fields are calling
Its falling, in a golden door.
And deep beneath the ground,
The early morning sounds
And I go down.
Sleepy time, and I lie,
With my love by my side,
And shes breathing low.
And I rise, like a bird,
In the haze, when the first rays
Touch the sky.
And the night wings die.
They really are so beautiful. And more so, I love the tune - soft,smooth - It has got a slight Bohemian effect somewhere and it surely incites hope. Pink Floyd always intensifies the good feelings.
Smart Weapons Dumb Defence
If you take a closer look at some boring houseplants they often reveal inner beauty – sometimes with just a hint of menace. The easy-to-propagate spider plant Chlorophytum (top photograph) must be one of the world’s commonest houseplants. A cross section of one of its leaves shows its inner structure, including the pale yellow water conducting vessels that you can see in the second photo – but also reveals a mass of needle-shaped crystals that fall out of the leaf when it’s cut. These are calcium oxalate crystals, known botanically as raphides, and are probably part of the plant’s defense mechanism, sticking in the tongue and soft throat tissues of any animal that tries to eat it. The raphides, revealed here as brightly coloured needles by polarised light microscopy, are confined inside undamaged cells (third photo) in intact leaves but as soon as the animal takes the first bite they are released from broken surfaces. Some cells contained different-shaped calcium oxalate crystals – often cuboid, octagonal or spiky – that are just the plant’s way of disposing of excess unwanted oxalic acid that would otherwise damage the workings of the cell (fourth photo). Different plants can sometimes be identified by the shape of the druses that they contain and sometimes very small druse crystals are present in large numbers in the cell . When they are, they jiggle around within the cell, due to the random motion of molecules in the cell sap banging into one another – a phenomenon known as Brownian motion. If you take a look at the polarised light video you can see the sparkling, kaleidoscope effect that Brownian motion in druses creates under the microscope. In some plants – such as dumb cane Dieffenbachia – the needle sharp raphides are contained in toughened cells called ideoblasts, like arrows in a quiver (bottom photo), where the cell contents are under pressure, so if the leaf surface is crushed they fly out. Plants like dumb cane can cause loss of voice or even choking in pets and young children that chew the leaves if the plant’s raphides cause the throat to swell.
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