OF HERODS AND GYMNASIUMS (An Intensive 5 Days Part 2)
Interesting Learnings:
King Herod the Great (47BC-4BC) - He is popularly known as the cruel power-hungry king who ordered his soldiers to kill all 0-2-year-olds boys when he heard from the Three Wise Men that a King of the Jews was born in Bethlehem. Historians would also tell us that he killed 2 or so of his wives and two or more of his sons for fear that they would usurp his throne in addition to all the other people that he killed. But with all that insanity, he was also the greatest visionary of his time in terms of buildings and structure. He built a palace in the Masada desert complete with sauna baths, and pools. He leveled a mountain and had his men 'plant' the same mountain on the opposite side of his palace to hide it from the scorching heat of the sun. He built an aqueduct and a good 1-mile of it went through the base of a hill. Rather than building around the mountain, he had his men dug a tunnel through the mountain. He built Herodium--another extravagant palace in Bethlehem (the same palace where he was buried). He also built the second Temple in Jerusalem. Archaeologists said that the temple complex covered a total of 24 football fields. Can you imagine how huge that is! This structure includes some kind of a hanging floor because the temple mount was that-- a mountain and of course mountains slopes down. His builders did this thru a series of arches underneath, that supported the weight of the massive structure on top. The foundation was a 78-feet high stone wall, an amazing stone job. Of course the credit should go to the builders, the engineers, the stone craftsmen, etc. who, most likely had literally given their lives to the buildings. Bear in mind that all these buildings and structures came about even before levers and pulleys were invented. That's Herod the Great for you.
Ptolemy of Alexandria. We know Alexandria as an ancient city with the biggest library ever with a collection of 200K to 400K scrolls. We know Ptolemy as one of the generals who took and ruled Egypt and Palestine when Alexander the Great died. The Ptolemies ruled from 301-198B.C. One of Ptolemy's scientists invented the first steam machine in the late century BC. The question is, why did they not go as far as improving it into making real running machines such as the first prototype of a steam engine in England? Archaeologists answered that there was no need for such a machine during Ptolemy's time because slave labor was very cheap. A very valid assertion. But had Ptolemy driven his scientist to go on with the invention, Jesus who was born a century later might have rode on a train to Jerusalem rather than on a donkey. (Then early prophesies wouldn't have been fulfilled.)
Hellenization is that process where the Greek conquerors enforce the Greek language and culture into the everyday life of the people they conquered. During the Greek domination, they hellenized all their conquests. In fact, Alexander the Great's hellenization was so complete that from 300BC to AD 300, Greek was the lingua franca of the Mediterranean world. Another culture of the Greeks is their love for sports, hence the Olympics. Gym - a Greek word meaning 'naked.' Etymologically, the English word "gymnasium" was derived from this root. One result of hellenization was that the Greeks build sports arenas or gymnasiums in the cities that they have conquered. One was built in Jerusalem to the chagrin of the Jews. Culturally, Jews won't have anything to do with nudity. You would be stoned to death if you go out walking in the nude. But as we've mentioned, the ancient Greeks love olympics and so they build gymnasiums where players wear nothing but their skins while they are participating in their events. One would ask why. Well, the gods in Greek mythology are all naked... it goes without saying that these ancient men thought they are the earthly representatives of these gods or that they might become gods if they shed their clothes off during competitions. It's good they wore armors during battles, or else.... hehehehe
King Herod the Great (47BC-4BC) - He is popularly known as the cruel power-hungry king who ordered his soldiers to kill all 0-2-year-olds boys when he heard from the Three Wise Men that a King of the Jews was born in Bethlehem. Historians would also tell us that he killed 2 or so of his wives and two or more of his sons for fear that they would usurp his throne in addition to all the other people that he killed. But with all that insanity, he was also the greatest visionary of his time in terms of buildings and structure. He built a palace in the Masada desert complete with sauna baths, and pools. He leveled a mountain and had his men 'plant' the same mountain on the opposite side of his palace to hide it from the scorching heat of the sun. He built an aqueduct and a good 1-mile of it went through the base of a hill. Rather than building around the mountain, he had his men dug a tunnel through the mountain. He built Herodium--another extravagant palace in Bethlehem (the same palace where he was buried). He also built the second Temple in Jerusalem. Archaeologists said that the temple complex covered a total of 24 football fields. Can you imagine how huge that is! This structure includes some kind of a hanging floor because the temple mount was that-- a mountain and of course mountains slopes down. His builders did this thru a series of arches underneath, that supported the weight of the massive structure on top. The foundation was a 78-feet high stone wall, an amazing stone job. Of course the credit should go to the builders, the engineers, the stone craftsmen, etc. who, most likely had literally given their lives to the buildings. Bear in mind that all these buildings and structures came about even before levers and pulleys were invented. That's Herod the Great for you.
Ptolemy of Alexandria. We know Alexandria as an ancient city with the biggest library ever with a collection of 200K to 400K scrolls. We know Ptolemy as one of the generals who took and ruled Egypt and Palestine when Alexander the Great died. The Ptolemies ruled from 301-198B.C. One of Ptolemy's scientists invented the first steam machine in the late century BC. The question is, why did they not go as far as improving it into making real running machines such as the first prototype of a steam engine in England? Archaeologists answered that there was no need for such a machine during Ptolemy's time because slave labor was very cheap. A very valid assertion. But had Ptolemy driven his scientist to go on with the invention, Jesus who was born a century later might have rode on a train to Jerusalem rather than on a donkey. (Then early prophesies wouldn't have been fulfilled.)
Hellenization is that process where the Greek conquerors enforce the Greek language and culture into the everyday life of the people they conquered. During the Greek domination, they hellenized all their conquests. In fact, Alexander the Great's hellenization was so complete that from 300BC to AD 300, Greek was the lingua franca of the Mediterranean world. Another culture of the Greeks is their love for sports, hence the Olympics. Gym - a Greek word meaning 'naked.' Etymologically, the English word "gymnasium" was derived from this root. One result of hellenization was that the Greeks build sports arenas or gymnasiums in the cities that they have conquered. One was built in Jerusalem to the chagrin of the Jews. Culturally, Jews won't have anything to do with nudity. You would be stoned to death if you go out walking in the nude. But as we've mentioned, the ancient Greeks love olympics and so they build gymnasiums where players wear nothing but their skins while they are participating in their events. One would ask why. Well, the gods in Greek mythology are all naked... it goes without saying that these ancient men thought they are the earthly representatives of these gods or that they might become gods if they shed their clothes off during competitions. It's good they wore armors during battles, or else.... hehehehe
Comments
Wish ko lang, the good Herod's spirit as a "builder" descend to Secretary Ebdane of DPWH tapno malpas ti problema ti Igorotlandia.
Then HERODANE, rolled into one will eventually fix da road, and maybe add a gym in the middle of Halsema, so dagidiay bobotyug nga contractor nga kuna ni Anonymous 11:14 ket masimpa da.
Just to remind you, I'm not off-topic coz King Herod is part of my comments. Thanks a million for letting me. Cheers!
I hope this encourages you: The Nueva Vizcaya-Benguet road via Ambuklao lies in utter ugliness (erosions, etc.)for decades; but for the last four years, they were able to pave it and do something about the dangerous parts of the road. Of course there are talks that Mr. so and so pocketed this lot of money (and there's probably truth to that) but at least, motorists can see how the road has greatly improved from its wasteland-like look a few years ago. So this brought back my faith in the human goodness.! :)I am sure, this can be done in Halsema too.
It's their problem not outsiders.
As I've said, so right yet so wrong.
Pati ditoy ket I'm airing my frustration, hehehe,, it's only a comment and of course, we all agree to disagree nga kuna ni BB. Cheers!