Month: September 2020

Crepuscular Rays

Crepuscular rays—sometimes called God Rays or Jacob’s Ladder—are streaks of light radiating from the sun. Usually occurring around daybreak or sunset, they shine through breaks in the clouds or through irregular spaces along the horizon and are made visible by particles in the air. Though crepuscular rays are nearly parallel, they appear to fan out from the sun due to perspective. Anticrepuscular rays are less easy to spot and differ from their crepuscular counterparts in what way? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Prudence Crandall Day

The official celebration of Prudence Crandall Day in Canterbury, Connecticut, only dates back to 1987, but Crandall herself has been recognized for some time as a pioneer in the education of young African-American girls. Prudence Crandall Day events include craft demonstrations from the 1830s, period children’s games, and at least one activity directly relating to Crandall herself. Most of the festival events are held at the Prudence Crandall Museum, located in the house where Crandall lived and taught. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Ogdoad

The Ogdoad of Egyptian mythology was a group of eight deities worshipped in ancient Hermopolis. They were arranged in four female-male pairs, with each pair representing the female and male aspects of one of four basic concepts. Together, the concepts were thought to have been the basis for the creation of the world. According to mythology, an unbalanced interaction between the four pairs resulted in the creation of a cosmic egg from which the sun god hatched. What were the four basic concepts? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Shinnecock Powwow

The Shinnecock Indians, like many other Native Americans, host a major powwow over the long Labor Day weekend. The Shinnecock Powwow has been held for more than 50 years. Events include arts, crafts, music, storytelling, and, of course, dancing competitions. The Shinneock Indians are part of the Algonquian nation of Indians—Shinnecock means “those who live where the land flattens.” The Shinnecock have been known as whalers and fishermen, and many of the foods served at the powwow reflect their historical links to the sea. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Microliths

Found in great numbers across Europe and Asia, microliths are very small blades made of flaked stone. Produced primarily during the Mesolithic Period, or Middle Stone Age, they were probably put to use in hunting and fishing weapons. Some could have been used as sharp tips for projectiles such as spears or arrows, while others may have been set together as teeth on harpoons. How do archaeologists distinguish microliths—which are typically shorter than the tip of a finger—from ordinary rocks? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Pchum Ben

The 15-day period known as Pchum Ben in Cambodia is dedicated to rituals for the dead. It occurs during the rainy season when skies are usually overcast, and the darkness seems an appropriate time for Yama, God of the Underworld, to let the souls of the dead visit their families. The traditional offering to the dead consists of ben—special cakes made of glutinous rice mixed with coconut milk and other ingredients—arranged on a platter around a centerpiece and placed on a pedestal. During this time a monk says prayers at the tombs of the dead. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Plimpton 322

Plimpton 322 is a Babylonian clay tablet believed to have been created around 1,800 BCE. Approximately 5 inches (13 cm) wide and 3.5 inches (9 cm) tall, the tablet’s surface is marked by four columns of cuneiform numbers. Many mathematicians believe that the ancient spreadsheet—possibly used by a teacher to assign math problems to a student—demonstrates an understanding of Pythagorean mathematics that predates Pythagoras by more than 1,200 years. What do the numbers in each column represent? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary