Gothic Architecture Vs. Egyptian Architecture Essays -

Gothic Architecture Vs. Egyptian Architecture Gothic Architecture Vs. Egyptian Architecture The sediment richens the soil year after year by the Nile that floods the valley and rises twenty to thirty feet high. African villagers expect the seasonal rains; the precipitation determines the crops productivity. The valley cut by this dominating river is also where one of the greatest Neolithic civilizations grew. The originals were of mixed races but all derived from the white races. By 4000 B.C. these egger people started using copper and gold, developing a standard way of living. They made tools to their own needs and began building and started to include architectural art full of decorous curves and lines. The early Egyptians made their homes out of river reeds and river mud. They produced round homes or rectangular homes with arched rooftops. Primarily the huts were used to keep from the harsh, warm temperatures. During this time period of reed homes adobe bricks were being made which led to a crucial innovation to Egyptian homes and architecture. The art and skill that was carved, painted and designed into religious temples and tombs gave later researchers of great talent information on Egyptian life. With architectural strides religious gods and carvings were beginning a decorative architectural era. Imhotep was an architect that designed the great pyramid and temple of King Zoser in the third dynasty. He was precise and eloquent with the use of stone that was not surpassed for centuries. The Egyptians honored many of their architects, who also became court officials, but Imhotep was credited for being the first great user of stone towards monumental buildings. The old kingdom was b uilt of river reeds and mud but later other kingdoms learned from the old designs. Later the middle kingdom saw a new light in utilizing stone form and development of others. Though it wasn't until the new empire where great temples and large courts. The new empire fell and the idea of a strong, continuous rise in Egyptian architecture had almost ceased. The Nile River determined the building materials of the Egyptians. As time progressed and architecture was beginning to have history, technical skills were developing as well as architectural skills. One major discovery was slanted roofs were unnecessary to the hot, humid weather. Falt roofs became the new invention and were multipurpose for more living space, which became an essential part of the home design. Egyptians also tried to figure out a way walls could be sturdy and strong but less heavy and less cracks. But the cracking would never fail so when the bricks were laid on concave beds, so when cracks did occur, the wall was easily fixed. Another form of the brick was used called the vault. Vaults were most often used in tombs and cover storage rooms but never did this principle become a way of source. Stone was later introduced, which came late in Egyptian architecture. There was more than enough stone, from the Nile cutting its way down the desert plateau. There was a surplus of stone to be used. They became expert quarrying diggers, cutting some of the best pieces of rock. Egyptians also developed different techniques of handling stones. With all this stone, labor power and organization was needed. The king steeped forward for that position and gave orders to the laborers, whom all were working on one building at a time. The workers were treated fairly good with adequate pay. This is how the pyramids were built and stone architecture was the new generation of adobe brick and river reed huts. Gothic architecture is an example of how the intricate structural and decorative elements in buildings are tied together. Like the Egyptians Gothic architecture uses the vault idea but is better understood. Early experiments failed and were left to explore other options but gothic architecture explains the answers. The question of different width varied different heights; so gothic architecture uses the pointed arch, and varying the steepness to gain the correct connections. Gothic architecture was more of a solution of building problems. It also was an expression of modern Europe. The economy way stable, trade and business was steady and cities were expanding and flourishing. The Gothic era was an introduction to new

Ebola Outbreaks in Sudan and Zaire

Ebola Outbreaks in Sudan and Zaire On July 27, 1976, the very first person to contract the Ebola virus began to show symptoms. Ten days later he was dead. Over the course of the next few months, the first Ebola outbreaks in history occurred in Sudan and Zaire*, with a total of 602 reported cases and 431 deaths. The Ebola Outbreak in Sudan The first victim to contract Ebola was a cotton factory worker from Nzara, Sudan. Soon after this first man came down with symptoms, so did his co-worker. Then the co-workers wife became sick. The outbreak quickly spread to the Sudanese town of Maridi, where there was a hospital. Since no one in the medical field had ever seen this illness before, it took them awhile to realize that it was passed by close contact.  By the time the outbreak had subsided in the Sudan, 284 people had become ill, 151 of whom had died. This new illness was a killer, causing fatality in 53% of its victims. This strain of the virus is now called Ebola-Sudan. Ebola Outbreak in Zaire On September 1, 1976, another, even more deadly, outbreak of Ebola struck - this time in Zaire. The first victim of this outbreak was a 44-year-old teacher who had just returned from a tour of northern Zaire. After suffering from symptoms that seemed like malaria, this first victim went to the Yambuku Mission Hospital and received a shot of an anti-malarial drug. Unfortunately, at that time the hospital did not use disposable needles nor did they properly sterilize the ones they used. Thus, the Ebola virus spread through used needles to many of the hospitals patients. For four weeks, the outbreak continued to expand. However, the outbreak finally ended after the Yambuku Mission Hospital was closed down (11 of the 17 hospital staff having died) and the remaining Ebola victims were isolated. In Zaire, the Ebola virus had been contracted by 318 people, 280 of whom died. This strain of the Ebola virus, now called Ebola-Zaire, killed 88% of its victims. The Ebola-Zaire strain remains the most deadly of the Ebola viruses. Symptoms of Ebola The Ebola virus is deadly, but since the initial symptoms can seem similar to many other medical issues, many infected people may remain ignorant of the seriousness of their condition for several days. For those infected by Ebola, most victims begin to show symptoms between two and 21 days after first contracting Ebola. At first, the victim may only experience influenza-like symptoms: fever, headache, weakness, muscle pain, and a sore throat. However, additional symptoms begin to manifest quickly. Victims often suffer from diarrhea, vomiting, and a rash. Then the victim often starts bleeding, both internally and externally. Despite extensive research, no one is yet sure where the Ebola virus occurs naturally nor why it flares up when it does. What we do know is that the Ebola virus is passed from host to host, usually by contact with infected blood or other bodily fluids. Scientists have designated the Ebola virus, which is also called Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF), as a member of the Filoviridae family. There are currently five known strains of the Ebola virus: Zaire, Sudan, Cà ´te d’Ivoire, Bundibugyo and Reston. So far, the Zaire strain remains the most deadly (80% death rate) and the Reston the least (0% death rate). However, the Ebola-Zaire and Ebola-Sudan strains have caused all the major known outbreaks. Additional Ebola Outbreaks The 1976 Ebola outbreaks in Sudan and Zaire were just the first and most definitely not the last. Although there have been many isolated cases or even small outbreaks since 1976, the largest outbreaks have been in Zaire in 1995 (315 cases), Uganda in 2000-2001 (425 cases), and in the Republic of the Congo in 2007 (264 cases). * The country of Zaire changed its name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 1997.

Venus Rising from the Sea; A Deception by Raphaelle Peale Essay

Venus Rising from the Sea; A Deception by Raphaelle Peale - Essay Example From the title, Venus, we can suppose that the woman is a goddess, not an ordinary woman. Perhaps only idealized by the painter, the piece is so unusual as to inspire a deep sense of mystery. Intriguing in its veiled meaning and dark somber background we wish we could see more of the figure behind the cloth. The artist, Raphaelle Peale was known for his still lifes and we see the masterful technique in the rendering of the sheet. The drapery and folds of the cloth are so voluptuous, the 3-dimensional quality places such importance on it, that we barely notice the woman behind it. Perhaps this is what the deception is, at first glance the work appears to be the fabric alone and we must look closely to see the woman at all. Without many elements in the painting it is easy to see its different parts. At first we are confronted with the sheet, bold and overpowering both in size and brightness when seen against the dark ground. Next we see the strip of fabric it hangs from as we look mor e closely. Once we come to the top of the canvas we see the arm reaching above the drapery. After we recognize this as a female figure and begin to understand the image we see her foot and the flowers around it. The background recedes so much that we don’t really notice it itself but become aware of it in sharp contrast to the foreground because of the dark values. It is difficult to tell if we see it earlier or only after looking at the elements placed in front of it. At first glance, my response to the painting is that it is a wonderful contemporary piece, almost photographic of a plain white sheet. I then came to discover that the painting was done in the early 19th century, 150 years before I had imagined. The artist was from Philadelphia and this probably would have first been seen there as part of a local exhibit although his work was shown in other exhibitions in other parts of the country. This painting did not serve any special purpose. Painted in oil on canvas it d eparts from the artist’s main body of work in still life to include a figure. Study for Aspects of Negro Life: An Idyll of the Deep South by Aaron Douglas â€Å"Study for Aspects of Negro Life: An Idyll of the Deep South† is a narrative painting depicting a celebratory scene of musicians gathered in a field. Painted by Aaron Douglas, one of the most influential painters of the Harlem Renaissance, the scene most likely recounts the life of African Americans. The Harlem Renaissance was a movement in New York, born in the same self named place. Members of the artistic community hoped to portray African Americans and bridge the gap to the predominantly white world. Artists, writers and musicians all played a part in the â€Å"rebirth† of African expression. The musicians we see behind the geometric, Art Deco style circular pattern seem to be enjoying an evening of song and dance. Alongside them we see men working as if sowing the land. The setting appears to be a fo rest or wooded area in the evening. Long known for singing to pass the time while planting the fields, this piece is reminiscent of early African farm workers. The mixture of elements, trees and field, evening and people at work, musicians in the same field as the workers, all add to the surreal quality of the painting. The first thing we notice in the painting is the surface layer. The concentric circles create a veil we must look through to see the picture behind it. After enjoying this geometric glow of