LaurieAnnie's photos with the keyword: stone

The Ear of Dionysius (Italian: Orecchio di Dionisio) is an artificial limestone cave carved out of the Temenites hill in the city of Syracuse, on the island of Sicily in Italy. Its name comes from its similarity in shape to the human ear. The Ear of Dionysius was most likely formed out of an old limestone quarry. It is 23 metres high and extends 65 metres back into the cliff. Horizontally it bends in an approximate 's' shape; vertically it is tapered at the top like a teardrop. Because of its shape the Ear has extremely good acoustics, making even a small sound resonate throughout the cave. The name of the cave was coined in 1586 by the painter Caravaggio. It refers to the tyrant Dionysius I of Syracuse. According to legend (possibly one created by Caravaggio), Dionysius used the cave as a prison for political dissidents, and by means of the perfect acoustics eavesdropped on the plans and secrets of his captives. Another more gruesome legend claims that Dionysius carved the cave in its shape so that it would amplify the screams of prisoners being tortured in it. Because of its reputation for acoustic flawlessness, the Ear of Dionysius has also come to refer to a type of ear trumpet that has a flexible tube. The term 'Ear of Dionysius' can also refer to surveillance, specifically that for political gain. Text from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_of_Dionysius

This sculpture can be found in the "front yard" of a brownstone on 80th Street between Madison and Park Avenues. I encountered it on my way to the subway from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I'm not sure whom it represents, but it seems almost Art Deco to me. And apparently, it comes from the original Ziegfeld Theatre, which was built in 1927: A fragment of the Joseph Urban facade, a female head, can be seen in front of the private home at 52 E. 80th Street. refer to: www.answers.com/topic/ziegfeld-theatre

Cinerary urn with arms and war trophies Roman, Julio-Claudian, 1st half of the 1st century A.D. Marble; height: 14 1/4 (36.2 cm) The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Philodoroi Gifts, 2002 (2002.297) and Gift of Ariel Herrmann, 2002 (2002.568) A recently acquired marble cinerary urn, or container for the ashes of a cremated body (Roman, Julio-Claudian, first half of the first century A.D.), is a singular example of Roman funerary art. The back and side panels are covered with trophies, weapons, and armor – subject matter more usually found on imperial monuments – carved in exquisite detail. Both the imagery and the quality of the carving suggest that it was a special commission, possibly for a high- ranking imperial officer. The work is missing the front and the lid. After the urn's acquisition, a separate joining fragment was donated to the Museum, and this piece has now been restored to the urn, completing the right rear corner. Text from: www.metmuseum.org/special/greek_roman/viewone.asp?item=23 and www.metmuseum.org/press_room/full_release.asp?prid= {1BE9346C-DE1D-4184-8863-7BFB264E8656}

Cinerary urn with arms and war trophies Roman, Julio-Claudian, 1st half of the 1st century A.D. Marble; height: 14 1/4 (36.2 cm) The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Philodoroi Gifts, 2002 (2002.297) and Gift of Ariel Herrmann, 2002 (2002.568) A recently acquired marble cinerary urn, or container for the ashes of a cremated body (Roman, Julio-Claudian, first half of the first century A.D.), is a singular example of Roman funerary art. The back and side panels are covered with trophies, weapons, and armor – subject matter more usually found on imperial monuments – carved in exquisite detail. Both the imagery and the quality of the carving suggest that it was a special commission, possibly for a high- ranking imperial officer. The work is missing the front and the lid. After the urn's acquisition, a separate joining fragment was donated to the Museum, and this piece has now been restored to the urn, completing the right rear corner. Text from: www.metmuseum.org/special/greek_roman/viewone.asp?item=23 and www.metmuseum.org/press_room/full_release.asp?prid= {1BE9346C-DE1D-4184-8863-7BFB264E8656}

Marble relief fragment depicting athletic prizes Roman, mid-Imperial, Antonine, 2nd century AD Accession # 59.11.19 On this dedicatory relief are representations of the standard prizes awarded at four venues in Greece: an amphora of olive oil from the Panathenaic games at Athens; a shield from the games at Argos; and two wreaths (of pine and celery) from the prestigious Panhellenic games at Isthmia and Nemea respectively. Such games, which were very much part of the Greek tradition, flourished in Roman times. Many cities continued to host them, and individuals- the winner from Rhamnous who commissiond this relief, for example- gained much fame and fortune from their victories. Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.

"Erotic Musicians" Limestone Ptolemaic Period, 305-30 BC Provenance not known. Accession # 58.34 Text from the Brooklyn Museum label.

Forest Hills Gardens is a private community located in Forest Hills, in the New York City borough of Queens. The area consists of a 142-acre development, fashioned after a traditional English Village, that is one of the country's oldest planned communities and the most prominent American example of Ebenezer Howard's Garden city movement. The community, founded in 1908, consists of about 800 homes, townhouses, and apartment buildings, mostly in Tudor, Brick Tudor or Georgian style, in a parklike setting designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., son of noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and partner in the Olmsted Brothers firm. Architect Grosvenor Atterbury proposed an innovative construction method: each house was built from approximately 170 standardized precast concrete panels, fabricated off-site and positioned by crane. The system was sophisticated even by modern standards: for example, panels were cast with integral hollow insulation chambers. The streets (today private) were fully laid-out in 1910, many of them winding specifically to discourage through-traffic. Though Forest Hills Gardens is private property, it is not a gated community and through traffic, both automotive and pedestrian, is permitted. Street parking, however, is restricted to community residents. The project was not completed, however, until the mid-1960s when the last remaining lots were developed. Although most of the buildings consist of single-family homes, the development also includes some garden-apartment buildings and retail space. Today, the area contains some of the most expensive housing in the borough of Queens. One of the more famous residents is Geraldine Ferraro. In 1913, the West Side Tennis Club moved from Manhattan to Forest Hills Gardens. The U.S. Open and its predecessor national championships were held there until 1978, making the name "Forest Hills" synonymous with tennis for generations. Text from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Hills_Gardens,_Queens