How Different Civilizations Used Bronze?

Bronze has long been the ideal metal for the casting of bronze sculptures and all the many other historic formations of daily living. When it comes to the sculptures made of bronze, historically this was the chosen medium due to the ease of the crevices being filled perfectly within every detail, which creates the highly delicate details of artist works.

The medium of Bronze has always been adored by the artist due to the malleable ease and admirable for its long lasting durability. The cultural group of the Egyptians utilized bronze to cast various artistic figures, statues, weapons and even tools such as hammers, protective armor, and so many other functional pieces required in the Egyptian culture.

The Egyptians are far from being the only culture to use bronze for most everything during the ancient times. Greece and the Greek culture also had a passion for bronze. Two of the surviving Greek masterpieces are the Zeus o f Artemisum and the Delphic Charioteer. There have also been the works found of Etruscan artisans that includes a chariot made of bronze that had been discovered at Monte Leone, and a bronze Capitoline Wolf.

When it comes to the Romans, bronze statues were made in the numbers of thousands, not to mention all of the many other elements made of bronze by this ancient culture. Along with the numerous numbers of statues, there were bronze upon doors, furniture, and utensils. There were also candelabra bronze pieces that had been discovered within Herculaneum and Pompeii.

The utilization of bronze during the medieval times was mostly used for crafting such items like domestic items for home use, utensils and various types of ornaments. In Italy, during the Renaissance, the Italian sculptures designed absolutely magnificent bronze pieces of a wide array. Some of the most outstanding bronze works of art are the Ghiberti's Doors that are upon the baptistery of Florence, along with the many sculptures of such talented bronze artists like Cellini, Giovanni Bologna, Donatello, Pollaiuolo, and Verrocchio.

England also has had its bronze age with many monumental effigies dedicated to the Monarchs, and France hit their bronze age height during the 18th century with gilded bronze furniture mounts. There are many modern bronze sculptors like Epstein, Rodin, Lipchitz and Brancusi. Bronze is a medium not only of beauty but of useful necessity too and it is a material vital to the present as much as the ancient past.

Anita Satin Choudhary writes for Ivory and Art Gallery. Browse the gallery for unique collection of artifacts ranging from Bronze Sculptures to Netsuke and Silver Art.

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Feeling Frisky? Herbs for Fertility

For thousands of years knowledge of the herbs and wild plants that could increase fertility were the secrets of the village wise women. But after the holocaust against European Wise Women (the "burning times") and the virtual extermination of Native American medicine women, this knowledge virtually disappeared. In fact, many people erroneously believe that "primitive people" had no means of controlling the likelihood of pregnancy. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Many common plants can be used to influence fertility, including red clover, partridge berry, liferoot, wild carrot, and wild yam. Some of these grow wild, others are easy to cultivate, and, with the exception of wild carrot, all are also readily available at health food stores.

One of the most cherished of the fertility-increasing plants is red clover (Trifolium pratense). Common in fields and along roadsides, it has bright pink (not really red) blossoms from mid-summer into the chilly days of fall. A favorite flower of the honeybees, the tops (blossoms and appending leaves) are harvested on bright sunny days and eaten as is, or dried for medicinal use. The raw blossoms are delicious in salads and nutritious when cooked with grains such as rice or millet.

To make a fertility-enhancing infusion, I take one ounce by weight of the dried blossoms (fresh won't work for this application) and put them in a quart size canning jar. I fill the jar with boiling water, screw on a tight lid, and let it steep at room temperature overnight (or for at least four hours). Dozens of women have told me that they had successful pregnancies after drinking a cup or more (up to four cups) a day of red clover infusion.

It is especially helpful if there is scarring of the fallopian tubes, irregular menses, abnormal cells in the reproductive tract, or "unexplained" infertility. It may take several months for the full effect of this herb to come on and pregnancy may not occur until you have used it for a year or two. You can improve the taste by including some dried peppermint (a spoonful or two) along with the dried clover blossoms when making your infusion. Treat the father of the child-to-be to some red clover infusion too!

That little evergreen creeper that carpets some parts of the woods around your house is partridge berry (Mitchella repens), also known as squaw weed, supposedly because of its ability to enhance fertility. (My teacher Twylah Nitsch, grandmother of the Seneca Wolf clan, says that "squaw" is a slang term meaning "schmuck" or, in the proper term, "penis," and therefore should not be used in denoting a plant meant to be used by women.) Keep an eye out this spring and see if you can catch Mitchella blooming. Then you'll see why she's sometimes called "twin flower."

Interestingly, when the paired flowers fall off, they leave behind but one berry to ripen. (The shiny red berries you've noticed in the forest winter or spring. Yes, they are safe to eat, but leave some for the partridges.) The symbolism of two flowers forming one berry is certainly a suitable icon for fertility. I make a medicinal vinegar by filling a small jar with the fresh leaves, adding apple cider vinegar until the jar is full again. A piece of waxed paper held in place with a rubber band and a label (including date) completes the preparation, which must sit at room temperature for six weeks before use. I enjoy up to a tablespoonful of the vinegar on my salads or in my beans.

By mid- to late-May, the yellow blossoms of liferoot (Senecio aureus) enliven my swamp (in upstate New York) and the neighboring roads where there is adequate water and rich soil. A powerful medicine resides in all parts of this lovely wildflower. As the root has a dangerous reputation, I restrict myself to using only the flowers and leaves, which I harvest in bloom, and quickly tincture. (For instructions for making your own tinctures, please see any of my books.) Small doses of this tincture (3-8 drops a day), taken at least 14 days out of the month, will regulate hormone production, increase libido, normalize the menses, relieve menstrual pain, and improve fertility. The closely related Senecia jacobea and Senecio vulgaris can also be used.

Wild carrot (Daucus carota), better known as Queen Anne's lace, is such a common roadside plant that most people are amazed to learn that it is a proven anti-fertility herb. In addition to being the wild cousin of carrot, it is related to parsley, dill, caraway, anise, celery, cumin, and a (now extinct) plant whose seeds were the birth-control of choice for many a classical Greek or Roman woman.

The aromatic seeds of wild carrot are collected in the fall and eaten (a heaping teaspoonful a day) to prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg. In one small study the effectiveness rate after thirteen months of use was 99%. As modern scientific medicine reports that one-third of all fertilized eggs are passed out of the body without implanting in the uterus, this method of birth control seems in complete agreement with nature.

Of the hundreds of women currently using this anti-fertility agent, I have heard virtually no reports of any side-effects. Note that many books caution you to beware the danger of confusing poison hemlock and wild carrot. Poison hemlock is rather scarce in our area, and, at any rate, does not smell or taste of carrot (as does Queen Anne's lace), so I believe this warning to be a red herring. In addition, wild carrot leaves have small hairs on them, while the leaves of poison hemlock are smooth.

Another anti-fertility herb that has been tested by small groups of modern women is wild yam (Dioscorea villosa). Since birth-control pills were originally made from this plant, it is not at all surprising that it has the effect of blocking conception when taken daily in rather large doses: either a cup of tea or two capsules taken three times a day.

Does it have detrimental effects? Current studies are too small to show any, but there is a possibility that there could be. Interestingly enough, if wild yam is taken in small doses (a cup of tea or 10-20 drops of the tincture daily from onset of menses until mid-period) it increases fertility! In either case, the effect seems to be triggered by the large amount of hormone-like substances found in this root. When taken daily, these substances may be converted into progesterone, thus decreasing the possibility of conception. When taken for the two weeks preceding ovulation, these substances may be converted into LH and FSH, hormones that are needed to make the egg ready to be fertilized.

Other common weeds and garden plants of our area that have been used to increase or decrease fertility include stinging nettle, oatstraw, pennyroyal, Jack-in-the-pulpit, rue, and parsley.

The earth is full of wonders, and green magic abounds. As more and more women remember that they are wise women, more of the wonders and the magic will be revealed. May your days be filled with many green blessings.

Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material contained herein is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.

Susun Weed

PO Box 64

Woodstock, NY 12498

Fax: 1-845-246-8081

Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative. Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world. Learn more at http://www.susunweed.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susun_Weed

Self Publishing A Book Is Inexpensive and Simple

Self publishing a book has to be one of the most satisfying things you can do in your life. You will increase your value to society by offering information to people who seek it. You will have opportunities be offered to you without even looking - we are talking amazing and interesting opportunities you never considered possible before you wrote a book. You will make money while you sleep - internet bookstores do not close, they are open 24 hours. The question, however is how are you going to make it happen? Many people are thwarted by the idea that self publishing is only for the rich with an abundance of time on their hands. That idea could not be further from the truth.

Okay, well the truth is that ten years ago self publishing was for the rich who had an abundance of time on their hands. Sort of, it was called vanity publishing and it was mainly for folks who wanted to see their name in print. That was the perception anyway. Some very famous authors have self published including Edgar Allen Poe, Mark Twain, Upton Sinclair, ee Cummings, Virginia Wolf, Henry David Thoreau and even John Grisham. Some pretty famous writers got their beginnings in self publishing.

Okay so now you know that some very famous people have self published and that self publishing used to have a negative connotation. Today, with the invention and proliferation of internet usage, self publishing is now available to anyone who has something to say. In fact, it is so simple and inexpensive that there are almost 90,000 small publishers.

What makes it so easy?

Competition is a huge factor. Because the internet has made it so easy to publish, there are tons of fulfillment options, distributors, printers and even book writing tools. In fact, there are a number of tools you can use online to help you write and publish your book that are completely free. For example open office offers a word processing program. Weebly offers free website hosting and design and open source marketing tools.

In addition to free options and low cost printing there are an abundance of distribution and fulfillment centers. In fact Amazon.com is happy to help you sell your book and offers a variety of options ranging from letting you simply list your book to full fledged printing and publishing.

Additionally, the internet makes it tremendously easy to research for your book, including research for the target market, your competition, and research for the book itself. The internet also makes it easy to market your book. A website and a few tools to drive traffic to your website and your book can take on a life of its own.

Lastly, the internet makes it easy to become a publisher. All of the information you need from naming and establishing your publishing company to applying for an ISBN number can be found and implemented online.

The internet has made self publishing tremendously inexpensive and simple. All you need to publish a book is a little time and determination.

For Your Free MP3 (Value $97.00) How To Make A 6 Figure Income Writing & Publishing Your Own Book Go To: Book Marketing Bob Burnham Entrepreneur, Consultant and # 1 Amazon Best Selling Author of "101 Reasons Why You Must Write A Book" For Information on How to Write and Publish your Own Book go to Expert Author - http://www.expertauthorpublishing.com Read More On: Self Publish Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Burnham

Mars, the Mighty and Marvelous

Martius, the month of March, is named after him. So is the fourth planet from the sun and a bar of chocolate, but we know him mainly as the god of war.

If you lived in ancient Rome, his name would be as familiar to you as your own, especially at this time of year with all of the holidays and festivals dedicated to the City's favourite son. You would be choosing your prettiest ribbons, studying the form of the newest racehorse or bargaining for the best seats at a track and field meet. Or perhaps preparing for war overseas, for Spring was the beginning of the Roman campaign season.

There is a common belief that depictions of Mars show him as a warrior, but look a little closer and you see that he is no savage attacker but a disicplined soldier in regulation battle dress bearing regulation arms. As Mars Gradivus, he was the patron of the legions and a fitting role model for the highly trained Roman infantryman. It is his Greek equivalent, Ares, who has the character traits of the wild warrior.

For Mars was also the father of Rome. It was believed he had dallied with a Vestal Virgin who subsequently gave birth to the twins Romulus and Remus, the founders of the Eternal City, and so he was known as Mars Pater, the father and protector of all the people who lived within the gates.

He is definitely a male god, we use the astrological sigil of the planet Mars to represent men and masculine energy. Prominently displaying the arrow of action, it symbolises the male essence, the energy of yang - active and expanding. As an earlier fertility god he was Mars Sylvanus, responsible for the shoots of grain which thrust from the soil after planting.

In astrology, Mars is the ruler of Aries and signals the season when everything awakens, grows, rises and sprouts after winter. This is the planetary time of energy and action, with the element of fire bringing the very spark of life

The reddish tinge of Mars in the night sky made our ancestors think of blood, and consequently war, but don't for one moment believe that in modern times we are any more sophisticated. Even though we know the bloody appearance is caused by soil rich in iron oxide, (old-fashioned rust), the threat of invasion from the Red Planet plagued our imaginations only a couple of generations back.

Like all deities, certain animals are associated with him, in this case the wolf and the woodpecker, and his companions are Fuga and Timor, flight and fear. The moons of Mars are named in Greek for these companions, and before everyone becomes too confused about Phobos and Deimos, remember that Tuesday is also named for the god of war. The French have Mardi, the Spanish Martes, and it is Martedi in Italian. In English we call this day after Tyr, the boldest of the cold- climate gods, who inspires courage and heroism in battle, and is the Northern equivalent of Mars. Tyr has soldier-like qualities as well, he is noble and self-sacrificing. On the day of Ragnarok, he will kill Garm, the guardian of hell, but will himself die from his wounds.

So March is a month for action. Decorate your house with some red blooms and bring a little male energy into your everyday affairs.

Susanna Duffy is a Civil Celebrant and mythologist. She creates ceremonies and Rites of Passage for individual and civic functions using ancient myths in modern settings. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susanna_Duffy

US Virgin Islands - The Local Secret Dive Spots

The U.S.Virgin Islands offer some of the clearest waters in which to dive in the Caribbean. There are a host of dive shops available that can take the millions of tourists along well-beaten paths...but where do the locals go? Since I lived in St. John, I'll fill you in on some secret dive locations that you'll love to experience.

Although the waters of Haulover Bay can be finicky due to its location and remote openness, it offers a great little beach dive. One of the benefits, of diving this spot, is that you can pull your car up along the side of the road and haul your gear to the beach in a matter of minutes. Once you are ready, swim out and to the left; that's where you'll find the coral and most of the fish. The dive is best from 15 to 40 feet. When you are done with the dive, plan on relaxing as you gaze across the Channel at Tortola and the beautiful hillsides along St. John's coast.

Salt Pond Bay has become more of a tourist beach in the past few years, so expect to find plenty of people milling about in the crystal clear shallows. The main problem with this dive is the long hill that stretches down to the beach. Carrying your gear, plan on taking a fifteen minute stroll to the beach. This dive will also require quite a long swim out to the best spot; around fifteen minutes with a relaxed kick and air filled BC. If you don't mind the hike or the swim, you will be rewarded with a beautiful dive around a coral formation that just barely peeks above the waves. The dive is around 65 feet and, due to the swim out and back, should only be done by experienced and fit divers. You'll see many schools of fish and the occasional shark. If you're not into a long swim or seeing sharks, there is a small coral formation located almost dead center in the Bay; it's not as spectacular a view as the formation that is farther out, but you can still see fish and enjoy an easy shallow dive.

Newfound Bay can only be reached by boat, which has kept this spot a secret that only cruisers and locals know about. You can stick to the shallows for the best coral views. With an average dive of only 15 feet, plan on spending quite a bit of time underwater. There are a host of lobster hiding in the nooks and crannies, so keep a sharp look out for their antennas. The Bay is also where a huge barracuda hangs out, and since they're territorial, you might get lucky enough to see this giant gentle wolf of the sea.

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What Would Nutritional Medicine Authorities Do If They Had Heart Disease?

Our nutritional health is now recognized as a vital factor in determining whether we can prevent and reverse heart disease. With so much research evidence that supports the role food has on preventing heart disease, a consortium of world leaders in nutritional medicine have been asked what they would do if they were suffering from a heart condition. The common factors in each of their recommendations helps to simplify what we can do ourselves, to keep heart disease at arm's length.

Prof. Ian Brighthope M.D., M.B.B.S., D.Ag.Sci, FACNEM, FACHM* would:

• Adopt an Anti-inflammatory Diet (Scandinavian or Mediterranean Diet): Fish and vegetables, high intake of fish oils, olive oil, garlic and onions, complex carbohydrates, reducing animal fats (apart from fish).
• Stop smoking
• Exercise more regularly
• Reduce the intake of refined carbohydrates like white flour products and sugar.
• Reduce alcohol consumption
• Reduce stress

Patrick Holford is one of Britain's leading nutrition experts. Patrick is a pioneer in new approaches to health and nutrition, specializing in the field of mental health. This is what he would do to avoid high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attacks and strokes:

• Eat good fats
• Balance blood sugar
• Have a good intake of vitamins and minerals
• Reduce stress levels

Dr Dan Rogers is a trained Medical Doctor and Naturopath. He has been treating patients using integrative medicine since the late 1970's with noted success in treating patients that have been deemed "incurable" by medical practitioners or hospitals. He recommends we need to:

• Treat the root cause of heart disease. By changing the internal biochemistry we will cure the disease
• Almost all disease are improved by changes in diet and lifestyle. Improving the internal bio-chemistry of the body will develop healthy cells

David Wolfe is a leading authority on Raw Food and Superfoods. His recommended steps to better health are:

• Drink 12 to 16 ounces of fresh vegetable juice everyday
• Add super foods (foods with an extraordinary high level of vitamins, minerals, co-factors, enzymes and special chemicals) to your diet

The common ground from these experts is that the true causes of disease are:

• Nutrition
• Stress
• Lack of Exercise
• Pollution

Food is good enough to keep us alive but apparently not good enough to fix us when we are sick. Nutritional supplements are necessary because the foods most of us eat are grown in mineral-depleted soils. There is evidence that increased intake of certain nutrients reduces the incidence of heart disease, cancer and stroke. The good word from these nutritional authorities is simple: we live longer and healthier if we exercise, have a good diet and supplement.

* Prof Ian Brighthope is President of the Australasian College of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine. Professor Brighthope is a medical doctor & surgeon with over 20 years of practical clinical experience. He has specialized in Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, with a particular interest in heart disease, psychiatric disorders.

Director, Food Matters http://www.foodmatters.tv Let's take small steps towards a healthier life and a healthier you! Food can be your best friend. Discover how you can Beat Heart Disease, Conquer Cancer, Detox, Lose Weight, Reverse Diabetes, Ditch Depression and more using a nutritional approach. It's not as hard as you think! Food Matters has brought together world leaders in nutritional medicine to create the Heart Disease Learning Program. Watch these teachers from Food Matters online now in crystal clear video as they discuss natural treatments for Cancer, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Depression and Mental Illness. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Regi_Dittrich

Kankakee Illinois History

The historic Kankakee River Valley is widely known for the tranquil beauty and the splendor of the winding Kankakee River. This river runs fifty-seven miles by Kankakee Illinois hospital, passing through many communities both large and small on its way. Kankakee River is a precious clean-water resource, offering excellent fishing and water sports, as well as a lovely State Park which is available for everyone to enjoy. The river abounds with channel catfish, small-mouth bass, northern pike, and walleye. The park has a dozen boat launches, eighteen riverfront parks, and eight campgrounds to choose from.

The beautiful land of Kankakee River Valley, as well as its plentiful natural resources, are the result of minerals and debris left behind by three enormous glaciers which descended from Canada many thousands of years ago. The original inhabitants of what is now called the Kankakee River area were Potawatomi Indians, who called it Theatiki. Evolution of this term led to "Kankakee". Theatiki means wolf; or swampy place; or wonderful land. The source of the Kankakee River is the marshland of northwestern Indiana. The river enters the county midway of its eastern border; then flows irregularly in a southwest direction to near Aroma, midway between the boundaries to the east and west; and four miles above the southern line. Here it is boosted by the Iroquois River - a muddy stream which also rises in the Indiana marshes. To the Potawatomi Indians the Kankakee County area was the perfect place - a rolling landscape of beautiful river bordered thickly with groves of hickory, oak, maple, black walnut, and cedar. In places the land sloped gently down to the edge of the water; in other places the land rose in sheer bluffs of limestone high above the river. Abundant wildlife inhabited this area. There was no more varied nor beautiful a scenery to be found anywhere in the Middle West.

Settlers to the area began to come in the 1830's after the national government signed the Treaty of Camp Tippecanoe, and inexpensive land became available. A large portion of land in Kankakee County was originally swamp land, much of which was drained and put under cultivation by the sweat of pioneers' brows. While it was still swamp, it was the lair of horse thieves, counterfeiters, and general criminals on the run. When the swamps were drained, organized communities became possible. Kankakee County was created by the Illinois state legislature on February 11, 1853 out of the northern part of Iroquois County, and the southern part of Will County. The original six townships were: Aroma, Bourbonnais healthcare, Limestone, Momence, Rockville, and Yellowhead. At that time the county population was eight thousand. In 1855 two western townships, Essex and Norton, were annexed from Vermilion County by Kankakee County.

In the mid-nineteenth century, industrialist David Bradley established the Bradley Plow Works, which was later known as the Bradley Factory, to manufacture farm tools and implements. He was also author of the well-known Bradley Plan. Bradley was also an early patron of architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 1900's. North Kankakee was renamed Bradley and incorporated in 1891.

The City of Kankakee itself grew beneath the shadow of nearby Bourbonnais Illinois healthcare, which was a French settlement. Nonetheless, Kankakee became the Kankakee County seat of government. It also, in 1855, became a depot on the Illinois Central Railroad.

If your looking for great healthcare in Illinois, visit Riverside Medical Center today. You can learn more about the Kankakee Illinois hospital, Bourbonnais Illinois healthcare or Bourbonnais healthcare.

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