maddy+w

** School Of Athens Character. **

 * 1) From the beautifully painted amazing story filled painting by Raphael in 1510, I choose Epicurus. He is located on the bottom left of the painting in a blue cloth with a green vail, and looks to be studying a book on a pedestal. Epicurus stood out to me the most because he seemed as if enjoying the book he was so into if you zoom in closely. Another interesting thing is that he has 2 hands on his shoulders and if they are praising him. I found it very interesting because he is one of many in the painting that is focused on his work, but he is al well surrounded by people who praise him. What picked at my brain was why the baby was helping Epicurus help hold the book up right? Epicurus was a famous philosopher back in the day. Epicureanism is a system of philosophy based on teachings of Epicurus It was founded around 307 BC. Epicurus was also very much known for then as an atomic materialist, following in the steps of Democritus.
 * 2) Today only 300 of Epicurus written works remain. He was the founder of the school of Philosophy.
 * 3) Epicurus most dedicated his works towards finding the purpose of philosophy. To him it was being able to attain the happy, tranquil life, characterized by **Ataraxia** (peace and freedom from fear) and **Aponia** (the absence of pain) and by living a self-sufficient life surrounded by friends.
 * 4) He taught that pleasure and pain were the measures of what is good and evil. He continued to believe that death was the end of both body and soul and should therefore not be feared. Because of this he also came to believe that then the gods would not reward or punish humans. Epicurus said that the universe was infinite and eternal, and that the events in the world are ultimately based on the motions and interactions of atoms moving in empty space.

[[image:http://philosophyforlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/epicurus_school-of-athens.jpg]]

 *  I myself believe that Raphael is an amazing painter and artist but I would have loved to of seen Buddha in the School Of Athens. It would have brought a different approach to the painting as well as it would tell a story. Even though the Buddha was not suppose to be worshiped I feel as if that the Athens could have used new and intelligent chinese cConfucianist ideas to there advantage and technology as well as writings.

** Primary Source 2 **
=**Inside The Hagia Sofia **= ==== ==== ====**The Hagia Sofia is located in Turkey and is a symbol of the rising in the Eastern Empire as well as a jewel from the the ancients. Hagia Sofia is translated out to really mean " holy wisdom". If you walked past the Hagia Sofia during anytime you would never expect the beautiful artwork and designs to behold the inside. (don't judge a book by it's cover) The Hagia Sofia was built during the Byzantine Empire, it was first built as a church and back then known to be the biggest dome created in the world.**====

** Primary Source 1 **
Throwing the discus was one of the five events of the pentathon. Originally the discus was made of stone, later of bronze, lead or iron. Excavated examples have a diameter of 17 to 35 cm and a weight of 1,3 to 6,6 kg. On average they weighed 2,5 kg, this is 0,5 kg above the minimum weight of a modern discus. The differences in weight are easy to explain. Each location had his own standard of weight. Moreover, the discusses for boys were lighter than those for adults. Three official discusses were kept for use in the Olympic Games in the treasury of the Sikyonians. The method of throwing can be observed on pictures, representing different phases of the throw. The right handed thrower brought his left foot forward and shifted his weight mainly to his right foot. With his right hand he swung the discus a few times back and forth. He slightly turned his body with the movement of the swing. After the last preliminary swing, he moved his weight on to his left foot and with a powerful swing he threw away the discus. Unlike modern athletes, Greek discus-throwers probably did not turn several times around their own axis. For that reason they probably threw less far.





http://ancientolympics.arts.kuleuven.be/eng/TC004EN.html

=The Mesoamerican Ball Game =

The Mesoamerican ball game is a team sport. It takes place in a big area through a long grass filled capital I shaped i hallway located usually the central part of the city. 3 players stood on each side of the edges of the grass. Up on the sides of the arena is where visitors and people who watched would sit. Each player wore an armor protected uniform over his body with (men only played) for woman it was considered to dangerous of a sport. There was 1 ball basically thrown back and forth between each of the opposing team playing. (the rubber black ball weighed 8 lbs) the ancient ball courts featured elaborate reliefs that retold stories of ancient games from the past. Reliefs were works of art carving into the stone that surrounded the ball court. The Olmec were the first known culture to play this game. After every ballgame winner or losers is was believed that a celebration was held. It was believed to be called a pulque. (it was a beer like drink.)

Fun Facts: Many different cultures occupied Mesoamerican region before 1519, but the culture that occupied the most of the territory were the Mayans. The area they occupied was called the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador. _ This simple ball game, possibly the oldest sport in America, provided not only entertainment but offered solutions to hereditary conflicts, wars, and was even thought to predict the future.
 * These civilizations thrived for several of thousands of years until their lands were invaded by the europeans (spanish) spain invaded this area in 1519. The spanish were amazed by the vast cultures spread out along the land.