Tōdai-ji Nio Guardian Agyō - Unkei

We just learned about the Asura at Kōfuku-ji temple.

Another ancient Japanese sculpture is the Tōdai-ji Nio Guardian Agyō made by Unkei in 1203.

Unkei was one of the most famous sculptors of his time, and part of a style called the Kei school.
This was a style with famous artists who worked very hard to make their sculptures look as real as possible.

The Agyō sculpture is one of the Nio guardians we learned about, at the Tōdai-ji temple in Nara, Japan.
It is made out of wood, and many people think it was one of the best wooden sculptures in Japan from that time.


(from: wikipedia - tōdai-ji)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: George Washington - Houdon

Norwegian - How are you?

We just learned some greetings in Norwegian, like Hei, Ha det and God morgen, God dag, God ettermiddag, God kveld, God natt.

If you want to say How are you? in Norwegian, you would say:

Hvordan har du det? - sounds like h-voh-r-dah-n hah-r-doo-deh-t

To respond and say Very good thanks, you would say:

Veldig bra takk. - sounds like veh-l-dih-g brah tah-k


(from: wikipedia - norwegian language)

Greek: Γειά σου (Geiá sou), Χαίρετε (Chairete), Αντίο (Antío), Καλημέρα (Kaliméra), Καλησπέρα (Kalispéra), Καληνυχτα - (Kalinychta)

ASL: How are you?

Italian: Come va? Molto bene, grazie.

German: Wie geht es Ihnen? Sehr gut, danke.

Spanish: ¿Cómo estás? Muy bien, gracias.

French: Comment allez-vous? Très bien, merci.

Great Art of Artillery, the First Part

We just learned about the rocket launch of Lagari Hasan Çelebi in the 1630s.

Another part of rocket hisory is the book Great Art of Artillery, the First Part (Artis Magnae Artilleriae pars prima) written in 1650 by a Polish-Lithuanian general named Casimir Siemienowicz who knew a lot about rockets.

His book talked about rockets used both for war and for fun, and talked about multi stage rocketse, wings for steering rockets, and batteries for rockets.

The book is called "The First Part" but no one has ever found a second part.
Some people believe that there were other scientists from that time who didn't want people knowing all of their secrets about things like rockets so they had him killed!


(from: wikipedia - casimir siemienowicz)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Blind Thrust

Chromatophore

We just learned about the Cephalopod Ink.

Another part of many cephalopods is the Chromatophore.

Cephalopods have little sacks in their skin called cytoelastic sacculus, that are filled with something called pigment granules.

That's a lot of big words, but it basically means they have tiny bags of color all over their skin, and they use muscles to squish out more color or less color to change the way they look.


(from: wikipedia - Chromatophore)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Rhacophorus

Tooth - Initiation

We just learned about the Dentinogenesis.

When teeth are first being developed in the gums by a baby before it is born, that is called the Initiation Stage.

Babies are usually born without any teeth showing, but their mouths have already started getting ready for teeth to be made in their jaw.

The first sign of teeth getting ready is when the skin in the mouth starts to change.
Very soon a tooth will be made underneath the skin, and the gums need to be ready to heal up quickly when a tooth pokes through the skin for the first time.


(from: wikipedia - dental lamina)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

Predjama Castle

We just learned about Bellver Castle.

Another famous castle is Predjama Castle, built around 1200 AD in Slovenia.

This castle was built right into the mouth of a cave, so that it could be very strong against attacks.

Most of the castle is in front of the cave, but some of back walls of the castle are built right into the rock, and they are connected to the entrance to go back into the cave.

The people who created the castle even made secret cave exits that they could use to try and sneak food in and out when the castle was under attack.

Down underneath the castle are four more levels built into the caves!
It is one of the longest caves in Slovenia.






(from: wikipedia - predjama castle)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Michoacan

Epaphroditus - Bishop of Andriace

We just learned about Tychicus - Bishop of Colophonia, one of the seventy disciples.

Another of the seventy is Epaphroditus - Bishop of Andriace.

Epaphroditus was from Philippi, and came to help Paul when he was in jail in Rome.
He was such a hard worker that he worked until he was sick and almost died.

He got better, and later went on to be known as one of the leaders of the church in the town of Philippi.


(from: wikipedia - epaphroditus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Theodore the Studie