Golden Age.

The Golden Age (χρυσή εποχή ) (chrysí epokhí) means the best time of humanity. Perhaps it was so in the past or it will be so in the future.

These words come from Ancient Greece. In Greek mythology there are five ages of humanity (χρύσεον γένος) (chrýseon génos): Gold, Silver, Bronze, Heroic, and Iron.

Also, other myths and legends have their own Golden Age.

Writers wrote books about it, and artists drew images.

Sometimes the Golden Age is called the dawn of civilization.

This is actually a utopia.

Tales from childhood: Our city.

Hello, dear readers! I'm a simple inhabitant of the city. I'm a local old man. I have lived here for a long time, so I know some secrets.

"This woman is very beautiful!" someone said.

Lady in red is a famous actress. She played in many different movies. Also, newspapers and magazines write about this woman.

I remembered how lady in red visited places in our city. I saw her during late evening in a restaurant.

"What does she do at work?" Sophie asked her grandmother.

"She is a muse for artists." granny answered.

I know that she recently became seriously ill. Now the woman in red often goes to doctors.

Retrofuturism.

Retrofuturism is a genre of art. People from the past imagine the future. There are many assumptions about what the world will look like in many years. 

Writers wrote books about the next century and describe inventions of mankind. Artists paint buildings of the city of the future and its changes.

But these expectations don't always correspond to reality.

Source of image:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/illustration-city-street-style-retrofuturism-suspension-495763990

Acis and Galatea.

Acis (Ἄκις) was killed by Cyclops (Κύκλωπες) (Kýklōpes) Polyphemus (Πολύφημος).

His lover Galatea (Γαλάτεια) (‘she who is milk-white’) created river from her blood’s lover.

Galatea was the Nereid (Νηρηΐδες) (sea-nymph). Her parents were Nereus (Νηρεύς) and Doris (Δωρίδος).

There are many poems about Acis and Galatea’s love story. Also, artists and sculptors created paintings and sculptures of these characters.

Metaphor.

Metaphor (μεταφορά) is a figure of speech. It means "transference" from ancient Greek language. Phrases sound with other words. The meaning doesn't change, only the words change.

Metaphors usually sound like comparisons to something. It adds interest to the speech.

Artists and writers commonly use metaphors in their work. Also, there are metaphorical situations in movies and cartoons.

Sometimes people use this figure of speech in conversation.

Source of image:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/concept-hidden-potential-paper-figure-cat-1197091564

Source of image:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/rear-view-man-front-many-different-1294887061

Source of image:

https://www.istockphoto.com/es/foto/ramo-de-cinco-flores-de-diente-de-le%C3%B3n-en-flor-de-colores-coloridos-inusuales-gm1223668190-359530501?phrase=metaphor

Famous people and their quotes. Part forty two.

                                                        Raphael.


“Time is a vindictive bandit to steal the beauty of our former selves. We are left with sagging, rippled flesh and burning gums with empty sockets.”

“When one is painting one does not think.”

Source of information:

https://www.biography.com/artist/raphael and https://www.inspiringquotes.us/author/4430-raphael

Naive art.

This type art is a part of primitivism. Naive art includes a lot of crafts, such as: architecture, sculptures, painting.

Primitivism appeared in XVIII century. There are graphics, applied arts, amateur performances in it.

Also, many works in naive art were created by self-taught artists.

In France this type of art appeared at the beginning of XX century. The Repast of the Lion (1907) by Henri Rousseau, is a painting of naive art.

This art exists in many countries.

Source of image:

https://www.shutterstock.com/es/image-vector/naive-art-cartoon-illustration-people-standing-457413352



Source of image:

https://www.shutterstock.com/es/image-illustration/original-naive-art-acrylic-painting-colorful-62410906



Source of image:

https://www.shutterstock.com/es/image-illustration/primitive-cubism-minimalist-story-vivid-colours-558289528

Great people: Hans Christian Andersen.

Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2, 1805, in Kingdom Denmark-Norway. Future writer was the only child.

Andersen created many famous fairy tales, such as: "Thumbelina" (1835), "The Ugly Duckling" (1843), "The Emperor's New Clothes" (1837), "The Snow Queen" (1844), "The Little Mermaid" (1837), and etc. These works were translated to many languages. Artists drew illustrations with the characters.

Also, there are many movies and cartoons about Andersen's fairy tales.

Hans Christian Andersen died on August 4, 1875, in Kingdom of Denmark.

Sirens.

Sirens were creatures in greek mythology. They had women's head and birds' body. Achelous and Calliope were Sirens parents.

These creatures lived not far from sea. Sirens met with other gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece.

Artists and sculptors created a lot of paintings and sculptures of these creatures.

Literature. Part forty four.

                                      Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

This book was written in XIX century. There were very different characters in it. Jim Hawkins was the main character. Long John Silver, Dr. David Livesey, Captain Alexander Smollet were main characters, too.

Friends had voyage in the sea. On the way they met pirates. Other adventures happened with them on the island.

At the end characters returned home with treasures. They used them.

Famous adventure novel was translated to many languages. There are many movies and cartoons created about this story. Artists draw pictures of it.

Source of image:

https://www.shutterstock.com/de/image-illustration/captain-smollett-cartoon-character-treasure-island-223806448

Fantasy.

Fantasy is an unusual genre of literature. Science fiction and fairy tale are included in it. Also, fantasy is used in other types of arts such as: movies, cartoons, paintings.

People and magical creatures are main characters in fantasy. They can talk to each other. Good and bad are important for plot of this genre.

Characters from folklore and mythology often appear in fantasy books. Fairies, dwarves, unicorns, mermaids, dragons, and etc. Sometimes this literary genre contains horror elements.

Utopian ans dystopian fiction are popular among writers. Somebody thinks about an "ideal world in the future". Or conversely discribes bad parts of the world. For example, 1984 by George Orwell.

Famous genre fantasy used in games, by modern artists, and designers.

Source of image:

https://www.shutterstock.com/ru/image-illustration/fantasy-bridge-space-3d-rendering-598963202?src=WfT-K8fbPivZ_UFNgYeLmQ-1-25



Source of image:

https://www.shutterstock.com/ru/image-photo/beautiful-young-elf-walking-unicorn-she-783201466?src=WfT-K8fbPivZ_UFNgYeLmQ-2-10



Source of image:

https://www.shutterstock.com/ru/image-vector/set-unidentified-space-objects-ufo-ships-759378394?src=WfT-K8fbPivZ_UFNgYeLmQ-5-14

Poseidon.

Poseidon was a god of waters and Sea in Ancient Greece. His parents were Cronus and Rhea. Poseidon was Zeus and Hades brother. Also, god was responsible for earthquakes and horses.

God of waters had his own symbols: trident, dolphin, bull, and horse. Poseidon married Amphitrite and had children.

There are many myths and legends about this greek god of Sea and waters. Artists and sculptors created beautiful works of Poseidon.

Source of image:

https://www.shutterstock.com/nb/image-photo/ancient-statue-god-seas-oceans-neptune-597533462?src=A2Dj1jWIZhFAF9RPuPzZ2g-1-95



Source of image:

https://www.shutterstock.com/nb/image-vector/poseidon-neptune-god-sea-1009166941?src=A2Dj1jWIZhFAF9RPuPzZ2g-2-60



Source of image:

https://www.shutterstock.com/nb/image-photo/high-contrast-image-poseidons-trident-resting-430689421?src=A2Dj1jWIZhFAF9RPuPzZ2g-4-16

Birth of Aphrodite.

Aphrodite is a Greek goddess of love and beauty. Her parents were Zeus and Dione.

The goddess was born fron the sea foam, in Phaphos, Cyprus. Horae met her on the shore of the island and adorned Aphrodite with beautiful jewels. The gods wanted to marry her.

Also, Aphrodite had personal symbols. For example, Rose, Apple, Dolphin, Viola, and Lily. There are many legends about this goddess in Greek mythology. Sculptors and artists used Aphrodite in their works.

Literature. Part nineteen.

                                          "The Last Leaf" by O. Henry.

Johsy and Sue were young artists. They were living in one room.

In one day Johsy got sick pneumonia. She was sure that she died when the last leaf of ivy fell. Tree stayed on the street and Johnsy could see it through the window.

In their house lived old man named Behrman. He was an artist, too. Mr. Behrman wanted to make a masterpiece.

Johnsy srill saw the last leaf of the ivy. Several days later Johsy became better. Then she recovered.

Mr. Behrman died from pneumonia but he drew "the last leaf".

Source of image:

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-325812017/stock-vector-autumn-tree-with-last-leaf.html?src=ZFx7sT6ReyU-Dedu4nRR8g-1-2