Louvre

The first royal "Castle of the Louvre" on this site was founded by Philippe II in 1190, as a fortress to defend Paris on its west against Viking attacks. In the 14th century, Charles V turned it into a palace of the arts, but Francois I and Henri II tore it down to build a real palace; the foundations of the original fortress tower are now under the Salle des Cariatides (Room of the Caryatids). The existing part of the Château du Louvre was begun in 1546. The architect Pierre Lescot introduced to Paris the new desig ...

See also:

Louvre, Louvre - The Building, Louvre - The museum, Louvre - Le Louvre-Lens, Louvre - Access, Louvre - Notable Works

Read more here: » Louvre: Encyclopedia II - Louvre - The Building

The first royal "Castle of the Louvre" on this site was founded by Philippe II in 1190, as a fortress to defend Paris on its west against Viking attacks. In the 14th century, Charles V turned it into a palace, but Francois I and Henri II tore it down to build a real palace; the foundations of the original fortress tower are now under the Salle des Cariatides (Room of the Caryatids). The existing part of the Château du Louvre was begun in 1546. The architect Pierre Lescot introduced to Paris the new design vocabulary ...

See also:

Louvre, Louvre - The Building, Louvre - The museum, Louvre - Le Louvre-Lens, Louvre - Access, Louvre - Notable Works

Read more here: » Louvre: Encyclopedia II - Louvre - The Building

The Da Vinci Code is a novel written by American author Dan Brown and published in 2003 by Doubleday Fiction (ISBN 0385504209). It is a worldwide bestseller with 36 million copies in print (as of August 2005) and has been translated into 44 languages. Combining the detective, thriller and conspiracy theory genres, the novel has helped generate popular interest in certain theories concerning the Holy Grail legend and the role of Mary Magdalene in the history of Christianity — theories that Christians typically consider heretic ...

Including:

• The Da Vinci Code - Description
• The Da Vinci Code - Characters
• The Da Vinci Code - Summary of spoilers
• The Da Vinci Code - Secret of the Holy Grail
• The Da Vinci Code - The mystery within the mystery
• The Da Vinci Code - Inspiration and influences
• The Da Vinci Code - Reception
• The Da Vinci Code - Acclaim
• The Da Vinci Code - Criticism
• The Da Vinci Code - Motion picture adaptation
• The Da Vinci Code - Parodies
• The Da Vinci Code - Books
• The Da Vinci Code - Other

Read more here: » The Da Vinci Code: Encyclopedia - The Da Vinci Code

Narrative paradox: The novel portrays characters reacting with total amazement and disbelief when told the "true" story of the Grail and of Mary Magdalene, while also presenting this "truth" as something so well-known that there is no serious dispute amongst academics about it. Dan Brown also seems to suggest that the "secret" is so widely shared that it has been conveyed in numerous publicly available books and art works throughout history, while still remaining unknown to the general public. Continuity question: at the conclusion of ...

See also:

The Da Vinci Code, The Da Vinci Code - Description, The Da Vinci Code - Characters, The Da Vinci Code - Summary of spoilers, The Da Vinci Code - Secret of the Holy Grail, The Da Vinci Code - The mystery within the mystery, The Da Vinci Code - Inspiration and influences, The Da Vinci Code - Reception, The Da Vinci Code - Acclaim, The Da Vinci Code - Criticism, The Da Vinci Code - Motion picture adaptation, The Da Vinci Code - Parodies, The Da Vinci Code - Books, The Da Vinci Code - Other

Read more here: » The Da Vinci Code: Encyclopedia II - The Da Vinci Code - Summary of spoilers

The other three lines of Saunière's blood message are anagrams. The first line are the digits of the Fibonacci sequence out of order. The second and third lines ("O, draconian devil!" and "Oh, lame saint!") are anagrams respectively for "Leonardo da Vinci" and "The Mona Lisa" (in English). These clues were meant to lead to a second set of clues. On the glass over the Mona Lisa, Saunière wrote the message "So dark the con of Man" with a curator's pen that can only be read in ultra-violet light. The second clue is ...

See also:

The Da Vinci Code, The Da Vinci Code - Description, The Da Vinci Code - Characters, The Da Vinci Code - Summary of spoilers, The Da Vinci Code - Secret of the Holy Grail, The Da Vinci Code - The mystery within the mystery, The Da Vinci Code - Inspiration and influences, The Da Vinci Code - Reception, The Da Vinci Code - Acclaim, The Da Vinci Code - Criticism, The Da Vinci Code - Motion picture adaptation, The Da Vinci Code - Editions, The Da Vinci Code - Future editions, The Da Vinci Code - Parodies, The Da Vinci Code - Books, The Da Vinci Code - Other

Read more here: » The Da Vinci Code: Encyclopedia II - The Da Vinci Code - Summary of spoilers

In Greek mythology, the centaurs (Greek: Κένταυροι) are a race part human and part horse, with a horse's body, including all four legs, and a human head and torso with arms. The human portion is joined at the waist to the horse's shoulders where the head and neck would be. The general character of centaurs is that of wild, lawless and inhospitable beings, the slaves of their animal passions. Two exceptions to this rule were Pholus and Chiron, who expressed their "good" nature, wise and kind centaurs. They are variously ...

Including:

• Centaur - Theories of origin
• Centaur - Centaurs in modern fiction

Read more here: » Centaur: Encyclopedia - Centaur

Marc Gabriel-Charles Gleyre (Chevilly, Vaud canton, May 2, 1806 - May 5, 1874) was a Swiss artist. He took over the studio of Paul Delaroche in 1843 and taught a number of younger artists who became prominent, including Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley and James Abbott McNeill Whistler. His father and mother died while he was eight or nine years of age; and he was brought up by an uncle in ...

Including:

• Marc-Charles-Gabriel Gleyre - Resource
• Marc-Charles-Gabriel Gleyre - External link

Read more here: » Marc-Charles-Gabriel Gleyre: Encyclopedia - Marc-Charles-Gabriel Gleyre

Charles Le Brun (February 24, 1619 - February 22, 1690) was a French painter and art theorist, one of the dominant artists in 17th century France. Born in Paris, he attracted the notice of Chancellor Séguier, who placed him at the age of eleven in the studio of Simon Vouet. He was also a pupil of François Perrier. At fifteen he received commissions from Cardinal Richelieu, in the execution of which he displayed an ability which obtained the generous commendations of Nicolas Pouss ...

Read more here: » Charles Le Brun: Encyclopedia - Charles Le Brun

Chalon-sur-Saône is part of the Burgundy region, it was once a well known river port, as a point to distribute local wines up and down the Saône river. Chalon-sur-Saône - History. Chalon is best known as the birthplace of photography. Its most famous resident, Nicéphore Niépce also has a high school (sixth form college, Brit.) named after him. There is a museum which contains some early photography relics is on the Quai des Messageries in the town, containing more than two million photog ...

Including:

• Chalon-sur-Saône - History
• Chalon-sur-Saône - Geography
• Chalon-sur-Saône - External link

Read more here: » Chalon-sur-Saône: Encyclopedia - Chalon-sur-Saône

Borghese is the surname of a family of Italian noble and papal background, originating in Siena where they came to prominence in the 13th century holding official offices under the commune. The head of the family, Marcantonio moved to Rome in the 16th century and there, following the election (1605) of his son Camillo Borghese as Pope Paul V who was an unabashed nepotist, they rose in power and wealth. By virtue of the wedding of Olimpia Aldobrandini with Paolo Borghese in 1614, the Borghese claimed the name and the lega ...

Including:

• Borghese - Notable members of the Borghese family
• Borghese - External link

Read more here: » Borghese: Encyclopedia - Borghese

The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) is the National Library of France. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. Bibliothèque nationale de France - History. The National Library of France traces its origin to the royal library founded at the Louvre by Charles V in 1368. It expanded under Louis XIV and opened to the public in 1720. Following the series of regime changes in France, it became the Imperial National Library and in 1868 was moved to newl ...

Including:

• Bibliothèque nationale de France - History
• Bibliothèque nationale de France - New buildings
• Bibliothèque nationale de France - Mission

Read more here: » Bibliothèque nationale de France: Encyclopedia - Bibliothèque nationale de France

Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini) (December 7, 1598, Naples – November 28, 1680, Rome) was a towering baroque artist in 17th century Baroque Rome, where he is known mainly for his often overlapping skills as a sculptor and architect. He was also a painter, draftsman, designer of stage sets, fireworks displays, and funeral trappings. Gian Lorenzo Bernini - Early Works. Bernini was born in Naples to a Florentine family and accompanied his father Pietro Bernini, a capable Mannerist sculp ...

Including:

• Gian Lorenzo Bernini - Early Works
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini - Bernini's Architecture
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini - Bernini's Fountains in Rome
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini - Bernini's Marble Portraiture
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini - Other works
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini - List of Works
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini - Sculpture
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini - Paintings
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini - Trivia

Read more here: » Gian Lorenzo Bernini: Encyclopedia - Gian Lorenzo Bernini

The Burney Relief is an early 2nd millennium BC (ca. 1950 BC) Mesopotamian terracotta relief (alternately said to be "Sumerian" or "Assyrian") of a winged goddess-figure with eagle's talons, flanked by owls and perched upon supine lions. It is in the British museum London, England. The goddess has been identified with the Sumerian Kisikil-lilla-ke of the Gilgamesh epos, and, somewhat optimistically, with 7th century BC Babylonian Lilitu. A very similar relief dating to roughly t ...

Read more here: » Burney Relief: Encyclopedia - Burney Relief

A château (French for castle; plural châteaux) is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of gentry, usually French, with or without fortifications. The urban counterpart of "château" is palais (palace). Château - Concept. If a château is not old, then it must be grand. A château is a "power house" as Sir John Summerson dubbed the English (and Georgian Irish) "Stately homes" that are social counterparts of châteaux. It is the personal (and hopefully heredi ...

Including:

• Château - Concept
• Château - French châteaux
• Château - Loire Valley
• Château - Dampierre-en-Yvelines
• Château - Bordeaux

Read more here: » Château: Encyclopedia - Château

Callimachus (Kallimachos) was an architect and sculptor working in the second half of the 5th century BC in the manner established by Polyclitus. He was credited with work in both Athens and Corinth and was probably from one of the two cities. According to Vitruvius (iv.1), for his great ingenuity and taste the Athenians dubbed Callimachus katatêxitechnos (literally, 'finding fault with one's own craftmanship': perfectionist). His reputation in the 2nd century CE was reported in an aside by Pausanias, as one "although n ...

Including:

• Callimachus sculptor - Ancient sources
• Callimachus sculptor - External links

Read more here: » Callimachus sculptor: Encyclopedia - Callimachus sculptor

Jean-François Champollion (23 December 1790 – 4 March 1832) was a French classical scholar, philologist, orientalist, and Egyptologist. Chapollion is generally credited as the father of Egyptology. Based on crucial groundwork laid by Thomas Young and William Bankes, Champollion translated parts of the Rosetta stone in 1824, showing that the ancient Egyptian was similar to Coptic, and the writing system was a combination of phonetic and ideographic signs. He was born at Figeac, Lot, in France, used to live in Grenoble ...

Including:

• Jean-François Champollion - Sources

Read more here: » Jean-François Champollion: Encyclopedia - Jean-François Champollion

The Royal Château of Fontainebleau (in the Seine-et-Marne département), the largest of the French royal châteaux, introduced to France the Italian Mannerist style in interior decoration and in gardens, and transformed them in the translation. The French Mannerist style of interior decoration of the 16th century is known as the "Fontainebleau style:" it combined sculpture, metalwork, painting, stucco and woodwork, and outdoors the patterned garden parterre. The Fontainebleau style combined allegorical paintings in moulded pla ...

Including:

• Château de Fontainebleau - External link

Read more here: » Château de Fontainebleau: Encyclopedia - Château de Fontainebleau

The Valley of the Kings, or Wadi el-Muluk (وادي الملوك) in Arabic, is a valley in Egypt where tombs were built for the Pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom, the Eighteenth through Twentieth Dynasties of Ancient Egypt. The valley is located at 25°44′N 32°36′E. It stands on the west bank of the Nile, across from Thebes (modern Luxor), under the peak of the pyramid-shaped mountain Al-Qurn. It is separated into the East and West Valleys, with most of the important tombs in the East Valley. The West ...

Including:

• Valley of the Kings - Geology
• Valley of the Kings - Important burials
• Valley of the Kings - East Valley
• Valley of the Kings - West Valley
• Valley of the Kings - Deir el-Bahri
• Valley of the Kings - Exploration of the Valley of the Kings
• Valley of the Kings - Grave robbers
• Valley of the Kings - Antiquity
• Valley of the Kings - Eighteenth Century
• Valley of the Kings - Nineteenth Century
• Valley of the Kings - Twentieth century
• Valley of the Kings - Twenty-first century
• Valley of the Kings - Tourism
• Valley of the Kings - Selected reading

Read more here: » Valley of the Kings: Encyclopedia - Valley of the Kings

The Venus de Milo is an ancient Greek statue and one of the most famous pieces of ancient Greek sculpture. It is believed to depict Aphrodite (called Venus by the Romans), the Greek goddess of love and beauty. It is a marble sculpture, slightly larger than life size at 203 cm (80 inches) high, but without its arms and its original plinth. From an inscription on its now-lost plinth, it is thought to be the work of Alexandros of Antioch; it was earlier mistakenly attributed to the master sculptor Praxiteles. Venus de Milo ...

Including:

• Venus de Milo - Interpretation
• Venus de Milo - Discovery and fame
• Venus de Milo - Venus de Milo in popular culture

Read more here: » Venus de Milo: Encyclopedia - Venus de Milo

The Code of Hammurabi, created ca. 1780 BC (short chronology), also known as the Codex Hammurabi, and Hammurabi's Code is one of the earliest sets of laws found, and one of the best preserved examples of this type of document from ancient Mesopotamia. Other collections of laws include the codex of Ur-Nammu, king of Ur (ca. 2050 BC), the Codex of Eshnunna (ca. 1930 BC) and the codex of Lipit-Ishtar of Isin (ca. 1870 BC). It shows rules and punishments if those rules are broken. It focuses on theft, farming (or shep ...

Including:

• Code of Hammurabi - External link

Read more here: » Code of Hammurabi: Encyclopedia - Code of Hammurabi