Ancient Greek legend says painting began when a woman traced her lover's shadow on a wall before he left

arts, ideas & societyanalysisThe Public Domain Reviewc. 1625–1850 · Europe

Ancient Greek legend says painting began when a woman traced her lover's shadow on a wall before he left

the gist

In Pliny the Elder's Natural History, a Corinthian potter's daughter, Kora, traces the shadow of her departing lover on a wall by lamplight. Her father, Butades, then fills the outline with clay and hardens it in the kiln, creating the first relief portrait, which is the origin story Pliny gives for both drawing and sculpture. From about 1625 to 1850 painters returned to the story repeatedly, reimagining it with Cupid, a sleeping lover or an empty wall. The story ties art to desire, memory and loss.

so what

The myth gives an account of why images exist: they are attempts to preserve someone who is absent. Its popularity among neoclassical painters shows how artists used ancient stories to explain their own craft and its emotional roots.

Image: The Public Domain Review

source: The Public Domain Review ↗

historyWikipediaclassic1336–1565 · Karnataka, India

Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565

the gist

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.

how it works

The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.

so what

Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.

fun fact

The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

2 min

politicsshortCNA2:01

False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting

from CNA

CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.

Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.

on YouTube: CNA ↗