With its giant strawberries and nudity, Hieronymus Bosch’s painting has been seen as a celebration and warning about sin – but it’s really about a Renaissance-era curiosity that helped better explain the world

Posting photos of amazing species you’ve never heard of. Highlighting the wonders of evolution & the extraordinary diversity of life.

You've probably never seen an image of Earth like this one. It is centered on the middle of the Pacific Ocean, which gives us a taste of just how enormous it is. As Minnesotastan points out at TYWKIWDBI, there are places in the Pacific Ocean for which the antipode is also in the Pacific Ocean. On the bright side, this map features New Zealand prominently, while many omit it. (Image: Google Earth)...

It is a small macropod about the size of a domestic cat. It is the only member of the genus Setonix. Like other marsupials in the macropod family (such as kangaroos and wallabies), the quokka is herbivorous and mainly nocturnal

Oxygen didn't catalyze the swift blossoming of Earth's first multicellular organisms. The results of a new study defy a 70-year-old assumption about what caused an explosion of oceanic fauna hundreds of millions of years ago.

Watched all in a row, the animated movies The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Return of the King form their own peculiar Tolkien trilogy. Granted, they’re movies made by two different studios with two different styles, and they don’t really align storywise, and one was a feature film while the other two were […]

Dolphins have intrigued people for thousands of years, not only for their intelligence, but for their connection to us and our galactic history.

One of my paintings of the Heathen gods and goddesses. This is Nertha (or Nerthus) Goddess of the Earth from ancient Denmark and Germany. Her worship was recorded by the Roman historian Tacitus in his book Germania. See notes on the image for more information.

Ever wonder which creature from Middle Earth you would be? Find out here!

In the field or in front of the camera, these amazing animal conservationists have dedicated their lives to protecting the Earth and its creatures.

In Western eyes, the delicately cut piece of food is often regarded as central to traditional Japanese cooking. The skilful use of the knife is indeed one of the most prominent features of the Japanese kitchen, and mastery of various cutting-techniques is a matter of course to the Japanese chef as well as to the ambitious homemaker.

John and Ester Bauer John Albert Bauer (1882 – 1918) was a Swedish painter and illustrator. His work is concerned with landscape and mythology, but he also composed portraits. He is best known for his illustrations of early editions of Bland tomtar och troll (Among Gnomes and Trolls), an anthology of Swedish folklore and fairy tales. For more information on John Bauer see part 1, and for earlier works, see parts 1 - 3 also. This is part 4 of a 7-part post on the works of John Bauer: 1911 "Our Father's God Saga" (Fädernas Gudsaga) by Viktor Tydberg: Colour plate from the front cover ( Odin speaks with Mimir's head for the last time ) 1911 "Awake Groa, Awake Mother" Freya by Svipdag on Singastein Freya greets Svipdag Loki lures Idun from Asgard Loki swallows Gullveig's heart Mountain Troll Odin rides out to test Sleipner Odin speaks with Mimir's head for the last time Svipdag speaks with Thökk Thor and Thjalfi's battle with Hrungnir and Mökkurkalfi Tyr and Fenrir 1911 "The King's Choice" by Anna Wahlenberg: 1911 "The King's Choice" by Anna Wahlenberg 1911 "The King's Choice" by Anna Wahlenberg * * * * * 1911 "The Maiden in the Castle of Rosy Clouds" by Harald Östenson 1911 "The Maiden in the Castle of Rosy Clouds" by Harald Östenson "He Gave the Dragon a Mighty Blow" 1911 Front cover of "Jul-tomten" ( The Christmas Gnome ) 1911 Monas Lisa and Santa Claus 1912 "Christmas Gift" ( Julklappen ) 1912 "Julebocken" Yule Goat pencil, watercolour heightened with white on paper 34.5 x 29 cm 1913 "Two Trolls" woodcut 18.5 x 15.5 cm ( image ) 1913 A Forest Troll 1913 Trolls by Starlight 1912 Among Gnomes and Trolls 6 (Bland Tomtar Och Troll 6): 1912 Among Gnomes and Trolls 6 "Innocence Hiking" ( Oskuldens vandring ) by Helena Nyblom: 1912 "Innocence Hiking" ( Oskuldens vandring ) by Helena Nyblom 1912 "Innocence Hiking" ( Oskuldens vandring ) by Helena Nyblom variant 1912 "Innocence Hiking" ( Oskuldens vandring ) by Helena Nyblom 1912 "Innocence Hiking" ( Oskuldens vandring ) by Helena Nyblom 1912 "Innocence Hiking" ( Oskuldens vandring ) by Helena Nyblom "She Kissed the Bear on the Nose" pencil. ink, watercolour and gouache on paper 25 x 25 cm 1912 Among Gnomes and Trolls 6 "The Boy Who Was Never Afraid" (Pojken som aldrig var rädd) by Alfred Smedberg: 1912 "The Boy Who Was Never Afraid" ( Pojken som aldrig var rädd ) by Alfred Smedberg 1912 "The Boy Who Was Never Afraid" (Pojken som aldrig var rädd) by Alfred Smedberg "Here is a piece of a troll herb which nobody else but me can find" 1912 "The Boy Who Was Never Afraid" (Pojken som aldrig var rädd) by Alfred Smedberg "Oh my, What a little runt! exclaimed the Troll" * 1912 "The Wizard's Coat" (Trollkarlens kappa) by Anna Wahlenberg 1912 Among Gnomes and Trolls 6 "Trollsonen som hade solögon och vart skogsman" by Vilhälm Nordin: 1912 Trollsonen som hade solögon och vart skogsman by Vilhälm Nordin "He drank at the lake" 1912 Trollsonen som hade solögon och vart skogsman by Vilhälm Nordin "Humpe climbed up on his lap" 1912 Trollsonen som hade solögon och vart skogsman by Vilhälm Nordin "Humpe" He saw her hiding in the tree 1912 Trollsonen som hade solögon och vart skogsman by Vilhälm Nordin "Humpe" 1912 Trollsonen som hade solögon och vart skogsman by Vilhälm Nordin "Meeting on the Forest Path" 1913 illustration: Trollsonen som hade solögon och vart skogsman by Vilhälm Nordin "Humpe in the Woods" pencil, watercolour and gouache on canvas 45 x 45 cm

This series reinvents the abstract into sensation, a feeling. The artist creates the artwork for the audience to recall a specific feeling. You see pictures wit

Learn about 10 of the most intelligent animals on Earth and the traits that show how smart they are.

Ah! well a-day! what evil looks Had I from old and young! Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung. – The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1798 Gustave Doré created these illustrations for a 1877 German edition The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor … Continue reading "Gustave Doré Illustrations for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner – 1877"

Edward Matthew Hale (British, 1852 – 1924) Edward Matthew Hale – Psyche At The Throne Of Venus Edward Matthew Hale – Nude Sketch Edward Matthew Hale – The Three Princesses …

Eero Ojanen 2017: Suomalaiset taruolennot illustrated by Sirkku Linnea The Finnish folklore has a sprite for everything in nature. Through these creatures people explained, how the world was created and why the different phenomena appeared. This book is divided into sections of different creature types. First come the giants, then the dwarfs (such as gnomes, elves, fairies and leprechauns). One section is given to the creatures from Kalevala, one for Forest folks, one for the protectors of plants. There are creatures that live underwater, those who help and care for people and animals. Then there are those, who are plain weird and those whose only purpose is to make life difficult. The last section is describes different mythical animals in the stories. Hiisi, a kind of devil likes to build from stones Some of the names of these creatures live in the Finnish language: hitto is used like a swearword "damn", just like "hiisi vieköön" (may the devil take...). To this day, children play "Hippa" (tag), which was a creature that chased animals in the forest so the hunters could catch them. Some of the locations got its name from a creature like Kouvola. Kouvo is a messenger of death and was widely feared. Some of the less known creatures are: Ägräs, the god of agriculture Kiputyttö, the maid of underworld, reliever of pain Rahko, the painter of moon Madderakka, the saami protecor of women Liekkiö, dead child that haunts people Aarni, the protector of hidden treasures Para, secure the milk production, later on protect sheep and grains Nyrkes, the force that makes things happen The gnomes like to live in peace in the forest Wikipedia gives a great list of Finnish mythology. Godchecker also lists some of Finnish gods. Even though, joulupukki is never written with a Y.

For nearly half a century, legends of a giant cave in the Andes—holding artifacts that could rewrite human history—have beckoned adventurers and tantalized fans of the occult. Now the daughter of a legendary explorer is on a new kind of quest: to tell the truth about the cave in order to save it.

Not to be confused with Short-Beaked Echidna. Evil supposedly breeds evil, and that is definitely the case with Echidna. This monster, with the head and upper body of a beautiful woman and the lower body of a snake, gave birth to some of the deadliest beasts of Greek myth. Echidna lured men into dark places so she could satisfy her hunger for human flesh. According to legend, her offspring ravaged the world and killed thousands of people. Snake Lady: From her head to her waist, Echidna was a gor

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From before the dinosaurs to the Ice Age, several mammals and their forerunners sported the iconic, curved teeth

After nearly five decades (and, indeed, the same number of volumes), one might think they were well-acquainted with Isabella, Lady Trent — dragon naturalist and scandalous explorer, perhaps as infamous for her company and feats of daring as she is famous for her discoveries and additions to the scientific field.

It can hardly have escaped your notice that a rather major feature film opened across the world this week. We all are awash in the sights, sounds, and excitement of the newest Star Wars movie, and as you know, the Medieval Manuscripts department is always eager to join in the...

Mjukuu the western lowland gorilla gave birth this week. That's great news for the critically endangered species.

Swans aren’t known for being the most […]

Large work by renowned British sculptor Philip Jackson CVO DL MA FRBS

FLYING FUZZY BABIES.