Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet at right angles.
The cross is one of the most ancient human symbols, and has been used by many religions, most notably Christianity. It may be seen as a division of the world into four elements (Chevalier, 1997) or cardinal points, or alternately as the union of the concepts of divinity, the vertical line, and the world, the horizontal line (Koch, 1955).
Etymology
The word cross comes ultimately from Latin crux, a Roman torture device used for crucifixion, via Old Irish cros. The word was introduced to English in the 10th century as the term for the instrument of the torturous execution of Jesus as described in the New Testament, gradually replacing the earlier word rood. Crux is possibly derived from Phoenician. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia cross does not come from crux but form the Latin curio, "to torment".
Cross (1987 film)
Cross is a French crime film written and directed by Philippe Setbon.
Synopsis
The divorced cop Eli Cantor once brought a man called Simon Leenhardt behind bars. Leenhardt has sworn revenge to Cantor. He escapes from an insane asylum for criminals and breaks into the house where Cantor's family lives. With a team of psychopaths he takes everybody in the house as hostage. Eli feels he can't risk to ask for official help. He plans to tackle the situation discretly. Unfortunately his best friend in the police force refuses to help him. So Eli looks out for another potential partner. He comes across the adventurer Thomas Crosky who engages in illegal fights just for kicks. Together they sneak into the house. Meanwhile Leenhardt tries to make friends with Cantor's family but his manic accomplices get more and more out of control.
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Crosses in heraldry
The Christian cross had been used as a symbol of Christianity from Late Antiquity. Beginning in the 11th century, and increasingly during the age of the Crusades, a variety of variant forms of cross symbols were developed for the purposes of the emerging system of heraldry.
The cross symbol was also used on flags from the medieval period, and in modern times also on numerous national flags.
History
Heraldry emerges in the 12th century out of earlier traditions. The Christian cross is one of the earliest and most widespread heraldic charges, dating back to the field signs used in the First Crusade, and used to distinguish the various noble crusaders from at least the Second Crusade.
In 1188, Henry II of England and Philip II of France agreed to launch the Third Crusade together, and that Henry would use a white cross and Philip a red cross. The red-on-white cross came to be used by the Knights Templar, and the white-on-red one by the Knights Hospitaller (also white-on-black); the Teutonic Order used a black-on white version.
Tarì
A tarì (طري lit. "fresh" or "newly minted money" in Arabic) was the Christian designation of a type of gold coin of Islamic origin minted in Sicily, Malta and Southern Italy from about 913 to 1859.
History
In the Islamic world, this type of coin was designated under the name ruba'i, or quarter-dinar, as it weighed 1.05g of gold. The ruba'i had been minted by the Muslims in Sicily, unlike the Muslim rulers of North Africa, who preferred the larger dinar. It became highly popular as it was smaller and therefore more convenient than the large-sized 4.25g dinar.
The tarì were so widespread that imitations were made in southern Italy (Amalfi and Salerno) from the mid-tenth century, which only used illegible "pseudo-Kufic" imitations of Arabic. When the Normans invaded Sicily in the 12th century, they issued tarì coins bearing legends in Arabic and Latin.Roger II of Sicily issued such coins, becoming the only Western ruler at that time to mint gold coins. Their title was 161⁄3 carat, with some adjunction of silver and copper. The tarì were also produced by the Hohenstaufens and the early Angevins.
The Color of Time
The Color of Time (aka Tar) is a 2012 drama film written and directed by twelve New York University film students: Edna Luise Biesold, Sarah-Violet Bliss, Gabrielle Demeestere, Alexis Gambis, Shruti Ganguly, Brooke Goldfinch, Shripriya Mahesh, Pamela Romanowsky, Bruce Thierry Cheung, Tine Thomasen, Virginia Urreiztieta and Omar Zúñiga Hidalgo. It stars James Franco, Henry Hopper, Mila Kunis, Jessica Chastain and Zach Braff. It premiered on November 16, 2012 at the Rome Film Festival. It was released in the United Kingdom in 2014 under the new title Forever Love. The film was released in the United States in theaters and on demand beginning on December 12, 2014.
Plot
The different parts of Pulitzer Prize winner C.K. Williams' life told through his poems. Flashbacks of his childhood, his teens, college years, to when he meets and marries his wife, Catherine (Kunis) and the birth of his children and parenthood. The film is narrated by different versions of Williams (Franco, Hopper, March, Unger), depicting the different aspects of Williams through the years.
Tar (Azerbaijani instrument)
Craftsmanship and performance of the tar and the skills related to this tradition play a significant role in shaping the cultural identity of Azerbaijanis. The Tar (Persian: تار) is a long-necked plucked lute, traditionally crafted and performed in communities throughout Azerbaijan and Iran. Tar features alone or with other instruments in numerous traditional musical styles. It also considered by many to be the country’s leading musical instrument.
In 2012 art of Azerbaijani craftsmanship and performance art of the tar was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Craftsmanship
Tar makers transmit their skills to apprentices, often within the family. Craftsmanship begins with careful selection of materials for the instrument: mulberry wood for the body, nut wood for the neck, and pear wood for the tuning pegs. Using various tools, crafters create a hollow body in the form of a figure eight, which is then covered with the thin pericardium of an ox. The fretted neck is affixed, metal strings are added and the body is inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
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