Deer are considered to be the sacred messengers of Shinto deities, and are often depicted in mandalas, as seen here. A white stag rides on a cloud, symbolizing his role as a messenger between the earth and the gods. On his saddle is a branch of the sacred sakaki tree and a mirror, which, along with the sword and jewel, is one of the three sacred symbols of Shinto.
“Deer Mandala,” 1600s, Japan
Barine (1894). Edward John Poynter (English, 1836-1919). Oil on canvas.
The masterpiece takes its name from the femme fatale it depicts, the “Faithless Barine” from Horace’s Odes. The ingenious use of subtle symbolism tells the tale of a cold-hearted vixen of indescribable beauty that breaks the heart of every man she woos, leaving only “a train of slaves [which] grows every day.”
Have you ever wondered how someone meets Santa? Well, you need to follow a very specific ritual to summon him.
Do you have any idea how long I’ve had this queued? Any idea? A year. A fucking year. I don’t even use my queue ever. Ever. This is the only thing I’ve EVER queued. I’ve had this queued for a year so I don’t forget it.
everything about this video is perfect. the voice acting, the cookies, the milk, the cave, the chickens singing the imperial march for some reason, the way the sound of the fires starting lines up with the haunting song of the chickens, the way santa teleports right in front of the player at the last second. it’s all so surreal
What?
Broken Column, the Parthenon, Athens by Frederic Edwin Church
1869
oil and pencil on thin board
The Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
