The Structure and Chemical Composition of Wall Paintings From Islamic and Christian Times in the Seville Alcazar

Wall paintings from the Islamic epoch (10th to 12th centuries) and the Christian monarchy (14th to 16th centuries) have been recovered in discarded materials and on walls after reconstruction works in the Seville Alcazar. These paintings have spent centuries underground or under a plaster coat. Portable X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) and combined XRF/X‐ray diffraction (XRD) were employed in situ, as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM–EDX), grazing angle incidence XRD and micro‐Raman spectroscopy, on cross‐section samples to fully characterize the materials in the wall paintings. Using these methods, the fresco technique was demonstrated, and many kinds of pigments were identified in accordance with the various periods of the history of the Alcazar, thus assessing the authenticity of all the wall paintings studied here.     

Family Burial,Family Structure,and The Urbanization of Herodian Jerusalem

Abstract

Epigraphic, archaeological, and historical data indicate that most of the population in Herodian Jerusalem was buried in family caves. In several cases, however, Diaspora Jews and proselytes were buried together, replacing the family by an alternative reference group of other immigrants or proselytes. Furthermore, the Qumran sectarians, and perhaps also some early Christians and pharisaic haverim, chose to withdraw from their families and to be buried in the sphere of the sect. This distinctive burial practice results from the ideological tension between the sect and the family (of the sectarian member).

Analysis of the number of niches in 306 burial caves (presumably familial caves) in light of the skeletal remains from some of these caves leads to a tentative reconstruction of the family structure in Herodian Jerusalem. Most prevalent were the nuclear and the small extended families, whereas hamulas were distinctively rare. It seems that the average family became smaller during the Herodian period. It is suggested that this process was due to the urbanization of Jerusalem, and that the change in family structure accelerated the growth of individualism in Jerusalem society.     

Topoiesis del espacio textual

ABSTRACT

The concept of topoiesis of textual space addresses an analysis of the spatial elements that tend to provide a meaning to the literary text. Based on textual semiotics where there is an organized relational system of meanings, in this article we propose that it is possible to determine the function of space as a meaning issue from three different literary text instances (event or motive; character; and object). This distinction will permit a deeper interpretation of the sense of space in the literary text.     

Materials Characteristics of Roman and Arabic Mortars and Stuccoes from the Patio De Banderas in the Real Alcazar of Seville (Spain)

This study discusses the materials and traditional knowledge used in the manufacture and application of lime mortars and stuccoes by Romans and Arabs in Seville (southern Iberian Peninsula). All of the samples studied contain calcite as a binder, combined with aggregates based on river sand from the filling materials of the Guadalquivir River's depression, located in the vicinity of the Real Alcazar Palace in Seville, Spain, where the artefacts were discovered. The Romans used high‐quality production technology, as evidenced by the careful selection of raw materials as well as by the adequate binder‐to‐aggregate ratio and the elevated homogeneity of the mortars and stuccoes. The suitable distribution of aggregates resulted in higher density values for Roman fragments than for Arabic ones. Results derived from Arabic samples suggest a decline in technology manufacture over time. This work provides useful information, particularly regarding the Roman and Arabic periods in the Iberian Peninsula. The analytical techniques employed in this study were X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray fluorescence (XRF)—using conventional and portable systems, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), petrographic microscopy, differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetry (DTA/TG), particle‐size analysis and mercury intrusion porosimetry.     

“家族国家观”的悖论

日本儒教中的家族孝主义是家族国家观的重要基础。但是作为幕藩体制下封建武士之间的道德,它无法直接为明治近代化的目标服务甚至形成阻碍。因此家族国家观虽然植根于传统的儒教家族主义,但又是对其不适应时代课题的部分进行修正后,重新建构起来的一种意识形态。因此带有两面性,不是简单的“复古”,也不是儒教家族主义道德的简单复活。虽然家族国家观在统合民众方面发挥了巨大作用,但由于其原理与近代国家原理之间存在抵触,致使家族国家观自身蕴含着重大的悖论。     

全家一站玩转圣淘沙

进入五月,空气中到处都是旅游味。五一、六一,接着暑假,随着气温不断升高,旅游也不断升温。而每年这样的时候,都会头痛去哪玩？家有妻儿,妻想去的地方只要是浪漫就行,儿想去的只要能玩耍就够。那,去哪玩呢？既要能玩,又要有情调的地儿……我不是一个旅游发烧友,会专门去挖掘世界各地最好玩的地方。我说不出在哪有稀有平原,在哪有旷世海景,我只会动动手指,在网络上敲打几个关键字,然后看看、挑挑,人云亦云,也仍然不亦乐乎。     

欧洲历史上家庭概念的演变及其特征

本文分析了自古典时代到 1 8世纪欧洲人家庭观念的演变及其与欧洲社会经济发展的关系。作者认为 ,古代罗马的家庭具有奴性 ,与奴隶制有关。随着奴隶制和家长权的衰落 ,以婚姻和血缘关系为基础的自然家庭的重要性逐渐显现。但是 ,家庭要成为一个独立的社会组织还要经历一个漫长的过程。在中世纪前期 ,欧洲人的家庭生活集体依然依附于当时的土地耕作制度。份地是当时的赋税征收单位 ,它包容了数量不同、形式多样的家庭户。份地制度的衰落终于使家庭户成为独立的社会组织。但至少从中世纪中期起至 1 8世纪中叶 ,欧洲人所说的家庭实际上就是家庭户 ,同住的非亲族成员也被算成家庭的一员 ,与户主形成假性的家庭关系。近代初期 ,随着商品货币关系向家庭户的渗透 ,从前虚拟的家庭关系便转化为雇佣关系 ,家庭才成为一个以血缘和婚姻关系为基础、共同生活的亲族集体 ,现代的家庭概念得以形成。作者认为 ,在欧洲历史上 ,家庭组织的存在方式和人们的家庭观念始终与一定的社会经济条件相联系 ,它们的演变过程几乎就是一部简约的欧洲史。