Ancient Writers Research Articles

Teks Taru Premana Sebagai Simbolisasi Ekuilibrium Manusia Hindu Dengan Alam Semesta Bali

A holistic understanding of the side effects of chemical drugs, stimulating this era's humans to engage in contemplative movements, using ancient literature to maintain sanitation, physical health and mental health. Taru Premana is the philanthropic mission of Mpu Kuturan to create Hindu people as well as a healthy Bali environment. So, to realize the human mission, humanistic practice begins, to find a variety of herbal medicines. The research aims to analyze the Lontar Taru Premana, by looking for a link between health practices and the stimulation of subjects in the preservation of the environment. The research uses a qualitative approach or specifically applies textual studies to undermine searches and reconstructive efforts in understanding the texts of the art of traditional medicine of Bali. The technique of collecting Taru Premana manuscripts as a source of research data is obtained from the process of accumulating ancient writings dealing with traditional medicine. Further, it is analyzed using literary studies as well as philological studies. The compendium on traditional health science taught in Taru Premana is explained specifically in the processing techniques of traditional ingredients, their manufacturing processes and their application, such as bearing, spraying, patching and fixing. The Taru Premana manuscript has an interpretation in other aspects, namely as a symbolization of the internalization of the values of social-religious life. This lontar is an argument for the harmonization of man with his environment, and gives the scheme that man is not a determining entity, but an individual and a cosmic entity forming a typology of dependency. Taru Premana as a means of balancing the existence of humans and the environment (praja dan kamadhuk). In other words, man without the presence of nature is meaningless, because the process of life becomes stopped because of the nullity of the supporting life. Lontar Taru Premana plays an important role in the spiritual, social and ecological reality of the Bali Hindu community, as it applies traditional techniques and ecologic balance.

Phenomenal Eros: For a History of Sensuality

Forty years of scholarship in the history of sexuality and gender studies have delivered a considerable amount of knowledge, framed by an encompassing premise: power is paramount. A preferred object of this kind of attention are the erotic cultures of ancient Greece and Rome. The focus on power leads contemporary scholars to adopt binary thinking, namely the attribution to ancient writers and thinkers of dichotomies such as domination versus subjection, or activity versus passivity. This is a fixist view that obliterates the dialectic of desire and, therefore, its fundamental mobility. Desire aims at the other person’s desire; roles are exchanged; age and social status can play in surprising ways; hyperactivity can become subjugation. It is time for a change. It is time to look at what mattered for the Ancients themselves: the subjective experience of sensations, bodies and situations; the felicitous, ironic, or tragic reversals of intersubjective games. More importantly: the quest for pleasure, rather than the use of pleasures. The Greeks thought the sexual experience as sensuality. And sensuality inflects what they thought about gender. In poetry, narrations and philosophy, concrete details draw our attention to the felt phenomena of lived bodies – in the plural. When we look for the logic of gender, we discover that bodies can be compared, not as totalities, but as bundles of multiple discreet qualities, ready to be combined and recombined, allotted and exchanged. Qualities can be bits and pieces of anatomy, manners and garments; but also fragments of experience, moments of sensory awareness. The logic of the concrete meets the phenomenal body. For the body is a challenge, to be taken up – as a cinematic life, frame after frame. Sensations can be shared across the boundaries of female and male, which are adjectives, not substances. A granular, corpuscular, pointilliste redistribution of traits, distinctive – or not. Sensuality is queer. Like Plato’s pharmacy, erotic materialism can deliver us, beautifully, cathartically, refreshingly from the modern strictures of binary thinking. This is what the Greeks have to tell us. Let us listen!

The geographies of apple cultivation: tracing the origins and dispersal of the wild apple Malus sieversii via the Silk Road to the Kashmir Valley

ABSTRACT The production and distribution of food is an important aspect of agricultural geography. Tracing the origin of crops is vital to ensuring future food security, especially in the context of geopolitical and climate change. Drawing on a case study of Kashmir, this article demonstrates how evidence from archaeobotany and ancient writings can be used to trace the geographies of apple domestication, cultivation and distribution. In doing so, it draws attention to the significance of trade networks; in this case those historically supported by the Silk Road.

Metaphors and allusions to ancient writers and the Bible in Ioannis Apocaukos’ epistles relevant to medical and paramedical issues

Ioannis Apocaukos (1153/60 - 1235) was a famous Metropolitan of Naupactus, today a minor town in Southwestern Greece, but then one of the strongest Seats of the Orthodox Church in the Balkans. He was a prolific writer, and apart from many theological works he wrote extensively on political, social and medical matters. In the fashion of Byzantine epistolographers, he excelled in correspondence with numerous illustrious personalities of his area and era. A frequently recurring topic was his illness, described in a flamboyant language. In his letters, he used direct or indirect metaphors and allusions to passages from prominent religious or secular authors of antiquity. In this paper, we tried to trace the obscure threads joining his references to medical and paramedical issues with poets, historians, orators, philosophers and clergymen of the past. We identified nineteen and commented extensively upon them.

The myth of Gorgo/Medusa in ancient written sources

The present article reports all ancient writers and poets who dealt with the Gorgoneian head and the Gorgon-Medusa related myth presented in a chronological order basically during the 1st millennium B.C. from Homeric epics to late antiquity of Fabius Planciades Fulgentius and Ioannis Malalas in the 5th and 6th c. A.D. Essentially it is a discussion on the ancient written sources, based on the original texts. Especially for the most ancient sources - such as Homer, Hesiod, Cyclic epics – and references were made to known scholars in the field of philology. Particularly critical discussion and comments are made, along with the investigation of the primary ancient writing sources, as well as the related iconography. The final conclusions show the degree of influence of ancient written sources on art, but also vice versa, that is, how much art influenced ancient texts.

LAS TRIACAS, AYER Y HOY

The history of theriaca reveals several attributes of humankind in their relation to medicine that enriches their present understanding. A compound of numerous simples, it reigned through twenty centuries as a panacea against diverse ailments, was a symbol of therapeutic progress, and sustained the interest and hope of learned and lay people of many cultures and civilizations. Its fame and commercial success drove the apparition of copies and falsifications that have persisted under the names of their creators, the city of origin, or some special char­acteristics. Most famous are mithridatium, theriaca magna of Andromachus, diatessaron or of the poor, and Venice theriaca. Of Greeks origin, it grew in fame mainly due to Galen and an unknown contemporary in Rome. Byzantine, Arab and Persian medical authors, and later others in Montpellier, Salerno and Padua, preserved the ancient writings and elaborated on them. The apparition of bubonic plague meant an enormous impulse to its use, augmented by the commercial strategy of Venice, and amplified by the printing of numerous pamphlets and books. The Scientific Revolution and the diffusion of its ideas marked the beginning of its decline, but it was still present in most European pharmacopeias until the end of the 19th cen­tury. We propose that fear, greed and credulity were seminal factors in its success, conditions still present today in medical marketing, quackery and falsifications, unnecessary care, medical consumerism, and unregulated alternative medicines and cosmetic industries.

Religion, Politics and Mysticism in Ancient Sport

The history of ancient sports shows us that sports practice was not a secular one but was closely linked to religious faith. Whether we are talking about ancient Greece (Athens, Sparta, etc.), whether we are talking about Latin America or the Far East, the presence of homage and respect towards the gods is seen as something sacred and no one could dispute it. We have researched the religious phenomenon in sports for more than 30 years, and the result is like religion. politics and the arts of war decided the history of the world and civilization. (Barbos, 2015). It is proven by ancient writings, but also by archaeological traces, from ancient temples and stadiums dedicated to gods and legendary heroes, such as Hercules, the most famous demigod of the ancient world, who remained in legends as one of those who achieved the most successful sports. This article summarizes some ancient sports competitions, which were strictly related to the respect for the gods, which was rewarded with sports games, such as the Olympic Games of Greece. Keywords: Hylozoism, anthropological, animism, secular ritual, sacred ritual, oracle, Delphi, ecotheology, sumo, kyudo.

A Brief Introduction into Scriptural Grounding of Contemporary Social Work

Social work, as a model of welfare practice in contemporary society, is based on the mutual aid principle of those in need or in a situation of vulnerability. Its historical foundations can be identified from the ancient writings, including the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments. This paper brings to the attention of the students from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, the Social Work specialization, but also of those concerned with a deep social-theological knowledge, the perspective of a theoretical analysis, but also that of a good practice model for contemporary social work based on the examples existing in Holy Scripture. Also, the focus is on developing, through study, professional skills that provide for the projection and elaboration of a discourse based on sacred texts (verbal and written exposure), but also the correct statement of the doctrine of the Church and the means transmitted by it for the perfecting of the person and of the world in the context of a constantly changing society. Thus, through this comprehensive analysis, the paper highlights the relevance and sustainable impact of the teachings and practices of social work in the Old and New Testaments on contemporary issues solvable through social justice, christian love, solidarity and community responsibility.

Radość polityki

The article deals with a problem that is neglected in reflection on politics, namely whether politics, doing politics, can be a source of joy. Various positions on the matter are considered, from ancient writings to modern newspapers or even tabloids. The constraints on active politicians and the concerns that their private lives may raise are shown. The second theme of the article is the enjoyment of politics by citizens who are not professional politicians. Can participating in democracy, in democratic procedures, be something joyful for them? The thesis of the article is that this is generally not the case, that negative emotions dominate in politics, including democratic politics. The article concludes with the postulate that for a democratic society to function well, it is necessary to restore the joy of participating in democracy.

Interview: A Short Story

An Interviewer interviews “many characters,” initiating a conversation concerning characters in fiction, a concept introduced by Walt Whitman in Song of Myself of containing multitudes, the concept of self-identity. “Many Characters” is the name of one of those being interviewed, a character claiming to be many characters. We encounter characters from other works of fiction, such as Alice and the hookah-smoking Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland. This leads us to encountering Lewis Carroll. We also encounter ancient writers, specifically Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles, who themselves created many characters, and a character named Hineni, a Hebrew word meaning “Here I am,” who links the name Hineni to the 17 times the word hineni appears in the Torah, and to Leonard Cohen’s use of the word in his song, “You Want it Darker.” We also encounter Psychoanalyst and Forbidding Superego. Eventually, we meet an incarnation of William Shakespeare called “Willie the Shake.” How do characters exist? Storytellers channel them.

Comparative Analysis of the Treatment of the Alcestis-Stuff by Euripides and by Wilder

This is the starting point of the following analysis: Life and death belong indissolubly together, but nobody of us knows what is waiting for us when we will have died. According to Christian religion the dead shall resurrect again and start immediately into an eternal life full of happiness in an unknown atmosphere without any sorrows and any problems to overcome. The ancient writers, that lived before Jesus Christ, had at hand an underworld as the realm of that god that is responsible for death. In very rare and exceptional cases a very deserved dead is given the allowance to enter again into his former earthen life. This procedure of bringing a dead person back to life might be a kind of deal between deities and mankind in this way that another person had to die and then to live in the underworld instead of the doomed person. This stuff is a subject-matter of legends, fairy tales and finally of classical drama. The heroes of the drama are Admetus and Alcestis – a royal couple; Admetus is doomed to death and his wife Alcestis wants to die instead of her husband. This treatise is written by an author who is as well a lawyer as a philologist. The treatise uses modern methods of literary comparison, that the author did learn at the examples of ancient texts and modern texts at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Saarland (Germany). The comparison between the Euripides-version and the Wilder-version is not an end in itself, the comparison aims to show the given literary differences based on the history of the development of the Alcestis-stuff in the light of the fact that the ancient text is the source for the modern text. Thus it becomes once more clear that the texts of old Greek authors do live on in a figurative sense until modern times. Wilder himself is a modern American author who consciously sought connection to antiquity, also because he did go through very intensive university courses in archaeology. This connection to ancient Greek literature, of course, makes modern American literature very attractive for European readers and for readers from other areas of the world.

Identification, validation and quantification of thymoquinone in conjunction with assessment of bioactive possessions and GC-MS profiling of pharmaceutically valuable crop Nigella (Nigella sativa L.) varieties.

Plants have been pivotal in traditional and modern medicine globally, with historical evidence supporting their therapeutic applications. Nigella (Nigella sativa L.) is an annual herbaceous plant of the Ranunculaceae family and is cultivated in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Western and Central Asia. The medicinal use of plants dates back thousands of years, documented in ancient writings from various civilizations. Alkaloids, phenolics, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, anthraquinones, and tannins found in plants exhibit antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, and antidiabetic activities. This study specifically examines the pharmacological potential of Nigella sativa L., emphasizing thymoquinone-a compound with diverse nutraceutical benefits. The extraction, characterization, and quantification of thymoquinone, alongside other physicochemical parameters, were carried out using ethanol through Soxhlet extraction procedures on five nigella varieties. HPLC analysis was performed to determine the maximum accumulation of thymoquinone in the released variety of the plant and the chemical composition of the seed oil isolated from Nigella sativa L., varieties utilized in the study was determined through GC-MS analysis. The research revealed that the Ajmer nigella-20 variety stands out, exhibiting elevated levels of thymoquinone (0.20 ± 0.07%), antioxidants (76.18 ± 1.78%), and substantial quantities of total phenols (31.85 ± 0.97 mg GAEg-1 seed) and flavonoids (8.150 ± 0.360 mg QE 100 g-1 seed) compared to other varieties. The GC-MS profiling showed the presence of 11 major compounds in the studied varieties, with p-cymene, longifolene, and myristic acid identified as the major chemical compounds present in the oil. The observed variations among Nigella varieties indicate the Ajmer nigella-20 variety as particularly promising for thymoquinone and bioactive compound extraction. This study underscores Nigella's potential as a source of pharmacologically active compounds, highlighting the need for further exploration in therapeutic applications.

The suffering womanhood in Luke 13:10–17 in the context of the post-COVID-19 pandemic in Africa

The suffering of womanhood and maltreatment are apparent when reading ancient writings. In Luke 13:10–17, it is possible to see how a number of women who suffered illnesses were treated in the hands of religious elites of the ancient world. However, the woman in Luke’s encounter with the Lukan Jesus during her illness redefined how religious leaders should deal with the suffering of womanhood. The woman was healed and treated with dignity by the Lukan Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. Using socio-historical interpretation, the Lukan Jesus in the Gospel of Luke demonstrated that religion should be used to alleviate the suffering of women, not to exacerbate it. The lesson derived from the Lukan Jesus’ action and words on the suffering woman in Luke 13:12 is significant for the African religious setting in an endeavour to alleviate women’s suffering in Africa in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic era.Contribution: This article adds to the ongoing discussion in biblical studies about gender equality, specifically in Africa where diseases such as COVID-19 have highlighted the need for change. It argues that African women should resist negative male dominance in society, similar to the woman in Luke, and work towards empowering women in Africa to achieve freedom and equality.

Reineccius and His History of Ancient Thrace from 1595

This article discusses a study by the historian Reineccius (1541 – 1595) on aspects of the history of Ancient Thrace and the Thracians. Until now, this work – part of a comprehensive exploration entitled “Historia Ivlia, Siue Syntagma Heroicvm” – has remained unknown to modern researchers and they assumed, that scholarly interest in Thracian history emerged only in the first half of the 18th century. The article begins with brief notes on Reineccius’s biography and works, followed by an overview of the information about the Thracians in his book. It is noted that, in the section titled “Regnum Thracium” the author sequentially examines ancient evidence concerning the geographical scope of Thrace, the strongest Thracian tribes, the Thracians outside Thrace; afterwards he structures the available at his time information of ancient writers about Thracian kings, specifying their family relationships. Special attention is given to the Odryssian kings, constituting about a third of the content. Other kingdoms, which today are considered part of the Thracian ethno-cultural community, are examined in separate sections: Bosphorus, Paeonia and Pannonia, Getica, Dacia and Moesia. The text is complemented by stems indicating established connections between dynasties and kings. Reineccius’s work is remarkable for its rigorous research elements and strict adherence to ancient texts, correctly cited. Undoubtedly, due to these qualities, this study on Ancient Thrace has influenced research on the topic for the next two centuries. Based on the presented facts, it is concluded that Reineccius’s work can be considered the first attempt to systematize ancient information about Thrace and the Thracians.

Efficacy of Mind Sound Resonance Technique [MSRT] on Anxiety among Young Male Adults - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background and Objectives: Anxiety disorder is a most common psychiatric disorder. Mind Sound Resonance Technique [MSRT] was developed using the concepts found in ancient writings that discuss the influence of Nadanusandhana [HathaYoga Pradipika] and Om [Mandukya Upanishad] in gaining internal control over mental changes. Mind Sound Resonance Technique was found to be beneficial in the management of anxiety. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate how mind sound resonance therapy affects anxiety disorder. Materials and Methods: 60 male participants between the ages of 18 to 30 were enrolled, and they were split into study and control groups at random. STAI Y1 & STAI Y2, DASS were assessed before and after 8 weeks of intervention. All the details of the study were explained and informed consent was obtained from the subjects. Result: Result suggested that experimental group demonstrated state anxiety [STAI-Y1] [p≤0.05], trait anxiety [STAI-Y2] [p≤0.05], depression [p≤0.05], anxiety [p≤0.05], and stress [p≤0.05] scores all significantly decreased. Interestingly in the control group a notable rise in trait anxiety was seen [STAI-Y2] [p ≤ 0.05] and a similar but less extent of reduction in scores on the DASS for depression [p≤0.05], anxiety [p≤0.05], and stress [p≤0.05]. Conclusion/Discussion: The current investigation found that using the Mind sound resonance approach for 8 weeks on Anxiety subjects has shown to be significantly reduce in State Anxiety scores [STAI-Y1], Trait anxiety [STAI-Y2], DASS- Depression Anxiety Stress scores.

YHWH as a Woman in Labour: The Controlled Pregnant Female Body in Labour

Abstract In the Hebrew Bible, there are 14 similes of a woman in labour. Thirteen of these similes describe a crisis in which the uncontrollable pregnant female body is used to depict death, crisis, destruction, and even annihilation. However, when YHWH is like a woman in labour (Isa. 42:14), the pregnant body in labour is described as controlled, restrained, and, one could say, desirous. Rather than interpret this image in light of the simile of YHWH as a warrior in the preceding verse (Isa. 42:13), I argue that the image is purposefully in opposition. Rather than a display of warrior-like strength, YHWH as a woman in labour is calm and controlled. To support my argument, I look at the simile through the lens of the experience of the female body. Using examples of women in labour in ancient texts and current women’s narratives, I show how ancient writers draw upon the pregnant female bodily experience of being in labour to communicate YHWH’s complete control over humanity’s relationship with him.

New Frontiers in the Digital Restoration of Hidden Texts in Manuscripts: A Review of the Technical Approaches

The digital restoration of historical manuscripts centers on deciphering hidden writings, made imperceptible to the naked eye due to factors such as erasure, fading, carbonization, and aging effects. Recent advancements in modern technologies have significantly improved our ability to unveil and interpret such written cultural heritage that, for centuries, had remained inaccessible to contemporary understanding. This paper aims to present a critical overview of state-of-the-art technologies, engaging in discussions about perspectives and limitations, and anticipating future applications. Serving as a practical guide, this work seeks to assist in the selection of techniques for digitally restoring ancient writings. Additionally, potential and challenges associated with integrating these techniques with advanced machine-learning approaches are also outlined.

CRITICAL EVALUATION AND APPLIED ASPECT OF SWABHAVOPARAMVADA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE THEORY OF INNATE DESTRUCTION.

Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest medical systems and remains one of India’s traditional healthcare systems, as it is based on ancient writings that rely on a natural and holistic approach to physical and mental health. As per Ayurvedic philosophy, we know that the leading cause of any disease is Imbalance in the body, and so the treatment pattern also includes lifestyle management with natural therapies to attain and regain the balance between the body, mind, soul, and Prakriti, i.e., environment. The theory of natural destruction or self-healing process is termed ‘Swabhavoparamvada,’ where the term ‘Swabhav’ means the nature of a substance and ‘Uparama’ implies destruction.¹ This theory states that the physiological events in our body are unavoidable. Kala, i.e., time moves continuously, passes away, and is irreversible. The wear-and-tear theory states that bodies wear out over time. This theory can easily make sense when considering inanimate objects, from cars to clothes, that wear out and become less functional with time. Jara (Old) and Mrityu (Death) are Swabhavik vyadhi (natural), and these cannot be stopped. Tear and wear are the law of nature. This means the dhatu of the body is destroyed naturally, and this cannot be controlled by any process indicating Swabhavoparamvada. Understanding the concept of Swabhavoparamvada is very important for a physician to advise a good diet and lifestyle in continuity along with necessary interventions.

Initial investigations of rubricated inscriptions from Roman Sicily: Comparing the material evidence with ancient writers’ ideals

Although the polychromy of ancient statuary has become a regular topic in archaeological discussions, in part thanks to archaeometrical analyses, little attention has been given to such aspects in the field of epigraphy. The aim of this paper is to identify analytically the red pigments employed in inscriptions from southeastern Sicily in the Roman period (1st-6th c. CE), and to investigate the relationship between actual material practice and ancient terminology. Minimally invasive identification of cinnabar (mercuric sulphide) on some funerary and honorific inscriptions aligns with Pliny’s statement on the use of “minium”. However, other less expensive lead-containing pigments were detected, suggesting that different materials were used in different contexts and according to various practices. It appears from this preliminary study that choices of ancient red pigments can provide additional information for understanding epigraphic cultures.

Kolektivna agentivnost i toposi u funkciji gradnje rimskog nacionalnog i nadnacionalnog identiteta u historiografskom narativu V. Paterkula / Collective agency and topoi in the function of creating Roman national and supranational identity in the historiographical narrative of Velleius Paterculus

Language, as the linguistic manifestation of extralinguistic experiences, often functions as a means for the creation and expression of societal inequality. In addition to the fact that the participants of social reality are almost never socially equal, which means that someone has power over others, the linguistic reflection of those relationships always derives from the author, who has the power to control the context; his practical instrumentation comes from his own lexical and grammatical choices, as well as their conscious and targeted combination. In this paper, the focus is on noticing and distinguishing, and analyzing and interpreting the choices of V. Paterculus as an author within the framework of collective agency and the topoi with which the Roman national identity is first built, and then positioned as superior to the identities of the peoples with whom the Romans came into contact. While for authors from the 1st century A.D. the language strategies touched on in this paper were not available, since they were neither described nor defined before the 20th century, ancient writers used them completely unconsciously in their spontaneous writing; therefore, these texts, as well as modern ones, are subject to linguistic analysis, interpretation and criticism precisely according to the guidelines of modern language criteria. In this paper one of the possible methods of analysis of the construction of the national and supranational identity of a nation in the historiographical discourse will be offered; the analysis will be based on discursive strategies and macro-strategies offered by the discursive-historical approach and based on empirical data gathered in tabular reviews. An indispensable part of the analysis will be the analyst’s criticism, which derives from democratic norms, human rights and the criteria of rational argumentation from today’s temporal, cultural and political context, because the purpose of critical discourse studies is to expose and point out how domination, i.e., the abuse of social power and inequality, are realized and reproduced in text and speech, but also on how to oppose them in a social and political context (van Dijk 2001, 352).