The Colossus at Rhodes

The Colossus at Rhodes Located on the island of Rhodes (off the coast of modern Turkey), the Colossus at Rhodes was a giant statue, about 110 feet tall, of the Greek sun-god Helios. Although finished in 282 BCE, this Wonder of the Ancient World only stood for 56 years, when it was toppled by an earthquake. Huge chunks of the former statue stayed on the beaches of Rhodes for 900 years, drawing people around the world to marvel at how man could create something so enormous. Why Was the Colossus of Rhodes Built? The city of Rhodes, located on the island of Rhodes, had been under siege for a year. Caught up in the heated and bloody battle between the three successors of Alexander the Great (Ptolemy, Seleucus, and Antigonus), Rhodes was attacked by Antigonus’ son, Demetrius, for supporting Ptolemy. Demetrius tried everything to get inside the high-walled city of Rhodes. He brought 40,000 troops (more than the entire population of Rhodes), catapults, and pirates. He also brought a special corps of engineers that could make siege weapons specially geared to break into this particular city. The most spectacular thing these engineers built was a 150-foot tower, mounted on iron wheels, that hosted a powerful catapult. To protect its gunners, leather shutters were installed. To protect it from fireballs hurled from the city, each of its nine stories had its own water tank. It took 3,400 of Demetrius’ soldiers to push this mighty weapon into place. The citizens of Rhodes, however, flooded the area around their city, causing the mighty tower to wallow in mud. The people of Rhodes had fought back valiantly. When reinforcements came from Ptolemy in Egypt, Demetrius left the area in a hurry. In such a hurry, that Demetrius left nearly all of this weapons behind. To celebrate their victory, the people of Rhodes decided to build a giant statue in honor of their patron god, Helios. How Did They Build Such a Colossal Statue? Funding is usually a problem for such a large project as the people of Rhodes had in mind; however, that was easily solved by using the weapons that Demetrius had left behind. The people of Rhodes melted down many of the leftover weapons to get bronze, sold other siege weapons for money, and then used the super siege weapon as the scaffolding for the project. Rhodian sculptor Chares of Lindos, the pupil of Alexander the Great’s sculptor Lysippus, was chosen to create this huge statue. Unfortunately, Chares of Lindos died before the sculpture could be completed. Some say he committed suicide, but that is probably a fable. Exactly how Chares of Lindos constructed such a gigantic statue is still up for debate. Some have said that he built a huge, earthen ramp that got bigger as the statue got taller. Modern architects, however, have dismissed this idea as unpractical. We do know that it took 12 years to build the Colossus of Rhodes, likely from 294 to 282 BCE, and cost 300 talents (at least $5 million in modern money). We also know that the statue had an exterior that consisted of an iron framework covered with bronze plates. Inside were two or three columns of stone that were the main supports for the structure. Iron rods connected the stone columns with the exterior iron framework. What Did the Colossus of Rhodes Look Like? The statue was to stand about 110 feet high, on top of a 50-foot stone pedestal (the modern Statue of Liberty is 111 feet high from heel to head). Exactly where the Colossus of Rhodes was built is still not certain, although many believe it was near the Mandraki Harbor. No one knows exactly what the statue looked like. We know that it was a man and that one of his arms was held aloft. He was likely naked, perhaps holding or wearing a cloth, and wearing a crown of rays (as Helios is often portrayed). Some have guessed that Helios’ arm was holding a torch. For four centuries, people have believed that the Colossus of Rhodes was posed with his legs spread apart, one on each side of the harbor. This image stems from a 16th century engraving by Maerten van Heemskerck, which depicts the Colossus in this pose, with ships passing under him. For many reasons, this is very likely not how the Colossus was posed. For one, legs open wide is not a very dignified stance for a god. And another is that to create that pose, the very important harbor would have had to have been closed for years. Thus, it is much more likely that the Colossus was posed with legs together. The Collapse For 56 years, the Colossus of Rhodes was a wonder to see. But then, in 226 BCE, an earthquake struck Rhodes and toppled the statue. It is said that the Egyptian King Ptolemy III offered to pay for the Colossus to be rebuilt. However, the people of Rhodes, after consulting an oracle, decided to not rebuild. They believed that somehow the statue had offended the real Helios. For 900 years, huge pieces of the broken statue lay along the beaches of Rhodes. Interestingly, even these broken pieces were huge and worth seeing. People traveled far and wide to see the ruins of the Colossus. As one ancient writer, Pliny, described after seeing it in the 1st century CE, Even as it lies, it excites our wonder and admiration. Few people can clasp the thumb in their arms, and its fingers are larger than most statues. Where the limbs are broken asunder, vast caverns are seen yawning in the interior. Within it, too, are to be seen large masses of rock, by the weight of which the artist steadied it while erecting it.* In 654 CE, Rhodes was conquered, this time by Arabs. As spoils of war, the Arabs cut apart the remains of the Colossus and shipped the bronze to Syria to sell. It is said that it took 900 camels to carry all that bronze. * Robert Silverberg, The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (New York: Macmillan Company, 1970) 99.

Definition and Examples of Determiners in English

Definition and Examples of Determiners in English In English  grammar, a determiner is a word or a group of words that specifies, identifies, or quantifies the noun  or noun phrase  that follows it. It is also known as a  prenominal modifier. Basically, determiners come at the start of a noun phrase and tell more about what comes after it (or them, in the case of a phrase that has more than one determiner before the noun). Determiners include articles  (a, an, the),  cardinal numbers (one, two, three...) and ordinal numbers (first, second, third...), demonstratives  (this, that, these, those),  partitives  (some of, piece of, and others),  quantifiers  (most, all, and others), difference words (other, another), and possessive determiners  (my, your, his, her, its, our,  their). Authors Martha Kolln and Robert Funk describe them this way: Determiners signal nouns in a variety of ways: They may define the relationship of the noun to the speaker or listener (or reader); they may identify the noun as  specific  or  general; they may  quantify  it specifically or refer to quantity in general. (Understanding English Grammar,  5th ed. Allyn and Bacon, 1998) A Slippery Grammatical Label Determiners are functional elements of structure and not formal  word classes, because the group of words contains some items that are nouns, some that are pronouns, and some that are adjectives. Authors Sylvia Chalker and Edmund Weiner explain: Determiners  are sometimes called  limiting adjectives  in  traditional grammar. However, they not only differ from the class of  adjectives  by  meaning,  but also must normally precede ordinary adjectives in  noun phrase  structure. Further, among determiners  themselves  there are co-occurrence restrictions and fairly strict rules of  word order. (Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar. Oxford University Press, 1994) Rules on Multiple Determiners English has rules on word order, such as when there are multiple adjectives in a row modifying the same noun (quantity before age, before color, for example). The same goes for when you use multiple determiners in a row.   When there is more than one determiner, follow these useful rules:a) Place all and both in front of other determiners.E.g. We ate all the food. Both my sons are at college.b) Place what and such in front of a and an in exclamations.E.g. What an awful day! Ive never seen such a crowd!c) Place many, much, more, most, few, little after other determiners.E.g. His many successes made him famous. They have no more food. What little money I have is yours.​   (Geoffrey N. Leech, Benita Cruickshank, and Roz IvaniÄ , An A-Z of English Grammar Usage, 2nd ed. Longman, 2001) Count and Noncount Nouns Some determiners work with count nouns, and some dont. For example,  many  attaches  to count nouns, such as The child had  many  marbles. In contrast, you would not use  much  to attach to count nouns such as  marbles  but noncount nouns such as  work,  for example in, The college student had  much  work to finish before finals week. Other determiners work with either one, such as all: The child had  all  the marbles and The college student had  all the  work to finish before finals week.

Joint Venture with X-Tech (Sweden) and Y-Tech (Albania) Assignment

Joint Venture with X-Tech (Sweden) and Y-Tech (Albania) - Assignment Example This memorandum outlines various principles of cross-cultural management, while also carrying out some cultural profiling of the two countries we are meeting, in comparison to our country. The main goal is to educate and guide Z-Tech managers, who will soon become expatriate managers, and who will need to avoid obstacles such as expatriate failure through culture shock, by improving their respective cultural intelligence (CQ). After posting these cross-cultural management paradigms to achieve optimal success for Z-Tech, the current memorandum concludes with specific recommendations. Z-Tech faces a future prospect of a successful joint venture with Albanian and Swedish companies. However, the conflict must be avoided in order to optimize results and create a win-win situation. A major organizational challenge that needs to be overcome, is conflict. Conflict occurs when members of a group or team cannot reach an agreement through common negotiation. There are many causes of conflict in the organizational environment. Conflict is negative, and effective communication embraces an aspect of positive sharing of information that reflects upon both the sender and the receiver. Only by truly communicating our plans, needs, and desires can we garner effective results. These results are often the result of a decision-making process, which is closely linked to patterns of effective communication and structural organizational theory. The importance of positive and practical decision-making cannot be over-stressed in the organizational environment. In the case of intercultural concepts, the vision or guiding principle or goal of Z-Tech should be looked at in an inclusive way. That is, the concept is inclusive to the culture in this construction, and bears communication across cultural barriers and boundaries to a greater understanding of the positive side of communication.

Management of People in Healthcare Organizations Essay

Management of People in Healthcare Organizations - Essay Example Managers in healthcare organizations usually display leadership coordination and supervision of employees. This is because the nature of job and its complexity is such that employees cannot achieve tasks on an individual basis. These managers must not only take the critical decisions of ensuring that patients receive timely and efficient services but also address performance targets set for the employees. With globalization and the information age, the level of technological innovation has increased in the healthcare sector along with increased clinical specialization. On the contrary, there is a focus towards reducing costs worldwide, which requires doing away with traditional hierarchical structures and working in teams in both managerial and clinical setups. Integrated solutions can then be reached by these cross-disciplinary teams. This is in contrast to the traditional paradigm whereby there was a conflict between the general managers and health care service clinicians. It is im portant to understand that the healthcare service delivery process comprises of inputs in the form of medicines, equipment/technology and other health systems and the outcome of patient’s well-being. The role of healthcare service employees is quintessential in the intertwining â€Å"process† since health care is a people-oriented job and cannot be done with automated techniques. The personalized nature of job, therefore, makes the contribution and management of these professionals critical to the achievement of organizational outcomes. For healthcare employees, employees may be considered as internal customers whose satisfaction is equally necessary to guarantee organizational success. One of the most important techniques to ensure employee commitment and satisfaction is to indulge in cross-training. Cross-training is practiced in healthcare organisations as job rotation is highly demanded by healthcare jobs. For instance, a file clerk, a data entry expert and a secre tary may work in each other’s roles in case either of them is ill or on a vacation or during times of heavy workload or emergencies (Fallon & McConnell, 2007). Cross-training is, therefore, extremely necessary considering the demand for flexibility in today’s globalised world. On the other hand, most healthcare managers may simply hand over folders of information to be reviewed by the new employee which is a poor way of learning and results in low levels of information absorption. This is mostly done on the grounds that managers cannot devote sufficient time for training of new staff. This problem can be overcome by cross-functional training as people other than the manager (who are skilled at particular tasks) can be used to train the newcomer. Furthermore, the compensation plans of health care employees may also require management. Since the compensation of people in healthcare organisations constitutes the major part of expenses, organisations find it lucrative to r educe the pay and/or size of its staff in order to provide affordable healthcare to patients. In the modern age, however, techniques for managing employee pay and compensation has changed with third-party reimbursements tracking the nursing hours per visit, technological expenses and services utilized by clinicians. Furthermore, health care organisations mostly insist on offering â€Å"bonuses† as a primary incentive for enhancing performance of healthcare service professionals (Hernandez & O'Connor, 2009). Also, benefits in the

Early childhood education Essay Example for Free

Early childhood education Essay Friedrich Wilhelm August Froebel (1782-1852) was a German educator born in Oberweisbach. He is known as the founder of â€Å"Kindergarten† and was one of the most influential educational reformers of the 19th century. Froebel had a difficult childhood. His mother died when he was still young, and his father, a pastor, and stepmother neglected to care for him. Finally, an uncle took over his care and ensured that he receive a high school education. It was there that young Froebel grew up with a love for nature and strong Christian faith, which led him to seek happiness and unity in all things. Froebel’s faith also led him to think as an educationalist. Froebel studied at the University of Jena for a short time. In 1805, while studying architecture in Frankfurt, he was persuaded to become a teacher by the model school at Frankfurt. He then studied with Pestalozzi at Yverdon, before returning to the University of Gottigen and Berlin in Germany. Froebel believed that there was something missing in Pestalozzi’s theory- the ‘spiritual mechanism’. According to Froebel, this was the basis of early childhood education. â€Å"Pestalozzi takes man existing only in appearance on earth,† he said, â€Å"but I take man in his eternal being, in his eternal existence. † (Shapiro, 1983, p. 20. ) Froebel took a break from studying to join the army for a year from 1813-1814. Afterwards, he received a position at the mineralogical museum in the University of Berlin. Two years later, he founded a school at Greisheim (which later mover to Keilau) which he called the Universal German Educational Institute. It was there that he taught his methods to other teachers. Froebel opened the first Kindergarten in the year of 1837 in Bad Blankenburg. Later, he also founded a Kindergarten training school at Liebenstein. Froebel felt that children, like plants in a garden, need to be cared for and shielded from outside influences. Froeble believed that children need to imitate a teacher’s values and morals. Therefore, teachers need to be respected, receptive, and easily approachable. Among Froebel’s subordinates, however, there were constant disputes, which he was unable to control. He encountered more problems when the Prussian government did not approve of his ideas. In 1851, an edict was issued, which forbade the establishment of Kindergartens. This decree was repealed almost 10 years later- in 1860. Froebel was not alive at that time and had no idea of the impact he left on the school system worldwide, and especially in the United States. The philosophers of his times, Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762-1814) and Friedrich Wilhelm Schelling (1775-1854), also influenced Froebel’s educational ideas. He placed an emphasis on self-activity, physical training, and pleasant surroundings in the development of children. His most important work was the book he wrote in 1826 called Menschenerziehung (tr. The Education of Man, 1877). References: Lilley, Irene M. , (1967). Friedrich Froebel: A Selection from His Writings. Kilpatrick, William H. , (1916). Froebels Kindergarten Principles Critically Examined. Retrieved from http://www. uv. es/EBRIT/micro/micro_221_12. html Froebel, Friedrich. (1896). The Education of Man, trans. W. H. Hailman. New York: Appleton. Retrieved from http://www. answers. com/topic/friedrich-wilhelm-august-fr-bel.

The Non- Realistic American Dream in The Great Gatsby Essay example --

In the novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby, the characters truly believe that they can have everything they ever dream for and have a life that others will envy. Myrtle and Gatsby both seem to have the same agenda for their lives; desperately seeking wealth, social status, beatitude, and love. Myrtle Wilson and Jay Gatsby are both driven to reach their goals but do not realize that the American Dream is just an illusion. The dream of finding fortune, fame and true love is something that almost all Americans strive for. Fitzgerald classic, The Great Gatsby, is no exception. Myrtle Wilson is in her â€Å"mid thirties and faintly stout but she carries her surplus flesh sensuously as some women can" (25). She is representation of those who stop at nothing and does whatever it takes to get what they want. From the beginning, those who met her saw the pretense and cunning woman she was. She often held a front as pretending to be wealthy; rejecting compliments toward her dress saying â€Å"it’s just a crazy old thing,† (31) when in fact she had nothing to her name. She is tired of living with the poor and is now prepared to do what needs to be done in order to live the lavish life she desires without caring who she has to step on in order to get there. On the other hand, Jay Gatsby is the representation of every man trying to find the American Dream. He is looking for a life better than the o ne he grew up with, filled with fortune and wealth. When Gatsby meets Daisy, he finds what he is looking for. For Gatsby, Daisy is his American Dream. From then on he does everything he can to be with her. Before coming up with his fortune, Gatsby felt that â€Å"he wasn’t fit to lick (Daisy’s) shoe† (34) under the social status. Believing that b... ...to pay â€Å"a high price for living too long with a single dream† (161). Many people do not believe that the American Dream exists. They believe that the American Dream is a saga we have created to have something to look forward to in our life but the reality is that the American Dream does exist. It is consists of the many things we wish we could have and there is nothing wrong with wanting the best in life but when those desires begin to hurt those around us they can come back to get us. Myrtle and Gatsby only thought of themselves when they pictured what the perfect American Dream was. They did not brother to think about what others felt or wanted. They were consumed with greed and did not realize that the American Dream they wanted and brought them to their own down fall was all just an illusion. They began to dream of a non realistic American Dream.

My First Day Essay Essay

My First Day†¦ As of today, August 30th, I, Blah blah blah, took the initiative to explore the entire campus. Today, the temperature could have possibly been right at about 93 degrees, and I decided to walk around this gigantic campus to waste time before my next class. During orientation week, I missed the campus tours because I was too busy sleeping my day away. So, what other way to compensate for lost time than to take my very own campus tour? Initially, I intended to look for the art buildings, but the best thing I discovered after my journey today happened to be the fact that the art buildings were being reconstructed. Just my luck. However, I did find the Knight Physics building which happens to be absolutely gorgeous. I also happened to stumble across the school’s arbortorium. I felt like I was walking through a jungle with my combat boots on and the leaves hovering above my head. I walked around in a circle and found my way to the school of law. The school of law is literally like its own kingdom within the campus. The students had their own law shirts, and the windows of the classroom even had curtains to block the sun out. I know curtains are a pretty simplistic observation, but I could not help but to find that fascinating! I have failed to sit in any classroom that had panels to block the sun. Only in the law school at the University of †¦. As I walked away from the law school, I made my way towards the UC area and back around towards the Rat. Passing the vivacious students lounging with their friends, I hiked around the lake under the scorching sun wishing that I had a bottle of water, a hat, and maybe even some sun glasses. The heat was pretty unbearable. Passing between the Hecht and Stanford towers, I ventured towards the school of architecture. That is one white building. I expected it to be more lavish in its exterior design seeing that it is the school of architecture. I walked past the school of architecture and head back towards Mahoney-Pearson. I know that area pretty well. †¦ is my new home for now. As I left the Mahoney-Pearson area, I circled around towards the UC area again and crossed the winding paths towards the Whitten Learning Center. There was approximately 10 minutes left to spare before class started, and the brightest idea that I came up with all day was†¦ to finally sit down!