This week on #InterestingThings: Psychedelic cocktails in Ancient #Egypt, #jazz euphoria, ancient #Italian stairs, how to match #colours in your outfits, why #Vikings never left #Scotland, mesmerising #seashell art and much more #ContentCatnip
Black Classical Music by Yussef Dayes
Destined to become a classic of the soulful jazz genre is this pure beast of an album. I love how this first track also called ‘Black Classical Music’ starts off gentle and soft then really booms and starts in such a dramatic way. By supremely talented young Jazz musician Yussef Dayes. One of my fav albums in a long time.
Weather and rain worn ancient Italian stairs
These rain-hewn stairs have been gradually degraded by centuries of weather. They date from the 11th Century CE and lead to Sperlinga Castle in Sicily, Italy. Found via Archeohistories on Mastodon.
Ancient Egyptian worshippers of the Goddess Bes drank psychedelic cocktails that looked like blood
Researchers examineed a vase with Bes on it. Via Science Daily
‘The vase had a cocktail of psychedelic drugs, bodily fluids and alcohol — a combination that Tanasi believes was used in a magical ritual reenacting an Egyptian myth, likely for fertility. The concoction was flavored with honey, sesame seeds, pine nuts, licorice and grapes, which were commonly used to make the beverage look like blood.’
“This research teaches us about magic rituals in the Greco-Roman period in Egypt,” Van Oppen said. “Egyptologists believe that people visited the so-called Bes Chambers at Saqqara when they wished to confirm a successful pregnancy because pregnancies in the ancient world were fraught with dangers. So, this combination of ingredients may have been used in a dream-vision inducing magic ritual within the context of this dangerous period of childbirth.”
“Religion is one of the most fascinating and puzzling aspects of ancient civilizations,” Tanasi said. “With this study, we’ve found scientific proof that the Egyptian myths have some kind of truth and it helps us shed light on the poorly understood rituals that were likely carried out in the Bes Chambers in Saqqara, near the Great Pyramids at Giza
How to colour match an outfit
How DNA reveals that Vikings never left Scotland
Against Normalcy: Why being ‘normal’ can be dangerous
I was considered normal for a large part of my life. I fitted in. I mimicked the behaviors of the people in my group. I had plenty of friends to mimic, and invitations to go out never stopped. All seemed good.
But gradually, due to the books I’ve read and the nasty phenomenon we humans possess called thinking, I drifted to a hypothetical lonely island others found terrifying to visit.
Subconsciously, we all try to appear as normal mammals when among others. We strive to be polite, cheerful, respectful, and prone to agree to the status quo to avoid causing havoc.
And while these traits can be labeled as nice to have. There are plenty of bad characteristics attached to the concept of being considered a normal person these days.
Via the thought-provoking writer Ivaylo Durmonski
Smoky creamy pasta with burnt aubergine and tahini
In case you’re wondering…this is the true size of Australia
No wonder it takes forever in a car to get from Melbourne to Brisbane, or Sydney to Perth! Via Reddit
J Mascis – Old Friends
I came for the monsters morphing in a trippy way and stayed for the 90’s Eddy Vedder acoustic sound.
A mysterious mother goddess idol found in Türkiye
Nude female figure (5600-5300 BC), possibly an idol (mother goddess), molded in clay, pigmented, measuring 21.8cm in height, found in Hacılar Höyük, a primitive settlement located in Burdur, southwestern Türkiye. This miniature beauty now resides in the Neues Museum – Berlin, Germany. Found via Archeohistories on Mastodon.
Better body image (AKA body appreciation) means better sex and healthier people across populations
Body appreciation is also associated with more positive mental health. A 2022 review of 240 papers found that higher levels of body appreciation were associated with greater self-compassion and life satisfaction, as well as fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Greater body appreciation is also associated with healthier lifestyle choices. Another 2022 review of nine studies with mostly western participants found that body appreciation was associated with less health-compromising behaviour, including risky sexual activity and alcohol abuse.
Other research has found that greater body appreciation provides a strong foundation for developing more liberal, sex-positive attitudes, as well as more positive sexual experiences including sexual satisfaction. Additionally, greater body appreciation is associated with more positive attitudes toward breastfeeding and stronger motivation to engage in physical activity.
Kelly O’Dell’s mesmerising and intricate glass shell sculptures
Kelly O’Dell is a globally celebrated glass artist who has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the globe. Her artistic journey is deeply rooted in her fascination with the natural world, with a keen focus on extinction, conservation and the human impact on the environment. Through her work, she seeks to explore and highlight the delicate balance of life on Earth.
In this Sand & Sea collection she shows the vivid beauty and colours you can find in clams, mussels, barnacles, ammonites and lobsters. Every sculpture is skillfully brought to life through a captivating blend of opaque and translucent glass elements.
The attention to detail on these is exquisite. Via Inspiration Grid on Mastodon.
Masana Temples by Kikagaku Moyo
A compelling band from Tokyo that I am so excited to discover, with a swirling and euphoric psychedelic rock sound and breathy vocals. So much colour in the music you’ll have synaesthesia! Their album covers are also quite epic too!
A delightful and cosy squirrel hotel
If you ever wondered where squirrels go on holidays…this is the place! Via Street Art Utopia on Mastodon.
The most popular swear words by US state
Did you enjoy this collection? let me know what you think of it below. Thank you for reading my dear friends!
Content Catnip 
Oh, I loved the maps, very interesting how many countries can fit into one. And the F one was funny as hell! Oh, and the squirrel hotel was so cute ❤️
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Thank you so much dear friend I am so happy you enjoyed these and it gives me a lot of joy that you did! Yes! If and when I live in the northern hemisphere I hope to one day have a squirrel hotel like this one! FYI there are no squirrels in Australia as they are not a native species here, take care
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I hope you’ll get a squirrel hotel as well someday ❤️
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