#mount athos
Ο ΠΑΠΑ-ΧΑΡΆΛΑΜΠΟΣ ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙΑΤΗΣ (Elder Haralambos of Dionysiou) by Μιχαηλ Ε.Κουκα carved into humanely, ethically sourced ivory.
Born in Russia in 1910 to Pontic Greek immigrants he was known as capable, sociable, deeply ascetic, and vigilant.
Despite being hesitant at first, Elder Haralambos became Abbot of Ιερά Μονή Διονυσίου (Holy Monastery of Dionysiou) before reposing in 2000. His guidance was marked by frequent partaking of Holy Communion, noetic prayer, and the life of hesychasm.
(My thanks to Μιχαηλ Ε.Κουκα and Lynchos for the gorgeous icon and in-depth biography)
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An engraving from Fischer von Erlach and Johann Bernhard’s Entwurff einer historischen Architectur (1725) illustrating the ancient Greek architect Dinocrates’s proposal for a city on Mount Athos, complete with a massive depiction of Alexander the Great carved into the side of the mountain that would appear to hold the city in his hand. According to Wikipedia, the planned city was rejected as unlivable.
Full text available here.
This reminded me of Vincenzo del Vecchio’s anthropomorphic cities in the book Terraneo. Below, the artworks that inspired their impossible -yet fascinating- architectures.
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