⪮ Good Morning

Dec 02024
⪮ Good Morning :: ⪮ s03e12: Time Eddies
In the Basilica Cistern, in Istanbul, Türkiye, at the very back there are two carved Medusa heads used as column bases to support the ceiling. These were placed over 01500 years ago.

When we think of the past, we often miscalculate how old (or new) certain concepts really are. In this episode, we're diving into a few that piqued our interest.

🔺👸🏽📱 Cleopatra is closer to the iPhone than to the Pyramids

Cleopatra was born in 61 BCE and reigned over Egypt from 51 BCE to 30 BCE. That's ~2085 years ago. The Great Pyramid of Giza was built around 02600 BCE over the course of 26 years. By the time Cleopatra was born, the pyramid was already ~2513 years old. That makes Cleopatra more than 400 years closer to the iPhone than to the Great Pyramid!

Wikipedia - Cleopatra
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra

⚒️⛰️ 📐 Tunnelling Through a Mountain

The Tunnel of Eupalinos, at 1,036 m (3,399 ft) long, runs through Mount Kastro in Samos, Greece. Constructed in the 6th century BCE to serve as an aqueduct, it was only the second recorded tunnel in the ancient world to be dug from both ends at once.

This engineering marvel was completed using only basic trigonometry—an incredible feat for its time.

YouTube - Tunnelling through a Mountain - Numberphile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwrDX5qkwvA

Wikipedia - Tunnel of Eupalinos
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnel_of_Eupalinos

🏝️💰🪨 Rai Stones

Rai stones are giant carved stones (up to 2.8m) found on the Yap islands in Micronesia. They function like currency, representing tokens of value that can be exchanged. The biggest difference from our modern coins is their size! These multi-ton stones are never moved. Ownership is minted into the oral history, akin to a ledger.

In one instance, a giant coin being transported back to Yap fell off a boat and sank to the bottom of the ocean floor. Everyone agreed the accident happened, but the value is still traded and exchanged like all the others visible stones.

Sometimes what seems modern is pretty old!

Wikipedia - Rai Stones
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rai_stones

YouTube - Ancient Pacific Currency Yapese Rai Stones: The Fascinating History
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byy6RMVNkvo&t=2s

BBC - The tiny island with human-sized money
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20180502-the-tiny-island-with-human-sized-money

🏆🕷️👘 Golden Spider Silk Cape

Over three years, textile expert Simon Peers and fashion designer Nicholas Godley created an embroidered cape made entirely out of golden spider silk, inspired by 19th century records.

A team of 60-80 people captured and milked golden orb spiders each day and then released them back into the wild after collecting the silk. They estimate 1.2 million spiders were involved in producing the 11x4 ft garment.

My Modern Met - Collecting Golden Spider Silk for 3 Years to Create Cape
https://mymodernmet.com/simon-peers-nicholas-godley-golden-spider-silk-cape/

YouTube - Simon Peers and Nicholas Godley discuss Golden Spider Silk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cx2YhqIP_M