Images to know #2...

ART
1. Christ Pantocrator; Saint Catherine's Monastery This is the oldest known iconic Christ Pantocrator meaning "Almighty." The Christ Pantocrator was one of the first images of Christ and remains a central icon of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

2. School of Athens; Raphael

This is a fresco in the Vatican Museum. It depicts nearly every famous Greek philosopher.

3. Wooden Statue of Bodhisattva; Song Dynasty

This is one of many Song Dynasty wooden statues of Bodhisattva, meaning "enlightened existence."

4. The Last Supper; Leonardo da Vinci

The Last Supper is a mural painting in Milan for da Vinci's patron Sforza, who governed the city. It is a depiction of the last supper Jesus Christ had with his apostles.

5. Cave painting in Lascaux, France

Lascaux is a complex of caves in France. The cave paintings are 17,ooo years old and examples of paleolithic art. This particular shot is of aurochs, an ancestor of cattle. This is a UNESCO Heritage Site.

6. Dogu; Jomon Period Japan

Dogu are small humanoid and animal figurines during the late Jomon Period of prehistoric Japan. These date from 14,000 BC to 400 BC. They are considered to be representations of Mother Goddess and suggest an association with fertility and shamanistic rites.

7. Arnolfini Portrait; Jan van Eyck

The painting is of a wedding and is symbolic of gender roles. The woman is on the right, inside the room and near the bed, showing her role as caregiver and homemaker. The man is near the window, thus showing his role in the outside world.

8. Sistine Chapel; Michelangelo

Sistine Chapel is a series of frescoed panels painted depicting different stories in the bible. They were painted in the residence of the Pope in the Vatican City. The panel shown above is the Creation of Adam and the most recognizable panel.

9. David; Michelangelo

The statue of David is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture. The marble statue is of biblical hero David. The statue came to symbolize the defense of civil liberties of the Florentine Republic from outside forces and the hegemony of the Medici family.

10. La Primavera; Sandro Boticelli

La Primavera means "Spring" and is a wonderful example of Renaissance art. It was commissioned by the Medici family.

11. Terracotta Army; China

The Terracotta Army dates back to 210 BC and was found near the mausoleum of the first emperor of China. Current estimates of the three pits discovered are 8,000 soldiers varying in size by importance, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

ARCHITECTURE

12. Westminster Abbey; London, England

Westminster is a gothic church and the traditional location of coronation and burial of English and later British royals. It is also known as Poet's Corner because Chaucer was buried there because he was master of the Kings Works. Other famous authors have been buried or memorialized alongside Chaucer. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

13. Great Mosque of Cordoba; Cordoba, Spain

It is a Roman Catholic Church. Arguably the best example of Umayyad architecture it was originally a mosque build on what was a Christian Visigoth Church. During the Spanish reconquista it was turned into a Catholic Church.

14. Notre Dame Cathedral; Paris, France

Notre Dame was one of the first gothic churches built and is the finest example of French Gothic Architecture. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Paris. It is one the first buildings to use the flying buttress.

15. Hohe Domkirche St. Peter und Maria (Cologne Cathedral); Cologne, Germany

It is one of the largest churches in the world and one of the most recognizable structures in Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne. It is an example of gothic architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

16. El Escorial; San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain

This was built in the image of Solomon's Temple. It is a royal site and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and school.

17. Basilica di Santa Maria del Flore; Florence, Italy

Referred to as Il Duomo the structure's dome was one of the largest in the world until recent years. It remains the largest brick dome in the ever built. The basilica was designed by Brunelleschi. This is the seat of the Archbishop of Florence. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

18. St. Peter's Basilica; Vatican City, Italy

Michelangelo was one of many architects to contribute to the design of this basilica. This is a papal basilica. The structure has the largest interior of any Christian church.

19. Himeji Castle; Himeji, Japan

Himeji Castle is a prime example of a feudal Japanese castle. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The structure contains many defensive elements, the most famous being the confusing maze of paths that lead to the main keep. This is the most visited castle in Japan.

20.Taj Mahal; Agra, India

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal. This is considered the best example of Mughal Architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Islamic, and Indian architectural styles. Not only is it a UNESO World Heritage Site, but one of the new seven Wonders of the World.

21. Borobudur; Java, Indonesia

Borobudur is a Mahayana Buddhist temple. The monument is both a shrine to Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. It is also the largest Buddhist temple in the world. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

22. Todai-ji Temple; Nara, Japan

This is the largest wooden building in the world. It also houses the largest Buddha Vairocana in the world. This building is still used today as school. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

23. Horyuji Temple; Nara, Japan

This is a Buddhist Temple and had the oldest wooden pagoda in the world.

24. Temple of Heaven; Beijing, China

This is considered a taoist temple, even though Chinese Heaven worship predates this structure. It was used by emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties for prayers to benefit the harvest.

Symbolism - Heaven is represented by a circle and Earth by a square. This temple is a combination of the relationship between heaven and earth, circle and square.

25. Forbidden City; Beijing, China

Located in the center of Beijing, it is the location of the imperial palace from the Ming to the Qing Dynasties. It was the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for five centuries. The complex consists of 980 surviving buildings, 8,707 rooms and covers 7,800,000 square feet.

26. Hall of Supreme Harmony; Beijing, China

This is also known as the Hall of Golden Throne and is the largest structure in the Forbidden City. It is also the largest wooden building in China. The hall is dominated by dragon designs and is a representation of imperial power.