Legacy of the Bieth

The Greater Rasp Worm A massive terrestrial ‘worm’, with specimens commonly reaching taller than an adult man in height, the rasp worm is most known for its habit of ‘licking’ objects it recognizes as food. The worm’s tongue is actually a rough radula that it must run over its meal until it has been reduced to liquid and can be carried back to the mouth. Generally feeding on plant matter, both live and decaying, it can occasionally be found eating abandoned carcasses. Due to its large size and slow eating habits, the worm will spend nearly all its time grazing. The small legs of the worm are not segmented, but pointed sacks given rigidity through hydrostatic fluids. They move slowly and, when threatened, the worm will rear and spray a foul, sticky fluid. It will then retract into a rigid state, in hopes of protecting its soft hide. Without bones or a hard exterior, the worm has few actual defenses against predators.

by  NM De Spain

From the Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62), Valley of the Kings, West Thebes. Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 60739

– Viktor Mukhin

Shuri by artgerm. Variant cover for Black Panther #1.

Deltoid by Hydraw-Art

by piotr kowalski

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~Qur'an Manuscript Folio. Place of origin: North Africa, Aghlabid or Abbasid Date: 9th century

The round city of Baghdad in the 10th century, the peak of the Abbasid Caliphate. Illustration by Jean Soutif / Science Photo Library.

Its style is distinctly Islamic in nature, with incised lines and an elegant shape. What I noticed first, though, was the odd glazing which leaves the bottom looking unfinished and very modern. Known as “two-thirds” glaze, this is actually typical of early Islamic art.

Today’s coin is a really interesting piece, a beautiful gold dinar from the collection of the American Numismatic Society. This coin was struck in Arabia under the authority of al-Mustakfi, the Caliph of Baghdad. However, this coin provides us with some information about how information traveled in the Abbasid world. Al-Mustakfi was caliph, imposed by a Turkish invading force, from 944 to 946 CE, after which time he was deposed and replaced by Al-Muti. However, the news of this change evidently did not reach Arabia immediately, because this coin was truck a full three years after al-Mustakfi was out of power. It took a while for news to move, and there was, evidently, not much urgency involved with informing the rest of the Caliphate of the violent changes that were happening in Baghdad.

What a happy parable!

Tunic decoration with lions, made in Egypt during the Abbasid caliphate.  Artist unknown; 9th cent. CE.  Now in the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Photographs taken by myself 2019

Section and plan of the temple of Abu Simbel, Egypt