Arthur was a legendary king of ancient Britain. He appears in a group of stories that are together known as the Arthurian legend. The stories are a combination of history, myth, romance, fairy tale, and religion. They have captured peoples’ imagination for many hundreds of years.
Some people believe that Arthur was a real person who lived in Britain in the AD 400s or 500s. He led the Christian Celts in wars against Saxon invaders. He was remembered as a hero and a wise and all-powerful king.
King Arthur’s followers were known as the Knights of the Round Table. They used a round table so that each would have an equally important place at the table.
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The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour was built in the 19th century for the money collected by ordinary people all over the country. It was devoted to the victory of the Russian army over Napoleon’s troops in the Patriotic War of 1812.
Initially, it was planned to build the cathedral on the Vorobyovy Hills. Emperor Alexander I approved the project of A. Vitberg. Russian artist and mystic wanted to erect three temples on the spot. The first one was to be built underground and have the form of a coffin, symbolizing and death. The second temple, as the symbol of the soul was to appear in the form of a cross above the first one. The foundations of the cathedral were laid in 1817, but the project was not carried out.
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I believe everyone heard about the Sphinx, the most famous riddle-maker in the world. She is a half-lion and half-woman. She asked the question and if the man could not guess the riddle, the Sphinx ate him alive. The question was: “What is that animal which walks on four legs in the morning, on two in the afternoon and on three at night?”
One man, Oedipus, guessed the riddle and the Sphinx was so angry that she killed herself.
And what about you? Do you know the answer?
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At the beginning of the twentieth century black Americans developed a new type of music called jazz. And it is still one of the most distinctly American art forms. In the early 1900s black Americans played the first jazz in the dance halls of New Orleans. Jazz remains a popular musical style not only in the United States but also in countries all over the world.
Jazz was not learned in schools. Many of its creators could not even read music. Jazz shows were outdoor events during which people marched and sometimes rode in horse-drawn wagons.
Jazz was experimental music that broke away from traditional musical forms. It was a highly personal music that focused on individual interpretation and rhythm. Musician had the freedom to compose and reshape the music according to his or her feelings. Improvisation is a main ingredient of jazz.
New Orleans had considerable influence on the development of jazz. It was a city full of music and good times influenced by several cultures – Spanish, French, Anglo-American, and African-American. But the inspiration for jazz came mainly from the history of blacks in America.
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Victorian era was a time of great changes in the lives of British people. Queen Victoria’s reign was the longest of any king or queen in British history. Queen Victoria reigned for sixty-three years, seven months, and two days (June 20, 1837 – January 22, 1901).
She was born on the 24th of May, 1819, and was called Alexandrina Victoria. She got her first name in honour of her fourth cousin, the Russian tsar Alexander I. Her father died when she was only 8 months old. Victoria was taught at home. She learned foreign languages (German, English, Italian, Greek and French), studied history, geography, music and the Bible. Her hobby for the rest of her life was painting. King William died and 18-year-old Princess Victoria became queen. In 1837 she was crowned at Westminster Abbey. At the age of 21, Victoria married a German prince, her cousin Albert. Victoria had to propose to Albert herself because according to the royal protocol, no man is allowed to propose to a queen. Albert died at the age of 42. Victoria wore black for the rest of her life.
Queen Victoria had nine children, 40 grand-children and 37 great-grandchildren. Most of her children married into other royal families of Europe and she became known as the ‘Grandmother of Europe’.
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Spanish nobleman called Don Marcelino de Sautuola lived in the late 1800s. He liked to search clues to the lives of people who lived thousands of years ago. Don Marcelino knew that prehistoric homes had been found in caves nearby. He also knew of a cave called Altamira close to his farm. He began to visit the cave and dig through the deep soil on the cave floor. Over the centuries, this soil had piled up, raising the floor and making the cave dark and narrow. Don Marcelino finally succeeded in finding some ancient spearheads. He brought them home to show his family and friends. And his young daughter, Maria, asked him to take her with him the next time. It was hard to refuse her anything and he agreed. 9-year-old Maria promised not to disturb her father at his work. In the cave the girl couldn’t find anything that was fun to do. After a time, with a candle in her hand, she crept into the low passage. Soon the little corridor grew wider. Looking up at the ceiling, Maria stopped still. All around her there seemed to be animals.
“Father!” Maria cried. “Bulls! Bulls!”
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It seems that there is no simpler invention in the world. There is even an expression “Don’t reinvent the wheel”, in Russian it sounds like “Don’t reinvent the bicycle”. It means don’t invent (or say) something that is well known to everyone. But for a long time people did without wheels and bicycles, of course.
It is believed that the Ural blacksmith Yefim Artamonov built the world’s first bicycle with pedals and steering wheel in 1801. From the Urals, he came to Moscow and his bike appeared in the royal museum of rarities and… was forgotten. But until now, there are disputes, whether this event is real or just a historical tale.
In 1815 the German Baron Karl von Dreze invented a device which he called “machine for running”. It looked like a two-wheeled scooter with the steering wheel and without pedals, with wooden frame and could have a good speed for that time. People were delighted!
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