Jerusalem

Baby's Way by Rabindranath Tagore

If baby only wanted to, he could fly up to heaven this moment.
It is not for nothing that he does not leave us.
He loves to rest his head on mother's bosom, and cannot ever
bear to lose sight of her.
Baby know all manner of wise words, though few on earth can
understand their meaning.
It is not for nothing that he never wants to speak.
The one thing he wants is to learn mother's words from
mother's lips. That is why he looks so innocent.
Baby had a heap of gold and pearls, yet he came like a beggar
on to this earth.
It is not for nothing he came in such a disguise.
This dear little naked mendicant pretends to be utterly
helpless, so that he may beg for mother's wealth of love.
Baby was so free from every tie in the land of the tiny
crescent moon.
It was not for nothing he gave up his freedom.
He knows that there is room for endless joy in mother's little
corner of a heart, and it is sweeter far than liberty to be caught
and pressed in her dear arms.
Baby never knew how to cry. He dwelt in the land of perfect
bliss.
It is not for nothing he has chosen to shed tears.
Though with the smile of his dear face he draws mother's
yearning heart to him, yet his little cries over tiny troubles
weave the double bond of pity and love. 

Rabindranath Tagore

Famous people from Apamea

Posidonius meaning "of Poseidon "of Apamea" or "of Rhodes" was born in Apamea in Syria  (135 BC - 51 BC), was a Greek Stoic philosopher, politician, astronomer, geographer, historian and teacher native to Apamea, Syria. He was acclaimed as the greatest polymath (a person of great and varied learning) of his age. None of his vast body of work can be read in its entirety today, as it exists only in fragments.

 Sopater of Apamea feigned a conversion to Christianity in 325, soon after his arrival at the court of Constantine I, in order to advance his career there. His plan succeeded so well, that the praetorian prefect Ablabius felt threatened by him. He brought a charge of magic against him because he knew that it would play well to suspicions concerning the authenticity of such high profile and advantageous conversions to Christianity. He was killed and the conviction of Sopater upon this charge of magic then sufficed to erase almost all memory of his feigned con especially in the pagan tradition which welcomed the creation of a pagan 'martyr'.

St. Julian of Apamea was a Bishop of Apamea, Syria.  He was a tough opponent of Montanism which was an early Christian movement of the late 2nd century not unlike todays Pentecostalism and Charismatic movement. 

His feast day is December 9th and he died in the third century. St. Julian of Apamea is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a family, person, place, nation, activity, or clan.

 Lucius Julius Agrippa lived and became a citizen in Apamea. He was born in Italy from royalty. Little is known on his early life. In his career, Agrippa served as a Gymnasiarch which was a public official responsible for sports or games held at public festivals. This official directed Ancient Greek Gymnasiums and supervised competitors. 

 Agrippa also served as a Pontifex Maximus who was the high priest of the College of Pontiffs whose members were the highest-ranking priests of the state religion which encompassed the practices and beliefs of the ancient Romans as well as the many cults imported to Rome. It was usually an honour offered to members of politically powerful or wealthy families.

In 115, Apamea had suffered a serious earthquake. During this crisis, Agrippa served as the city’s ambassador to Rome. Agrippa at his own expense had made various generous public benefactions to his community. He frequently at his own expense undertook embassies to the Roman Emperor and the Roman Senate.

For six months, Agrippa paid and distributed (supra) expensive olive oil for anointing and corn for public use in Apamea. Agrippa with his wealth assisted in the reconstruction of Apamea in the following ways:

He financed the construction for an extension for the city’s aqueduct

In 116/117, Agrippa brought sufficient land to finance the construction for the Baths, an Adjacent Large Hall and the Stoa. The Large Hall and Stoa had lavish decorations. The Large Hall was used for concerts or competitions in music or oratory.

The Baths in Apamea was a magnificent complex. Agrippa had commissioned a number of bronze statues to be created of Theseus  and the Minotaur, the Ancient Greek God Apollo with the satyr Marsyas. These statues were placed in the b

Evas Gallery

I am unable to post my drawings and photos onto my Evas Art blog. I have tried many ways to no avail. My second blog called Evas Gallery allows me to download my photos. I will continue to write on this blog. My web address for Evas Gallery is:   evasgallery.blogspot.com    http://evasgallery.blogspot.com.au/

The orbs in the picture appeared after downloading the photographs of Yasmin
taken in the castle of Masyaf in Syria.

Oum Fawaz is the respectable name for a mother. Bahija is her birth name. After she married Bahija was known as Oum Fawaz after the name of her first born son, whether he was conceived or not.