Quarry Garden in Syracuse, March 2005
The Greek Theatre in Syracuse, March 2005
The Church and Catacombs of San Giovanni in Syracu…
The Church and Catacombs of San Giovanni in Syracu…
The Sicilian Folklore Museum in Taormina, March 20…
The Greco-Roman Theatre in Taormina, March 2005
The Greco-Roman Theatre in Taormina, March 2005
The Greco-Roman Theatre in Taormina, March 2005
The Modern Church of Maria Santissima Immacolata i…
View from the Theatre at Taormina, 2005
The Archaeological Museum in Naxos, March 2005
The Archaeological Museum in Naxos, March 2005
The Archaeological Museum in Naxos, March 2005
Site Plan in Naxos, March 2005
The Remains of the First Ancient Greek Colony in S…
The Remains of the First Ancient Greek Colony in S…
The Remains of the First Ancient Greek Colony in S…
The Remains of the First Ancient Greek Colony in S…
The Remains of the First Ancient Greek Colony in S…
Site Plan in Naxos, March2005
Site Plan in Naxos, March 2005
The Remains of the First Ancient Greek Colony in S…
Site Plan in Naxos, March 2005
SitePlan5NaxosMarch2005
The Remains of the First Ancient Greek Colony in S…
The Remains of the First Ancient Greek Colony in S…
The Remains of the First Ancient Greek Colony in S…
The Remains of the First Ancient Greek Colony in S…
Detail of a Wall from the Ancient Greek Colony of…
Detail of a Wall from the Ancient Greek Colony of…
The Remains of the First Ancient Greek Colony in S…
The Remains of Ancient Naxos, March 2005
An Ancient Greek Polygonal Wall in Naxos, March 20…
Cat on the Ruins of the Roman Amphitheatre in Syra…
Cat Overlooking the Roman Amphitheatre in Syracuse…
Triglyph and Fragments of Temple F at Selinunte, 2…
Standing Column and Fragments of Temple F at Selin…
Fragments of Temple F at Selinunte, 2005
Fragments of Temple F at Selinunte, 2005
Fragments of Temples E, F, & G at Selinunte, 2005
View of the Acropolis from Temple E at Selinunte,…
Columns and Triglyphs of Temple E at Selinunte, 20…
Doric Columns and Triglyphs of Temple E at Selinun…
Remains of Punic Houses on the Acropolis of Selinu…
On the Acropolis of Selinunte, 2005
Staircase in the Vatican Museum, Dec. 2003
The Pyramid of Gaius Cestius, 1995
The Tellus Relief on the Ara Pacis in Rome, June 1…
The Ara Pacis in Rome, June 1995
View through the Window from the Vatican Museum, 1…
Gate in Naples, Nov. 2003
View of Naples from the Hotel Roof, 2003
The Octagonal Room of the Domus Aurea's Fountain,…
The Octagonal Room of the Domus Aurea, 2003
The Octagonal Room of the Domus Aurea, 2003
The Octagonal Room of the Domus Aurea, 2003
Octagonal Room of the Domus Aurea, 2003
Apse in Hadrian's Villa, December 2003
The Canopus in Hadrian's Villa, 2003
The Canopus in Hadrian's Villa, 2003
The Canopus in Hadrian's Villa, 2003
The Canopus in Hadrian's Villa, 2003
The Canopus in Hadrian's Villa, 2003
The Canopus in Hadrian's Villa, 2003
The Canopus in Hadrian's Villa, 2003
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The "Ear of Dionysius" in Syracuse, March 2005
The Ear of Dionysius (Italian: Orecchio di Dionisio) is an artificial limestone cave carved out of the Temenites hill in the city of Syracuse, on the island of Sicily in Italy. Its name comes from its similarity in shape to the human ear.
The Ear of Dionysius was most likely formed out of an old limestone quarry. It is 23 metres high and extends 65 metres back into the cliff. Horizontally it bends in an approximate 's' shape; vertically it is tapered at the top like a teardrop. Because of its shape the Ear has extremely good acoustics, making even a small sound resonate throughout the cave.
The name of the cave was coined in 1586 by the painter Caravaggio. It refers to the tyrant Dionysius I of Syracuse. According to legend (possibly one created by Caravaggio), Dionysius used the cave as a prison for political dissidents, and by means of the perfect acoustics eavesdropped on the plans and secrets of his captives. Another more gruesome legend claims that Dionysius carved the cave in its shape so that it would amplify the screams of prisoners being tortured in it.
Because of its reputation for acoustic flawlessness, the Ear of Dionysius has also come to refer to a type of ear trumpet that has a flexible tube. The term 'Ear of Dionysius' can also refer to surveillance, specifically that for political gain.
Text from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_of_Dionysius
The Ear of Dionysius was most likely formed out of an old limestone quarry. It is 23 metres high and extends 65 metres back into the cliff. Horizontally it bends in an approximate 's' shape; vertically it is tapered at the top like a teardrop. Because of its shape the Ear has extremely good acoustics, making even a small sound resonate throughout the cave.
The name of the cave was coined in 1586 by the painter Caravaggio. It refers to the tyrant Dionysius I of Syracuse. According to legend (possibly one created by Caravaggio), Dionysius used the cave as a prison for political dissidents, and by means of the perfect acoustics eavesdropped on the plans and secrets of his captives. Another more gruesome legend claims that Dionysius carved the cave in its shape so that it would amplify the screams of prisoners being tortured in it.
Because of its reputation for acoustic flawlessness, the Ear of Dionysius has also come to refer to a type of ear trumpet that has a flexible tube. The term 'Ear of Dionysius' can also refer to surveillance, specifically that for political gain.
Text from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_of_Dionysius
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