Arseny
@elstersen.bsky.social
Symbols, myths, anthropology, art, linguistics, history. This is a notebook of TILs: things I wish I could learn more about!
he/him. For my daytime alter-ego, see @khakhalin.bsky.social
Support Ukraine! 🇺🇦
he/him. For my daytime alter-ego, see @khakhalin.bsky.social
Support Ukraine! 🇺🇦
This month 6-7 has (finally) reached German elementary schools. A delay of almost a year (?), compared to the US, but now they also do 6-7
December 20, 2025 at 10:03 AM
This month 6-7 has (finally) reached German elementary schools. A delay of almost a year (?), compared to the US, but now they also do 6-7
is it true?.. :)
I’m convinced that this map is reflecting reality perfectly.
December 18, 2025 at 12:55 PM
is it true?.. :)
Every time I pick up my tenor banjo (CGDA) I want to retune it into something like DADG to escape the tyranny of C, but then I realize that it will just become a poor sister of my 5-string banjo (aDADG), and "just another weird guitar", and I keep it at 5th, even tho I can't really play it much
December 16, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Every time I pick up my tenor banjo (CGDA) I want to retune it into something like DADG to escape the tyranny of C, but then I realize that it will just become a poor sister of my 5-string banjo (aDADG), and "just another weird guitar", and I keep it at 5th, even tho I can't really play it much
Reposted by Arseny
column in this week's New World on Brigitte Macron calling feminist campaigners "sales connes", and the difficulties of translation: www.thenewworld.co.uk/marie-le-con...
December 16, 2025 at 12:04 PM
column in this week's New World on Brigitte Macron calling feminist campaigners "sales connes", and the difficulties of translation: www.thenewworld.co.uk/marie-le-con...
We had this lovely studio on the street nearby, and now it sadly closed :( It was so nice to know it's there, it was so pretty. The online store is apparently here now: www.danielarab.com
December 14, 2025 at 6:56 PM
We had this lovely studio on the street nearby, and now it sadly closed :( It was so nice to know it's there, it was so pretty. The online store is apparently here now: www.danielarab.com
Reposted by Arseny
I promise if you’re not Jewish and don’t know any Jews quite well you really do not understand the level of justified paranoia baked into most public Jewish gatherings: Security at swimming lessons at the JCC, off duty police outside a bar mitzvah as a favour, etc. It shocked me.
Synagogues were safe until they weren’t. JCC were safe until they weren’t. Public beaches, public parks…risk is something I think about every single time I take my family to school, pray, exist as Jews
My kids woke up so excited this morning for the first night of Hannukah and now yet again we have a festival where I’m very conflicted about whether it’s safe to take them to synagogue to celebrate. Communities shouldn’t have to live like this.
December 14, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I promise if you’re not Jewish and don’t know any Jews quite well you really do not understand the level of justified paranoia baked into most public Jewish gatherings: Security at swimming lessons at the JCC, off duty police outside a bar mitzvah as a favour, etc. It shocked me.
Reposted by Arseny
Today is "Suzhou numerals" (a traditional Chinese number notation system) appreciation day 😍 :
〇、〡、〢、〣、〤、〥、〦、〧、〨、〩.
The system has become rare, but one might still encounter it occasionally, e.g. in Hong Kong markets and restaurants😁
〇、〡、〢、〣、〤、〥、〦、〧、〨、〩.
The system has become rare, but one might still encounter it occasionally, e.g. in Hong Kong markets and restaurants😁
December 14, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Today is "Suzhou numerals" (a traditional Chinese number notation system) appreciation day 😍 :
〇、〡、〢、〣、〤、〥、〦、〧、〨、〩.
The system has become rare, but one might still encounter it occasionally, e.g. in Hong Kong markets and restaurants😁
〇、〡、〢、〣、〤、〥、〦、〧、〨、〩.
The system has become rare, but one might still encounter it occasionally, e.g. in Hong Kong markets and restaurants😁
Reposted by Arseny
This fragment of #gaming board & counters were found at the #Trimontium fort site. Probably used by #Roman soldiers to play Latrunculi or Ludus Latrunculorum, the counters are made of recycled Samian ware & glass.
📷
Board & counters, Trimontium Trust
Ludus latrunculorum, Spain CC BY-SA 4.0
📷
Board & counters, Trimontium Trust
Ludus latrunculorum, Spain CC BY-SA 4.0
December 14, 2025 at 10:30 AM
This fragment of #gaming board & counters were found at the #Trimontium fort site. Probably used by #Roman soldiers to play Latrunculi or Ludus Latrunculorum, the counters are made of recycled Samian ware & glass.
📷
Board & counters, Trimontium Trust
Ludus latrunculorum, Spain CC BY-SA 4.0
📷
Board & counters, Trimontium Trust
Ludus latrunculorum, Spain CC BY-SA 4.0
There's something very seventies (1966 here) in seven-ray snowflakes. Someone should study the ratio of 6 vs 8 rays in typography and design, across decades, documenting the occasional 7s as well!.. But it feels extra spicy cute rebel, doesn't it?
December 14, 2025 at 9:16 AM
There's something very seventies (1966 here) in seven-ray snowflakes. Someone should study the ratio of 6 vs 8 rays in typography and design, across decades, documenting the occasional 7s as well!.. But it feels extra spicy cute rebel, doesn't it?
Reposted by Arseny
I was talking to a young Orthodox woman recently and she was telling me that there is an enormous gender divide emerging in American Orthodoxy because of this. The young women just want to, you know, go to church, while the young men (mostly converts) are looking for their tradwife.
December 13, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I was talking to a young Orthodox woman recently and she was telling me that there is an enormous gender divide emerging in American Orthodoxy because of this. The young women just want to, you know, go to church, while the young men (mostly converts) are looking for their tradwife.
Reposted by Arseny
I abjectly hate this, but it's the bitter reality: “We may reach a point where Indian history will be researched properly only outside of India. The real losers here will be Indian nationals.”
amp.scroll.in/article/1089...
amp.scroll.in/article/1089...
Why scholars around the world are growing increasingly wary of studying India
While instances of academics being deported have received wide attention, some say these are just the “tip of the story”.
amp.scroll.in
December 11, 2025 at 7:43 PM
I abjectly hate this, but it's the bitter reality: “We may reach a point where Indian history will be researched properly only outside of India. The real losers here will be Indian nationals.”
amp.scroll.in/article/1089...
amp.scroll.in/article/1089...
Reposted by Arseny
I will go to my grave screaming about how Pennywise being a clown hits completely different for anyone under 40 or 50, because the original intent was that Pennywise LOOKED HARMLESS, because “IT” predates scary clowns, & if the story were modern, Pennywise would manifest as a ninja turtle or Luffy
Welcome to Derry reveals why It loves to use the form of Pennywise the Clown so much.
Why Did IT Choose its Pennywise the Clown Form? WELCOME TO DERRY Reveals the Answer
nerdist.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:16 PM
I will go to my grave screaming about how Pennywise being a clown hits completely different for anyone under 40 or 50, because the original intent was that Pennywise LOOKED HARMLESS, because “IT” predates scary clowns, & if the story were modern, Pennywise would manifest as a ninja turtle or Luffy
Reposted by Arseny
The return of UK’s ancient stones as a place of worship www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
The return of UK’s ancient stones as a place of worship
Across the UK, some have turned to history, folklore and nature as sources of spiritual nourishment
www.independent.co.uk
December 11, 2025 at 11:35 AM
The return of UK’s ancient stones as a place of worship www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Beyond the Peterson narrative, I keep being shocked to just How Different diff types of "Christianity" are. No less different than say Ramakrishna vs Akhara, or Sufi vs Salafi
They say "dedicated to .. greater Kingdom impact worldwide" They understand "Kingdom of God" as the OPPOSITE to how I do it
They say "dedicated to .. greater Kingdom impact worldwide" They understand "Kingdom of God" as the OPPOSITE to how I do it
Jordan Peterson is finally home after a month in ICU, but his daughter says recovery has been “slow” and doctors still don’t fully know what’s going on.
Jordan Peterson Health Update: Daughter Says Recovery Remains Slow After Month in ICU
Mikhaila Fuller, daughter of Dr. Jordan Peterson, provided an update this week about her father’s extended illness.
churchleaders.com
December 11, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Beyond the Peterson narrative, I keep being shocked to just How Different diff types of "Christianity" are. No less different than say Ramakrishna vs Akhara, or Sufi vs Salafi
They say "dedicated to .. greater Kingdom impact worldwide" They understand "Kingdom of God" as the OPPOSITE to how I do it
They say "dedicated to .. greater Kingdom impact worldwide" They understand "Kingdom of God" as the OPPOSITE to how I do it
Reposted by Arseny
Everyone imitates Tolkien all the time except when it comes to the one way it would really matter: making the protagonist of your novel for children a short, fat, 50-year-old man who doesn't want to do anything.
December 9, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Everyone imitates Tolkien all the time except when it comes to the one way it would really matter: making the protagonist of your novel for children a short, fat, 50-year-old man who doesn't want to do anything.
What to do if you need to memorize a prayer in a language you don't speak, as the magic of the prayer only works in original language?
That's right, you pick some words that sound similar in your own language and encode it phonetically.
But what if you also can't read?
You write it as a sharade!
That's right, you pick some words that sound similar in your own language and encode it phonetically.
But what if you also can't read?
You write it as a sharade!
Reciting Pictures: Buddhist Texts for the Illiterate
Some Japanese texts use a rebus-style script for teaching the illiterate to recite the *Heart Sūtra*, and other sacred texts, in Chinese.
publicdomainreview.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:22 PM
What to do if you need to memorize a prayer in a language you don't speak, as the magic of the prayer only works in original language?
That's right, you pick some words that sound similar in your own language and encode it phonetically.
But what if you also can't read?
You write it as a sharade!
That's right, you pick some words that sound similar in your own language and encode it phonetically.
But what if you also can't read?
You write it as a sharade!
Reposted by Arseny
Reposted by Arseny
My top artist of 2025 according to Spotify is quite funny, given that my eventual conclusion after running this experiment was that I'm really not a fan 😅
I never listened to Taylor Swift before, so I'm on a quest now, starting from the very first album, and going upwards. So far I'm on the 2nd version of the 3d album, and it's better than the 1st version of the 3d album (remixed 13 years later, musical tastes changed?)
December 3, 2025 at 8:51 PM
My top artist of 2025 according to Spotify is quite funny, given that my eventual conclusion after running this experiment was that I'm really not a fan 😅
This thread is long, informative and absolutely mind blowing 🔢🎵🎶🕉️📖
This is hella cool. a 19 year old memorized and recited the entire Shukla Yajurveda over 50 days completely from memory, in the insanely difficult method of Danda Krama, which i'll explain in the next post - economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-upd...
Who is Vedamurti Devavrat Mahesh Rekhe, the Kashi teen who completed the Dandakrama Parayanam in 50 days after 200 years?
A 19-year-old Vedic scholar from Kashi has achieved a rare feat. Vedamurti Devavrat Mahesh Rekhe completed a 50-day continuous recitation of Shukla Yajurveda mantras. This tradition has not been witne...
economictimes.indiatimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:12 PM
This thread is long, informative and absolutely mind blowing 🔢🎵🎶🕉️📖
Reposted by Arseny
Causes of death in London in 1632:
Planet (13)
Suddenly (62)
Worms (27)
Cancer and Wolf (10) - like, did they work together?..
Also, "Rising of the lights" (98) is not a psychedelic glam-rock band, but a type of a viral respiratory infection
Planet (13)
Suddenly (62)
Worms (27)
Cancer and Wolf (10) - like, did they work together?..
Also, "Rising of the lights" (98) is not a psychedelic glam-rock band, but a type of a viral respiratory infection
July 6, 2023 at 10:27 PM
Causes of death in London in 1632:
Planet (13)
Suddenly (62)
Worms (27)
Cancer and Wolf (10) - like, did they work together?..
Also, "Rising of the lights" (98) is not a psychedelic glam-rock band, but a type of a viral respiratory infection
Planet (13)
Suddenly (62)
Worms (27)
Cancer and Wolf (10) - like, did they work together?..
Also, "Rising of the lights" (98) is not a psychedelic glam-rock band, but a type of a viral respiratory infection
A schematic of a Zoroastrian ritual of jashan: a kind of a thanksgiving / blessing / worship / dedication ceremony . (I don't know much about it, just liked the schematic :)
Source, with a long detailed description and some (low-res) photos: www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroastriani...
Source, with a long detailed description and some (low-res) photos: www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroastriani...
December 2, 2025 at 6:26 PM
A schematic of a Zoroastrian ritual of jashan: a kind of a thanksgiving / blessing / worship / dedication ceremony . (I don't know much about it, just liked the schematic :)
Source, with a long detailed description and some (low-res) photos: www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroastriani...
Source, with a long detailed description and some (low-res) photos: www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroastriani...
Reposted by Arseny
Koi Krylgan Kala is an archeological site from Karakalpakstan Republic. Built by Iranian people from the kingdom of Khwarezm (a sister civilization of a perhaps more famous Sogdia) in 4 cent BCE. Koi Krylgan Kala was both a fortress, a settlement, and a Zoroastrian temple.
October 6, 2023 at 7:47 PM
Koi Krylgan Kala is an archeological site from Karakalpakstan Republic. Built by Iranian people from the kingdom of Khwarezm (a sister civilization of a perhaps more famous Sogdia) in 4 cent BCE. Koi Krylgan Kala was both a fortress, a settlement, and a Zoroastrian temple.
Beautiful #Ossetian album:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Su...
I'm especially in love with equidistant scale this region uses (also common in Georgian, Svan, Mengrelian music) that has 7 near-equal steps per octave instead of 8 unequal ones as in the West. Listen carefully to the 1st track for example!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Su...
I'm especially in love with equidistant scale this region uses (also common in Georgian, Svan, Mengrelian music) that has 7 near-equal steps per octave instead of 8 unequal ones as in the West. Listen carefully to the 1st track for example!
РАГОН (Ragon Bal) - Simdtæ
YouTube video by Tamu Berozti
www.youtube.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Beautiful #Ossetian album:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Su...
I'm especially in love with equidistant scale this region uses (also common in Georgian, Svan, Mengrelian music) that has 7 near-equal steps per octave instead of 8 unequal ones as in the West. Listen carefully to the 1st track for example!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Su...
I'm especially in love with equidistant scale this region uses (also common in Georgian, Svan, Mengrelian music) that has 7 near-equal steps per octave instead of 8 unequal ones as in the West. Listen carefully to the 1st track for example!
Reposted by Arseny
Heavy metal rock nativity: a Roman period silver token found at St Albans depicting the god Mithras being born, leaping fully formed from a rock. 🏺 #AncientBluesky
December 1, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Heavy metal rock nativity: a Roman period silver token found at St Albans depicting the god Mithras being born, leaping fully formed from a rock. 🏺 #AncientBluesky