Girls Playing Persephone (in Marriage and Death)

Mnemosyne ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-228
Author(s):  
Ellie Mackin

AbstractArguably, the most famous myth told about Persephone is her abduction and marriage to Hades. The story clearly articulates the strong connection between marriage and death, and this episode became significant in both literature and religious practice in the wider classical Greek world. Reference to the story of Persephone’s abduction came to be used as a shorthand for evoking this connection, particularly in myth. This paper discusses two particular ways in which Persephone’s narrative was used in marriage and death. I examine the pre-marriage offerings to Persephone at Lokroi Epizephyrioi, in southern Italy, and the tradition of Athenian girls who died unmarried being buried as brides. These cultic instances frame a discussion of Brides of Hades, particularly in tragedy. Overall, I conclude that these girls do not attempt to replace Persephone, but rather to imitate her: they ‘play the role’ of Persephone at various stages of her own abduction and marriage story.

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 723
Author(s):  
Gustavo Cernera ◽  
Marika Comegna ◽  
Monica Gelzo ◽  
Marcella Savoia ◽  
Dario Bruzzese ◽  
...  

Background and objectives: ischemic stroke (IS) is among the most frequent causes of death worldwide; thus, it is of paramount relevance to know predisposing factors that may help to identify and treat the high-risk subjects. Materials and Methods:we tested nine variants in genes involved in thrombotic pathway in 282 patients that experienced IS and 87 that had transient ischemic attacks (TIA) in comparison to 430 subjects from the general population (GP) of the same geographic area (southern Italy). We included cases of young and child IS to evaluate the eventual differences in the role of the analyzed variants. Results: we did not observe significant differences between TIA and the GP for any of the variants, while the allele frequencies of methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T, beta-fibrinogen -455G>A and factor (FXIII) V34L were significantly higher in patients with IS than in the subjects from the GP. No significant interaction was observed with sex. Conclusions: the present data argue that some gene variants have a role in IS and this appears to be an interesting possibility to be pursued in large population studies to help design specific strategies for IS prevention.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 491
Author(s):  
Mediha Becirovic-Agic ◽  
Upendra Chalise ◽  
Michael J. Daseke ◽  
Shelby Konfrst ◽  
Jeffrey D. Salomon ◽  
...  

Over the past three decades, numerous studies have shown a strong connection between matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) levels and myocardial infarction (MI) mortality and left ventricle remodeling and dysfunction. Despite this fact, clinical trials using MMP-9 inhibitors have been disappointing. This review focuses on the roles of MMP-9 in MI wound healing. Infiltrating leukocytes, cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells secrete MMP-9 during all phases of cardiac repair. MMP-9 both exacerbates the inflammatory response and aids in inflammation resolution by stimulating the pro-inflammatory to reparative cell transition. In addition, MMP-9 has a dual effect on neovascularization and prevents an overly stiff scar. Here, we review the complex role of MMP-9 in cardiac wound healing, and highlight the importance of targeting MMP-9 only for its detrimental actions. Therefore, delineating signaling pathways downstream of MMP-9 is critical.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Flavio De Angelis ◽  
Maura Pellegrini ◽  
Cristina Martínez-Labarga ◽  
Laura Anzivino ◽  
Gabriele Scorrano ◽  
...  

AbstractAs a means for investigating human mobility during late the Neolithic to the Copper Age in central and southern Italy, this study presents a novel dataset of enamel oxygen and carbon isotope values (δ18Oca and δ13Cca) from the carbonate fraction of biogenic apatite for one hundred and twenty-six individual teeth coming from two Neolithic and eight Copper Age communities. The measured δ18Oca values suggest a significant role of local sources in the water inputs to the body water, whereas δ13Cca values indicate food resources, principally based on C3 plants. Both δ13Cca and δ18Oca ranges vary substantially when samples are broken down into local populations. Statistically defined thresholds, accounting for intra-site variability, allow the identification of only a few outliers in the eight Copper Age communities, suggesting that sedentary lifestyle rather than extensive mobility characterized the investigated populations. This seems to be also typical of the two studied Neolithic communities. Overall, this research shows that the investigated periods in peninsular Italy differed in mobility pattern from the following Bronze Age communities from more northern areas.


Geologos ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Moretti ◽  
Marcello Tropeano ◽  
A.J. (Tom) van Loon ◽  
Pasquale Acquafredda ◽  
Rossella Baldacconi ◽  
...  

Abstract Beach sands from the Rosa Marina locality (Adriatic coast, southern Italy) were analysed mainly microscopically in order to trace the source areas of their lithoclastic and bioclastic components. The main cropping out sedimentary units were also studied with the objective to identify the potential source areas of lithoclasts. This allowed to establish how the various rock units contribute to the formation of beach sands. The analysis of the bioclastic components allows to estimate the actual role of organisms regarding the supply of this material to the beach. Identification of taxa that are present in the beach sands as shell fragments or other remains was carried out at the genus or family level. Ecological investigation of the same beach and the recognition of sub-environments (mainly distinguished on the basis of the nature of the substrate and of the water depth) was the key topic that allowed to establish the actual source areas of bioclasts in the Rosa Marina beach sands. The sedimentological analysis (including a physical study of the beach and the calculation of some statistical parameters concerning the grain-size curves) shows that the Rosa Marina beach is nowadays subject to erosion.


1958 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Tcherikover

Modern scholars commonly regard the “Letter of Aristeas” as a work typical of Jewish apologetics, aiming at self-defense and propaganda, and directed to the Greeks. Here are some instances illustrating this general view. In 1903 Friedländer wrote that the glorification of Judaism in the Letter was no more than self-defense, though “the book does not mention the antagonists of Judaism by name, nor does it admit that its intention is to refute direct attacks.” Stein sees in the Letter “a special kind of defense which practices diplomatic tactics,” and Tramontano also speaks of “an apologetic and propagandist tendency.” Vincent characterizes it as “a small apologetic novel written for the Egyptians” (i.e. the Greeks in Egypt). Pfeiffer says: “This fanciful story of the origin of the Septuagint is merely a pretext for defending Judaism against its heathen denigrators, for extolling its nobility and reasonableness, and for striving to convert Greek speaking Gentiles to it.” Schürer classes the Letter with a special kind of literature, “Jewish propaganda in Pagan disguise,” whose works are “directed to the pagan reader, in order to make propaganda for Judaism among the Gentiles.” Andrews, too, believes that the role of a Greek was assumed by Aristeas in order “to strengthen the force of the argument and commend it to non-Jewish readers.” And even Gutman, who rightly recognizes that the Letter sprang “from an inner need of the educated Jew,” sees in it “a strong means for making Jewish propaganda in the Greek world.”


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Pileggi ◽  
Valentina Mascaro ◽  
Aida Bianco ◽  
Maria Pavia

The use of nonprescription medicines (NPDs) for children illnesses without a doctor’s suggestion can lead to unnecessary medication use and is not free of risks. The aim of our study was to examine attitudes and practice of parents towards NPDs use for their children. We also investigated the conditions that may predict NPDs use. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on parents of children attending Community Based Pediatrician (CBP) consultation and data were collected through structured interviews. Positive attitude on NPDs use was reported by 71.4% of parents, and 61.5% of them had administered NPDs in the previous 6 months. Antipyretic drugs were the most frequently used medication class without the supervision of the CBP. A positive attitude towards NPDs was significantly more frequent in parents who did not use the CBP as the sole source of information about drugs. The study demonstrated a widespread use of NPDs in children in our context, supported by a substantial positive attitude towards their safety. However, considering potential harms related to some NPDs and the finding that most parents rely on CBP advice, role of CBP on appropriate use of NPDs by parents should be emphasized.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 353
Author(s):  
Aliyandi Aliyandi

This research is to explain about the role of Dakwah communication strategy in the empowerment of the labor community in Panjang Sub-District, Bandar Lampung in improving the practice of the implementation of sharia. This is descriptive qualitative research, where the data were collected throuh interviews, observation, and documentation. The data were then analyzed qualitatively using inductive thinking approach. The result of this research shows that the communication strategy used by  the preacher in Panjang Sub-district was by giving motivation through the message of dawah conveyed to the community, Providing religious guidance, including religious activities such as five-time prayer, memorizing prayers, taking care of the corps and protecting the environment, establishing good relations with  the community, either through regular recitation at the ta’lim assembly or taking the advantage of Arisan for savings and loan activities, interacting and seeing firsthand situation and conditions that exist in the community, then cooperate with the government by providing assistance in the form of funds and food. The most inhibiting factor is mad’u, especially in terms of understanding the message (somatic), closed to change (self-image), and motivation, marked by the passiveness  communicant in receiving da’wah from the preacher because the preacher can not fully know the limits of somatic knowledge from the community.


Author(s):  
Michael Staudigl

Abstract This article offers an interpretation of late modern social imaginaries and their relationship to religion and violence. I hypothesize that the transition from the ‘secular age’ to a so-called ‘post-secular constellation’ calls on us to critically reconsider the modern trope that all too unambiguously ties religion and violence together. Discussing the fault lines of a secularist modernity spinning out of control today on various fronts, I argue that the narrative semantics of the so-called ‘return of religion’ is frequently adopted as an imaginative catalyst for confronting these contemporary discontents – for better and worse. In linking recent work on ‘social imaginaries’ with Paul Ricœur’s discussion of the productive role of imagination in social life, I then explore the transformative potential of religious imagination in its inherent ambiguity. In conclusion I demonstrate that this quality involves a poietic license to start all over, one which can be used to expose both the violence of our beloved political ideals of freedom and sovereignty, as well as their repercussions on religious practice.


10.26458/1743 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 29-36
Author(s):  
Luminita Ionescu

Accounting errors and fraud are common in most businesses, but there is a difference between fraud and misinterpretation of communication or accounting regulations. The role of management in preventing fraud becomes important in the last decades and the importance of auditing in curbing corruption is increasingly revealed. There is a strong connection between fraud and corruption, accelerated by electronic systems and modern platforms.The most recent developments tend to confirm that external auditing is curbing corruption, due to international accounting and auditing standards at national and regional levels. Thus, a better implementation of accounting standards and high quality of external control could prevent errors and fraud in accounting, and reduce corruption, as well.The aim of this paper is to present some particular aspects of errors and fraud in accounting, and how external audit could ensure accuracy and accountability in financial reporting. 


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