Both sculptors collaborated closely with Saddam Hussein. The monument was built as part of a bigger initiative to beautify Baghdad and develop public works projects to inspire a feeling of national pride in the citizenry. "Made in Japan" typically indicated crap or junk in certain toys, flashlights, and batteries after WWII, although not always. I recall these awful "made in Japan" torches and batteries that were finicky and spilled a lot. Also, the term "karaoke" comes from a Japanese songbook that was used by karaoke bars.
Sculptor Isamu Noguchi created the Victory Arch for the 1937 World's Fair in Paris. He also designed the Bird Park at Desert Springs State Park in Palm Desert. Sculptor George Tooker added more figures to Noguchi's design after Noguchi's death in 1938. Tooker had his own studio in New York City where he worked on other projects before being called up for war duty in 1942. He died in 1958 at the age of 44.
The park is home to many different types of trees, plants, and flowers, including peaches, apricots, plums, pomegranates, figs, olives, almonds, citrus fruits, bananas, limes, lemons, grapefruits, dates, carobs, coconuts, cotton, rice, safflower, sunflowers, and wheat.
Akbar's passion for architecture Akbar erected several structures in Delhi and Agra. Some were erected for defense, such as Agra Fort, while others, such as Fatehpur Sikri, Buland Darwaza, Humayun's Tomb, Jodhabai Palace, and Akbar's Tomb, were created for his love of building. During his lifetime, Akbar built his mausoleum. After his death, it was continued by Jahangir who also built a mosque at the site.
Agra Fort stands testimony to Akbar's passion for construction. He constructed this fort on the orders of his father when he became the Mughal emperor. The construction work started in 1565 and was completed in 1567. This massive structure with over 100 buildings is an illustration of royal Mughal architecture. It remains one of the largest fortified residences in India today.
The Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) in Delhi was originally built by Shah Jahan but it was Akbar who finished it off. This beautiful mosque was designed by Huda lafkani and is one of the most important Islamic monuments in India. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
Jahangir's Mausoleum is another example of Akbar's architectural genius. It was designed by Abul Fazl and is located in Sikandra near Agra. This huge tomb can accommodate up to 20,000 people and it's considered one of the largest military tombs in the world.
Many of Iraq's architectural gems have been imperiled by regional conflict. Military bases were frequently positioned dangerously close to historic monuments and artifacts, putting them vulnerable to explosives. Many monuments have been suffered as a result of looting, neglect, and even helicopter activity.
However, despite the dangers that continue to threaten Iraq's archaeological sites, they remain important resources for historians, archaeologists, and people interested in the country's past. Some sites have been successfully managed by local authorities while others are protected by national or international institutions. Understanding the history of Iraq's buildings can help us to understand both the culture and the conflicts of its people.
Iraq has one of the most diverse cultural heritages in the world. Its ancient cities, towns, and villages were built from wood, stone, brick, clay, and human labor and often included religious structures, administrative offices, homes, commercial centers, and entertainment venues. The countries through which these structures have survived until today are also extremely varied: from large nations with extensive modern industries to small countries with limited resources. This chapter will examine several important sites in Iraq and how they have been affected by time and man.
The first site discussed is Babylon. Built around 1750 BC, this was once the largest city in the world. It later became a Persian capital before falling to Alexander the Great.
The city's circular form was a direct reflection of ancient Persian Sasanian urban planning. This is identical to the four-gated circular cities of Darabgard and Gor. The Khuld Residence, al-major Mansur's palace in Baghdad, situated near the Bab al-Khorasan. It is one of the largest private residences in the world.
They were surrounded by walls for protection against invaders, but also served as a ready supply of water since they had their own wells inside the walls. The city gates were important landmarks for travelers and traders alike since they marked the end of the road for incoming visitors and the beginning of commerce for residents. There were seven gates in all, three on each side of town. The names of these gates have been preserved for us by historians: Bab al-Nasr (the gate of victory), Bab al-Salam (the gate of peace), Bab al-Zahra (the flowery gate), Bab al-Futuh (the gate of innovation), Bab al-Jadid (the new gate), Bab al-Rihla (the red gate), and Bab al-Tamim (the big gate).
These days most of the gates are gone but some relics can still be seen around town. For example, the wall that surrounded the old city center is now used for parking cars but you can still see its outlines when driving down Hezarpaat Street past the Iranian Embassy.