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! 🇺🇦
Never thought of it! In games like Skyrim or Fallout, with dialogues and gender flexible main character design, you can't use past tense in Slavic languages! You have to translate dialogues avoiding first person past tense as it is configured by gender!
it's very hard to do in Polish but not impossible, I had to do it when I used to translate video games like Fallout 2, where you can choose the gender of player character but we had to match English lines 1:1.
November 16, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Never thought of it! In games like Skyrim or Fallout, with dialogues and gender flexible main character design, you can't use past tense in Slavic languages! You have to translate dialogues avoiding first person past tense as it is configured by gender!
Reposted by Arseny
I had the honor of making this painting for Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein.
November 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I had the honor of making this painting for Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein.
Reposted by Arseny
The golden age of diversity and democracy in Oz.
November 16, 2025 at 7:04 AM
The golden age of diversity and democracy in Oz.
Reposted by Arseny
Keep thinking of something I read somewhere recently. During part of the relaxing of the anti-Jewish laws in late modern Germany there was a time when Jews were allowed to carry swords, but only on the right hand side (presumably to make it much harder for most people to draw them.)
November 16, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Keep thinking of something I read somewhere recently. During part of the relaxing of the anti-Jewish laws in late modern Germany there was a time when Jews were allowed to carry swords, but only on the right hand side (presumably to make it much harder for most people to draw them.)
Today for the first time instead of Patak curry I bought Ashoka curry, and it's entirely different! Not better or worse, just very different. Opens a world of possibilities!
November 15, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Today for the first time instead of Patak curry I bought Ashoka curry, and it's entirely different! Not better or worse, just very different. Opens a world of possibilities!
Reposted by Arseny
Why would only people called WRMZ get one-word grave stones?
Some of the WRMZ stelae are found in an unambiguously funerary context, so it must mean something that makes sense in such a context (thus probably not sth like “Border” or “No trespassing” or “Stone for Sale!”)
So what is going on??? 🤷
Some of the WRMZ stelae are found in an unambiguously funerary context, so it must mean something that makes sense in such a context (thus probably not sth like “Border” or “No trespassing” or “Stone for Sale!”)
So what is going on??? 🤷
November 15, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Why would only people called WRMZ get one-word grave stones?
Some of the WRMZ stelae are found in an unambiguously funerary context, so it must mean something that makes sense in such a context (thus probably not sth like “Border” or “No trespassing” or “Stone for Sale!”)
So what is going on??? 🤷
Some of the WRMZ stelae are found in an unambiguously funerary context, so it must mean something that makes sense in such a context (thus probably not sth like “Border” or “No trespassing” or “Stone for Sale!”)
So what is going on??? 🤷
Reposted by Arseny
Fragmentary wall painting depicting Nubians and an angel sailing a boat
10th/11th century
Naga el-Scheima, Sayala, Noubadia
-Kunsthistorisches Museum
#randomxt
10th/11th century
Naga el-Scheima, Sayala, Noubadia
-Kunsthistorisches Museum
#randomxt
November 7, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Fragmentary wall painting depicting Nubians and an angel sailing a boat
10th/11th century
Naga el-Scheima, Sayala, Noubadia
-Kunsthistorisches Museum
#randomxt
10th/11th century
Naga el-Scheima, Sayala, Noubadia
-Kunsthistorisches Museum
#randomxt
My most woke opinion is that if Fabian, Cassian and Damian are legit male names, Lesbian should be a male name too
November 15, 2025 at 7:08 PM
My most woke opinion is that if Fabian, Cassian and Damian are legit male names, Lesbian should be a male name too
Reposted by Arseny
An eye-opener til for me was to realize WHAT mixtures people use in private as "languages". In Berlin you an hear languages with tons of russian nouns and zero RU grammar/verbs (some dialects of Ingush or Chechen?), but also those with RU grammar & expletives but zero RU nouns (Roma dialects)
1/2
1/2
I just overheard someone speaking French but all exclamations and interjections were English and all question words Levantine Arabic
November 14, 2025 at 9:10 AM
An eye-opener til for me was to realize WHAT mixtures people use in private as "languages". In Berlin you an hear languages with tons of russian nouns and zero RU grammar/verbs (some dialects of Ingush or Chechen?), but also those with RU grammar & expletives but zero RU nouns (Roma dialects)
1/2
1/2
The "Flashed face illusion" in the beginning is a bit distracting (Never Ever switch faces quickly in a video, here's why: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashed... )
but the message is excellent! I'm so happy for this pushback.
but the message is excellent! I'm so happy for this pushback.
Good statement from the US conference of Catholic Bishops
November 14, 2025 at 8:58 AM
The "Flashed face illusion" in the beginning is a bit distracting (Never Ever switch faces quickly in a video, here's why: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashed... )
but the message is excellent! I'm so happy for this pushback.
but the message is excellent! I'm so happy for this pushback.
the Bible (US version haha) in emojis. Test your memory / pattern recognition abilities!
🌍✨👫🍎🐍💔🚪🌧️🌈🌞🌙⭐👴👦🐏⛰️🔥📜🕊️🏺👑🎵💔🏛️⚔️👑😔🏕️🦁🔥🏠🕍⛓️😭🕊️🌸👶⭐🐂🐑👣💧🍞🍷💔🌳⚰️🌅🔥🌬️🌍👑💫
November 14, 2025 at 8:16 AM
the Bible (US version haha) in emojis. Test your memory / pattern recognition abilities!
Fern Isabel Coppedge (1883-1951), who should be famous for her landscapes of Buck County, Pennsylvania.
November 13, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Fern Isabel Coppedge (1883-1951), who should be famous for her landscapes of Buck County, Pennsylvania.
The problem with religion as a type of escapism is that many of them are deeply human-centric, and invite you to somehow care about the very people you are trying to escape from
November 13, 2025 at 8:05 AM
The problem with religion as a type of escapism is that many of them are deeply human-centric, and invite you to somehow care about the very people you are trying to escape from
Absolutely bizarre facets to every event in this life. One would have thought that after right-wing, progressives, Dem establishment, nationalists, and Jewish people, you basically exhaust the range of possible opinions about Mamdani. Oh well. Not nearly.
Hindu nationalists wield less power in NYC today versus six months ago.
If you are a Hindu American and frustrated -- even irate -- about Hindu nationalists taking your identity in vain and pushing far-right hate, here are your people and playbook --
scroll.in/article/1088...
If you are a Hindu American and frustrated -- even irate -- about Hindu nationalists taking your identity in vain and pushing far-right hate, here are your people and playbook --
scroll.in/article/1088...
How ‘Hindus for Zohran’ pushed back against Hindutva claims in New York mayoral race
The Muslim candidate of South Asian origin faced hostility because he called out the political motivations behind the Gujarat riots.
scroll.in
November 12, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Absolutely bizarre facets to every event in this life. One would have thought that after right-wing, progressives, Dem establishment, nationalists, and Jewish people, you basically exhaust the range of possible opinions about Mamdani. Oh well. Not nearly.
Reposted by Arseny
Dutch avant-garde painter
Jacoba Heemskerck van Beest, Komposition, 1912 #womensart
Jacoba Heemskerck van Beest, Komposition, 1912 #womensart
November 12, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Dutch avant-garde painter
Jacoba Heemskerck van Beest, Komposition, 1912 #womensart
Jacoba Heemskerck van Beest, Komposition, 1912 #womensart
I used to jam a lot with Old Believers, where beards are prescribed: kinda the opposite of mormonism. No beard = godlessness. But also, because of this obsession with beards, I remember reading a lot about beards in old armies, where they were oft a sign of rank, only allowed to higher ranks...
Hegseth: "We don't need to be a military of beardos anymore. Do you know how many troops claim to be Nordic Pagan? No, suddenly it's become this real fake religious affiliation inside the Pentagon where troops came to be Nordic Pagan so they can grow a beard and nobody challenges them on it."
November 12, 2025 at 5:59 PM
I used to jam a lot with Old Believers, where beards are prescribed: kinda the opposite of mormonism. No beard = godlessness. But also, because of this obsession with beards, I remember reading a lot about beards in old armies, where they were oft a sign of rank, only allowed to higher ranks...
Reposted by Arseny
1/ 🚨 New working paper alert. We (@essobecker.bsky.social @jeanetbentzen.bsky.social and myself) thought there is still much to learn about the link between religion and gender, so we write a survey 🥁
“Gender and Religion: A Survey" 👉 warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/econ...
“Gender and Religion: A Survey" 👉 warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/econ...
November 11, 2025 at 2:28 PM
1/ 🚨 New working paper alert. We (@essobecker.bsky.social @jeanetbentzen.bsky.social and myself) thought there is still much to learn about the link between religion and gender, so we write a survey 🥁
“Gender and Religion: A Survey" 👉 warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/econ...
“Gender and Religion: A Survey" 👉 warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/econ...
til skyscrapers in North America have no 13th floor as ppl are afraid of numbers. (Except for Vancouver that banned this practice!) In most Asian countries the same fate befalls the 4th floor as in many languages (!) it sounds similar to "death". Italy skips 17th hotel rooms, but not 17th floors 🤯
Humans: capable of building entire skyscrapers but still afraid to put the scary number on one of the floors
November 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM
til skyscrapers in North America have no 13th floor as ppl are afraid of numbers. (Except for Vancouver that banned this practice!) In most Asian countries the same fate befalls the 4th floor as in many languages (!) it sounds similar to "death". Italy skips 17th hotel rooms, but not 17th floors 🤯
Reposted by Arseny
I always forget that henry the 8th had a gun. it's like giving pippin from lord of the rings a gun.
November 10, 2025 at 11:27 AM
I always forget that henry the 8th had a gun. it's like giving pippin from lord of the rings a gun.
Reposted by Arseny
A high-resolution digital map allows people to plan their routes along the ancient roads of the Roman Empire
go.nature.com/4nHZmoM
go.nature.com/4nHZmoM
‘Google Maps’ for Roman roads reveals vast extent of ancient network
Nature - A high-resolution digital map nearly doubles the known length of the ancient road network.
go.nature.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:08 AM
A high-resolution digital map allows people to plan their routes along the ancient roads of the Roman Empire
go.nature.com/4nHZmoM
go.nature.com/4nHZmoM
Reposted by Arseny
This manuscript is notable for many reasons. One is that most of the stories (biblical, legends) are set in contemporary England. So many of the biblical figures wear chain mail, the narratives are embroidered through daily life, the architecture reflects what was prevalent in England at the time.
“God the Creator”, opening illustration to a stunning 14th-century manuscript known as the Holkham Bible Picture Book. Explore more of its glorious depictions of bible scenes here: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/holkham-bible
November 7, 2025 at 9:23 PM
This manuscript is notable for many reasons. One is that most of the stories (biblical, legends) are set in contemporary England. So many of the biblical figures wear chain mail, the narratives are embroidered through daily life, the architecture reflects what was prevalent in England at the time.
A cool question on r/askhistorians : why european architects are so keen of lions, and not bears, while Europe doesn't have lions, but has lots of bears?
The main answer: history! Europe used to have lots of lions, and they became mythological from there
www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
The main answer: history! Europe used to have lots of lions, and they became mythological from there
www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
November 8, 2025 at 6:26 PM
A cool question on r/askhistorians : why european architects are so keen of lions, and not bears, while Europe doesn't have lions, but has lots of bears?
The main answer: history! Europe used to have lots of lions, and they became mythological from there
www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
The main answer: history! Europe used to have lots of lions, and they became mythological from there
www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
Reposted by Arseny
3,900 Pages of Paul Klee’s Personal Notebooks Are Now Online, Highlighting His Bauhaus Teachings (1921–1931)
3,900 Pages of Paul Klee’s Personal Notebooks Are Now Online, Highlighting His Bauhaus Teachings (1921–1931)
Paul Klee led an artistic life that spanned the 19th and 20th centuries, but he kept his aesthetic sensibility tuned to the future.
www.openculture.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:51 PM
3,900 Pages of Paul Klee’s Personal Notebooks Are Now Online, Highlighting His Bauhaus Teachings (1921–1931)
Reposted by Arseny
This little bird survived a volcanic eruption!
Buried by volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, this Roman fresco of a little bird pecking at fruit re-emerged looking as delightful as it did some 2,000 years ago!
Villa Poppaea, ancient Oplontis, Italy
📷 by me
#FrescoFriday
#Archaeology
Buried by volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, this Roman fresco of a little bird pecking at fruit re-emerged looking as delightful as it did some 2,000 years ago!
Villa Poppaea, ancient Oplontis, Italy
📷 by me
#FrescoFriday
#Archaeology
November 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
This little bird survived a volcanic eruption!
Buried by volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, this Roman fresco of a little bird pecking at fruit re-emerged looking as delightful as it did some 2,000 years ago!
Villa Poppaea, ancient Oplontis, Italy
📷 by me
#FrescoFriday
#Archaeology
Buried by volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, this Roman fresco of a little bird pecking at fruit re-emerged looking as delightful as it did some 2,000 years ago!
Villa Poppaea, ancient Oplontis, Italy
📷 by me
#FrescoFriday
#Archaeology