Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Night of the Living Dead (1968) - The First Zombie Film

"Night of the Living Dead" is a 1968 American independent horror film and also a cult film. It was directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman and it premiered on October 1, 1968. The budget for this film was only US$114,000.

It is known today as the first zombie film ever made, and a cult film for all zombie fans or at least it should be.





http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063350/

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Archaeologists found Mona Lisa model's remains

mona

Archeologists are uncovering the remains of what they believe is the model behind Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa". Source: AdelaideNow
IT'S the face that launched a thousand imitations. Now, archaeologists are convinced they've found the body of the real Mona Lisa.
Buried in a crypt beneath a convent in Florence, Italy, archaeologists believe they have uncovered the skeleton belonging to the model who posed for Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece in 1504.
The wife of a rich silk merchant, Lisa Gheradini, is generally accepted by historians to be the woman with the mysterious smile.
Lisa Gheradini, whose married name was Giocondo, became a nun after her husband's death. She was buried in the grounds of the Convent of Saint Ursula where she died in 1542, aged 63.


Mona Lisa

The burial site of Lisa Gherardini, wife of the wealthy Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo, the model who inspired Leonardo da Vinci's painting "The Mona Lisa". Picture: AFP / CLAUDIO GIOVANNINI Source: AFP
Archaeologists had to dig through thick concrete laid as part of an effort to turn the convent into barracks for soldiers.
But they quickly unearthed a female-sized human skull, along with fragments of vertebrae and ribs.
It was right where ancient maps and documents had led them to believe Lisa's body had been placed: a crypt reached via a gate and staircase.

Mona Lisa

Archaeologists work on the excavation of a grave inside the medieval Convent of Saint Ursula in Florence. Picture: AFP / CLAUDIO GIOVANNINI Source: AFP
The dig was suspended after the archaeologists ran out of funds, but work began again last month.
They have since unearthed a large part of a human skeleton.
However, archeologist Silvano Vinceti, who is in charge of the dig, said it was not certain if the bones belonged to the same individual.


Mona Lisa

An archaeologist works on the excavation of a grave inside the medieval Convent of Saint Ursula in Florence. Picture: AFP / CLAUDIO GIOVANNINI Source: AFP
DNA will be extracted from the bones and compared with the remains of Lisa's children, who were buried nearby.
Once her identity is verified, archeologists will use reconstruction techniques on the skull to see how it compares to the face on da Vinci's idyllic painting.
Professor Vincenti claimed last year that hidden initials could be found in the eyes of the Mona Lisa when examined under a high-powered microscope.


Mona Lisa

A human skeleton is seen at the excavation of a grave inside the medieval Convent of Saint Ursula in Florence. Archaeologists are searching the burial site for Lisa Gherardini, wife of the wealthy Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo, the model who inspired Leonardo da Vinci's painting "The Mona Lisa". AFP / CLAUDIO GIOVANNINI Source: AFP

Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/world/archeologists-uncover-mona-lisa-models-remains/story-fnddckzi-1226428689373