Thursday, October 18

A Bit Of Gandolfo

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Physicists tell us that bits are the universal medium of communication. And physicists might be the smartest scientists (at least that’s what they tell me). So how to communicate the Pope’s vacation palace at Gandolfo? How about in a bit? A tiny piece of a big field that combines the architectural grandeur, with the pomp and two men at the very foundation of Papal authority… two non-coms: a soldier and a priest.

A violinist friend of mine, an amateur musician, once found herself at a reception for present and past violinists of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She told me that she felt like a priest at the Vatican.

Well, here's that priest.

And here is one bit of wall, soldier and priest: a trio that condenses two millennia of heirarchy and grandeur into a narrative I can understand.

BTW, for you metaphor collectors, how about that slope?

Gandolfo, Italy. 10/01/07:11:40pm

NOTE: You will often find in-depth descriptions of this Italian visit among the daily comments below both as I add onto them and as you prompt my memory. I'll try to restrict my thoughts exclusively to today's image here on the home page. Those Italian comments begin here.

3 comments:

Andreas said...

Awesome Ted, absolutely awesome. There is such an incredible amount of story, and it goes on and on, image after image. You're right, this can't be any more compressed.

Btw: thanks for the link, it could be felt :)

Andreas

Debra Trean said...

ONE AMAZING IMAGE!!! wow does that speak volumes or what!!! superb

John Roberts said...

As a former Roman Catholic, this image is so full of symbolism to me. But as the old saying goes, avoid discussing religion, politics, or money in polite company, so I won't go there.