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In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‚ M’Baku (played by Winston Duke) delivers a line about the film’s antagonist‚ Namor (played by Tenoch Huerta). It was delivered in such a way that it stuck with the crowds who saw the film “They do not call him general‚ or king; they call him Kukulkan‚ the Feathered Serpent God.” Although Namor is a fictional character created by Marvel‚ the name Kukulkan is actually drawn from a real person and deity in Mesoamerica. Kukulkan statue at Chichen Itza Mesoamerican Super God The deity Kukulkan‚ or the feathered serpent god‚ is a key figure in Mayan mythology. However‚ he is also closely related to gods in other Mesoamerican cultures. One example is Quetzalcóatl in the Toltec and Aztec cultures. Another is Gucumatz in the Quiché Maya culture of Guatemala. And lastly‚ Ehecatl in the Huastecs culture of the Gulf Coast.  In each form‚ he is tied to wind‚ rain‚ or life in general‚ and is related to the origin of the world. He first appears sometime in the first millennium BCE‚ as a drawing in Olmec paintings. This was an ancient civilization predating the Aztecs and Maya in the Gulf region. But depictions of the Kukulkan are rare and little is known about his mythology during this period.  Where did Kukulkan come from? Very little record of Kukulkan’s mythology exists. However‚ the origin of the name Kukulkan is a direct translation from the Yucatec language of the Mayans: “kuk.” This means feather‚ but the ending “ul” changes it to feathered. And “kan” means snake.  A common origin tale is that Kukulkan was a boy who was born as a feathered snake. He quickly grew to an unreasonable size. His sister took him to a cave to care for him until she could no longer feed him enough.  At this point‚ he flew out of the cave‚ causing an earthquake. Now it is said that every year in the summer Kukulkan causes an earthquake to let his sister know that he is still safe.  Who was Kulkulkan? Records show he was the god of wind‚ rain‚ or life. He would fly around the world‚ sometimes ahead of the god Chaac who brought the rain.  Beyond this origin tale‚ not much else has persisted through history about Kukulkan. However‚ The Mayans have historical records of a man also called Kukulkan who was a great leader.  He lived in the 10th century CE. He supposedly founded the city of Chichen Itza. This would become the dominant city in the northern Yucatan region.  There is another example of cross-cultural connection in Toltec culture‚ which preceded the Aztec empire. Their culture shares a similar story of a man who shares a name with the deity Quetzalcóatl who went east and founded a city. This demonstrates another example of the mingling and evolution of Mesoamerican cultures. Today‚ Chichen Itza stands as the city most associated with Kukulkan. Architectural Achievements Two important structures still stand in the city. One is called the Caracol. It is an astronomical observatory that was possibly designed to look like a conch‚ a shell associated with wind gods across the peninsula.  It likely was built to track the movements of the planet Venus‚ which was closely associated with Kukulkan in all his forms. The second important structure stands at the center of Chichen Itza.  The Pyramid of Kukulkan‚ built on the ruins of another site between 800 and 900 CE‚ is a massive monument to the deity. It is the central location for human sacrifices to appease the gods’ wrath. The pyramid of Kukalkan at Chichen Itza A Monumental Calendar The pyramid is an architectural feat in many ways. Of the four stairwells‚ three have 91 steps and one has 92‚ for a total of 365 steps representing the year. The walls are also divided into nine sections‚ bisected on each side by the stairways‚ to represent the 18-month Mayan calendar.  Finally‚ the view of the pyramid from the top is a square intersected with the lines of the staircases. It is reminiscent of the Mayan symbol for zero.  This made the pyramid not only a monument to the gods but also a looming calendar and a monument to Mayan innovation. But most impressively‚ the features of the building would recreate a mythological journey of Kukulkan twice a year. Serpent Symbology In Mesoamerican cultures‚ the snake symbolized life between gods and humanity‚ above and below earth. Just as a snake could crawl along the earth‚ it could also submerge itself in the ground. This is how Kukulkan navigated the physical and metaphysical world.  The Mayans designed the pyramid to represent his journey. On each equinox‚ when the balance between day and night was the most equal‚ the edges of the nine steps of the pyramid cast their shadows along the sides of the pyramid.  Over the course of a few hours‚ the shadows slowly creep down the sides‚ mimicking the movement of a snake slithering. Once the head of the feathered serpent at the base of the pyramid is connected to the topmost stone‚ the image remains for nearly an hour before the shadows begin creeping down out of sight.  This design represents Kukulkan’s biannual journey between the heavens and the underworld‚ where he stops to bless humanity as he passes through the earth.  The mythological narratives of Kukulkan are lost to time. All that is known is that he is the god of wind in the shape of a feathered serpent. This has not stopped pop culture from incorporating aspects of his mythology.  Namor‚ the Sub-Mariner from Marvel comics‚ has been adapted to be a representation of Kukulkan‚ acting in a similar role to the human figure of Kukulkan from Mayan history. Kukulkan also makes an appearance in Star Trek as an ancient serpent species that visited Earth. He is also a playable character in the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game Smite‚ whose characters are from assorted pantheons.  References Cartwright‚ Mark. “Kukulkan.” World History Encyclopedia‚ January 25‚ 2021. https://www.worldhistory.org/Kukulcan/.  “Kukulkan.” Mythlok. https://mythlok.com/kukulkan/.  Tre. “Pyramid of Kukulcan at Chich’en Itza.” Atlas Obscura‚ July 15‚ 2009. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pyramid-kukulcan-chichen-itza. The post They Call Him Kukulkan: The Feathered Serpent God first appeared on History Defined.

Albert Einstein is the most famous scientist of the modern age. Everyone learns about his theory of relativity and the equation E=MC2 is common parlance.  There was more to Einstein’s life though‚ than being a brilliant physicist and household name. When he wasn’t making revolutionary scientific discoveries‚ Einstein was also a husband and a father.  From his first marriage‚ Albert had two sons: Hans Albert Einstein and Eduard Einstein. Hans followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a renowned engineer and moving to America. But Eduard’s emulation of his father was far less fortunate. After a lifetime of health struggles and tragedy‚ Eduard passed away at 55 years old‚ only outliving his father by 10 years.  Family portrait of Albert Einstein and his two sons. Part of Albert Einstein Collection‚ AR 136 A Family Separated Eduard was born in Zurich‚ Switzerland on July 28‚ 1910. Four years later the Einstein family relocated to Berlin‚ Germany for Albert.  At this point‚ the family consisted of Albert‚ his first wife Mileva Maric‚ 10-year-old Hans‚ and 4-year-old Eduard. Albert affectionately referred to Eduard as Tete‚ a shortened form of the French word “petite”‚ since he was the youngest child.  However‚ Albert and Mileva divorced shortly after the move and Mileva took the children back to Switzerland with her. Although the family was now separated‚ Albert made sure to check in and visit his children. He even took them on trips with him to spend time with them.  Mileva claimed that science always came first in Albert’s life‚ but Hans recalled fond memories of the trips the boys would take with their father. In 1919 Albert remarried. In 1933‚ he emigrated to the United States to avoid the rise of the Nazi party in Germany.  But he consistently saw his children and inspired their growth  Eduard’s Childhood Eduard was a sickly child who often missed the trips his father planned because of his illnesses. Much of his childhood was spent rotating through hospitals and sanitariums trying to find a solution to his illnesses with his parents.  This discouraged his father‚ who feared Eduard would never get to lead a normal life. He even stated in one letter that “It is impossible that (Eduard) would become a fully developed person.”  Despite these struggles‚ however‚ Eduard excelled in school and seemed to follow in his father’s footsteps. He became enamored with art and poetry‚ spending hours creating his own works.  His father also suggested the works of Sigmund Freud to Eduard‚ who quickly became obsessed with Freud’s theories‚ perhaps because they felt relatable to his own mental health struggles. This was the root of Eduard’s interest in the field of psychiatry.  Mileva Marić with sons‚ Eduard (born in 1910) and Hans Albert (born in 1904)‚ taken in 1914. From Hebrew University of Jerusalem Struggles at College In 1929 he began attending Zurich University‚ his father’s alma mater‚ pursuing a degree in medicine with a focus on psychiatry. While he performed well in his classes‚ he struggled under the burden of his father’s reputation while at school.  At this point‚ Albert was world-renowned for his theoretical physics. That put a lot of additional pressure on his son‚ who already struggled with mental illness. Then‚ emulating his father again‚ Eduard fell in love with an older woman at university.  Albert had met Mileva while at the Zurich Polytechnic Institute and became enamored although she was four years older than him. Unlike his father though‚ who went on to marry Mileva‚ Eduard’s relationship fell apart. When he could not handle the pain‚ he attempted to take his own life. This resulted in the first of many times Eduard would be admitted to Burghölzli Hospital for his own mental well-being. The Diagnosis and Treatment At 22‚ Eduard began showing symptoms and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. While in the hospital he was treated for his schizophrenia with electroconvulsive therapy. This involves sending electrical currents through the brain to cause seizures and alter brain chemistry.  Although supposedly a treatment‚ his family believed that the therapy he received actually worsened his condition over the course of his life. Eventually‚ Eduard’s ability to speak and even think was irreparably damaged.  Albert was heartbroken by his son’s condition and deteriorating mental state. But he could do little more to help than send money to support the family.  When he was forced to flee Germany in 1933‚ Albert convinced Hans to join him in emigrating to America. He attempted to convince Eduard as well. However‚ Eduard’s deteriorating state prevented him from being able to make the journey.  This forced Albert to give what would be his final farewell to his youngest son before departing.  The Final Years After Albert and Hans left Europe‚ Mileva alone was left to care for Eduard. Even with the money that Albert sent from his job at Princeton‚ the cost of Eduard’s care became overwhelming.  Mileva did everything she could to help him‚ including writing to renowned psychologist Carl Jung‚ who never answered her letter. In 1948 Mileva passed away‚ and Eduard went into the care of Burghölzli Hospital for the remainder of his life.  He spent the time writing poetry and creating art‚ as well as writing letters to his father until Albert passed in 1955. Eduard then died in 1965 of a stroke‚ across the world from his only remaining family‚ and separated from the legacy of his father.  Eduard spent his entire life in the shadow of a father who was simultaneously absent and larger than life. He inherited his father’s intellect and curiosity‚ but mental illness and brutal therapy techniques hindered his performance and ability to socialize.  Despite the circumstances‚ Eduard tried to live a life filled with the things he loved: art‚ poetry‚ and family.  References “Eduard Einstein: The Tragic Life of Einstein’s Brightest Son.” Odd Feed. https://oddfeed.net/eduard-einstein/  Halpern‚ Paul. “Mileva Einstein’s Desperate Plea to Carl Jung: Help Me with my Son!” Medium‚ June 29‚ 2020. https://phalpern.medium.com/mileva-einsteins-desperate-plea-to-carl-jung-help-me-with-my-son-f3d2d01556f9.  Navilon‚ Genefe. “Eduard Einstein: The tragic life of Albert Einstein’s forgotten son.” Ideapod‚ 2018. https://ideapod.com/eduard-einstein-the-tragic-life-of-albert-einsteins-forgotten-son/ The post Eduard Einstein: The Forgotten Son of Albert Einstein first appeared on History Defined.

Rice‚ a global food phenomenon‚ fuels the diets of over 3.5 billion people worldwide. From Italian risotto to Japanese sushi‚ its versatility knows no bounds. But is it healthy? Let’s delve into the world of rice‚ exploring its varieties and the health benefits of rice. Types of Rice: A Palette of Possibilities Long‚ Medium‚ Short Grains: Unveiling the Textures Long grain: Light and fluffy‚ perfect for rice bowls and stir-fries. Medium grain: Chewy and tender‚ a side dish favorite. Short grain: Soft and sticky‚ ideal for lettuce wraps and rice pudding. Pexels | Varieties of Rice – Long Grain‚ Medium Grain‚ Short Grain Popular Varieties: From Brown to Basmati White rice: Widely consumed but processed‚ with potential downsides. Brown rice: Rich in nutrients and fiber‚ with a lower glycemic response. Black rice: Protein-packed and aids in healthy digestion. Red rice: A source of disease-fighting antioxidants. Health Benefits of Rice: More Than Just Carbs Nutrient Powerhouse: White rice‚ despite processing‚ contains phosphorus‚ manganese‚ thiamin‚ and niacin. Fortified Goodness: Many white rice brands fortify with calcium‚ iron‚ and folic acid. Cautions: White rice may spike blood sugar and absorb arsenic‚ a known carcinogen. Pexels | Health Benefits of Brown Rice Rice and Weight Management Rice’s Role in Weight Loss Rice’s ability to expand to three times its volume can aid in feeling full‚ supporting weight management. However‚ caution is needed‚ as a cup of white rice packs over 200 calories. Strategic portion control is key. Crafting a Balanced Plate Balancing rice consumption with diverse varieties‚ vegetables‚ and lean proteins enhances its role in weight management. Aim for a quarter of your plate filled with rice‚ ensuring a harmonious blend of flavors and nutrients. The Power of Variety: Mixing It Up Registered dietitian Shelley Rael suggests spicing up your rice routine for a healthier diet. Mix things up by switching between brown and white rice; it not only brings a variety of nutrients to your plate but also keeps your meals exciting. Don’t forget to combine your rice with loads of colorful veggies and a good protein source for a perfectly balanced and tasty meal. Pexels | Weight Loss Plate – Balanced Mix of Rice‚ Vegetables‚ and Protein Choosing the Right Rice: A Healthier Path Micronutrient-Rich Choices: Opt for rice with maximum micronutrients and fiber. Brown Rice Superiority: Retains nutrients‚ fiber‚ and stabilizes blood sugar levels. A Wholesome Approach to Rice Consumption In conclusion‚ rice‚ when chosen wisely and consumed in moderation‚ can be a valuable addition to a healthy diet. The key lies in exploring the diverse world of rice varieties and integrating them into a balanced and nutritious meal plan. So‚ embark on a culinary journey‚ savor the rich textures‚ and reap the health benefits of this globally cherished grain. The post Serving Up Wellness: Exploring the Hidden Health Benefits of Rice appeared first on Fun Facts For Days.

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