Byzantine currency

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, two types of coins were typically used in the Eastern Roman Empire: a gold coin and a bronze coin. The golden coin was a gold solidus, while bronze was used for several clearly valued coins. As the empire came close to its end, new currency was only issued in silver and copper. The Byzantine coinage remained its prestige until the near end of the empire and it inspired a lot of European rulers. When rulers throughout Europe began issuing their own currency, they normally placed their own portrait on the obverse.

During the early days of the Byzantine Empire, the coins followed the Roman tradition. On the obverse side of the coin you would find the head of the emperor, while the reverse side was adorned with a Christian symbol, e.g. a cross or an angel. The gold coins issued by Justinian II broke this tradition by placing a bust of Jesus on the obverse side instead of the emperor and let a full-length portrait of the emperor decorate the reverse side.

During the 10th century, coins decorated with “anonymous folles” instead of a portrait of the emperor began to appear. Such a coin had a bust of Jesus on the obverse side and an inscription on the reverse side. The inscription read “XRISTUS/bASILEU/bASILE” which means “Christ, King of Kings”.

How much light does a vanilla orchid need?

The vanilla orchid Vanilla planifolia is native to Mexican tropical forests where it is used to light being filtered down through the canopy. The sun is strong in Mexico, but the lush canopy of the tropical forest keeps the orchid fairly sheltered from direct sunlight. Try to mimic these conditions in your home. You can for instance place the orchid in a spot where it will be somewhat shaded from noon to evening. Full morning sun is usually beneficial, since it is not as strong as afternoon sun. You might have to move the orchid around a bit until you find the ideal combination of light and shade.

The internet is for porn

What do you think the Internet is for? Sending postcards? Online gadget shopping? Hanging out on Wikipedia learning more about Charlemagne? If you think the Internet is for watching hilarious videos that juxtaposes show tunes from musicals with World of Warcraft, then you will probably like this little thing:

Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc

The grape Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc is believed to have appeared in Gamay, which is a village located south of Beaune in the Bourgogne region. Its exact origin is shielded in mystery, but most experts agree that it made its entrance in the 1360 when the Black Death began to decline in eastern France. Compared the then dominating Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc – commonly referred to as Gamay only – was easier to cultivate and produced larger harvests. The fact that it ripened two weeks earlier was also greatly appreciated by the local vine growers.

The new grape was however not welcomed by all. In July 1395, the Duke of Burgundy Philippe the Bold made it illegal to cultivate Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc. According to the duke, the vine was full of “very great and horrible harshness”.

Despite the ban, Gamay survived into our time and is today grown extensively in the Loire Valley around Tours. It is also cultivated in Beaujolais and Gamay grapes grown in the more alkaline soils of Southern Beaujolais are used to produce Beaujolais Nouveau. Gamay grapes grown around Tours are typically blended with Cabernet Franc and Côt instead of being used on their own.