Jake’s Sunday post this week is culture – not as easy as you would think, but here is my offering! Pop on over and join in or see how other people have interpreted it.
http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/sunday-post-culture/
My Chambers Dictionary defines culture as :
The result of cultivation; the state of being cultivated; refinement in manners, thought, taste, etc; loosely, the arts; a type of civilisation; the attitudes and values which inform a society; a crop of micro-organisms, eg bacteria, grown in a solid or liquid medium in a laboratory.
I’ll skip the science and instead show you just a little culture from my city.
A touch of Rock to celebrate World Peace Day
Some Cafe culture, at least three choices in Princesshay Square
Some Cultural heritage provided by history re-inactment
Busking Hip-hop
Last but not least one of the High Street sculptures, 6 metres high, stainless steel and I love it but as always with these installations it has been controversial. Engraved on it are some of the Exeter Riddles, from one of the oldest books of Old English poetry, dating back to the tenth century. To add to the mystery the riddles are engraved backwards to be read in the reflections.
Here are two of the riddles.
Some acres of this Middle Earth are handsomely attired with the hardest, sharpest, most bitter of man’s fine belongings:
It is cut, threshed, couched, kilned, mashed, strained, sparged, yeasted, covered, wracked, and carried far to the doors of men.
A quickening delight lies in this treasure, lingers and lasts for men who, from experience, indulge their inclinations and don’t rail against them; and then after death it begins to gab, to gossip, wrecklessly.
Shrewd men must think carefully must think carefully what this creature is.
Any ideas?
I am a strange creature with various voices.
I can bark like a dog, bleat like a goat, honk like a goose, shreek like a hawk, and at time I imitate the ashen eagle, the battle bird’s cry;
the vulture’s croak trips off my tongue and them mew of the seagull as I sit here saucily.
The capital G suggests my name and AE, R, and O assist it so do H and I. I am called what these six characters clearly spell out.
I’ll come back in a couple of days and add the answers!
Lucid Gypsy 
“the riddles are engraved backwards to be read in the reflections.”
Love it!!
And I have absolutely no idea of the answer to those riddles. I guess I fail the Medieval IQ test! 😉
Don’t worry Sharon I would ever work them out either! Well maybe the first. Imagine working them out from the original Old English – impossible 🙂 Thanks for coming around honey, I always love your visits 🙂
Excellent work for the theme Gilly ,Great to see your culture Good job 🙂
Thanks Jake it was a good challenge as always!
I’m not very good at solving riddles, but enjoyed your post Gilly. You live in a beautiful place. So much to do.
They are very difficult and that’s after they have been translated from Old English! Yes, Exeter is a lovely little city with lots of history. Thanks for coming round 🙂
Wow! Stunning post as usual hon! Love the photo’s! Great entry! 🙂
Oh, I love riddles!
1. Ale
2. Magpie
hehehehe
*big hugs*
How very clever you are!!! 🙂
LOL! Thanks hon! I just love riddles and are always seeking for answers..heheh
You beat me to it…I was so proud i had the answers…oh well !!
🙂
See, I am not the only clever one..hehehe
*hugs*
great minds and all that !!!
LOL Jo! *hugs*
I believe Sonel is right! Thabk you for a very enjoyable post Gilly!
Another clever lady, well done! 🙂
Thank you 😉
I always knew you were cultured! 🙂
Moi? Nooo!
great photos Gilly…love the riddles as well
Thanks honey, it seems most of you are cleverer then me – not difficult!
Silly girl…you are clever…you put them up in the first place.
😉
you’ve collected a wonderful gallery of cultural events!
Thanks my dear I always try to keep my eyes open!
Love your interpretation of culture. Not sure about riddles. I’ve never been great at solving them. Good thing I’m not Bilbo Baggins or I would have been killed by Gollum.
Me too unless I gave him the stare!
Haven’t been to Exeter for nearly a decade, (though I loved visiting, when I lived in Plymouth,) so have never seen the cone with the riddles. It sounds magical – even though I couldn’t figure them out! Thank you for a super post, Gilly 🙂
Exeter has changed in those years, you would still love it! I couldn’t do the riddles either honey and i’m glad you liked it, thanks 🙂
An interesting sculpture in your last photograph.
i love it but not everyone does – always the way!
That is true – some would see it as too modern and too far removed from the classical sculptures.
what a fascinating post! thanks for providing the answers everyone – i am usually not very good at these types of riddles. once the answer is there, then of course it makes sense. 🙂
i also like the idea of the riddles being seen best in the reflections. how clever is that! thanks for sharing.
interesting post! … i like that photo of the one in knight costume; looks so medieval, i want to wear one, haha!
History re-enactment groups are very popular, perhaps you should seek one out and have a try! Thanks for visiting me!
I can feel all the fun and excitement through your photos. Just one colorful and fascinating event. take care.
I wont even try but I love the variety of cultural images you shared… lots of action in your town. 😉