Rock-n- Art

08/10/2025

Let’s go make a dive

08/10/2025

Located near Antalya, Turkey, the Aspendos Theater is widely celebrated as one of the most remarkably preserved Roman theaters in existence. Constructed around 155 AD during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius by the architect Zeno, the theater could originally accommodate between 15,000 and 20,000 spectators. Its semi-circular design, meticulous stonework, and strategic placement against the Ta**us Mountains underscore the engineering prowess of the Roman Empire.

What sets Aspendos apart is its extraordinary acoustics. The theater was designed with such precision that even the faintest sound from the stage can be heard clearly at the uppermost rows. The architectural layout includes a nearly intact two-story stage building (scaenae frons), adorned with Corinthian columns, statues, and elaborate reliefs, which reflect the grandeur and ceremonial richness of Roman public spaces.

Aspendos served as a venue for dramas, musical performances, and gladiatorial games, and it continues to be a cultural hub today. Unlike many ancient theaters that fell into disrepair, Aspendos has been well maintained and is still used for modern performances, including opera and ballet festivals. Its enduring presence makes it a powerful symbol of Roman legacy in Anatolia and a testament to classical artistry that continues to captivate visitors.

08/10/2025

Deep beneath the ocean's surface, a creature known as the 'zombie worm' has been feasting on the bones of marine animals for an estimated 100 million years.

First discovered in 2002 by researchers in Monterey Bay, California, these worms, officially named *Osedax*, live at incredible depths, sometimes as far as 13,000 feet down.

What makes them so unusual is that they have no mouth and no digestive system. They are truly unlike most other life forms we know. 🦴

Instead of eating in a typical way, the worms secrete powerful acid from their skin. This acid dissolves the hard bone of whale carcasses and other skeletons that have sunk to the sea floor.

Once the bone is broken down, symbiotic bacteria living inside the worms help them absorb the fats and oils as their only source of food.

Their reproductive process is just as strange. The female worms are the ones we see, but the males are microscopic and live inside the female's body, ensuring the species can continue in the vast, dark ocean.

Fossil evidence shows that these creatures were not just eating whale bones. Researchers have found their boreholes in the ancient bones of plesiosaurs, meaning they have been cleaning the ocean floor for a very long time. 🌊

By helping to break down skeletons, these zombie worms play a quiet but important role in recycling nutrients in the deep sea, showing how every creature has its purpose.

11/29/2024

01/30/2020

Agatized coral 35 million years old

09/28/2017

Rock sale this weekend Sept30th &Oct 1st 9-5 at my house 615 804 1669

07/30/2013

a small part of my collection is on display at the Hendersonville Tn library till mid Aug

05/21/2012