In many places it is a work of speculation rather than fact, but such is the nature of the Tazza itself, and anyone who reads the book and then sees the object, or has seen it, will never look at it in the same way again."-Duane W. It is well written, literally hard to put down, with good illustrations and solid notes and bibliography. Medusa's Gaze : the Extraordinary JOURNEY of the Tazza Farnese More than a biography of the world's most cherished bowl, Medusa's Gaze is a vivid and delightful voyage through history. Throughout its journey, the Tazza aroused the lust of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Mongol rulers, consoled a heart-broken duchess, inspired artists including Botticelli and Raphael, tempted spies and thieves, and drew the ire of a deranged museum guard who nearly destroyed it. It witnessed the rediscovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the turbulent aftermath of the French Revolution, and the birth of the modern Italian state.
The Tazza next graced Tamerlane's court at Samarqand, before becoming an obsession of Renaissance popes and princes. After that city's sack by crusaders in 1204, it returned west to inspire the classical revival at the court of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II at Palermo. It likely traveled from Rome to Constantinople. After her defeat by Emperor Augustus, the bowl began an amazing itinerary along many flashpoints in world history. The Tazza 's origins date back to Ptolemaic Egypt where it likely enhanced the power and prestige of Cleopatra. That it has survived at all is a miracle. In this, the first book-length account of this renowned masterpiece, Marina Belozerskaya traces its fascinating journey through history. For more than two millennia, these radiant figures have mesmerized emperors and artists, popes and thieves, merchants and museum goers. A libation bowl carved from banded agate, it features Medusa's head on its outside and, inside, an assembly of Egyptian gods.
As the various characters come together for a major hwatu tournament, Go-ni struggles to keep his mind on the game as he's forced to keep his eye peeled for enemies prepared to claim his life.The Tazza Farnese is one of the most admired objects from classical antiquity. Go-ni also foolishly breaks off his affair with Jeong when he falls for Hwa-ran (Lee Su-gyeong), a beautiful woman who runs a nightspot, and makes an enemy of A-gui (Kim Yun-seok), a thug with a hair-trigger temper who holds a grudge against Pyeong. Jeong is attracted to the young and handsome Go-ni and takes him on as both a student and a lover, but the young man soon learns how dangerous a gambler's trade can be when he wins a hefty bankroll from Kwak Cheol-yeong (Kim Eung-su), an underworld kingpin who doesn't take losing lightly. Pyeong sees a talented protégé in Go-ni and takes him under his wing, introducing him to Madam Jeong (Kim Hye-su), an equally gifted female gambler. Go-ni's travels lead him to Pyeong Gyeong-jang (Baek Yun-shik), an unusually gifted card player who has gotten out of the game. Determined to get revenge, Go-ni sets out to find the guy who cheated him and win back his money. Convinced he's on a hot streak one evening during a card game, Go-ni bets his life savings on a hand of hwatu, only to lose to a crooked cardsharp. Go-ni (Jo Seung-woo) is a small-town guy with a big appetite for gambling. A guy with a talent for cards makes his way into the dangerous world of underground gambling in this crime thriller from South Korea.
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