Friday 21 August 2009

The floating Trojan Horse

Lake Orta
Orta San Giulio

18 comments:

Gunn said...

A unique shot, and very nice!

Dina said...

Fantastic! Pardon my ignorance, but could you explain it to one who has never heard of a floating Trojan horse?

Unknown said...

very different!

Diederick Wijmans said...

As opposed to the huge, hollow wooden horse constructed by the Greeks to gain entrance into Troy during the Trojan War. The horse was built by Epeius, master carpenter and pugilist. The Greeks, pretending to desert the war, sailed to the nearby island of Tenedos, leaving behind Sinon, who persuaded the Trojans that the horse was an offering to Athena that would make Troy impregnable. Despite the warnings of Laocoon and Cassandra, the horse was taken inside. That night warriors emerged from it and opened the city’s gates to the returned Greek army. The story is told at length in Book II of the Aeneid and is touched upon in the Odyssey. The term Trojan horse has come to refer to subversion introduced from the outside.
The floating Trojan horse on Lake Orta is just for lake swimmers to hold on to when they are tired of swimming.

Virginia said...

Well that's a fabulous "floating dock" as we would call it. Very imaginative. Your use of BW makes it look vintage. Wonderful!

I love the empty seats below. I would never have thought to take that photo, but that's why I come here daily.....to see what your eye has found!
V

Stefan Jansson said...

Perhaps a fun way to learn about history.

Paty said...

i loved the story! the horse helps when the swimmers are tired, very nice! and beautiful shot!

Dina said...

Ah, I see.
Something so artistic is actually something very practical.
Most Israelis know all about the recent invasion of the Trojan horse into computers. I hope the young ones have learned about the original Greek story too.
Thanks.

Lowell said...

That's a funny shot! What in the world are they doing with that horse out there?

OK, never mind. I just read your comment explaining the thing.

I like it!

Unknown said...

How do they keep that up?

Ann said...

A unique pontoon for swimmers. I like it a lot.

Diederick said...

Thank you all, for your kind comments.

Steve, they keep that up with the empty petrol barrels attached to the basis underneath the water. Then a long chain with a heavy weight keeps the whole sculpture from drifting away.By the way: the horse is empty inside, and is consequently lighter that one thinks.

Barby Bond's inspirational spark said...

Really nice shot! I live close to lago d'orta so I appreciate it very much ;-)
when did u take this pic?

Diederick Wijmans said...

Thank you for your comments,Barby.
I took this picture last tuesday from the garden of the Municipality house.

Jilly said...

How amazing and how utterly fabulous.

brattcat said...

Wow! Wonderful shot.

EG CameraGirl said...

Attractive sculpture. At first I thought it was a fountain that wasn't turned on but I like the idea of something safe to hang onto when tired.

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