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From today's featured article
Pyramid of Djedkare Isesi
Djedkare's pyramid
Djedkare Isesi was an Ancient Egyptian pharaoh, the eighth ruler of the Fifth Dy
nasty in the late 25th century to mid 24th century BCE, during the Old Kingdom p
eriod. He likely enjoyed a reign of over 40 years, which heralded a new period i
n the history of the Old Kingdom. Breaking with a tradition followed by his pred
ecessors since the time of Userkaf, Djedkare did not build a temple to the sun g
od Ra, possibly reflecting the rise of Osiris in the Egyptian pantheon. More sig
nificantly, Djedkare effected comprehensive reforms of the Egyptian state admini
stration, the first undertaken since the inception of the system of ranking titl
es. He also reorganised the funerary cults of his forebears buried in the necrop
olis of Abusir and reformed the corresponding priesthood. Djedkare commissioned
expeditions to Sinai to procure copper and turquoise, to Nubia for its gold and
diorite and to the Land of Punt for its incense. One such expedition had what co
uld be the earliest recorded instance of oracular divination that aimed to ensur
e an expedition's success. (Full article...)
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Turboliner Brougham Castle Southern Cross (wordless novel)
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Did you know...
Striated thornbill
Striated thornbill
... that the striated thornbill (pictured) often hangs upside-down while for
aging?
... that fire has been burning continuously since 1971 in an urn at the Indi
an memorial Amar Jawan Jyoti?
... that in a managed alcohol program, chronic alcoholics are treated with a
lcohol?
... that despite originally contesting the 1859 Town of Dunedin by-election,
William John Dyer did not participate in the poll called afterwards?
... that during Operation Python, oil reserves, ammunition warehouses and wo
rkshops worth $3 billion were destroyed by the Indian Navy?
 ... that Dieter Oesterlen designed the large concert hall of the Funkhaus Ha
nnover?
... that over 1,000 people complained when the Daily Mail called three High
Court judges "enemies of the people"?
... that to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canada in 2017, access to nat
ional parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas is free?
Recently created articles Start a new article Nominate an article

In the news
Damien Chazelle in 2014
Damien Chazelle
South Sudan and the United Nations declare a famine in parts of the country.
A suicide bombing at a shrine in Sehwan, Pakistan, kills at least 83 people
and injures more than 250 others.
The Indian Space Research Organisation's PSLV-C37 mission launches a record
104 satellites at once.
Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, is killed
in Malaysia.
La La Land wins in five categories, including Best Film and Best Director (D
amien Chazelle, pictured), at the British Academy Film Awards.
Ongoing:
U.S. immigration suspension Battle of Mosul
Recent deaths:
Dan Vickerman Robert Michel Stuart McLean Ricardo Arias Caldern
On this day...
February 21: Language Movement Day in Bangladesh
Polaroid Land Camera Model 95
Polaroid Land Camera Model 95
1245 Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland, was granted resignation by P
ope Innocent IV after having confessed to torture and forgery.
1828 The inaugural issue of the Cherokee Phoenix, the first newspaper in a N
ative American language, was published.
1921 The Constituent Assembly of Georgia adopted the nation's first constitu
tion, shortly before being overthrown by the Soviet Union.
1947 Edwin H. Land demonstrated the use of the first instant camera (picture
d) to the Optical Society of America.
1952 Protesters in Dhaka, East Pakistan, walked into military crossfire dema
nding the establishment of Bengali as an official language.
Nina Simone (b. 1933) Baruch Spinoza (d. 1677)
More anniversaries:
February 20 February 21 February 22
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Today's featured picture
Men of the Docks
Men of the Docks is an oil painting on canvas completed by the American artist G
eorge Bellows in 1912. Depicting day laborers at the docks of New York City, thi
s 114.3 by 161.3 cm (45.0 by 63.5 in) painting was sold to the National Gallery
in London in 2014 for $25.5 million.
Painting: George Bellows
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xarrfoss Sailing yacht PlayStation 4
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