Vitaly Komar and Alex Melamid: …Soldier in creating an opera, Naked Revolution (1997). The work explored concepts of revolution and history through the dreams of a New York City cab driver.

Sigrid Nunez: First short stories and novels: Her second novel, Naked Sleeper (1996), presents a character study of a woman reevaluating her relationship with her deceased father and upending her marriage through an impulsive affair. Mitz: The Marmoset of Bloomsbury (1998) is a whimsical biography of a pet monkey owned by English novelist Virginia Woolf…

Anthony Mann: The 1950s: westerns of Anthony Mann: The Naked Spur (1953), often considered the very best of Mann’s westerns, starred Stewart as a bounty hunter escorting a killer (Robert Ryan) through the Rockies. The strong supporting cast included Janet Leigh and Ralph Meeker, but the film’s special resonance can be credited to…

Vasco Pratolini: …important novel, Il quartiere (1944; The Naked Streets), offers a vivid, exciting portrait of a gang of Florentine adolescents. Cronaca familiare (1947; Two Brothers) is a tender story of Pratolini’s dead brother. Cronache di poveri amanti (1947; A Tale of Poor Lovers), which has been called one of the finest…

John Cleese: …perhaps his best-known film; and The Naked Wanderer (2019). In 1999 he first appeared in the recurring roles of R the gadget master and Nick the Nearly Headless Ghost in the James Bond and Harry Potter film series, respectively. He also did voice work in numerous films, including the Shrek…

Boris Pilnyak: …his novel Goly god (1922; The Naked Year) that brought him popularity. This book presents a panorama of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the Russian Civil War (1918–20) as seen through a series of flashbacks and close-ups encompassing all levels of society. Its fragmentary, chaotic style matches the character…

wombat: The common wombat has coarse dark hair and a bald, granular nose pad. It is common in woodlands of hilly country along the Dividing Range in southeastern Australia, from southeastern Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria into South Australia, and in Tasmania. In historic times…

bellbird: The naked-throated bellbird (P. nudicollis) has a green face and throat. These jay-sized, fruit-eating birds produce calls that can be heard for long distances.

ostariophysan: Annotated classification: Family Gymnotidae (nakedback knifefishes) Carnivorous group that includes electric eels. Body eel-like and scaleless with powerful electric organs. Size to 2.75 metres (about 9 feet), weight to 22 kg (48 pounds). Mexico, Central and South America. 2 genera, 33 species. Family Rhamphichthyidae Body greatly compressed, scaled. Elephant-like…

ancient Olympic Games: Events: …the athletes participated in the nude. Through the centuries, scholars have sought to explain this practice. Theories have ranged from the eccentric (to be nude in public without an erection demonstrated self-control) to the usual anthropological, religious, and social explanations, including the following: (1) nudity bespeaks a rite of passage,…

naker, small kettledrum that reached Europe from the Middle East in the 13th century, during the Crusades. Nakers were made of wood, metal, or clay and were sometimes equipped with snares. They were almost always played in pairs and were struck with hard sticks. They were probably tuned to high and

Nakh languages, languages spoken in the Caucasus in southwestern Russia and in the Akhmeta district of Georgia. The Nakh language group includes Chechen, Ingush, and Bats (Tsova-Tushian). Because Bats has no written form, its speakers use Georgian as their literary language. The Nakh group,

Armenia: The Arsacids: …chiefs of Armenian clans, called nakharars, held great power in Armenia, limiting and threatening the influence of the king.

Palm Jumeirah: …developer of Palm Jumeirah was Nakheel, a real estate company now owned by the government of Dubai. The master plan was drawn up by Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock, an American architectural firm. The islets were made mostly from sand dredged from the floor of the Persian Gulf, but the side…

Naxi, ethnic group of China who live mainly in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces; some live in Tibet. They speak a Tibeto-Burman language that is closely related to that of the Yi and were estimated in the early 21st century to number more than 300,000. The Naxi have two indigenous writing systems:

Naxçıvan, exclave and autonomous republic of Azerbaijan, in the southern part of the Transcaucasian plateau. It is bounded by Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south and west, and Turkey to the west. The republic, which is mostly mountainous except for a plain in the west and southwest,

Naxçıvan, capital of the Naxçıvan autonomous republic, Azerbaijan. It lies along the Naxçıvan River about 170 miles (270 km) south-southeast of Tbilisi, Georgia. Naxçıvan is extremely old, dated by some archaeologists to about 1500 bce. Armenian tradition ascribes the founding of the city to Noah.

olivine: Meteorites and the Earth’s mantle: In the Nakhla (Egypt) meteorite (an achondrite meteorite), the olivine is more ferrous, however, containing as much as Fa65. In the chondrites (stony meteorites), the olivine is commonly incorporated in the distinctive spheroidal bodies referred to as chondrules, which range up to one millimetre in diameter.

achondrite: eucrites, howardites, lodranites, nakhlites, shergottites, and ureilites. The howardites, eucrites, and diogenites (HEDs) are from the large asteroid Vesta. The shergottites, nakhlites, and chassignites almost certainly came from Mars. In addition, a small group of achondrites are believed to be derived from the Moon.

Naḥman ben Simḥah of Bratslav was a Hasidic rabbi and teller of tales, founder of the Bratslaver Hasidic sect. The great-grandson of the Baʿal Shem Tov, the founder of the Hasidic movement, Naḥman was an ascetic from childhood. Married at age 13, he became a self-appointed religious leader and

Nakho-Dagestanian languages, group of languages spoken in the northeastern Caucasus Mountains. The Nakh division consists of the languages of the Chechen, Ingush, and Bats. The Dagestanian division is more multifarious and includes such groups as the Avar-Andi-Dido languages, the Lak-Dargin

Nakhodka, town, Primorsky kray (territory), extreme eastern Russia. It lies at the head of Nakhodka Bay on the Sea of Japan. Nakhodka (its name means “find,” or “godsend”) is an important centre for exports. It is also the terminus of a passenger ferry to Yokohama, Japan, and the base of a fishing

Lampang, city, northern Thailand, located about 45 miles (72 km) southeast of Chiang Mai. It lies on the Wang River in the forested Khun Tan Range and is an administrative and commercial centre for the surrounding region. Once the seat of an independent principality, Lampang retains the old walled

Nakhon Pathom, town, western Thailand. It lies on the deltaic plain of the Chao Phraya River. A prosperous commercial centre, Nakhon Pathom is located 29 miles (47 km) west of Bangkok and has major road and rail connections. It has access to the Chao Phraya delta waterways through a canal from the

Nakhon Phanom, town, northeastern Thailand. Nakhon Phanom is a commercial centre lying along the Mekong River opposite Thakhek, Laos; it is linked by road to Udon Thani (west), Ubon Ratchathani (south), and Laos and has an airport with scheduled domestic flights. An infertile sandy loam that

Nakhon Ratchasima, city, northeastern Thailand, in the southwestern portion of the Khorat Plateau. Nakhon Ratchasima is the largest city and is the transportation, commercial, financial, and governmental centre of northeastern Thailand. A major railway connects the city to Bangkok, and the city is

Nakhon Sawan, town, north-central Thailand. Nakhon Sawan (“Heavenly City”) is located where the Ping and Nan rivers converge to form the Chao Phraya River. The town is the leading up-country river port for rice and teak logs. It lies at a major road junction and is served by a nearby station of the

Nakhon Si Thammarat, town, southern Thailand, on the eastern side of the Malay Peninsula. The walled town of Nakhon Si Thammarat, one of Thailand’s oldest cities, lies near the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Founded more than 1,000 years ago, it was the capital of a powerful state that controlled

Karshi, city, southern Uzbekistan, in the Karshi oasis, on the Kashka River. At least 1,000 years old, it lay on the caravan route from Samarkand and Bukhara to Afghanistan and India; it was known as Nakhsheb, or Nesef, until the 14th century, when a fort (Turkic karshi, “against”) was built there.

history of Mesopotamia: Esarhaddon: …his energetic and designing mother, Zakutu (Naqia), who came from Syria or Judah, used all her influence on his behalf to override the national party of Assyria. The theory that he was a partner in plotting the murder of his father is rather improbable; at any rate, he was able…

history of Mesopotamia: Esarhaddon: …his energetic and designing mother, Zakutu (Naqia), who came from Syria or Judah, used all her influence on his behalf to override the national party of Assyria. The theory that he was a partner in plotting the murder of his father is rather improbable; at any rate, he was able…

Munkar and Nakīr: Nakīr, in Islāmic eschatology, two angels who test the faith of the dead in their tombs. After death, the deceased is placed upright in the grave by Munkar and Nakīr and asked to identify Muḥammad. The righteous will know that he is the messenger of…

Nicobar Islands, island group, Andaman and Nicobar Islands union territory, India. The Nicobar Islands lie in the Indian Ocean about 800 miles (1,300 km) east of Sri Lanka and have an area of 711 square miles (1,841 square km). The Nicobars, along with the Andaman Islands to the north, constitute

The Difference Between a Tribe and a Band: …speakers of Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota (dialects of a single language within the inappropriately named Siouan language family) were referred to as “bands” because (from the perspective of colonial administrators) they were clearly subdivisions of the larger “Sioux tribe.” From a scholarly perspective, however, Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota are the…

Yankton, a major division of the Sioux (q.v.), or Dakota, confederation of American

nakshatra, term for lunar mansion in Hindu astrology (jyotisha). The Sanskrit word nakshatra refers to both individual stars as well as constellations of stars. Since approximately 1000 bce the Hindu calendar system has divided the year into 12 lunar months, each with 27 (or in some sources 28)

nakshatra, term for lunar mansion in Hindu astrology (jyotisha). The Sanskrit word nakshatra refers to both individual stars as well as constellations of stars. Since approximately 1000 bce the Hindu calendar system has divided the year into 12 lunar months, each with 27 (or in some sources 28)

Nakskov, city, Lolland island, Denmark, on Nakskov Fjord. Founded as a market centre in the early 13th century (chartered 1266), it burned down in 1420, was occupied by the forces of Lübeck (a Baltic town of the Hanseatic League) in 1510, and was occupied by the Swedes in 1658. Important

Klaus Kinski was an intense, eccentric German actor of Polish descent who had a stage and film career of more than 40 years and who was best known for his riveting performances in the films of Werner Herzog. Kinski’s family moved from Poland to Germany during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Nakdong River, river, in the Yeongnam area of the provinces (do) of North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang, southeastern South Korea. Korea’s second longest river (325 miles [523 km]), it flows generally southward from the Taebaek Mountains and enters the Korea Strait at Dadaepo, a suburb of Busan.

Nakdong River, river, in the Yeongnam area of the provinces (do) of North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang, southeastern South Korea. Korea’s second longest river (325 miles [523 km]), it flows generally southward from the Taebaek Mountains and enters the Korea Strait at Dadaepo, a suburb of Busan.

Nakuru, town, west-central Kenya. It lies near the Mau Escarpment on the north shore of Lake Nakuru, 95 miles (153 km) northwest of Nairobi, near the heart of the Kikuyu people’s homeland. During the colonial period, Nakuru was a centre of European activity. Now one of the largest towns in Kenya,

Lake Nakuru, lake in west-central Kenya. It is one of the saline lakes of the lake system lying in the Great Rift Valley of eastern Africa. Primarily known for its many species of birds, including vast numbers of pink flamingos, Lake Nakuru also has waterbucks, impalas, and hippopotamuses. The town

Dhola, oral epic that is sung in various Hindi dialects in honour of the goddess Shakti and is performed in the western portion of Uttar Pradesh, as well as in parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh. Two major themes run through Dhola: the use of Shakta subjects and the incorporation and

Chinese literature: Poetry and prose nonfiction: … writing, the 17th-century Manchu poet Nara Singde (Sinicized name Nalan Xingde) was outstanding, but even he lapsed into conscious imitation of Southern Tang models except when inspired by the vastness of open space and the beauties of nature. In nonfictional prose, Jin Renrui continued the familiar essay form.

Nalanda, ancient university and Buddhist monastic centre southwest of Bihar Sharif in central Bihar state, northeastern India. Nalanda’s traditional history dates to the time of the Buddha (6th–5th centuries bce) and Mahavira, the founder of the Jaina religion. According to a later Tibetan source,

Narwar, historic town, northern Madhya Pradesh state, central India. It is situated just east of a steep scarp of the Vindhya Range where the Sind River turns sharply to the south, about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Shivpuri. The town traditionally is said to have been the capital of Raja Nala of

Alvar: The collection is called Nalayira Prabandham (“Collection of 4,000 Songs”).

Nalchik, city and capital of Kabardino-Balkariya, southwestern Russia. The city lies along the Nalchik River where the latter leaves the Caucasian foothills. Founded as a Russian fortress in 1818, the town remained unimportant until after the October Revolution (1917). Now it is a popular holiday,

Nalchik, city and capital of Kabardino-Balkariya, southwestern Russia. The city lies along the Nalchik River where the latter leaves the Caucasian foothills. Founded as a Russian fortress in 1818, the town remained unimportant until after the October Revolution (1917). Now it is a popular holiday,

ice in lakes and rivers: Ice buildups: These are known as icings, Aufeis (German), or naleds (Russian). Icings may become so thick that they completely block culverts and in some cases overflow onto adjacent roads.

Polish literature: Literature in independent Poland: Early novels by Zofia Nałkowska showed the influence of the Young Poland movement and focused on exploring the feminine psyche; later Nałkowska became preoccupied with social problems. Two other women writers of distinction were Zofia Kossak-Szczucka, noted for historical novels, and Maria Kuncewiczowa, who wrote psychological novels. Juliusz…

Nallamala Range, range of parallel hills and valleys of the Eastern Ghats in eastern Andhra Pradesh state, southern India. Located south of the Krishna River, the hills run north to south, parallel to the Coromandel Coast on the Bay of Bengal. Their total length is about 265 miles (430 km); the

narcotic: Treatment for addiction: nalorphine. They are used to reverse the effects of an overdose of narcotics, and they can often save the life of the victim. Naloxone can be given by injection or administered as a nasal spray.

naloxone, drug used to relieve potentially fatal respiratory depression caused by opioid overdose. Naloxone is used worldwide in medical emergencies involving opioid overdose and is often lifesaving, especially when given promptly upon suspected overdose. The drug is marketed under various names,

tossa jute, (Corchorus olitorius), annual herbaceous plant in the mallow family (Malvaceae), cultivated as a source of jute fibre and for its edible leaves. Tossa jute is grown throughout tropical Asia and Africa, and its mucilaginous leaves and young stems are commonly eaten as a vegetable similar

alcoholism: Physiological therapies: Most recently, naltrexone (an opiate antagonist) and acamprosate, or calcium acetylhomotaurinate (a modulator of gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA] and N-methyl-D-aspartate [NMDA] receptors), have, like disulfiram, been effective in reducing relapse over periods up to a year. But there is no evidence that either of these agents reduces the…

East African lakes: Resource exploitation: …Kiira power stations, located at Owen Falls at Jinja, provide electricity for use in Uganda and Kenya. In addition, the Nalubaale Dam enhances the potential of Lake Victoria as a storage reservoir for the Nile River. The Lake Victoria region has great potential for economic growth, although greater cooperation between…

Sikhism: Guru Nanak: According to Nanak, the nam encompasses the whole of creation—everything outside the believer and everything within him. Having heard the divine word (shabad) through a grace bestowed by God, or Akal Purakh (one of Nanak’s names for God), and having chosen to accept the word, the believer undertakes nam…

Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), international organization dedicated to representing the interests and aspirations of developing countries. In the early 21st century the Non-Aligned Movement counted 120 member states. The Non-Aligned Movement emerged in the context of the wave of decolonization that

Nam Dinh, city, northern Vietnam. It lies on a canal linking the Day and Red rivers and has road and railway links with Hanoi, 50 miles (80 km) northwest. Manufactures include textiles and distillery and salt products. The city is also an educational centre. Nearby is the Pho Minh, or Chua Thap,

Cochinchina, the southern region of Vietnam during the French colonial period, known in precolonial times as Nam Ky (“Southern Administrative Division”), the name that the Vietnamese continued to use. Cochinchina was bounded on the northeast by the part of central Vietnam that the French called

Ou River, river in northern Laos, one of the 12 principal tributaries of the Mekong River; it is 236 miles (380 km) long. The Ou River rises on the Chinese frontier north of Muang Ou Nua and flows south and southwest through the gorges and mountain valleys of the northernmost part of Laos before

fish sauce, in Southeast Asian cookery, a liquid seasoning prepared by fermenting freshwater or saltwater fish with salt in large vats. After a few months time the resulting brownish, protein-rich liquid is drawn off and bottled. It is sometimes allowed to mature in the sun in glass or earthenware

gastronomy: The Pacific and Southeast Asia: For instance, nam prik, the spicy Thai condiment, has even more varieties than the Indonesian sambals do, with many more ideas employed in their combinations. Kaeng is a liquid stew (or perhaps soup-stew) to be mixed with rice. It is very strongly related to the liquid curries,…

Sikhism: Guru Nanak: …the word, the believer undertakes nam simaran, or meditation on the name. Through this discipline, he gradually begins to perceive manifold signs of the nam, and the means of liberation are progressively revealed. Ascending to ever-higher levels of mystical experience, the believer is blessed with a mounting sense of peace…

Nam Viet, ancient kingdom occupying much of what is now northern Vietnam and the southern Chinese provinces of Kwangtung and Kwangsi. The kingdom was formed in 207 bce, during the breakup of the Ch’in dynasty (221–206 bce), when the Ch’in governor of Yüeh (now Kwangtung and Kwangsi provinces)

Tibet: Drainage and soils: …Dangre Yong (Tibetan: Tangra Yum), Nam, and Siling. South of Lhasa lie two other large lakes, Yamzho Yun (Yangzho Yong) and Puma Yung (Pumo). In western Tibet two adjoining lakes are located near the Nepal border—Lake Mapam, sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus, and Lake La’nga.

Namdhari, an austere sect within Sikhism, a religion of India. The Namdhari movement was founded by Balak Singh (1797–1862), who did not believe in any religious ritual other than the repetition of God’s name (or nam, for which reason members of the sect are called Namdharis). His successor, Ram

Nama, any member of a people of southern Namibia who constitute by far the largest Khoekhoe ethnic group, perhaps larger than all the others combined. They represent about one-eighth of the population of Namibia, and there are smaller groups in South Africa and Botswana. Their total population is

naman, in Vedism and Hinduism, the characteristic sign or mark, most frequently used in the sense of the “name,” of an individual, or the word that stands for an object. The term has been appropriated by Indian linguistics to denote the noun in a sentence unit. In some Hindu schools the term

Khoekhoe languages: …coast; the second type is Nama, also known as Nama/Damara and Khoekhoegowap, with about 120,000 speakers mostly in Namibia (click here for an audio clip of Nama). A few Nama speakers are found in Botswana, and there is another small pocket in the Richtersveld in South Africa. The abandoned term…

Buddhism: The law of dependent origination: …(vinnana), form and body (nama-rupa), the five sense organs and the mind (salayatana), contact (phassa), feeling-response (vedana), craving (tanha), grasping for an object (upadana), action toward life (bhava), birth (jati), and old age and death (jaramarana). According to this law, the misery that is bound with

Khoekhoe languages: …coast; the second type is Nama, also known as Nama/Damara and Khoekhoegowap, with about 120,000 speakers mostly in Namibia (click here for an audio clip of Nama). A few Nama speakers are found in Botswana, and there is another small pocket in the Richtersveld in South Africa. The abandoned term…

Narmada River, major river in central India flowing westward through Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra states. The Narmada basin covers 38,145 square miles (98,796 square km) and includes a portion of Chhattisgarh state. The waterway is fed by 41 tributaries. It has long been an important

Australian Capital Territory: Settlement patterns: Namadgi National Park is situated in the southern and western mountainous parts of the territory and adjoins the large Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales. Including smaller nature parks in and around Canberra, Tidbinbilla and Jervis Bay nature reserves, and Namadgi, conservation areas cover…

Argeș: …Topârceanu (1886–1937) are found in Namaești. Topoloveni town has a craft cooperative that makes traditional costumes and wood carvings. The 15th-century fortress of Poenari was constructed, overlooking the Argeș River valley, by Vlad III (Vlad Țepeș, or Vlad the Impaler), a prince known for executing his enemies by impalement, who…

Haumea: …hula, while the smaller moon, Namaka, is named after a water spirit. Hi‘iaka and Namaka have orbital periods of 49 and 18 days and masses about 0.5 and 0.05 percent that of Haumea, respectively. Both moons are covered in water ice. Like its parent body, Hi‘iaka has a fast rotational…

Nama, any member of a people of southern Namibia who constitute by far the largest Khoekhoe ethnic group, perhaps larger than all the others combined. They represent about one-eighth of the population of Namibia, and there are smaller groups in South Africa and Botswana. Their total population is

Namaqualand, geographic region, southwestern Africa, extending from near Windhoek, Namibia, southward into Northern Cape province, South Africa, and from the Namib desert eastward to the Kalahari. The area, inhabited by the Nama before the German occupation of the region in the 19th century, is

Papua New Guinea: Postcolonial politics: The new prime minister, Rabbie (later Sir Rabbie) Namaliu of the Pangu party, had supplanted Somare as party head a few weeks before. Namaliu’s consultative style enabled him to remain in office at the head of a succession of coalition governments for four years amid much political instability, including…

Enchi Fumiko: A Tale of False Fortunes) purports to be a manuscript from the Heian period (794–1185) that describes the rival courts of the two consorts of Emperor Ichijō. It is a tour de force, possible only because of Enchi’s special knowledge of the period. Her translation…

Nama, any member of a people of southern Namibia who constitute by far the largest Khoekhoe ethnic group, perhaps larger than all the others combined. They represent about one-eighth of the population of Namibia, and there are smaller groups in South Africa and Botswana. Their total population is

naman, in Vedism and Hinduism, the characteristic sign or mark, most frequently used in the sense of the “name,” of an individual, or the word that stands for an object. The term has been appropriated by Indian linguistics to denote the noun in a sentence unit. In some Hindu schools the term

Namangan, city and administrative centre of Namangan oblast (province), Uzbekistan, in the northern Fergana Valley. The first mention of the settlement dates from the end of the 15th century. By the mid-18th century, its many craftsmen made it one of the foremost cities in the Fergana Valley. In

Namangan, oblast (province), eastern Uzbekistan, in the northern part of the Fergana Valley. It is traversed by the Syr Darya, the Severny (Northern) Fergana irrigation canal, and the Great Namangan Canal. The economy is predominantly agricultural. Because of the dry climate, almost all crops are

Nama, any member of a people of southern Namibia who constitute by far the largest Khoekhoe ethnic group, perhaps larger than all the others combined. They represent about one-eighth of the population of Namibia, and there are smaller groups in South Africa and Botswana. Their total population is

Namaqualand, geographic region, southwestern Africa, extending from near Windhoek, Namibia, southward into Northern Cape province, South Africa, and from the Namib desert eastward to the Kalahari. The area, inhabited by the Nama before the German occupation of the region in the 19th century, is

Joe Namath is an American collegiate and professional gridiron football quarterback who was one of the best passers in football and a cultural sports icon of the 1960s. Namath excelled in several sports as a youth in the steel-mill town of Beaver Falls, near Pittsburgh. He played football at the

Joe Namath is an American collegiate and professional gridiron football quarterback who was one of the best passers in football and a cultural sports icon of the 1960s. Namath excelled in several sports as a youth in the steel-mill town of Beaver Falls, near Pittsburgh. He played football at the

Joe Namath is an American collegiate and professional gridiron football quarterback who was one of the best passers in football and a cultural sports icon of the 1960s. Namath excelled in several sports as a youth in the steel-mill town of Beaver Falls, near Pittsburgh. He played football at the

Albert Namatjira was an Australian Aboriginal painter noted for his watercolour landscapes of desert-like central Australia. A member of the Aranda people, Namatjira attended a Lutheran mission school, was taught European watercolour technique by a white artist, Rex Battarbee, from 1934 to 1936,

Abbas Kiarostami: …this period Kiarostami also made Namay-e nazdīk (1990; Close-Up), which tells the true story of a film buff who swindled an upper-class Tehrān family by pretending to be noted director Mohsen Makhmalbaf. The film buff, the family, and Makhmalbaf all played themselves. The Koker trilogy and Close-Up brought Kiarostami international…

Central Asian arts: Neolithic and Metal Age cultures: …kilometres) southeast of Ashgabat and Namazga-Tepe, situated in the same region and occupying an area of some 145 acres (60 hectares), are important Bronze Age sites. The pottery vessels recovered from Namazga-Tepe are decorated with painted plant and animal motifs showing affinities with contemporary pottery wares from the Middle East.…

prayer rug, one of the major types of rug produced in central and western Asia, used by Muslims primarily to cover the bare ground or floor while they pray. Prayer rugs are characterized by the prayer niche, or mihrab, an arch-shaped design at one end of the carpet. The mihrab, which probably

Lamba, a Bantu-speaking people living in the Kéran River valley and Togo Mountains of northeastern Togo and adjacent areas of Benin. The Lamba, like the neighbouring and related Kabre, claim descent from autochthonous Lama; megaliths and ancient pottery attest to their long presence in the area.

Japan: Azuchi-Momoyama culture: …is often referred to as namban (“southern barbarian”) pictures, since they represent both the European priests and traders—referred to as “southern barbarians” since they had entered Japan from the South Seas—of the day and their magnificent ships. Nobunaga and Hideyoshi spent great amounts of time and money indulging their cultural…

Lamba, a Bantu-speaking people living in the Kéran River valley and Togo Mountains of northeastern Togo and adjacent areas of Benin. The Lamba, like the neighbouring and related Kabre, claim descent from autochthonous Lama; megaliths and ancient pottery attest to their long presence in the area.

Nambicuara, South American Indian people of the northern Mato Grosso. Once estimated at more than 20,000, the population was devastated by introduced diseases; it had grown to more than 1,000 individuals by the early 21st century. Their language is apparently unrelated to any other. Nambicuara

Nambicuara, South American Indian people of the northern Mato Grosso. Once estimated at more than 20,000, the population was devastated by introduced diseases; it had grown to more than 1,000 individuals by the early 21st century. Their language is apparently unrelated to any other. Nambicuara