You'll be surprised at what you find out!
There are certain works of art and architecture that are known to all people in the world. But if we study the history of some of them a little more carefully, we will find that they contain many more secrets that we do not even know.
Apartment on the top floor of the Eiffel Tower
Apartment in the Eiffel Tower (Photo: toureiffel.paris)Gustave Eiffel, the man who designed France's most famous monument, built and furnished it apartment on the top floor of the tower. He often used it to rest and receive guests. Once there he even had a long conversation with Thomas Edison. The apartment contains a kitchen, a bathroom, two bedrooms and a living room and, of course, boasts a spectacular view. Today it serves as a museum, complete with a wax figure of Eiffel and Edison.
A broken chain at the feet of the Statue of Liberty
The chain at the feet of the Statue of Liberty (Photo: nps.gov)The Statue of Liberty was given to the USA by the French in honor of the 100th anniversary of the American Revolution. It symbolizes freedom, democracy and the abolition of slavery. For this reason, a pierced chain is hidden at the feet of the statue. A few thousand tourists who visit the icon often ignore it.
Mona Lisa of Isleworth
Mona Lisa and Mona Lisa of IsleworthIt is a well-known fact that many artists have reproduced the famous Mona Lisa. However, it is believed that there is another portrait painted by da Vinci himself, and this one is not a copy. Interestingly, the second version is a painting from a slightly different perspective. It is possible that it was made by another artist, or maybe even several of them. According to experts, it is more likely that it is only about an earlier version of da Vinci's masterpiece.
Matterhorn at Disneyland
Disneyland's Matterhorn, designed and named after a mountain in the Alps on the border of Switzerland and Italy, is the world's first tubular steel roller coaster with a death train. But that's not all. Inside the top itself is a small attic-like room where it is located basketball court. It is supposed to be intended for the rest of climbers who climb this 6-meter mountain.
The original appearance of the Sphinx of Giza
This is what the Sphinx is supposed to be like in reality!The Great Sphinx of Giza is the oldest statue in the world. It was originally dressed in a lighter color, bits of which are still behind one of her ears today. She also had a nose and a solemn beard. The remains can be seen in the British Museum and in the Egyptian Museums. Some experts believe that the Sphinx originally had one too lion's or dog's head and that the human face was carved into it much later. This could explain the difference in the ratio between the giant body and the small head.
The creation of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Who really designed the Leaning Tower of Pisa?The famous tower has several secrets. Everyone knows about his inclination, but no one knows who really built the bell tower for the Pisa Cathedral. One of the reasons for this mystery is the fact that it was built almost 200 years ago. Historians are accustomed to assume that the plan for the building was developed by Bonanno Pisano, but a more likely candidate would be Diotisalvi, who designed the baptistery next to the tower, which is built in the same style.
Face of Rembrandt's Danaë
Rembrandt's DanaëRembrandt began painting Danaë two years after his marriage to Saskia van Uylenburgh. The artist depicted his wife in many of his paintings, and for a long time it remained a mystery why the resemblance to Saskia was not as clear in this painting as in his other works from 1630. Moreover, the style of this painting was closer to many of his later works. Only recently did they find an explanation for this mystery. When examined with X-rays, the resemblance of the painting to Rembrandt's wife is much clearer. The painting appears to have been reworked after her death, at the time he was in love with another woman, Geertje Dircx. Danaë's facial features changed to combine the traits of both loves.
The name of the most famous tourist attraction in Great Britain
Who is Big Ben named after?Strictly speaking, Big Ben does not refer to the entire tower of the British Parliament, but only to the large bell inside it. Until September 2012, the official name of the building was "The Bell Tower of the Palace of Westminster". Now its official name is "Elizabeth Tower". Currently, no one knows for sure in whose honor the bell was named Big Ben. One theory is that it was a nickname a powerfully built man who ran a bell foundry, where this bell was made. Another theory says that it got its name after to Benjamin Count, the heavyweight boxing champion.
The color of the Golden Gate Bridge
Why is the Golden Gate Bridge orange?The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most photographed landmarks in the world. It took a long time to reach an agreement on its construction with the US Navy. When permission was finally obtained, the Navy wanted it painted in black and yellow stripes so that it would be visible in fog. Eventually, bridge architect Irving Morrow convinced the Navy that Mr dyed in a dark orange color. This not only ensured that it was visible in all weather conditions but also gave it an attractive appearance.
The sky in the picture The Scream
Why is the sky in the painting The Scream so vividly colored?The original name of Edvard Munch's legendary painting was The Cry of Nature. The artist wrote in his diary: “…suddenly the sky turned blood red; I stopped and, tired and leaning against the fence, I saw blood and tongues of flame above the bluish-black fjord and the city…”. In 2003, a group of astronomers presented the theory that the bright red color of the sky, which so surprised the artist, was caused by eruption of the Krakatau volcano in 1883. A lot of volcanic dust was thrown into the atmosphere, which led to extremely bright flame-like sunsets being observed around the world in the years that followed.
