Syracuse - Sicily - Italy - Listed as World Heritage Site

Siracusa is a historic city in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Syracuse. The city is famous for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and as the birthplace of Archimedes. This 2700 year-old city played a key role in ancient times, when it was one of the major powers of the Mediterranean world. Syracuse is located in the south-east corner of the island of Sicily, right by the Gulf of Syracuse next to the Ionian Sea. The city was founded by Ancient Greek Corinthians and became a very powerful city-state. Syracuse was allied with Sparta and Corinth, exerting influence over the entire Magna Grecia area of which it was the most important city. Once described by Cicero as "the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all", it later became part of the Roman Republic and Byzantine Empire. After this Palermo overtook it in importance, as the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily. Eventually the kingdom would be united with the Kingdom of Naples to form the Two Sicilies until the Italian unification of 1860. In the modern day, the city is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site along with the Necropolis of Pantalica. In the central area, the city itself has a population of around 125000 people. The inhabitants are known as Siracusans, and the local language spoken by its inhabitants is the Sicilian language. Syracuse is mentioned in the Bible in the Acts of the Apostles book at 28:12 as Paul stayed there.

hohlidakisvideo

This proposal attempts an answer to the question of how to receive a foreigner into the most burdened urban environment. In conditions of abnormal density and lack of esthetical identity, my proposal is inspired by dynamism, which emerges often through chaotic consolidation of a functional and esthetic discontinuity. The hospitality provides for the visitor, protection against a shower of sensations from optical acoustic disharmony of the city, creating a controlled esthetical shell. This is achieved by inverting the typical morphology of a hotel. The rooms face the inside (atrium) leaving the corridors on the outside of the building. On the exterior the challenge was to break the dissonance of the city, preserving its primary structural form, the cube. The cube offers four facades-canvases, through which the image of the building is continually transformed. The wrapping of these facades is a double glass shell, one and a half meters thick, which at times fills with mist conveying the shapes of clouds that the density of the city conceals, at times projects artistic events happening in the city, and at other times is used as a space for art exhibitions itself. On the interior the mist entertains the visitor on his monotonous route to the rooms. The shell keeps its continuity without interruptions of functional openings. The four vertical edges of the cube open to provide space for the main entrance and stairwells. The vertical edge of the main entrance and the one ...

The Peloponnesian War - The Event That Changed History

The Peloponnesian War was waged in Ancient Greece and changed the course of history. So how and why did this catastrophic war take place? On one hand there was a fear of the growing power of the Athenians and on the other their rivalry with the Sparta people. The Athenians held the navel superiority and the people of Sparta had tremendous military prowess. Trade also played a part in the beginning of the war. Coupled with this was Persia's interference and siding with the Sparta people. They did this to acquire lands from Greece. At the end of the war when Sparta was victorious Persia got the lands and further weakened the Greek Empire

How did we get the facts of the Peloponnesian War? Thucydides a soldier historian was a general in the war and was forced into exile for 20 years. This allowed him time to observe and record the Peloponnesian War events in a detailed and observant way. His account is the standard one that all historians look to for facts about this war. Thucydides was not only a general in the army but a scholar as well, with a good education. This enabled him to write an account that gives insight into the power struggles that started this war.

The war changed the course of history in several ways. Power changed hands, social statuses changed and the lives of the people were also altered. There were a variety of reasons for this.

• The length of the war: this was a 27 year war with a short period of peace in between. It put a strain on all the states concerned and resulted in poverty and hardship weakening the states. This left them in a vulnerable position which ultimately allowed Greece to be taken over by Macedonia.


• The outcome oligarchy won over democracy: Instead of the peaceful democratic regime that the Athenians promoted a more warlike oligarchy ruled. The ruling of the thirteen tyrants after the war led to further strife and unrest.


• The draining of financial resources: financial resources of all the Greek states were severely taxed and in some cases drained causing widespread poverty and unrest. This undermined the people, plus the population was decreased due to the long war.


• The continuing strife after the collapse of democracy: continuing strife and unrest occurred even after the war finished. This further weakened The Greek states and made the people's plight worse.

As you can see the Peloponnesian War did indeed shape the course of history. It led to the downfall of not only the Athenian power but the whole of Greece. The war in fact paved the way for Greece's eventual capture by Macedonia and the end of the Greek's power and influence in the region. Rarely has a war been fought that had such terrible consequences for the people concerned. There were truly no victors as far as the Greeks were concerned only losers and defeat.

Resources of this article are on The Peloponnesian War [http://www.peloponnesian-war.com] website.

Italian Historical Architecture

Italy is a magical country to visit and spend time; every region has something new to offer whether it is its food, the people, the history or its architecture. Its architecture is unsurpassed in Europe, historically Italy has everything and this shows within its architecture.

To many people the architecture of a country is it's main attraction and this could easily be said about Italy with it's millennia old stones, sumptuous remains of mysterious Etruscan kings, witnesses to ancient pagan rites, memorials to a history whose origins is lost in the mists of time. Ancient temples that have stood for thousands of years and have amazed all those who run a hand over their immortal columns, such as the temples of Agrigento and Selinunte. Entire cities that remain like some marvelous stage set to tell us about life as it was in the distant past. A life cut short, in ancient days, by the dramatic whim of a volcano, such as Pompeii and Herculaneum, or by the implacable advance of malaria, as in Ostia Antica and Paestum. Walls and buildings that have been witness to a boundless power, that of ancient Rome and its countless conquests. Places still capable of moving us deeply owing to the ingenuity of their construction and the peerless historical heritage that they embody.

Italy has a wealth of religious architecture, towers and churches launched towards the sky. Striking spires, dainty cupolas, artistic facades, and bell towers jutting up towards the blue sky and towards an Italian heaven, mysterious naves that guard artistic masterpieces ancient and modern. Visit any Italian city, town or village and you will see churches everywhere, guardians of and witnesses to a faith thousands of years old and then tiny chapels on the mountain tops, solitary shrines on street corners, statues and frescoes for the protection of the home.

Small signs of popular devotion that stand as corollaries to the magnificence of the cathedrals. Italy loves religious architecture. A series of masterpieces that tell the entire story of western architecture: from the elegant Romanesque forms of Santa Maria all' Aquila to the fanciful Gothic spires of the beautiful Cathedral in Milan, from the perfect example of Renaissance architecture in Florence Cathedral to the baroque wonder of Lecce Cathedral. Each one with its trusty bell-tower at its side to announce its presence; including the most famous one in the world: the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Italian squares or piazzas that seem to be picture perfect stage sets all complete with outdoor cafes to enable you to sit and watch the world un-fold in front of you. Buildings that were created to enchant and impress visiting dignities from an age gone by with luscious façades and interiors that house unimaginable riches and art treasures now have the same effect on those tourists visiting Italy. Towers constructed to bear witness to power that now regale unforgettable panoramas to those bold enough to climb to the top.

Streets resembling open-air museums. Bridges that create seem-less bonds between the banks of rivers such as the Rialto in Venice or Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Walls originally designed to defend a city have later been turned into wonderfully imposing rings that have been giving communities a sense of security for centuries.

Ample flights of steps from which to savor the spectacle of a city's life. The taste for beauty is all pervasive, from the tiny village, to the old town, to cities great and small. Beauty touches every nook, every vista, everything. The ancient Italians left a world of elegant architecture and monuments behind for future generations to stare in amazement at.

I try to pass on my musings on life and experiences in a way that people may find interesting to read.

http://www.cookery-school-italy.com

You may not always agree with my writings but I hope to inform.
Harwood E Woodpecker

DCW SNA Match 1 El Greengo vs Dean "Gangsta" Kelly

Danger-Zone Championship Wrestling Saturday Night Adrenaline Match 1 El Greengo vs Dean "Gangsta" Kelly The Loser of the match is Fired.

Ancient Greek Temple of Zeus

The ancient Greek temple dedicated to Zeus was constructed at Olympia in the sacred sanctuary of Altis. Zeus was the king of all gods in ancient Greece. He lived on Mt. Olympus and was also the god of thunder and sky.

In ancient Greece, Olympics were held every 4 years for athletes. The athletes used to travel Mount Olympus to take part in the games. During this period, the wars would stop and the kings of different territories would call a truce to allow safe passage to the athletes. The Olympics were dedicated to Zeus, and were held at the temple in a stadium under a statue of Zeus.

In the initial stages of the stadium was simple and makeshift. However, soon the ancient Greeks wanted something grander and more majestic. This was to show their reverence to the king of all gods. So, the started building a bigger and more magnificent temple in 470 AD. The architect of the temple was Libon, who was Elis.

It is believed that many ideas for the temple were taken from the Parthenon and the temple of Artemis, which was located at Ephesus. The temple was built on a raised platform that was rectangular in shape. It had a huge roof that was supported with the help of 13 carved pillars on the long sides of the rectangle and 6 pillars on the shorter sides. The roof had an incline, and the pillars were carved to show the 12 tasks performed by Hercules.

The ancient Greek temple of Zeus was constructed in the Doric style architecture which was prevalent during those times. Limestones from the local quarry were used for the construction, but the appearance was dull and not very attractive. So, the outer part of the temple was covered with Scutto. The sculptures housed in the temple were made using Parian marble and the inner sanctum housed a 40-foot statue of Zeus. The statue was shown sitting on a golden throne.

Although in the subsequent years, the temple was ruined due to floods and wars, the temple and its magnificent beauty remained etched in people's mind and the description was passed down from one generation to another. The magnificent statue of Zeus was destroyed in 462 AD due to a fire.

The ruins of the temple were discovered in 1829 AD by French archaeologists and it took 5 whole years to excavate. The task was further taken up a team of German archaeologists in 1875 AD.

About Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in history and education industry. He also offers top quality articles like:
American History, Greek Goddesses List

Engineering An Empire: the Carthage (History Channel program) Part 3/3

After its founding at the end of the ninth century BC, this city soon grew into one of greatest civilizations of the Ancient World - a remarkable city-state that dominated the Mediterranean for over 600 years. Over that span of time, Carthaginian engineers harnessed their extensive resources and manpower to develop some of the ancient world's most groundbreaking technology. Like the Egyptian and Greek masters before them, they built colossal structures able to withstand the ravages of time and man. Carthage was protected by a massive harbor that held hundreds of war ships - which formed the core of antiquity's most formidable navy. And to protect the capital, an intricate series of defensive walls were erected that stretched for more than 23 miles, and housed a standing army of more than 20000 men. For generations, Carthage defined power, strength and ingenuity for the ancient world. But by the third century BC, the empire's existence was threatened by another emerging superpower across the pond - Rome. The two civilizations clashed in a series of three epic wars; a to-the-death struggle for supremacy that would last 118 years. When all was said and done, it would be the Romans who would inherit unrivalled status as the world's lone superpower, and go on to redefine the meaning of power and ingenuity. But when the Romans engineered their empire, they were only following the lead of the Carthaginians. From the city's grand harbor to the rise of one of history's greatest ...

The Roman Architecture

The Architecture of Ancient Rome adopted the external Greek architecture for their own purposes, which were so different from Greek buildings as to create a new architectural style. The two styles are often considered one body of classical architecture. This approach is considered reproductive, and sometimes it hinders scholars' understanding and ability to judge Roman buildings by Greek standards, particularly when relying solely on external appearances. The Romans absorbed Greek influence, apparent in many aspects closely related to architecture; for example, this can be seen in the introduction and use of the Triclinium in Roman villas as a place and manner of dining. The Romans, similarly, were indebted to their Etruscan neighbors and forefathers who supplied them with a wealth of knowledge essential for future architectural solutions, such as hydraulics and in the construction of arches. Social elements such as wealth and high population densities in cities forced the ancient Romans to discover new (architectural) solutions of their own. The use of vaults and arches together with a sound knowledge of building materials, for example, enabled them to achieve unprecedented successes in the construction of imposing structures for public use. Examples include the aqueducts of Rome, the Baths of Diocletian and the Baths of Caracalla, the basilicas and perhaps most famously of all, the Colosseum. They were reproduced at smaller scale in most important towns and cities in ...

The Emerging Architecture

Architecture is the art of designing and constructing buildings and other physical structures. Architecture is as old as human history because it is the basic need of a human being. Architecture symbolizes the history, culture, traditions, technology and climate of the nation. In primitive ages man was used to live in caves but with the passage of time trends changed. As "necessity is the mother of invention" human beings started to make houses made up of stones to protect themselves from extreme climatic conditions and also from wild animals. New innovations and new trends prevailed and human beings started to make houses with bricks made up of mud, then they started baking these bricks to make them much stronger to protect themselves from other natural disasters.

Till now, many of the artists and great philosophers have defined architecture but it has no static definition. It is the art which is directly concerned with all human beings because a man rather rich or poor, tall or short or may live in any part of the world has to face architecture in his lifetime. It can't be avoided rather we like it or not. William Morris defined architecture as the "molding and altering to the human needs of the very face of the earth itself." According to John Rustin, it is the art for all to learn because all are concerned with it. It is affected by climate, culture, technology and needs of the society. Architecture of a nation highly depicts the taste of its people. Architecture is also considered as frozen music. Sir Henry Watson says that architecture is commodity, firmness and delight.

Greek architecture is considered as most primitive architecture and long lasting too. In Greek architecture mostly Parthenon (Parthenon of Athens) and temples are included. This is also considered as one of the wonders of the world. Greeks mostly used stone carvings and the philosophy behind all their architecture is to make some place for worship. Ancient architecture mostly include stone carving, wood carving and most of the construction work is done by human hand which made it so unique. Most of the buildings are symmetrical where repetition of design and patterns can be seen. Similarly Roman, Gothic, Egyptian and Indian architecture is an elegant example of ancient architecture. It tells us all about the culture, climate and traditions of these civilizations. It seems that much hard work and struggle has been exerted to build these buildings. Materials used in these buildings are mostly natural like stone, marble, sand, wood etc. Repetition of ideas and materials could be seen in ancient architecture because of the lack of technology.

With the passage of time new inventions in the field of technology, chemistry and many other scientific fields are done. Many of the new materials have been introduced by the architects and chemists produced artificially at low cost. Today's architecture is the blend of structuralism, formalism, high technology, expressionism and neo expressionism. Fast growing industries and professionalism give birth to modern architecture which is simple less ornamental but maximum people-oriented. Modern architecture is rich in inspiration and abstract ideas behind it. With the increasing complexity in architecture it is further divided into various branches. Environmental hazards are most hot issue today that's why architects are trying to create designs which are environment friendly. Many of the architects gave stress on green building sustainable designs among them Sim Van der Ryn (1960), Ian Mc Harg (1970) UK and Brenda and Robert Vale from UK and New Zea land are most famous. Architects are now designing building which are self-sufficient in all energy demands. Dynamic Towers is the famous modern building which is good example of sustainable architecture which will be powered by water turbines and solar panels to fulfill its energy requirements.

In short, architecture whether good or bad has great impact on our lives. It is the symbol of the strength and progress of the nation but the architecture must be aesthetically pleasing and environment friendly to save our planet earth and to mold its face in a beautiful manner. Many trends have been passed away and many will come but its only purpose is to provide shelter for human beings and to create the world where they can live with peace and tranquility.

I am a student of architecture school of Pakistan. Architecture is my passion and I have written this article to make people aware of emerging architecture and its importance in our lives.

Hometown Boy Honoring an Emperor Roots in Roman North Africa pt6

Roman Architecture Professor Kleiner discusses two Roman cities in North Africa: Timgad and Leptis Magna. Timgad was created as an entirely new colony for Roman army veterans by Trajan in AD 100, and designed all at once as an ideal castrum plan. Leptis Magna, conversely, grew more gradually from its Carthaginian roots, experiencing significant Roman development under Augustus and Hadrian. Septimius Severus, the first Roman emperor from North Africa, was born at Leptis and his hometown was renovated in connection with his historic visit to the city. This large-scale program of architectural expansion features the Severan Forum and Basilica and the nearby Arch of Septimius Severus, a tetrapylon or four-sided arch located at the crossing of two major streets. The lecture culminates with the unique Hunting Baths, a late second or early third-century structure built for a group of entrepreneurs who supplied exotic animals to Rome's amphitheaters. Its intimate vaulted spaces are revealed on the outside of the building and silhouetted picturesquely against the sea, suggesting that the bath's owners knew how to innovate through concrete architecture and how to enjoy life.

Titan Quest -- OST 17 'Arm of the Gods'

Title: Arm of the Gods Artists: Scott Morton, Michael Verrette Game: Titan Quest

Macedonia is timeless Greece

Macedonia is timeless Greece, one of the most beautiful regions of Greece. Since times immemorial, the northernmost region of Greece, extending from the Tempi Valley, up to the lower basins of the rivers Aliakmon, Aksios and Strymon, has been called Macedonia. Macedonia is the largest province in Greece and its capital, Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece. The beautiful Prespa lakes are one of Europes most important bird sanctuaries and Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece. The city of Kastoria on lake Orestiada is concidered to be Greece's most beautiful city by the Greeks themselves. The Halkidiki Peninsula with its three prongs of Kassandra, Sithonia and Mount Athos run from crowded tourist resorts to beautiful remote beaches all the way to simple monasticism. Greece is the cradle of Western civilization, the origin of drama and history and philisophy, the birthplace of democracy. It is hard to imagine what civilized life would be like today without the influence of ancient Greece... It also is hard to imagine what the world would be like without the geometry of Euclides or Pythagoras, the logic of Aristoteles, the unique architectural style which has influenced architects all over the world, or even the fables of Aesopos known to children around the globe. Let us not forget also the Olympic Games, with their spirit of world-peace and brotherhood, first conceived and organized by the Greeks; or the Greek language which has enriched other ...

Greek Architecture

Architecture in ancient Greece was usually done with wood or mud-bricks, so their ground plans are the only evidence of their existence. Greeks established most of the most enduring themes, attitudes, and forms of western culture. Architecture is one of the Greek legacies that the western civilization has inherited, as Greece established many of the structural elements, decorative motifs, and building types still used in architecture today.

The two main styles of Greek architecture are doric and ionic. The doric style is much more disciplined and austere, whereas the ionic style is more relaxed and decorative. There was a strong emphasis in building temples for the Greek mythological gods and goddesses. But, there were also well known public buildings like the Parthenon.

Building materials used were limestone and some native stones. Highly expensive marble was used mainly for sculptural decoration found in grand buildings of the classical period. The roofs of their buildings were made up of timber beams covered with overlapping terracotta or occasionally marble tiles.

The structure of ancient Greek architecture consists of a basic cube or rectangle, flanked by colonnades, and a long sequence of columns. Building will have a pronao or a portico that open up to a large open court peristyle. Greeks used very little of the principles of the masonary arch, individual blocks bound together by mortar. The front end of the roof has flat triangular shaped structure, the pediment which is usually filled with scultural decoration.

Temples are the best known form of Greek architecture. The altar of the temple was usually found in the sacred fane, an enclosure, in front of the temple. The inner building of the temple, cella, served mainly as the storage room. The other common public builds of the Greek architecture are gymnasiums, the palaestra, and theatres.

In ancient Greece, architects were hardly treated as valuable master craftsmen, unlike today where the architects are closely associated with the work they produce. And moreover, architecture was not seen as an art form, as it is in modern times.

Architecture provides detailed information on Architecture, Architecture Designs, Architecture Schools, Landscape Architecture and more. Architecture is affiliated with Residential Architects [http://www.Architects-Web.com].

Naples - Napoli - Italy

Naples is a city in Italy; it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples. The city is known for its rich history, art, culture, architecture, music and gastronomy, playing an important role in the country's history and beyond throughout much of its existence, which began more than 2800 years ago. Naples is located halfway between two volcanic areas, the volcano Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, sitting on the coast by the Gulf of Naples. Founded in the 8th century BC, as a Greek colony, under the name of Parthenope, and later Neápolis (New City), Naples is one of the oldest cities in the world, and it held an important role in Magna Graecia; while when the city became part of the Roman Republic in the central province of the Empire, was a major cultural center (Virgil is one of the symbol of the political and cultural freedom of Naples). The city has seen a multitude of civilizations come and go, each leaving their mark: now the historic city centre is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The historic city centre of Naples is the largest in Europe (1700 hectares ). Naples was preeminently the capital city of a kingdom which bore its name from 1282 until 1816 in the form of the Kingdom of Naples, then in union with Sicily it was the capital of the Two Sicilies until the Italian unification. Naples has profoundly influenced many areas of Europe and beyond. The city proper has a population of around 1 million people: Naples is the ...

Beautiful Buildings and Architecture

Cool buildings, amazing skylines, beautiful bridges, and other architectural feats. Here are the places and the order in which they appear: 1. Greek arches 2. Medieval castle 3. Allegheny County Courthouse 4. Monastery of St. Nil 5. Convento do Carmo ruins in Lisbon 6. Broadway Tower Cotswolds 7. Big Ben at night 8. Notre Dame de Paris 9. Notre-Dame de Montreal Basilica 10. Tower Bridge, Sacramento, CA 11. Neuschwanstein Castle 12. Cape Reinga Lighthouse, New Zealand 13. Blue Mosque at night 14. Brunei Bandar Seri Begawan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque at sunset 15. Brunei Bandar Seri Begawan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque 16. St. Vitus Cathedral 17. Louvre Pyramid, Paris 18. London Eye at twilight 19. Goslar Imperial Palace 20. Beijing bridge under fog 21. Mont Saint-Michel, France 22. Milau Viaduct, France 23. Fort-Jefferson Dry-Tortugas 24. Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland 25. Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral at dusk 26. Louvre Staircase 27. Brooklyn Bridge 28. San Diego Temple 29. Brisbane by night 30. Blue Bridge underside 31. Tomorrow Square 32. Jin Mao Building Inside 33. Crystal Cathedral 34. Moon over San Diego 35. Slide Bridge 36. USAFA Chapel 37. Ciudad de las Ciencias noche 38. European Parliament 39. Japanese Indoor Beach 40. Chicago Skyline 41. Petronas Twin Towers 42. Petronas Twin Towers tops 43. Golden Gate Bridge by night 44. Pudong by night 45. Sugarloaf Mountain, Brazil 46. Shanghai at night 47. Roads and Traffic 48. San Francisco International Airport at night 49 ...

Old Believers

Margaret Hixon's 1981 film documents a real-life wedding in the Old Believer settlements of Marion County, Oregon, in the years 1979 and 1980. The film briefly touches on a wealth of traditional arts (embroidery, clothing construction, weaving, vernacular architecture, folk song and foodways) and beautifully presents a whole series of rituals -- the "devichnik" (engagement party), "selling" the bride and her braid, the wedding feast, the bargaining over the dowry, and the ceremony of bestowing gifts and advice to the newlyweds. In English and Russian with subtitles or voice-over translations. (for more information on the Old Believers go to libweb.uoregon.edu

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul Turkey 2006. Hagia Sophia (Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία; "Holy Wisdom", Turkish: Ayasofya) is a former patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, now a museum, in Istanbul, Turkey. Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture. It was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years, until the completion of the Medieval Seville Cathedral in 1520. The current building was originally constructed as a church between 532 and 537 on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, and was in fact the third Church of the Holy Wisdom to occupy the site (the previous two had both been destroyed by riots). It was designed by two architects, Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles. The Church contained a large collection of holy relics and featured, among other things, a 50 ft (15 m) silver iconostasis. It was the patriarchal church of the Patriarch of Constantinople and the religious focus point of the Eastern Orthodox Church for nearly 1000 years.

Village of Aristi/GREECE

ARISTI IS A VILLAGE WITHIN A GROUP OF OTHER 43 VILLAGES CALLED IN GREEK ZAGOROCHORIA. ALL OF THESE VILLAGES ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR UNIQUE BEAUTY OF ARCHITECTURE. I HOPE YOU ALL LIKE MY VIDEO. IN THE NEAR FUTURE I WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH MORE CLIPS.

Tokyo DisneySea- Tower of Terror

Opened on 4 September 2006.... this video was taken on 5 September 2006.... On December 31, 1899, Harrison Hightower III, the notorious antiquities collector and owner of the luxurious Hotel Hightower, mysteriously disappeared from the elevator of his hotel. At the same time, all electricity in the hotel went out. The hotel was closed until the cause could be determined, but as yet it is still unknown. Some said that the hotel is under a powerful curse, and New Yorkers now call it the "Tower of Terror." Tower of Terror is a thrilling, free fall-style attraction in which Guests will experience several supernatural phenomena before heading for a spine-tingling climax. The attraction is set in 1912, 13 years after the disappearance of Harrison Hightower, in the abandoned Hotel Hightower. Guests begin by taking part in a tour of the hotel, enjoying the unique architecture and the owner's collection of cultural artifacts, such as a frieze from a Greek temple and an ancient sarcophagus. The tour makes its way from the luxurious lobby to Harrison Hightower's private office, then to the hidden storeroom where he kept many of his most impressive treasures. Finally, Guests take an elevator to Hightower's personal penthouse apartments--along the way, though, the Guests encounter a strange, supernatural force which sends them on to the ride's climactic ending.