Word: ancient
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...refugees simply walked in the giant wooden doors of the Palais Lobkowicz, the elegant Baroque palace that houses the West German Embassy in Prague's ancient Mala Strana district...
...earth is constantly moving underfoot. Its surface, cracked like ancient pottery, is broken into 15 large pieces. These pieces of crust, called plates, restlessly roam about, driven by plumes of molten rock that roil up from the planet's superheated core. Many of the world's largest earthquakes occur at the boundaries of such plates. The San Andreas fault system divides the Pacific plate and the North American plate, which grind past each other at the pace of 2 in. a year. But this movement of the plates is not uniform. Along fault zones the plates tend to become "locked...
...ancient city now called Nimrud, located in what is present-day Iraq, was once the military capital of one of history's fiercest empires. When word first leaked out this summer that Iraqi archaeologists had discovered a major find at the site, scientists around the world were immediately intrigued. The reports told of remarkable archaeological treasures, including royal tombs heaped with gold jewelry of exquisite quality. But reliable information about the site was virtually impossible to obtain. The Iraqis refused to grant visas to the press or let any outsiders photograph the jewelry...
...that the full magnificence of the Nimrud find is known, Muzahim is intensifying his search, hoping to find the tombs of Nimrud's all powerful kings. The hunt is not without its dangers, however. Only after opening Princess Yabahya's grave did Muzahim's team decipher the ancient cuneiform curse inscribed on a marble tablet: "If anyone lays hands on my tomb . . . let the ghost of insomnia take hold of him for ever and ever...
...Britain induces reveries of a civilized Eden. Never mind that most of these establishments are now defunct or shells of their former selves; the graceful existence they once accommodated, celebrated in novels and films, lives on. Morning strolls across rolling lawns, with tatters of mist clinging to the ancient oaks and hedgerows. Inside, an assembly of witty weekend guests. Tea at 4; whisky and soda at 6. A sumptuous meal, with candlelight glancing off starched white shirtfronts, bare shoulders and glittering jewelry. Port and cigars, conversation and billiards. And then...