Obama, Putin and the Devil by sandra46

Photography • (none) • posted on Apr 09, 2010

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Description

These days in Prague there were Obama and Medvedev, who signed a new treaty of non-proliferation of the nukes, in the Presidential Czech castle. Probably when I was in Prague and shot this photo the shopkeeper knew of the event, but since the populace is much better acquainted with Putin, he promoted these marionettes for the tourists to buy. He probably put the trio together with a hint of malice, but actually the underworld god, identified by the Christians as the Devil, is an older lord, much respected by miners all around the world. And Bohemia, as the region was known for centuries, had some of the richest silver mines in Europe in the nearby town of Kutna Hora. I interpret this trio as a good omen, to ward the evil off,like the miners do, so people can go on mining riches and don't reach the dead denizens of the underworld untimely. Pluto was god of the underworld and its riches. The name is the Latinized form of Greek Plouton, another name by which Hades was known in Greek mythology, possibly from the Greek word for wealth, ploutos.It's common to find a similar god also in places far form ancient Greece and Italy, for example in the silver, gold or tin mines of Germany, Wales and Peru. Czech marionette theatre is still very important here. Thanks for your kind comments.

Comments (43)

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MagikUnicorn

4:10PM | Sat, 10 April 2010

s u p e r b e

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clbsmiley

5:08PM | Sat, 10 April 2010

Great shot dear! Odd trio??? maybe not!

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jeroni

5:13PM | Sat, 10 April 2010

Elegant and beautfiful composition

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Marinette

5:22PM | Sat, 10 April 2010

...io non ti presento la mia "bimbina" con le tue incantevoloistorie, me la stregheresti! ;) Bellissimolavoro,Sandra.:)

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Madbat

7:09PM | Sat, 10 April 2010

really cool cultural info!

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Chipka

7:12PM | Sat, 10 April 2010

What an image. I was in the Czech Republic when Obama was elected and the population there seemed more excited than Americans at the time. In Prague, I saw so many "presidential puppets." They were all over Mala Strana, crammed into shop windows and hanging rather strangely from awnings. I think the presence of the horned gentleman is typical of Prague. He's everywhere there and on Saint Nicholas' Day, he literally walks the streets--well, guys dressed like him: their faces smeared with charcoal. Many of them wear impressive horns. They're usually accompanied by rather bored looking angels and Saint Nicholas--also rather bored looking, but ah...the Devils have such a fun time. This shot brings back those memories, and it's gorgeous on top of that! I love the sense of color and the familiar local spirit that shines from this image like a beacon. This is marvelous. Oh, and a funny story, when I returned to Prague shortly after President Obama's election, people I didn't even know would walk up to me and express congratulations on finally having a President. It was quite surreal.

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1358

9:12PM | Sat, 10 April 2010

every body is a puppet... except for a few of us...

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danapommet

6:36PM | Sun, 11 April 2010

Fantastic likeness of all three and very well dressed. Thanks for the information on the devil and what he represents there. Beautiful capture. dana

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0rest4wicked

7:21AM | Mon, 12 April 2010

It would not be Prague without marionette's. The citizens here pride their craftsmanship as much as their theater when it comes to marionette's. Very cool capture!

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