09 December 2009

Winterzauber Karussell in Berlin

Roundabout Berlin _529

The earliest known depiction of a carousel is in a Byzantine bas-relief dating to around 500 A.D. The word carousel originates from the Italian garosello and Spanish carosella used by crusaders to describe a combat preparation exercise and game played by Turkish and Arabian horsemen in the 11th century.This early device could be considered a cavalry training mechanism; it prepared and strengthened the riders for actual combat as they wielded their swords at the mock enemies. European Crusaders discovered this device and brought the idea back to their own lands. Nowadays we see them at fun fairs - so on the big Xmas markets in Berlin/Germany

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