Waxing lyrical over the loveliness of Helen of Troy, the poet rhapsodised “Is this the face that launch’d a thousand ships/ And burnt the topless towers of Ilium.” Had the Grecian queen — whom an enchanted Paris adjudged to be fairer of feature than even Aphrodite, goddess of love — been around today, her beauteous visage might well have been partly concealed from sight by a protective face mask, putting paid to the hypothetical question as to whether the Trojan war would have been averted had her perfect nose been infinitesimally longer or shorter than it was.
Thatneed not always lie in the eye, or the aye, of the beholder was evidenced recently by a Miss Jabalpur contest, in the city of that name, where the participants were equipped with infection-deterring.
Meanwhile, in distant and couture-conscious, fashionistas are devising innovative ways to keep infection at bay while still being mindful of one’s looks. Women’s headgear which incorporates a nose-and-mouth shield are reportedly trending among those who wear different hats, professionally and socially. And a YouTuber with a large fan following has demonstrated the use of make-up will make them look their attractive best and optimise their chances of finding a Seoul mate, indispensable face mask and all. Sound advice during times when safety has to be prioritised at all cost and sage must come before beauty.
Empty Mecca, No Devotees At Siddhivinayak: The World Turns Into A Ghost Town Post-Coronavir…
Earth Goes Off To Sleep
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only severely impacted global health but has changed how our world looks completely. Biggest metropolitan cities which were known for their fast-paced lifestyle have now come to a standstill. Well-known tourist spots and religious sites – be it the New York Times Square or the Holy Mecca – which were thronged by devotees and tourists, now lie deserted.
Several netizens have called the phenomenon ‘earth taking a break’. The images of the de
serted streets appear eerily similar to a post-apocalyptic world.
Here are some images which show how the world has changed after the coronavirus outbreak.
No Devotees At Kaaba
The Holy Mecca in Saudi Arabia is a site of monumental importance in Islam. The holy site, Kaaba, the cubic building which used to be surrounded by devotees offering prayers, now lies deserted.
Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday that mosques would no longer accept worshippers for the customary five daily prayers or the weekly Friday prayer, exceptional measures intended to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.
The crowd, however, has reduced and only a small number of worshippers are performing the ritual called ‘Tawaf’ where they circumambulate the Kaaba.
Swans Return To Venice Canals
Italy is one of the countries besides Iran and South Korea that is the worst affected by the pandemic. The country is in a state of lockdown and most are quarantined in their homes.
For the unversed, the city of Venice is known for the popular gondola rides and its canals. A Twitter user recently posted the images of swans which have returned to the canals in the wake of reduction in traffic.
The user also shared images of ducks making an appearance in the fountains of Rome and have found a new home.
Times Square Loses Its Spark
The iconic New York Times square is known for its giant hoardings, billboards and gigantic displays. It is often thronged by a large number of tourists and New Yorkers, but amid the COVID-19 outbreak, it lies deserted.
The images look eerie particularly because New York, known as the ‘city that never sleeps’, seems to have come to a halt.
The Big Apple is also known for its nightlife, bars and restaurants, which also seem to have come to a standstill.
Wuhan Becomes A Ghost Town
The epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, Wuhan, lies deserted even after 3 months of the outbreak. Over the last few days, drone footage from the Chinese province has surfaced, which shows the virtually empty town, with deserted streets and markets.
The scary images seem to be taken from a dystopian film and shows how the lines between the real and the reel are often blurred.