Everyone struggles to find the right gift for a loved one during the holidays, special occasions, or even after a vacation. People often say that it's the thought that counts, and stress that home-made gifts are even more thoughtful. But as you stroll along Phoenix, Arizona gift shops, you would not deny that luxurious and expensive gifts can make anyone feel shocked and grateful. But there are home-made gifts that have astounded, shocked, and even made whole nations grateful to their gift-givers.
The Statue of Liberty
France was instrumental in the success of the American Revolution against the British, and France wanted to make a lasting monument to both the nation's dedication to freedom. The sculptor Frederic August Bartholdi designed the statue after the goddess Libertas, a Roman deity worshipped by emancipated slaves. The statue was first built in France in 1877, starting with the head. Bartholdi also hired Gustave Eiffel to make its metal frame. The statue was finally delivered to the United States in 1885 in pieces. It took another year to construct the statue. But since its dedication in 1886, it has remained a symbol of friendship between France and the United States, and their commitment to freedom and equality.
The Trojan Horse
The Iliad by Homer is one of the most enduring classics from the ancient world. Still, the story's two most surprising elements have made it unforgettable: the war was started by a woman and ended by a wooden horse. The horse was a gift from the Greeks to the Trojans, as an offering to Poseidon, the god of the sea. The Trojans saw the Greeks leave the battlefield, leaving the horse near their gates. They thought it was a gift of peace and brought it inside the city walls. But the wooden horse hid several Greek heroes, including the wily Odysseus. Upon nightfall, they crept out of their hiding place and opened the gates of Troy. This signaled the destruction of the city by the Greeks. But even if you question the truth of this tale, people would know what you mean when you say, "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts."
Las Meninas
Royalty has always relied on their favorite court painters to show their best side, and painters have always relied on their patron's favors for wealth and fame. The Spanish painter Diego Velasquez painted King Philip IV and Queen Consort Mariana of Austria with Infanta Margarita and several ladies-in-waiting. The painting even included a self-portrait of Velasquez with a brush and a palette in his hands. It was a unique family portrait that the painter sent to the Spanish King as a gift, and has become one of the world's most valuable paintings. So the next time you want to give a gift to someone special, remember that you don't have to get the most expensive or luxurious gift on the market. If you have the skill, talent, and creativity, you can make a home-made gift that will please your loved one and serve as an enduring symbol of your bond.