UPDATE:  SOLVED by Bill at 12:32 CDT

Is everybody ready for this today?  Remember, there is only this riddle and the one on the 13th left for a chance to qualify for the bonus riddle (on March 15th).  Good luck!

Museum of Anthropology - Calendar Stone

Today’s riddle subject is an object.

It is composed of many parts, only a few of which are commonly known or visible to the unaided eye.

This was well known to ancient man; in every civilization.

Very well represented in literature, today’s object is not only in the Iliad and the Odyssey, but also the Bible and possibly the Qur’an.

PhotoBucket - Home Library

Often discovered by accident, you are likely to mistake it for something else when you first see it.

There is usually something tremendously beautiful seen very close to it.

On a cosmic time scale, this is very young.

Venus de Milo

Well?  What do you think?  In case you’re wondering, these are the people who have solved a riddle up to today:  Bruce, Adrianus V, Jim, Patricia, Doug, Dwight Decker, Rob, Alejandro, Stuart, Jim Hammill, Nick, Stephen, Jerry Thornton, and Roger.

I sure would like to add your name to the list!

(you know I’m lurking… don’t you, Trudy)

I'm SO cute!