Fuck yeah, Classics.

centuriespast: Head of a womanca. 253 –...

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 07:14:00 +0100

Head of a woman
ca. 253 – 268 A.D.

Roman

Gallienic

Princeton University Art Museum

hominisaevum: 16/17th Century skull with Sator Square The Sator...

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 11:48:22 +0100

16/17th Century skull with Sator Square

The Sator Square is a word square containing a Latin palindrome featuring the words SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS written in a square so that they may be read top-to-bottom, bottom-to-top, left-to-right, and right-to-left.

One likely translation is “The farmer Arepo has [as] works wheels [a plough]”; that is, the farmer uses his plough as his form of work. Although not a significant sentence, it is grammatical; it can be read up and down, backwards and forwards.

If “arepo” is taken to be in the second declension, the “-o” ending could put the word in the ablative case, giving it a meaning of “by means of [arepus].” Thus, “The sower holds the works and wheels by means of water”

The Sator Square is a four-times palindrome, and some people have attributed magical properties to it, considering it one of the broadest magical formulas in the Occident. An article on the square from The Saint Louis Medical and Surgical Journal vol. 76, reports that palindromes were viewed as being immune to tampering by the devil, who would become confused by the repetition of the letters, and hence their popularity in magical use.

source: The Macabre And the Beautifully Grotesque

farsizaban: Statue of Persian God “Mithra” made in Rome Around...

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 23:41:31 +0100

farsizaban:

Statue of Persian God “Mithra” made in Rome Around 2nd–3rd century CE

The cult of Mithra was a mystery religion which became popular with Roman soldiers.

myhistoryblog: Rom, Kapitolinische Museen, kapitolinischer...

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:57:38 +0100

myhistoryblog:

Rom, Kapitolinische Museen, kapitolinischer Mars, Detail (Capitoline Museums, Capitoline Mars) by HEN-Magonza on Flickr.

myhistoryblog: Ancient Corinth by angelsgermain on Flickr. Via...

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 11:53:00 +0100

myhistoryblog:

Ancient Corinth by angelsgermain on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Doric temple of Apollo (550 B.C.)

myhistoryblog: Triumphal Arch by Cybjorg on Flickr. Via Flickr:...

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 05:51:34 +0100

myhistoryblog:

Triumphal Arch by Cybjorg on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
The Triumphal Arch is one of the best preserved pieces of Roman architecture in ancient Tyre, Lebanon.

Would anyone like to help run this blog?

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 05:29:12 +0100

I am not able to do it alone. (I’m a sociology/ASL major, and I don’t have much time for extra research.)

Message me here if you’re interested.

The Three Graces (detail from Botticelli’s Primavera) If you...

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 05:24:54 +0100

The Three Graces
(detail from Botticelli’s Primavera)

If you don’t know about the Charites, check out the Wikipedia page. One of my favourite parts of Greek mythology.

-Amy

myancientworld: Sappho. Roman marble copy of a Greek original,...

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 07:01:37 +0100

myancientworld:

Sappho.

Roman marble copy of a Greek original, early 5th century.

Inscription: ‘ΣΑΠΦΩ ΕΡΕΣΙΑ’, reading: Sappho Eresia (Sappho from Eresos)

Triple Hecate and the Charites, third century BCECurrently in...

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 02:52:56 +0100

Triple Hecate and the Charites, third century BCE
Currently in the Glyptothek in Munich

Photo

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 07:45:22 +0000

Photo

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 23:03:12 +0000

ballgags-for-everyone: Hecate May the circle never be...

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:00:07 +0000

ballgags-for-everyone:

Hecate

May the circle never be broken

May the earth always be whole

May the rattle ever be shaken

May Hecate live in my soul.

(Source for chant)

mmelancolie: j. w. waterhouse

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 06:00:07 +0000

mmelancolie:

j. w. waterhouse

theancientworld: Venus de Milo, created between 130 and 100...

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:00:07 +0000

theancientworld:

Venus de Milo, created between 130 and 100 BCE

"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance."

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:00:07 +0000

“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”

- Aristotle (via theancientworld)

theancientworld: Bust of Selene in a clipeus, detail from a...

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 06:00:07 +0000

theancientworld:

Bust of Selene in a clipeus, detail from a strigillated lenos sarcophagus. White marble, early 3rd century CE. From Tomb D in Via Belluzzo, Rome.

theancientworld: Minoan Snake Goddess. The goddess, or...

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:10:07 +0000

theancientworld:

Minoan Snake Goddess. The goddess, or priestess, is depicted with exposed breasts and wearing a rich garment. Her bared breasts suggest her capacity as fertility goddess, 16th c BCE

theancientworld: Apollo kitharoidos (holding a kithara) and...

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:00:07 +0000

theancientworld:

Apollo kitharoidos (holding a kithara) and musagetes (leading the Muses). Marble, Roman artwork, 2nd century CE.

theancientworld: Veiled dancer. Terracotta figurine from...

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 06:00:07 +0000

theancientworld:

Veiled dancer. Terracotta figurine from Myrina, ca. 150 BC–100 BC.