☀️ The Pont du Gard is the highest known aqueduct bridge in the Roman world. It was designed to carry water from Uzès to the city of Nîmes over the Gardon river. Built in the 1st century AD, the top of the bridge rises 49 m above the river. 📸 Own photos.
This panel from a larger mosaic depicts the goddess Diana with two of her nymphs. They appear to have just been surprised by the arrival of the young hunter Actaeon. Things are not about to end well for the mortal!
This C2nd CE Roman relief is part of a celebration of Hadrian’s twentieth year as emperor. A bull is about to be sacrificed. The detail in the relief work is spectacular!
This C2nd CE Roman mosaic suggests the preparation for a feast. On the menu: an array of meats, what looks to be dates (or something else, I’m not sure?), and a good dose of leafy greens!
"I swear by the cluster-bearing delight of Dionysos' vine."
Euripides, Bacchae 535
🏛️ Marble sculpture of #Dionysos found in Italy, dated 2nd century CE. Arms and legs were heavily restored in the 18th century. Today in the Musée du Louvre.
☀️ For #ReliefWednesday: A 4th c. AD stele with a dedication of a wife to her deceased husband, Centurion of Cataphracti: "To the Manes and in eternal memory of Klaudius Ingemuus, Centurion of the Senior Cataphracti Horsemen, who died at the approximate age of 35. Candida raised this tomb to her cherished husband and dedicated under the Ascia".
Sarcophagus with a frieze depicting the labours of Hercules. This piece is thought to have been made in Asia Minor in c. 160 CE before its transfer to Rome. Today it can be found in the Galleria Borghese.
It's the Day of Hermes aka Mercurius Day aka #Wednesday! 🐏
This delightful figure of the #Roman god Mercurius is holding a purse & has a winged feet and a winged helmet. He protected the pay of Roman soldiers, so this figure may have belonged to a soldier.
This week's #MythologyMonday theme is fire and there are two major Greek gods associated with fire: #Hestia, goddess of the hearth, and #Hephaistos, god of smiths.
They represent #fire in two different forms: the sacrificial flame of the hearth as the sacred centre of domestic life and the flame of Hephaistos, source of all arts, and fuel of the funeral pyre. But both could be invoked for the cooking of sacrificial meat or a good meal:
If it did go out, only sacred fire produced by friction, or by bronze burning mirrors drawing fire from the sun, might be used to rekindle it.
A ritual from #Lemnos, the cult centre of #Hephaistos, has all fires on Lemnos extinguished for nine days until new fire is brought from the island of #Delos:
Chariot mosaic with parrot ~ late C2nd–early C3rd CE
This gorgeous piece was found in
1876 during the construction of Via Nazionale in Rome. It seems to depict a larger-than-life parrot driving a chariot!
We’re celebrating the Roman fondness for the phallus with this bronze phallic ornament c. C1st CE. With a phallic head, tail, and it’s own phallus, this piece is truly offering options in terms of apotropaic power!
Meet this red jasper #intaglio from #Wales depicting the Roman god #Mars standing in the nude, wearing only a crested helmet and the folds of a cloak over one arm. He cradles a long spear and holds a sheathed sword with its belt.
🏛️ Mars, Roman intaglio, Amgueddfa #Cymru - National Museum Wales
"Swelled like young Mene's the [#Moon's] arching chariot-rail when high over Okeanos' fathomless-flowing stream she rises, with the space half filled with light between her bowing horns."
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 1.147
🏛️ #Fresco on the facade of the House of Venus and the Four Gods (IX. 7. 1), 1st century CE, Pompeii
This Severan era portrait is believed to be of an athlete given the emphasis on muscle delineation. Having said that, he doesn’t look like the happiest camper going around!
🏛 Centrale Montemartini (Capitolini AC 4492)
📸 My own
☀️ This is the Arch of Orange - it stood on the Via Agrippa to honour legionaries who conquered Gaul, then Tiberius had it renewed to celebrate victories over German tribes. During the Middle Ages, the arch became part of the town wall, which allowed it be exceptionally well preserved. 📸 Own pics.
"She [Gaia] prayed to the Titan #Helios with submissive voice: she begged of him one red hot ray, that with its heating fire she might melt the petrified water of Zeus, by pouring his kindred radiance over frozen Typhon."
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 2. 543
🎨 Roman silver relief of Sol from Pessinus in Anatolia, dated 3rd century CE. Today in the British Museum.