Python's Lair

Shout out to writers dedicating time and effort to writing long ass rarepair fics that will only get maybe 50 views on AO3!!!

Shout out to writers who post their fics in the rarepair tag on Tumblr and are the only ones in the tag/get little to no notes on their content!!!

You’ve been struck by 🔪

Antinous, reputed-lover of Emperor Hadrian, is thought to have been born #onthisday in AD 111. Born in the Roman province of Bithynia, he was travelling with the imperial entourage in Egypt when he drowned tragically in the Nile in AD 130. After this death, Hadrian founded a town for him at the bend of the river where he died called Antinoopolis, or Antinous City.

With Hadrian’s creation of this city and the commissioning of a number of portraits of the young man, Antinous became a god. His image spread across the empire and a cult-like following formed. The image and notoriety of Antinous reach from antiquity into the modern world.

In the Old Kingdom, a period that stretches over roughly 500 years (2686–2181 BC), the economy was primarily agrarian and so heavily reliant on the Nile. The river inundated the fields along its banks and provided fertile silt. It also enabled the transport of commodities across the country.

Research suggests that the majority of the cultivated soils were part of large estates that were under the control of the crown, various temples, and wealthy estate owners, who were usually royal officials.

MARCUS AURELIUS: PLATO’S PHILOSOPHER KING: 

MARCUS Aurelius Antoninus (r. 161-180 CE), last of the “good emperors” of the Roman Empire, has been hailed as “the noblest of all the men who, by sheer intelligence and force of character, have prized and achieved goodness for its own sake and not for any reward” (Grant, 139). His reign was characterized by a devotion to his people and this, as well as his enduring philosophical work, Meditations, attests to the truth of Grant’s praise.

Scholar Michael Grant, however, is hardly the first to express such sentiments. Aurelius was highly respected in his lifetime and is referred to as “the philosopher” by later ancient sources such as Cassius Dio (c. 155-235 CE) and the author (or authors) of the Historia Augusta (4th century CE), a history of Roman emperors. It is clear from both these sources that Aurelius’ Meditations was known to them but the authors focus, not only on the written work – which Aurelius never intended for publication – but on how he lived his philosophy throughout his reign.

Preserved since the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, an Ancient Roman villa, located below Positano’s church of Santa Maria dell’Assunta, has recently opened to the public. Following two excavation initiatives, taking place between  2003 - 2006 and 2015 - 2016, the villa is now accessible to visitors who can descend to ten metres below the church and make their way through what was once the summer home of an elite Roman family.

References: Marco Merola, “A spectacular villa under Positano sees the light.” Available at https://www.archaeology.org/issues/226-1609/features/4758-romans-on-the-bay-of-naples

“The Roman Villa in Positano: An Archaeological Wonder at the Heart of the Amalfi Coast.” Available at http://www.italianways.com/villa-romana-in-positano-an-archaeological-wonder-at-the-heart-of-the-amalfi-coast/

“Positano’s Roman Villa.” Available at http://sirenusejournal.com/en/positano/positanos-roman-villa

Planet Pompeii Blog. Available at https://www.planetpompeii.com/en/blog/the-leisure-of-positano-reopens-the-villa-romana-of-the-amalfi-coast-with-its-wonderful-frescoes.html

Images: Images 1-3 and 5, © Roberto Salomone.

Image 4, © L’Espresso.

Such an exciting find!! Just amazing condition, and the white sarcophagus is so beautiful. A little difficult to see the details on the dark one, but I’m sure it’s equally well decorated. And the reliefs on the walls. And the wrapping on the mummies. So exciting. Every time I’m a bit meh on the whole Egyptology thing (doesn’t happen often), something like this happens and I suddenly know why I do what I do.