#ancientworld

On June 26, AD 4, Emperor Augustus made one of the most consequential decisions in Roman history by officially adopting his stepson, Tiberius, as his heir. After the deaths of his preferred successors, Gaius and Lucius Caesar, Augustus needed a capable leader to preserve the stability of the Roman Empire.

The adoption came with conditions. Augustus also required Tiberius to adopt his talented young nephew, Germanicus, ensuring the continuation of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Although Tiberius was an experienced general with an impressive military record, he was never Augustus' first choice. Nevertheless, he would succeed Augustus upon his death in AD 14, becoming Rome's second emperor and overseeing an empire at the height of its power.

“Hades”, digital, (#4 in my Olympians series)

OK, no 4, mr underworld..HADES! super fun piece to do. I didnt want him to feel evil, but the underworld is described as murky and deep, so it wasn’t going to be full of sunshine and rainbows. I love the idea of a silver and gold mine, as he is the god of wealth and precious minerals/metals. (hence the jewels in the bottom foreground) 

Its apt that this piece is done now, as Persephone, his wife, has joined him (forcing Demeter to bring forth winter). Hades holds his bird tipped scepter, and his helmet (or cap) of invisibility (the same one he gave to Perseus as one of his magical items to go and slapy Medusa) .

Sitting Beside the throne is the three headed guard hound; CERBERUS, and in the deep, cavernous background we can the furies, those older, primordial creatures sent forth to punish bloodshed and murder with a family. (and who i cant wait to design and illustrate when i get back to the Oresteia’s second play “Euminides” (i.e. “furies”) 

Next will be DEMETER, and I’m super excited about her piece, because i will bring in the Eleusinian mysteries/cult of Demeter into the portrayal somehow. Stay tuned folks! Thanks for looking! xoxo. 

Want to own my Illustrated Greek myth book jam packed with over 130 illustrations like this? Support my book kickstarter "Lockett Illustrated: Greek Gods and Heroes" coming in early 2024.

A. ब्रह्मा मंदिर, पुष्कर B. दुर्गा मंदिर, कर्नाटक C. गोबेकली तेपे, तुर्की D. स्टोनहेंज, इंग्लैंड

कृपया आप अपना उत्तर हमें कमेंट में बताएं!

🪓 🛡️ German Barbarians Meet Roman Pleasures 🍇 💖

Watch the 16:9 HD Music Video on Youtube: youtu.be/NO_Me5jcnM0

✨ Last Lights of the Ancient World – Between Ruins and Splendor in 5th Century Rome

🌍 The 5th century was a time of profound transformation. Rome, once the heart of a vast world empire, had largely lost its political power – yet its cultural legacy was still palpable. Emperors came and went – often little more than shadows of former greatness – while in the provinces and even around the capital, people continued to live among the remnants of Roman civilization.

🏛️ This shift was especially visible in the Roman villas. Many had long been abandoned: overgrown gardens, shattered mosaics, dried-out thermal baths. Especially in the outer districts surrounding Rome, decay was hard to miss – as if nature and time had slowly begun to reclaim the Roman world. And yet, there were still exceptions: splendidly preserved estates where wealthy senatorial families maintained their traditions and lifestyle. These villas were rare – but striking. Banquets were still held, conversations echoed through marble-clad halls, and exotic plants from the former provinces still bloomed in carefully tended gardens.

🤝 In this contradictory world, cultures began to meet. Germanic warriors – once feared as “barbarians” – now arrived as mercenaries, settlers, or even as guests. They brought their own customs but were also fascinated by the brilliance of Roman culture. Slowly, a cultural exchange began: Romans adapted to new realities, while Germanic groups adopted Roman ways. Not every encounter was peaceful – but many were marked by curiosity, respect, and a sense of wonder for the unfamiliar.

Originally posted in the Nonfiction Addiction community.

The oldest written recipe we have is for beer — over 4,000 years old. Babylonians weren’t just drinking; they were perfecting craft brewing before it had a name.

If you could taste an ancient recipe, what would you choose?

This fact and many more interesting things about the history of beer can be found in: A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage

Enjoy fun, random, interesting knowledge or have some of your own to share, join the Nonfiction Addiction Community.

Sun Warrior.

Inspired by Italian iron age artifacts.