UMD Classics

- Julius Caesar

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt.”

The Secrets of Roman Concrete

It’s the most common human-made material on earth, the second most consumed substance after water, and the veritable foundation of contemporary society. Despite all that, and the fact that modern concrete is by many measures an advanced building material, it pales in comparison to Roman concrete. For proof, simply compare today’s version—which often shows degradation after 50 years—with concrete-based Roman monuments that still stand after two millenia. Even more impressive are underwater Roman structures that show little decay in the presence of harsh marine environments.

“She [Gaia the Earth] lay with Ouranos (Sky) and bare deep-swirling Okeanos, Koios and Krios and Hyperion and Iapetos, Theia and Rhea, Themis and Mnemosyne and gold-crowned Phoibe and lovely Tethys. After them was born Kronos the wily, youngest and most terrible of her children.” - Hesiod

(requested by the lovely asriels)

“Athéna”

Head of the god Helios, with the traites of Alexander the Great by Unknown (2nd century BC)

HELIOS (or Helius) was the Titan god of the sun. He was also the guardian of oaths and the god of gift of sight. Helios dwelt in a golden palace located in the River Okeanos at the eastern ends of the earth. From there he emerged each dawn driving a chariot drawn by four, fiery winged steeds and crowned with the aureole of the sun. When he reached the the land of the Hesperides (Evenings) in the West he descended into a golden cup which carried him around the northern streams of Okeanos back to his rising place in the East.

Once his son Phaethon attempted to drive the chariot of the sun, but losing control, set the earth on fire. Zeus then struck him down with a thunderbolt.

Helios was depicted as a handsome, usually beardless, man clothed in purple robes and crowned with the shining aureole of the sun. His sun-chariot was drawn by four steeds, sometimes winged.

MYTHOLOGY EDITS  || ORPHEUS & EURYDICE , inspired by (x)

The last I saw of you was a dark oval. Though I knew how this failure would hurt you, I had to fold like a gray moth and let go.

MYTH MOODBOARDS:   apollo.

Terracotta Campana relief, three Curetes with swords and shields, protecting the infant Zeus

Hercules - The Greek and Roman Gallery.

Metropolitan Museum of Art. NYC.

The Dying Achilles.   1884.

Ernst Hester. German 1846-1917. marble. Corfu.