A Timely Reminder Of How Multi-cultural The Ancient World Really Was. 

Fascinating insights about Floralia and Flora’s cult. 

The Floralia is a Roman festival honoring Flora, the goddess of spring, flower gardens, and crops. It was held each year from April 27th or 28th to May 3rd. She is married to Favonius, the God of the West Wind. Flora was one of the most important goddesses in the Roman pantheon, one of only 15 deities to have a cult administered by a state priesthood consisting of a married couple, who were appointed for life.

The celebration of the Floralia included theatrical performances, competitive games, and a sacrifice to Flora, presumably at her temple on the lower slope of the Aventine Hill near the Circus Maximus.

About the base image:

Flora, or the Primavera of Stabaie; 1st century CE fresco from Stabaie, Italy. Collection of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli via Wikimedia Commons (X). Image license: Public Domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or fewer and in the United States - published anywhere (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before 1926.

Manipulation: I 'healed' some of the fresco's more obvious flaws and added the floral border.

Thought I’d share this with Floralia being upon us, which also overlaps with Beltane. 

Flora, the goddess of flowers and the season of spring, Roman artwork from the Imperial period with some modern alterations, from Hadrian’s Villa, Palazzo Nuovo, Capitoline Museums. Photo by: Carole Raddato, 2014 via Wikimedia Commons (X). License: CC BY-SA 2.0

Just wanted to post that asexuals in general are awesome, valid, and LGBT+. There is nothing wrong with having no interest in sex. You’re just different, and it’s ok to be different. 

what qualifies as a “bad” omen?? asking for a friend

Can I Copy Your Homework? Kotor Edition

I’ll Help You With It: Bastila Shan, Carth Onasi

Yeah, Sure: Zaalbar, Juhani, Tee-Three

Bold of You to Assume I Did the Homework: Jolee Bindo, Revan

LOL, Nope: Canderous Ordo

Wait, We Had Homework: Mission Vao

Read at 5:55 P.M.: HK-47 (He only let’s Revan copy his homework)

When I see this statue, I can’t help but remember Kate Quinn’s Empresses of Rome series. 

Roman statue of empress Vibia Sabina, wife of Hadrian (r. 117-138 CE). Marble. 

Can I Copy Your Homework? Mass Effect Andromeda Edition

I’ll Help You With It: Vetra Nyx, Lexi T’Perro

Yeah, Sure: Jaal Ama Darav, Gil Brodie, Suvi Anwar

Bold of You to Assume I Did the Homework: Peebee

LOL, Nope: Drack, Cora Harper

Wait, We Had Homework: Liam Kosta

Read at 5:55 P.M.: Alec Ryder, Kallo Jath (He read your message, but forgot to reply)

Best game idea ever!

re-skinning Monopoly to be about ancient Rome

instead of going to jail, you get exiled to Scythia

passing Go represents the bribes you collect every election season

instead of owning property on city blocks, you own land in various provinces

Boardwalk and Park Place ==> Egypt and Syria

Baltic and Mediterranean ==> Britannia Prima and Britannia Secunda

instead of houses and hotels, villae and latifundia

instead of railroads, just roads 

water works ==> bathhouse

electric company ==> amphitheater 

free parking ==> forum

income tax ==> wealth tax

re-skinned Chance and Community Chest cards:

“You have been elected Aedile – pay each player 50 denarii”

“Get out of Exile Free”

“Saturnalia Fund Matures – Collect 100 denarii”

“Greek Theater Night – collect 50 denarii from every player for opening night seats”

“Land Tax Refund – collect 20 denarii”

“Receive 25 denarii in bribes”

Eros and Psyche’s story is one of my favorite Greek myths. 

‘Psyche Entering Cupid's Garden’ - John William Waterhouse

Stories always begin the same way: There was and there was not. There is possibility in those words, the chance for hope or despair.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust (via miithridatism)