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cpt denev

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ancient history meme | ½ empires: the roman empire

The Roman Empire was the post-Roman Republic period of the ancient Roman civilization, and lasted approximately 1,500 years compared to the 500 years of the Republican era. The first two centuries of the empire’s existence were a period of unprecedented political stability and prosperity known as the Pax Romana, or “Roman Peace”. Following Octavian’s victory, the size of the empire was dramatically increased, including territories around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe, Africa and Asia. At its height (c. 117 AD), it was the most extensive political and social structure in western civilization. By 285 AD the empire had grown too vast to be ruled from the central government at Rome and so was divided by Emperor Diocletian into a Western and an Eastern Empire. The Roman Empire began when Augustus Caesar became the first emperor of Rome and ended, in the west, when the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the Germanic King Odoacer, in 476 AD. In the east, it continued as the Byzantine Empire until the death of Constantine XI and the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. The influence of the Roman Empire on western civilization was profound in its lasting contributions to virtually every aspect of western culture.

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The story of Pygmalion and Galatea is a well-known one in Greek mythology. It tells of how the young and handsome sculptor, Pygmalion, fell in love with his creation. Pygmalion actually hated the opposite sex, but with his talents he created a sculpture of a woman so perfect and life-like, it became the sole object of his attention and love. While some stories of Pygmalion and Galatea differ, what remains consistent is that Aphrodite granted his desire for his ivory love to come to life, apparently due to the statue resemblance of the Goddess herself.

Pygmalion and Galatea lived happily together, some stories saying they had a son, others saying they had a daughter, who later founded the city of Paphos in Cyprus.

Above: Pygmalion and Galatea, 1890, by Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824-1904)

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Namak Lake, Iran by Hasan Almasi

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(by Aurélien - Designatic) | {Instagram}

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So take time, feel your flow Setting them goals, tell me all you know

Santa Cruz, California

instagram

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Detail of Berenice’s tresses, 1878; by Ambrogio Borghi, exhibited in the Exposition Universelle in Paris.

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Detail of Berenice’s tresses, 1878; by Ambrogio Borghi, exhibited in the Exposition Universelle in Paris.

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The Temple of Bacchus at Baalbek, Lebanon, ca. 150 AD. This stunning Roman temple, still very well preserved, is actually larger than the Parthenon of Athens.

Photos courtesy of Varun Shiv Kapur.

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Natural History Museum. Austria

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Letter number one

Gustavo, no sé si leas esto o no, but it’s nice in both cases.

No sé si alguna vez has tenido esa experiencia de que de pronto te aparece la notificación de like de un ex tuyo con el que no hablas en mucho tiempo y no sabes nada de su vida. Si no, déjame decirte que no puedes saber qué quiere esa persona, ni intuir por ese naufragio de like si quiere que le hables o qué está haciendo en tu cuenta, ¿y si cometes el error de hablarle pero no le interesa? ¿No lo has pensado? 

No sé si lo que te dije te ofendió, te hizo sentir mal o qué pasó, te pido perdón aunque no creo que deba disculparme por nada, lo que dije no fue ninguna ofensa. 

Si querías hablar hay un botón que dice “Mensaje”, seguro lo conoces, le das ahí y sé que entonces quieres hablar y nos evitamos rodeos e indirectas como las que usábamos en 2013. 

Hazme un favor y ayúdame a saber qué quieres. Tú sabes cómo encontrarme, yo no. 

Eso es todo, sólo quería terminar de decir lo que quería antes de que decidieras bloquearme, si nunca volvemos a hablarnos ten éxito.

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Pastel worlds | Judy Schmidt

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«El perro alado de Zeus, un águila roja de sangre,  será un invitado inesperado en tu banquete.  Durante todo el día desgarrará tu cuerpo a tiras, con grandes surcos dentro de la carne, devorando con furia el hígado ennegrecido.

No esperes fin para esta agonía. Hasta que un Dios quiera sufrir por ti, quiera llevar sobre Él tu dolor y en tu lugar descender a donde el sol se convierte en oscuridad, las negras profundidades de la muerte.»

Esquilo, Prometeo encadenado.

The Torture of Prometheus (ca. 1630) - Gioacchino Assereto

Prometheus (1660) - Luca Giordano

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Harbor Scene with Roman Ruins - Leonardo Coccorante (ca. 1750)