Rich Votive Deposit Discovered in Sicily's Valley of the Temples
At least sixty terracotta figurines, female protomes, and busts, oil lamps, and small vases, a rich votive deposit of bronze fragments were found in the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, on the southwest coast of Sicily.
The objects were found in House VII b, which forms part of the housing complex north of the temple of Juno. The campaign is fully funded and supported by the Sicilian Region through the Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park, directed by Roberto Sciarratta, and is led by archaeologist Maria Concetta Parello.
In an announcement published by the Sicilian Region Institutional Portal: “The findings allow us to understand the dynamics of the destruction of Agrigentum in 406 BC by the Carthaginians, when the inhabitants had to flee in exodus towards the city of Gela.”
The votive deposit, which would appear to have been arranged above the destruction levels of the house, may tell the story of the time when its objects were recovered by the Akragantines after the destruction. To define with certainty the function of the interesting deposit will require further research, paying close attention to the stratigraphic connections between the deposit and the living and abandonment levels of the house.
The Valley of the Temples forms part of the ancient city of Agrigentum, situated in the province of Agrigento, Sicily. Since 1997, the Valley of the Temples (covering 3212 acres) has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
According to the Greek historian, Thucydides, Agrigentum was founded around 582-580 BC by Greek colonists from Gela in eastern Sicily, with further colonists from Crete and Rhodes. It was routed by the forces of Carthaginian general Himilko in 406 B.C. Agrigento’s residents fled to nearby Gela when Himilko sacked their city, but then he took Gela too. All of the Greek colonies on Sicily fell to Himilko and were made vassals of Carthage. Punic primacy would not last long, however. Timoleon of Corinth defeated Carthage in Sicily and liberated the Greek cities in 399 B.C.
By Leman Altuntaş.
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Interiors: Basics of Styles
The 9 Styles of Interiors are maximalist, brutalist, coastal, minimalist, rustic, art deco, Hollywood Regency, midcentury modern and modern organic and they all have unique characteristics. Let’s dive in.
Maximalism
* Bold colors.
* Bright wallpaper.
* Mixed patterns with contrasting motifs, like animal print, geometric shapes, or florals.
* Ornate accents, like chandeliers.
* Layered fabrics.
* Statement pieces.
Notable people: Kelly Wearstler, Martin Brudnizki, Dorothy Draper and the Greenbriar Resort
Brutalist
* Raw Materials. At its core, Brutalist interior design honors raw materials—showcasing the honesty of construction
* Geometric Shapes
* Textured Surfaces
* Unadorned Minimalism
* Focus on Function
Notable people: Le Corbusier, Marcel Breuer, Moshe Safdie
Coastal
* Natural Light
* Crisp whites
* Layered blue tones
* Jute textures
* Stripes
* Linen upholstery
Notable people: William Pahlmann, Amy Aidinis Hirsch, Brett Sugerman and Giselle Loor Sugerman
Minimalist
* Simple lines.
* Monochromatic or neutral color palettes.
* Limited furniture.
* Limited decorative objects.
* Storage solutions that keep the space uncluttered.
* Open floor plans.
* Natural light
Notable people: Donald Judd, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, David Chipperfield
Rustic
* Main Colors: Wood grains or browns, beiges, or warmer shades
* of white.
* Accent Colors: Muted colors - tans, reds, blues, greens, yellows,
* and grays.
* Shapes: Rugged, imperfect lines and silhouettes.
* Fixture Finishes: Iron, pewter, copper, or brass.
* Aesthetic: Imperfect but warm and inviting. Decor/Art Style: Animal hides and fur, antlers, throws, pillows,
* and rugs with simple motifs or patterns.
Notable people: Alexander Waterworth, Grey Walker, Katherine Pooley, Bill Hovard, Jean Stoffer
Art deco
* Streamlined, symmetrical forms.
* Geometric designs as ornamentation; it's common to see shapes such as: Trapezoids
* Rich material and textile palettes
* Ornamental light fixtures such as chandeliers or sconces.
Notable people: Jacques Ruhlmann and Maurice Dufrène, Eliel Saarinen
Hollywood Regency
* richly layered textures
* high contrast patterns
* metallic finishes
* vibrant colors
Notable people: Dorothy Draper, George Vernon Russell, Douglas Honnold, John Woolf, and Paul R. Williams.
Midcentury Modern
* clean lines
* muted tones
* a combination of natural and manmade materials
* graphic shapes
* vibrant colours
* integrating indoor and outdoor motifs
Notable people: Arne Jacobsen, Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen
Modern Organic
* The modern organic interior design style mixes minimalism, midcentury modern, and boho flair
* Clean minimalism and sleek lines meet nature-inspired shapes, organic textures, and rustic elements
* By adding natural textures and shapes, the modern organic decor is warm, inviting, soulful, and elegant.
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since i know you like your alien worldbuilding and i’m not really sure if you’ve answered an ask related to this yet, at least for tfp, i’d just be really interested in hearing some of your ideas (if you have any) on what cybertronian beauty standards are, and how most of the main cast would be seen in regards to those standards. do they even have an understandable concept of beauty? i mean obviously shiny paint and buffed finishes would probably be the norm, and different branches of the transformers race would definitely value certain traits over others (velocitron comes to mind) but what other features do you think would be cybertronian society’s general ideals?
Heck yeah, worldbuilding time. Lets gooooooo-
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Cybertronian Beauty Standards
There are a few universals when it comes to beauty standards across Cybertron. Namely well done paint, buffed plating, and unbroken armor. However across regions and castes, there are a few preferences that are rather prevalent.
Amidst high castes, the favored form is flamboyancy and keeping up the latest trends. If one wishes to keep up to standard, they will be required to constantly change their frame, usually in irreversible ways in order to ensure they are up to snuff. The trends always change, so it is near impossible to pinpoint what is seen as beautiful at any given moment amongst the high caste, but a few constants are brighter colors, accessories in abundance, and expressive optics. Its all a way to show off authority and wealth.
Middle caste mecha tend to be more reserved, and as a general rule, a more composed and sophisticated look is the most attractive. A firm frame without any serious kibble, hardy and built to last but still with enough unique accessories to stand out. Duller versions of their high caste counterparts paint selections are often the preferred choice, but often brighter colors are still appreciated most. For the middle caste its all about showing off one's ability to take care of themselves while still standing out in a way that is not obnoxious.
Low caste mecha look for survivability in those around them to determine beauty. A sturdy frame with no serious signs of deterioration, an appealing collection of scars to tell of battles won, and bright but often cold colors are preferred. Shining silver and multiple layers of armor are seen as most beautiful due to the story such things tell. A mech who can withstand everything and still manage to buff out their plating is one who is well regarded amongst the low castes.
Across different city states, these standards largely remained the same but were adapted to the preferences of each area. In the case of Iacon and its similarly wealthy sister cities, all mecha regardless of caste were expected to maintain their frame. Bright colors, slim waists with bulky shoulders and chevrons were seen as the most appealing. Thick pedes were also seen as an expression of grace when combined with thin legs and the overall bulk of the upper body. Additional kibble was not seen as particularly appealing and often a more minimalist appearance was most well regarded since it showed a mech could go without any notable modifications. If one had modifications, they were to be hidden if the mech in question wanted to keep up appearances. Any sort of markings to the frame were looked down upon, especially scarring. Clean plating without blemish was always seen as far superior to any sort of marking in wealthy cities. With that in mind, face preference tended to lean more toward those with polished and flat faces with their most interesting feature being their optics.
Less wealthy but more productive cities like Polyhex and Vos had a whole different set of preferences. Extra kibble was seen as appealing with a particular preference toward doorwings and wings in general. To have such a sensitive piece of additional kibble was put on a pedestal as it spoke of increadible self control to not be hitting everything and everyone or responding to stimuli poorly. Visors were held in high regard partially for the protective factor they offered, but largely due to how they obscured the face, a trait that was in high demand due to the various careers seen in the more bustling cities. Identity was everything, so having a frame with a slim midsection but with kibble almost everywhere else was seen as quite beautiful. Markings were tolerated and even seen as appealing to a degree so long as they were either artistically placed, or in the case of scarring, very minimal. The preference for facial structure was not really present as most instead preferred to focus on their visors as their most notable frame addition.
In poorer cities with a higher concentration of low caste mecha, such as Kaon and Helex, preferences differed yet again. Thick armor, heavily armed, and larger frames were seen as superior in every regard. The larger and sturdier a mech was, the better. A degree of curvage was seen as appealing, but largely the beauty was found in armor structure and useful kibble. Mecha in poorer cities resented any sort of ridiculous flamboyancy and much preferred quieter methods of showing off their grace. Polished but scarred armor was a mark of wisdom and prowess. Cooler colors showed an ability to go into battle without regard for faction or affiliation. Open weaponry showed bravery and honor since they quite clearly knew when and when not to fight. Usefulness was the most appealing, along with more aggressive plating structure. Unlike other cities, smooth and simple plating was not the most beautiful and instead most mecha agreed that spikes or at least extra boxy armor was better. With that in mind, sharper faces were also in higher demand.
Excluding cities, beauty standards fell into an interesting gray area that depended entirely on region. In small settlements, everything depending on environment. Those that lived near the sea were fond of the bulkier mecha since they could withstand the storms. They cared for them even more if their colors were various shades or orange and rust. Mecha from the spire forests were far fonder of tall and spindly frames, those with dark colors of the earth capable of rushing between obstacles without regard for the difficulties of a larger body. Those from the open plains and wastes fancied those more capable of speed so that they could get from point A to B without need for days of travel. Everything depended on region when not in the cities.
While there were outliers and small subcultures with different preferences, this is the overview.
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