Trivial Despot

#warhammer 40k #adepta sororitas #imperium of mankind #imperial saint

Saint Silvana

by Ivana Abbate

#warhammer 40k #blood angels #dante

The Angel’s Inferno

by Koh LJ

#black templars #warhammer 40k #imperial fists #sigismund #space marines #imperium of man

Birth Of The Black Templar

by David Ok

The moment of Sigismund turning into the first Black Templar

#fulgrim #warhammer 40k #horus heresy #warhammer 30k #ferrus manus #primarch

The Phoenician

by David Ok

#warhammer 40k #warhammer 30k #imperium of man #horus lupercal #emperor of mankind #primarchs

The Coronation Of The Warmaster

by Koh LJ

#sanguinius #blood angels #warhammer 40k #primarch

by jjoail

#greek mythology #odyssey #Odysseus #classical mythology

Odysseus Visiting the Underworld. 1785. Johann Heinrich Lips. Swiss, 1758 - 1817. pen and brown ink, brown and gray wash. http://hadrian6.tumblr.com

#ancient rome #history #roman mythology

The Death of Camilla. Jean-Jacques-François Le Barbier (born in Rouen on 11 November 1738 – died in Paris on 7 May 1826 oil/canvas. Christie's Jan. 2023. http://hadrian6.tumblr.com

kevplummer

just finished reading Dune lol

#Paul Muad'Dib #Dune #Frank Herbert

#Greek Mythology #homeric #greek epic #ancient greece

Who was this mythical storyteller? A singing bard-poet, (aoidoi)-dramatically orating the epic tales for aristocratic banquets or bawdy taverns? A collective of poets-refining their work over generations? The unfortunate truth is, we just don’t know.

Homer is thought to have existed around 800-700 B.C. and is credited as the creator and poet of the epics; “The Iliad” (15,693 lines) and “The Odyssey” (12,109 lines). Homer existed during a time when Linear B had been lost, or the Greek “dark ages.” So the poets of this time sung their tales in song-like structures, passing the oral art form down form generation to generation. Therefore, its unlikely Homer made up these tales, but inherited and refined them from older tales that had been passed down in the oral tradition. To complicate things further, Between the epics, there are variations in narrative style, vocabulary, and geographic expertise, which lead many scholars speculate that The Iliad and Odyssey were written by different authors.

Unfortunately, there are no biographical details within the epics to give us insight into the author(s). However, In the Odyssey, there is a blind bard poet character, Demodocus, who recites his poetry to the royal court. Some have suggested that this character was created by Homer as a reflection of himself. This is a fun and tempting parallel to draw. Similar to how we might get the reflection of Shakespeare’s voice through Hamlet when the prince describes to his players the the philosophies of theatre acting. The portrayal of a blind poet also creates a nice symbolic parallel to the Norse God Odin, who, sacrificed an eye in exchange for divine wisdom. Indeed, the Greek bards saw themselves as divinely inspired by “the Muses”; the inspirational goddesses of the creative arts. Through Homer, the elegant oral form crafted these classics, and, incredibly, we can still hear the song like syntax and repetitions in the texts.

#Greek Mythology #Orpheus #Hades

part 5:

From Ovid’s Metamorphosis: (-translated by Anthony S. Kline)

“The bloodless spirits wept as he spoke, accompanying his words with the music. Tantalus did not reach for the ever-retreating water: Ixion’s wheel was stilled: the vultures did not pluck at Tityus’s liver: the Belides, the daughters of Danaüs, left their water jars: and you, Sisyphus, perched there, on your rock. Then they say, for the first time, the faces of the Furies were wet with tears, won over by his song: the king of the deep, and his royal bride, could not bear to refuse his prayer, and called for Eurydice. She was among the recent ghosts, and walked haltingly from her wound. The poet of Rhodope (Orpheus) received her, and, at the same time, accepted this condition, that he must not turn his eyes behind him, until he emerged from the vale of Avernus, or the gift would be null and void.”

Let’s take a closer look at some of the secondary characters mentioned in Ovid’s passage. Tantalus (great-grandfather of Agamemnon) was a King who, after being admitted to dine with the gods, killed his own son (Pelops) to serve the gods to test their powers of perception. For this moral crime, he was cast into Hades where he endured the torment of everlasting hunger and thirst. When he bent to drink the waters at his feet- the water receded away, or when he reached for the fruit on the tree above- the wind blew the branches out of reach. Ixion was a corrupt mortal, who after killing his father in law and attempting to seduce Hera, was punished by Zeus to be strapped over a an ever spinning, solar flaming wheel. Tityus was a giant who attempted to rape Leto; the mother of Artemis and Apollo. After being slain by Apollo, the giant was punished in hades by being staked to the ground and having two vultures peck out his regenerating liver (similar to Zeus’ punishment for Prometheus with an eagle). The Belides (Daenaeds/water nymphs) were fifty daughters who were ordered by their father to murder their husbands on their wedding nights. In Tartarus they were cursed to carry water jars for eternity to fill an ever-emptying tub. Sisyphus was a trickster mortal who cheated death, and was cursed to roll a boulder uphill for eternity; another fruitless labor. The Furies (or Erinyes) were dark deities who punished mortals who spilled familial blood. The Furies were born from such an act, as when Uranus castrated his father, Cronos, they emerged from the blood. In the Greek tragedy; The Oresteia , they haunt Orestes for killing his mother, Clytemnestra.

As always, thanks for looking and reading!

#Greek Mythology #Orpheus #Eurydice #Hades

"Chthonic Ascent" (# in my Orpheus and Eurydice series)

“The poet of Rhodope received her, and, at the same time, accepted this condition, that he must not turn his eyes behind him, until he emerged from the vale of Avernus, or the gift would be null and void. They took the upward path, through the still silence, steep and dark, shadowy with dense fog, drawing near to the threshold of the upper world.” (-Ovid, Metamorphosis,) So now Orpheus has the daunting task of ascending all the way up and out of Hades on pure faith alone that his Eurydice follows behind. Surely this is a test of faith for the poet. The gods are well known to play tricks upon helpless mortals. Doubt nags at his psyche with every step. He so badly wishes to turn and see his love. To make sure. No. He must carry on, up, up, further up. All the way to the surface. He must believe.

***I wasnt completely sure what to discuss or expand on with this scene in my commentary. Perhaps other parallel situations in greek myth where a god gave a mortal a faith based task? I also thought of Joseph Campbell's heroes journey and the ascent out of the belly of the beast for the hero. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

As always thanks for looking! If you can share this image I'd appreciate it. I'd even bring you a cup of river styx water up to the surface! :D xoxo.

A very sad and dramatic scene coming next :( stay tuned!

#Greek Mythology #Oracle of Delphi #Apollo #ancient greece

"Pythia: Oracle of Delphi" (#1 in my "Theseus and Minotaur" series) Illustrated by me.

King Aegeus of Athens, still childless, travels to the Pythia oracle at Delphi for advice. The Pythia, ever famous for her enigmatic and ambiguous prophecies, tells him “Do not uncork the wineskin until you have reached Athens.”

Zeus, wanting to locate the center of the world, released two eagles flying in opposite directions around the earth at equal speeds, and the birds reached one another at a specific point above the slope of Mount Parnassus. Here Zeus placed a sacred stone called the Omphalus, or “naval of the earth.” A serpent, Pytho (son of Gaia) guarded the stone, until Apollo came and slew the creature, establishing the site as a divine source for receiving messages directly from the god of prophecy.

Before entering the temple, priestesses and pilgrims alike would wash themselves in the soul cleansing waters of the Castilian spring for purification. In a sacred, inner sanctum, the Pythia, (head oracle priestess) was said to sit upon a tripod and breath in toxic vapors (said to be toxic fumes from Pythos rotting body) from a chasm below in the cave rock. The fumes could have been methane or ethylene, while others have theorized, she chewed or inhaled smoke from Oleander leaves. The priestess then fell into a trance, and receiving divine inspiration from Apollo, spoke in tongues that was interpreted and translated by priests into dactylic hexameter (the poetic meter used in ancient Greek epics like the Iliad.)

The Delphi site was sprawling and complex; holding the religious temple of Apollo, a stadium and gymnasium for the Pythian games, an outdoor theatre, a hippodrome for chariot races, among others. There were three philosophical phrases carved into the temple known as the “Delphic Maxims.” They were; “know thyself,” “Nothing in Excess,” and “Surety Brings Ruin.”

Did I cover the main points of the Delphi? Do you have any other fun facts to add? Please comment below.

IF youd like to see more of my Greek myth illustrations, please click my linktree: https://linktr.ee/tylermileslockett

#Greek Mythology #Achilles #Penthesilea #Trojan War

Amazons #5: "Penthesilea Fights Achilles at Troy"

Queen Penthesilea, followed by twelve loyal Amazon warriors, journeys to assist the Trojans at the war for Troy. Some say the queen seeks redemption for accidently killing her sister Hippolyta with a spear throw meant for a stag, while others say the Amazons, with Ares bloodlust coursing through their veins, cannot pass up a chance to enter battle.

At the war for Troy, Queen Penthesilea fells many warriors, proving her elite skill in battle, until she faces off against Achilles, the great Demi-god warrior. She fights savagely, and the pair are well matched, until Achilles spear finds her chest with a lethal wound. As she lay dying, her helmet tumbles off, and Achilles, gazing upon her beauty, is overcome with sorrow, and falls deeply in love. Another Greek warrior, Thersites, taunts Achilles for his weakness, and Achilles turns on his comrade, killing him. This later prompts Achilles to Journey to Lesbos to purify himself for the murder, before returning to the war at Troy.

This episode from the Trojan war comes from one of the lost epic cycles of the Trojan cycle called the “Aethiopis,” and is attributed to the author Arctinus of Melinus. The Aethiopis dates from around the 7th Century B.C.E is made up of five books, detailing events occurring directly after the Iliad. Although the epic Aethiopis itself did not survive, and we know of the summary of events from the Chrestomathy, attributed to Proclus.

One thing I love about Greek Myths and tales are these early, elegant examples of dramatic irony and tragedy. Killing an enemy, and then, only after, discovering a love for them; but it’s too late. Again and again, we see these classical characters, whose fatal flaws blind them to some truth, and he or she learns the lesson only too late. I cant get enough of these bittersweet endings, because I think they exist in the grey zone that mirrors the ambiguity of our own realities.

A HUGE THANK YOU to you tumblrs who repost my art, and who add hashtags. It really helps with exposure, which i need to survive. You all rock! i love you. xoxo

Thanks for looking and reading! to see more of my Greek Illustrations, etsy print shop, etc...please click my Linktree: https://linktr.ee/tylermileslockett

#Herakles #Greek Mythology #Hercules

Herakles 3: A Fit of Rage

Now a young man, Heracles embarks on heroic adventures, hunting the lion of Cithaeron for King Thespius, and sleeping with his fifty princess daughters over fifty nights, before capturing the lion and wearing the hide and scalp as a helmet. Returning home, Heracles finds himself defending Thebes against the warring Minyans. Victorious, King Creon’s daughter Megara is given in marriage as a reward for his valor. By her they have three sons.

But Hera still plots vengeance against the descendent of Zeus. She curses Heracles with a fit of violent rage, and, thinking those around him are enemies, he brutally fells his own wife and children with bow and arrows. When he finally awakens from his madness, and realizes what he has done, he is inconsolable.

He exiles himself and finds refuge and purification with his ally, King Thespius, then journeys on to Delphi to consult the Pythia priestess of Apollo, who orders him to atone for his atrocity by serving his cousin, king Eurysthius for twelve years. If successful, he will attain immortality.

According to Apollodorus, the war between Thebes and the Minyans is a grim affair, with Heracles treating his enemies with cruelty when he “…cut off their ears and noses and hands, and having fastened them by ropes from their necks…” Apollodorus also mentions Heracles receiving divine weapons here: a sword from Hermes (which Hermes also did for Heracles great grandfather Perseus), Bow and arrows from Apollo, A golden breastplate from Hephaestus, and a cape from Athena.

When Heracles kills his family he shatters his own Oikos (paternal line/household), a crucial building block for ancient Greek society. There are two major reasons Heracles is ordered to serve his cousin; first, to atone for the murders of his wife and sons, and thus attain redemption and second, to prove his worth and attain great Kleos (glory/renown), and achieve his highest Arete (potential for human excellence) that the gods will allow him to join them on Olympus as an immortal.

Thanks for looking and reading Tumblrs! xoxo

Resting Hunter. 1710. Nicolas Coustou French 1658-1733. marble. Louvre. http://hadrian6.tumblr.com