Sporadicq

sporadic quotes and inspirations

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Mosaic depicting Ocean and Tithys from the Ancient Greek city of Zeugma, in south Turkey, near the borders of Syria. The ancient city of Zeugma was originally founded as a Greek settlement by Seleucus I Nicator, one of the generals of Alexander the Great, in 300 BC. The population of the city at its peak was approximately 80,000 inhabitants. Zeugma is 80 percent underwater, after it was flooded with the waters of a nearby artificial lake. The mosaics, which were recovered in excellent condition, belong to the 2nd century B.C. What is really striking about this mosaic is the wonderful and vivid colors used as well as the beauty of the heroes’ faces. Experts say that special glass mosaic pieces have been created for this mosaic alone.

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Roman ametyst ringstones, circa 1c-2c AD. Amethyst was used as a gemstone by the ancient Egyptians and was largely employed in antiquity for intaglio engraved gems. The Greeks believed amethyst gems could prevent intoxication, while medieval European soldiers wore amethyst amulets as protection in battle in the belief that amethysts heal people and keep them cool-headed. Western Christian bishops wear an episcopal ring often set with an amethyst, an allusion to the description of the Apostles as "not drunk" at Pentecost in Acts 2:15.

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8th century AD, Anglo-Saxon sword hilt fitting – gold with gemstone inlay of garnet cloisonné. From the Staffordshire Hoard, found in 2009, and not fully cleaned.

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Discovering the treasures of the ancient sunken city of Herakleion off the coast of Egypt in 2000-2001. Herakleion was Egypt's main port in the time of the pharaohs. Its legendary beginnings go back to as early as the 12th century BC. Until its rediscovery, it was known only through Greek legends and a handful of ancient history books. It was believed that Heracles himself had visited the city, and that the city had gained its name from him. Researchers believe the city was sent to the bottom of the Mediterranean after an earthquake rocked the region more than 1,000 years ago.

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Le livre du Ciel et du Monde Illustration of the Celestial spheres. Original art, Nicole Oresme (artist unknown); Scan, Bibliothèque National de France (detail). The planetary spheres were thought to be planes of existence in between the earth and the heavenly regionsNote that although the order of the spheres is conventional, with the Moon and Mercury closest the Earth and Saturn and the stars farthest, the spheres are convex upward centered on God rather than convex downward centered on the Earth.

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Lunar eclipse

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A Carving of Hermes at Ephesus, Turkey. Here Hermes is depicted with his herald's staff and winged sandals.

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Herm with an inscription linking it to the Hermes Propylaios by Alcamenes; the head may not belong to the inscribed shaft, 5th century BC; copy: 2nd century AD. Inscription: [Εἱδήσεις Ἀλκαμένεως | Περίκαλλες ἄγαλμα | Ἑρμᾶν τὸν Προπυλαίων | εἴσατο Περγάμιος. ‖ Γνῶθι σέαυτον.] [You will recognize the extremely beautiful image by Alkamenes, the Hermes before the Gates (Propylaios). Pergamios set it up.] A herma (Ancient Greek: ἑρμῆς, pl. ἑρμαῖ hermai), commonly in English herm, is a sculpture with a head, and perhaps a torso, above a plain, usually squared lower section, on which male genitals may also be carved at the appropriate height. Before his role as protector of merchants and travelers, Hermes was a phallic god, associated with fertility, luck, roads and borders. His name comes from the word herma referring to a square or rectangular pillar of stone, terracotta, or bronze; a bust of Hermes' head, usually with a beard, sat on the top of the pillar, and male genitals adorned the base. In Athens, the hermai were most numerous and most venerated, they were placed outside houses as apotropes for good luck. They would be rubbed or anointed with olive oil and adorned with garlands or wreaths.

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Statue of Jupiter Dolichenus. Jupiter Dolichenus was always addressed in full as Jupiter Optimus Maximus Dolichenus. 'Optimus Maximus', meaning 'Best and Greatest', was the standard and unique term of honour that was given to the king of the gods, and since Jupiter Dolichenus was still Jupiter, the term of respect was maintained. In Latin epigraphy Jupiter Optimus Maximus is simply abbreviated to IOM (Jupiter is spelt Iupiter as there is no 'J' in the Latin alphabet). Therefore in most inscriptions or dedications to Jupiter Dolichenus his name appears as IOM Dolicheno.

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Drawing of a Bronze Tablet of Jupiter Dolichenus.

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Votive relief from the Dolichenum on the Aventine Hill (Rome) with Jupiter Dolichenus, Juno Regina, Isis and Serapis. Jupiter Dolichenus was a Roman god created from the syncretization of Jupiter, the Roman 'King of the gods', and a Baal cult of Commagene in Asia Minor. The cult was one of the Mystery Religions that gained popularity in the Roman Empire as an alternative to the open 'public' religion of mainstream Roman society. As a king deity he required a consort and the natural counterpart was Jupiter's own wife Juno. Within this cult she takes the name Juno Dolichena. In iconography she always appears on the right of her partner. Isis and Serapis appear with some frequency, perhaps as 'guests' or as allusions to the royal pair of Doliche. Few of the characteristic attributes of Jupiter appear in the representation of Jupiter Dolichenus, apart from the thunderbolt, a beard, and at times the eagle. In all other respects the god is a new creation which blends oriental and Hellenistic conventions. The god always appears dressed in a military fashion, armed and dressed in a cuirass. This does not necessarily mean that his cult was especially militaristic; rather, the attributes signify power and royalty. The cuirass in particular is a Hellenistic artistic convention to portray divinity. The weapon that the god carries is usually a double-headed axe (a labris), a weapon often associated with the kings of Thrace and Asia Minor and not a common soldier's weapon. In accordance with Roman oriental convention he also wears the Phrygian cap and trousers, clothing worn by other oriental gods that the Romans invented or adapted, such as Mithras.

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The omphalos in the museum of Delphi. An omphalos is a religious stone artifact, or baetylus. In Greek, the word omphalos means "navel". In Greek lore, Zeus sent two eagles across the world to meet at its center, the "navel" of the world. Omphalos stones marking the centre were erected in several places about the Mediterranean Sea; the most famous of those was at Delphi.

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The Nine Progressive Stages of Mental Development　According to Shamatha Meditation Practice (Tibetan Thangka Painting). The practice of Shamatha meditation develops the ability to focus the mind in single-pointed perfect concentration and is a prerequisite for the development of vipashyana or analytical insight meditation. Shamatha meditation should ideally practice in an isolated place and one should seat in meditation posture of Vairochana Buddha. The object of concentration is usually the image of the Buddha or a deity. The illustration of the development of mental tranquility is brilliantly depicted in this thangka in nine progressive stages of mental development which are obtained through the six powers of study, contemplation, memory, comprehension, diligence and perfection. The first stage is attained through the power of study and or hearing. The monk fixes his mind on the object of concentration. Here a monk chasing, binding, leading and subduing elephant whose colour progresses from black to white. The elephant represents the mind and its black colour the gross aspects of mental dullness. The monkey represents distraction or mental agitations, and its black colour, scattering. The hare represents the more subtle aspect of sinking. The hooked goad and lasso which the monk wields represent clear understanding and mindful recollection. The progressive diminishing along the path represents the decreasing degree of effort needed to cultivate understanding and recollection. The five sense objects represent the five sensual source of distraction.

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Buddha sitting in bhumisparsha-mudra posture (calling the earth to be his witness). Birmany. White marble with traces of polychromy. Gallo-Roman museum of Lyons. The "earth witness" Buddha is one of the most common iconic images of Buddhism. It depicts the Buddha sitting in meditation with his left hand, palm upright, in his lap, and his right hand touching the earth. This represents the moment of the Buddha's enlightenment.

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Rare acrolithic marble sculptures of Demeter and Kore, from the extramural S. Francesco Bisconti sanctuary, Morgantina, central Sicily. An acrolith is a composite sculpture made of stone and other materials, as in the case of a figure whose torso is made of wood, while the head, hands, and feet are made of marble. The wood was concealed either by drapery or by gilding; only the marble parts were exposed to view. This type of statuary was common and widespread in Classical antiquity.

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Minotaur in Labyrinth, Roman mosaic at Conímbriga, Portugal.

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King Minos and The Labyrinth, silver coin from Knossos, 200 BC. In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth (probably derived from the Lydian word labrys ) was an elaborate structure designed and built by the legendary artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos. Its function was to hold the Minotaur, a mythical creature that was half man and half bull and was eventually killed by the Athenian hero Theseus. Daedalus had so cunningly made the Labyrinth that he could barely escape it after he built it. Theseus was aided by Ariadne, who provided him with a skein of thread, so he could find his way out again.