Apollo Mosaic discovered underneath downtown Rome

Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. The earliest known examples of mosaics made of different materials were found at a temple building in Ubaid, Mesopotamia, and are dated to the second half of 3nd millennium BC. They consist of pieces of colored stones, shells and ivory. Excavations... [continue reading]

Trajan was a Roman Emperor, and the second of the “five good emperors,” who reigned from 98 CE until his death in 117 CE. Trajan served as a general in the Roman army and helped to crush the revolt of Antonius Saturninus in 89 CE. He also led military campaigns in Dacia and Parthia, which contributed to the first large-scale expansion of Roman territory... [continue reading]

The epitome of youth and beauty, source of life and healing, patron of the civilized arts and as bright and powerful as the sun itself, Phoebus Apollo was, arguably, the most loved of all the Greek gods. Son of Zeus and Leto, and twin brother to Artemis, Apollo was born on the island of Delos (in Hesiod’s account clutching a golden sword). At his... [continue reading]

According to legend, Ancient Rome was founded by the two brothers, and demi-gods, Romulus and Remus, on 21 April 753. The legend claims that, in an argument over who would rule the city (or, in another version, where the city would be located) Romulus killed Remus and named the city after himself. This story of the founding of Rome is the best known but it... [continue reading]

In Greek mythology, the nine Muses are goddesses of the various arts such as music, dance and poetry and are blessed not only with wonderful artistic talents themselves but also with great beauty, grace and allure. Their gifts of song, dance and joy helped the gods and mankind to forget their troubles and inspired musicians and writers to reach ever greater artistic... [continue reading]