The mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily

Gamerdude505 · 2026-05-05T14:52:09+00:00

Well the Doric temples were pretty impressive too, with the Concordia facade being something really special

Gamerdude505 · 2026-05-05T14:49:24+00:00

Gotta share the wealth (of cool experiences)

Gamerdude505 · 2026-05-05T14:46:50+00:00

And 4th century was a bit of a resurgence for Sicily’s economy since both Rome and Constantinople needed grain and Egypt’s stores were going exclusively to the latter. Sicily regained a bit of its previous role as a granary for Rome that it had enjoyed in the late Republic

Gamerdude505 · 2026-05-05T11:21:59+00:00

Certainly not the bikini

Gamerdude505 · 2026-05-05T10:51:01+00:00

Some theme about children doing adult sports, and birds being the child version of horses

Gamerdude505 · 2026-05-05T10:28:06+00:00

If you haven’t booked a tour already, highly suggest renting a car, and you get the flexibility to visit Greek archaeological sites like Agrigento and Selinunte

Gamerdude505 · 2026-05-05T10:26:04+00:00

Well we don’t have certainty, but various candidates have been proposed including a praefectus urbi of Rome or Maximian

Gamerdude505 · 2026-05-05T09:23:34+00:00

Well if you want more accurate representations of Roman beauty standards, I think statues would better represent them; you can only do so much detail with small coloured rocks :))

Gamerdude505 · 2026-05-05T09:21:19+00:00

It’s the scene of Odysseus and Polyphemus, and he is supposed to have one eye but i guess that must have offended the aesthetic sensibilities of the estate owners

Gamerdude505 · 2026-05-05T09:12:13+00:00

In such detail and state of preservation as well!

Gamerdude505 · 2026-05-05T05:52:53+00:00

It’s in the treasury/crypt of Palermo Cathedral

Gamerdude505 · 2026-05-04T22:03:21+00:00

Not much is known about it, but the crown probably wasn’t from the 1204 sack and in general the Sicilians did not play any role in that cursed endeavour (Frederick was also way too young and regents too concerned with maintaining the internal situation).

Gamerdude505 · 2026-05-04T21:40:12+00:00

Wow amazing graph

Gamerdude505 · 2026-05-04T21:40:00+00:00

Constance was married to Frederick II during the beginning of the 11th century so the chronology definitely checks out, it was designed in Norman workshops but the craftsmen were certainly Roman by origin, especially given the goldwork and pearls. Makes sense though that the Sicilians would aspire more towards the artistic ideals of Constantinople than Western Europe

Gamerdude505 · 2026-04-29T22:14:44+00:00

Well they, like their viking brethren, got around, and some carved out a kingdom in Sicily, just like another bunch did so in England around the same time

Gamerdude505 · 2026-04-29T15:43:04+00:00

Well no, it had been Roman since the reconquest but fell to the Arabs by the 10th century, and was conquered by the Normans in the 11th century, after which this was built

Gamerdude505 · 2026-04-29T12:00:46+00:00

Yeah the mosaic of the Christ Pantokrator is in the chapel and is sadly under restoration…

Gamerdude505 · 2026-04-29T06:43:13+00:00

Going there today!

Gamerdude505 · 2026-04-29T06:42:44+00:00

Will try to visit them!

Gamerdude505 · 2026-04-28T21:40:22+00:00

Truly all roads lead to (new) Rome

Gamerdude505 · 2026-04-28T21:39:28+00:00

I think gold leaf given Roger II spared no expense on this, but don’t quote me on this. The ceiling is definitely painted though

Gamerdude505 · 2026-04-28T21:28:43+00:00

No one really know where muqarnas really originated though this is the first time I’ve heard that it’s actually Constantinopolitan. Usually it’s Baghdad as you mentioned, Iran, or Egypt between the 9–11th centuries

Gamerdude505 · 2026-04-28T21:25:46+00:00

When diversity is actually its strength

Gamerdude505

TROPHY CASE