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Auris Arrectibus

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Posts posted by Auris Arrectibus

  1. I suppose this means that the place we are looking for is now in Northern Italy and lies either inland on the Via Cassia or nearer the coast on the Via Amelia/ Amelia Scauri.

     

    I would guess that we are probably looking at the northern end so guess somewhere between Pisa and Genoa on the Via Amelia Scauri. :unsure:/>/>

     

    No, it used to be easier to take the Via Flaminia to cross the Apennines.

    So you have to look south of the Via Aemilia.

     

    Auris

  2. This one is quite easy, largely because of the lyre he's holding. But if you had to go on a bust alone, could you identify this god?

     

    number 30

     

    I don't know if one could identify this statue without the kithara.

    For instance, Ganymedes could then also be a candidate.

     

    Apollo (Phoebus) is often represented as a youngster, naked (upper)body, fit but not too athletic and well groomed hairstyle, almost feminine.

    Holding one arm up over his head is also a Apollo-like pose. Especially when it's his right arm (and you don't know what is in his left), because

    Apollo was a right-handed guy: the kithara allways in his left hand.

     

    But, what could he be holding in his right hand?

    A javelin with plague (not likely) or maybe a ritual phial?

     

    Auris

  3. Wings . . . Female. . . Victory, perhaps?

     

    number 27

     

    Yep, identified by her wings and laurel wreath.

     

    Other symbols: palm branch and (driving) a chariot.

    Wearing a flowing robe, extending a wreath, young and strong (athletic trained for war).

    See the both fresco's from Pompei (with a cornucopia, result of victory, also a roman theme) and Herculaneum.

     

    Unlike the greek Nike the romans associated her with Bellona (the war-goddess, a mature type with a helmet).

    Victoria Bellona depicted in a 16th century painting by LeNain. While the Greek associated Nike with Athena (wisdom goddess).

     

    When a Victoria look-a-like is playing the trumpet, then it's Fama (fame-goddess).

    In the picture not roman time statues, though.

     

    "Augustus had an altar to Victoria installed in the senate building, the Curia Julia, with a statue of Victoria standing with one foot on a globe. When in 382 AD her statue was removed by the emperor Gratian there was much resistance in the heathen reactionary circles. The cult of Victoria was one of the last pagan cults to succumb to Christianity. The fact that this cult lasted so long is probably due to the fact that she was very popular with the military which made it quite dangerous to ban or forbid her worship outright. By the end of the fourth century, the winged Victory had been transformed into the figure of an angel, the intermediary and attendant of God".

     

    Victoria_5.png

  4. The staff is interesting. Do you know what was on the end? A wizard's staff might just have a knob on the end, but one can learn a lot from the symbol topping off a mythic staff.

     

    That would be great to know. And doesn't he wear shoes? I'm thinking Hermes

     

    If this is about the fresco of Narcissus from Pompe

  5. Number 2

     

    Must be Narcissus:

    1) Because he 's looking downwards (he is in love with his own reflection in the water).

    2) He's often decorated with ivy leaves in his hair (as symbol of young charming adorable).

    3) His index-finger holding up represent the refusal of many would-be lovers, especially Echo.

    and also his interest in his own resemblance of his mirror image. Like he is saying: "Wait, stop,

    where is that good looking fellow I just saw."

     

    Note: The greek pendant of Narcissus is Narkissos, same myth.

    Here's a fresco from Pompei I saw this summer in the museum of Naples.

     

    Narcissus_Pompei.jpg

  6. Thanks for the overview and the great hinting! I hope that my image is going to be a challenge:

     

     

    I'll provide a clue every second day.

     

    Nice one!

     

    Next trallel. Hope to learn something new again ....

     

    First question for an answer and a clue ... looks continental european to me.

    Is it?

     

    Auris

  7. Ha! A lot of reading later and I am going to guess Avallon in France!

     

     

    Ah, you're building up the excitement! :ph34r:/>

     

     

    No, not really. The site was down twice when I wanted to write a reply ....

     

    You're very close, Klingan! It is in the arrondissement of Avallon.

     

    Last clue: Salty wells with bubbling mineral waters, still working, somewhere near the Via Agrippa in that area.

  8. Summary of the clues:

    - Gallia Lugdunensis,

    - once sacred place,

    - a bath,

    - brittisch connection,

    - 5th century AD event,

    - someone wounded sought safe haven after a battle ...

     

    Next clue: Riothamus, "King of the Britons" according to Jordanes.

     

    Game on!

  9. The labyrinth is a fascinating symbol.

     

    I assume that the prototype build by Daedalus in Minoan Crete and the story of Theseus was well known.

    In fact, I learned that in classical en medieval ages inlittered people understand more of the historical and

    relegious symbols than nowadays.

     

    The first labyrinth that intrigued me I found on the floor of the San Vitale (6th AD) in Ravenna. What was the

    meaning of this symbol and found out from a guide that was explaining the mosaics that it meant like an Odyssee

    for the christian goal in the center. Like a spiritual quest.

    The floor was reconstructed in the 16th century, though.

     

    Later I found out that the labyrinth was a pagan symbol for the route to the underworld, maybe mistaken for hell

    instead of a paradise like the Elysian Fields, or the struggle for life itself. Nowadays quasi-spiritual groups use

    the symbol for anything they want, I think.

     

    In Lucca I found a labyrinth on a doorpost of the entrance of the Duomo of San Martino (9th AD). It is a so called

    'finger-labyrinth'. There I was told it was to make a route with your fingers to follow the sacred path and avoid sins.

     

    As for many pagan symbols and rituals, the early Christians adopted them and transformed the meaning just a little

    bit. I would state that because they adopted it, they were of significant spiritual importance, and the symbolism like-wise.

    So the meaning we could derive from the christian heratige: The road to Jerusalem in a broader terms of pagan or

    roman religion: Salvation.

  10. Is this place connected to the continental part of the Saxon Shore fortifications?

     

    No, it's not part of a shore fortification.

    Neither any kind of fortification nor near the North Sea or Canal coast.

     

    In fact, since pre-roman time it used to be a sacred place.

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