The Main characters at the Trevi Fountain. Thread 🧵 The iconic fountain in a city of fountains. The Trevi Fountain, located in Rome, Italy, is one of the world’s most iconic Baroque monuments. Commissioned in 1732 by Pope Clement XII, it was designed by architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762. Standing 86 feet tall and 161 feet wide, the fountain is adorned with intricate sculptures, including Neptune, god of the sea, flanked by Tritons. Built against the Palazzo Poli, it’s fed by the Acqua Vergine aqueduct, a marvel from 19 BCE. Legend says tossing a coin over your shoulder into the fountain ensures a return to Rome. Today, it draws millions of visitors annually, with collected coins funding local charities. The central character is Oceanus. Oceanus was a Titan from Greek mythology and the ruler of the seas. He rode on a shell chariot. Oceanus was considered the Titan who ruled the seas before the Olympian gods took over. He was the eldest of the Titans, born to Uranus (Sky) and Gaia (Earth), and personified the great river encircling the world, which the Greeks believed was the source of all waters. Unlike Poseidon, who later became the Olympian god of the sea, Oceanus was a more primordial figure, associated with the vast, boundless ocean rather than its storms or creatures. After the Titanomachy, when Zeus and the Olympians overthrew the Titans, Poseidon assumed control of the seas, relegating Oceanus to a more symbolic role.

The Art of War. A few quotes to consider 🧵 Nuclear War must not be fought

A happy philosopher. A thread of 10 positive quotes by Walt Whitman. I could benefit greatly from most of these.🧵 I do what I do. I post my photos and creations with the best interest of the people that I interact with in mind.

Controversial, Influential, mad are all things to describe Nietzche. Let's take a short walk through a few of his famous quotes to peel back the mind of a philosopher still revered today. 🧵 Do you hear the music?

Yes, the abyss quote is in there too. 🧵 This is one of my favorite quotes of Nietzche. It explains my often incredulity with people that champion really bad art. We must ask ourselves always if we really like something, or if we have been programmed to like something.

15 Completely wonderful quotes by Plato.

Peak wisdom within. Quoting Plato is sublime posting 🧵 Where do you think this applies

Treasures to see inside of Saint Peter’s. 🧵

One of the oddest things to see is Bernini’s Tomb of Alexander VII. Loaded with symbolic meaning this was Bernini’s last major commission. Saints Peter and Paul driving Atilla the Hun out of Italy. This relief depicts Pope Leo the Great meeting Atilla on his way to conquering Italy. The saints were said to appear in the sky. Leo was the first Pope to be called Great. A courageous act to go meet the Hun by himself.

Waterfalls in North Carolina. 🧵 High Shoals Falls in December

Jacob wrestling the angel at the Pamphilj Gallery. 🧵 every angle I have. If you go to Rome plan on stopping by the Pamphilj Gallery. It has a lot of beautiful art including several Caravaggios.

Proserpina by Bernini (the polymath) a 🧵 🪡.

It’s not a secret that my favorite Master is Bernini. The only person that is a comparable figure is Michelangelo, and they did not live in the same era.

This photograph I call, “First Look” It was the first of many that I shot. I almost ran to it. I was near the front of the line, and by the time we got to the room I had passed everyone. Second shot. I noticed immediately that Pluto was towering. The statue is almost 7.5 feet tall. I didn’t think it was quite that large. Photos give you an idea, but there’s no comparison to being there. The muscles in Pluto’s body are contracted, and defined. Bernini was criticized for allowing this depiction. The criticism was that it was impossible for every muscle to be clenched at the same time the way it is portrayed in the statue.

Flower close ups from my trip to a home improvement store this morning. 🧵 Raw shots without editing.

The Hall of Maps at the Vatican Museum. All of my shots. A visual 🧵 I hope you enjoy, this room is part unbelievable and part surreal. There were many pinch myself moments in the Vatican, and this was definitely one of them. I wanted to see this very much, and was still surprised at how beautiful it is. The Sistine Chapel was surprise in another way, for I never liked the photos of it, and didn’t particularly care to go inside, but I must admit that I was wrong completely. The Sistine to me had a life of its own. I posted it a long time ago and stated that I didn’t see what the big deal was. After entering my opinion changed immediately. My two comments would be that I realized that this was Hallowed ground. The other is that, the crush of people into the space was too much. The guards lost control. You are supposed to remain quiet and not take photos inside. I did respect the rules but I was in a huge minority. I went on a tour with a guide, and she was appalled by the behavior. If you go, women must be veiled and please observe the rules of no photos, because no photograph can capture its symbolic meaning. Peace

A thread 🪡 🧵 of waterfalls and river. The sounds eases my mind. I hope they ease your mind as well. Water moving on a slow river. South Mountain NC

German Villages. Lots of cobblestones, street lights and half timbered houses. I wish you all a wonderful day.

Number 1. Bremen. Bernkastel-Kues. Beautiful half timbered houses, and cobblestones always lead to wonderful places.

Snow, Lampposts and Park benches. I got to get busy, but I wish you all a wonderful day.
Thread 🧵 ❄️

Cobblestones lead to wonderful places, Bremen Germany.
A thread 🧵 Another German contribution Bremen. A nice place to have a glass 🍻 with my Twitter friends.