All about classics online and in pop culture. Tweets by Ben (β), Jermaine (Γ), Theo (Θ), Vanessa (Ψ), and Nicolette (ν).
I’ll explain:
Above is Cerberus. At least, as Dante saw him. Here, the later poet William Blake illustrates a scene from his Inferno. The entrance to the third layer of Hell, where the dog stands guard (Inf. 6.13-33); a reference, in turn, to the work of Vergil before him (Aen. 6.417-9).
So yesterday, I shared this meme to the page, clearly insinuating that the Roman Empire was an evil construct that brought devastation to many different peoples and over a long period of time (if we take the dates of 753 BCE-476 CE, 1,229 years).
BLACK POP STARS AND CLASSICAL ICONOGRAPHY
And if you’ve missed it, check out Ψ’s and my threads on Rumors and Montero!
First of all, I love the ways that Lizzo challenges a lot of our ideas around classical iconography via imagining herself in the world--having the statues reflect her body type, and seeing her own stories and rumors displayed through classical art forms: 
The song begins with a zodiac gate landing on Libra (Doja's sun sign) to unlock it, revealing an idealized classical landscape. 
Achaean council leader Agamemnon went on record stating: “we believe making exceptions for our biggest stars undermines the authority of the war effort. We wish the swift-footed hero the best and hope he considers rejoining the effort later.”
To preface: I, a mythologist who looks at a large quantity of media produced about Persephone on a regular basis, and who grew up a few hours from Forks, WA and read this series obsessively as it was coming out when I was in middle school--was COMPLETELY blindsided by this.
Bo’s latest @netflix special begins with the man we remember. Same height, same walk, same haircut: even in the blinding light of an open door, he is immediately recognizable. At least, for a moment. 
Epic. The genre so grand, its name is literally ‘epic.’ After Homer, only a bold few claim to produce it; Dante, Vergil, Milton, and the like. So exclusive is their club, the term becomes more of a fraternity than anything else––a who’s who of great literature.
Though the Odyssey has long been favored in high school curricula, Homer’s Iliad has had a massive resurgence in Internet culture, becoming the preferred topic of fan fiction, art, and memes.
Nas X creates a sort of world halfway between the Garden of Eden and the classical ruins, what people view as origins of western society. He starts with the familiar Garden of Eden story, but instead of Eve being tempted, it’s him, and he’s the serpent too. 
A few months ago, @CSMFHT put out polls for each individual god, asking what we thought about them. Generally, each garnered mixed opinions––with one exception, Zeus.
