Hercules (3). An Obsessed Devotee of the Hero

Marcus Aurelius' son and successor, Commodus, identified with Hercules. Unfortunately, instead of pursuing the welfare of his subjects as Hercules would have, he spent time in self indulgence and proved his prowess by participating in gladiatorial shows killing animals. He was assassinated. 

Detail of the paws and hoody provided by the skin of the lion.

Detail of hair and beard.

Hercules (2). A relief and the gilded bronze from the Ara Maxima.

Hercules as he is usually depicted, a club in one hand and the pelt of the lion killed on the first of his twelve labors. This was perhaps the first hoody recorded in antiquity.  This relief is visible in the upper left hand corner of the Arch of the Money Changers which in turn is attached to the church of San Giorgio in Velabro directly opposite the Temple of Hercules Victor off to the left of the massive Arch of Janus. 

This twice life size  gilded bronze statue of Hercules features only his club.   It is one of several stunning pieces from antiquity housed in the Exedra of Marcus Aurelius. Originally this was the cult statue in the Ara Maxima, the Great Altar of Hercules across the street from the Temple of Hercules Victor. The Ara Maxima was incorporated into the structure of Santa Maria in Cosmedin and only a few parts of it are visible. 

Hercules (1) in Rome's Cattle Market, the Forum Boarium

Temple of Hercules Victor, one of six major ancients sites surrounding Piazza Bocca di verità. 

Two Varieties of Artichokes

Carciofini, little artichokes, another of many displays.

Check out these stickers! Artichokes I saw in Cefalu', Sicily. My hosts used special gloves to handle them. Delicious! 

Artichokes As They Approach the Table

A bouquet of trimmed and untrimmed artichokes. A knife and lemon halves are all it takes to complete the presentation. With each cut, a scrub from the lemon half keeps the artichoke from discoloring.   

Trimmed and quartered these await preparation in any of a number of tasty dishes.  I will never forget a Christmas Eve presentation of a casserole of artichokes and cuttlefIsh.  

Artichokes displayed in Campo de' fiori, Rome

Freshly delivered and not yet trimmed for sale. 

Carciofi! Artichokes..

A lovely bouquet of artichokes, one of my two favorite vegetables (the other--asparagus). The Romans then and now highly valued and served a wide variety of thistles and prickly edibles. When in season varieties unknown or rarely seen in America, proliferate. This and the following photos give you an idea of what you will find at Rome's central outdoor market place--Campo de' fiori.