Sir Lawrence Alma - Tadema ’s " The Roses of Heliogabalus" is one of his most illustrious painting , and also a representation of one of the most well - have sex stories about the Roman Emperor Heliogabalus . As the 2d part of our feature article on Sir Lawrence Alma - Tadema , today ’s post will focalise on " The Roses of Heliogabalus" and the emperor himself . ( If you overleap it the first fourth dimension around , check outTuesday ’s postfor detail on the creative person . )
1 . " The Roses of Heliogabalus" show guests of Emperor Heliogabalus being suffocated by a shower of roseate petals for the entertainment of the emperor . The original tale of the event name violets as the flowers of death . At the meter of the house painting , though , rose were symbolical of carnal beauty , corruption , and death , which may be why Tadema chose to use them .
2 . For " The Roses of Heliogabalus,“ Tadema ordered blush wine from the Riviera even though it was wintertime . For four calendar month , he had bloom surrender weekly to his London studio so he could achieve the naturalistic look for which he became famous .
3 . Heliogabalus , also live as Elagabalus , was born Varius Avitas Bassianus . He served as a priest of the god El - Gabal ; at age 14 , due in large part to his grandma ’s finagling , he became emperor . Four years later , at the age of 18 , he was assassinated , which some sources also attribute to his grandmother ’s wangle .
4 . Despite his short life , Heliogabalus managed to wed at least 5 women , one of whom was a Vestal Virgin . He also consult to a male charioteer , Hierocles , as his " husband" and purportedly wed another male person athlete , Zoticus , in a public ceremony in Rome .
5 . grant to some accounts , Heliogabalus offered a significant inwardness of money to whomever could make him a cleaning woman . He was also suppose to have worn make - up , withdraw bodily hair , and fall apart wigs to prostitute himself , first in taverns and brothels , and then out of the imperial palace . Upon being greeted by Zoticus with , " My Lord Emperor , Hail,“ Heliogabalus reply , " Call me not Lord , for I am a Lady . “ However , the veracity of many of the title about Heliogabalus is unknown ; a black propaganda campaign had been engage against him after his destruction . Many narrative , include the one that inspired Tadema ’s painting , are considered to be mistaken or at least overdone . A large version of the painting is availablehere .
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