I love the humble #Roman terracotta lamp. Mass-produced, humble, with so many interesting variations and artistic expressions. Here we see a bust of the beardy god Mars, wearing a cuirass and crested helmet, with an arrow behind him.

N. Africa, 1st-4th c. CE
#GettyVilla
📸 me

Iran's leaders have sent a powerful message, and that message is 'I have several very nice houses and would prefer it if none of them exploded'

And once again we are tapping the sign:

I have my guesses about what the various parties involved in the chaos of the moment are intending to achieve, but I think it's probably best for everyone to broadly avoid speculating with such incomplete information (esp. about how other actors (USA, NATO, etc.) might respond).

U.S. officials have theorized that Iran would feel it needed to strike back at Israel to save face but also desperately wants to avoid a regional and escalated war

That sentiment might be behind this statement

'war is sweet to the inexperienced but someone
who knows
trembles awfully in their heart at its approach.'

γλυκὺ δὲ πόλεμος ἀπείροισιν, ἐμπείρων δέ τις
ταρβεῖ προσιόντα νιν καρδίᾳ περισσῶς

#Pindar #Fragments #War

Yes! And much like Active defense and later AirLand battle of the 70s and 80s, the army today is developing a doctrine for the war it wants rather than processing the recent non LSCO war and preparing for the next.

Remember kids, irregular warfare is the norm in army history

New fresco from Pompeii: Helen's tunic is so fine (silk ?) and sheer her pale skin shows through; she wears it off the shoulder, under a cloak (tight at the hips, loose at the torso) and with a gold necklace of pendants across her bare upper chest. Blimey.