#the queen cave

[illustratus]

[idliketobeatree]

dead boy detectives contrapuntal poems — 2 — (1) (3) (4) (5)

[kstrlkin]

Yellowfang and Brokenstar. 🌿

( FAKE BLOOD / BLOOD WARNING )

This is a redrawing of one of my old art, with the moment of Brokenstar's death.

I would be glad to hear your opinion about the work I have completed!1!!1 🐱

[gomjabbars]

Next on my home office womancave decorating agenda: getting prints of my Sib, Signy, and Quintus commissions framed 😍

I decided to frame some of my fave Jay comic covers in my home office, and 7 years later I finally got around to hanging up my Arkham Knight DragonCon commission 🎉

I share the office with my hubby, and I'm especially pleased that his corpo clients get to ogle my Jason Todd Nick Robles Playgirl cover when he's on camera 😁

Another of my fave covers arrived just in time for spooky season 👻

The Prince of Gotham and Suicide Squad: Get Joker #3 by Alex Maleev (ty @jasontoddenthusiastt for introducing me to it 🤩) covers are coming soon. I guess I need to actually read all these comics at some point 😅

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

The Medieval Cave City of Vardzia, in Georgia (South Caucasus), c.1150-1283 CE: this cave city was originally built as a fortress that lay hidden within the mountain, and it included more than 6,000 caves, 25 wine cellars, 15 chapels, an apothecary, a forge, a bakery, farming terraces and an irrigation system

This enormous cave complex is carved along a section of the Erusheti mountain range, which is located at the foothills of the Caucasus, in southern Georgia (Sakartvelo). As this map illustrates, Georgia stands right at the crossroads between Europe and Asia.

Vardzia was designed to serve as a fortress, particularly in the event of a Mongol invasion. The entire cave city was originally concealed within the mountain (though much of it is now exposed) and it could only be accessed through a series of hidden passageways that began near the banks of the Mtkvari River, which runs through the valley below. The city was also protected by defensive walls, and it contained a secret escape tunnel, along with several dead-end tunnels that were designed to delay and confuse any invading forces.

In its prime, the cave city at Vardzia was inhabited by tens of thousands of residents. It featured more than 6,000 chambers spread out across nearly 20 different levels, all of which were connected by an intricate labyrinth of tunnels, staircases, terraces, and hidden passageways. The city included 25 wine cellars (which is almost enough to survive a Mongol invasion), 15 churches,  dozens of monastic cells, hundreds of additional dwellings, a nunnery, a throne room, a library, a bakery, an apothecary, a forge, several dining halls, a cemetery, a bell-tower, a series of stables, farming terraces, and an irrigation system, among other things.

Water was supplied using a system of aqueducts that were connected to the river in the valley below, providing the inhabitants with both drinking water and agricultural irrigation.

Vardzia also functioned as a Georgian Orthodox monastery; in addition to its many chapels, it also contained dozens of monastic chambers that were inhabited by monks, along with a large collection of religious manuscripts and relics. Many of the inner chambers at the site were decorated with elaborate frescos depicting the life of Christ, the history of the Georgian Orthodox Church, and major figures from Georgian history/folklore.

Unfortunately, most of the original structures at Vardzia were destroyed by a massive earthquake that struck the region in 1283 CE, less than a century after the site was completed. The earthquake sheared away part of the mountainside, exposing the cave complex and demolishing almost two-thirds of the site.

The surviving cave system represents only a fraction of the original city, which now contains less than 645 chambers and only 13 levels. The network of caves stretches roughly 500 meters across the cliffside.

When the earthquake tore through the site in 1283, much of the fortress and many of its defenses were also destroyed, and Vardzia lost most of its military and defensive purposes, but the site continued to operate as a monastery for several centuries after that. It narrowly escaped the Mongol Invasions of the 1290s, but it was eventually raided by the Persians in 1551. The invading forces looted many of the valuable artifacts from the site and burned most of the remaining manuscripts, relics, and other items that were stored within the cave system, leaving permanent scorch marks along the walls of the inner chambers.

Vardzia was ultimately abandoned after the Ottomans took control of the site in 1578.

Medieval portrait of Queen Tamar, the "Mountain Queen:" this portrait is one of the few Medieval frescoes that still decorate the inner chambers of Vardzia

The cave city of Vardzia is often associated with Queen Tamar the Great, who ruled over the Kingdom of Georgia from 1184 to 1213 CE, during a particularly successful period known as the "Golden Age" of Georgian history. Queen Tamar was also recognized as the Georgian King, with Medieval sources often referring to her as "King Tamar," because she held the title of queen regnant (meaning that she possessed the full power, position, and authority of a sovereign king). She was the first female monarch to be given that title in Georgia.

The initial phases of construction at Vardzia began under the command of Tamar's father, King Georgi III, but most of the complex was later built at the behest of Queen Tamar herself, who owned several dedicated rooms at Vardzia and frequently visited the cave city. Due to her relationship with the cave complex at Vardzia, Queen Tamar was also known as the "Mountain Queen."

Some of the monastic caves at this site have been revived in recent decades, and they are once again inhabited by a handful of Georgian monks.

Many of the remaining structures at Vardzia are also open to the public, though many of the chambers and passageways are narrow, steep, and difficult to access. I visited Vardzia during one of my first trips to Georgia back in 2012, and it truly is a spectacular site, especially in the chambers where the Medieval frescoes are still intact.

Sources & More Info:

Atlas Obscura: Vardzia Cave Monastery

CNN: Exploring Vardzia, Georgia's Mysterious Rock-Hewed Cave City

Lonely Planet: Vardzia

Globonaut: 5 Facts about Vardzia, Georgia's Hidden Cave City

Wander Lush: Vardzia Cave Monastery (complete visitor's guide)

[adriancatrin]

sketches from the cave of two lovers aka the boys are GRUMPY

[fexarii]

okay so I was INTENDING to not post for a bit as I focused on finishing the last owed piece + my au but . the new newsletter gripped me by the head and pulled me straight back into brainrotting and I felt like drawing some bozos toby drew

Also happy anniversary to Undertale! I drew something last year but had no ideas this year ermm,, sweats,, i hope this makes up for it :3

[dactylichexameterbce]

[a0random0gal]

Viserys : I want Rhaenyra to succeed me as queen as she's my eldest living child. If anyone dares to object my decision they'll be charged with treason!

Also Viserys: *Marries another woman and has sons by her who could have a better claim that Rhae's for the Lords. Doesn't legally change the law of succession to absolute primogeniture, thus treating Rhaenyra's status as heir like a one time exception. Doesn't do anything to prevent her from having bastards so her position is even shakier than before. Doesn't teach her how to rule properly and allowes her to do as she pleases. Appoints Otto Hightower as hand even though he's known for being a schemer and generally a shady guy who obviously favors his grandson for the throne. Lets her marry her unstable uncle who's the reason he named her heir in the first place*

Half of Westeros: *understandably doesn't accept her and supports her brother instead, thus starting a devastating civil war*

Viserys from the seven hells:

[heckyeahponyscans]

G1 My Little Pony comic #29 (1986) - "The Strange Key, Part 2"

[confusedlittleguy]

^ arc 1

^ arc 2

☆

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Reblogs appreciated more than likes!

Click on image for better quality!

Will add alt text later

[nootie-patootie]

There is a goblin in my closet 🐈‍⬛ 👹

[ghostofpalestonesword]

Queen Helaena Targaryen, The Worthy

At the age of thirteen, Helaena was plumper than most Targaryens, and less striking as well. Nonetheless, she was a pleasant and happy girl, and all agreed she would be an excellent mother. As queen, Helaena was loved by the smallfolk.

[creative-caramel-coffee]

Guess who’s hooked up to a 24 hour heart monitor!

[popppyfur]

I know trolls is a franchise that has lots of different kinds of merch but I didn't expect them to have official(???) jewelry lol