This Painting Has a Disturbing Plot Twist
The piece is called The Roses of Heliogabalus by British-Dutch artist Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. This painting depicts a banquet put on by Roman Emperor Heliogabalus, also known as Elagabalus. Although this piece was created in 1888, the scene took place in the early 200s A.D. Roses and rose petals are being released from a faux ceiling above. But if you look closely at the faces of the guest in the foreground, things begin to take a turn. This painting is not as enchanting as it seems…