Doubled-Headed Janus from the Villa Medici in Rome Unisex Staple Tee

Janus of the Villa Medici Tee – Roman Mythology Style

Step into the rich world of Roman art and mythology with this unisex staple tee, featuring an intricately engraved bust of Janus—god of beginnings, doorways, and time—as seen in the gardens of the Villa of the Medicis. Rendered in fine-point, monochrome detail, the dual-facing profile captures Janus’s power to look both backward and forward. On the back, a discreet “stonesoferasmus.com” reminds you of your journey through the stones of history.

Perfect for classicists, humanities teachers, museum lovers, and anyone drawn to the magic of ancient Rome, this shirt pairs effortlessly with jeans, jackets, or layered under a blazer for an academic-chic look.

Unwrapping and Wearing My Roman God T-Shirt

I just got out of the shower, but I had to show y’all this new package I just got—it’s gonna be exciting!

So, I found this public domain image in a 19th-century book that featured illustrations of Roman villas. Since it’s out of copyright, I took the original image and used Adobe Illustrator to turn it into a vector graphic. I cleaned it up, and this inscription—originally carved in stone—was found in the gardens of Cardinal de Medici, near the villa of Pope Julius III.

I used a font (I think it’s Laundrina Outline) to recreate the text. So, while the inscription isn’t from the original site, the rest of the design is based on historical artwork.

This is actually the first piece of merch from my Stones of Erasmus store (Link in Bio)! The design features a Roman god—if you know who it is, drop a comment. The shirt design is the same. Here’s the purchase info—well, this is the shirt I designed, and it’s available on my Stones of Erasmus website.

And check this out—this other shirt features Dionysus with a panther, which is one of his sacred animals. I found the image in the public domain and loved how expressive it felt. I hate those crinkly-feeling t-shirts—but this one? It’s so soft and smooth.

Oh, and I colored this one myself! The original illustration was in black and white, but I added the color. Fun fact: I also use these kinds of images in my educational resources, so it’s cool to see them on merch.

And yes—I can be a capitalist swine—check out stonesoferasmus.com 😄
I love how this stuff looks. It’s bold but not too loud.

Product Details

• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz/yd² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk fabric with side-seamed construction and shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Sublimated print for long-lasting clarity and detail
• Unisex fit: flattering on all body types
• In White, Silver, Ice Blue, Citron, Ash

Carry a piece of Roman heritage wherever you go—because every new chapter begins at your doorstep.

PDF Copy for Printing

Stones of Erasmus | English Language Arts and Humanities Resources for the Middle and High School Classroom | Grades 6–12

From Marble to Myth: A Turnkey Alpheus & Arethusa Lesson (with Adonis, Hyacinth, and More)

I have created educational resources to assist in teaching the myth of Alpheus and Arethusa. I included it in a complete, ready-to-go lesson plan on Adonis and Hyacinth and other Flower Myths from Greek mythology! Let me guess—you're interested in and piqued by the story, so I will send you the materials if you buy me a cup of coffee.

Hey, y’all. I’m at the Metropolitan Museum of Art today, standing in front of a captivating marble sculpture that tells the dramatic myth of Alpheus and Arethusa. This piece, crafted by Battista di Domenico Lorenzi in the 17th century for a fountain at Alano Bandini’s villa near Florence, now serves as the centerpiece of a Spanish-style patio beside the Met’s main academic library. The scene depicts the river-god Alpheus lunging after Arethusa, who embodies the familiar trope of the relentless pursuer and the hunted maiden. According to legend, when Alpheus nearly captures her, Arethusa calls upon the goddess Diana (Artemis) for help. In response, Diana transforms her devotee into a living fountain, a moment immortalized in marble, where desperation, divine intervention, and metamorphosis converge.

• • • #alpheus #arethusa #mythology #artemis #greekandromanmythology #metmuseum

The Tragic Genius of Daedalus: Greek Myth for Teens

I’ve always had a conflicted relationship with stories about fathers and sons, which is why the myth of Daedalus has always spoken to me. On the surface, Daedalus is a hero—sometimes even described as a demigod. But look deeper and you'll find a darker tale. Daedalus, the legendary Athenian inventor, is a prototype for the scientist-artist: brilliant, creative, but deeply flawed.

Growing up, my own father worked in an oil plant as a mechanic—far from a Daedalus figure. Yet, I always admired the idea of the accomplished, technically-skilled dad, full of techne. In the Greek myth, Daedalus becomes jealous of his gifted nephew, Talos, and pushes him from the heights of the Acropolis. Some versions say Talos dies; others that he’s transformed into a partridge. Either way, Daedalus is convicted and exiled.

In Crete, Daedalus is caught up in King Minos’s political games, building the labyrinth to contain the monstrous Minotaur. The web of myths—Minos, Pasiphaë, the bull, Theseus, and Ariadne—all spiral around Daedalus. But at the heart is a theme that feels painfully modern: the unintended consequences of genius and ambition.

Eventually, Daedalus and his son Icarus attempt their escape from Crete on wings fashioned from wax and feathers. Despite his father's warnings, Icarus flies too close to the sun; the wax melts and he falls into the sea. The story is a cautionary tale—about invention, about parenting, and about the tragic cost of overreaching. Talos and Icarus are both sacrifices, consumed by Daedalus's drive and flaws.

This myth still resonates today: human innovation can bring light—or unleash disaster. Whether it's fossil fuels, AI, or air conditioning, our inventions often have unintended consequences. We, like Daedalus, are both brilliant and blind to the costs.

After Athens and Crete, Daedalus ends up on the island of King Cocalus, still inventing, still being hunted by Minos. His cleverness solves the riddle of the spiral shell, but it also gives him away. Even at the end, he cannot stop inventing—no matter the danger.

So are we the inheritors of our fathers’ mistakes, or do we forge our own paths? Teaching the myth of Daedalus to teenagers is challenging but rewarding. The themes—creativity, jealousy, consequence—are universal and deeply relevant.

I’ve created a classroom-ready lesson plan on Daedalus for middle and high school ELA teachers. It’s perfect for units on Greek mythology, invention, or even modern novels like Percy Jackson. Bring this compelling story to your students—and add it to your teaching toolbox!

PDF Copy for Printing

Download the Daedalus & Icarus Lesson Plan

Explore the full resource—discussion prompts, activities, visuals, and more for the Daedalus myth:

Gorgeous Lesson Activity for The Vatican Apostolic Palace — Perfect for Art History, Humanities, and English Language Arts (Grades 10-12)

Explore the Vatican Apostolic Palace After Pope Leo XIV’s Election

Bring the renewed buzz surrounding the Vatican Apostolic Palace straight into your classroom! Our print-and-digital lesson lets students in grades 10-12 investigate how papal power, art, and architecture intersect, using maps, primary sources, and CCSS-aligned analysis tasks.

Why You’ll Love This Resource

• Interdisciplinary power: Perfect for Art History, Social Studies, and ELA crossover units.
• Primary-source rich: Includes Mary W. Arms’s 1909 account of an audience with Pope Pius X, plus two lavishly illustrated cards on the Sala Regia and Sala Ducal.
• Two vintage maps: A 1929 Vatican City plan and a 1914 floor map of the palace help students visualize the popes’ world.
• Ready-to-teach supports: Teacher notes, Cornell and illustrated notetakers, Frayer vocabulary model, 23-question bank, exit tickets, and a two-point rubric keep planning time low.

Inside the Download

Formats: PDF • Google Slides

Student-facing materials — anchor charts of key figures and places, guided overview text, map activities, primary-source reading card, supplemental art cards, notecatchers, vocabulary practice, and exit tickets.
Teacher-facing materials — answer keys, rubric, and extension ideas that invite students to research figures like Bernini, Bramante, and Pope Sixtus V.

Classroom Ideas

1. Map Race: Assign small groups a list of palace rooms—first team to locate them on the 1914 plan wins candy.
2. Socratic Seminar: Use the question bank to debate whether modern popes should still live in the Apostolic Palace.
3. Art + Lit Connection: Pair Vasari’s frescoes of papal triumphs with passages from Dante or Petrarch for a thematic collage.

Ready to Dive In?

Download the free resource and add it to your teacher toolkit, and let your students traverse centuries of Vatican history without leaving their seats.

© 2025 Stones of Erasmus. Public-domain images courtesy of Google Books and The New York Public Library. PDF Copy for Printing.

Plato's Allegory of the Cave Lesson for Middle & High School | Philosophy & ELA

Explore Plato’s Allegory of the Cave with easy-to-follow lessons, engaging questions, and activities perfect for humanities and philosophy classes.

If you want to teach philosophy to young people, use this lesson plan to introduce students to Plato’s theory of reality. I was inspired to create this resource when I retold the story of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave (from The Republic) in plain language. In the tale, one prisoner wakes up and questions what is real and what is not. Let your class read the narrative, then use the comprehension and discussion activities to explore Plato’s metaphysics.

This resource is optimized for distance learning. It includes an editable Google Docs link so you can adapt it for Google Classroom or any LMS.

What’s Inside

Essential Question: How do I know what is really real?

• Complete text of the story
  • Retold in student-friendly English—ideal for read-alouds or paired reading.
• 15 Reading Comprehension Questions
  • Perfect for homework or a flipped-classroom assignment.
• 6 Discussion Questions
  • Great for group work or a carousel activity—get students moving!
• Two-World Theory Chart
  • Graphic organizer to visualize Plato’s worldview.
• 3 Google Forms Assessments (with answer keys)
• Suggested Lesson Plan—step-by-step guidance
• Annotated Bibliography for extension and research projects

Suggested Uses

1. Humanities: Ancient Greece
2. World History: History of Ideas
3. Literature Studies
4. Ethics — see it in action with 8th-graders here
5. Introduction to Philosophy
6. Advisory or SEL: Truth, Appearance vs. Reality

© 2025 Stones of Erasmus

Launch of Stones of Erasmus Store: Free Greek Myth Genealogy Charts & $3 Tyche/Nemesis Lesson Plan – 300th Digital Download

🎉 New Storefront + 300th Digital Download!

Since 2015 I’ve been running Stones of Erasmus, a home for education, art, literature, and creative sparks. Today I’m thrilled to unveil my brand-new storefront and celebrate my 300th digital resource with two featured downloads.

Free Greek-Mythology Genealogy Charts (15 pages)

Tyche and Nemesis Lesson Activity ($3)

What's Inside?

• Tyche & Nemesis Lesson Plan – explores Fortune, fate, and moral balance; Common Core, VA SOL, and TEKS aligned; includes question banks, writing tasks, and flexible pacing (only $3).
• Greek-Mythology Genealogy Charts – 15 beautifully designed family trees clarifying divine and heroic lineages. Ideal for anchor charts, posters, or LMS uploads – free for life.

Why Download?

These resources save prep time, deepen myth comprehension, and look great on classroom walls or digital slides. Add them to your toolkit now—future you (and your students) will thank you!

▶ Visit Stones of Erasmus for TpT, Made By Teachers, and The Stones of Erasmus Storefront

PDF Copy for Printing