Alea, the Mausoleum of Maussollos

Some times, when a journey begins, we have to look at the past to know where to go. Alea, the Latin word used by Julius Caesar when we crossed the Rubicon River (Alea Jacta Est) is that precise moment: a beginning in the past. Alea stands for the unknown of a new journey, of a new adventure, from which, everything could be changed.

Diane is arriving to the ancient city of Halicarnassus. Behind, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the Mausoleum. This is also a mark of a new beginning: the mark of the death of the ancient King Mausollos, but also the mark of his new life after death. New unknown life (Alea) for him, and certainly a new journey beginning for all of our western civilization: even today, the word “Mausoleum” is directly coming from the name of this King.

What fortune or misfortune is awaiting for Diane, the women in the boat? She don’t know yet, but even her tiniest action led our present to be like it his know.

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A lot of research for this image. From knowing what kind of bees exist in Caria (were is The Mausoleum, modern south Anatolia) from knowing how really looked like the Mausoleum, nothing was left at random. Yes, in spite of the title "Alea". I can even say to you that the wood they used for the boat were fir

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This is it, the entry for the CGchallenge, here's the link » [link]

The face of Diane, in big, during the painting process » [link]

This picture is a new thing for me: I just had a very crappy lineart, not really detailed, and I tried to paint everything. A different approach, which permits me to gain time, I only paint what matters the most, and I progressively "sharp" the image. Uploaded the final version about 45 minutes before the deadline