5K views · 266 reactions | ON THIS DAY IN 1930.... William Randolph Hearst purchased the head of Sekhmet highlighted in this video. Sekhmet is Egyptian and the oldest antiquity on the hilltop, over 3000 years old. She was the fierce and bloodthirsty protector of the sun god Ra; symbolized by the solar disk on her head. A guided talk of Sekhmet fountain is included in our Grand Rooms tour. | Hearst Castle | Facebook

The ancient Roman art of Hearst Castle represents living, breathing people who walked the planet some 2,000 years ago. Their presence is felt through the artifacts they left behind. | Hearst Castle

Even before Casa Grande began, William Randolph Hearst had ideas about what he wanted in front of it. He mentioned to his architect Julia Morgan in early 1921 that he wanted to make the central plaza a front yard for Casa Grande, including trees and a long round pool, which is now known as the lily pond. There were 2 versions of the pond. The first version was rectangular in shape with a semi-circular border at one end where the Galatea on a Dolphin statue was placed, creating a keyhole shape. G