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A sculpture of a snake-bodied Roman-German deity was found at the Roman fort of Stuttgard, Germany. “Despite the erosion of stone, you can still see how its arms rest on the upper body and its hands on the hips and legs. However, the latter do not have a human shape, instead merging into a kind of snake body.” https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2024/04/the-sculpture-of-a-snake-bodied-deity-a-hybrid-from-roman-germanic-mythology-found-at-the-roman-fort-of-stuttgart/ https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/04/fort-excavation-uncovers-roman-sculpture/151730

Scene from the latest movie “Boudica: Queen of War” The topic of Boudica has been discussed before. (Caldrail wrote an interesting post about Rome’s relationship with Boudica and the Iceni tribe. See below.) Here is a good video about finding the site of her final battle:

The coin above is a silver cistophorus of Augustus depicting the mythological Capricorn, a half goat / half fish creature. Below are two articles by NGC Ancients that discuss some of the mythological iconography on ancient coins. https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/12798/ https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/5055/NGC-Ancients/

Japanese archaeologists have found evidence of the suspected Villa of Augustus during excavations at Somma Vesuviana, at Naples, Italy. The area was a resort site for the Roman elite. It is believed that Augustus died there in AD 14. Radiocarbon dating, along with chemical analysis of layers of volcanic pumice, confirm that the area was inhabited in the 1st century AD before Vesuvius erupted in AD 79. Suspected furnace believed to heat the baths at the site https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/04/excavation-uncovers-possible-traces-of-villa-augustus-at-somma-vesuviana/15161 https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/augustus-villa-somma-vesuviana-0020672 https://www.turkiyenewspaper.com/amp/culture/21985

Is the function at the upper right corner scroll down by your name (at the top of the page)?

A Greco-Illyrian helmet has been discovered during excavations near Zakotorac, Croatia. The helmet dates to the 6th century BCE. Previous excavations in the area had recovered a 4th century BCE helmet. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/04/well-preserved-greco-illyrian-helmet-found-near-zakotorac/151542 https://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/70001 Here is a post on the Greco-Illyrian helmet found earlier in the area:

An intact wooden Roman cellar from the first century AD has been found in Frankfurt, which was the Roman city of Nida. The city of Nida flourished under Trajan. During other excavations, three Mithraea (temples to Mithras) have been discovered in the area. Seen in the pictures, a five-step staircase was recovered. It was transported to the Archaeological Museum of Frankfurt (pictured below). Nida underwent a decline after AD 259 under pressures from Alamanni. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/02/excavation-uncovers-preserved-wooden-cellar-from-roman-period/150812#google_vignette https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nida_(Roman_town)

At Pompeii, frescoes in a suspected banquet hall have been recently discovered. https://www.artforum.com/news/roman-frescoes-uncovered-in-banquet-hall-pompeii-552190/

After a long absence, water has returned to the Baths of Caracalla https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italy-water-returns-to-romes-baths-of-caracalla.html Here is a wonderful older 3D view of the baths:

The road discovered is thought to be a crossroads with the Via Domitia, which was the Roman road that linked Italy with Hispania through Southern France. The remains were discovered between the two roads: In Ancient Rome the cemeteries were traditionally located outside of the religious boundaries (pomerium) of towns and cities. Tombs and elaborate burial monuments lined the roadsides. Burial graves and monuments along the Appian Way near Rome

Here is an article further describing the Roman finds as well as the Roman road uncovered with the finds in Nîmes, France: https://www.inrap.fr/des-tombes-et-des-buchers-en-bord-de-voies-romaines-nimes-gard-17952#

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Roman glassware have been uncovered in the city of Nîmes, France. Excavations in the area have found cremation pyres and burial sites from the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD. Nîmes, France was known as the Roman city Nemausus (see link below). https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/04/archaeologists-uncover-exquisite-roman-glassware-in-nimes/151466 https://www.livius.org/articles/place/nemausus-nimes/

A boy and his mom have found a Roman bracelet, possibly gold, near the village of Pagham in West Sussex, England. Pagham is located near the Romano-British town of Noviomagus Reginorum (modern Chichester). The area was recently in the news (see post below) concerning plans to rebuild a temple to Minerva that is thought to have once existed there. The bracelet dates to the first century AD. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/04/ornate-roman-bracelet-found-near-pagham/151368

There have been previous threads about infections that ravaged ancient Egypt. Recent studies of the remains of mummies have shown interesting findings: Of the mummies studied: 65% revealed schistosomiasis* 40% headlice 22% falciparum malaria 10% leishmaniasis From the articles, it appears that 31 mummies were examined for study. *Schistosomiasis is spread by contaminated water with parasites released by infected freshwater snails. Even today about 250 million people have been infected with schistosomiasis. Each year schistosomiasis causes many thousands of deaths, possibly as many as 200,000 deaths yearly. How Ancient Civilizations Were Burdened by their Parasites - Fifteen Eighty Four | Cambridge University Press Parasites in Past Civilizations and Their Impact upon Health (cambridgeblog.org) Child suffering from schistosomiasis Parasites in ancient Egypt and Nubia: Malaria, schistosomiasis and the pharaohs - ScienceDirect Parasitic Worms Plagued These Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs (popularmechanics.com) https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/04/study-reveals-disease-landscape-of-ancient-egypt/151312

A new archaeological pathway through the heart of Rome is planned. Although convenient for the casual tourist, I think it will further disfigure the already-diminished ancient footprint of Ancient Rome. https://www.euronews.com/culture/2024/04/03/rome-unveils-plans-for-a-new-archaeological-path-through-the-heart-of-city

A Roman villa has been discovered in Grove, a village in Oxfordshire in Southeast England. Interestingly, numerous small tightly-rolled lead scrolls (possible curse tablets) and miniature hammers have been recovered. These could be votive offerings. A complex brickwork floor was part of the findings https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/03/28/style/roman-villa-development-oxfordshire-intl-scli-scn https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/richly-decorated-roman-villa-with-curse-tablets-and-tiny-axes-unearthed-in-england https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clej69yx206o.amp

Prehistoric elephant hunting using spears. Early Homo erectus may not have used spears but may have driven the giant animals into pit traps where they could be killed with clubs and handaxes. (Image credit: Illustration by Dana Ackerfeld) I can’t imagine eating elephant meat but 2 million years ago in modern Upper Galilee, it is thought humans hunted and butchered elephants. There are many quarries in the region where flint was used to make weapons and cutting tools. These quarries were located near water sources likely used by migrating elephant herds. “The authors looked at the ancient migration routes of elephants — suggested by earlier studies that considered the landscape and fossilized bones.” ”Excavations yielded a butchered elephant skull associated with basalt and flint artifacts, including hand axes.” https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/ancient-quarries-in-israel-reveal-where-homo-erectus-hunted-and-butchered-elephants https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11759-024-09491-y

Gold coin of Marcus Aurelius in the Ho Chi Minh City museum, Vietnam Archaeological discoveries have revealed that there was a robust trade network between Ancient Rome and India. Recent studies also prove a thriving maritime spice trading between India and Asia, including China and Óc Eo, Vietnam, as well as between India and Rome. (See posts below.) Potential maritime Spice trading routes from India to both Rome and Óc Eo, Vietnam The question remains whether ancient Romans had any knowledge of Vietnam. American Professor of Anthropology Nam C Kim from the University of Wisconsin-Madison feels that at least some indirect contact and awareness was possible. (See article below.) Numerous Roman artifacts have been recovered in Óc Eo Vietnam, an important port city and archeological site in Southern Vietnam in the Mekong Delta. (See the coin above.) Claudius Ptolemy (AD 100-170) in “Geography” from his account of distant Asia describes a port city of “Cattigara” situated at the mouth of the “Cottaris River.” Nam C Kim believes this reference to Cattigara is Óc Eo at the Mekong Delta. (See article below.) https://www.badancient.com/claims/romans-reach-vietnam/ Food historian Giorgio Franchetti also noticed the popularity and similarity of fish sauces in Ancient Rome (garum) with Asian fish sauces such as Vietnam (nuoc mam), Thailand (nam pla) and Japan (gyosho) (see article below). https://amp.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3094604/did-fish-sauce-vietnam-come-ancient-rome-silk-road Entertaining video on evidence of Ancient Rome in Vietnam.

The movie “Gladiator” was made in 2000. Tristan Hughes is a historian and host of the enjoyable podcast “The Ancients.” He does a wonderful job critiquing the movie in the YouTube video below:

Below is the BBC article on the helmet. The conserved helmet with a modern reconstruction Replica based on the original https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-68674319

A man was arrested for his illegal excavations at Philippi (in modern Northern Greece). As a reminder, the Battle of Philippi pitted the forces of the Second Triumvirate (Marc Antony and Octavius) against the forces of the leaders of Julius Caesar’s assassination (Brutus and Cassius) in 42 BCE. The battle resulted in the surrender of the rebel forces and the deaths of Brutus and Cassius. The New Testament records a visit by apostle Paul during his second missionary journey (AD 49 or 50). It is believed that Paul visited the city two other times in AD 56 and 57. https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1235064/man-arrested-for-illegal-excavation-at-philippi-archaeological-site/

In Leicestershire in the early 2000s, rusted metallic objects encased in soil were uncovered. Over two decades the artifacts were restored, using 3D scanning. The fragments formed a Roman helmet. Eventually 80% of the helmet (known as the Hallaton Helmet) was restored, allowing a detailed replica. It is a thought that the helmet, along with numerous Roman coins and Iron Age artifacts, were buried within a suspected shrine from around 43 AD. The helmet was ornate and intricately designed, possibly belonging to a high-ranking Roman cavalry officer. The decorations have a wreath “symbolizing military victory and and a scalloping-shaped brow guard displaying a woman’s bust surrounded by animals.” https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/roman-cavalry-helmet-2000-years-old/

A fragment of a Roman-era lamp, dating from the 4th-5th century AD, has been found near an old Roman fort along the Scorpions Ascent, a hiking trail in the desert Arava region south of the Dead Sea and located in the modern Israeli Negev desert. The lamp fragment was found by a student who was on a field trip. The origins of the lamp was Petra. The trail, where the lamp fragment was found, was once an ancient trade route connected to the copper mines in the region. The region was patrolled and secured by Roman soldiers, who manned a series a forts along the route. A similar oil lamp was found in the same location 90 years before (see picture below): https://allisrael.com/a-unique-1600-year-old-roman-oil-lamp-unearthed-by-an-israeli-pupil https://www.timesofisrael.com/teen-hiker-stumbles-on-1600-year-old-roman-oil-lamp/amp/ https://www.edexlive.com/amp/story/news/2024/Mar/27/israel-student-accidentally-discovers-roman-era-lamp-during-school-trip

Interesting article. I know nothing about ancient mythology. I got myself into an ancient rabbit hole, nevertheless, when I realized that the Greek Herakles is different from the Roman Hercules. The article below delves into their differences: http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/essays/herakleshercules.html This article emphasizes their similarites: https://ancient-literature.com/heracles-vs-hercules/