guy

I’m surprised that the volcanic activity continues more than two months later:

New excavations of Herculaneum have yielded a body on the beach, apparently trying to escape the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius. Herculaneum had previously been the site of excavation during the 1980-90s of about three hundred bodies found in and around boat sheds. This latest find is unusual in that the body was found on the beach, away from the shelter of the boat sheds. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/archaeologists-find-victim-of-vesuvius-eruption-on-herculaneum-beach/142152?amp https://amp.theguardian.com/science/2021/oct/15/sensational-skeleton-buried-in-vesuvius-eruption-found-at-herculaneum https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/12/partially-mutilated-herculaneum-skeleton-was-fugitive-of-vesuvius-eruption/?amp=1 https://www.livescience.com/amp/skeleton-vesuvius-victim-discovered

This is an interesting old thread, for sure. Constantine is to Christianity what Henry VIII is to Protestant Anglicism. Although neither man is an exemplar of the faith they promoted, both were essential for the change in the religious trajectory of their time. Both men were opportunists who used a less powerful church to achieve their goals against entrenched elites. Novosedoff: Although I may agree with your point, the anecdote you highlighted showing Constantine’s viciousness was in 306 AD, six years before his conversion to Christianity. Finally, I always found Constantine’s deathbed Christian baptism very indicative of his faith. He was baptized by Eusebius of Nicomedia, an Arian Christian whose faith was condemned by Constantine’s own First Counsel of Nicaea that occurred just a few years before his death.

Good question. I would guess that the fermentation of the dark red or purple grapes involved in making red wine might make the antioxidants (such as resveratrol) more bioavailable than in juice. I can’t find any definitive study proving that hypothesis, however. Red wine has more antioxidants than white wine. The skin, which is rich in antioxidants, is used in the fermentation process of red wine. White wine, on the other hand, is frequently made with lighter colored grapes, and the skins are separated from the juice before the fermentation process.

St. Barbe Museum in Lymington, England hopes to raise enough money to keep a recent Celtic coin hoard at the local museum. The three amateur metal detection enthusiasts used Google Earth to focus their searches. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-59466710 https://www.advertiserandtimes.co.uk/news/appeal-over-2-000-year-old-celtic-coins-found-buried-in-new-9227496/

There have been a few discussions on Roman wine drinking (see link below). Max Miller does an excellent job describing wine preparation and consumption in the video below, citing ancient Roman sources: https://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/wine/wine.html https://www.unrv.com/economy/wine.php

This article challenges my previous notions of what the ancient Andeans ate. I had believed that corn and fish (from the local Lake Titicaca) would have been staples of their diet. This study suggests otherwise: Quinoa, potatoes, and llama were, instead. https://phys.org/news/2021-11-superfoods-fueled-ancient-andeans-years.html Summary: This is an interesting article that discusses using modern technology to determine ancient diets. I am, however, somewhat skeptical of the findings. I am surprised that fish, a readily available and highly nutritious food source, was not a daily staple. Could it be possible that the amino acid analysis failed to detect fish consumption? I would like to see the study more closely and learn more about the studies’ limitations.

Kieth Richards has a unique guitar sound and style. He mostly plays with just five strings (and an open-G tuning):

There was an interesting recent exhibit on Nero that reevaluated his legacy: I always believed that Nero was much more popular among the masses in the East than he was among the ruling elite in Rome. This would explain the many Nero impersonators (like the modern day Elvis) soon after his death. Here’s a good article on the phenomenon: https://eidolon.pub/the-return-of-the-king-60872b233a2d

We have had previous threads about the food and diets of Ancient Rome. The article linked below supports the consumption of tea in China centuries before the Roman Empire. The argument has been, however, that tea was only a more modern import to Europe (in the 17th century). https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-12-02/Archaeological-finding-traces-Chinese-tea-culture-back-to-400-BC-15F607k9E5i/ We know, however, that there was at least medicinal tea in Ancient Greece: The above article and thread make me reconsider whether tea was drunk in Ancient Rome or not. Here is an older thread on the debate:

The digital facial reconstruction of the Bronze Age woman wearing the diadem. (Image credit: Copyright Joana Bruno/ASOME/Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) With modern computer digital reconstruction using skull fragments and jewelry, archaeologists have been able to reconstruct the facial features of a Bronze Age woman. https://www.livescience.com/facial-reconstruction-bronze-age-diadem-woman

An excellent essay on the silphium: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3166/1/3166_1191.pdf?UkUDh:CyT

More than a decade ago, we had a vigorous discussion about the plant silphium (see link below). In this video, Chef Max Miller discusses the use of silphium in ancient Roman cuisine, as well as its historical background.

I see that a gold Constantius III solidus went for more than $81,000 in 2009. Rare, indeed. Constantius III, 8th February – 2nd September 421, Solidus, Ravenna 421, AV 4.46 g. D N CONSTAN – TIVS P F AVG Rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VICTORI – A AVGGG Emperor standing facing, head r., holding standard and Victory on globe, spurning captive with his l. foot; in field, R – V. In exergue, https://www.icollector.com/Roman-Emp-Constantius-III-Solidus-421_i8604883

https://observer.com/2021/11/a-scotsmans-beloved-hamilton-aphrodite-is-going-up-for-auction-at-sothebys/amp/ https://www.sothebys.com/en/digital-catalogues/the-hamilton-aphrodite

The A66 is a major motorway in Northern England. It follows a major Roman road. Not surprisingly, excavation of the A66 is yielding new insights into the underlying ancient Roman roadway. “Since the start of November, they have been making their way through over 1,250 trial trenches as part of extensive surveys which are being carried out to analyse the archaeology along this northern trans-Pennine stretch.The A66 follows an old Roman road, which lends added significance to gaining an understanding of the archaeology along the proposed route.“ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/digging-for-roman-riches-on-trans-pennine-route Here is a discovery of a ancient Roman grave during work on the A66 a few years ago: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-45718612.amp

A wonderful find of Bronze Age axes and artifacts have been discovered by a young teenager and her father: “Milly Hardwick was searching for buried treasure in a field in Hertfordshire, England, when her metal detector pinged. The 13-year-old’s father, Colin, joked that she’d found an ax. He was partially right: Hardwick had, in fact, stumbled onto a trove of 65 Bronze Age axes and artifacts dated to around 1300 B.C.E.” https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/13-year-old-girl-finds-bronze-age-axe-hoard-in-english-field-180979132/

Through the use of robotics and computer analysis, archaeologists are hoping to piece together the thousands of shards of mosaics and pottery found in Pompeii:

Modern DNA analysis is yielding insights into the Justinian plague. https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/justinianic-plague-was-nothing-like-flu-and-may-have-hit-england-before-constantinople Below is the academic article on which the above article is based. The article’s purpose was to prove the enormous impact that the Justinian plague had on the ancient world and refute any arguments to the contrary. It seems to me, however, that the argument against a significant impact from the plague was always weak. https://academic.oup.com/past/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pastj/gtab024/6427314?login=true

The Eleusinian Mysteries were initiations held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone. I have little grasp of the numerous mystery cults in Ancient Rome (see link at bottom). It is no surprise, however, that hallucinogenics were used in its rituals. There is an ergot (fungus) that grows on rye that has hallucinogenic properties. https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/22/eleusinian-mystery-hallucinogenic/ Here is a quick review of seven of the most popular mystery cults of the ancient world: 1. CULT OF CYBELE · 2. CULT OF SABAZIOS · 3. ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES · 4. MITHRAISM · 5. CULT OF ISIS · 6. CABEIRI MYSTERIES · 7. DIONYSIAN MYSTERIES https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/501560/7-greco-roman-mystery-cults-you-should-know

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-find-fortress-destroyed-during-revolt-that-established-hannukah-holiday-180979104/ This part of ancient history is very unclear for me. This video, nevertheless, is an interesting view of the find:

I was worried that the linked article would just be clickbait. It was, in fact, very interesting: “One of the most famous gladiators who lived in the first century AD in Rome was Spiculus. Not only was he popular with regular audiences, but he was also greatly admired by the notorious Roman emperor Nero. Spiculus went on to win a number of battles and emerged victorious against many skilled adversaries. Nero was particularly impressed by his heroics and awarded him with more palaces and riches than he could have asked for. Nero had become so fond of him that when he was overthrown in 68 AD, he wanted to die a swift death at the hands of Spiculus. But his aides could not get hold of Spiculus in time and Nero took his own life. Spiculus’s fame did not only revolve around his relationship with Nero, and his depictions in several ancient Roman artworks bear testimony to his far-reaching popularity.“ https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/rome-history/top-10-famous-ancient-roman-gladiators/

I see your book will be available early next year here in the States. On my list. I found this old thread on Galla Placidia. This should be your next screen play (LOL): Galla Placidia: Why no movie? - Colosseum - UNRV Ancient Roman Empire Forums

An interesting article supporting the idea that a plant-based diet was the predominant diet, at least in Pergamon, Turkey during the Roman Empire. Summary: I feel that any diet would based more on availability. Meat was frequently an expensive luxury; therefore, a plant-based diet would have been more a necessity than a choice. https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/people-living-in-pergamon-2000-years-ago-had-plant-based-diet

This an exciting find by a farmer’s son who used pottery shards and satellite imagery to investigate this site during the shutdown. “Jim Irvine, son of landowner Brian Naylor, made the initial discovery after spotting "unusual pottery" on a walk during the 2020 lockdown, and contacted the archaeological team at Leicestershire County Council. The Rutland mosaic is thought to be unique in the UK as it features Achilles and his battle with Hector at the conclusion of the Trojan War.” https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59391650 https://www.google.com/amp/s/phys.org/news/2021-11-extraordinary-roman-mosaic-villa-beneath.amp