guy
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Posts posted by guy
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A Sahara dust storm from Northern Africa has turned the skies of Greece orange.
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/04/23/europe/weather-finland-snow-sahara-dust-greece-intl-latam
Here’s a previous post about a Sahara dust that affected Europe in 2022.
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There are several posts about the potential insights that reading the carbonized Herculaneum scrolls could give insights into the culture and philosophy of the ancient world (see post below).
Recent research into a scroll has possibly found the resting place of the Greek philosopher Plato as well as other aspects of his life:
QuoteAccording to Graziano Ranocchia, the lead researcher on the project, the newly revealed details pinpoint Plato’s burial place to a private garden within the Platonic Academy in Athens, near the sacred Museion. This revelation challenges previous speculations regarding the philosopher’s final resting place, offering a more precise location within the Academy grounds.
QuoteFurthermore, the scrolls suggest a tumultuous chapter in Plato’s life, indicating that he was sold into slavery following the Spartan conquest of the island of Aegina, possibly between 404 BCE and 399 BCE. This revelation adds a poignant dimension to Plato’s journey.
https://archaeologymag.com/2024/04/herculaneum-papyrus-reveals-platos-burial-place/
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The finding of phallus symbols are not uncommon in the Roman Empire. This could potentially be an example recently discovered at Vindolanda.
This could represent a fascinus which is a phallic amulet or depiction used to invoke divine protection.
Below are just two of the many posts about the phallic symbolism found throughout the Empire.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascinus
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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.heritagedaily.com/2024/04/fort-excavation-uncovers-roman-sculpture/151730
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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:
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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/
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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.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/augustus-villa-somma-vesuviana-0020672
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On 4/17/2024 at 7:51 AM, Crispina said:
So I finally found a way to log in, but now I can't find the "log-out" option.
Is the function at the upper right corner scroll down by your name (at the top of the page)?
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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.thehistoryblog.com/archives/70001
Here is a post on the Greco-Illyrian helmet found earlier in the area:
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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://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nida_(Roman_town)
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At Pompeii, frescoes in a suspected banquet hall have been recently discovered.
QuoteIn a remarkable discovery, archaeologists in Pompeii have unearthed a collection of exceptionally preserved artworks depicting scenes from Greek mythology. The newly uncovered frescos, buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79, offer a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the ancient city. Videos and images released by the Pompeii Archaeological Park showcase the intricate details of these frescos, including depictions of Helen of Troy meeting Paris and the Greek god Apollo attempting to seduce the Trojan priestess Cassandra.
According to the Archaeological Park, these artworks were originally displayed in a banqueting room, serving a social function of entertaining guests and stimulating conversations. The walls, painted black to conceal smoke from oil lamps, created an ambiance where the flickering light made the images appear to move, especially after enjoying Campanian wine.
https://www.artforum.com/news/roman-frescoes-uncovered-in-banquet-hall-pompeii-552190/
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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:
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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
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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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1 hour ago, guidoLaMoto said:
It's been suggested that Caesar's "falling sickness" was anything from primary epilepsy or CVAs (both unlikely in a non-diabetic, non-smoker in his 50s) to cystocicersis from eating pork in Egypt (also less likely given the intermittency of his attacks). Tertiary syphylis may be the best fit of his symptoms.
Thank you for reading my post. Here’s an interview with the author:
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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).
QuoteA total of 15 burials have been identified, a majority of which are cremation burials with several inhumation burials.
Buried with the deceased are numerous high status grave goods, including strigils (a tool for the cleansing of the body before bathing), ornate glass vases, ceramics, a glass paste cup, lamps, and fragments of funerary monuments and amphorae.
The glass vases are relatively intact, which were deposited during feasting rituals known as the refrigerium, a commemorative meal held on the day of burial. The refrigerium was conducted by female priestesses and centred on the consumption of wine in glass vessels.
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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
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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.
QuoteThe civilizations that appear to have suffered the most severe health consequences from parasites were that of Ancient Egypt and Nubia. There was widespread infection by malaria spread by mosquitos, leishmaniasis spread by sand flies, and schistosomiasis spread by wading in their crop irrigation systems. Malaria and schistosomiasis cause anaemia, and the reduced number of red blood cells resulted in impaired ability of labourers to do hard work. Despite this, the Egyptians managed to complete major building projects such as their pyramids, temples, and ornate tombs for kings and nobility. The widespread anaemia from parasite infection in ancient Egypt meant they would have struggled to build these monuments using their own diseased workforce alone. They could only build the ancient Egypt we see today using imported labour, such as slaves captured during military campaigns.
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.
QuoteLinking the Colosseum to the Forum and from the Baths of Caracalla to the Circus Maximus, Rome's new archaeological walkway will be a journey through the city's most famous archaeological sites.
Although convenient for the casual tourist, I think it will further disfigure the already-diminished ancient footprint of Ancient Rome.
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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
QuoteHundreds of coins, plus rings, brooches, mosaic tesserae and painted plaster with floral motifs have been uncovered during the year-long excavation, allowing archaeologists to pinpoint a long period of Roman activity at the site from the 1st or 2nd century into the late 4th or early 5th century.
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/03/28/style/roman-villa-development-oxfordshire-intl-scli-scn
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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://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11759-024-09491-y
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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).Entertaining video on evidence of Ancient Rome in Vietnam.
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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:
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Below is the BBC article on the helmet.
The conserved helmet with a modern reconstruction
Replica based on the original
Herculaneum scrolls give insights on Plato’s life
in Archaeological News: The World
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