guy

Below is evidence that gladiatorial combat between humans and lions may have occurred in Roman York. An analysis of bite marks found on a Roman skeleton, believed to be that of a gladiator, has been announced. The bite marks are thought to be consistent with a lion bite. The skeleton was discovered in a Roman cemetery among 82 well-built males. The lion bite wound -- confirmed by comparing it to sample bites from a lion at a zoo -- was not healed and is therefore likely to have been his cause of death. It is believed that the individual was decapitated after death, which appears to have been a ritual for some individuals in the Roman period, although the reasons for this remain unclear. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423164221.htm#google_vignette https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bite-marks-on-ancient-skeleton-reveal-first-physical-evidence-of-roman-gladiators-fighting-lions-180986505/ Below is a post discussing possible evidence of lions being used in executions in Britain.

We previously posted about the Roman temple complex at Baalbek, Lebanon. Here is another interesting video of the Roman ruins. Here's some background information: Baalbek, located in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon, is a repository of ancient history and architecture. During the Roman era, it was known as Heliopolis, or "City of the Sun," and functioned as a significant religious and cultural hub. The site is renowned for its magnificent Roman temple complex, which includes the Temple of Jupiter, the Temple of Bacchus, and the Temple of Venus. These structures exemplify the splendor of Roman engineering, characterized by towering columns and intricate carvings. The Temple of Jupiter, for instance, is surrounded by fifty-four massive columns, some of the largest in the world. The Temple of Bacchus is exceptionally well-preserved and adorned with exquisite carvings that reflect the artistry of the Roman Empire.

Recent excavations at Vindolanda have uncovered a miniature phallus pendant. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2025/04/roman-phallus-found-at-frontier-fortress/155092#google_vignette There have been other phallus sightings at Vindolanda:

Interesting read. Is this act of "Devotio" a matter of perspective? If a general knowingly leads a futile charge against the enemy, would that be considered an act of "Devotio"? I suppose this would be better than being executed for incompetence. The Carthaginians famously crucified their generals who failed. Carthage had a reputation for holding its military leaders accountable, sometimes to extreme measures. One notable example is Hanno, executed after his failure during the Mercenary War. Another is Hasdrubal, who faced execution following a disastrous campaign in Sicily during the First Punic War. More recently, British Admiral Byng was executed. Tasked with relieving a besieged British garrison at Minorca during the Seven Years' War, his fleet engaged the French but suffered significant damage. Byng decided to retreat to Gibraltar to repair his ships, leaving Minorca to fall to the French. This decision sparked outrage in Britain, and Byng was court-martialed for failing to "do his utmost" to prevent the loss of Minorca. He was sentenced to death and executed by firing squad on March 14, 1757.

A study of the DNA remains from Phoenician graves showed that most culturally Phoenician people “had no Levantine ancestry.” The results indicated that the Phoenicians were a mixture of Mediterranean populations, primarily from Sicily, Greece, the islands of the Aegean, and North Africa. The Carthaginians were originally a Phoenician colony in Tunisia that evolved into an independent empire. https://www.science.org/content/article/most-phoenicians-did-not-come-land-canaan-challenging-biblical-assumptions

A follow-up article on the find: Conservators Are Puzzling Together Ancient Roman Murals Found in Hundreds of Pieces

Archaeologists have found an ancient wheel and a Bronze Age cremation urn during excavation for a golf course near Iverness, Scotland. A chariot wheel was found within a cremation pit discovered within the remains of a walled enclosure. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2025/04/significant-archaeological-discoveries-near-inverness/155046 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2yw30y8p9o.amp

Along the Danube River in Austria, two miles from the Roman legionary fortress of Carnuntum, the “Desolate Castle” (known as “Odes Schloss” in Austria) has been under investigation. It has been confirmed to have been a Roman bridgehead fort, and the nearly nine-foot-tall tower walls are now confirmed to be part of the fort. Experts believe the vital trade route connecting the Roman Empire with the Baltic Region, known as the Amber Road, crossed the Danube at this location. https://www.oeaw.ac.at/en/oeai/media/news-archive/news-detail/carnuntum-fort https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/roman-fort-austria-0022031#

I found this short video surprisingly informative. Cyprus was a significant supplier of copper to Ancient Rome, if not the largest. The connection between Cyprus and copper was so strong that the metal's name became associated with the island. The ancient Romans sourced copper from several regions across their vast empire. Some of the most significant sources included: · • Cyprus – The island was a major supplier of copper, and its name is believed to be the origin of the Latin word for copper, cuprum. · • Iberia (modern Spain) – Rich copper deposits were actively mined here. · • Elba and Sardinia (Italy) – These islands provided copper and other metals for Roman use. · • Britannia (modern UK) – Copper mining was conducted in Roman Britain. · • Dacia (modern Romania) – Another important source of copper and other minerals. Here is an old post about how Cyprus became part of Rome’s expansion:

A suspected mithraeum, a temple of Mithras, in Colchester, Britain, has undergone intense research. Built between AD 320 and 340, the site is now believed to have been converted into Britain’s earliest known Roman Christian church. Recent studies of the nearby burial sites suggest that the site later functioned as a Christian church. The religious site seems to have been in use until AD 400. The abrupt change in later burial patterns is more consistent with Christian burials (see quote below). Additionally, a coin hoard of at least 500 coins dating from after AD 330 has been discovered. This coin hoard would have been accumulated following Constantine the Great’s conversion to Christianity. Before the recent research, it had not been regarded as an early Christian church. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj0z4p4py1mo http://cat.essex.ac.uk/reports/CAR-report-0009.pdf Colchester has been the site of other Roman findings:

An alter from the Teotihuacan culture was found in Guatemala, the region of the later Mayan culture. The alter was believed to be used for human sacrifices, especially of children. The remains of three children not older than four-years-old were found at the sides of the alter. Of course, in an effort not to offend, this practice of child sacrifice has been described by the media as “nonviolent.” This has created some controversy. https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/tikal-altar-guatemala-jungle-used-sacrifices-mayan-teotihuacan-cultures/ The academic article on the research https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/teotihuacan-altar-at-tikal-guatemala-central-mexican-ritual-and-elite-interaction-in-the-maya-lowlands/78F1EE665FD51C6B41457872CDA20A80 A largely nonviolent depiction of human sacrifices in Mesoamerica from the movie “Apocalyptico.”

Corrected. Funny, though.

In AD 367, the Picts, Scotti, and Saxons launched attacks on Roman defenses in Britain. Dry summers are now believed to have led to famine and social pressures that precipitated the assaults. A recent study using oak tree-ring records suggests that severe drought was a catalyst for the Barbarian incursions, known as the Great Conspiracy (see Wikipedia article below). https://scienceblog.com/drought-toppled-roman-britain-before-barbarians/ https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/apr/17/british-rebellion-against-roman-legions-caused-by-drought-research-finds#:~:text=The researchers identified no other,the Picts into northern Britain”. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-extreme-drought-contributed-barbarian-invasion.amp The academic article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-025-03925-4 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Conspiracy

After sharing on another site a story about a Vitellius aureus discovered in Britain and recently sold at auction (see the original UNRV post below), I received some pushback from the numismatic site Cointalk.com regarding Vitellius’s role in Britain. Here is my response. My response:

Fragments of a Roman wall painting have been unearthed in Villajoyosa, Spain. The villa’s foundation dates to the reign of Trajan (AD 98-117). Over 4,000 fragments of these wall paintings have been excavated. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2025/04/4000-fragments-of-roman-wall-paintings-unearthed-in-villajoyosa/154957

Approximately 4000 Roman-era bricks have been stored at a museum in Trier, Germany. They will finally be examined more closely after new research funding. Below is a brick with the stamp of Legio XXII Primigenia https://arkeonews.net/researchers-examine-4000-bricks-to-solve-the-secrets-of-an-ancient-roman-metropolis-of-trier/ https://aktuelles.uni-frankfurt.de/en/english/building-material-for-an-ancient-metropolis/ Here is the Wikipedia article on Legio XII Primigenia. The unit was first stationed in the Roman province of Germania Superior, guarding the Rhine border as part of the limes. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legio_XXII_Primigenia

Interesting point they make. Here’s the graph:

Here's a good video on why Britain doesn't speak a Latin-based language:

Ancient Celts meet Black Sabbath:

Here’s an interesting article showing the greater income inequality in the Han Dynasty than in the Roman Empire: https://phys.org/news/2025-04-economic-inequality-roman-empire-han.html#google_vignette Here is the academic article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58581-0

Little surprise that these statues are now part of a new exhibit in Pompeii “Being a woman in Pompeii.” https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/priestess-statue-found-preserved-within-the-walls-of-pompeii-necropolis-set-to-star-in-new-exhibit-on-roman-women/

A Roman gold coin (aureus) was found in a farmer's field near Dudley, England, in the West Midlands. It depicted the ill-fated Vitellius, one of the four Emperors who struggled for power in AD 69, “The Year of the Four Emperors,” following the death of Nero in AD 68. Suetonius described Vitellius as an obese glutton. Vitellius defeated Otho before Vespasian eventually killed him in Rome. Vitellius was Emperor of Rome for just eight months (April 19 to December 20, AD 69). Interestingly, the coin fetched just £4,700 (approximately $6000 US). This is an excellent piece of history that reflects the influence of Vitellius in Britain at the time of the turmoil: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mwm8nw914o A nice summary of the struggle for power after the death of Nero:

A well-preserved dog was found beneath a Roman stone foundation in Velzeke, Belgium. Although it is uncommon to discover such well-preserved bone from the Roman period in the local soil conditions, this dog was buried under a stone structure, shielding it from the elements. The 3,200-square-foot site where the remains were discovered: There is some suggestion that the dog was part of a ritual sacrifice. The Romans mostly looked at dogs as respected and protective animals. However, the sacrifice of dogs did occur in several Roman rituals and festivals: As mentioned in the article, the annual ritual of Supplicia Canum involved sacrificing dogs: Other festivals that involved sacrificing dogs were Robigalia and Lupercalia: Archaeologists discover well-preserved Roman dog in Belgium - The Jerusalem Post Ancient Roman Dog Unearthed Shockingly Intact In Belgium Here is an article from 1921, "The Dog as a Sacred Animal in Italy." A. M. Franklin: The Lupercalia • Chapter 8 Here is a pet dog that a family cherished (photo from the Getty Villa):

Pompeii is a destination I missed during my trips to Italy. This short video on the more than 40 public fountains of Pompeii is fascinating. This mundane but important engineering feat is incredible.

They probably didn’t have to wait in line too long. https://people.com/king-charles-queen-camilla-visit-colosseum-state-visit-italy-11709382