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Hemp use by Scythians: Herodotus examined Scythian hemp use (Histories, book 4) [4.74] Hemp grows in Scythia: it is very like flax; only that it is a much coarser and taller plant: some grows wild about the country, some is produced by cultivation: the Thracians make garments of it which closely resemble linen; so much so, indeed, that if a person has never seen hemp he is sure to think they are linen, and if he has, unless he is very experienced in such matters, he will not know of which material they are. [4.75] The Scythians, as I said, take some of this hemp-seed, and, creeping under the felt coverings, throw it upon the red-hot stones; immediately it smokes, and gives out such a vapour as no Grecian vapour-bath can exceed; the Scyths, delighted, shout for joy, and this vapour serves them instead of a water-bath; for they never by any chance wash their bodies with water. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0126%3Abook%3D4&force=y https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/introducing-scythians

A few wonderful review videos about the Scythians:

Although the Scythians may have predated the Roman Empire, they decisively defeated the Romans at the Battle of Histria in 62-61 BCE (located in the Ancient Greek polis of Histria, which is found on the Baltic coast in modern Romania). The Sarmatians later subsumed the Scythians. New evidence, including the burial mounds shown above, discovered in Tuva, Siberia, suggest their origins may have been farther east than first believed. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-sacrificial-burial-scythians-eastern.html#google_vignette https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Histria#:~:text=The Battle of Histria%2C c,by the Bastarnian-Scythian attackers.

A sealed stone sarcophagus has been discovered at the Etruscan site of Bisenzio, Italy. The intact skeleton dated from the sixth to seventh centuries BCE. http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/71298 Here’s a wonderful 10 minute documentary of the excavations in that area from this summer. (The sarcophagus is unearthed at the 6:00 minute mark.)

An intriguing (albeit confusing) story has emerged from the İzmir province in Western Turkey. A sarcophagus originally built in the 3rd century AD bears an inscription stating that it was initially used for gladiators. However, no gladiator remains were found. Instead, the bones of 12 women and men dating back to the fifth century AD were discovered. It has been suggested that the sarcophagus was reused for two centuries after its construction. Multiple cross reliefs were also discovered at the site, indicating the repurposing of the tombs during the Christian Eastern Roman Empire of the fifth century AD. https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/grand-tomb-of-roman-gladiator-found-in-turkey-actually-contains-the-remains-of-12-other-people https://www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/1800-yo-roman-gladiator-izmir-55158/

Excavation continues in Wrexham, Wales (see previous post below). Wrexham has recently been the site of several Roman finds. A more developed Roman-era settlement (as well as a medieval longhouse) have now been discovered at the site. https://www.sci.news/archaeology/roman-era-settlement-medieval-longhouse-wales-13297.html

Mark, let’s be grateful for the brave Brits who flew during that battle. Otherwise, we might not be having this conversation. I failed German in junior high school and I don’t like to follow orders, so I wouldn't last long if history had been different.

This silver denarius of Titus (A.D. 79-81) shows a dolphin wrapped around an anchor. Ancient Rome highly regarded dolphins in mythology, art, and culture. They were also considered symbols of romance and protection. Numerous Roman artworks depict dolphins, such as the wonderful mosaic in the ancient Roman city of Wroxeter, Britain. Dolphins were associated with a variety of symbolic meanings in Ancient Rome, including love, loyalty, and friendship, as well as life, death, and rebirth. Pliny the Elder, in "The Natural History," Chapter 8, describes the dolphin's friendship with man, as well as the story of a dolphin's long-lasting friendship with a boy, even after he died. Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, BOOK IX. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF FISHES. (tufts.edu) Here is an excellent article from NGC Ancients that describes many Roman coins depicting dolphins. NGC Ancients: Dolphins on Roman Coins | NGC (ngccoin.com)

The trailer for "Gladiator II" featured a fantasy gladiator fight between a fighter and a gladiator riding a rhinoceros. Although rhinos were unlikely to be involved in gladiator fights, they may have been engaged in fighting another beast or used in the popular beast hunt (venatio). Here are a few articles, two of which are academic, discussing this subject. https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/did-romans-battle-rhinos-in-the-colosseum-a-historian-explains-the-truth-behind-the-fight-scenes-in-ridley-scott-s-gladiator-ii https://traj.openlibhums.org/article/id/10158/ (PDF) The animals of the arena: How and why could their destruction and death be endured and enjoyed? (researchgate.net) Venatio - Wikipedia

Respectfully, that is a silly statement. Prior to the Battle of Britain, the British did not have air superiority over Britain. The Royal Air Force (RAF) was in a precarious position after the successful but costly evacuation from Dunkirk. At the start of the Battle of Britain, the German Luftwaffe was much larger and more powerful than the RAF. However, the Brits had a secret weapon-the radar system. This new technology played a crucial role in detecting and intercepting incoming German aircraft. Had the Germans started earlier, focused their attacks on British airfields, and not wasted resources on civilian targets, they could have completely neutralized the RAF. Only after the Germans began the attack on the Soviet Union was the security of Britain much improved. I'm sure you know that four out of five (80%) of German casualties occurred fighting on the Eastern front.

Another gorgeous late Roman mosaic has been found in Turkey, this time near Elaziğ (located on the map below). This mosaic depicts dozens of animals and plants. https://arkeonews.net/massive-roman-mosaic-floor-discovered-in-turkiye/ Previous posts about mosaics found in Turkey:

Here is a fabulous video of a Roman walking tour at 5 a.m. before the crush of crowds makes enjoying the sights impossible:

The ancient Roman city of Tayana was an important part of Roman Anatolia, near the modern city of Kemerhisar in Turkey. During excavations, sections of an aqueduct, originally 10-11 meters high, were uncovered. https://arkeonews.net/the-underground-parts-of-the-2000-year-old-aqueducts-of-central-anatolias-ephesus-being-unearthed/

Thanks for reading my post. The amount of hyperbole involving the health benefits of this revived plant is silly, but it is interesting: https://phys.org/news/2024-09-medicinal-tree-successfully-grown-year.html

The ancient Roman city of Heraclea Sintica in Bulgaria has been the site of some recent finds (see post below). A sculpture head has recently found (see picture above). It is thought that many of these statues were buried in the late fourth century AD following a destructive earthquake and possibly hidden from the Christian authorities. https://m.novinite.com/articles/228489/Ancient+Statues+in+Heraclea+Sintica%3A+New+Head+Discovery+Sparks+Excitement

Scientists have successfully germinated a 1,000-year-old seed found in the Judean Desert. The resulting tree, nicknamed "Sheba," may be part of a lost lineage mentioned in the Bible. It is believed to be linked to the biblical "tsori," a resinous extract mentioned in texts like Genesis, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. This resin was highly valued in ancient times for its medicinal properties and was used in perfumes, incense, and as a treatment for various ailments. The seed, estimated from between 993 and 1202 CE, was found in a cave in the Judean Desert. It has taken nearly 14 years to grow into a fully developed tree (see picture above). Scientists have done DNA, chemical, and radiocarbon tests to learn more about where it came from and what it can be used for. The researchers have identified Sheba as belonging to the genus Commiphora, which is part of the myrrh and frankincense family (Burseraceae) and includes around 200 living plant species. Commiphora plants are mainly found across Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula. It is still unclear to which species Sheba belongs because the tree has not flowered and, therefore, hasn't produced the reproductive material needed for more detailed analyses by scientists. Lost Biblical tree resurrected from 1,000-year-old mystery seed found in the Judean Desert | Live Science Characterization and analysis of a Commiphora species germinated from an ancient seed suggests a possible connection to a species mentioned in the Bible | Communications Biology (nature.com) This is reminiscent of the recent extinct Judaean date tree revived.

Another Roman sculpture head has been found at the Carlisle cricket club. There were two previous heads found in 2023 (see post below). https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgdlpl2x93o

I believe we are discussing semantics here. The Battle of Britain was a crucial defensive victory (like the Battle of Stalingrad). Despite facing overwhelming force (2500 German aircraft to 1900 British aircraft), the casualties favored the British: 2500 German airmen were killed compared to 1500 British (not including civilian deaths), 900 Germans were captured, and 1900 German planes were lost compared to 1700 British planes. Let's put it this way, Caldrail: If the British hadn't won air superiority over Britain, you might be speaking German and eating sauerbraten and bratwurst.

I lack knowledge about the Republican Rome and its wars of expansion. However, here is a wonderful (albeit simplistic) overview of the Roman Battle of Thermopylae (plate number 1). Rome's Battle of Thermophylae was part of a larger conflict between the Roman and Seleucid Empires to control the region. The Roman forces, led by consul Manius Acilius Glabrio, defeated the Seleucid-Aetolian army under Antiochus III the Great at the historic site where the Spartans had been famously defeated by the Persians many years before in 480 BCE. The Seleucid forces were defeated at Thermopylae and then suffered another devastating defeat by the Romans at the Battle of Magnesia. The Battle of Magnesia, along with the earlier Roman victory against Philip of Macedon at the Battle of Cynoscepahlae in 197 BC, signified the end of the perceived dominance of the Macedonian phalanx on the battlefields of the ancient world. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae_(191_BC)#:~:text=The Battle of Thermopylae took,of Antiochus III the Great.&text=View of the Thermopylae pass from the area of the Phocian Wall.

There have been several posts about bread in Ancient Rome (see below). Here is an informative video from Darius Arya discussing bread production in Ancient Rome. This has been brought to you, of course, by the Capitoline Brotherhood of Millers that uses only the finest bread. True Roman bread for true Romans (quote from the Newsreader on the HBO series “Rome).

Here’s an excellent video by Garrett Ryan explaining why the Roman and Greek gods are different.

Another brief article on the find: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/09/roman-chariot-discovered-in-necropolis-mound/153489

A Roman chariot was discovered in a necropolis mound in Northeastern Bulgaria dating back to the 2nd-3rd centuries AD. Among the artifacts found was a coin from the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161). https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-discover-mysterious-stone-structures-and-a-roman-chariot-during-excavations-in-bulgaria/

In Southern Poland, a Roman bucket-shaped vessel known as a situla was discovered. These vessels were used as urns to hold the remains of humans who had been cremated on a funeral pyre. It is believed that the vessel may have been acquired through trade with Celts residing in Central Europe. The discovery took place in a cemetery associated with the Przeworsk culture, which was in use from the first century BCE to the second century AD. https://www.newsweek.com/archaeologist-find-extremely-rare-roman-artifact-ancient-burial-ground-1955725 https://archaeology.org/news/2024/09/19/roman-bronze-vessel-discovered-in-poland/

George Ridgway discovered a suspected coin hoard in September 2019. It consisted of 748 coins dating from as early as 206 BCE through to AD 46-47 and was found at Helmingham Hall, Suffolk (see post below). The British Museum, as well as the Colchester and Ipswich Museums, retained 68 of the coins for their own collections. They left the remaining coins to Ridgway and the landowner for either their personal collection or public auction for profit. Around 680 coins of the collection were sold for over £130,000, exceeding the estimated £75,000. The proceeds will be divided between the landowner and Mr. Ridgway. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjd5lm98j45o