guy

Recent excavations at Vindolanda have found evidence of Batavian troops: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/07/evidence-of-the-9th-cohort-of-batavians-among-new-finds-at-roman-vindolanda/147997

Here’s a nice review of the possible fate of Legio IX that disappeared from history:

Painted mosaics and plaster have been uncovered during excavations at the Apppia Antica 39 site in Rome

Well, the vandal, a British tourist (of Bulgarian descent) has been identified: https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/07/04/colosseum-vandal-seeks-forgiveness-after-defacing-historic-amphitheatre

This looks like an interesting book by the excellent writer Tom Holland. Here’s a nice review by “Goodreads” https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62712920-pax Here’s a good interview of Holland on his new book

Two ancient skeletons have been found in Southeast Romania. They are thought to be of Roman origin since a coin of Hadrian was found in one of the mouths. It is believed that the grave site had been robbed by ancient Dacians. Interestingly, a wolf skull was found at the site, supposedly to prevent the revenge of the souls of the deceased. (A wolf skull at the burial site) https://scienceinpoland.pl/en/news/news%2C97102%2Cwolf-skull-found-grave-robbers-dig-was-meant-protect-thieves-wrath-dead-say

Turkey is requesting that this bronze sculpture head of Septimius Severus on display in Copenhagen be returned. Earlier, a “headless” sculpture had been returned to Turkey from the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Both this sculpture head and the already-returned body had been presented together in an exhibit in 1979. Turkey insists that the sculpture head is part of the body returned and should be also returned. https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2023-07-04-turkish-statue-searches-for-his-head-in-denmark.HyfVtIX-F3.html

Recent excavations during construction of a parking structure in Belgrade, Syria (the ancient Roman town of Singidunum) have uncovered 14 Roman tombs and an aqueduct. It is thought that these finds date to the 3rd and 4th century AD. https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/roman-aqueduct-and-luxurious-burials-unearthed-during-construction-of-underground-parking-garage-in-serbia

I think this summary was the best on the topic. Roman elites were willing to give away some of their freedoms to maintain stability (as well as their security and wealth). Being accepted by the Senate was important for legitimacy of any Emperor. In fact, lack of Senate support usually predicted an initial resistance and difficultly to anyone's claim. For most Romans, however, these remaining freedoms meant little. To paraphrase Sallust: Only a few prefer liberty, the majority seek nothing more than fair masters.

The “click-bait” for this find was the idea that the fresco represented an “ancient pizza” (or at least a distant ancestor since tomatoes would not known to Italy for another 1500 years.)

Pompeii continues to provide new findings, this time a beautiful fresco at Regio IX. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/06/fresco-depicting-a-still-life-uncovered-in-pompeii/147875

A sculpture head has been discovered at the bottom of Lake Nemi, about 31 km (19 miles) south of Rome. It is thought to belong to one of Caligula’s two “floating pleasure” boats. https://www.ancientpages.com/2023/06/28/roman-marble-head-lake-nemi/ Here is a previous post on the stolen mosaic from one of the pleasure-boats that ended up in New York City.

A metal detectorist has found a Roman dinnerware set. It’s not clear whether it was for civilian or military purposes. https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-06-29/amazing-2000-year-old-roman-hoard-discovered-by-local-detector

Here’s an excellent long interview with Adrian Goldsworthy by Garrett Ryan on the Roman and Persian (Parthian and Sassanian) rivalry that spanned seven centuries. Goldsworthy makes the point that there is more of a continuity between the Parthians and Sassanians than modern historians usually state. Despite the numerous and often bloody conflicts, Goldsworthy explores the often beneficial trade between the cultures and the possibility that mutual respect (as well as internal struggles and constraints of geography) prevented their trying to totally vanquish the other. Usually, the conflict between the Romans and Persia was a struggle for influence rather than direct control. Armenia was often the source of this struggle. Recommend highly.

An idiot has been filmed putting graffiti on the walls of the colosseum (Ivan + Haley 23): https://amp.abc.net.au/article/102532266

The Etruscan bronze statuettes from the San Casciano excavation are finally on display. They have been well preserved, along with votive offerings and fantastic coins, by the mineral condition of the thermal baths where they were found (see posts below). (Thanks Dr Tom for bringing this latest video to my attention.)

Archaeologists have found several fragments of wine amphorae as well as two field ovens in Paderborn, Germany. These were thought to be evidence of a Roman marching camp. Charcoal from the ovens have been carbon dated to AD 12, possibly from the Augustan Germanic campaign under Tiberius with Germanicus. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/06/evidence-of-roman-marching-camp-found-in-paderborn/147847 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_campaigns_in_Germania_(12_BC_–_AD_16) It’s interesting to know that the rather old technology of carbon dating was able to shed new light and date the military camp. Here’s a good video on “Avenging Varus” that discusses the campaign in Germania (AD 10-14) under Tiberius and later Germanicus to revenge the disaster in Teutoburg Forest. (Location of Paderborn, Germany)

Here is a good article on phalerae: https://www.romanoimpero.com/2019/04/le-falere-romane-phalerae.html?m=1

A group of amateur archaeologists have discovered a Roman phalera (military decoration) at Vindolanda, near Hadrian’s Wall. It depicted the head of Medusa. They also discovered other artifacts during their recent excavation: Samian pottery, a copper alloy spoon, and other items (see the video below). Here’s a Roman with his phalerae, usually worn on the breastplates during parade. https://arkeonews.net/volunteer-archaeologists-discovered-a-1900-year-old-silver-military-decoration-in-vindolanda/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalera_(military_decoration)

Here is an interesting video on the construction of The Pantheon by Garrett Ryan. Here’s a previous post about The Pantheon: Here’s a nice tour around The Pantheon by Darius Arya:

Here’s the best video on the opening by Darius Arya. And yes, the cats are still there. LoL

My wife and kids would not be happy. Plus, these cats reduce the rodent population (talk about “catchable diseases”).

Here are some other videos on the opening:

A body with a wooden box found at its feet has been discovered near present-day Jászberény, Hungary (almost 35 miles from Budapest). The wooden box, which is dated to the 1st century AD, contained high-quality copper-alloy and silver medical tools: needles, tweezers, forceps, and scalpels with replaceable blades. Researchers believe the man was a physician in the Roman Empire. There has been no explanation for this man’s distant travel. https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/1st-century-burial-holds-roman-doctor-buried-with-medical-tools-including-top-quality-scalpels (Jászberény, Hungary)

Here is an interesting item from Roman Britannia: a modius used to measure grain. It is interesting to see that the name of Domitian on the vessel has undergone damnatio memoriae. Although examples of coinage or large monuments commonly show the effects of damnatio memoriae, it is remarkable to see a rather mundane item found at the distant reaches of the Empire suffer the same fate. (Thanks to Jon Hawke @HawkeJon for bringing this to my attention.) https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/teaching-resources/curators-collections/-curators-collections-hadrians-wall/