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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

We have previously posted about the legionary fortress of Novae in Bulgaria on the Danube limes (see below). Excavations are continuing with new finds. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/09/new-findings-at-roman-legionary-fortress/153446 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novae_(fortress)#:~:text=Novae was initially one of,Moesia Inferior%2C later Moesia Secunda.&text=It lies about 4 km,now open to the public.

Metallurgical analysis indicates that the renowned winged lion of Venice may have actually originated in China. The winged lion is not only recognized as the symbol of Venice but also of Mark the Evangelist. It is possible that it was created as late as the Tang dynasty (AD 609-907). Below is an article about the new research: https://arkeonews.net/the-lion-of-venice-was-made-in-china-isotopic-analyses-and-stylistic-comparisons-prove-it/ This longer video about the research has English subtitles:

Below is a video interview with author Adrian Goldsworthy, whom we all respect. In the interview, he belittles Mark Antony’s military and civilian leadership. That's fair enough. However, compared to the sickly, militarily inept, and sociopathic Octavian, Mark Antony grows in stature despite Goldsworthy’s biases. It's a clear example of how the victors indeed write the history.

Well, the latest gladiator-themed Pepsi commercial is out. Admittedly, its kitsch but it’s better than nothing.

A Pictish ring dating from 1000-1500 years ago has been discovered at Burghead Fort in Scotland. The fort was a Pictish promontory fort, a structure situated above a steep cliff and only connected to the mainland by a thin strip of land, making it easier to defend. Burghead Fort is located in the small town of Burghead in Moray, Scotland. A modern recreation of the fort https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/09/pictish-ring-discovered-at-burghead-fort/153422#google_vignette https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/15492/

HBO's "Rome” series has received praise for its two fascinating seasons. Below is an engaging video outlining the series' originally planned five-season arc, which was intended to culminate with the birth of Jesus in Judea and potentially Vorenus's violent demise. Unfortunately, the series abruptly ended after only two seasons. Sadly, there was a previous post about the early death of Ray Stevenson, who played Titus Pullo, in May 2023.

Is it possible that Roman control over Egypt weakened earlier than previously thought? A previous post addressed exactly that subject (see below). The research of this article supports the possibility by suggesting that the commercially important Egyptian Eastern desert “experienced a dramatic decline in activity between the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries AD, much earlier than previously believed.” https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2024/09/the-romans-began-to-abandon-egypt-at-the-end-of-the-2nd-century-ad/ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03075133241273454

It has been suggested that ancient civilizations utilized psychoactive substances for ritualistic ceremonies and perhaps even for regular recreational purposes. (The scene above is of Cleopatra in the HBO series "Rome.") Here are articles examining evidence of drug use in the ancient world, particularly in the Western Hemisphere. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240910-the-ancient-history-behind-healing-trauma-with-psychedelics https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8412860/

Here is an interesting video and articles on the siege. The research suggests that the attack was more about preserving the lucrative local balsam (a perfume) industry disrupted by rebels, rather than just conquering dissidents. https://allisrael.com/new-research-points-to-a-different-narrative-of-roman-siege-of-masada https://www.timesofisrael.com/masada-legend-upended-the-romans-came-saw-and-conquered-quickly-and-brutally/?utm_source=The+Weekend+Edition&utm_campaign=weekend-edition-2024-09-08&utm_medium=email Masada legend upended: 'The Romans came, saw and conquered, quickly and brutally' | The Times of Israel

The new series "Those About to Die," which was released earlier this summer, is set in Rome in AD 79. It features Anthony Hopkins as Emperor Vespasian and focuses on the lives of charioteers, gladiators, and the political intrigue of the era. I haven't watched this 10-episode epic, and the reviews have been mixed. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Those_About_to_Die_(TV_series)

We have had numerous posts about the Siege of Masada (AD 72-73), detailing the valiant yet ultimately ill-fated stand of the Jewish Sicarii against the forces of Titus, son of Vespasian, and the formidable Roman Empire. Researchers now estimate that the “siege wall could have been completed by 6,000-8,000 soldiers in less than two weeks, leaving them free to concentrate on building a ramp that ultimately breached the fortress.” This would suggest that “the ramp could have been completed in a month, all pointing to a far shorter timeframe for the siege, which may have lasted two months rather than two years.” https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/sep/04/romans-siege-wall-masada-archaeology-israel https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-roman-archaeology/article/roman-siege-system-of-masada-a-3d-computerized-analysis-of-a-conflict-landscape/32C59BE59ACD3E9A91C95F947DFD271E This research supports Israeli scholar Nachman Ben-Yehuda's controversial proposal (see article below) that the siege lasted a minimum of 4 weeks, at most 9 weeks, and most likely 7 weeks. https://www.deportati.it/static/upl/be/benyehuda,themasadamyth.pdf

This article demonstrates that Wales is increasingly recognized as an important part of Roman Britain. With the use of LiDAR technology, many future discoveries are expected to reveal a vibrant ancient Roman presence in Wales.

Here’s another article about the discovery. Carbon dating indicates that the man was buried between AD 263 and 342 and was approximately 60 years old. https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/1-700-year-old-barbarian-burial-discovered-along-roman-empire-s-frontier-in-germany

Section of the Arch of Constantine damaged by lightning. https://archaeology.org/news/2024/09/04/romes-arch-of-constantine-struck-by-lightning/

The Arch of Constantine in Rome was damaged by a lightning strike earlier this week, but fortunately, the damage appears to be minor. https://news.sky.com/story/amp/romes-ancient-arch-of-constantine-damaged-by-lightning-strike-13209430

A collection of 27 coins from the Roman Republic have been discovered on the island of Pantelleria, located between Sicily and Tunisia. These coins date back to the period from 94 to 74 BCE. Haul of ancient Roman coins discovered in Sicily (msn.com) The island of Pantelleria is located in the Mediterranean Sea, in the Strait of Sicily, and covers an area of 33 square miles (84.5 square kilometers).

Two Roman-era tombs with murals of Greek mythological scenes will be part of an archaeological park open to the public in Ashkelon, Israel. https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-opens-tombs-ancient-rome-public-first-time-wonderful-paintings.amp

Professor Steven Tuck is widely regarded as a foremost expert in the field of Pompeian archaeology. Here is a scholarly article that analyzes the importance of the famous fresco depicting the distribution of bread in the “House of the Baker” in Pompeii. Samples of carbonized bread were found in Pompeii and Herculaneum: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-roman-archaeology/article/baked-bread-to-the-people-bread-distribution-and-social-and-political-networks-at-pompeii/3DFB7584C1DC81A0A4741EE2F513D427 The wonderful Max Miller makes some ancient Roman bread:

I am surprised that the Romans did not completely subjugate Switzerland until several years after Caesar's death in 44 BCE. Below is a post about a nearby skirmish between the Romans and the local tribe of Raeti in 15 BCE.

LiDAR technology has revealed a Roman campsite at Colm la Runga, a peak in the Graubünden region southwest of Zurich, Switzerland, near the Italian border. Excavations at the site have uncovered artifacts, including an arrowhead. The campsite was further excavated and dated to 20 BCE. When the camp was built, Rome was still fighting to conquer the Swiss Alps. https://amp.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article291709010.html http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/70981 https://www.gr.ch/DE/Medien/Mitteilungen/MMStaka/2024/Seiten/2024082903.aspx