guy

There is further evaluation of the cremated remains in the Colchester vase. https://www.livescience.com/gladiators-fought-in-roman-britain-action-packed-cremation-urn-carvings-reveal

Here is a wonderful video by Max Miller on “Dinner with Attila the Hun.” Also below is an article on the Roman envoy Priscus’s description of dining with Attila. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/attila.htm

The Vatican has returned three pieces of the Parthenon that was in their collection. It is hoped that the Vatican’s gesture will put increased pressure on the British Museum to return their much larger Parthenon collection known as the Elgin marbles (see posts below): https://apnews.com/article/parthenon-vatican-return-marble-sculptures-61904ad33c9c8edf182f65c352a52829 Previous threads about the Elgin Parthenon marbles controversy.

A Roman-era alter piece was found in the grounds of Leicester Cathedral. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/03/excavations-reveal-roman-altar-stone-in-shrine-or-cult-room/146401

Rome quickly exerted its control and influence in Egypt after the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra. In this case, Rome integrated itself into the culture by placing the face of the emperor Claudius on a Sphinx. https://m.sundayworld.com/news/world-news/archaeologists-unearth-sphinx-like-roman-era-statue-in-egypt/789840870.html (Map of Dendera, Egypt)

The Colchester vase depicting two gladiators was first found in Colchester in 1853. There is now evidence it was locally manufactured with local clay around AD 160-200. This may confirm that gladiator fights did, in fact, occur in Britain. Or, at least, fans of gladiatorial fights lived in Britain. There had been no previous evidence of gladiator contests in Britain. Background history of Colchester: The ancient Roman city (Camulodunum) was the first legionary fortress established after the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 AD. It was attacked and destroyed by Boudicca in 61 AD. It was later rebuilt. It has the only Roman Circus (chariot racetrack) in Britain. It also has two of Britain’s five Roman theaters, including Britain’s largest with 5000 seats. By the Second and Third centuries AD it may have had 30,000 inhabitants. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/mar/04/evidence-reveals-gladiators-fought-in-roman-britain https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/colchester-vase-0018017 http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/66650 Recent evidence of a Roman Circus has been found in Colchester:

I guess the focus of the find is also the presence of Roman-era spikes used to impede enemy forces: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/roman-wooden-spikes-barbed-wire-julius-caesar-180981727/

Here is an interesting interactive map of the forts and supply forts along Hadrian’s Wall: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/01/vallum-aulium-hadrians-wall/136689?amp=1 Hadrian's Wall Article : Scribble Maps

(Roman sestertius of Trajan depicting Portus, the harbor of Rome.) Here is another great video by Garrett Ryan. This video deals with architecture found on ancient Roman coins. Interestingly, he discusses the Roman port of Portus, near the city of Rome (4:40). We had a recent thread on this harbor of Rome. (See thread below):

Here’s the original thread about the corridor after it was first discovered in 2017:

Here’s an interesting article about the discovery of a corridor in the Great Pyramid of Giza. This corridor could either be a structural support for the pyramid or related to an undiscovered burial chamber. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-64825526

I saw Winwood and Clapton at The MGM in Las Vegas a few years ago. They did most of the Blind Faith songs. Winwood stole the show, however. Winwood's solo "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" was absolutely breathtaking. A few years later, I saw Winwood with Steely Dan. I was less impressed as he became more "jazzy" for that show.

(Scene from the “Raiders of the Lost Ark” where the Ark of the Covenant is placed in storage.) The storage of historical artifacts in Britain has been a problem. The lack of display or public sale of numismatic finds is especially frustrating. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-64707488

Here is an interesting article on some of the most fascinating and beautiful coins assessed by NGC Ancient Certification service. The background of the above coin is interesting: https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/11134/NGC-Ancient-coins/ Images courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group, Heritage Auctions, Numismatica Ars Classica, Ira & Larry Goldberg, and Jean Elsen & ses Fils.

Interesting research. I would like to see your results. I guess it would depend on the time period examined. Constantinople wouldn’t be among the largest population centers until the fourth century AD, for example. I’m surprised to see Hispania listed as among the least urbanized considering Cadéz and Córdoba were large urban centers. Please share your research.

The Constantine Colossus was recreated in Milan in exact proportion to the original statue whose fragments are found at the Capitoline Museum in Rome. https://thenationview.com/entertainment/125805.html?amp=1

I guess the notable exception would be Constantinople. In AD 324 it had a population around 50,000. After it was named the “New Rome” by Constantine, it grew to 500,000. That does not conform with the “general trend of a population collapse.”

Interesting assessment. The rather precipitous drop in Rome’s population (50%) between AD 50 and AD 275 is noteworthy. The effects of deadly plagues (including the Antonine Plague in AD 165-180 and the Plague of Cyprian in AD 249-262), as well as the many bloody internecine wars took its toll. It is no surprise that the city of Rome lost its prestige and influence in the Empire during the decades to come.

A previous thread dealt with the controversy of building a 210-acre solar farm near Silchester, site of one of Britain’s best preserved Roman sites. (See thread below.) Despite protests, the project will now be allowed to proceed: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/giant-solar-farm-next-to-hampshire-roman-ruins-gets-green-light-after-u-turn/ar-AA17TI6K How Roman Silchester might have looked: https://archaeology.co.uk/articles/features/silchesters-roman-baths.htm

There have been a few posts about trade between Rome and India before (see threads below). Here is a good summary article: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/02/evidence-of-indo-roman-relations/146284

Short video on the lack of late-Emperor busts:

Tacitus in his “Annals: Book XI” discusses the aborted attempts of the Roman Governor Curtius Rufus to mine for silver in Ems, Germany around AD 47. The site may have been discovered as well as two military camps in the area. From Tacitus: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/02/roman-military-camps-and-evidence-of-silver-mining-found-in-the-bad-ems-area/146263 https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/980406 https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Tacitus/Annals/11b*.html

Now we have input from an expert in ancient prosthetics who suggests that this ph*llus-shaped object was created by a shoemaker. Mamma mia: https://theconversation.com/roman-dildo-could-have-been-made-by-shoemakers-an-expert-in-ancient-prosthetics-explains-200387

First discovered in 1992 at Vindolanda near Hadrian’s Wall, this item was thought to be either a tool to help with sewing or a wooden kitchen pestle. Close examination, however, suggests that this was intentionally shaped as a phallus. It measures 6.2 inches (15.7 cm). The item shows extensive wear from use. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/feb/20/its-not-a-darning-tool-its-a-very-naughty-toy-roman-dildo-found

The once-controversial Roman Warren Cup will be highlighted at the British Museum this month in recognition of LGBT+ month. It has been dated to AD 10 and depicts a male couple engaging in sex. A reclining bearded man apparently is engaging with a beardless youth who lowers himself on him. It was first purchased by American collector Edward Warren in 1911 for £2000 pounds along with coins of Claudius. It was thought to buried during the Jewish Revolt. It later sold to the British Museum in 1999 for £1.8million. An in-depth description of the Warren Cup: Background history of the Warren Cup: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Cup