guy

Wonderful discovery. I initially thought the statue was a lion. I was wondering what kind of breed the dog could be with the leonine fasces. A Pomeranian?

A little more information on the find: https://phys.org/news/2022-01-toilet-temple-period-luxury-villa.html

Nice song. This song was released by Marcus King when he was twenty. Makes me long for a different time.

That is an exciting find, for sure. Until I did recent research on military diplomas, I knew nothing about these amazing documents that would grant rights and privileges to retired soldiers. ”A complete diploma consists of 2 bronze plates of rectangular shape, between 10x12 and 21x16 cm depending on the period, with text on both sides, bound together by bronze wire and sealed with witnesses seals. The seals were covered by three bronze strips to protect them from mechanical wear. Below a typical diploma, unwired and opened up, with preserved witness seals and their protecting metal cover (closed and opened). This particulary well preserved example was found in Slavonski Brod and had been issued under Vespasianus.” (See below) This is a wonderful site discussing these diplomas: http://www.romancoins.info/MilitaryDiploma1a.html

Wow! I am really impressed. Very few people now remember Rory Gallagher. Am I to guess you are a female from Italy? Brava. I can only imagine how you came to know about Rory. He was one of my guitar heroes when I was a kid back in the 70s. Were you even around in the 70s? (See the picture below of his "distressed" guitar.) Great player who got the most from his instrument. I also like thin Lizzy, but my favorite "Irish" musician is Van Morrison. Van Morrison's music probably saved my life on more than one occasion.

Intestinal parasite eggs recovered from sediment collected below the stone toilet seat at Armon Hanatziv. (a). Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm); (b). Ascaris lumbricoides; (roundworm); (c). Trichuris suis (whipworm); (d). Trichuris trichiura. (whipworm) Eitan Kremer/Tel Avvi University) Similar to previous posts, this article demonstrates how new techniques can shed insight on daily life, including health, in the ancient world. This article shows how archaeoparasitology, through the use of microscopic remains and possible DNA studies, can be a useful tool in the investigation of toilet samples in the study of ancient health and disease. https://www.timesofisrael.com/ancient-toilet-shows-jerusalems-rich-wallowed-in-luxury-and-discomfort/

Thanks for reading my post. Here’s an old thread (with a few broken links) that delves into the general health of the inhabitants at Vindolanda: “About 60% of the total cohort was not in the fort, presumably on duties elsewhere. Of those remaining in the fort (296), 31 (more than 10%) were unfit for duty (sick, wounded, or suffering from eye inflammation). I am surprised at the large number who were absent because of eye disease.” ”Sick--15 Wounded--6 Suffering from inflammation of the eyes (lippientes)--10 Total of these [present but unable to perform duties because of illness] -- 31”

Through genetic and microscopic analysis, we are better able to examine the contents of the latrines of Vindolanda. Not surprising, the inhabitants there had intestinal parasites, including tapeworms and whipworms. Here is an excellent article from a few years back describing the research. (Image of roundworm found during endoscopic exam) https://www.vindolanda.com/blogs/blog/ancient-parasites I have little doubt that other non-helminth infections that commonly infect man will be discovered in the latrines as the means of detection improve: Giardia, Entamoeba histolytica, bacteria species, etc. I need to review helminth (worm), as well as other intestinal infections later: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2754014/ Interesting video on water management at Vindolanda:

Here’s a previous thread on the famous Lycurgus cup, another example of the artistic beauty of Roman cage cups:

Amber pins were found at the feet of the individual buried in the largest sarcophagus, dating to the 4th century. PHOTO: © Denis Gliksman, Inrap. I missed this article from earlier in the year about an excavation of Augustodunum (modern Autun, France). It had been founded by Augustus. (The -dunum ending is derived from the Celtic word for “hill,” “fort,” or “walled city.”) The findings at this site were quite spectacular: This finding of a “cage cup” is rare. These cups have intricate three-dimensional designs on the surface. https://the-past.com/news/roman-discoveries-at-ancient-augustodunum/ https://www.archaeology.org/news/9213-201117-france-roman-glass Here’s a video in Latin about the ancient city:

“Around 200 artworks were recovered in December after having been illegally traded to private collectors or museums in the U.S. over the last decade. The Roman statues and Etruscan vases were stolen or illegally dug by traffickers in various archaeological sites across Italy. The objects are worth about €10 million and date from the 8th century B.C. to the 1st century A.D.” https://www.euronews.com/culture/2021/12/31/italy-recovers-10-million-worth-of-stolen-artworks-from-around-the-world

Good health and happiness. Stay safe, all. Let's have a wonderful new year. I had a visitor: Death twitches my ear. “Live,” he says. “I am coming.” (Virgil)

Just a follow-up on the original post with some further insights: This discovery is rather indicative of an empire in decline: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59668728

There was a recent thread about a military diploma found in the Roman province of Pannonia (see below). Here is an article about a military diploma recently found in Turkey. https://bulletinobserver.com/2021/12/29/1898-year-old-bronze-military-diploma-found-in-turkeys-perre/ https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/1898-year-old-bronze-military-diploma-found-in-turkeys-perre/news/amp There were probably many thousands of military diplomas issued. Fewer than a thousand (many in just fragments) have been recovered. These diplomas would certify a soldier’s military honorable service and would entitle him to various rights and privileges. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_military_diploma

https://worldakkam.com/rain-reveals-a-roman-statue-of-a-woman-in-epidabros/602702/amp/

Our knowledge of ancient Egyptian medicine is enriched by archaeological finds and three ancient Egyptian manuscripts: The Ebers papyrus https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebers_Papyrus The EdwIn Smith papyrus https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2989268/ The Brooklyn papyrus (It was named after the museum in New York holding the manuscript. The manuscript Is a handbook on snakes and treatment of snakebites.) https://uir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/26760 Interestingly, recent archaeological studies of the Amenhotep I mummy showed that he was circumcised. https://www.grunge.com/719206/medical-procedures-that-existed-in-ancient-egypt/ I will need to do further research on this article. I find it hard to believe, however, that ancient Egyptians lacked even rudimentary surgical skills as suggested by the article. Herophilus (335-280 BCE) and his younger student Erasistratus (305-250 BCE) were famous for their human dissections (and possible vivisections) in Alexandria, Egypt. https://www.bibalex.org/SCIplanet/en/Article/Details.aspx?id=10296

A Roman era statue from the second or third century AD was found in Veria, Northern Greece. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/archaeologists-excavate-roman-era-statue-in-centre-of-ancient-veria/142364?amp

The use of modern technology, in this case a CT scan, yields new insights into the ancient world: This is an amazing look at someone who lived more than fourteen centuries before Cleopatra met Marc Antony. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-59808883 https://scitechdaily.com/mummy-of-pharaoh-amenhotep-i-unwrapped-for-the-first-time-in-3000-years-heres-what-scientists-found/ Here is a previous thread on the use of scanners to see the contents of wrapped or covered animal remains in a non-invasive and non-destructive fashion:

Gerulata was a Roman military camp near Bratislava, Slovakia, which was found in the Roman province of Pannonia. It was part of the Roman frontier defense system of the 2nd century but was abandoned two centuries later when the Romans withdrew from Pannonia. (Roman military outpost of Gerulata) https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22807426/ancient-diploma-found-by-archaeologists-in-bratislava.html A previous thread on the legions of Pannonia:

This is a recent article about the interesting coin hoard from Huntingdon, England found in 2018. All the coins were from the Gallic Roman Empire (260-274 AD). One can only wonder the reasons for burying this hoard. Most likely, the coins were hastily buried in wake of the confusion related to the breakaway Gallic Roman Empire. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-59665406

Excellent video about a soldier’s life on watchtower duty on the Rhine

The use of the modern technology offers a fascinating way to visualize the contents of animal mummies without unwrapping (and destroying) the item. https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/113957/egyptian_mummies_come_to_life_with_maltese_ai_scanner#.YcdBvBaIaaM

(Scene from HBO’s “Rome” when Cleopatra VII confronts her brother and husband Ptolemy XIII) This article clarifies the complicated politics of Egypt that existed when Julius Caesar arrived in Egypt in pursuit of Pompey Magnus. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/the-early-life-of-cleopatra/142343?amp

This is an excellent video recreation of the Augustan Palatine Hill which focuses on the Domus of Augustus and the adjacent Temple of Apollo. The Temple of Apollo Palatinus was a temple on the Palatine Hill of ancient Rome, which was first dedicated by Augustus to his patron god Apollo. It was only the second temple in Rome dedicated to the god, after the Temple of Apollo Sosianus. I appreciate the efforts to show more color marble that I feel has been understated in most depictions: Here is an earlier thread about the use of colored marble in Ancient Rome: