guy

Because Constantine was both practical and an opportunist, I doubt he would have done anything to antagonize the majority of his army who were Pagan. He could, however, have opted for the Chi-Ro symbol since it predated Christianity and would have been accepted positively by his Pagan troops. Here is a coin from Ptolemy III (246-222 BCE). Note the Chi-Ro between the legs of the eagle. Pagan Greek scribes used the Chi Ro symbol to mark portions of papyri texts they deemed important. Maybe not too surprisingly, however, the vast majority of coins from Constantine did not have Christian imagery. Interestingly, the Arch of Constantine, which commemorates Constantine’s triumph at the Milvian Bridge, does not depict the Chi Ro symbol. https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/ngc-ancients-late-roman-coin-reverse-types-part-2/ http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/symbols/

Based on LIDAR studies, there was a suspicion that there was a Roman presence in Farndon, UK, on the banks of the River Dee. https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/23082569.farndon-archaeological-finds-roman-remains/

Through the use of satellite imagery, a Roman observation tower was found in Volubilis, Morocco. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2022/10/roman-observation-tower-uncovered-in-ancient-city-of-volubilis/145066?amp

Here is an interesting article suggesting that the Bubonic Plague, which killed maybe more than 30% of the population in Europe between 1346-1350, may have selected out genes that make the individuals more at risk for autoimmune diseases. Individuals who had these genes may have had a greater chance of survival; thus, the genes became more prevalent in the population. https://www.archaeology.org/news https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05349-x

I love the tune, also:

Interesting fact. Thank you. Here’s a depiction of the Carthaginian harbor from a previous post:

Here’s another article on the find. Apparently roads constructed with large stones laid in bands was unusual in Britain: https://metro.co.uk/2022/10/25/roman-road-hidden-for-2000-years-of-global-importance-say-experts-17633342/?ito=newsnow-feed

I know very little about the early Christian Church. It is interesting to see excavations in the area that confirm the importance of the early Christian movement in the area. https://arkeonews.net/roman-era-chambers-and-clay-offering-vessels-found-in-antiocheia-ancient-city-in-southern-turkey/ Here is a short video on Antioch. Although focusing on the early Christian Church, it is interesting, nevertheless:

Here is a rather disturbing article about the reason for the small number of bodies discovered in the Waterloo area despite the large number of dead: https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23071063.culloden-colonialism-ptsd-scotland-dark-secrets-bloody-battlefields/ Scientists May Have Found Where the Bodies of Waterloo Went | Discover Magazine

Here is the longer video:

Skeletons wearing Persian jewelry and dating to the 5th century BCE have been discovered in Sparta, Greece. The belief is that these were the remains of the Persian ambassadors murdered by the Spartans (as depicted in the movie “300” above). https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/10/21/archaeologists-discovered-a-number-of-skeletons-in-sparta/?amp

Here’s an excellent video about clothes in the late Roman Empire.

Another article on this wonderful inscription: https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/one-of-longest-roman-inscriptions-ever-dug-up-in-uk-goes-on-display-for-first-time-in-1700-years-3883270

The Serbian city of Niš (ancient Naissus) was important in Roman history. A large army of Goths led by Cniva was defeated in AD 268 or 269 by either Gallienus or Claudius II. It was also the birthplace of Constantine I. A recent discovery of over 100 burial sites from the 4th and 5th century were found there. They offer interesting insights to early Christian life in that area: https://www.telegraf.rs/english/3572666-historic-discovery-in-nis-childrens-skeletons-hundreds-early-christian-graves-found-under-torn-down-house

Two large Roman inscriptions to go on display. Translation of the transcription: University of Leeds: 'Superstar' Roman inscription stones on display - BBC News

Here’s a good short on the war chariots in Britain:

The only more acoustic version I could find:

I know little about philosophy; less, about religion. But your premise is wrong (Judaism borrowing monotheism from Egyptians); therefore, your conclusions cannot be true.

We have had a few discussions before about the extent of the Roman Empire. (See below.) This breathtaking head of a sculpture of Augustus (at the British Museum) is unusual in many ways. It was found in Meroë, Sudan, below the steps of a Kushite temple. The still-intact insert of eyes is unique and stunning. The background information is also interesting: It is believed that after the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE, the Roman Emperor Augustus attempted to expand his control beyond Egypt to the neighboring Kushite Empire in modern Sudan. There, the Romans faced fierce resistance and suffered some significant setbacks. This sculpture head of Augustus is believed to be part of the war loot from a victorious Kushite raid. It was buried in front of a suspected Kushite temple of victory, possibly serving as a symbolic reminder of the Kushite resistance to Roman invasions. (The head was discovered in 1912 by a British archaeological team and is now housed in the British Museum.) After the death of the Kushite King in battle, the resistance against Rome was then led by his wife, Queen Amanirenas (reign 40-10 BCE), and their son. Their son was later also killed in battle, but Amanirenas continued the fight for independence. Sometime in her battle, Amanirenas lost her eye. Nevertheless, she was still able to lead a strong resistance, compelling Rome to negotiate peace. Unlike Boudicca of the Celtic Iceni or Zenobia of Palmyra, Amanirenas managed to resist Rome's strength and force the empire to recognize her people's independence. Here is Strabo's account of the Roman-Meroitic War from "Geography: Book XVII 54." He refers to Amanirenas as Candacê. https://www.rejectedprincesses.com/princesses/amanirenas Amanirenas - Wikipedia Unpublished script for a video about the Roman-Meroitic war : Sudan (reddit.com) https://smarthistory.org/head-of-augustus-at-meroe-kush/ LacusCurtius • Strabo's Geography — Book XVII Chapter 1 (§§ 25‑54) (uchicago.edu)

Another article on this find: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63240648

Another great mosaic has been found. This one was found in Syria and dates to the fourth century AD. https://phys.org/news/2022-10-syria-rare-roman-mosaic-rebel.html

A pair of Levi’s jeans from 1880s found in an abandoned mine in New Mexico sold for $87,000 at auction Quote from the WSJ: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11307191/Pair-Levis-1880s-denim-archaeologist-New-Mexico-shaft-sell-87k.html

I imagine that many of the worst floods came after a tsunami after a volcanic eruption. There was severe flooding damage, for example, after the eruption of Vesuvius In AD 79. The recent eruption of the volcano on Stromboli, an island off the coast of Sicily, has created a mini-tsunami. https://nypost.com/2022/10/10/italys-stromboli-volcano-erupts-causing-mini-tsunami-video/amp/

Falcon remains. Summary: It is interesting that an Egyptian cult persisted so late in Roman history, long after Christianity was firmly entrenched in the Empire. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/720806 https://www.sci.news/archaeology/berenike-falcon-shrine-11268.html https://www.archaeology.org/news/10913-221007-egypt-falcon-shrine https://www.livescience.com/ancient-egypt-falcon-temple

Here’s a nice short about the forgotten emperor important to the preservation of the Roman Empire during the Third Century Crisis.