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The digital facial reconstruction of the Bronze Age woman wearing the diadem. (Image credit: Copyright Joana Bruno/ASOME/Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) With modern computer digital reconstruction using skull fragments and jewelry, archaeologists have been able to reconstruct the facial features of a Bronze Age woman. https://www.livescience.com/facial-reconstruction-bronze-age-diadem-woman

An excellent essay on the silphium: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3166/1/3166_1191.pdf?UkUDh:CyT

More than a decade ago, we had a vigorous discussion about the plant silphium (see link below). In this video, Chef Max Miller discusses the use of silphium in ancient Roman cuisine, as well as its historical background.

I see that a gold Constantius III solidus went for more than $81,000 in 2009. Rare, indeed. Constantius III, 8th February – 2nd September 421, Solidus, Ravenna 421, AV 4.46 g. D N CONSTAN – TIVS P F AVG Rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VICTORI – A AVGGG Emperor standing facing, head r., holding standard and Victory on globe, spurning captive with his l. foot; in field, R – V. In exergue, https://www.icollector.com/Roman-Emp-Constantius-III-Solidus-421_i8604883

https://observer.com/2021/11/a-scotsmans-beloved-hamilton-aphrodite-is-going-up-for-auction-at-sothebys/amp/ https://www.sothebys.com/en/digital-catalogues/the-hamilton-aphrodite

The A66 is a major motorway in Northern England. It follows a major Roman road. Not surprisingly, excavation of the A66 is yielding new insights into the underlying ancient Roman roadway. “Since the start of November, they have been making their way through over 1,250 trial trenches as part of extensive surveys which are being carried out to analyse the archaeology along this northern trans-Pennine stretch.The A66 follows an old Roman road, which lends added significance to gaining an understanding of the archaeology along the proposed route.“ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/digging-for-roman-riches-on-trans-pennine-route Here is a discovery of a ancient Roman grave during work on the A66 a few years ago: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-45718612.amp

A wonderful find of Bronze Age axes and artifacts have been discovered by a young teenager and her father: “Milly Hardwick was searching for buried treasure in a field in Hertfordshire, England, when her metal detector pinged. The 13-year-old’s father, Colin, joked that she’d found an ax. He was partially right: Hardwick had, in fact, stumbled onto a trove of 65 Bronze Age axes and artifacts dated to around 1300 B.C.E.” https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/13-year-old-girl-finds-bronze-age-axe-hoard-in-english-field-180979132/

Through the use of robotics and computer analysis, archaeologists are hoping to piece together the thousands of shards of mosaics and pottery found in Pompeii:

Modern DNA analysis is yielding insights into the Justinian plague. https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/justinianic-plague-was-nothing-like-flu-and-may-have-hit-england-before-constantinople Below is the academic article on which the above article is based. The article’s purpose was to prove the enormous impact that the Justinian plague had on the ancient world and refute any arguments to the contrary. It seems to me, however, that the argument against a significant impact from the plague was always weak. https://academic.oup.com/past/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pastj/gtab024/6427314?login=true

The Eleusinian Mysteries were initiations held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone. I have little grasp of the numerous mystery cults in Ancient Rome (see link at bottom). It is no surprise, however, that hallucinogenics were used in its rituals. There is an ergot (fungus) that grows on rye that has hallucinogenic properties. https://greekreporter.com/2021/11/22/eleusinian-mystery-hallucinogenic/ Here is a quick review of seven of the most popular mystery cults of the ancient world: 1. CULT OF CYBELE · 2. CULT OF SABAZIOS · 3. ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES · 4. MITHRAISM · 5. CULT OF ISIS · 6. CABEIRI MYSTERIES · 7. DIONYSIAN MYSTERIES https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/501560/7-greco-roman-mystery-cults-you-should-know

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-find-fortress-destroyed-during-revolt-that-established-hannukah-holiday-180979104/ This part of ancient history is very unclear for me. This video, nevertheless, is an interesting view of the find:

I was worried that the linked article would just be clickbait. It was, in fact, very interesting: “One of the most famous gladiators who lived in the first century AD in Rome was Spiculus. Not only was he popular with regular audiences, but he was also greatly admired by the notorious Roman emperor Nero. Spiculus went on to win a number of battles and emerged victorious against many skilled adversaries. Nero was particularly impressed by his heroics and awarded him with more palaces and riches than he could have asked for. Nero had become so fond of him that when he was overthrown in 68 AD, he wanted to die a swift death at the hands of Spiculus. But his aides could not get hold of Spiculus in time and Nero took his own life. Spiculus’s fame did not only revolve around his relationship with Nero, and his depictions in several ancient Roman artworks bear testimony to his far-reaching popularity.“ https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/rome-history/top-10-famous-ancient-roman-gladiators/

I see your book will be available early next year here in the States. On my list. I found this old thread on Galla Placidia. This should be your next screen play (LOL): Galla Placidia: Why no movie? - Colosseum - UNRV Ancient Roman Empire Forums

An interesting article supporting the idea that a plant-based diet was the predominant diet, at least in Pergamon, Turkey during the Roman Empire. Summary: I feel that any diet would based more on availability. Meat was frequently an expensive luxury; therefore, a plant-based diet would have been more a necessity than a choice. https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/people-living-in-pergamon-2000-years-ago-had-plant-based-diet

This an exciting find by a farmer’s son who used pottery shards and satellite imagery to investigate this site during the shutdown. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59391650 https://www.google.com/amp/s/phys.org/news/2021-11-extraordinary-roman-mosaic-villa-

I find it incredible that this volcano is still producing activity (November 24):

An Iron Age war trumpet that's the first of its kind to have been found in England is set to fetch £3,000 at auction next month. The boar-headed wind instrument, known as a Carnyx, was once used to strike fear into soldiers in bloody battles almost 2,000 years ago. Picture: SWNS “Metal detectorist Ivan Bailey, 60, found the object lodged in a lump of clay while scanning a field in Bardwell in 2016.” https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/bury-st-edmunds/news/ancient-war-trumpet-discovered-in-suffolk-field-to-go-under-9227236/ https://www.eadt.co.uk/lifestyle/heritage/rare-celtic-warhorn-to-be-auctioned-8511634 interesting video of how a carnyx might have sounded:

This is an interesting find. The presence of this cavalry face mask in Hadrianopolis, Turkey offers new insight into the Roman presence in this area. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/roman-soldiers-face-mask-dating-back-1800-years-uncovered-in-turkey/ar-AAR2kY8 Roman calvary mask found in Nijmegen, Netherlands. Roman cavalry masks have long been a source of controversy. It is unclear whether they were strictly ceremonial or whether they were sometimes used in conflict (see video below):

This auction of Roman gold got some high prices: Roman Empire, Macrinus (A.D. 217-218) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch XF, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface. Realized: CHF 114,950 (about $125,000) https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/9626/ https://www.biddr.com/auctions/ngsa/browse?a=2047&o=pd

Here’s a frightening reconstruction of Caligula and his family:

Here is a related story about Caligula’s reputation. (Thank you WillieBoy2 from CoinTalk.com for bringing this story to my attention.) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/caligula-rome-60-minutes-2021-11-21/

This is a fascinating story about a Caligula pleasure-boat mosaic used as a New York City coffee table. Here is a previous thread on the mosaic:

There was a previous discussion of the typical gladiator’s diet (see below): Here’s an excellent entertaining and informative video on the gladiator’s diet.

This is an exciting coin hoard found in Norfolk, dating to 610 AD. This was the time of the Kingdom of East Anglia (sixth century to 918) Summary: The significance of this discovery is that it attests to the extensive trade and contact that post-Roman Britain maintained with Continental Europe. None of the coins were minted in Britain. Most coins are from the Frankish Merovingian dynasty (476-750 AD), but at least one of the coins is from the Byzantine Empire. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-59151380.amp https://www.medievalists.net/2021/11/1400-year-old-gold-coin-england/

Here’s an excellent video that brings the statues of Julius Caesar and his conspirators back to life: