guy

I appreciate the update. You (and many others) are sorely missed. Please make more visits.

Good podcast on ancient Roman eye care: https://play.acast.com/s/the-ancients/windowstothesoul-romaneyecare

Here’s a fun article that seemed initially ridiculous ... only initially. https://www.ancientpages.com/2021/05/19/did-ancient-romans-reach-the-americas-long-before-columbus/ Summary: Sure, the idea that ancient Romans visited the Americas before Columbus seems far fetched. It has been recently accepted, however, the ancient Romans had at least trading posts in the Indian subcontinent. Soon, historians will be suggesting that the Chinese Admiral Zheng had visited the Americas about a half century before Columbus (1421). Wait. You mean that theory is now at least considered? I am not sure of the significance of reportedly ancient amphora found off the coast of Brazil. Could these be Greek or even Phoenician, instead? guy also known as gaius

Thank you for reading this post. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nefertiti_Bust Interesting article about the CT scan technology that seems to confirm its authenticity: The CT scan showed that the Nephertiti bust had a limestone core: https://web.archive.org/web/20120704110319/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/science/news/article_1473370.php/Nefertiti_s_hidden_face_proves_Berlin_bust_is_not_Hitler_s_fake

Another great commercial with an ancient theme:

Roman culture was pervasive throughout the Empire. Bathing rituals are just one example. https://www.laprensalatina.com/roman-baths-emerge-from-sand-dunes-of-southern-spain/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

More ancient material being returned to its owner: One of the recovered fragments. Photograph: Parco Archeologico di Pompei pre/AFP/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/may/18/stolen-roman-frescoes-returned-to-pompeii-after-investigation

This is an interesting article on Nefertiti, Queen of Egypt. She was best known for her beauty, but she is now being reassessed as a powerful and independent ruler of Egypt after the death of her husband Pharaoh Akhenaten. https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1437238/egypt-breakthrough-queen-nefertiti-pharaoh-archaeology-tutankhamun-valley-kings-spt Good video on Nefertiti:

https://amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/may/16/all-that-glisters-flood-of-fake-ancient-jewellery-dupes-buyers?__twitter_impression=true

Another interpretation of the story: https://greekreporter.com/2021/05/16/gothic-warrior-found-buried-greece-thessaloniki/

Being not religious, I found this video helpful in keeping these three edicts straight in my mind: the Edicts of Serdica, Milan, and Thessalonica: Summary: This is a nice summary from Wikipedia: guy also known as gaius https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edict_of_Serdica https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edict_of_Milan https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edict_of_Thessalonica

You may want to send a message thru UNRV to Ian Huges or Maty Matyszak. Although they have both been away from this site for some time, they are very accomplished authors who might be able to give you some insight.

A nice article about the use of Cipollino mable in Roman Carthage. These articles have certainly changed my image of ancient Rome: https://www.cipollino.org/carthage Other examples of Cipollino marble: Other modern uses of colored marble:

(Thank you Professor Nina Willburger @DrNWillburger for bring this article to our attention) Most of us assume that the white marble in ancient Rome was painted to give the city its vibrant colors. I hadn’t thought about the use of colored marble, also: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/05/analysis-of-wall-decoration-dating-to-the-second-century-a-d-provides-new-insights-into-marble-extraction-and-processing/139172?fbclid=IwAR0Rg8oAX9TJwZGR4oEBK2-eUYajwweZSpryfEq03kf84VEMKEna0GBd_j4&amp=1 Summary: I hadn’t considered the use of marble as mere decoration (cladding) and not for structural support. Here are examples of Cipollino marble extracted from the Greek island of Euboea:

I had to review the role Thessaloniki had in the Roman Empire and the development of the early Christian church that Saint Paul visited. https://www.archaeology.org/news/9690-210513-greece-christianity-army https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9578541/Folded-iron-sword-discovered-Roman-soldiers-grave.html Summary: Below are two videos reviewing the importance of Thessaloniki with the early Christian church and Saint Paul.

Our diets (and possibly our gut microbiome) really do determine much of our health. Medicine is only beginning to discover the importance of our microbiomes (gut and skin). https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210512115639.htm

Welcome, you guys. Please post your opinions and random musings. I hope you feel better, soon, TitusCrow. I have recently been dealing with a few health challenges, also. By focusing my interests on ancient Rome, I am better to maintain a positive outlook while I (too slowly!) regain my health. Fortunately, as this pandemic rapidly improves (at least in the US and UK), we can soon hope for a “return to normalcy.”

Great review of the Roman Naval Fleet in Britain (Classis Britannica): Simon Elliot’s excellent lecture begins about the 5:00 mark. The Classis Britannica was one of ten regional fleets.It consisted of about 900 ships and 7,000 men. Along with the Classis Germanica, the Classis Britannica was the most important fleet outside beyond the borders of Italy. The Classis Britannica had jurisdiction of not only the waters around Britain and the rivers within, it was also responsible for the Northwestern continental coast, including the coasts of Germania and Gaul. Despite the horrific image of galley slaves in the movie Ben-Hur (see GIF above), rowers on fighting ships were usually fit and healthy freemen. (One of many tiles with the mark “CLBR” or Classis Britannica.) https://alchetron.com/Classis-Britannica

I’ve reached out to several older members. A couple people replied. Hopefully, they will rejoin us.

I appreciate anything (including a silly commercial) that motivates others to learn about ancient history, no matter how ridiculous.

Like Pliny the Elder, this could be another victim of the ill-fated rescue attempt from Vesuvius eruption: A bag with tools was found with the skeleton when it was discovered https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57055163

Another interesting find https://www.varsity.co.uk/news/21417 Summary: It will be interesting to see what further field research and DNA studies yield on understanding the social and cultural context of this discovery.

Not the most academic source ... but it’s a start.

https://www.sciencealert.com/ancient-roman-gate-to-hell-killed-victims-with-its-deadly-lake

Some nice photos of the site: https://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/people/in-pictures-new-photos-show-amazing-detail-of-nationally-important-scarborough-roman-ruins-3227300