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One shouldn't underestimate the impact of cataclysmic environmental events on world history. In this article, the Icelandic volcano of AD 536 and its impact on the ancient world, especially the Byzantine empire are discussed : There is a lot of evidence for this environmental disruption: ice core samples from around the globe, tree ring studies, and particles chemically similar to the Icelandic volcano found in Greenland ice core as well as in European lakes and bogs. https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/26/536-worst-year-ever-to-be-alive-in-history/ Summary. With these new discoveries, we are learning to appreciate the impact of the environment and disease on human history. guy also known as gaius

Despite the COVID-19 lockdowns, it is good to see the archaeological excavations continue: https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/roman-settlement-leicestershire-discovered-dig-team-google-earth-971909 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-56857409 Summary: It is nice to see that modern technology has continued to help in the discovery of ancient Roman sites: guy also known as gaius

An interesting auction is coming: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9495133/Roman-artefacts-dug-detectorists-tipped-sell-100-000.html Summary: Hopefully, it can be purchased by a museum or foundation that will have the items on display. guy also known as gaius

Here is an interesting article on closer examination of the Great Isaiah Scroll, one the more than 900 texts found on the northern shore of the Dead Sea. Here's some background information on the Great Isaiah Scroll, first: Here's the study: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56842712 Summary: This is only one text examined out of more than 900. It will interesting to learn what will be the future discoveries will be. guy also known as gaius https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah_Scroll

This is an exciting find in Turkey: https://www.livescience.com/roman-era-arena-discovered-in-turkey.html Summary: Turkey seems to have the potential for many great discovery. guy also known as giaus

I haven't downloaded the site, yet, but the pictures look amazing. Unfortunately, it is only Mac compatible: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/645708/baalbek-reborn-ancient-roman-ruins-virtual-tour

This is a wonderful triumphal Roman arch in Tripoli, Libya that I didn't know existed. Click on article and see more pictures within the article: https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/roman-marcus-aurelius-arch-in-tripoli-among-restoration-work-in-pictures-1.1205308#1 Summary: It is good to know this little-known Roman arch will be preserved and even restored in this time of political instability. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arch_of_Marcus_Aurelius guy also known as gaius

Here are some of the best pictures of the dig I have seen, yet: Workers carry a fish covered in gold found in Luxor, April 10, 2021. Khaled Desouki/AFP via Getty Images https://www.yahoo.com/news/photos-show-ancient-egyptian-artifacts-122200604.html

Pliny the Elder, in his The Natural History, discusses emeralds in his chapter on smaragdus [emeralds], the Latin term for the green stone. Pliny mentions Egypt being the site for their mines http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0137%3Abook%3D37%3Achapter%3D16 Now we have evidence of an actual beryl mines in Egypt. Well-known beryl minerals include emeralds and aquamarine. https://www.ancientpages.com/2021/04/16/emerald-production-in-eastern-desert-of-roman-egypt-new-evidence/ Summary: This is an interesting use of archaeologic evidence to confirm the ancient literature. Interestingly enough, Pliny the Elder has this to say about Nero's use of emeralds:

I guess this wasn't too surprising: https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/vandals-hit-rare-roman-luxury-20400516 Here's the original thread:

Thanks, again, for the video. Suetonius, writing (AD 121) more than a century after Caesar's death, gave this description: Nice article on Caesar's appearance: https://www.knowledgesnacks.com/articles/was-julius-caesar-handsome/ Here's the image of Caesar many of us have (from the HBO movie "Rome"):

Stolen statue found: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/italy-art-statue-stolen-intl-scli/index.html Summary: It is good to see that the looted statue will be returned to its rightful place. guy also known as gaius

Thank you, Crispina. Although the eye coloring seems possibly too light, they are fabulous pictures. Those "come-to-life" images are absolutely breathless. Thank, you, again.

Exciting find in Scarborough, England: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-56745840 Summary: Nice video below. This part of the story was reassuring:

Thank you for reading my post. I think we forget that the Roman bath complex was really a combination of bath, spa, gym, library, community center, and food court. I would, therefore, expect the Roman bath complex to be a rowdy and crowded place. Seneca lived above a bath complex and had this to say in Moral Letters to Lucilius (56): https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moral_letters_to_Lucilius/Letter_56

Another exciting find: a city buried by sand. This site, the "Lost Golden City" is near Luxor, Egypt. It dates back to the reign of Amenhotep III who reigned from 1391-1353 BCE. It is amazing the amount of archaeological material found since the dig began in September 2020, including colored pottery, jewelry, scarab amulets, a bakery with ovens, etc. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56686448 The city is believed to have been founded by Amenhotep III, one of ancient Egypt's most powerful rulers Summary: It is hard to believe that this city was around more than a thousand years before Cleopatra and Marc Anthony had their relationship.

This is a recent discovery of a salt complex sheds light on the economy of Neolithic (later Stone Age) Britain almost 6000 years ago: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/yorkshire-salt-archaeology-neolithic-britain-b1824440.html https://www.fr24news.com/a/2021/03/how-a-new-archaeological-find-in-yorkshire-could-rewrite-british-prehistory.html Summary: As I've written before in a previous post dealing with Mayan salt production, it is easy to forget today about the importance of salt in ancient times, from preserving food to seasoning. By being able to preserve the food, it removed the dependence on local production and allowed food transport over long distances. guy also known as gaius

Here's a beautiful ancient Roman cameo of Augustus that came to my attention. Beautiful detail, for sure: http://medaillesetantiques.bnf.fr/ws/catalogue/app/collection/record/ark:/12148/c33gbcvrx Summary: This piece, which is thought to be contemporary or near-contemporary with Augustus (reigned 23 BCE - 14 AD), helps to validate our image of him (or at least the image he wanted to portray). guy also known as gaius (Thanks to Garth Harney @Optimus Princeps for bringing this to my attention.

The year AD 251 marked a catastrophic defeat for the Romans. Gothic troops, led by Cniva, overpowered the Romans at the Battle of Abritus, now within the bounds of contemporary Bulgaria. The conflict claimed the lives of both Emperor Decius and his son and co-emperor, Herennius Etruscus. Before this calamitous event, Cniva had laid siege to Philippopolis (present-day Plovdiv, Bulgaria), where an unfortunate inhabitant buried a cache of coins, never to reclaim them: http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2021/04/01/large-silver-coin-hoard-hidden-during-251-ad-goth-invasion-of-roman-empire-discovered-in-bulgarias-plovdiv/ Summary: This is another example of numismatic evidence sometimes filling the gaps of an incomplete history. The year 251 AD was certainly one of crisis. Not only were an emperor and his co-ruling son killed, but the Sassanid King Shapur I, possibly sensing instability in the empire, decided to wage war on Rome with the intend of capturing Antioch. Excellent review of the turmoil of the third century that led up to the Battle of Abritus:

Although I'm a religious skeptic, this article from a religious source has some interesting insights: Also related is the Alexamenos graffito, thought to be an early depiction of Jesus (as a crucified donkey-headed figure): https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2021/04/roman-drawings-of-crucifixions-and-what-they-tell-us/ Summary: I find it interesting that Alexamenos, the man who is mocked in the image, is dressed as a slave. This would be consistent with my hypotheses that the Jesus movement would have its greatest appeal to the least historically studied segments of society: the underclass, women , and slaves. The Jesus movement would not be initially embraced by the ruling elite. Modern historians of ancient Rome, whose source material would mostly deal with these elites, would underestimate the movement's pervasiveness throughout the lower and less powerful classes. The Jesus movement would also contrast with the Mystery Cults, which could be potentially more exclusionary both by gender and social position. guy also known as gaius

Despite being conquered by the ancient Romans, the Basques were able to maintain some level of autonomy, both in culture and in government. They have remained unique also in language and genetics: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/upf--toa032621.php Map showing the Basque region which includes northern Spain and south western France. Summary: I never appreciated the unique culture, language, and even genetics of the Basque people. Below is an interesting further explanation: https://erenow.net/common/the-basque-history-of-the-world/3.php#:~:text=The Romans sent in additional,defeated the Basques as well. guy also known as gaius

These dolls found in tombs of young girls give some insight into the lives of a young elite female. https://daily.jstor.org/girls-and-dolls-in-the-roman-empire/ https://laughingsquid.com/an-ancient-roman-articulated-doll-found-in-the-sarcophagus-of-a-mummy-of-an-eight-year-old-girl/ Summary: A society will impart its culture and expectations to younger generations by formal education, but also thru game and play.

Look like an interesting link: https://en.qantara.de/content/baalbek-reborn-temples-virtual-3d-tour-of-the-roman-temples-at-baalbek-lebanon Summary: Baalbek, Lebonon was the site of possibly the world's largest Roman temple complex, housing the temples of the Roman goods Bacchus, Venus, and Jupiter. It is wonderful to see reconstruction efforts despite political instability and a pandemic. guy also known as gaius

(Source: Wikipedia): Reconstruction of an Iron Age warrior's garments representing a Vandalic man, with his hair in a ***"Suebian knot" (160 AD), Archaeological Museum of Kraków, Poland. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/03/discovered-polands-largest-pottery-production-centre-from-roman-period/138225 (Source: Wikipedia): Migrations of the Vandals from Scandinavia through Dacia, Gaul, Iberia, and into North Africa. Grey: Roman Empire. Summary: This finding supports the notion that many Germanic tribes had developed long-lasting and stable communities (requiring pottery production, for example). Many of us forget that the Vandals originated in Poland and even in southern Scandinavia, before migration brought them to the Iberian peninsula and eventually Northern Africa. Below is a video in Polish on the dig (I think): guy also known as gaius Translation of description: A video showing the archaeological excavations in the pottery production center from the Roman period in Wrzępia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandals#:~:text=The Vandals were a Germanic,Africa in the 5th century.