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Here's an interesting video that supports the theory that Augustan Rome had a greater population density than the modern Manhattan borough in New York City. First, one needs to assume that the population at the time of Augustus was 800,000 to 1,200,000. Using the layout of the city of Rome outlined in the Severan Map created in 203-11 AD (known as Forma Urbis Romae), one is able to calculate the area of Rome 24 km2 (Museo della Civilta Romana, Rome, Italy/De Agostini Picture Library/Bridgeman Images) FRAGMENT OF THE FORMA URBIS ROMAE. DATE: A.D. 203–211. MATERIAL: Marble, DIMENSIONS: 26 inches by 23.6 inches. FOUND: Rome, Italy. Using population calculated from records of grain and pork supplied to the city, the video proposes that the population density of Augustan Rome was greater than modern Manhattan. Augustan Rome: 41,500 persons / km2 Manhattan, NYC: 28,000 persons / km2 Hong Kong: 6,300 persons / km2 Even if this is a gross exaggeration, Ancient Rome was incredible for its infrastructure planning and services. The video suggests how the population of Ancient Rome could be so dense: Brief article on the Forma Urbis Romae: https://www.archaeology.org/issues/337-1905/features/7547-maps-rome-forma-urbis-romae

A nice review of the top ten archaeological finds of 2021, several of which we have already mentioned: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/top-10-archaeological-discoveries-of-2021/142248?amp

Looted items, thought to be from the Bar Kochba revolt of 132-136 AD, have been recently recovered in a car trunk in Jerusalem. https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/12/15/jerusalem-car-trunk-seizure-reveals-bronze-artifacts-taken-by-bar-kochba-rebels-from-roman-soldiers/ https://www.timesofisrael.com/stopping-a-suspect-car-police-find-ancient-items-bar-kochba-rebels-took-from-romans/amp/

Here’s a good article about research on analyzed artifacts found at an underwater site off the coast of France. These metal artifacts, thought to date from 600 BCE, underwent isotope analysis and were shown to have originated from a diversity of sites throughout the Mediterranean basin. This confirms the extensive amount of contact throughout ancient world. This study shows the value of using new technologies to reassess older archaeological finds (this one from 1964). https://phys.org/news/2021-12-isotope-analyses-iron-age-secrets.html#!

Here’s an excellent review of the Roman (gold) aureus: The video also includes a brief discussion of the later Roman gold coin known as a solidus:

This is a wonderful reconstruction of Ancient Athens. It seems to me, however, that the Classical structures such as the Parthenon would have been painted with vibrant colors (and not the sterile white marble as depicted). https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/12/spectacular-3d-video-depicts-ancient-athens-as-never-seen-before/

This article promotes the idea that the location of Hadrian’s Wall reflected pre-existing cultural separation and was not merely a result of Roman strategic plans. (See my comment below): https://www.thenational.scot/news/19778640.expert-claims-hadrians-wall-came-existing-anglo-scots-defences/ The source of this article might shed light on the biases of this conclusion. It is published in a publication that “supports an independent Scotland.” That said, this article adds an interesting theory about the location of Hadrian’s Wall (despite modern projections of national identity onto ancient events).

A rare silver coin from the second year of the Jewish revolt was found by a young teenager in Israel. It may have historical significance. https://www.timesofisrael.com/rare-silver-rebel-coin-maybe-minted-at-temple-2000-years-ago-found-in-jerusalem/ http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/great-revolt-coin-10343.html

There is a theory that a giant asteroid impact in the Yucatán changed the planet enough to cause the dinosaurs’ extinction. Studies have recently further pinpointed the date of the impact. The Chicxulub asteroid collision is the leading theory for the dinosaurs’ extinction, replacing some earlier theories: https://phys.org/news/2021-12-chicxulub-asteroid-impact.amp https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-an-asteroid-caused-extinction-of-dinosaurs.html

Here's an excellent summary of the find: https://www.ancientpages.com/2021/12/09/2700-year-old-equestrian-armor-in-assyrian-style-leather-evidence-of-technology-transfer-in-antiquity/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=chilling_story_of_glamr_beware_of_the_shapeshifting_gaelic_bodach_volcanic_winter_likely_contributed_to_ecological_catastrophe_and_much_more_dec_3_09_2021&utm_term=2021-12-09

It is not surprising that military technology was disseminated throughout the ancient world: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/leather-scale-armour-proves-technology-transfer-occurred-in-antiquity/142195?amp

Narbonne, France was the site of the important Roman Colonia Narbo Martius. As would be expected, it is also the site of rich archaeological finds. The newly-opened museum in Narbonne looks exciting. https://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/fosters-roman-antiquities-museum-set-to-open/5115156.article

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-59569629 https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/romancrucifixion

Here is a previous thread on retrieving the looted Gilgamesh tablet from display in America. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-59561151 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_of_Gilgamesh

Here is an excellent review video on Roman coinage for us non-numismatists by the excellent numismatist and historian Guy da la Bódoyère:

I’m surprised that the volcanic activity continues more than two months later:

New excavations of Herculaneum have yielded a body on the beach, apparently trying to escape the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius. Herculaneum had previously been the site of excavation during the 1980-90s of about three hundred bodies found in and around boat sheds. This latest find is unusual in that the body was found on the beach, away from the shelter of the boat sheds. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/12/archaeologists-find-victim-of-vesuvius-eruption-on-herculaneum-beach/142152?amp https://amp.theguardian.com/science/2021/oct/15/sensational-skeleton-buried-in-vesuvius-eruption-found-at-herculaneum https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/12/partially-mutilated-herculaneum-skeleton-was-fugitive-of-vesuvius-eruption/?amp=1 https://www.livescience.com/amp/skeleton-vesuvius-victim-discovered

This is an interesting old thread, for sure. Constantine is to Christianity what Henry VIII is to Protestant Anglicism. Although neither man is an exemplar of the faith they promoted, both were essential for the change in the religious trajectory of their time. Both men were opportunists who used a less powerful church to achieve their goals against entrenched elites. Novosedoff: Although I may agree with your point, the anecdote you highlighted showing Constantine’s viciousness was in 306 AD, six years before his conversion to Christianity. Finally, I always found Constantine’s deathbed Christian baptism very indicative of his faith. He was baptized by Eusebius of Nicomedia, an Arian Christian whose faith was condemned by Constantine’s own First Counsel of Nicaea that occurred just a few years before his death.

Good question. I would guess that the fermentation of the dark red or purple grapes involved in making red wine might make the antioxidants (such as resveratrol) more bioavailable than in juice. I can’t find any definitive study proving that hypothesis, however. Red wine has more antioxidants than white wine. The skin, which is rich in antioxidants, is used in the fermentation process of red wine. White wine, on the other hand, is frequently made with lighter colored grapes, and the skins are separated from the juice before the fermentation process.

The St. Barbe Museum in Lymington, England, is aiming to raise sufficient funds to retain a recently discovered hoard of Celtic coins within the local museum. The three amateur metal detection enthusiasts used Google Earth to focus their searches. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-59466710 https://www.advertiserandtimes.co.uk/news/appeal-over-2-000-year-old-celtic-coins-found-buried-in-new-9227496/

There have been a few discussions on Roman wine drinking (see link below). Max Miller does an excellent job describing wine preparation and consumption in the video below, citing ancient Roman sources: https://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/wine/wine.html https://www.unrv.com/economy/wine.php

This article challenges my previous notions of what the ancient Andeans ate. I had believed that corn and fish (from the local Lake Titicaca) would have been staples of their diet. This study suggests otherwise: Quinoa, potatoes, and llama were, instead. https://phys.org/news/2021-11-superfoods-fueled-ancient-andeans-years.html Summary: This is an interesting article that discusses using modern technology to determine ancient diets. I am, however, somewhat skeptical of the findings. I am surprised that fish, a readily available and highly nutritious food source, was not a daily staple. Could it be possible that the amino acid analysis failed to detect fish consumption? I would like to see the study more closely and learn more about the studies’ limitations.

Kieth Richards has a unique guitar sound and style. He mostly plays with just five strings (and an open-G tuning):

There was an interesting recent exhibit on Nero that reevaluated his legacy: I always believed that Nero was much more popular among the masses in the East than he was among the ruling elite in Rome. This would explain the many Nero impersonators (like the modern day Elvis) soon after his death. Here’s a good article on the phenomenon: https://eidolon.pub/the-return-of-the-king-60872b233a2d