guy

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.

Here is an example of the use of Cipollino marble in Roman Carthage. This has changed my image of ancient Rome. Other examples of Cipollino marble: Other modern uses of colored marble:

(Thank you Professor Nina Willburger @DrNWillburger for bringing 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 considered the use of colored marble, either: 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 using marble solely as decorative cladding rather than for structural support. Here are examples of Cipollino marble quarried on 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

Interesting post. Than you. I will reply as a religious skeptic. I think there were three major reasons for the slow diffusion of Christianity throughout the Empire. 1. The majority of the Empire spoke either Latin or Greek, facilitating the spread of the Church teachings over vast and diverse areas. 2. The efficient road system allowed more rapid travel throughout the Empire for missionaries and and other believers. 3. The fundamental nature of Christianity improved its chances of success. Christianity is a proselytizing belief system which allowed membership by all segments of society. Many of the mystery cults, on the other hand, were more exclusive, open only to a more narrow segment of society based on gender, class, or profession. Christianity would, therefore, be more attractive to the weak and powerless of society: women, slaves, the poor, downtrodden, etc. If anything, the Roman army was an impediment to the spread of Christianity. The military served as an enforcer of the cult of the emperor, willing to suppress the Christian faith with any imperial order. For the first three centuries of the Christian faith, the rare Christian legionnaire was more a thing of Christian mythology than part of any real movement. Despite the eventual success of Christianity in becoming the official religion of the Empire, we should remember that this conversion was a long and uneven process. It took nearly three centuries of perseverance and martyrdom before the "conversion" of the emperor Constantine in AD 312. guy also known as gaius

Here's a great video about the vast ancient city below modern Naples: Summary: Living in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius would give one a different perspective on life. The video suggests that wind saved Naples from a fate similar to Pompeii in AD 79. The video also claims that less than half of Naples sits on solid ground. Some of Naples is above Nero's ancient theater. guy also known as gaius https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/napoli-sotterranea-napoli-2?start=60

Some do not want further renovations of the Acropolis in Athens: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/acropolis-renovation-1962796 Summary: It is a fine balance about preserving antiquity and improving access to the public. This is a very different reaction to the planned retractable floor of the Colosseum in Rome. Below are two wonderful images of the Acropolis during last winter (2021). guy also known as gaius The Parthenon temple atop the Athenian Acropolis hill is pictured during heavy snowfalls in Athens on February 16, 2021. (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)