Viminacium Roman Museum open in Serbia

[guy]

 

The Viminacium Roman Museum recently opened in Eastern Serbia. Only a small percentage of the site has been excavated. As of 2023, 16,000 Roman-era graves have been discovered. It is believed that sixteen Roman Emperors were born in Serbia.

 

 

Viminacium, a prominent Roman city, served as a major military camp and the capital of Moesia Superior, now part of modern Serbia. At its zenith, it is estimated to have housed at least 45,000 inhabitants. The city likely featured a hippodrome, forum, palace, temples, an amphitheater, aqueducts, and baths.

 

 

There have been many previous posts about Viminacium in the past (see posts below). 

 

https://www.telegraf.rs/english/4244766-viminacium-museum-in-eastern-serbia-displays-many-unique-items-including-complete-roman-tintinnabulum

https://www.srbija.gov.rs/vest/en/266374/opening-of-viminacium-museum-new-chapter-in-preservation-of-cultural-heritage.php

 

 

 

Edited January 5 by guy

[caesar novus]

1 hour ago, guy said:

believed that sixteen Roman Emperors were born in Serbia

So I guess we have a case for tall Romans. Nearby Montenegro has the tallest folks in the world, and tallness seems to go back centuries. I seem to recall that all Montenegro legislators were at least 6.5 feet tall a few years ago. Diet and genetics of that whole greater tall zone are discussed in https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/not-dutch-montenegro-tallest-people/ but I note the tall types may have migrated in or out since Roman times. Tall map including Serbia:

[guidoLaMoto]

Interesting map of average heights.... They seem to radiate out in concentric bands  of gradually decreasing height to the north & west of the one small area of the tallest....except to the south & east where the shortest are located.....That suggests a gradual mixing of "tall genes" with "shorter genes" as individuals chose mates to the N & W, but apparently little mixing with the he population to the SE....

...is that due to some social bias or to some geographical barrier? The topological map of the area seems to suggest the shorter people live at lower elevations and the taller in more mountainous regions. 

I'd like to see a map of the distribution of "ugly genes" to shed some light on the question.

16 emperors from one small, backwater province? What's up with that? ...something in the drinking water?

This also suggests a good topic for a doctoral thesis-- How many Roman Emperors could dunk a basketball?

 

[caesar novus]

The article talked about Balkan Muslim areas dampening the  top averages for height and possible effect of dietary restrictions. Wiki "Islam in Europe" shows heavy concentrations in non-mixing southern shorter areas, as well as some tall areas. Maybe it's switched on/off by EPIgenetics? Map:

Edited January 6 by caesar novus

[guidoLaMoto]

Such a sharp demarcation suggests a barrier to interbreeding between the populations of the two areas.....Restrictions due to religion (Muslim vs Christian) or to politics (restricted travel across frontiers in the days of communism) are likely candidates.

Expression of "height genes" can be modified by environmental factors (mainly diet), but I doubt there's much of a difference in diet between the northern, taller population and the shorter, southern populations to account for such a sharp demarcation.