guy

We have already discussed this coin hoard found in the Netherlands (see the thread below). Now known as the Bunnik hoard, the silver coins in the hoard spanned 200 BCE to AD 42. Below is an article describing the hoard. The aurei featured coins from the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, and Claudius (see photo above). Below is an aureus issued during Claudius's reign: The hoard also included these Celtic staters minted in Britain from around AD 5 to AD 43: Below is a remarkable coin of King Juba I, who ruled Numidia in northern Africa (present-day Algeria) from 60 to 40 BCE, found in a hoard. The coin may have been preserved either as a souvenir or for its intrinsic silver value. https://the-past.com/feature/spoils-of-war-an-extraordinary-roman-hoard-from-utrecht/

A Roman aqueduct has been discovered near the Slovakian capital of Bratislava. It dates to the 2nd century AD. It is thought to be the first aqueduct found in Slovakia and was part of the Roman limes in the area. Roman limes shown below: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-first-roman-aqueduct-ever-found-in-slovakia-sports-an-ancient-manufacturers-stamp-and-a-paw-print-180986290/ Here’s a video on the find: Here’s an older video on the Roman frontiers in Slovakia:

We have had surprisingly few posts about the Dacian Wars. Below is a good video on the conflicts. The Battles of Tapae were pivotal clashes between the Dacians and Romans during the late 1st century and early 2nd century CE. Here's a summary of the three battles: First Battle of Tapae (86 CE): Occurred during the reign of Roman Emperor Domitian. The Dacians, led by King Duras and their brilliant commander Decebalus, decisively defeated the Romans under Cornelius Fuscus, inflicting heavy casualties and capturing Roman military standards. The defeat prompted Rome to reassess its strategy in dealing with the Dacians. Second Battle of Tapae (88 CE): Fought during Domitian's continued campaigns against Dacia. This time, the Romans under General Tettius Julianus claimed victory, turning the tide against the Dacians. Despite the Roman success, political distractions within the empire led to a temporary peace with Dacia rather than further conquest. Emperor Domitian made a temporary peace with Dacia in 89 CE following the Second Battle of Tapae. Although the Romans had achieved a victory under General Tettius Julianus, Domitian was dealing with other challenges, including internal political unrest and threats along Rome's borders, particularly from Germanic tribes. The peace agreement, often referred to as a foedus, was unusual because Domitian granted favorable terms to the Dacian king Decebalus. Rome agreed to pay subsidies, including annual payments of gold, and provide technical support, such as Roman engineers for strengthening Dacian fortifications. Some saw this treaty in Rome as a humiliation, as it effectively acknowledged Dacia as a semi-independent power rather than subduing it completely. The peace held until Emperor Trajan launched his campaigns to conquer Dacia definitively between 101 and 106 CE. Third Battle of Tapae (101 CE): Took place during the reign of Emperor Trajan, as he sought to conquer Dacia permanently. Trajan’s forces defeated Decebalus, weakening the Dacian resistance and paving the way for further Roman advances in the Second Dacian War (105–106 CE). This battle marked a turning point leading to Dacia’s eventual annexation into the Roman Empire. Trajan's Column is a monumental piece of Roman art and architecture, completed in 113 CE. It commemorates Emperor Trajan's victory in Dacia. Trajan's Column is a marble monument that stands 35 meters (115 feet) tall, including the base and the statue of Trajan, which was later replaced by a statue of Saint Peter. Its intricate spiral relief stretches approximately 200 meters when unrolled and contains 155 scenes. The relief features over 2,600 human figures, along with animals, landscapes, and architectural elements. A walk up Trajan’s column: A gilded statue of Trajan was once on top of the column

While Octavian (future Augustus) attended the Battle of Philippi, where the conspirators were defeated, his contributions were significantly less impactful than Antony's leadership. At that time, Agrippa, Octavian's future military advisor, was still relatively unknown and had not yet established himself as a trusted leader of Octavian's forces. Agrippa was not present at the Battle of Philippi. Let's look at just two of the conspirators: Gaius Cassius Longinus: Cassius was an experienced and skilled general. He gained recognition for his role in the Roman-Parthian War, where he successfully defended Roman territory. After Caesar's assassination, he allied with Brutus to lead the conspirators' armies during the ensuing conflict. Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus was a seasoned military leader and one of Caesar's trusted lieutenants during the Gallic Wars. He made significant contributions to Caesar's campaigns and was later appointed to key commands before betraying Caesar. Despite Caesar's wife's admonitions against attending the fateful Senate meeting, he was persuaded to go by Decimus. These individuals weren't just senators—they were battle-hardened figures who had fought alongside Caesar. Only Marcus Junius Brutus was not known for his military prowess before the Ides of March. (This is the Brutus of Shakespeare's famous but historically inaccurate "Et tu, Brute?" line.)

Here are some photos of the Stonehenge Spring Equinox celebration (March 20, 2025). A couple short videos on the celebration

Here’s a good video on the subject by Professor Roberto Trizio. (English can be used in subtitles.)

Respectfully, many items sold on Amazon are also stolen from brick-and-mortar retailers. I was buying a product from a “reliable source” that was using some strange packaging material. Then I realized they were selling stolen items. Now I try to buy directly from the manufacturer. https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/07/06/amazon-sellers-suspended-over-stolen-goods-caught-in-crime-ring.html

Here’s an interesting article describing how the Romans converted the home of the Spartans into a living theme park. The Romans admired the Spartans, especially their militaristic culture. Wealthy Romans and Greeks, including Plutarch and Cicero, visited Sparta to observe its customs and rituals. https://greekreporter.com/2025/03/18/rome-greece-sparta-theme-park/

Nice short videos on the Roman plumbata (or lead-weighted dart). Note in the picture above the late Roman legionnaire has several plumbatae stored in his shield. https://discover.hubpages.com/education/how-effective-was-the-plumbata

Without Antony, Octavian would have lost decisively early on. It was only later that his military advisor and confidant, Agrippa, grew into the more confident military mastermind.

Here’s an interesting virtual video on Caesar’s final fateful route to his assassination.

There have been a few threads about the colorful painting of buildings in the ancient world. Recent research “reveals that many Greco-Roman sculptures were not only painted, draped in clothing, and adorned with jewelry, but were even doused in perfume and fragrant substances.” https://archaeology.org/news/2025/03/17/ancient-greek-statues-smelled-of-perfume/ https://greekcitytimes.com/2025/03/07/the-sensory-experience-of-ancient-greek-and-roman-statues/

A Semi-Subterranean Jewish Ritual Bath Found in the Ancient Roman Port of Ostia Antica

Archaeologists have discovered the oldest Jewish ritual bath (mikvah) found outside the Middle East during their excavations of the ancient port city of Ostia Antica in Rome. One particular lamp stands out: it is decorated with a menorah, the seven-branched candelabrum that is one of Judaism’s most recognized symbols. The bottom of the lamp also depicts a lulav, a palm frond used in the Jewish festival of Sukkot. A recreation of ancient Ostia Antica Oldest Jewish Ritual Bath Found Near Rome Changes History

Cat are currently the most popular pet in urban China. Research points to their introduction into China around AD 600 (over 1500 years after their introduction to Europe). These old cats were probably introduced to China from Kazakhstan by the the Silk Road. These recent DNA studies undermines the assumption that cats were prevalent during Han Dynasty (206 BCE to AD 220). https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-study-finds-that-domestic-cats-traveled-the-silk-road-to-china-about-1400-years-ago-180986206/ https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.01.31.635809v1.full.pdf

Here is the scientific article on the research: Ancient genomes reveal trans-Eurasian connections between the European Huns and the Xiongnu Empire | PNAS Here is a more easily read article on the research: New genetic research reveals the origin of the Hun Empire

Below is the quote from the Wall Street Journal March 8, 2025 (p. 148): The map above shows the % of Yamnaya ancestry: Red is Yamnaya; white is other ancestry This quote was most interesting: The Ancient Horsemen Who Created the Modern World - WSJ

Recent DNA research shows that half of the [Central and Northern European] humans alive today are descended from a Steppe people known as Yamnaya, who lived in Ukraine 5,000 years ago. Note: I think something must have been lost in translation. It is more likely that only 50% of Europeans, not the world population, are related to the Yamnaya. In Sardinia, for example, the penetration of Yamnaya DNA is rare (2.5-7.1%). Likewise, in Sicily, it is also less common (5.9-11.6%). Modern Italians typically have Yamnaya ancestry about 19-33% of the time. It is believed that the Indo-European languages, used by 40% of the world’s population, may have originated from the Yamnaya people. https://intent.press/en/amp/0/dna-study-reveals-half-of-today-s-population-descends-from-yamnaya-culture-in-ukraine/ https://www.science.org/content/article/who-first-spoke-indo-european-dna-points-eurasian-herders-6400-years-ago

Claudius died in AD 54, only a few years before the eruption (AD 79), and I wonder whether Claudius’ works had a widespread readership. If so, his works on Carthage and the Etruscans could be found among the scrolls in Herculaneum. They would certainly give great insights into two relatively unknown civilizations.

A Punic necropolis was found in Sardinia during construction excavations. Six amphorae, dating to the 4th and 3rd century BCE, were discovered and contained bones from both adults and children. The Carthaginians had a presence in Sardinia for more than two centuries, ending with the Roman conquest in 238 BCE. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2025/03/punic-necropolis-discovered-during-gas-construction-works/154692

The suitcase of Howard Carter, the man who discovered King Tutankhamen in 1915, went up for auction, bringing in 12,000 pounds https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/24991216.howard-carters-battered-suitcase-sells-12-000/

I will express this with as much "cultural sensitivity" as I can muster these days: The potential for rich and extensive literature and philosophy that provides excellent insight into the Greco-Roman world makes deciphering these scrolls exciting. Although many ancient cultures produced abundant written material, much of it consists of bureaucratic writings like tax statements and other governmental documents. Some poetry from a militaristic culture like the Aztecs, for example, is quite simplistic and unappealing: My heart is a flower, it bursts open, Lord of Midnight, Oaya ouayaye. Already the Goddess has come, our Earthmother has come, Oaya ouayaye. The god of corn, born in Paradise, where flowers bloom, on the day One Flower, Yantala yantata ayyao ayyaue tilili yyao ayaue oayyaue. Aztec Poetry (2): Three Poems

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/03/wine-god-fresco-unearthed-in-pompeii/

Historians have long wondered whether the Huns were derived from the Xiongnu, a group of steppe nomads who threatened China's northern and western borders between 200 and 100 BCE. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/who-were-the-huns-who-invaded-rome-a-new-study-has-revealed-surprising-genetic-diversity-180986143/ Article on the cranial modification of the Xiongnu. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1040618214009033