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Modern-day Serbia is the birthplace of numerous Roman Emperors, with at least 16 originating from this region, ranking it second after Italy. Viminacium, a prominent Roman city, served as a significant military camp and the capital of Moesia Superior, now part of modern Serbia. At its zenith, it was estimated to house at least 45,000 inhabitants. The city likely featured a hippodrome, forum, palace, temples, an amphitheater, aqueducts, and baths. Archaeological excavations have recently focused on the Roman city of Viminacium. A triumphal arch, announced late last year, has been discovered in the city and attributed to Emperor Caracalla from the third century AD. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/serbian-archaeologists-unearth-roman-triumphal-arch-2024-01-23/

The color purple has long been a symbol of power and wealth in ancient civilizations (see post below). Recently, a purple-dye production workshop was unearthed on the Greek island of Aegina, dating back to the second millennium BCE. In ancient times, the color purple symbolized wealth, power, and royalty, largely due to Tyrian purple dye, produced by the Phoenicians in the city of Tyre during the Bronze Age. This dye was extracted from the secretions of mollusks like the spiny dye-murex and the banded dye-murex, found in the eastern Mediterranean and off Morocco's coast. The production process was laborious and complex, requiring up to 12,000 mollusks for just one gram of dye. The recipe was a closely guarded secret, involving the salting and fermenting of the snails' mucous for three days, followed by cooking in pots made of lead or tin. Owing to its costly and intricate production, the dye was exclusively used by the most affluent, such as royalty, priests, and nobility. https://www.sci.news/archaeology/purple-dye-workshop-greek-island-aegina-13015.html

Artifacts possibly associated with cult rituals have been discovered at the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica, Rome's ancient port. Numerous artifacts, dating back to the late 1st and 2nd centuries AD, were unearthed while draining a well. They were remarkably preserved due to the oxygen-deficient mud in which they were submerged. https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2024/06/rare-artifacts-and-remains-of-ritual-meals-found-in-a-well-at-ostia-antica-in-front-of-the-temple-of-hercules/#:~:text=The finding of burnt bones,in honor of the deity.

After genomic studies of ancient horses, it is now believed that humans first started riding horses about 4,200 years ago. It is thought that all domestic horses can trace their origins back to the Western Russian steppes from the 3rd millennium BCE. https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/archaeology/horse-riding-4200-years-ago/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07597-5

We have had many previous posts about the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, which destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Professor Tuck from Miami University has researched the fate of those who may have escaped from those ill-fated cities: https://theconversation.com/records-of-pompeiis-survivors-have-been-found-and-archaeologists-are-starting-to-understand-how-they-rebuilt-their-lives-230641 Dr. Tuck, one of the true giants of Pompeii archaeology, is seen below in the BBC documentary on the latest archaeology about Pompeii. (Video blocked by BBC)

I didn’t appreciate the size of the suspected villa until I saw the size of the man standing next to the pillar below for comparison:

Excavations continue in the Regio IX area of Pompeii (see post below). Recently, the discovery of a painted blue room was announced. Along with the frescoes painted on the walls, intact amphorae were uncovered. Numerous oyster shells were also unearthed. These shells were thought to have been used as part of the plaster or mortar mixture. https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/04/science/blue-sacrarium-pompeii-excavation-scli-intl-scn/index.html

Recent research shows that the water in Roman baths in Bath, England, have a unique biodiversity. Samples were found to contain Actinobacteria and Myxococcus, both of which have potential antibiotic properties. Actinobacteria derivatives create erythromycin, tetracycline, and vancomycin. Mycococcus secretes a novel compound with "antibiotic properties" and bacteriolytic enzymes to combat other bacteria. I wonder if the water at the baths in ancient times had a different biodiversity and whether it could have played a role in combating superficial skin infections, such as those suffered in battle or gladiatorial conflict. Physicochemical and metagenomic analysis of samples from the Roman Baths (Bath, UK) reveals high bacterial and archaeal diversity and a potential for antimicrobial discovery - ScienceDirect What Britain's famed Roman Baths could teach us about microbes | Popular Science (popsci.com) A nice video on the Roman baths at Bath, England

Previous posts have discussed how catastrophic changes in the Nile flow impacted history (see posts below). Here is an article describing the major shifts in the Nile 4000 years ago, which would influence the region's future development. The more technical article is below. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1046715 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01451-z

Thanks for reading. LoL. I took the picture from the second article and I needed to give them credit. I preferred the layout of the first article, however. (I hope it’s not a “stock photo” that is unrelated to the story.)

We have had many previous posts about the excavations at Herculaneum (see below). The is an unfortunate recent example of graffiti by a Dutch tourist defacing the site. https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2024/0603/1452787-herculaneum-graffiti/ https://uk.news.yahoo.com/news/dutch-tourist-accused-defacing-ancient-123508279.html?guccounter=1

Here a good video on the Battle of Frigidus. (You may need to put on the English translations for the video.)

Another article on the find: https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/05/39113684/unveiling-mayan-secrets-hallucinogens-in-ancient-ball-game-rituals

Childlike graffiti depicting gladiatorial imagery has been found in Pompeii. One drawing that outlines a small hand (see picture below) suggests that it was the work of a child between 6 and 7 years of age. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/05/graffiti-depicting-gladiators-found-during-pompeii-excavations/152088

Here is another article on the find. I had forgotten that this was the site of an ancient “pet cemetery” (see post below). https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/letters-written-by-ancient-roman-commanders-have-been-found-in-a-pet-cemetery-in-egypt-180984423/ Below is the release from the Polish scientists doing the research: https://naukawpolsce.pl/aktualnosci/news%2C102801%2Cegiptlisty-centurionow-znalezli-polscy-archeolodzy-w-berenike.html

Dried grapes used in passum production Below are a couple of articles on the Last Supper dinner. Passum was probably the wine. Passum is a sweet dessert wine made from dried grapes that was popular at the time. https://aleteia.org/2024/05/28/what-wine-was-served-at-the-last-supper/ https://aleteia.org/2017/04/28/archaeologists-discover-what-was-served-at-the-last-supper/ Although there may have been some restrictions on females’ drinking wine in the early Archaic Period of Ancient Rome, passum appears to have been the accepted drink for females throughout Roman history. WINE TABOO REGARDING WOMEN IN ARCHAIC ROME, ORIGINS OF ITALIAN VITICULTURE, AND THE TASTE OF ANCIENT WINES | Greece & Rome | Cambridge Core

The Arade River in Southern Portugal has been a rich site for Roman excavation. Past finds include an intact ancient Roman wine amphora found in the river, for example. Recently, numerous new discoveries have been uncovered by metal detection, including this golden ear ring above. These findings suggest a robust shipping and trade in the area. https://www.newsweek.com/roman-gold-ring-bronze-age-axe-more-2200-river-finds-1904491 Below is a picture of the intact Roman amphora found at the Arade River a few years back. It probably dates to the late Roman Republic. https://www.sulinformacao.pt/en/2018/07/primeira-anfora-romana-do-tipo-dressel-1-intacta-recuperada-por-arqueologos-em-portugal-foi-recolhida-no-arade/

There have been previous posts (see below) about the function of the Roman dodecahedron, the twelve sided copper object pictured above found at many Roman excavations. Because the vast majority have been found on the border of the Roman Empire, it is suggested that these objects were used by the military as a fire sphere in defense of the border. The belief is that if they had some military or domestic use, they would have also been found throughout Italy. The short video below discusses that theory. My problem is that many, if not most of the dodecahedrons discovered have larger holes, making them a very inefficient vehicle to carry a flaming substance any long distance.

Here is an article that suggests a Roman oyster production site has been found in Humber located in Northern England. I’m not sure how they dated the oyster shells to the Roman-era, however. It is interesting to see, nevertheless, that the Roman demand for oysters extended to the far reaches of the Empire. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-humber-69051462 Site of Humber, England

Interesting video. Thanks. Guy de la Bédoyére is one of the true giants of Romano-British numismatics and archaeology. (For interest I posted a previous post about the Rutland discovery that was discussed in the video.)

A statue head of Hygieia was found in Denizli, Southwestern Turkey. The statue probably dates from the first century BCE. ”The worship of Hygieia was closely associated with the cult of Asclepius. While Asclepius was more directly associated with healing, Hygieia was associated with the prevention of sickness and the continuation of good health.” (Wikipedia) https://arkeonews.net/the-statue-head-of-hygieia-the-greek-goddess-of-health-found-stuck-between-two-rocks-in-laodikeia/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygieia The fragment of statue was found in the province of Denizli in Turkey, an area rich in Roman excavation (see posts below)

Berenike, Egypt has been the site of many Roman finds (see posts below). Papyri, with lists of Roman centurions stationed in Egypt, are among the most recent finds. The city of Berenike (Berenice Troglodytica) was an Ancient Egyptian seaport on the western shore of the Red Sea, Egypt (see map below). Site of Berenike, Egypt on the Red Sea https://arkeonews.net/polish-archaeologists-discover-papyruses-containing-a-list-of-roman-centurions-at-berenike/ Interesting video on making papyri:

Here is a better article describing the excavation on Alderney. There were two coins discovered (neither a gold coin as described by the BBC article). Above is a silver “Antoninianus” of the young Caesar Valerian II (reign 256-258), grandson of the Emperor Augustus Valerian who had made Valerian II’s father Gallienus the co-emperor. The coin depicts Valerian II wearing a radiate crown. This Antoninianus is slightly bigger than the older Roman denarius and possibly valued at two denarii. The Antoninianus was debased with bronze, however, and had minimal silver content. The coin below is a bronze coin of Valens (reign AD 364-378), which is around the time the fort was constructed. https://www.newsweek.com/archaeologists-uncover-ancient-roman-coins-small-vital-island-1902486

The Roman stadium of Perga (Perge) in Southern Turkey has been restored. The stadium, which seats about 5000, is one of many fascinating Roman finds in the city of Perga (see video below). Perga was one of the many sites visited by Apostle Paul. https://www.dailysabah.com/turkiye/ancient-roman-citys-stadium-restoration-completed-in-s-turkiye/news

Here is an interesting article about cancer in antiquity from the excellent website "Antigone" The Crab: Facing Cancer in Greco-Roman Antiquity – Antigone (antigonejournal.com)