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Excavations in Pompeii at the House of Leda have uncovered a fresco depicting Phrixus fleeing on the back of the Golden-woolled winged Ram with his sister Helle (who is already in the water). https://amp.abc.net.au/article/103537716 This is a nice summary of this Greek myth in two different short videos.

The campaign to protect the site is now under public consultation. There is a desire to add the land to a list of nationally important archaeological sites, which would then require consent from the Secretary of State for any work. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv2yxvx0j5yo

Interesting that there is a suggestion that Alexander died from Guillain-Barre.

Roman defensive spikes have been uncovered during excavations in Bad Ems of a 1st century Roman fort. The spikes were placed in ditches around the fort. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/02/roman-defensive-spikes-unveiled-at-the-leibniz-centre-for-archaeology/150840

Wales has been increasingly recognized for its extensive Roman presence (see posts below). A metal detectorist in March 2020 found sixteen items from the Iron Age and Roman-era in a boggy field in the community of Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf on Anglesey. It is thought to have been once a sacred spring. Among the items uncovered were Iron Age chariot fittings, a metal ram’s head, and a Roman copper ingot. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-68429384

Death scene from the movie “Alexander” I do have some experience with folks with ectodermal dysplasias (ED). The ectoderm is one of the three primary layers of cells (germ layers) that form during embryonic development. The ectoderm is responsible for the formation of teeth, hair, nails, and sweat glands. Dysplasia refers to the abnormal formation of cells. Therefore, ectodermal dysplasia (ED) is expected to involve abnormalities related to the teeth, hair, nails, and sweat glands. There are around 180 different forms of EDs with different hereditary patterns. The most common variant of ectodermal dysplasia (ED) is anhidrotic (or hypohidrotic) ED. People with anhidrotic ED have a severe dysfunction of their sweat glands and would have a serious intolerance to heat. It is highly unlikely that Alexander the Great had this variant because he marched to India and Egypt, which would have been intolerable to him. Additionally, individuals with anhidrotic ED often have unusual facial features such as a saddle nose and supraorbital ridging, which would have made Alexander's face very striking. However, these features were not mentioned in historical records. The hidrotic variant is less severe, but it does involve abnormalities in the skin, nails, and hair. These individuals do not experience significant sweating issues. So, if Alexander did have a variant of ED, his only evidence is "conical teeth." I don't think "sweet scent" is associated with ED. His "hair like a lion" would also not be associated with ED, either. Usually, people with ED have sparse, fine, and short hair. This doesn't sound like Alexander's description. I, therefore, don't think that Alexander had a variant of ectodermal dyspasia, even a less serious one. https://healthjade.net/ectodermal-dysplasia/

Interesting thought. I find it interesting that conical "peg-shaped teeth" are most commonly associated with ectodermal dysplasias (ED). It is unlikely that congenital syphilis, which also can cause peg-shaped teeth, was present in pre-Columbian Europe. Later on, I will comment on the thought that Alexander the Great had ED. That said, I am not sure of the source or validity of the ancient source you referenced other than Plutarch, who wrote about Alexander more than three centuries after his death. Can you reference the sources?

During excavations at the site of a medieval shipyard at Smallhyde Place in Tenterden, Kent, a Roman head of Mercury (without the body) was discovered. This figurine in pipe clay measures 5 cm (2 inches) tall. This figurine was found in context of a previously unrecorded Roman settlement, dating from 1st to 3rd century AD, that was unearthed during excavations. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-68358986

A 5th century BCE Etruscan tomb has been unearthed at the San Giuliano necropolis near Rome. Hopefully, this will further shed light on Etruscan burial practices. https://archaeologymag.com/2024/02/monumental-etruscan-tomb-in-the-necropolis-of-san-giuliano/ https://arkeonews.net/a-monumental-etruscan-tomb-has-been-discovered-in-the-necropolis-of-san-giuliano-north-of-rome/

Archaeologists have recovered a Roman funerary alter dating from the imperial era at San Vito al Torre, Italy. On the side one can see the image of a winged Erotes. The Erotes are a group of winged gods associated with love and sexual desire in classical mythology. According to the article, Erotes is holding an overturned torch and poppy flower, which are thought to represent eternal sleep. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/02/roman-funerary-altar-found-partially-buried-in-torre-river/150649

A possible example of a proto-Basque language has been found in Northern Spain on a bronze good-luck charm shaped as a hand. It is thought to be from the Vascones, considered the ancestors of modern Basques, and it would have been placed onto the entrance of a building. The Vascones were able to negotiate with the Romans when the Romans first arrived in Spain. The Vascones were a fierce and independent tribe who were known for their martial skills. They were never fully subdued by the Romans and were able to maintain some degree of autonomy by paying a tribute to Rome. The Vascones raised at least one auxiliary cohort in support of the Roman army, Cohors II Vasconum. Galba rose up against the Nero in AD 68, possibly with support of this cohort. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/02/study-reveals-oldest-and-longest-example-of-vasconic-script/150606 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/vasconic-inscription-on-a-bronze-hand-writing-and-rituality-in-the-iron-age-irulegi-settlement-in-the-ebro-valley/645A15DF3D725F83D62F3D1FB5DF83EC https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cohors_II_Vasconum

Other objects made from Iron found in the Bronze Age find. They are thought to be derived from a meteorite source, also. Further studies might confirm their origin. Here’s a follow-up article on the research. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-famous-spanish-treasure-actually-contains-metal-from-space-180983788/ Two good videos on the find:

On October 2023, an Ancient Roman tomb was found during water work in the city of Giugliano, near Naples. On the wall was a fresco of Cerberus, the mythical three-headed dog who guarded the underworld. https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/10/10/2000-year-old-tomb-of-cerberus-with-stunning-frescoes-discovered-in-italy https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerberus

Here’s an interesting article on painting projects in Ancient Rome: https://www.archaeology.org/issues/544-2403/digs/12134-dd-italy-roman-painting

The city of Winchester, England (about 60 miles or 10o km Southwest of London) is better known for its medieval history. The city, however, was formally the important Roman town of Venta Belgarum (the market of the Belgae). A new book further examines previous archaeological finds on the city: https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/24125911.roman-winchester-revealed-new-book-based-archaeological-digs/

(Picture from Dr J Ball @DrJEBall): Suspected snack remnants (fruit seeds, stones, and pits) found during recent archaeological studies from the drainage system at the Colosseum There has been a previous post about evidence of snacks at the Colosseum found at archaeological excavations in the drainage system of the Colosseum. (See post below.) This is another wonderful video by Max Miller: “Eating at the Colosseum.” https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11466845/amp/Animal-bones-ancient-Romans-snack-food-Colosseum.html

A silver brooch depicting the she-wolf suckling the twins Romulus and Remus has been found in Villanova d’Alcolea, Spain. It dates to the second century AD and measures about 4 cm (1.6 inches). It was found during an excavation of a suspected ancient Roman site. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/02/rare-depiction-of-romulus-and-remus-found-in-vilanova-dalcolea/150550/amp Background on Romulus and Remus mythology: https://www.unrv.com/culture/romulus-and-remus.php

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Artifacts, including jewelry and coins, have been uncovered in Roman tombs near the village of Nova Varbovka in Bulgaria. A bronze medalllion of Caracalla minted in Pergamon in AD 214 has also been recovered. These finds date from the early third century AD. Interestingly, one of the tombs was a child’s tomb that contained gold earrings, glass bead jewelry, and two glass lacrimatory bottles (or tear catchers). (See photo below) A lacrymatory (from the Latin lacrima meaning tear) is a small vessel found in Roman tombs. These were supposedly the bottles in which mourners dropped their tears. More likely, these vessels contained perfumes, fragrances, or unguents for the corpse. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/02/rare-medallion-of-caracalla-among-high-status-objects-found-in-roman-cemetery/150527/amp https://archaeologymag.com/2024/02/medallion-of-emperor-caracalla-found-in-bulgaria/ A previous discovery of lacrymatory bottles: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacrymatory

That is the question Mary Beard and others are asking. Solar farms take up many acres and can be unsightly. They would permanently alter the local landscape and irreparably damage any historical site.

Recent excavations at Megiddo, Israel have discovered evidence of Legio VI Ferrata (Iron) Legion (see post below). Recently the remains of a military base has been discovered. Legio VI Ferrata was in Judea for about two centuries (second till early forth century AD). The symbol for Legio VI Ferrata was a bull. It also carried the symbolic she-wolf with Romulus and Remus. Legio VI Ferrata supported Legio X Fretensis during its deployment in Judea. https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-786877 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legio_VI_Ferrata

Richborough is a Roman site that has been the site of new discoveries (see below). Classicist Mary Beard and others have expressed concern about the potential of a planned solar farm to destroy the Roman heritage and future opportunities for excavation at the site. https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/solar-farm-could-cause-serious-9096322#google_vignette

It appears that scientists plan on altering the genome of a deadly chicken virus in hopes of recreating the less virulent form of the virus. Merek disease virus (MDV) is a highly lethal virus that kills 90% of unvaccinated chickens and costs the poultry business one billion dollars each year. It was observed that the virus was less lethal before the 1900s. Scientists have examined nearly 1,000 chicken bones from archaeological digs across Europe, some 2,000 years old. By comparing the ancient genomes with the modern MDV genome, point mutations were discovered in the modern virus. It is thought that these mutations were the cause of the modern virulence of the virus. Scientists have synthesized the ancient, less lethal gene and inserted it into living chicken cells. This new hybrid virus did not show the lethality of the modern virus. What could go wrong with altering natural viruses? /sarc https://www.livemint.com/science/health/reviving-ancient-viruses-can-help-fight-modern-ones-11707805683759.html

Evidence of bed bugs have found at Vindolanda. It is suggested that the bugs were brought to Britain in the late first century AD, possibly on straw bedding, clothes or grain brought to the island. Examination of damp soil dated between AD 100 to 105 near Hadrian’s Wall revealed thoraxes believed to be from the common bed bug. https://www.ucd.ie/newsandopinion/news/2024/february/08/ucdstudentrevealsbedbugsmostlikelycametobritainwiththeromans/#:~:text=Among the insects preserved in,from the common bed bug.&text=The discovery is the earliest,the isle in AD 43. https://www.vindolanda.com/Blog/beetles-on-the-frontier https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/03/incredibly-rare-discovery-reveals-bedbugs-came-to-britain-with-the-romans

Below is an excellent academic article on the find. The presence of henbane throughout the Empire along with other medicinal plants supports the use of henbane as a medicinal ingredient: The conclusion was very compelling: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/evidence-of-the-intentional-use-of-black-henbane-hyoscyamus-niger-in-the-roman-netherlands/A06E000B17E1642C878E469157D5131C