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A gold votive offering to Jupiter Dolichenus was discovered in the Roman fortress of Apsaros (Gonio) in southwestern Georgia, which dates back to the first century AD. The thin plate above featured Greek inscriptions as a votive offering to Jupiter of Dolichenus. Jupiter Dolichenus was a mystery cult, distinct from Jupiter Capitoline. Also discovered was a kiln for amphorae production, thought to be for wine storage. https://arkeonews.net/a-mysterious-deitys-ancient-gold-gift-was-discovered-at-georgias-gonio-apsaros-roman-fort/ Numismatic evidence suggests that Legio X Fretensis may have stopped at the fortress of Gonio while campaigning with Trajan against Parthia. Note that the Gonio Fortress is close to the Black Sea:

A followup on this interesting find: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14005481/Roman-carved-head-gem-god-countryside-Hadrians-Wall.html

Here is a more in-depth article about the find: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-newly-discovered-octagonal-building-armenia-one-worlds-oldest-christian-churches-180985294/

A hoard of nearly 3,000 Roman coins has been discovered in Koblenz, Germany, located north of the ancient Roman Empire's border (Limes Germanicus) along the Rhine River. The coins date back to the third century AD, with the most recent coin being from the reign of Victorinus of the Gallic Empire (AD 269-271). The significance of this hoard beyond Rome’s borders is unclear. The ceramic pot which contained the hoard: https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/rare-hoard-of-roman-era-coins-discovered-in-german-mountains-miles-from-the-empires-frontlines

A larger-than-life Roman statue, dating from the 2nd and 3rd century AD, has been found in Varna, Bulgaria. Varna, a port city on the shores of the Black Sea, began as the Greek colony of Odessos in 570 BCE and later became an important Roman city. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/10/roman-statue-discovered-during-construction-works-in-varna/153684 https://www.ancientbulgaria.bg/listings/odessos

A rare Roman brass arm guard, discovered at the Roman fort of Trimontium in 1906, will now be permanently displayed at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. It was found in over 100 pieces at Trimontium and has only recently been reassembled. This artifact dates back to the mid-2nd century AD. https://www.thenational.scot/news/24656366.rare-special-roman-armour-found-scotland-goes-display/

Armenia was the first nation state to adopt Christianity as a state religion in AD 301. Archaeologists have uncovered a previously-unknown structure believed to be the earliest Christian church known in Armenia, dating through radiocarbon studies to the 4th century AD. https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-discover-oldest-known-christian-church-in-armenia/

There have been previous posts about the disastrous Battle of Abritus (see below). Here is a good video about the defeat.

In May 1953, Edmund Hillary became the first person to climb Mount Everest. A boot with a foot inside was found on the mountain, dating back to 1933. This belonged to 22-year-old Andrew C. Irvine, who made an attempt to climb the mountain. Irvine's family hopes that a future discovery of the camera he was carrying may prove that he reached the summit before Hillary, around two decades earlier. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0g2p47xd5o

(Scene from the movie “The Eagle”) Caldrail, point well taken. That reminds me of a discussion from just last year (below). Ultimately, it becomes a matter of costs v benefits. Unlike modern Wales, which was rich in minerals (such as gold, copper, and lead), modern Scotland apparently wasn’t worth Rome’s limited manpower and resources for conquest and exploitation. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_in_Roman_Britain#:~:text=Mining was one of the,unequaled until the Middle Ages.

Here's a great video from Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook on their podcast "The Rest is History." It is titled "Why Rome Couldn't Conquer Scotland." They discuss the famous quote by Calgacus, the Caledonian chieftain who battled Rome at the Battle of Mons Graupius in Northern Scotland in AD 83-84. Below is a thread that delves into the impact of that quote throughout history.

Josephus describes the terrible fate that awaited many Jews during the capture of Jerusalem. Flavius Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, Book VI, Whiston chapter 9, Whiston section 2 (tufts.edu) *Gaius Aeterius Fronto was a Roman eques, a member of the equestrian order, who played a significant role during Emperor Vespasian's reign. According to Josephus's writings, Fronto was present with Roman troops during the capture of Jerusalem in AD 70. He was specifically mentioned as being with the legions stationed in Egypt, including Legio XXII Deiotariana and Legio III Cyrenaica. After the capture of Jerusalem, Titus delegated Fronto the responsibility of passing judgment over the Jewish survivors. This indicates his importance and trustworthiness in the eyes of the Roman leadership at the time.

Possible evidence may been found in Pompeii of a Jewish gladiator. The eruption of Vesuvius occurred in AD 79, nine years after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus under his father the Emperor Vespasian. The palm tree became the symbol for the Romans of Judaea.(The coin below of Vespasian has the inscription IVDEA CAPTA or Judaea conquered.) The helmet has the symbolic palm, suggesting the gladiator was of Jewish origin. https://m.jpost.com/archaeology/article-823947

Archaeologists have uncovered a suspected ancient Roman military structure at Hasankeyf in southwest Turkey. In Roman times, Hasankeyf, Turkey (known as Kepha), served as a legionary base on the frontier with the Sassanian Empire. Although historical records suggest a Roman military structure in the city, there was no documented proof of its existence. Constantius II, who ruled from AD 337 to 361, is credited with building the fort at Kepha. It is unknown whether this was the site mentioned in the historical records. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/1-600-year-old-roman-military-structure-unearthed-in-southeastern-turkiye/3355103#:~:text=Ancient Roman fortress found in one of humanity's oldest settlements&text=Archaeologists have uncovered the remains,on the region's ancient history.

Hemp use by Scythians: Herodotus examined Scythian hemp use (Histories, book 4) [4.74] Hemp grows in Scythia: it is very like flax; only that it is a much coarser and taller plant: some grows wild about the country, some is produced by cultivation: the Thracians make garments of it which closely resemble linen; so much so, indeed, that if a person has never seen hemp he is sure to think they are linen, and if he has, unless he is very experienced in such matters, he will not know of which material they are. [4.75] The Scythians, as I said, take some of this hemp-seed, and, creeping under the felt coverings, throw it upon the red-hot stones; immediately it smokes, and gives out such a vapour as no Grecian vapour-bath can exceed; the Scyths, delighted, shout for joy, and this vapour serves them instead of a water-bath; for they never by any chance wash their bodies with water. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0126%3Abook%3D4&force=y https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/introducing-scythians

A few wonderful review videos about the Scythians:

Although the Scythians may have predated the Roman Empire, they decisively defeated the Romans at the Battle of Histria in 62-61 BCE (located in the Ancient Greek polis of Histria, which is found on the Baltic coast in modern Romania). The Sarmatians later subsumed the Scythians. New evidence, including the burial mounds shown above, discovered in Tuva, Siberia, suggest their origins may have been farther east than first believed. https://phys.org/news/2024-10-sacrificial-burial-scythians-eastern.html#google_vignette https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Histria#:~:text=The Battle of Histria%2C c,by the Bastarnian-Scythian attackers.

A sealed stone sarcophagus has been discovered at the Etruscan site of Bisenzio, Italy. The intact skeleton dated from the sixth to seventh centuries BCE. http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/71298 Here’s a wonderful 10 minute documentary of the excavations in that area from this summer. (The sarcophagus is unearthed at the 6:00 minute mark.)

An intriguing (albeit confusing) story has emerged from the İzmir province in Western Turkey. A sarcophagus originally built in the 3rd century AD bears an inscription stating that it was initially used for gladiators. However, no gladiator remains were found. Instead, the bones of 12 women and men dating back to the fifth century AD were discovered. It has been suggested that the sarcophagus was reused for two centuries after its construction. Multiple cross reliefs were also discovered at the site, indicating the repurposing of the tombs during the Christian Eastern Roman Empire of the fifth century AD. https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/grand-tomb-of-roman-gladiator-found-in-turkey-actually-contains-the-remains-of-12-other-people https://www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/1800-yo-roman-gladiator-izmir-55158/

Excavation continues in Wrexham, Wales (see previous post below). Wrexham has recently been the site of several Roman finds. A more developed Roman-era settlement (as well as a medieval longhouse) have now been discovered at the site. https://www.sci.news/archaeology/roman-era-settlement-medieval-longhouse-wales-13297.html

Mark, let’s be grateful for the brave Brits who flew during that battle. Otherwise, we might not be having this conversation. I failed German in junior high school and I don’t like to follow orders, so I wouldn't last long if history had been different.

This silver denarius of Titus (A.D. 79-81) shows a dolphin wrapped around an anchor. Ancient Rome highly regarded dolphins in mythology, art, and culture. They were also considered symbols of romance and protection. Numerous Roman artworks depict dolphins, such as the wonderful mosaic in the ancient Roman city of Wroxeter, Britain. Dolphins were associated with a variety of symbolic meanings in Ancient Rome, including love, loyalty, and friendship, as well as life, death, and rebirth. Pliny the Elder, in "The Natural History," Chapter 8, describes the dolphin's friendship with man, as well as the story of a dolphin's long-lasting friendship with a boy, even after he died. Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, BOOK IX. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF FISHES. (tufts.edu) Here is an excellent article from NGC Ancients that describes many Roman coins depicting dolphins. NGC Ancients: Dolphins on Roman Coins | NGC (ngccoin.com)

The trailer for "Gladiator II" featured a fantasy gladiator fight between a fighter and a gladiator riding a rhinoceros. Although rhinos were unlikely to be involved in gladiator fights, they may have been engaged in fighting another beast or used in the popular beast hunt (venatio). Here are a few articles, two of which are academic, discussing this subject. https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/did-romans-battle-rhinos-in-the-colosseum-a-historian-explains-the-truth-behind-the-fight-scenes-in-ridley-scott-s-gladiator-ii https://traj.openlibhums.org/article/id/10158/ (PDF) The animals of the arena: How and why could their destruction and death be endured and enjoyed? (researchgate.net) Venatio - Wikipedia

Respectfully, that is a silly statement. Prior to the Battle of Britain, the British did not have air superiority over Britain. The Royal Air Force (RAF) was in a precarious position after the successful but costly evacuation from Dunkirk. At the start of the Battle of Britain, the German Luftwaffe was much larger and more powerful than the RAF. However, the Brits had a secret weapon-the radar system. This new technology played a crucial role in detecting and intercepting incoming German aircraft. Had the Germans started earlier, focused their attacks on British airfields, and not wasted resources on civilian targets, they could have completely neutralized the RAF. Only after the Germans began the attack on the Soviet Union was the security of Britain much improved. I'm sure you know that four out of five (80%) of German casualties occurred fighting on the Eastern front.

Another gorgeous late Roman mosaic has been found in Turkey, this time near Elaziğ (located on the map below). This mosaic depicts dozens of animals and plants. https://arkeonews.net/massive-roman-mosaic-floor-discovered-in-turkiye/ Previous posts about mosaics found in Turkey: