guy

Using Lidar technology, a fifth-century fortress was found near Santiago de Compestela. The site is called Castro Valente (“Brave Fort”). https://www.livescience.com/lasers-reveal-ruins-of-5th-century-fortress-in-spanish-forest

A wonderful glass representing Roma has been found during excavations in Rome: https://arkeonews.net/gold-glass-roma-unearthed-in-the-excavations-of-the-rome-subway/

A Mithraic sanctuary has been uncovered at the Villa del Mitra in Cabra, Spain. It dates from the 2nd and 3rd century AD. https://arkeonews.net/1800-year-old-sanctuary-to-mithras-discovered-in-spain/

Here’s an interesting recording about the research so far: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0f1lx2g Here is a video on the archaeological research in the area:

A Roman mask, probably a parade mask, has been found in Gorj County, Romania. It dates from the 2nd or 3rd century AD. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/02/roman-parade-mask-discovered-in-romania/146135 Here are two other threads on cavalry masks:

A devastating earthquake in Turkey on February 6th has seriously damaged the Gaziantep Castle. It was originally a Hittite fortress that was later modified by the Romans in the 2nd and 3rd century AD. It was further modified and expanded by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. Before: After: https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/turkey-earthquake-historic-gaziantep-castle-destroyed

After a recent find of woolly mammoth remains (see post below), Plymouth’s Sherford is now the site of a Roman road excavation. https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/history/gallery/fascinating-roman-road-uncovered-underneath-8107495

A wonderful find on the banks of the River Thames by a mudlarker: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-64468180

Here are some hairpins found found in the drains at the Carlisle excavation site. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-64458322 Here are a few previous posts about the Roman site at Carlisle:

Beautiful engraved gems found along Hadrian’s Wall in Carlisle: These intricately carved gems were discovered in an ancient pool at the site, found down a drain. https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/01/archaeology-project-uncovers-roman-gems-near-hadrians-wall/146060 Previous posts about excavations at Carlisle:

I had to give the video a second listen. You are correct that Pipa (or Pipara), the daughter of the Marcomanni King Attalus, is referred to as his “wife.” I am skeptical, however, that she was officially designated as a second “wife” since that would have further alienated him from the Roman Senate. She was probably a recognized mistress, instead. I wonder whether Cornelia had completely resigned herself to this barbarian mistress or did she play some role in Gallienus’ mysterious death LoL? 🤣 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipara#:~:text=Pipara or Pipa (3rd century,as a tool of appeasement.

His wife, Cornelia Salonina, was thought by many to be of Greek origin from Bithynia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelia_Salonina

During the excavation of sewer works along the Appia Antica in Rome, a Roman statue has been found. It is unclear whether it is Hercules or the Emperor Trojan Decius depicted as Hercules. The statue has a lion headdress and club associated with Hercules. A known statue of Trajan Decius: https://greekreporter.com/2023/01/28/statue-hercules-discovered-rome/

Here is a wonderful video about letters sent to and from the Roman military frontier:

Below is an excellent video on the Third Century Crisis Emperor Gallienus. His 15-year reign is now being reassessed by historians:

Excavations have found evidence of a Roman residential area under the modern city of Luxor in southern Egypt: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230124-egypt-archaeologists-uncover-complete-roman-city

Roman road discovered in the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca. “Several fragments of a Roman road were found, covered with slabs and built of river stones, sometimes glued with mortar, at a depth of about 80 cm. The orientation of the road is north-south and it is probably related to the street network of the Roman city of Napoca”, said archaeologist Cristian Dima from the National History Museum of Transylvania. https://www.romaniajournal.ro/society-people/science/2000-year-old-roman-road-discovered-in-the-center-of-cluj-napoca/ https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-found-a-2000-year-old-roman-road-in-cluj-napoca-in-northwest-romania/

Many of the remains have the head placed at the feet Several decapitated skeletons have been discovered at the Roman site of Wintringham, St Neots in Cambridgeshire. The skeletons date back to the third century AD. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64358866

Here is an entertaining and informative overview of the Via Appia from Rome to Brindisi

That is why Claudius might have been involved in the Caligula assassination: He was not viewed as a threat to assert his power and thought to be weak and controllable. As history has shown, Claudius was very much underestimated.

Quintus Labienus was an ally of Brutus and Cassius following the assassination of Julius Caesar. After the deaths of Cassius and Brutus, Labienus joined forces with the Parthians. (The horse on the reverse of the coin probably reflects Labienus’ cavalry background.) He was later defeated and killed by Antony’s General Ventidius. This gold aureus of Labienus issued between 40-39 BCE sold for $930,000, almost doubling the pre-auction estimate of $500,000. https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/11170/roman-ancient-goldberg/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quintus_Labienus

Another article about the opening of the House of Vettii, named after its owners, two former brothers who had been slaves: Aulus Vettius Conviva and Aulus Vettius Restitutus. They got wealthy by selling after they were freed https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64225813 https://allthatsinteresting.com/house-of-the-vettii

A Roman villa in Pompeii known as the Domus Vettorium (House of Vettii) reopens after twenty years of restoration. Pompeii, Italy - 14 December 2022 1. Walking shot from the gate of the domus that opens, with sign reading (Latin) 'Domus Vettiorum' (House of Vettii), to the atrium 2. Pan left of the triclinium, called 'Hall of Ixion' 3. Various of the frescoes in the 'Hall of Ixion' 4. Walking shot of the peristyle surrounding the garden 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director, Pompeii Archaeological Park: "The House of the Vetti is like the history of Pompeii and actually of Roman society within one house. So, you have the great artwork, we're seeing here the last phase of the Pompeian wall painting with incredible details so you can stand before these images for hours and still discover new details, and the sculptures in the garden. So, you have this mixture: nature, architecture, art. But it is also story about the social life of the Pompeian society and actually the Roman world in this phase of history." 6. Various of fresco in the 'Room of the Cupids' representing Cupids engaged in various activities and crafts 7. Pan right of the 'Room of the Cupids' 8. Close of a fresco in the 'Room of the Cupids' 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director, Pompeii Archaeological Park: "The house belonged to two men who were probably two freed men, so they were ex-slaves and then they had an incredible career after that and reached the highest ranks of the local society, at least economically. They evidently tried to show their new status also through culture and through Greek mythological paintings and it's all about saying 'well we have made it and so we are now part of this elite', local elite in the Roman world." 10. Various of fresco in the 'Hall of Pentheus' depicting Hercules as a child choking snakes 11. Pan right of the 'Hall of Pentheus' 12. Various of the frescoes in the 'Hall of Pentheus' 13. SOUNDBITE (English) Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director, Pompeii Archaeological Park: "The House of Vettii has always been a case study on how do these paintings reflect the dreams and imagination and anxieties of the owners because they lived between these images. So, on one hand we see Greek myth which is a very learned kind of showing off your knowledge because during the banquets you then had to comment (on) these paintings and you could show that you really understood was going on there. And there is also sometimes some kind of identification." 14. Various of the 'lararium,' a place in ancient Roman houses reserved for the worship of the Lares (deities in ancient Roman religion) 15. Various of the atrium of the domus, cat walking by 16. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Arianna Spinosa, architect director of restoration work: "This house is one of the iconic houses of Pompeii and represents the Pompeian domus by excellence, not only because of the frescoes of exceptional importance, but also because of its layout and architecture. Today, we can finally read this complexity thanks to the new roofs – both the restoration bits, but also those put in just to protect the rooms that we have found and rediscovered during the restoration, such as the whole 'gynaeceum' area." 17. Various of one of the rooms of the domus called 'gynaeceum' 18. Pan right of one of the rooms of the domus 19. Various of the frescoes 20. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Stefania Giudice, director of fresco restoration: 21. Various of bronze remains of one of the two safes in the atrium 22. Wide of the garden 23. Walking shot of one of Pompeii's cobbled streets

A Roman village was once situated along the modern A29 near Hardham (Image: Martin Burton/SussexLive) New excavations will continue to yield Roman developments along Stane Street: https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/news/sussex-news/two-lost-roman-villages-hidden-8019639