guy

Interesting assessment. The rather precipitous drop in Rome’s population (50%) between AD 50 and AD 275 is noteworthy. The effects of deadly plagues (including the Antonine Plague in AD 165-180 and the Plague of Cyprian in AD 249-262), as well as the many bloody internecine wars took its toll. It is no surprise that the city of Rome lost its prestige and influence in the Empire during the decades to come.

A previous thread dealt with the controversy of building a 210-acre solar farm near Silchester, site of one of Britain’s best preserved Roman sites. (See thread below.) Despite protests, the project will now be allowed to proceed: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/giant-solar-farm-next-to-hampshire-roman-ruins-gets-green-light-after-u-turn/ar-AA17TI6K How Roman Silchester might have looked: https://archaeology.co.uk/articles/features/silchesters-roman-baths.htm

There have been a few posts about trade between Rome and India before (see threads below). Here is a good summary article: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/02/evidence-of-indo-roman-relations/146284

Short video on the lack of late-Emperor busts:

Tacitus in his “Annals: Book XI” discusses the aborted attempts of the Roman Governor Curtius Rufus to mine for silver in Ems, Germany around AD 47. The site may have been discovered as well as two military camps in the area. From Tacitus: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/02/roman-military-camps-and-evidence-of-silver-mining-found-in-the-bad-ems-area/146263 https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/980406 https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Tacitus/Annals/11b*.html

Now we have input from an expert in ancient prosthetics who suggests that this ph*llus-shaped object was created by a shoemaker. Mamma mia: https://theconversation.com/roman-dildo-could-have-been-made-by-shoemakers-an-expert-in-ancient-prosthetics-explains-200387

First discovered in 1992 at Vindolanda near Hadrian’s Wall, this item was thought to be either a tool to help with sewing or a wooden kitchen pestle. Close examination, however, suggests that this was intentionally shaped as a phallus. It measures 6.2 inches (15.7 cm). The item shows extensive wear from use. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/feb/20/its-not-a-darning-tool-its-a-very-naughty-toy-roman-dildo-found

The once-controversial Roman Warren Cup will be highlighted at the British Museum this month in recognition of LGBT+ month. It has been dated to AD 10 and depicts a male couple engaging in sex. A reclining bearded man apparently is engaging with a beardless youth who lowers himself on him. It was first purchased by American collector Edward Warren in 1911 for £2000 pounds along with coins of Claudius. It was thought to buried during the Jewish Revolt. It later sold to the British Museum in 1999 for £1.8million. An in-depth description of the Warren Cup: Background history of the Warren Cup: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Cup

Here are interesting insights about the Masada paycheck discussed previously (see UNRV thread below): https://arkeonews.net/roman-soldiers-1900-year-old-payslip-uncovered-in-masada/

A hoard of Roman coins, known as the Gobowen Hoard, was successfully purchased by a local museum. https://www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/news/23328064.shropshire-donation-saves-roman-coin-collection-museum/ https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-shropshire-59958128.amp https://www.britannica.com/topic/Watling-Street

Although no footage has been released yet, there are reports that a 52-foot-long papyrus of the Book of the Dead has been discovered at the Saqqara necropolis site in Egypt. https://www.livescience.com/ancient-egypt-book-of-the-dead-papyrus-found A previous thread discussed the Saqqara site. Here are two videos that deal with the find and the Book of the Dead:

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/roman-era-sarcophagus-uncovered-gaza-2023-02-14/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-marble-statue-of-emperor-dressed-as-hercules-discovered-in-roman-sewer-180981602/

https://www.archaeology.org/issues/503-2303/digs/11212-digs-peru-nazca-ayahuasca https://www.google.com/amp/s/phys.org/news/2022-11-evidence-psychoactive-nazca-people-peru.amp This ayahuasca use by the Nazca predated it’s later use by the Incas many centuries later:

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.