Aurelia

Strange, I could access the Wall Street Journal article without a subscription the first time round, but not on this post - thanks for pointing it out. Here's the complete article, just for interest's sake: Ancient Greek Coins Are Returned Five Authentic Coins Found Among Forgeries (by Adam Janos) The Manhattan district attorney handed over five ancient coins to Greek officials Monday, after authorities seized the antiquities from a collector. Arnold-Peter Weiss was arrested on Jan. 3, 2012, while trying to sell three other coins—which he thought were stolen from Sicily and worth millions of dollars—during a collector's show at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, prosecutors said. After Mr. Weiss's arrest, analysts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art discovered the three coins to be elaborate forgeries. Officials seized 23 coins in all from Mr. Weiss at the time of his arrest—the three forgeries, the five authentic coins returned to Greece on Monday, two coins on consignment from another owner, and 13 other Greek coins that will go to academic and cultural institutions for study, prosecutors said. Mr. Weiss, a 54-year-old Rhode Island hand surgeon, struck a deal with prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted criminal possession of stolen property for the three forgeries and was sentenced to 70 hours community service, a $3,000 fine and the forfeiture of the 23 coins. As part of the plea deal, Mr. Weiss was required to write an essay for the American Numismatic Society Magazine on the proliferation of forged coins and how their dissemination threatens the keeping of accurate archaeological records. In his essay, Mr. Weiss wrote, "I was very active in the ancient coin marketplace and paid little attention to foreign cultural property laws, as if they really did not matter within the U.S. Well, they do." Mr. Weiss signed a stipulation with prosecutors forfeiting all 23 coins, agreeing that he doesn't have complete ownership of them, court records show. Mr. Weiss couldn't be reached for comment on Monday. On Monday, Greece's Ambassador to the U.S., Christos Panagopoulos, accepted five of the legitimate coins from District Attorney Cyrus Vance. "The combined value of the artifacts that we're returning…exceeds $200,000 dollars, but as tokens of the world's oldest democracy, they are inarguably priceless," Mr. Vance said. "It's important to remember that there are real victims in these cases, who range from individual collectors to entire countries." The five coins—minted between 515 B.C. and 383 B.C.—originated in five ancient cities and included images of the head of Heracles, a divine hero, Demeter, a Greek goddess, and others. The other 15 coins, which are of lesser value, will remain in the U.S., though prosecutors said details of where they will be housed and displayed have yet to be worked out.

That's quite interesting. Is there any mention in Charles Mann's book about the origins of this massive, sedentary population in the Americas?

Welcome to UNRV, Timrudi! Wow, your research sounds complex. Are you a neuroscientist, a linguist, or a linguistic neuroscientist...?

Really?? Have you published or are planning to publish any of your writing? Maybe you should post an excerpt here!

The carved jasper stone, found in Israel, was apparently commissioned by a wealthy man and passed down for generations.A unique gemstone found in Israel that may have adorned a ring has shed light on a little known art in ancient Rome: fine carving. On the floor of a room dating to the early Byzantium period, around 4th century CE, archaeologists spotted a red gemstone beautifully engraved with the figure of a naked running man holding a laurel wreath in one hand. Or maybe he's holding a wreath of olive branches. It's hard to tell. In any case, in the other hand the bare gentleman holds what is clearly a date palm branch. More at Haaretz

Haha, I like how the coin collector arrested for forgery and criminal possession of stolen property was forced to write an essay for the Numismatic Society magazine like a naughty school boy! The Manhattan district attorney handed over five ancient coins to Greek officials Monday, after authorities seized the antiquities from a collector. Arnold-Peter Weiss was arrested on Jan. 3, 2012, while trying to sell three other coins—which he thought were stolen from Sicily and worth millions of dollars—during a collector's show at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, prosecutors said. Article continues here.

Very interesting article which traces the significance Stonehenge has held through the centuries to different generations. “HOW grand! How wonderful! How incomprehensible!” Thus Richard Colt Hoare, a British antiquarian and arche­ologist, delivered his verdict on Stonehenge in the first volume of his Ancient History of Wiltshire, published in the early 19th century. His reaction was typical of the complex emotions stirred within visitors to this prehistoric monument on the windswept Salisbury Plain over the past 4500 years. With its five great central trilithons (each comprising two massive upright stones, some weighing more than 32,000kg, capped with a horizontal lintel), and scores of smaller bluestones transported to the site from the Pre­seli Hills of Wales, about 290km to the west, the stone circle is certainly magnificent. But it is also baffling. The article continues here. Incidentally, I also found the BBC documentary the writer refers to in the article!

Any reason why you're interested in Nero, in particular? You mentioned you've read several books about him. Just curious...

That's a bizarre theory, but who knows? The idea that Native Americans are descended from ancient Jews, Egyptians, or Greeks has been a controversial one for hundreds of years. James Adair, an 18th century settler who traded with Native Americans for 40 years, wrote that their language, customs, and social structures were similar to those of the Israelites. He wrote in his book “The History of the American Indians”: “It is a very difficult thing to divest ourselves, not to say, other persons, of prejudices and favourite opinions, and I expect to be censured by some for opposing commonly received sentiments, or for meddling with a dispute agitated among the learned ever since the first discovery of America.” More here

Welcome to UNRV, Lucretia81! Looking forward to finding out more about your novel, sounds exciting!

I know of a few writers (active in the 1st century AD) who wrote about Augustus: - Nicolaus of Damascus wrote a biography of Augustus (but unfortunately he was Greek, not Latin) - Livy (Titus Livius) was a historian who wrote about the history of Rome (including Augustus's reign) - Horace alluded to Augustus in his poetry (e.g Odes) - Sextus Propertius, another poet, apparently also indirectly criticised Augustus in some of his work - Plutarch also wrote about Augustus but I guess that was a bit later on (and he was also originally Greek although apparently he became a Roman citizen at some point) Sorry I can't be more specific and offer actual passages but I hope this is still useful...

Hmm, I'll think about it. Need to see what my Muses have been up to - haven't seen them in a while...

Many of us, in our preteen years, conceived stories in crayon and pencil, but most of us did not grow up to be among the most significant directors to work in the medium of film. Martin Scorsese did, of course, and that makes his preteen doodles a bit more interesting than most others. Click here to see his storyboards for The Eternal City, a Roman epic about “royalty in Ancient Rome,” for which he dreamed of casting Marlon Brando, Virginia Mayo, Alec Guinness, and Richard Burton.

Some exciting new releases for August (and end of July)! Alesia 52 BC: The final struggle for Gaul Augustus: First Emperor of Rome Military History of Late Rome 284-361 Turia: A Roman Woman's Civil War AD69: Emperors, Armies and Anarchy Social Networks and Regional Identity in Bronze Age Italy The Ancient Middle Classes: Urban Life and Aesthetics in the Roman Empire, 100 BCE-250 CE History of the Roman Republic (Blackwell History of the Ancient World) The Romans and their World: A Short Introduction Building for Eternity: the History and Technology of Roman Concrete Engineering in the Sea Remembering the Roman Republic: Culture, Politics and History under the Principate

Yes, I have been to Italy several times (I live 10kms away from it right now!) and it's true that when visiting any Italian town, chances are one will see some ruin related to Ancient Rome (or sign indicating the significance of the place). But I do remember being struck by the sheer concentration of ancient ruins and remains scattered about in Rome! And the visible layers of history (literally!) that can be observed in many residential buildings (e.g. foundations from antiquity, lower level medieval, top modern) so I understand how it can be easy for someone who has lived in Rome his/her whole life to simply not notice it after a while. And yes, when one is made aware of the history behind what they see everyday it can just sort of become ordinary, I suppose. But as a non-Italian and non-European (although I've lived in Europe for nearly 15 years) I cannot help but be amazed at historical monuments. Especially those dating back to ancient times (ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt...), which is my favourite historical period.

Oh, I'll think about it, Caldrail, although I suspect I would not be nearly as talented...

Me too... maybe...

Wow, that's impressive, Caldrail. Thanks for sharing!

Why Sonic, are you planning on writing about Alexander the Great next? Maybe you should try Publius Ventidius Bassus...

I have definitely heard of Labienus. Probably, as Pompieus pointed out, his name survived because he was close to Pompey whereas Ventidius remained (sort of) anonymous.

And here's the trailer...

Has anyone seen or is planning to see this one? Maybe we should start a thread of ancient mythological and/or historical figures we DON'T want to see in yet another movie/TV series (just the like this thread on books... ). For more on the Hercules movie, have a look at this Guardian review.

Interesting you mention that, Safiria. When I was looking for more information about this free cemetery in Ostia, I did notice the lack of Italian sources on this subject. I wonder if people in Italy have become "jaded" in terms of archaeological discoveries because there is just so much of it around - that would be a pity though because every such discovery should be celebrated.

I'm curious, did you randomly read about Ventidius or did you specifically look for info about his life? I had never heard of him before... You can spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week looking up stuff on the net but I also prefer (paper) books in my hands.

LOL, that's right. They are not exactly angels in the "Gladiator" movie either - really naughty buggers, those Praetorians.