An Image of Cleopatra?
While killing some time this weekend, I was poking around the archives of the New York Times via Google and in the October 12, 1884 edition I found this very interesting excerpt in an Arts column: If you click on that, you’ll get the full image (I think) but the gist of it is the [...]
Ancient Stuff at io9
Over the past couple of weeks, it’s becoming clear that the gang at io9 are either looking for some rogueclassicism love or (more likely) have sensed the popculch value of the ancient world. Consider some of their recent posts (all worth a look) … They first caught my eye with A brief history of alternate [...]
This Day in Ancient History: ante diem vii idus junias
ante diem vii idus junias the ‘inner sanctum’ of the Temple of Vesta was opened to the (female) public ludi piscatorii (?) — a private festival celebrated by fishermen 17 B.C.. — ludi Latini et Graeci honorarii (day 3) 20 A.D. — Nero Julius Caesar, son of the emperor-in-waiting Germanicus, dons his toga virilis; a congiarium is given [...]
Gladiator Graveyard?
From the Times … seems to be hyping an upcoming TV documentary: Archaeologists believe that they may have discovered a Roman gladiator cemetery near York city centre. About 80 remains have been found since the investigation began in 2004, with more than half of them decapitated. Researchers believe they may form part of the world’s [...]
Aqua Traiana in Peril?
Back in January/February we featured a series of posts highlighting the discovery of the source of the Aqua Traiana: Source of the Aqua Traiana Found? More on the Aqua Traiana (BBC video) Still More on the Aqua Traiana (more video plus infrom from the O’Neills) … a spectacular find, of course, and the last we had heard, the [...]
This Day in Ancient History: pridie nonas junias
pridie nonas junias 468 B.C. — birth of Socrates (by one reckoning) 218 B.C. (?) — dedication of the Temple of the Great Custodian Hercules (and associated rites thereafter) 105 A.D. — The emperor Trajan departs on his second campaign against the Dacians 204 A.D. — ludi Latini et Graeci honorarii (day 1)
Latin Major at LSU Threatened!
This one doesn’t appear to have been widely bruited about yet, but an item in the Baton Rouge Advocate shows that Latin (among other majors) is on the chopping block for that always-questionable ‘budgetary reason’ (with the usual platitudes about having to make ‘tough decisions’ yadda yadda yadda). As expected, the Louisiana Classicist blog is [...]
This Day in Ancient History: ante diem iv nonas junias
ante diem iv nonas junias Saecular Games continue (day 2) — the celebration of Rome’s anniversary continues 261 B.C. — death of Antiochus I Soter (I have not been able to confirm this date) 177 A.D. — martyrdom of Blandina, Alexander (and others) at Lyons (a.k.a. the Martyrs of Lyons) 193 A.D. — recently-deposed emperor-for-a-little-while Didius Julianus is murdered
This Day in Ancient History: kalendas junias
Image via Wikipedia kalendas junias rites in honour of Carna, a nymph who was somehow associated with the health of bodily organs Saecular Games (day 1) — celebrating Rome’s thousand-year anniversary 388 B.C. — dedication of the Temple of Mars (and associated rites thereafter) 344 B.C. — dedication of the Temple of Juno Moneta (and associated rites [...]
This Day in Ancient History: ante diem v kalendas Iunias
ante diem v kalendas Iunias 585 B.C. – solar eclipse predicted by Thales of Miletus occurs during the battle of the Halys (another possible date) 20 A.D. – Drusus “Minor”, the son of the emperor Tiberius, celebrates an ovatio for his victories in Illyricum ca 250 A.D. — martyrdom of Heliconis
Greek ‘Stone Crown’ from Syria
This one’s kind of confusing for me … from the Global Arab Network: Remarkable archaeological finds from the Greek and Roman eras have been found in different archaeological sites in Deir Ezzor Province during current excavation season. A Greek stone crown, the first of its kind in the region, was discovered by the Syrian-French mission [...]
This Day in Ancient History: ante diem vi kalendas junias
ante diem vi kalendas junias 189 A.D. — birth of P. Septimius Geta, son of the emperor-to-be Septimius Severus and Julia Domna and brother of the emperor-to-be Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (Caracalla) 270 A.D. — martyrdom of Restituta at Sora (?) 302 A.D. — Martyrdom of Julius at Durostorum 1265 — birth of Dante Alighieri
Homer’s Odyssey … in Canada?
Image via Wikipedia Once upon a time, there was almost an annual event of some guy coming up with a new theory about where Homer’s Odyssey or Iliad really took place … haven’t had one for quite a while, but in the Toronto Star I was gobsmacked to read this one: The first thing to [...]
This Day in Ancient History: ante diem vii kalendas junias
Image via Wikipedia ante diem vii kalendas junias 17 A.D. – Germanicus celebrates a triumph for his victories in Germany 106 A.D. — martyrdom of Zachary in Gaul 107 A.D. – Trajan arrives in Rome and celebrates a triumph for his victories over the Dacians 303 A.D. — martyrdom of Felicissimus, Heraclius, and others at what is now Todi [...]
This Day in Ancient History: ante diem viii kalendas junias
ante diem viii kalendas junias rites in honour of Fortuna Publica Populi Romani Quiritium Primigenia on the Quirinal hill 585 B.C. — Thales possibly predicted the eclipse on this day 302 A.D. — martyrdom of Julius of Durostorum and companions
Vidfest: We’re all Spartacus
I thought of tying this to the Times piece (below) but it seems sufficiently different to warrant its own little chunk of rogueclassicism. The incipit of a column in the Post … where possible, I’ve interspersed bits from Youtub of the clip in question: 1. In the Stanley Kubrick epic “Spartacus,” the Romans offer slaves [...]
This Day in Ancient History: ante diem ix kalendas junias
ante diem ix kalendas junias Quando Rex Comitavit Fas — the rex sacrorum had to perform some sort of ceremony before the day’s legal business could be conducted (possibly connected to the idea of Regifugium) 15 B.C. — birth of the emperor-to-be-who-never-was Germanicus (brother of the emperor Claudius) 299 A.D. — martyrdom of Donatian and [...]
The Curse of Cleopatra?
Image via Wikipedia I’ve really got to stop reading email … every time I open it, it seems, there’s something about Cleopatra’s tomb and it’s presented in such a way that I feel I HAVE to respond to it. The latest comes from the venerable Al-Ahram, whose reporter seems (as will be made clear later) [...]
This Day in Ancient History:ante diem xii kalendas junias
ante diem xii kalendas junias Agonalia — the rex sacrificulus would offer a ram to various deities rites in honour of Vediovis 429 B.C. — birth of Plato (by one reckoning) 70 A.D. — Roman forces break through Jerusalem’s middle wall 194 A.D.(?) – Septimius Severus acclaimed as Imperator 293 A.D. (?) — elevation of Galerius to the rank [...]
More Cleopatra Tomb Stuff
In my mailbox this a.m. is an interesting little piece from National Geographic which seems to be answering some of the questions I raised (again) a few days ago about the continuing claims about Taposiris Magna as the site for Tony and Cleo’s tomb (or mostly the latter, I suppose). The post is, ostensibly, about [...]
This Day in Ancient History: ante diem xiii kalendas junias
ante diem xiii kalendas junias 325 A.D. – Council of Nicaea opens (maybe) 1912 — birth of Moses Finley (Ancient Slavery and Modern Ideology, among others) 1957 — death of Gilbert Murray ((History of Ancient Greek Literature, among numerous other things)
This Day in Ancient History: ante diem xiv kalendas junias
ante diem xiv kalendas junias c. 160 A.D. — martyrdom of Pudentiana 175 A.D. – Commodus departs for Germany 307 A.D. — martyrdom of Cyriaca and companions at Nicomedia 1795 — death of James Boswell, author of Life of Dr. Johnson
This Day in Ancient History: ante diem xv kalendas junias
ante diem xv kalendas junias c. 250 A.D. — martyrdom of Venantius 304 A.D. — martyrdom of Theodotus 1692 — death of Elias Ashmole (founder of the museum that bears his name)
This Day in Ancient History: ante diem xvi kalendas junias
ante diem xvi kalendas junias 303 A.D. — martyrdom of Heradius 1510 — death of Botticelli (Birth of Venus, among other Classical subjects) 1902 — discovery of the Antikythera Mechanism
The Search for Cleopatra’s Tomb Redux
With a Cleopatra exhibition about to hit Philadelphia and plenty of hype to be associated with it (if it isn’t already), it seems like a good time to see what — if any — developments there have been in the search for Cleopatra’s tomb. To bring folks up to speed, after finds of statuary linked [...]
