Major Roman Canal from Portus!
The incipit of a very interesting item from the Telegraph: Scholars discovered the 100-yard-wide (90-metre-wide) canal at Portus, the ancient maritime port through which goods from all over the Empire were shipped to Rome for more than 400 years. The archaeologists, from the universities of Cambridge and Southampton and the British School at Rome, believe [...]
This Day in Ancient History
[a couple of years ago I was experimenting with this format] ante diem iii nonas quinctilias Poplifugia — a festival the origins of which were forgotten by the time folks began writing about things; it possibly commemorates the flight of the people from Gauls in the fourth century, but that seems a rather strange thing [...]
This Day in Ancient History: ante diem xviii kalendas quinctilias
Image by mharrsch via Flickr ante diem xviii kalendas quinctilias Quinquatrus minusculae (day 2) — a five-day festival honouring the birthday (maybe) of Minerva 510/509 B.C. — establishment of the Roman Republic (source?) 287 — martyrdom of Rufinus
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
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
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 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 [...]
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
Commemorating Rome on the Danube
Interesting press release from the Austrian Mint: For some five centuries the River Danube formed an essential part of ancient Rome’s northern border against the barbarian tribes of Germania. The Austrian Mint’s new silver series called “Rome on the Danube” breathes life back into the ruined remains of the towns and forts that played such [...]
Oh Noes! Mortar Falling Off Colosseum!
Image by xiquinhosilva via Flickr A brief AP report is making the rounds detailing something of concern about the Colosseum. Here’s the incipit of a representative piece from the Globe: Rome archaeology officials say three chunks of mortar have fallen off from the Colosseum but that no one was hurt and tourist visits will go [...]
Carin Green on Tutulina, Sessia, and Messia
Image via Wikipedia I think this will be the last one from the Toledo series that I post today … one could kill a lot of time with these: The Circus Maximus is generally considered a place of spectacle where emperors indulged an impotent public with displays of power and largess to ensure public complacency. [...]
