ante diem iii idus octobres

• Fontinalia — a festival in honour of the divinity Fons, who presided over springs and wells; such sources of water were festooned with garlands for the occasion
• 54 A.D. — death of the emperor Claudius, purportedly succumbing to a plate of poisoned mushrooms dished up by his niece/wife Agrippina; dies imperii of Nero (son of Agrippina)

My patience with this one grew thin years ago but seeing as Discovery News has put up a video claiming the ‘Lupercal’ (i.e. the grove where Romulus and Remus were raised by a that lupine thing) I figure I should say something. Ecce (I can’t embed it here … sorry):

• History: Mythical Roman ‘She-Wolf’ Cave Discovered

… as I mentioned the second time this story came around, there really isn’t anything new here. There is a detail (this time enunciated by some engineer as opposed to a Carandini or LaRegina vel simm) about the shape of the structure which might be new and the detail about the structure being below the level of the river, which happens to match up vaguely with the legend. But in the past, I — and several others — have pointed out that the decorations really have nothing Lupercaliaish about them and the structure seems to be more likely some imperial nymphaeum. You can work your way through the previous coverage (presented in chronological order):

• Lupercal Found? (January 2007)
• Lupercal (re)(re)Discovered? (November 2007 … the claim returns to the press)
• Further Thoughts on the ‘Lupercal’ (November 2007 … this is when folks began doubting the claims)
• Lupercal Redux (November 2007)
• Lupercal Explanation? (December 2007 … weird explanation for the timing of the announcement)
• “Lupercal” Followup (January 2008 … more of the claims)
• ‘Lupercal’ Again (January 2008 … ditto)
• Rererethinking the Lupercal (February 2008 … more doubting)
• Another Take on the Lupercal (March 2008 … a letter to the editor suggests nymphaeum)
• Rutelli and the Lupercale (March 2008 … I cite some ancient sources in this one in regards to location of the Lupercal)

… just when I was starting to think good things about journalists in regards to skepticism about yetis and krakens …

Adrian Murdoch continues the series with another guy who liked to throw up walls:

• #37 Aurelian: Emperors of Rome

ante diem iv idus octobres

• 19 B.C. — Augustus returns from various eastern campaigns
• 166 A.D. — co-emperor Lucius Verus celebrates a triumph for his victories over the Persians; future emperor Commodus is given the rank of Caesar

Lorna Robinson scripsit on the Classicists list:

We’re very pleased to announce that our new website Iris online is now live! Iris online is the new website for Iris magazine, our termly magazine which has been sent free to state schools across the UK for some years. Over the next few weeks we will be putting up the entire archives of the past five years of Iris magazine, as well as adding new content to the site every day. You will also find videos of Iris lessons and other extra material which will be regularly updated.

You can find Iris online at http://irisonline.org.uk/ – we hope you enjoy the site, and welcome any comments or ideas about it – you can reach us via this email or at editor AT irismagazine.org

The Iris Project is an educational charity introducing the languages and culture of the ancient world to UK state schools in order to enrich the curriculum. It was founded in the belief that the opportunity to learn about Classical languages, literature, histories and art should be made available to all, regardless of background, and that learning about these fascinating subjects can be a vital tool in promoting learning across the school curriculum in UK state schools. We run a wide range of initiatives in state schools across the country, focusing especially on children in socially excluded inner city regions, and we also run projects which introduce Classics to adults in city communities.

… and while you’re poking around the site, you just might come across an interview with yours truly!