• Saturnalia continues (day 7)
• Larentalia — a funerary ritual at the purported tomb of Acca Larentia, who was the wife of the shepherd who found Romulus and Remus being suckled by the she-wolf.
• rites in honour of the Tempestates, which seems to be a Latin translation of the Punic divinity ‘Ba’al of the skies’ (i.e. this was a divinity taken over by the Romans, probably during the Punic Wars)
• 179 B.C. — dedication of a Temple of Diana and A Temple of Juno Regina in the Campus Martius by M. Aemilius Lepidus
• 250 A.D. — martyrdom of the Ten Martyrs of Crete

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LEGENDA
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Roman Handprints, Preserved Textiles and Possible DNA Found in Rare Gypsum Burial in England – Arkeonews
https://arkeonews.net/roman-handprints-preserved-textiles-and-possible-dna-found-in-rare-gypsum-burial-in-england/

Archaeologists at Pompeii Unearth Lavish Frescoes Linked to Nero’s Wife
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/villa-de-poppea-frescoes-2733430?amp=1

Nahavand’s tumulus-shaped tomb could shed light on Seleucid era: archaeologist – Tehran Times
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/521971/Nahavand-s-tumulus-shaped-tomb-could-shed-light-on-Seleucid-era

Archaeologist says pomegranate origin traces back to the Iranian plateau – Tehran Times
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/521944/Archaeologist-says-pomegranate-origin-traces-back-to-the-Iranian

Ancient treasures unveiled: The Royal Palace of Pella opens to the public with stunning Hellenistic statues – ProtoThema English

Ancient treasures unveiled: The Royal Palace of Pella opens to the public with stunning Hellenistic statues

British Museum to keep Parthenon Sculptures on display despite major renovation | eKathimerini.com
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1290578/british-museum-to-keep-parthenon-sculptures-on-display-during-major-renovation/

[old news]Lost Writings of Archimedes Revealed After Centuries by Particle Accelerator – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/22/lost-writings-archimedes-particle-accelerator/

[wtf?]India Discovers Its Largest Ancient Circular Labyrinth Linked to Roman Trade Routes – Arkeonews
https://arkeonews.net/india-discovers-its-largest-ancient-circular-labyrinth-linked-to-roman-trade-routes/

Microscopic Analysis of Roman Poop Proves Their Engineering Couldn’t Save Them From Parasites
https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/microscopic-analysis-of-roman-poop-proves-their-engineering-couldnt-save-them-from-parasites/

Archaeologists stunned to find beans and fruit remains in Pompeii slave quarters | Fox News
https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/archaeologists-reveal-nutritious-food-remains-discovered-ancient-villa-quarters

Ancient Greek mosaic found at site of Hatay building destroyed in 2023 quakes
https://bianet.org/haber/ancient-greek-mosaic-found-at-site-of-hatay-building-destroyed-in-2023-quakes-314766#lg=1&slide=2

Inscription on Roman sitella in Cartagena reveals unknown governor and casting-lot use | Archaeology News Online Magazine
https://archaeologymag.com/2025/12/inscription-on-roman-sitella-found-in-cartagena/

Israel boosts archaeological enforcement and excavations in the West Bank
https://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/ryg34ihx11x

[nb headline changed … not news] Unbelievable Pompeii find stuns historians | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site for latest headlines
https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/archaeology/graffiti-discovered-at-pompeii-gives-unique-insight-into-ancient-italian-life/news-story/44b3010eba03a86e9c6d2373403c9b20

What Pompeii Looked Like Hours Before Its Destruction: A Reconstruction | Open Culture

What Pompeii Looked Like Hours Before Its Destruction: A Reconstruction

How the future is unlocking our past: the role of AI and physics in decoding ancient texts – The Boar

How the future is unlocking our past: the role of AI and physics in decoding ancient texts

Jackie Chan carries the Milan Cortina Olympic torch through Pompeii | AP News
https://apnews.com/article/pompeii-jackie-chan-milan-cortina-99bff97496cecef14b8a38bd69cee6b7

MAGA’s Carthage Moment? Why Donald Trump’s empire might crumble because of decay within | World News – The Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/magas-carthage-moment-how-donald-trumps-empire-might-crumble-because-of-decay-within/articleshow/126124113.cms

Stranded in Iliad 8 with Nestor and Diomedes: On Reading Homer and Neoanalysis – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE

Stranded in Iliad 8 with Nestor and Diomedes: On Reading Homer and Neoanalysis

Jerome, Letter 148, to Celantia – or rather, a letter of Pelagius? – Roger Pearse

Jerome, Letter 148, to Celantia – or rather, a letter of Pelagius?

How an Obscure Character in the ‘Iliad’ Gave Us the English Word ‘Pander’ – Tales of Times Forgotten

How an Obscure Character in the ‘Iliad’ Gave Us the English Word ‘Pander’

Augustine in the Cairo Genizah | Variant Readings

Augustine in the Cairo Genizah

Metadata Monday: Blogs are BACK, Baby! | Archaeology of the Mediterranean World

Metadata Monday: Blogs are BACK, Baby!

Finally—letters in Scroll 4! – Vesuvius Challenge
https://scrollprize.substack.com/p/finallyletters-in-scroll-4?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1454609&post_id=182222024&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=q7tlq&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

Laudator Temporis Acti: Greek Sacrificial Ritual
https://laudatortemporisacti.blogspot.com/2025/12/greek-sacrificial-ritual.html

PaleoJudaica.com: Raja & Seland (eds.), Palmyra, the Roman Empire, and the Third Century Crisis (Steiner)
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2025/12/raja-seland-eds-palmyra-roman-empire.html

PaleoJudaica.com: A contemporary drawing of King Hezekiah in Sennacherib’s palace?
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2025/12/a-contemporary-drawing-of-king-hezekiah.html

PaleoJudaica.com: Review of Conybeare, Augustine the African
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2025/12/review-of-conybeare-augustine-african.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Être vieux dans le monde grec: De Solon à Philopœmen
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/etre-vieux-dans-le-monde-grec-de-solon.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Corinthe et ses ailleurs: Voyages de Médée au théâtre, d’Euripide au contemporain
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/corinthe-et-ses-ailleurs-voyages-de.html
===========================================================
AUDIENDA
===========================================================
TCP Talking Disability: Dyslex…–The Classics Podcast – Apple Podcasts

King Herod – Dan Snow’s History Hit | Acast

===========================================================
VIDENDA
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(142) The Odyssey | Official Trailer – YouTube

(143) Discovery in Jerusalem’s Old City Reveals Wall Dating Back to Era of First Hanukkah – YouTube

(143) There was no evidence of Babylon’s Hanging Gardens – until now – YouTube

(143) The Empire that Rivalled Rome – YouTube

• Saturnalia continues (day 6)
• 179 B.C. — dedication of a Temple of the Lares Permarini (and associated rites thereafter); these Lares protected sailors
• 303 A.D. — martyrdom of Zeno of Nicomedia
• 1848 — birth of Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorf

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LEGENDA
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Elgin Marbles will stay on display despite £1bn refurbishment | The Standard
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/elgin-marbles-display-ps1bn-refurbishment-b1263509.html

Pliny the Elder and the Mystery of Creta Umbrica: An Ancient Material Reidentified by Modern Science – Arkeonews
https://arkeonews.net/pliny-the-elder-and-the-mystery-of-creta-umbrica-an-ancient-material-reidentified-by-modern-science/

Archaeologists find a rare sitella in Cartagena
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2025/12/archaeologists-find-a-rare-sitella-in-cartagena/156628

Ancient sewers expose a hidden health crisis in Roman Britain | ScienceDaily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251221043221.htm

Restoration Works Commence for Ancient Theatre of Calydon
https://greekcitytimes.com/2025/12/21/restoration-works-commence-for-ancient-theatre-of-calydon/

Bringing the Ancient World to Gonzaga | Gonzaga University
https://www.gonzaga.edu/news-events/stories/2025/12/17/bringing-the-ancient-world-to-gonzaga

Bologna, a rare Etruscan bronze stolen in 1963 returned to the Archaeological Museum
https://www.finestresullarte.info/en/news/bologna-a-rare-etruscan-bronze-stolen-in-1963-returned-to-the-archaeological-museum

New Elymaean Rock Carving in Iran Shows Possible Parallels with the Hercules–Hydra Motif Known from 325 BC Greek Coinage – Arkeonews
https://arkeonews.net/new-elymaean-rock-carving-in-iran-shows-possible-parallels-with-the-hercules-hydra-motif-known-from-325-bc-greek-coinage/

Underground church, Mithraeum set for restoration at Türkiye’s Zerzevan Castle – Türkiye Today
https://www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/underground-church-mithraeum-set-for-restoration-at-turkiyes-zerzevan-castle-3211654

Chicken Bones Reveal Exact Date of Ancient Greek City’s Destruction – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/21/destruction-ancient-greek-city-scythopolis/

Roman villa brought to life by Minecraft reconstruction | Oxford Mail
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/25701395.roman-villa-brought-life-minecraft-reconstruction/

Ancient Vase Reveals Greek Goddess Aphrodite as First Mom to Spank Her Child with a Sandal – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/21/mother-spank-child-sandal-greek-goddess/

Was Helen Really to Blame for the Trojan War – or Just a Scapegoat? – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/20/helen-blame-trojan-war/

How Was Winter Solstice Celebrated in Ancient Greece? – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/21/winter-solstice-ancient-greece/

Mysterious Greek Inscription on Ancient Sphinx Deciphered – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/21/inscription-sphinx-deciphered-greek/

Sappho, the Ancient Greek Poet – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/20/sappho-poet-fragments/

Why the Roman Empire still captivates us – Salon.com
https://www.salon.com/2025/12/20/why-the-roman-empire-still-captivates-us/

‘The Odyssey’ Prologue Is Playing in Theaters – Here Are the 5 Biggest Reveals
https://movieweb.com/the-odyssey-christopher-nolan-biggest-reveals-prologue-scene/

Wishing the Impossible: Hektor in Iliad 8 – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE

Wishing the Impossible: Hektor in Iliad 8

A Man’s Gotta do…But Why This? Part 2 Hercules’ Labors and Other Problems
https://www.pilgrimtothepast.com/post/a-man-s-gotta-do-but-why-this-part-2-hercules-labors-and-other-problems

Irving Finkel Claims Göbekli Tepe Plaquette Is Early Evidence of a Writing System – JASON COLAVITO
https://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/irving-finkel-claims-gobekli-tepe-plaquette-is-early-evidence-of-a-writing-system

Practicalities of Letter Delivery in Antiquity | Variant Readings

Practicalities of Letter Delivery in Antiquity

Early Medieval and Roman Remains Discovered in York – Medievalists.net

Early Medieval and Roman Remains Discovered in York

Weekly Varia no. 161, 12/21/25 – Noodlings

Weekly Varia no. 161, 12/21/25

Intermission: Battle Pulses – A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry

Intermission: Battle Pulses

De metro van Rome (1): het begin – Mainzer Beobachter

De metro van Rome (1): het begin

De metro van Rome (2): een ingewikkeld stuk – Mainzer Beobachter

De metro van Rome (2): een ingewikkeld stuk

Zoon van de Allerhoogste – Mainzer Beobachter

Zoon van de Allerhoogste

PaleoJudaica.com: Ackerman, Maturity, Marriage, Motherhood, Mortality (OUP)
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2025/12/ackerman-maturity-marriage-motherhood.html

PaleoJudaica.com: Ackerman, Maturity, Marriage, Motherhood, Mortality (OUP)
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2025/12/ackerman-maturity-marriage-motherhood.html

PaleoJudaica.com: van der Schoor, Rewriting Generations of Truth (Brill)
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2025/12/van-der-schoor-rewriting-generations-of.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Gender and methodology in the ancient Near East: approaches from assyriology and beyond
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/gender-and-methodology-in-ancient-near.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Apocalipsis del Pseudo Atanasio [ApPsAt(ar)II]. Edición, traducción anotada y estudio
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/apocalipsis-del-pseudo-atanasio.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Papyri Universitatis Lupiensis. Papiri greci ed egiziani (PUL I 1-20)
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/papyri-universitatis-lupiensis-papiri.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Papyri Universitatis Lupiensis. Papiri greci di epoca tolemaica (PUL II 21-40)
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/papyri-universitatis-lupiensis-papiri_21.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Being Pagan, Being Christian in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/being-pagan-being-christian-in-late.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Rays of Language: Linguistic Perspectives on Non-Literary Papyri and Related Sources
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/rays-of-language-linguistic.html

Nadya Williams’ Christians Reading Classics: A New Look at Ancient Literature (Member Post) › Ricochet
https://ricochet.com/1909565/nadya-williams-christians-reading-classics-a-new-look-at-ancient-literature/
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AUDIENDA
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Anima Latina 21.12.2025 – Podcast – Radio Vaticana – Vatican News
https://www.vaticannews.va/it/podcast/rvi-programmi/anima-latina/2025/12/anima-latina-21-12-2025.html

Emperor Diocletian and the Great Persecution – The Ancients | Acast

Audio-Nachrichten auf Latein 20.12.2025 – Vatican News
https://www.vaticannews.va/de/podcast/audio-nachrichten-auf-latein/2025/12/audio-nachrichten-auf-latein-20-12-2025.html

114: The Nabataean Kingdom–The Hellenistic Age Podcast – Apple Podcasts

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VIDENDA
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(119) The Big Ancient Greek Dig | Time Team X Crew (Vlochos) FEATURE LENGTH SPECIAL – YouTube

(120) Roman Farm Life — Villa Regina — Latin – YouTube

(121) De pluribus sermonibus simul colendis, cum Vincentio Nguien – YouTube

(121) Lasers turn back time on Rome’s Column of Marcus Aurelius | REUTERS – YouTube

(121) Rome’s Most Brutal Urban Warfare – The Siege of Carthage (Part 6) – YouTube

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NOTANDA
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explorator 27.53 ~ December 21, 2025 – Explorator

explorator 27.53 ~ December 21, 2025

• Saturnalia continues (day 4) – major, popular festival in honour of Saturn with banquets, the wearing of soft caps (pilei), and general good cheer. Shops and schools were closed, gambling was legally permitted, gifts were exchanged and masters might even wait on their servants. Obviously this festival is often seen as a precursor to our modern-day Christmas celebrations.
• 69 A.D. — supporters of the Flavians capture Rome; murder of the emperor-for-a-little-while Vitellius