• ludi compitales — day three of a moveable festival which might occur anytime between Saturnalia and January 5. It was largely a rural occasion involving woollen dolls being made to represent each free member of the household (simple woollen balls would be used to represent slaves) being hung up on the eve of the festival, presumably as offerings to the Lares. There would also follow more formal sacrifices at the compita (places where two farm paths crossed).
• 1906 — birth of Kathleen Kenyon (excavatrix of Jericho)

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LEGENDA
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[questionable headline]Archaeologists uncover ancient Roman city that holds strongest physical evidence supporting the Bible | Daily Mail Online
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-15409359/ancient-Roman-city-physical-evidence-Bible.html

[old news]Rare Photo Taken on 1895 Athens Roof Terrace Brought to Light – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2026/01/03/photo-1895-athens-roof-terrace/

Yes — Camels Really Lived in Basel During the Roman Era! – Arkeonews
https://arkeonews.net/yes-camels-really-lived-in-basel-during-the-roman-era/

Horror of Life on Roman Frontier Revealed in Gut-Wrenching Study : ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/horror-of-life-on-roman-frontier-revealed-in-gut-wrenching-study

Rare Intact Etruscan Tomb in Italy Discovered by International Baylor-led Archaeological Research Team | Media and Public Relations | Baylor University
https://news.web.baylor.edu/news/story/2025/rare-intact-etruscan-tomb-italy-discovered-international-baylor-led-archaeological

A 2,300-Year-Old Helmet from the Punic Wars Pulled From the Sea Tells the Story of the Battle That Made Rome an Empire
https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/roman-helmet-punic-wars-redo/

Hellenistic Etruria: how the Greeks influenced Etruscan art, religion and society
https://www.finestresullarte.info/en/works-and-artists/hellenistic-etruria-how-the-greeks-influenced-etruscan-art-religion-and-society

Rare Medieval Seal with Roman Chariot Gemstone Discovered in Essex, southeast England – Arkeonews
https://arkeonews.net/rare-medieval-seal-with-roman-chariot-gemstone-discovered-in-essex-southeast-england/

The Dark Secret Behind the Ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2026/01/04/secret-ancient-odeon-herodes-atticus-athens/

New study rewrites the origins of the Macedonian kingdom, dating Alexander the Great’s dynasty to the 6th century BCE | Archaeology News Online Magazine
https://archaeologymag.com/2026/01/new-study-rewrites-the-origins-of-the-macedonian-kingdom/

Greek God Hermes Statue Found in AncientCity of Laodicea – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2026/01/03/greek-god-hermes-statue-ancient-city-laodicea/

Is the Costume Controversy in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Actually Fair?
https://collider.com/christopher-nolan-the-odyssey-costume-controversy/

Princeton’s ‘champion of anti-racism in classics’ to leave for Arizona State U. | The College Fix

Princeton’s ‘champion of anti-racism in classics’ to leave for Arizona State U.

Ephemeris ~ DE VENETIOLA Inpetus nocturnus a Civitatibus Coniunctis
https://ephemerisnuntii.eu/nuntius.php?id=2456

Jerome, Letter 93 – online in English – Roger Pearse

Jerome, Letter 93 – online in English

If You Tolerate This… | Sphinx

If You Tolerate This…

December Reading Notes – Noodlings

December Reading Notes

Spencer Alley: Antiquarum Statuarum Urbis Romae
https://spenceralley.blogspot.com/2026/01/antiquarum-statuarum-urbis-romae.html

Vragen rond de jaarwisseling (3) – Mainzer Beobachter

Vragen rond de jaarwisseling (3)

De Dame van Elche – Mainzer Beobachter

De Dame van Elche

PaleoJudaica.com: Urtext and Variance (Peeters)
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/01/urtext-and-variance-peeters.html

PaleoJudaica.com: Arielli, The Dead Sea (Yale)
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/01/arielli-dead-sea-yale.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Relations et interactions culturelles dans la région circumpontique
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2026/01/relations-et-interactions-culturelles.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Marginalization and Marginal Groups in Byzantium: Prostitutes, Actors, and Tavernkeepers
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2026/01/marginalization-and-marginal-groups-in.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Fashioning Immortality: Comparative Studies in Three Pindaric Odes
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2026/01/fashioning-immortality-comparative.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: The Modern Hammurapi: An Old Babylonian King in Imperial Germany
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-modern-hammurapi-old-babylonian.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Time of Textiles in Ancient Greece
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2026/01/time-of-textiles-in-ancient-greece.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Das Erfassen von Zeit im Kontext der Vergangenheit: Zu den Anfängen der hethitischen historischen Erzählungen
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2026/01/das-erfassen-von-zeit-im-kontext-der.html

Cultural relations and interactions in the circumpontic region | Spartokos has read

Relations et interactions culturelles dans la région circumpontique

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AUDIENDA
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Anima Latina 04.01.2026 – Podcast – Radio Vaticana – Vatican News
https://www.vaticannews.va/it/podcast/rvi-programmi/anima-latina/2026/01/anima-latina-04-01-2026.html

Audio-Nachrichten auf Latein 03.01.2026 – Vatican News
https://www.vaticannews.va/de/podcast/audio-nachrichten-auf-latein/2026/01/audio-nachrichten-auf-latein-03-01-2026.html

Episode A8 – Who Was King | THE ANCIENT WORLD

Episode A8 – Who Was King

Rise of Christianity – The Ancients | Acast

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VIDENDA
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(346) How One Bodyguard Almost Took Over the Roman Empire – YouTube

(351) Auld Lang Syne in Latin! Happy New Year! Fēlīcem Annum Novum! – YouTube

(352) The Life-Changing Lessons of Stoicism – YouTube

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NOTANDA
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explorator 28.01 ~ January 4, 2026 – Explorator

explorator 28.01 ~ January 4, 2026

• ludi compitales — day two of a moveable festival which might occur anytime between Saturnalia and January 5. It was largely a rural occasion involving woollen dolls being made to represent each free member of the household (simple woollen balls would be used to represent slaves) being hung up on the eve of the festival, presumably as offerings to the Lares. There would also follow more formal sacrifices at the compita (places where two farm paths crossed).
• 1785 — birth of Jacob Grimm

• ludi compitales (day 1) — really a moveable festival which might occur anytime between Saturnalia and January 5. It was largely a rural occasion involving woollen dolls being made to represent each free member of the household (simple woollen balls would be used to represent slaves) being hung up on the eve of the festival, presumably as offerings to the Lares. There would also follow more formal sacrifices at the compita (places where two farm paths crossed).
• 106 B.C. — birth of Marcus Tullius Cicero at Arpinum
• 1943 — death of F.M. Cornford (translator and commentator of Plato, among other things … quote: “Every action which is not customary either is wrong, or if it is right, is a dangerous precedent. It follows that nothing should ever be done for the first time.”)

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LEGENDA
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Ancient Industrial Complex and Roman Necropolis Discovered in Egypt’s Western Nile Delta
https://greekcitytimes.com/2026/01/02/ancient-industrial-complex-and-roman-necropolis-discovered-in-egypts-western-nile-delta/?amp

Grace of Ancient Art Emerges in Laodikeia: Hermes Sculpture Head Discovered in Ongoing Excavations – Arkeonews
https://arkeonews.net/grace-of-ancient-art-emerges-in-laodikeia-hermes-sculpture-head-discovered-in-ongoing-excavations/

‘Unusual’ Roman-era discoveries unearthed in biblical city surprise archaeologists: ‘Completely unexpected’ | New York Post
https://nypost.com/2026/01/02/world-news/unusual-roman-era-discoveries-unearthed-in-biblical-city-surprise-archaeologists-completely-unexpected/

What were books like in ancient Greece and Rome?
https://theconversation.com/what-were-books-like-in-ancient-greece-and-rome-267872

Myth and Marble at Kimbell Art Museum by Patrick R. Crowley review
https://www.artforum.com/events/myth-and-marble-torlonia-kimbell-art-museum-review-1234741526/

Bedford Roman villa volunteers hoping to return after big find
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5qwpv3l6wo

Northumberland fort’s large Roman shoes to go on display
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gpnn090kko

Early Christian fresco depicting Jesus as the Good Shepherd discovered in Turkey
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/science/article/2026/01/01/early-christian-fresco-depicting-jesus-as-the-good-shepherd-discovered-in-turkey_6748985_10.html

How an Ancient Vase From Mykonos Redraws the Trojan War – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2026/01/02/vase-mykonos-redrew-trojan-war/

The Greek Myth of Demeter and Persephone Reinterpreted | Psychology Today United Kingdom
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/maternal-ambivalence/202601/the-greek-myth-of-demeter-and-persephone-reinterpreted

Etruscans and Veneti: an exhibition in Venice on the fundamental role of water in the sacred and society
https://www.finestresullarte.info/en/exhibitions/etruscans-and-veneti-an-exhibition-in-venice-on-the-fundamental-role-of-water-in-the-sacred-and-society

The Mother Who Starved the Gods: The Fury of Demeter | History Hit

The Mother Who Starved the Gods: The Fury of Demeter

Return With Wisdom: An Ancient Principle for the New Year | Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/platonic-psychology/202512/return-with-wisdom-an-ancient-principle-for-the-new-year

New Research Questions the Origins of the Macedonian Kingdom and Alexander’s Dynasty: Was the True Founding in 575 B.C.?

New Research Questions the Origins of the Macedonian Kingdom and Alexander’s Dynasty: Was the True Founding in 575 B.C.?

‘Escape From Pompeii’ Review: Life After the Eruption – WSJ
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/escape-from-pompeii-review-life-after-the-eruption-c985f08f

Historie anime is officially greenlit – Everything you need to know
https://www.soapcentral.com/anime/news-historie-anime-is-officially-greenlit-everything-you-need-to-know

The Temple of Akhmim and Ancient Egyptian Pyramids as Chemical Plants – JASON COLAVITO
https://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/the-temple-of-akhmim-and-ancient-egyptian-pyramids-as-chemical-plants

The Ancient Olympic Games And How Fighter Tournament Brackets Were Selected – The Historian’s Hut

The Ancient Olympic Games And How Fighter Tournament Brackets Were Selected

Sir James Frazer and New Year’s babies | Blog post | Mary Beard

Sir James Frazer and New Year’s babies

Spencer Alley: Ovidians – III
https://spenceralley.blogspot.com/2025/12/ovidians-iii.html

Jerome, Letter 154, to Donatus – online in English – Roger Pearse

Jerome, Letter 154, to Donatus – online in English

Jerome, Letter 153, to Pope Boniface I – online in English – Roger Pearse

Jerome, Letter 153, to Pope Boniface I – online in English

The Purpose of Speech? Dissent and Freedom of Speech in the Assembly of Iliad 9 – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE

The Purpose of Speech? Dissent and Freedom of Speech in the Assembly of Iliad 9

My 2025 in Books – Noodlings

My 2025 in Books

Laudator Temporis Acti: What’s Done Can’t Be Undone
https://laudatortemporisacti.blogspot.com/2026/01/whats-done-cant-be-undone.html

Voor-westerse geschiedenis (2): landschap – Mainzer Beobachter

Voor-westerse geschiedenis (2): landschap

Eerbewijzen voor Julius Caesar – Mainzer Beobachter

Eerbewijzen voor Julius Caesar

PaleoJudaica.com: Bible Archaeology Report 2025 top ten
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/01/bible-archaeology-report-2025-top-ten.html

PaleoJudaica.com: ECT reviews Baker, Why a “New Testament?
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/01/ect-reviews-baker-why-new-testament.html

PaleoJudaica.com: New bill proposes to extend Israeli authority over West Bank
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/01/new-bill-proposes-to-extend-israeli.html

PaleoJudaica.com: Sifting Project unearths a siege slingstone
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/01/sifting-project-unearths-siege.html

PaleoJudaica.com: Six lost cities that are still lost
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/01/six-lost-cities-that-are-still-lost.html

PaleoJudaica.com: On the origin of Hanukkah
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/01/on-origin-of-hanukkah.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: List of Open Access Journals in Ancient Studies
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2015/12/alphabetical-list-of-open-access.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Alphabetical List of Open Access Monograph Series in Ancient Studies
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2014/06/alphabetical-list-of-open-access.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Open Access Ancient Language Textbooks, OERs, and Primers
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2009/09/open-access-textbooks.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Roundup of Resources on Ancient Geography
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2012/09/roundup-of-resources-on-ancient.html
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AUDIENDA
===========================================================
Ancient History Podcast – Greek Mythology with Carolina López-Ruiz
https://www.karwansaraypublishers.com/en-ca/blogs/ancient-history-blog/ancient-history-podcast-greek-mythology-with-carolina-lopez-ruiz

How the ninety percent experienced the Roman economy, with Kim Bowes – Medievalists.net

How the ninety percent experienced the Roman economy, with Kim Bowes

Ancient Warfare Podcast: AWA390 – Roman Military Signalling
https://ancientwarfare.libsyn.com/awa390-roman-military-signalling

Anima Latina 01.01.2026 – Podcast – Radio Vaticana – Vatican News
https://www.vaticannews.va/it/podcast/rvi-programmi/anima-latina/2026/01/anima-latina-01-01-2026.html

How Did Ancient Romans become Christians? – Dan Snow’s History Hit | Acast

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VIDENDA
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(322) Sing, Muse, of A Complicated Man: Why the Narrative Structure of The Odyssey is VITAL. – YouTube

(322) Did Odysseus Really Exist? – YouTube

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NOTANDA
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SAM Newsletter January 2026
https://mailchi.mp/cd71a7d1e5ab/sam-newsletter-january-2026?e=875f90a671

Assessing the impact of Roman occupation on England through the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis | Antiquity | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/assessing-the-impact-of-roman-occupation-on-england-through-the-developmental-origins-of-health-and-disease-dohad-hypothesis/921B8AB243C77B712498B9D56693EB72