- Rites in honour of Tellus, the earth goddess which perhaps included a lectisternium (a ‘dinner party’ at which images of the god(s) would ‘dine’ with participants) in honour of Ceres.
- 405 B.C. — battle of Aegospotami (by one reckoning)
- 304 A.D. — martyrdom of Lucy of Syracuse
- 1783 — Death of Samuel Johnson
ROGUECLASSICIST’S BULLETIN ~ December 12, 2025
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LEGENDA
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Italy arrests 34 ‘tomb raiders’ suspected of looting archaeological sites | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/world/italy-arrests-34-tomb-raiders-suspected-looting-archaeological-sites-2025-12-12/
‘They had not been seen ever before’: Romans made liquid gypsum paste and smeared it over the dead before burial, leaving fingerprints behind, new research finds | Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/they-had-not-been-seen-ever-before-romans-made-liquid-gypsum-paste-and-smeared-it-over-the-dead-before-burial-leaving-fingerprints-behind-new-research-finds
Archaeologists uncover Hellenistic goddess head revealing Türkiye’s Metropolis sculpture secrets – Türkiye Today
https://www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/archaeologists-uncover-hellenistic-goddess-head-revealing-turkiyes-metropolis-sculptu-3211215
» First Material Evidence of Judah Maccabee’s Battlefield Discovered Near Jerusalem
First Material Evidence of Judah Maccabee’s Battlefield Discovered Near Jerusalem
AS Gela emerge uno stilo a forma di Erma di Dioniso
https://www.agi.it/cultura/news/2025-12-11/gela-stilo-erma-dioniso-archeologia-34598737/
Roman occupation of Britain damaged the population’s health | New Scientist
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2508181-roman-occupation-of-britain-damaged-the-populations-health/
Archaeologists Discover Rare Ancient Egyptian ‘Pleasure Boat’ in Alexandria Port
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ancient-egyptian-pleasure-boat-portus-magnus-2725487
Historians Say This Rare Mosaic Found on a British Farm Depicts Scenes From a Long-Lost Account of the Trojan War
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historians-say-this-rare-mosaic-found-on-a-british-farm-depicts-scenes-from-a-long-lost-account-of-the-trojan-war-180987814/
Tomb of Ancient Greek Noblewoman Discovered – Biblical Archaeology Society
Sgominata una rete internazionale di tombaroli: sequestrati 12mila reperti archeologici. Arrestate 56 persone tra Italia e Germania
https://www.quotidiano.net/cronaca/scavi-clandestini-beni-archeologici-arresti-cvehg2ls
Thousands of stolen ancient treasures recovered from ‘tomb raiders’ | The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/italy-sicily-calabria-tomb-raiders-treasures-b2883570.html
In a Remote Egyptian Port, Roman Officers May Have Proven Their Status by Owning Exotic Monkeys From India
https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/roman-port-egypt-monkeys/
Why Did Ancient Greek Men Preferred Beards? – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/11/ancient-greek-men-beards/
How Etruscan Cities Emerged and Evolved in Ancient Italy – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/12/etruscan-cities-emerge-evolve-ancient-italy/
‘Troy’ themed exhibition set to bring Türkiye-Italy cultural partnership back to Rome in 2026 – Türkiye Today
https://www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/troy-themed-exhibition-set-to-bring-turkiye-italy-cultural-partnership-back-to-rome-i-3211229
Israel preparing largest ever ‘archeological cleansing’ in West Bank
https://www.972mag.com/sebastia-archeological-cleansing-west-bank/
[paywalled] Were the Romans good for Britain?
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/were-the-romans-good-for-britain/
‘Artificial intelligence’ myths have existed for centuries—from the ancient Greeks to a Pope’s chatbot
https://phys.org/news/2025-12-artificial-intelligence-myths-centuries-ancient.html
Jerome and the letters of Procopius of Gaza – Roger Pearse
Friday Varia and Quick Hits | Archaeology of the Mediterranean World
Laudator Temporis Acti: Inglorious Old Age
https://laudatortemporisacti.blogspot.com/2025/12/inglorious-old-age.html
Faits divers (45) – Mainzer Beobachter
Tragedy! | Sphinx
Proofreading for idiots | Blog post | Mary Beard
Erasing the Past: The Achaean Wall and Homeric Fame – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
Learn Latin Through Interlinear Stories: A Beginner’s Reader with 27 Topical Chapters (Latin – English Interlinear Text) (B) Smith, pp. 140. Independently published. Paperback, £9.99. ISBN: 979-8230642985 | Journal of Classics Teaching | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-classics-teaching/article/learn-latin-through-interlinear-stories-a-beginners-reader-with-27-topical-chapters-latin-english-interlinear-text-b-smith-pp-140-independently-published-paperback-999-isbn-9798230642985/451E79F0BBA5B4A92FBFA4E8970CBDCC?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles
The Odyssey in 1000 Pieces: A Storytelling Jigsaw Puzzle (D.) Daisy, London: Thames & Hudson, 2024. £20. (https://thamesandhudson.com/the-odyssey-in-1000-pieces-9780500421062) | Journal of Classics Teaching | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-classics-teaching/article/odyssey-in-1000-pieces-a-storytelling-jigsaw-puzzle-d-daisy-london-thames-hudson-2024-20-httpsthamesandhudsoncomtheodysseyin1000pieces9780500421062/3F0374314D03FA5F02386093AB9B1D96?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles
Lawless Republic: The Rise of Cicero and the Decline of Rome (J.) Osgood, Pp. x + 373, ills, maps. New York: Basic Books, 2025. Cased, US$32. ISBN: 978-1-5416-0425-4 | Journal of Classics Teaching | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-classics-teaching/article/lawless-republic-the-rise-of-cicero-and-the-decline-of-rome-j-osgood-pp-x-373-ills-maps-new-york-basic-books-2025-cased-us32-isbn-9781541604254/B946E81145B69EE2BD345BFD84B1C75E?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles
Erictho, Tartorum Terror: A Witchy Latin Reader (V.) Kaplun, (J.) McCormack Tiered Selections from Book VI of Lucan’s De Bello Civili. Pp. xxxiv + 92, ills, map. Lupus Alatus, 2024. Paper, £14.99. ISBN: 979-8-99-18740-7. (https://lupusalatus.com/erictho) | Journal of Classics Teaching | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-classics-teaching/article/erictho-tartorum-terror-a-witchy-latin-reader-v-kaplun-j-mccormack-tiered-selections-from-book-vi-of-lucans-de-bello-civili-pp-xxxiv-92-ills-map-lupus-alatus-2024-paper-1499-isbn-979899187407-httpslupusalatuscomerictho/18E63DE1FAC7E0701BB2F96848316853?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles
A Companion to the Aeneid in Translation: Volume I (C.) Tanfield Introduction and Indices. Pp. x + 294. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2025. Paper, £19.99 (Cased, £65). ISBN: 978-1-350-49949-2. – A Companion to the Aeneid in Translation: Volume 2 (C.) Tanfield Books 1-6. Pp. 416. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2025. Paper, £24.99 (Cased, £75). ISBN: 978-1-350-15711-8. – A Companion to the Aeneid in Translation: Volume 3 (C.) Tanfield Books 7-12. Pp. 472. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2025. Paper, £24.99 (Cased, £75). ISBN: 978-1-350-49954-6. | Journal of Classics Teaching | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-classics-teaching/article/companion-to-the-aeneid-in-translation-volume-i-c-tanfield-introduction-and-indices-pp-x-294-london-bloomsbury-academic-2025-paper-1999-cased-65-isbn-9781350499492-a-companion-to-the-aeneid-in-translation-volume-2-c-tanfield-books-16-pp-416-london-bloomsbury-academic-2025-paper-2499-cased-75-isbn-9781350157118-a-companion-to-the-aeneid-in-translation-volume-3-c-tanfield-books-712-pp-472-london-bloomsbury-academic-2025-paper-2499-cased-75-isbn-9781350499546/E10CC343548519A0C7BC5026121034FC?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles
Gladiators 1st–5th Centuries AD (F.) Gilbert Pp. 64, b/w & colour ills. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2024. Paper, £14.99. ISBN: 978-1-47286276-1 | Journal of Classics Teaching | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-classics-teaching/article/gladiators-1st5th-centuries-ad-f-gilbert-pp-64-bw-colour-ills-oxford-osprey-publishing-2024-paper-1499-isbn-9781472862761/4E1FF89D8D93B8F584F39DD28A21D5E3?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles
Top 50 Reasons to Love Vindolanda (B.) Birley, (E.M.) Greene, Pp. 96, b/w & colour ills, colour map. Stroud: Amberley Publishing, 2024. Paper, £15.99. ISBN: 978-1-3981-1658-0. | Journal of Classics Teaching | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-classics-teaching/article/top-50-reasons-to-love-vindolanda-b-birley-em-greene-pp-96-bw-colour-ills-colour-map-stroud-amberley-publishing-2024-paper-1599-isbn-9781398116580/23FB97DC985A7EF7D71908DA58E54F29?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles
Mystery Cults in the Ancient World (H.) Bowden, Pp. 320. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd., 2023. Paperback, £12.15. ISBN-13: 978-0500778623. | Journal of Classics Teaching | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-classics-teaching/article/mystery-cults-in-the-ancient-world-h-bowden-pp-320-london-thames-hudson-ltd-2023-paperback-1215-isbn13-9780500778623/8963CA8EB4448538DC29BE7605D13081?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles
Roman bioarchaeology: interdisciplinary perspectives on life and death in the Roman world – Bryn Mawr Classical Review
Roman bioarchaeology: interdisciplinary perspectives on life and death in the Roman world
Philosophers, Jews, and Christians in the Roman empire: authority, text, and tradition – Bryn Mawr Classical Review
Philosophers, Jews, and Christians in the Roman empire: authority, text, and tradition
AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Lector in poematis: Le lecteur dans la poésie gréco-latine
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/lector-in-poematis-le-lecteur-dans-la.html
AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Demokratie- und Werteerziehung im Lateinunterricht
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/demokratie-und-werteerziehung-im.html
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AUDIENDA
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TCP Talking Disability: Cerebr… – The Classics Podcast – Apple Podcasts
Ancient Warfare Podcast: AW387 – The Roman legion in the second century AD
https://ancientwarfare.libsyn.com/aw387-the-roman-legion-in-the-second-century-ad
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VIDENDA
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Video. Turkey find reveals rare Roman-style Jesus fresco | Euronews
https://www.euronews.com/video/2025/12/12/rare-fresco-of-jesus-as-good-shepherd-discovered-in-turkish-tomb
(214) The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia – YouTube
(215) Rome: Strategy of Empire | James Lacey – YouTube
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NOTANDA
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THE WEST AREA OF SAMOS ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT: RESULTS FROM SOUTH-WEST SAMOS | Annual of the British School at Athens | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/annual-of-the-british-school-at-athens/article/west-area-of-samos-archaeological-project-results-from-southwest-samos/7E4E301C9F965508C19E447AAFC0CAD2?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles
Establishing a Chronology for Roman and Post-Roman Stanwick, Northamptonshire | Britannia | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/britannia/article/establishing-a-chronology-for-roman-and-postroman-stanwick-northamptonshire/98200FA115C2C1488C25022C2A82B175?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles
Politics, teaching antiquity and games: the experience of the Political Vocabulary of Antiquity Project | Journal of Classics Teaching | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-classics-teaching/article/politics-teaching-antiquity-and-games-the-experience-of-the-political-vocabulary-of-antiquity-project/F62B224B8E5105C60188FEEB0C184EFB?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles
EPICURUS AND THE REJECTION OF DETERMINISM: EPISTLE TO MENOECEUS 133 | The Classical Quarterly | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/classical-quarterly/article/epicurus-and-the-rejection-of-determinism-epistle-to-menoeceus-133/B5B013159736489DFFF3E8CAE2AF6AB2?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles
Wiencke Postdoctoral Fellowship in Classics job with Dartmouth College | 37926248
https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37926248/wiencke-postdoctoral-fellowship-in-classics/?TrackID=108333&BatchID=2033&JobAlertId=312050&cmpid=JBE_TL_20251212_jobtitle&utm_source=jbe&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=JBE_TL_20251212_jobtitle_job1
This Day in Ancient History: pridie idus decembres
- Rites in honour of Consus on the Aventine Hill; this possibly relates to a restoration of a temple of Consus by Augustus.
- 404 B.C. — death of Darius II ‘Nothus’ (according to one reckoning)
- 250 A.D. — martyrdom of Dionysia
- 287 A.D. — martyrdom of Crescentius
ROGUECLASSICIST’S BULLETIN ~ December 11, 2025
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LEGENDA
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Unknown Alphabet in Dead Sea Scrolls Has Been Cracked, Scholar Says – Archaeology
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2025-12-11/ty-article-magazine/unknown-alphabet-in-dead-sea-scrolls-has-been-cracked-scholar-says/0000019b-0d44-df61-a7fb-4dd7f07b0000
Hellenistic-era goddess sculpture head unearthed in western Türkiye
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/hellenistic-era-goddess-sculpture-head-unearthed-in-western-turkiye/3768801
Video. Archaeologists uncover intact section of ancient Jerusalem wall from Hanukkah era | Euronews
https://www.euronews.com/video/2025/12/10/archaeologists-uncover-intact-section-of-ancient-jerusalem-wall-from-hanukkah-era
Roman urbanism was bad for health, new study confirms
https://phys.org/news/2025-12-roman-urbanism-bad-health.html
Archaeologists uncover rare Late Roman reception hall with untouched mosaics in Türkiye – Türkiye Today
https://www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/archaeologists-uncover-rare-late-roman-reception-hall-with-untouched-mosaics-in-turki-3211160
Archaeologists find intact 2,700-year-old room at Cyprus excavation site | in-cyprus.com
https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/local/archaeologists-intact-2700-year-old-room-cyprus-kition-bamboula/
New discoveries at Hadrian’s Wall are changing the picture of what life was like on the border of the Roman Empire | Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/new-discoveries-at-hadrians-wall-are-changing-the-picture-of-what-life-was-like-on-the-border-of-the-roman-empire
Searchable Bronze Age site database could help answer key questions about ancient Anatolia
https://phys.org/news/2025-12-searchable-bronze-age-site-database.html
Archaeologists in France Dig Up a Jar Packed With Tens of Thousands of 1,800-Year-Old Roman Coins
https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/archaeologists-in-france-dig-up-a-jar-packed-with-tens-of-thousands-of-1800-year-old-roman-coins/
A 2,000-year-old building site reveals the raw ingredients for ancient Roman self-healing concrete
https://phys.org/news/2025-12-year-site-reveals-raw-ingredients.html#goog_rewarded
New Kition-Bamboula Findings Shed Light on Early Cyprus Settlement History – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/11/new-findings-kition-bamboula-shed-light-early-settlement-history-cyprus-larnaca/
2,500-Year-Old Greek Statue Found in Etruscan City of Vulci – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/09/greek-statue-etruscan-city-vulci/
New Pompeii discovery uncovers Ancient Roman slaves’ surprising diet | The Independent
https://www.the-independent.com/news/science/archaeology/pompeii-ancient-roman-slaves-food-diet-b2881765.html
New research re-examines Roman Empire’s leather economy
https://news.westernu.ca/2025/12/roman-empire-leather-economy/
ArtDependence | The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts repatriates 41 Antiquities to Türkiye
https://artdependence.com/articles/the-virginia-museum-of-fine-arts-repatriates-41-antiquities-to-tuerkiye/
Poland arrests Russian archaeologist wanted in Ukraine
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clydz0j1yego
Spencer Alley: Venus
https://spenceralley.blogspot.com/2025/12/venus.html
Apostolic Letter of the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV on the importance of Archaeology on the occasion of the Centenary of the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology (11 December 2025)
https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/apost_letters/documents/20251211-nel-centenario-piac.html
Verona’s ancient Roman arena gets modern facelift for 2026 Games – ESPN
https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/47274003/verona-ancient-roman-arena-gets-modern-facelift-2026-games
44 Best Greek Mythology Books of All Time, Librarians Share – Parade
https://parade.com/books/best-greek-mythology-books
Domitius Tullus—An Ancient Roman Scrooge Who Left A Posthumous Legacy Of Good Will – The Historian’s Hut
Domitius Tullus—An Ancient Roman Scrooge Who Left A Posthumous Legacy Of Good Will
Teaching Thursday: Thinking about Teaching Data | Archaeology of the Mediterranean World
Middeleeuwse monsters – Mainzer Beobachter
The “Degraded Hasmonean Coins” – A Silent Witness to the Price of Brotherly Conflict – The Temple Mount Sifting Project
The “Degraded Hasmonean Coins” – A Silent Witness to the Price of Brotherly Conflict
AWOL – The Ancient World Online: The Bissing Link: The Collections and Network of Egyptologist F. W. von Bissing (1873–1956)
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-bissing-link-collections-and.html
AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Die Darstellung und Selbstdarstellung der kaiserlichen Familie im römischen Ägypten: Eine Untersuchung von Octavian-Augustus bis Hadrian (30 v. Chr.–138 n. Chr.)
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/die-darstellung-und-selbstdarstellung.html
A Danubio ad Gothiam: The Christianization of the Northwest Black Sea in Late Antiquity | Spartokos has read
A Danubio ad Gothiam La christianisation du Nord-Ouest de la mer Noire dans l’Antiquité tardive
Eudoxe de Cnide. Témoignages et fragments – Bryn Mawr Classical Review
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AUDIENDA
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Rise of King Herod – The Ancients | Acast
Special Episode – Camillus with Marc Hyden – The Partial Historians – Ancient Roman History with smart ladies
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VIDENDA
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(191) Philologus iratus #6 | De Latinitate vaticana mortua et conculcata – YouTube
(191) Should You Read The Iliad or Odyssey First? (The Epic Cycle EXPLAINED) – YouTube
(192) Mummifying Alan: Egypt’s Last Secret – YouTube
(192) Ancient Greek Art Advent | Day 9 – YouTube
(192) FEATURES: New Technology Brings Pompeii Back To Life – YouTube
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NOTANDA
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ANE Today, 11 December 2025 – The Ancient Near East Today
https://ancientneareasttoday.substack.com/p/ane-today-11-december-2025?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=3497924&post_id=181086052&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=q7tlq&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Annual Selinunte Lecture 2025
This Day in Ancient History: ante diem iii idus decembres
- Agonalia — the fourth and final occurrence of this festival in the Roman calendar; like all instances, the Rex Sacrorum would sacrifice a ram in the Regia, but on this occasion, the sacrifice was apparently in honour of Sol Indiges.
- Septimontium — a somewhat obscure festival apparently originally only celebrated by the ‘montani’ (i.e. the ‘hill-dwellers’) which involved sacrifices on each of Rome’s seven hills.
- 287 — martyrdom of Fuscian (and others)
- 302 — martyrdom of Pontian
rogueclassicism 