• 304 A.D. — martyrdom of Apronian the Executioner at Ancona

… it’s also Candlemas Day … And for all you Latin teachers out there … you can present this Latin ‘distich’ quoted by Thomas Browne in Robert Chambers Book of Days (the quoting of) which predates Punxsutawney Phil (and Wiarton Willy, and the plethora of other large rodents that probablyreally aspire to be beavers, but that’s a different tail):

Si sol splendescat Maria purificante,
Major erit glacies post festum quam fuit ante

• Rites in honour of Juno Sospita: Juno Sospita was originally worshipped in Lanuvium, where she seems to have had started out as a fertility goddess of some sort and evolved into a warrior protectrix of the city. When Lanuvium was granted Roman citizenship in 338 B.C., the cult was also given special status and place under the control of the pontifices, who would annually perform a sacrifice to her. There also seems to have been a ritual whereby blindfolded girls would enter her grove to feed barley cakes to the sacred snakes therein. If the cakes were accepted, the girls were proven to be virgins and the fertility for the upcoming year was guaranteed. Which of these rituals — or perhaps both — took place on this day isn’t clear in my sources.
• Rites in honour of Elernus: Elernus (or Helernus, or maybe Avernus) is another one of those very ancient Roman deities about which we know little, as can be seen by the variations in name. He appears to have been some type of underworld divinity (perhaps being honoured with the sacrifice of a black ox by the pontifices).
• 1793 – death of John Lempriere (Classical Dictionary)

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LEGENDA
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Has the Mystery of the Ancient Phaistos Disc Been Solved? – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2026/02/01/phaistos-disk-mystery/

The surprising history behind the Australian Open men’s singles trophy – ABC News
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-01/mary-mcgillivray-australian-open-warwick-vase-history/106245576

Archaeologists Rediscover Alexandria on the Tigris, a Lost City Founded by Alexander the Great – Arkeonews
https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-rediscover-alexandria-on-the-tigris-a-lost-city-founded-by-alexander-the-great/

Archaeologists toil to preserve Roman villa site next to roadworks | Luxembourg Times
https://www.luxtimes.lu/luxembourg/archaeologists-toil-to-preserve-roman-villa-site-next-to-roadworks/127242597.html

Discovery of first Middle Aramaic inscription from the second century BC sheds light on allegiance and status of local elite in the kingdom of Sophene – SyriacPress

Discovery of first Middle Aramaic inscription from the second century BC sheds light on allegiance and status of local elite in the kingdom of Sophene

‘incredible’ Roman mosaic returns home after 200 years
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgj581dmkyo

Rare medieval seal discovered in UK is inscribed with ‘Richard’s secret’ and bears a Roman-period gemstone | Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/rare-medieval-seal-discovered-in-uk-is-inscribed-with-richards-secret-and-bears-a-roman-period-gemstone

Vitruvius and the Built World of the New Testament – Biblical Archaeology Society

Vitruvius and the Built World of the New Testament

Gabii: Origins. An exhibition in Palestrina on the beginnings of ancient Latium.
https://www.finestresullarte.info/en/exhibitions/gabii-origins-an-exhibition-in-palestrina-on-the-beginnings-of-ancient-latium

[what’s a ‘gladiator tag?]Treasures found on HS2 route stored in secret warehouse
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93v21q5xdvo

The Great Escape: How 10,000 Ancient Greek Warriors Fled Persia Against All Odds – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2026/02/01/great-escape-ten-thousand-ancient-greek-warriors-fled-persia/

Noumenia: The New Moon Day Was the Holiest in Ancient Greece – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2026/01/31/noumenia-new-moon-holiest-day-ancient-greece/

Greek Mythology and the Birth of Renaissance Masterpieces – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2026/01/30/greek-mythology-renaissance-masterpieces/

Hear the rare sound of an ancient Roman water organ enchant a 21st century audience – The Music Man

Hear The Rare Sound Of An Ancient Roman Water Organ Enchant A 21st Century Audience

Horizon Scholarship recipient connects ancient athletics to modern wellness – The Brock News
https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2026/01/horizon-scholarship-recipient-connects-ancient-athletics-to-modern-wellness/

Elon Musk says Christopher Nolan has ‘lost all integrity’ after casting choice | Metro News

Elon Musk says Christopher Nolan has ‘lost all integrity’ after casting choice

Temporary storage plan advances ahead of National Archaeological Museum overhaul | eKathimerini.com
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1293939/temporary-storage-plan-advances-ahead-of-national-archaeological-museum-overhaul/

Ancient Romans used human feces to make medicines
https://cen.acs.org/analytical-chemistry/art-&-artifacts/ancient-Roman-poop-poo/104/web/2026/01

Terracotta winglets with zoomorphic depictions discovered in Padua
https://www.finestresullarte.info/en/archaeology/terracotta-winglets-with-zoomorphic-depictions-discovered-in-padua

[paywalled] Travels with Herodotus | The Spectator
https://spectator.com/article/travels-with-herodotus/

Former Santa Barbara County Supervisor Frank J. Frost Jr., 1929-2026 | Obituaries | Noozhawk

Former Santa Barbara County Supervisor Frank J. Frost Jr., 1929-2026

Why Must We Fight and Die? Reading Sarpedon’s Speech to Glaukos in Iliad 12 – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE

Why Must We Fight and Die? Reading Sarpedon’s Speech to Glaukos in Iliad 12

Twelve Days in the Year: 27th January 2026 | Sphinx

Twelve Days in the Year: 27th January 2026

Latin and Greek in the New Year – The Philological Crocodile

Latin and Greek in the New Year

The lost, found and lost again Sappho Brothers Poem papyrus | Roberta Mazza

The lost, found and lost again Sappho Brothers Poem papyrus

New: The MTA–SZTE Momentum Mithras Research Group

New: The MTA–SZTE Momentum Mithras Research Group

Weekly Varia no. 167, 02/01/26 – Noodlings

Weekly Varia no. 167, 02/01/26

Collections: The Late Bronze Age Collapse, A Very Brief Introduction – A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry

Collections: The Late Bronze Age Collapse, A Very Brief Introduction

De tweede broodvermenigvuldiging – Mainzer Beobachter

De tweede broodvermenigvuldiging

Voor-westerse geschiedenis (5) de eerste boeren – Mainzer Beobachter

Voor-westerse geschiedenis (5) de eerste boeren

Laudator Temporis Acti: Hospitality
https://laudatortemporisacti.blogspot.com/2026/01/hospitality.html

PaleoJudaica.com: Strickler, Early Byzantine Apocalyptic Discourses (Brill)
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/02/strickler-early-byzantine-apocalyptic.html

PaleoJudaica.com: Tu B’Shevat 2026
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/02/tu-bshevat-2026.html

PaleoJudaica.com: Lo Sardo, P Conclusion and Post-P Rearrangements in Exodus 25-31 and Leviticus 8-9 (Mohr Siebeck)
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/01/lo-sardo-p-conclusion-and-post-p.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Digital and Traditional Epigraphy in Context: Proceedings of the EAGLE 2016 International Conference
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2026/01/digital-and-traditional-epigraphy-in.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Idraulica sumerica
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2026/01/idraulica-sumerica.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Lo straniero in Egitto e nel Vicino Oriente: Studi in onore di Loredana Sist
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2026/01/lo-straniero-in-egitto-e-nel-vicino.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Costeggiando l’Eurasia / Coasting Eurasia: Archeologia del paesaggio e geografia storica tra l’Oceano Indiano e il Mar Mediterraneo Marco Ramazzotti
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2026/01/costeggiando-leurasia-coasting-eurasia.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Eranshahr: Man, Landscape, and Society in Arsacid and Sasanian Iran
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2026/01/eranshahr-man-landscape-and-society-in.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Ta Xenia: La cerimonia di ospitalità cittadina
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2026/02/ta-xenia-la-cerimonia-di-ospitalita.html

Amphorae from the 6th-3rd centuries BC from the collections of the museums of Rostov-on-Don | Spartokos read

Amphores du VIe-IIIe siècles av. J.-C. provenant des collections des musées de Rostov-sur-le-Don

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AUDIENDA
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Anima Latina 01.02.2026 – Podcast – Radio Vaticana – Vatican News
https://www.vaticannews.va/it/podcast/rvi-programmi/anima-latina/2026/02/anima-latina-01-02-2026.html

Audio-Nachrichten auf Latein 31.01.2026 – Vatican News
https://www.vaticannews.va/de/podcast/audio-nachrichten-auf-latein/2026/01/audio-nachrichten-auf-latein-31-01-2026.html

Episode A10 – The Sword of Sum… – The Ancient World – Apple Podcasts

65 From Vengeance to Justice: … – Ancient Greece Declassified – Apple Podcasts

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VIDENDA
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(1073) Investigating A 2000-Year-Old Roman Urn In Britain – YouTube

(1073) Man or Myth? King Arthur and Rome’s Legacy in Britain – YouTube

(1073) How Far East Did the Romans Go? DOCUMENTARY – YouTube

(1073) Puduhepa – Queen of the Hittites – YouTube

(1074) Why Romans ONLY wore ONE greave on the Left Leg? #shorts #history #roman – YouTube

(1074) 2025 Magister Craft Roman House Competition Winner’s Video – YouTube

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NOTANDA
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explorator 28.05 ~ February 1, 2026 – Explorator

explorator 28.05 ~ February 1, 2026

Call for Support: Classics and Medieval Studies at the University of Calgary | Call for Support: Classics and Medieval Studies at the University of Calgary – The Classical Association of Canada

Call for Support: Classics and Medieval Studies at the University of Calgary | Appel à soutien: Études classiques et médiévales à l’Université de Calgary

SIAC NEWSLETTER – 243 (01/2026) | Tulliana News

SIAC NEWSLETTER – 243 (01/2026)

SAM Newsletter February 2026
https://mailchi.mp/dadfce3e8050/sam-newsletter-february-2026?e=5a46fc17f6

• 1000 B.C. — temple of Hercules at Tyre completed (according to one ‘traditional’ reckoning)
• 817 B.C. — death of Anchises (according to the same reckoning)
• 36 B.C. — birth of Antonia (“Minor”), daughter of Marcus Antonius and Octavia and future mother of hope-to-be-emperor Germanicus and emperor-to-be Claudius
• c. 250 A.D. — martyrdom of Metras/Metranus in Alexandria
• c. 250 A.D. — martyrdom of Saturninus, Thrysus, and Victor in Alexandria

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LEGENDA
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Archaeologists Working at Son Fornés May Have Discovered a Roman Long-Lost City on Mallorca – Arkeonews
https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-working-at-son-fornes-may-have-discovered-a-roman-long-lost-city-on-mallorca/

Roman Sanctuary Found in Frankfurt Shows Unique Ancient Rituals – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2026/01/29/roman-sanctuary-frankfurt-ancient-rituals/

The Ex-Slave Who Authored a Greek Language Book – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2026/01/29/william-sanders-scarborough-african-american-slave-wrote-greek-textbook/

Greek Mythology and the Birth of Renaissance Masterpieces – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2026/01/30/greek-mythology-renaissance-masterpieces/

The Riace Bronzes’ Syracusan Origin: “Nothing New; Only Scientific Evidence Counts” – SiracusaOggi.it

Origine siracusana dei Bronzi di Riace: “Nulla di nuovo, contano solo le prove scientifiche”

The mystery of Boudica and where her final resting place is | Oxford Mail
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/25801005.mystery-boudica-final-resting-place/

“An exceptional archaeological site”: the largest Roman military camp in Belgium discovered in Zottegem | 7sur7.be
https://www.7sur7.be/belgique/un-site-archeologique-exceptionnel-le-plus-grand-camp-militaire-romain-en-belgique-decouvert-a-zottegem~adac55a6/

(20) Ulysses inside the Wooden Horse – by Armand D’Angour
https://armanddangour.substack.com/p/ulysses-inside-the-wooden-horse

How Ancient Greeks Used Lawsuits to Control the Powerful – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2026/01/29/ancient-greeks-lawsuits-control-powerful/

Ancient Coins Linked to Alexander the Great’s Hellenistic World Seized in Israel – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2026/01/30/ancient-coins-alexander-the-greats-hellenistic-world-seized-israel/

Empedocles, Greek philosopher: When everything falls apart, it’s not always the end, sometimes it’s rearrangement – AS USA
https://en.as.com/latest_news/empedocles-greek-philosopher-when-everything-falls-apart-its-not-always-the-end-sometimes-its-rearrangement-f202601-n/

Blog #116: Disassembled Cyborgs: Interpreting Cretan Warriorhood and War Booty through Disability Theory with Jesse Obert – Peopling the Past

Blog #116: Disassembled Cyborgs: Interpreting Cretan Warriorhood and War Booty through Disability Theory with Jesse Obert

Vitruvius and the Built World of the New Testament – Biblical Archaeology Society
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-rome/vitruvius-and-built-world-of-new-testament/

Why Jerry Seinfeld Lives by the Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius | Open Culture

Why Jerry Seinfeld Lives by the Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius

IU classical studies professor Julia Mebane awarded prestigious Goodwin Award of Merit for book on the body politic: College of Arts + Sciences : Indiana University
https://news.iu.edu/college/live/news/48676-iu-classical-studies-professor-julia-mebane

The History Girls: Egyptomania by Rachel Louise Driscoll
https://the-history-girls.blogspot.com/2026/01/egyptomania-by-rachel-louise-driscoll.html

The Revolution within Classics – Engelsberg ideas

The Revolution within Classics

Forgotten Australian Television Plays: Antigone – FilmInk
https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-television-plays-antigone/

Laudator Temporis Acti: A Base Nature
https://laudatortemporisacti.blogspot.com/2026/01/a-base-nature.html

De val van Cartagena (1) – Mainzer Beobachter

De val van Cartagena (1)

De val van Cartagena (2) – Mainzer Beobachter

De val van Cartagena (2)

PaleoJudaica.com: Real and fake Greco-Roman-era coins seized in East Jerusalem
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/01/real-and-fake-greco-roman-era-coins.html

PaleoJudaica.com: Nebuchadnezzar II – restorer or destroyer?
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/01/nebuchadnezzar-ii-restorer-or-destroyer.html

PaleoJudaica.com: Online course: GEORGIAN JEWS AND THEIR CULTURAL TREASURES
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/01/online-course-georgian-jews-and-their.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Excavations and Surveys of 2022 and 2023 at Wadi al-Maʻawil (Oman)
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2026/01/excavations-and-surveys-of-2022-and.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: From the Earliest Settlements to the Historical Periods: Archaeological sites in the Eastern Anatolian Highlands (Türkiye) from the Chalcolithic to the Iron Age
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2026/01/from-earliest-settlements-to-historical.html

Alexander the Great in Jerusalem: myth and history – Bryn Mawr Classical Review
https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2026/2026.01.36/

Die frühe Sophoklesrezeption in der griechischen Literatur – Bryn Mawr Classical Review
https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2026/2026.01.35/

The Oxford handbook of monsters in classical myth – Bryn Mawr Classical Review
https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2026/2026.01.34/
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AUDIENDA
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Ancient Warfare Podcast: AWA394 – War Pigs
https://ancientwarfare.libsyn.com/awa394-war-pigs

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VIDENDA
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(1031) The Old Man and the Sun: Sex, Death, and the Turin Erotic Papyrus – YouTube

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NOTANDA
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ARISTOPHANES, WASPS 1208–15 AND THE NON-ELITE SYMPOSION | The Classical Quarterly | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/classical-quarterly/article/aristophanes-wasps-120815-and-the-nonelite-symposion/DA71B1E5D6A0D3BA624FA169E1A79D2B?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles

Call for Support: Classics and Medieval Studies at the University of Calgary | Call for Support: Classics and Medieval Studies at the University of Calgary – The Classical Association of Canada

Call for Support: Classics and Medieval Studies at the University of Calgary | Appel à soutien: Études classiques et médiévales à l’Université de Calgary