• 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

===========================================================
LEGENDA
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Ancient, Massive Hoard Of Beads In Spain Hints At A Forgotten Female Dynasty
https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/copper-age-beads-tomb-spain/

How Ships Helped Ancient Civilizations Survive the Bronze Age Collapse – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/18/ships-ancient-civilizations-survive-bronze-age-collapse/

Mystery Sticky Goo in 2,500-Year-Old Jars Linked to Ancient Greek Rituals
https://greekcitytimes.com/2025/12/19/mystery-sticky-goo-in-2500-year-old-jars-linked-to-ancient-greek-rituals/

Archaeologists May Have Finally Found Sparta’s Lost Mycenaean Palace – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/18/sparta-lost-mycenaean-palace/

What Was Winter in Ancient Greece Like? – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/19/winter-ancient-greece/

You Can Now See 2,000-Year-Old Thermal Baths and Military Barracks Without Ever Leaving Rome’s New Subway Stations
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/you-can-now-see-2000-year-old-thermal-baths-and-military-barracks-without-ever-leaving-romes-new-subway-stations-180987896/

Italian restorers use laser beams to clean an ancient Roman column | AP News
https://apnews.com/article/rome-italy-column-marcus-aurelius-restoration-3fb9db4f8c02e33bda685ac0e4922beb

Roman soldiers defending Hadrian’s Wall were infected by parasites, study finds
https://phys.org/news/2025-12-roman-soldiers-defending-hadrian-wall.html

100 Roman warhorses found buried alongside an unknown man – Earth.com
https://www.earth.com/news/over-100-roman-warhorses-found-buried-alongside-an-unknown-man/

Diarrhea and stomachaches plagued Roman soldiers stationed at Hadrian’s Wall, discovery of microscopic parasites finds | Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/romans/diarrhea-and-stomachaches-plagued-roman-soldiers-stationed-at-hadrians-wall-discovery-of-microscopic-parasites-finds

New analysis reveals hidden health risks in ancient Roman fort – McMaster News

New analysis reveals hidden health risks in ancient Roman fort

Ritual fires atop temples guided ancient sailors long before lighthouses

Ritual fires atop temples guided ancient sailors long before lighthouses

Frescoes unearthed in Pompeii show ‘extraordinary details’ | The Jerusalem Post
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-880716

Pompeii, frescoes with peacocks and masks surface in the Villa of Poppaea at Oplontis
https://www.finestresullarte.info/en/archaeology/pompeii-frescoes-with-peacocks-and-masks-surface-in-the-villa-of-poppaea-at-oplontis

Hellenistic-Era Marble Goddess Head Discovered in Ancient Metropolis, Western Türkiye
https://greekcitytimes.com/2025/12/19/hellenistic-era-goddess-head-discovered-metropolis-turkiye/

New discoveries in the Slave Quarters of the Villa of Civita Giuliana

New discoveries in the Slave Quarters of the Villa of Civita Giuliana

What Did Archaeologist Arthur Evans Take From Knossos? – GreekReporter.com
https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/19/archaeologist-arthur-evans-take-minoan-palace-knossos/

Cracking the ENIGMA of stolen antiquities | eKathimerini.com
https://www.ekathimerini.com/culture/1290102/cracking-the-enigma-of-stolen-antiquities/

The New ‘Odyssey’ Poster Throws a Bone to All Those Armor Complaints
https://gizmodo.com/new-odyssey-poster-christopher-nolan-greek-armor-2000701416

Ephemeris ~ SINE PACE
https://ephemerisnuntii.eu/nuntius.php?id=2453

Rus in Urbe V: the Caelian Hill – by Agnes Crawford
https://understandingrome.substack.com/p/rus-in-urbe-v-the-caelian-hill?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=508757&post_id=181978408&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=q7tlq&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

Blog #115: Uncovering the Romans: A Tale of Participation in Archaeology on Hadrian’s Wall with Marta Alberti-Dunn – Peopling the Past

Blog #115: Uncovering the Romans: A Tale of Participation in Archaeology on Hadrian’s Wall with Marta Alberti-Dunn

A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women (E.) Southon, Pp. 421. UK: Oneworld Publications, 2023. Paperback. £9.99. ISBN-10: 9780861542314. | Journal of Classics Teaching | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-classics-teaching/article/history-of-the-roman-empire-in-21-women-e-southon-pp-421-uk-oneworld-publications-2023-paperback-999-isbn10-9780861542314/2403A8866CE53F9750EC6BE73380FFE0?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 five-star museum in Alexandria | Blog post | Mary Beard

A five-star museum in Alexandria

An updated Classics Glossary – cosi’s odyssey
https://cosisodyssey.substack.com/p/an-updated-classics-glossary?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=991656&post_id=181215476&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=q7tlq&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

Professor Dan-el Padilla Peralta, champion of anti-racism in classics, to leave Princeton in August – The Princetonian
https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2025/12/princeton-news-adpol-professor-dan-el-padilla-peralta-leave-princeton-for-arizona-state

Laudator Temporis Acti: Justice
https://laudatortemporisacti.blogspot.com/2025/12/justice.html

Caesar op visite bij Cicero – Mainzer Beobachter

Caesar op visite bij Cicero

Augustine’s African roots – Engelsberg ideas

Augustine’s African roots

PaleoJudaica.com: Joseph, Egyptians, Herodotus, and cows
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2025/12/joseph-egyptians-herodotus-and-cows.html

PaleoJudaica.com: The Coptic Magical Formularies Project: 2025 report
https://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-coptic-magical-formularies-project.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: COPTICA TAURINENSIA: Coptic Papyri from the Museo Egizio
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/coptica-taurinensia-coptic-papyri-from.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: An Archaeological Portrait of Life in a Bronze Age Cypriot Village: Scientific Explorations at Politiko-Troullia
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/an-archaeological-portrait-of-life-in.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Esbós de gramàtica sumèria = An outline of Sumerian grammar
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/esbos-de-gramatica-sumeria-outline-of.html

AWOL – The Ancient World Online: The private archives of Ugarit: a functional analysis
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-private-archives-of-ugarit.html

Recent trends and findings in Latin linguistics – Bryn Mawr Classical Review
https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2025/2025.12.30/

Aristotle: De Motu Animalium. Text and translation – Bryn Mawr Classical Review
https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2025/2025.12.29/

A companion to the translation of classical epic – Bryn Mawr Classical Review
https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2025/2025.12.28/
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AUDIENDA
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How Ancient Greece Revolutioni…–Classical Wisdom Speaks – Apple Podcasts

Presenting Sidedoor: Finding Cleopatra | Interlochen Public Radio
https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/podcast/points-north/2025-12-19/presenting-sidedoor-finding-cleopatra

Ancient Warfare Podcast: AWA388 – The triple acies revisited
https://ancientwarfare.libsyn.com/awa388-the-triple-acies-revisited
===========================================================
VIDENDA
===========================================================
(86) Ancient Rome revealed through new Pompeii frescoes and laser restoration – YouTube

(88) The Viral Pyramid Scans: The Ultimate Debunk of the Khafre Project – YouTube

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

(89) The Real Homer’s Odyssey – YouTube

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NOTANDA
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THE LANDSCAPE AND NETWORKS OF SOUTH-WEST SAMOS: EVIDENCE FROM SURFACE-SURVEY CERAMICS | Annual of the British School at Athens | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/annual-of-the-british-school-at-athens/article/landscape-and-networks-of-southwest-samos-evidence-from-surfacesurvey-ceramics/1D12B0CF5ED92CC93E2910D06DE0129D?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles

ARISTOTLE AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF FORMS AND IDEAL NUMBERS IN PLATO | The Classical Quarterly | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/classical-quarterly/article/aristotle-and-the-identification-of-forms-and-ideal-numbers-in-plato/CE4E704EF258697AEC9BBE087B0DBC42?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles

HERODOTUS ON THE EXPEDITION OF DATIS AND ARTAPHRENES: ATHENIAN IMPERIALISM MIRRORED IN THE FIRST PERSIAN WAR | The Classical Quarterly | Cambridge Core
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/classical-quarterly/article/herodotus-on-the-expedition-of-datis-and-artaphrenes-athenian-imperialism-mirrored-in-the-first-persian-war/470F9B7C7D6766D6E1F98B2EA802DAC4?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Article&utm_campaign=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles&WT.mc_id=New%20Cambridge%20Alert%20-%20Articles

Dentistry and dental care in antiquity: part 1 – prehistory, Mesopotamia, Israel, Etruria and the Far East | British Dental Journal
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41415-025-8884-z

DICES – Digital Initiative for Classics: Epic Speeches
https://dices.mta.ca/

Roman Names on Crete

Roman Names on Crete

Reshaping Acropolis: Past with a Future

Reshaping Acropolis: Past with a Future

The Epigraphy of Healing

The Epigraphy of Healing

The Spartan Politeia

The Spartan Politeia

CRASIS Annual Masterclass 2026

CRASIS Annual Masterclass 2026

Rethinking Classical Mythology

Rethinking Classical Mythology

Professor in Latin literature (BOF) Job Details | Universiteit Gent
https://jobs.ugent.be/job/Ghent-Professor-in-Latin-literature-%28BOF%29-9000/1348553657/

• Saturnalia (day 3) – 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.
• Opalia — unknown rituals in honour of Ops, the wife of Saturn
• rites in honour of Juventas (= Hebe?) — a somewhat mysterious festival, probably connected to Roman ‘coming of age’ rituals
• 69 A.D. — a major fire on the Capitoline hill in Rome, caused by Vitellius‘ troops
• 307 A.D. — martyrdom of Nemesius of Alexandria and Thea