A team of archaeologists has brought to light a remarkable funerary relief depicting a couple—a man and a woman—at an almost life-size scale. This discovery took place during an excavation in the Porta Sarno necropolis, located in the ancient city of Pompeii, as part of the research project Investigating the Archaeology of Death in Pompeii, […]
Roman Empire
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Roman Aqueduct Section from the 2nd Century AD, 38 Meters Long, Discovered Beneath Rusovce Castle in Slovakia
The restoration work on Rusovce Castle, a neo-Gothic gem located in a district of Bratislava, Slovakia, has led to the discovery of architecturally significant historical elements. Thanks to the efforts of an archaeological team from Trnava University, led by Professor Erik Hrnčiarik, remains of Roman and medieval structures have been found, providing new insights into […]
Posted inHistory, Middle Ages
The Fascinating History of Castel dell’Ovo, the Fortress Where the Last Roman Emperor Retired
As much as Julius Nepos refused to recognize his legitimacy and continued to hold the title in parallel until his death in 475 AD, history considers the last Western Roman emperor to be Romulus Augustulus, who was deposed ten months later by the Herulian chieftain Odoacer. Odoacer allowed him to retire to a fortress located […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Mausoleum and Tombs with a Gladiator’s Epitaph Discovered in the Ancient Roman Colony of Liternum in Southern Italy
Archaeological excavations in the ancient Roman colony of Liternum, located in the present-day municipality of Giugliano in Campania, have brought to light new and significant remains from the Imperial era. Under the scientific direction of archaeologist Simona Formola, an extensive area of more than 150 square meters—previously protected by a ministerial decree—is being explored, revealing […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
A Roman Settlement Destroyed During the Gothic Raids of the Mid-3rd Century AD Discovered in Bulgaria
A team of archaeologists has made a significant discovery in the municipality of Lesichovo, in the Pazardzhik region of Bulgaria. During a rescue excavation near the village of Borimechkovo, remains of a settlement dating back to the Late Roman period were uncovered. This research, led by archaeologist Sirma Alexandrova, has revealed architectural structures, ceramics, coins, […]
Posted inAncient Rome
When the Roman Empire Had Six Emperors in a Year
The Eastern Roman Empire had seven simultaneous emperors during the Middle Ages, between the years 1203 and 1204 AD. This was a record that the Byzantines set, living up to the most convoluted interpretation of their name and following the example of their Western counterparts, where similar situations occurred multiple times in antiquity. These instances […]
Posted inArt, Classical Archaeology
“Pompeian Gray” Discovered in Pompeii Excavations: A Unique Color in the Roman World
A recent study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science has revealed the discovery of a new color in the chromatic repertoire of the Roman world: Pompeian Gray. This research, the result of collaboration between the Parco Archeologico di Pompei and various Italian universities, represents a significant advancement in understanding the painting techniques used in […]
Posted inAncient Rome
The Tower of the Scipios, the Best-Preserved Roman Funerary Monument in Hispania
Six kilometers from Tarragona (roman Tarraco in Catalonia, Spain), next to the ancient Via Augusta, stands a stone monument that was misinterpreted for a long time: the Tower of the Scipios. The tower’s name comes from the mistaken belief that the Scipios, famous for their campaigns in the Second Punic War, had been buried here […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
A Semi-Subterranean Jewish Ritual Bath Found in the Ancient Roman Port of Ostia Antica
In the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica, a mikveh, a Jewish ritual bath, has been identified during excavations carried out in June and August 2024. The discovery of this mikveh is of singular importance, as it represents concrete evidence of the Jewish presence in Roman Ostia, reinforcing its role as a melting pot of cultures […]
Posted inArt, Classical Archaeology
Paintings Depicting Grape Harvesting Scenes Discovered in Villa Cuomo, Buried by the Same Eruption That Destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum
Villa Cuomo, an archaeological gem discovered in 1974 in the town of Sant’Antonio Abate, continues to reveal its secrets. This ancient rural complex, located on Via Casa Salese, southeast of Pompeii, was buried under three meters of lapilli during the catastrophic eruption that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD. Unlike other Roman villas in […]
