A compositional analysis of cement (overlayed to right) in Pompeii – credit Archaeological Park of Pompeii A scientist who figured out the secret behind ancient Rome’s self-repairing concrete has recently confirmed his theory at a Pompeii building site where such concrete was in use. This marriage of theoretical and historical knowledge combined with hard evidence … Read more
Mummy Portrait of a Man from Roman Egypt Flavian Period, circa late 1st century A.D. – Courtesy Sotheby’s Sotheby’s recently sold a painting of a man from Roman-controlled Egypt in the first century CE that experts suggest represents the dawn of realistic portraiture 1,200 years before it appeared in Italy. The image is part of … Read more
– credit, Simona Murrone / Colosseum Archaeological Park In a bid to combat overtourism in the Eternal City, the Colosseum Archaeological Park is allowing visitors to virtually access the House of Griffins, the remains of an elite mansion which though well-documented has always been closed to visitors. The House of Griffins, thusly named for a … Read more
Image courtesy of the MIC–Archaeological Park of Pompeii. Conservation work on a luxurious royal villa near Pompeii has revealed sumptuous frescoes, including one depicting a famous fictional theater character, and another of a peacock. Additional recent work using cast molds has identified the position of a colonnade of trees in the villa’s garden, showing that … Read more
The razor – Hansons / Auctioneers SWNS A 2,000-year-old razor used to keep Romans looking sharp is set to go up for auction in England, where the catalogue included a fascinating history on the Romans’ grooming habits. The 3.5 inch-long (9 cm) iron blade had a hole for the shaver to put their finger in … Read more
A roadway near Timgad – Credit Itiner-e, Artas Media, MINERVA. It was said that all roads lead to Rome, but from where do all the roads to Rome lead? Using a mountain of data, a team of two dozen scientists have created a digital road atlas of the Roman imperial world, complete with many features … Read more