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Archaeologists in Croatia have unearthed the remains of a 1,800-year-old watchtower that was erected to help the Romans defend the "limes" -- the border along the Danube River that marked the frontier of the Roman Empire.Roman artifacts revealed at the site, including military equipment, brooches and ceramic vessels, indicate that the watchtower was constructed in the late second century A.D. and used in the third century A.D., the team reported...During the Marcomannic Wars (circa A.D. 166 to 180), Roman soldiers under the rule of emperor Marcus Aurelius fought several peoples -- including the Germanic Marcomanni who lived north of the...

Turkish authorities have released footage showing a man attempting to set fire to the interior of Hagia Sophia, the 1,500-year-old Byzantine landmark in Turkey. Security guards at the historic site quickly intervened and stopped the arson attempt, preventing any major damage. The incident took place on July 11 but the video was only made public now, drawing renewed attention to Hagia Sophia’s Byzantine heritage The man tried to ignite the Bible behind the lectern According to a police statement, the suspect wore a red cap and partially covered his face as he ignited a Bible near a column behind several...

Archaeologists in Sicily, Italy have uncovered a striking mosaic depicting what appear to be Roman-era flip-flops, adding a new chapter to the rich artistic heritage of the Villa Romana del Casale. The sandals, crafted in the fourth century A.D., were found in the villa’s southern bath complex during ongoing excavations. The discovery includes more than the footwear motif. Alongside the sandals, researchers identified a mosaic inscription and three columns with capitals. Specialists say the artifacts highlight the villa’s exceptional craftsmanship, providing fresh insight into decorative themes used in elite Roman residences. Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site The Villa...

A burial in southeastern Turkey revealed a 35‑square‑meter mosaic with a Greek inscription, marking one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in the region. While preparing a grave in the rural Özbilek neighborhood of Diyarbakır’s Ergani district, locals uncovered the mosaic, which experts believe dates to the late Roman or early Byzantine period. Discovery made during a routine burial The find features elaborate geometric patterns and two striking elements: a six-line inscription in ancient Greek and a Star of David enclosing a Christian cross. Museum officials say this combination of Jewish and Christian iconography is exceptionally rare and could shed...

At the twilight of the Roman republic, few figures loom larger -- or cast darker shadows -- then Lucas Cornelius Sulla. Born into a once proud but impoverished family Sulla's journey from obscurity to unmatched power is one of the most tumultuous, ruthless, and consequential sagas in Roman history. His life traverses a landscape of war, betrayal, political manipulation, and personal ambition- all set against the backdrop of a crumbling Republic and the rising intentions that would ultimately birth an Empire.This episode doesn't just recount Sulla's meteoric rise; it explores the deeper currents that carried him forward in the...

The Guardian reports that archaeologists excavating at the ancient Roman settlement of Castulo in southern Spain have identified the traces of a building they believe may have once been a synagogue. Near the location of what scholars had once assumed was a fourth- or fifth-century a.d. Christian basilica, the team found fragments of three oil lamps and a roof tile bearing depictions of menorahs, as well as a jar lid inscribed with Hebrew characters. When the researchers reconsidered the identification of the nearby structure as a place of early Christian worship, they found that many features of the building matched...

The ancient city of Tripolis, near the town of Baldun, is one of the best-preserved ancient sites in western Anatolia. Over the past 13 years, archaeologists from Pamukkale University have been investigating the city, and have uncovered numerous Roman and Byzantine era ruins, including monumental fountains, a 1,500-year-old church, and colorful mosaics. Türkiye Today reports that the team recently uncovered a luxurious 1,600-year-old villa that is one of the most significant properties yet uncovered. Spreading across 16,000 square feet, the opulent residence contains vibrant frescoes, spacious halls, and a large colonnaded inner courtyard. The highlight of the sprawling estate was...

Did you know ancient Rome was "sustainable"? Romans probably didn't use that exact buzzword, but apparently, they were recycling pioneers. When they weren't creating a mountain made out of garbage, that is. As someone who's been to Italy recently, I can tell you that that legacy of recycling lives on. Frankly, it's a mixed bag. If fact, the convoluted waste disposal system in that beautiful Mediterranean peninsula is the perfect embodiment of the current state of Europe. Garbage in, garbage out In America, you take your trash, and you throw it in the can underneath the kitchen sink. Then, when...

A newly discovered 2,000-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Adrasan in southern Turkey is offering a rare glimpse into ancient sea trade, with remarkably well-preserved ceramics still in their original arrangement. Experts date the vessel to the Late Hellenistic to Early Roman period, a time when Greek cultural and economic influence remained strong across the eastern Mediterranean.The ship was found between 120 and 150 feet below the surface. What makes the discovery especially significant is the state of the cargo. Archaeologists recovered dozens of ceramic items -- bowls, plates, trays, and pots -- still stacked as they were when the...

...Gibbon’s Causes: Decline and Fall of Rome First, there are the external threats Gibbon believes that even more damaging were the internal threats that existed within Roman society and administration. In Gibbon’s view, these causes are all interconnected and grow off one another. They start with the fall of the Antonines, when imperial power became dependent on military support over constitutional appointment. This made the army kingmakers with the power to extort the empire’s leadership. This resulted in repeated civil wars as generals vied for power with the support of their men, resulting in significant instability. Alongside this, Gibbon points...

What does it really mean to have German ancestry? If you’ve taken a DNA test and seen the "Germanic" label, your story is far richer, older, and more dynamic than any single result. Groundbreaking genetic research reveals that Germans descend from a tapestry of Ice Age hunters, early farmers, horse-riding steppe migrants, Celtic warriors, and global travelers. Each left its enduring mark, blending survival, innovation, and migration into the DNA of modern Germans. Why German Genetic Origins is Different | 22:17 Evo Inception | 52.4K subscribers | 47,642 views | July 18, 202500:00 – Introduction: Beyond the "Germanic" Label 00:21...

How the Romans Armed 400,000 Soldiers | 8:38 toldinstone | 587K subscribers | 159,503 views | December 22, 2023Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:35 Legionary arms 1:03 Auxiliary arms 1:42 Auxiliary cavalry 2:12 Buying and selling arms 2:56 Customizing arms 3:35 War Thunder 4:33 Weapon manufacture 5:01 Civilian contractors 5:37 Camp workshops 6:16 Military craftsmen 6:40 Arms factories

Morocco’s OCP Group reached today a significant milestone in water sovereignty with the commissioning of the country’s longest water pipeline. The 203-kilometer engineering feat transports desalinated water from the Atlantic coast to the heart of the country’s phosphate mining region. The Jorf Lasfar-Khouribga (J2K) pipeline, operated by OCP Green Water (OGW), marks a decisive step toward Morocco’s water independence while simultaneously addressing the country’s ongoing water stress challenges that have persisted since 2018. The ambitious project emerged from Morocco’s urgent need to combat water scarcity. In 2022, the Moroccan government called upon OCP Group to contribute to national water security...

Japanese archaeologists found further evidence that a large ancient villa buried on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius in southern Italy may have belonged to the Roman emperor Augustus (reigned 27 b.c.–a.d. 14), The Mainichi reports. The sprawling 40,000-square-foot property, which was buried by the a.d. 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius, is located in an area where Augustus' noble family is known to have had an estate. Archaeologists have been excavating the site at Somma Vesuviana for two decades, and while they have uncovered the remains of a luxurious villa that they suspect belonged to Augustus, there has been no indisputable...

It was, the prosecutor declared, a “moronic mission” of historic proportions — a pair of hapless vandals who chopped down perhaps the most beloved tree in England, located in a gap in Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site built by the Romans. The victim of the brutal 2023 chainsaw massacre, the Sycamore Gap tree, appeared in the 1991 movie “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” starring Kevin Costner. Prosecutors, citing experts, said it was worth 458,000 pounds or about $613,000, though to admirers who viewed it as a symbol of the untamed beauty of the north, it was priceless. At...

Archaeologists working at the Magna Roman Fort in northern England have made a series of huge discoveries, in the very literal sense. Recent excavations at the ancient Roman fortification have unearthed several examples of gigantic shoes, with one representing what could be among the largest examples of historic footwear ever found. The unusual discoveries are offering researchers fresh new insights into the diversity of the people who worked along Hadrian’s Wall close to 2,000 years ago. A Gigantic Discovery The discoveries are among the latest that have made their way into the Vindolanda Charitable Trust’s remarkable collection, with similar examples...

Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield was not entertained when he visited the Colosseum in Rome. Hield was at an NBA Summer League game to watch the young players on the Warriors’ roster take on the Utah Jazz on Sunday night. The Warriors won the game 103-93, but it was Hield’s comments on his trip to Italy that caught the attention of the internet. "I was a little disappointed when I went to the Colosseum because I watched ‘Gladiator’ and I thought Maximus was a real warrior," he explained on the ESPN broadcast. "So, I’m going into the Colosseum screaming,...

To love and be loved is something most people want in their lives.In the modern world, we often see stories about the difficulties of finding love and the trials of dating and marriage. Sometimes, the person we love doesn't love us. Sometimes, we don't love the person who loves us.Ancient Greeks and Romans also had a lot to say about this subject. In fact, most of the issues people face today in their search for love are already mentioned in ancient Greek and Roman literature.So, what did they say? And is the advice they put forward still relevant for modern...

How did the Egyptians forget Hieroglyphs? | 10:53 toldinstone | 587K subscribers | 586,513 views | April 25, 2025 Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:53 Introducing hieroglyphs 2:15 Hieroglyphs in Roman Egypt 3:10 The great temples 3:53 Decline of the temples 5:04 FlexiSpot 6:28 Vanishing hieroglyphs 7:40 Roman ignorance of hieroglyphs 8:44 Hieroglyphica 9:28 Mysterious or powerless

Although ancient Rome had nothing like a modern middle class, a small but prominent part of the population was poised between affluence and poverty. Was there a Middle Class in Ancient Rome? | 10:49 toldinstone | 586K subscribers | 42,862 views | July 1, 2025 Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:33 The Roman elite 1:17 A middle class 1:41 Upper vs. middle 2:19 Respectable professions 3:03 Prosperous craftsmen 3:34 The material record 4:42 Romanis Magicae 5:27 Case study I: freedmen 7:20 Case study II: veterans 9:12 Being middle class