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During excavation of a gravel pit on the shores of the Yonne River in 1966, workers uncovered the foundations of a Roman villa just south of the Roman town of Autessiodurum (present-day Auxerre). The 7,500-square-foot structure contained around 10 rooms and was inhabited from the first through fourth century a.d. This discovery would prove to just be the tip of the iceberg, however. According to La Brüjula Verde, renewed archaeological work conducted at the site six decades later by the French National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) has revealed a sprawling 43,000-square-foot estate that is among the largest villas...

The dominant literary culture of the late 20th century loved to tear down the heroes of the past, focusing almost entirely on their flaws while belittling the virtues, beliefs, and deeds that made them worthy of admiration in the first place. I have written about this annoying tendency previously on several occasions, including here and here. In our own time, we are afflicted with a slightly different problem: cultural arbiters who know almost nothing about the great men and women who went before them, save the cherry-picked anecdotes that magically seem to support their political cause of the moment. It...

0:00 Introduction 0:36 Old English 1:25 Norman conquest 3:23 Medieval to Renaissance 4:18 Shakespeare and company 5:08 Modern borrowings 5:48 Spelling 6:33 Grammar 7:03 Too much Latin? 7:40 Gifts of a dual heritage The Latin Roots of English | 10:29toldinstone | 583K subscribers | 28,937 views | June 6, 2025

One of the most spectacular Byzantine mosaics ever discovered in Israel was finally revealed to the public for the first time, according to a statement released by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). The so-called Be'er Shema (Birsama) mosaic was first uncovered three decades ago near Khirbat Be'er Shema in the western Negev, but spent years undergoing intensive conservation and preservation work. "Over the ensuing years since its discovery, the mosaic floor's state of conservation deteriorated," said IAA's Ami Shahar. "Upon completion of our expert team's intensive efforts, the results enable the public to view and appreciate a spectacular 1,600-year-old work...

Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority have unearthed parts of a Roman and Byzantine settlement just outside the modern city of Kiryat Gat. The researchers believe the settlement was founded in the first century b.c. and flourished for more than 600 years, thanks to its location along an important road connecting the Judean Mountains with the coastal plain. The settlement seems to have been especially prosperous during the fifth and sixth centuries a.d., based on evidence of an extensive building campaign as well as distinctive types of pottery, coins, and decorative marbles found at the site. Also dating to this...

Several ancient Roman writers describe how thrushes were a culinary delicacy, often elaborately prepared and served at banquets attended by society's wealthiest members. However, a new study suggests that the rich were not the only ones dining on these small songbirds, La Brüjula Verde reports. Excavations in a cesspit connected with a taberna in the Roman city of Pollentia on the island of Mallorca uncovered a myriad of animal bones from mammals, fish, and, birds. Tabernae were the Roman world's fast-food establishments that often served hot food for the working classes. The archaeologists were surprised to find an abundance of...

Last year, Irish archaeologists working at a fort on the Drumanagh promontory north of Dublin uncovered a 2,000-year-old charred fig, the oldest evidence of the exotic Mediterranean fruit ever found on the island. RTE Ireland reports that they recently made another remarkable discovery -- an intact Roman pot. Although the Roman Empire's boundaries enveloped much of Europe, they never reached Ireland. That did not mean, however, that Roman influence and goods did not land on the Emerald Isle. Previous archaeological work at Drumanagh has demonstrated that although there was not a settlement located there, people with a Roman background or...

Rome's Colosseum lights up in death penalty protest Jan 06 5:00 PM US/Eastern The Colosseum in Rome was illuminated evening as part of Italy's campaign for a global moratorium on the death penalty following the bungled hanging of Saddam Hussein. Following an initiative by the Italian capital's left-wing mayor Walter Veltroni, the arches of the world-famous 2,000-year-old Roman era stadium were lit up as night fell. In attendance were members of Italy's libertarian Radical Party, whose 76-year-old leader Marco Pannella began a hunger strike on December 26 in support of the moratorium. Italian politicians were unanimous in their revulsion over...

Thousands of Muslims gathered in protest outside Rome’s Colosseum Friday after Italian authorities shut down a number of so-called “garage mosques” to avoid young people becoming radicalized. The Muslim community of Rome chose the iconic Colosseum, a worldwide symbol of Christian persecution and martyrdom, to stage their demonstration against the alleged shutting down by police of illegal places of Muslim worship in the city. An imam led the group in chanting “Allahu Akbar,” which means in Arabic “God is great,” as they prostrated themselves on the ground. Many Roman citizens were visibly disturbed by the protest, noting that in its...

The Roman theater at Aspendos, now in southern Turkey, is better-preserved than any other in the classical world. It is still routinely used for performances. The Best-Preserved Roman Theater | 4:21 Toldinstone Footnotes | 41.7K subscribers | 5,896 views | June 3, 2025

Thanks to the generosity of Pompeii Sites, we can explore the newly discovered large-scale frescoes from an ongoing excavation in Region IX and compare it with two other nearly contemporary fresco cycles. This new hall with Dionsysiac scenes is truly a one of a kind discovery. Join Darius for a unique opportunity on site in Pompeii as the excavation continues! Newly Discovered Large-Scale Pompeii Frescoes | 10:25 Darius Arya Digs | 31.8K subscribers | 35,437 views | June 2, 2025

When a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck central Croatia in 2020, it caused extensive damage to the city of Sisak's town hall—and led to a fortuitous archaeological discovery, The Miami Herald reports. During renovation and repair work to the building, construction crews encountered long forgotten and well-preserved Roman ruins buried just beneath the modern structure’s basement. Archaeologists determined that they belonged to a small theater or odeon, measuring around 65 feet in diameter, which would have once held musical performances and political gatherings. Croatian authorities described the unexpected find as “extremely valuable” and one that helps provide a deeper glimpse into the...

A sandstone relief believed to represent Victoria, the Roman goddess of Victory, was unearthed from the Vindolanda fort near Hadrian's Wall in northern England, according to a statement released by the Vindolanda Trust. The deity was highly esteemed in Roman society, especially among soldiers, and was often honored after military success on the battlefield. The foot-and-a-half-tall sculpture was found in the rubble above a military barracks at the site, where as many as 800 Roman auxiliary troops were stationed.Archaeologists believe that it may have been part of an ornamental arch or gate that once adorned the building. The barracks and...

Archaeologists believe they have rediscovered the lost Byzantine city of Tharais in southern Jordan, according to a Türkiye Today report. The settlement is thought to have been an important religious and trading center along the Roman and Byzantine road network connecting Zoar to central Jordan. The city appears on the famous sixth-century a.d. Madaba Mosaic Map, the oldest surviving map of the Middle East, but its exact location has remained a mystery. Over the past several years, an archaeological project has reexamined historical documents and inscriptions, while conducting field surveys outside of the modern town of El-'Iraq near the southeastern...

Belga News Agency reports that modern construction work beneath the Brusselsestraat in Leuven unearthed a rare and remarkably well-preserved Roman wooden water pipe, which the city council has described as a "unique and exceptional find." The conduit was located about 13 feet beneath the level of the modern city street. Extending between 65 and 100 feet long, the pipeline was constructed from hollow tree trunks measuring around six feet each. While similar features have been found in other Belgian cities such as Tienen and Tongeren, they have typically been very badly decayed. Archaeologists believe that the pipe was installed sometime...

0:00 - 2:52 - Intro and Orientation 2:53 - 5:00 - Roman Colonies 5:01 - 9:17 - The Rewards Veterans Got 9:18 - 12:11 - The End of Timgad The BEST Preserved Roman Colony in the World | 12:11 Street Gems | 38.4K subscribers | 1,223,791 views | May 2, 2024

Roman Africa The economic and political fault lines that separated Carthage and Numidia are the ones that separate Tunisia and Algeria—and the Romans drew them by Robert D. Kaplan From the parapets of Le Kef, on a rocky spur in northwestern Tunisia, one can see deep into the mountains of Algeria, whose border is a short distance away. A fort of some kind has existed here since Carthaginian times, 2,500 years ago, and the ocher ruins of ancient cities are all around. Dominating the view to the southwest is Jugurtha's Table, a massive mesa atop which the Numidian King Jugurtha...

A touristic visit to the beautiful ancient Roman ruins of Djémila in Algeria. Founded in AD 96 as a Roman military garrison, the ancient town of Cuicul is set on a hillside with grand vistas. It is a UNESCO world heritage site - as "an interesting example of Roman town planning adapted to a mountain location".This video features views of the ruins including overall views, the Cardo Maximums (main street), the forum, arches, basilica, curia, temples, Christian Quarter, fountains, markets, theater, baths and latrine. The site has is in a remarkable state of preservation and it shows how the...

Founded during the Hellenistic period by Seleucid veterans of Alexander the Great, the ancient city of Gerasa -- now Jerash in modern Jordan -- was likely named after the Gerontes. Caught between Nabataean and Jewish influence, it truly flourished after the Roman conquest, becoming one of the most impressive cities of the Decapolis. Gerasa: Rome's Forgotten City in the Jordanian Hills | 51:36 Histoire & Civilisations | 338K subscribers | 13,297 views | May 24, 2025

How "Roman" is Times New Roman? | 9:40 toldinstone | 579K subscribers | 9,567 views | May 24, 2025 Chapters 0:00 Introduction 0:42 The Latin Alphabet 1:53 Rustic capitals 2:21 Uncial 2:50 Carolingian miniscule 3:32 Gothic 4:24 The Book 5:26 The first fonts 6:05 Littera Antiqua 6:46 Aldus Manutius and his successors 7:40 Times New Roman 8:07 How Roman?