Free Republic

Today, AD joins architect Nick Potts in London to uncover the city's ancient Roman origins. Before London, there was Londinium, the capital of Roman Britain, and although it was abandoned by AD 450, the influence and some remnants of the ancient city still remain. Join Potts as he explores how modern London rose up from Roman ruins. An Entire Roman City Is Hidden Beneath London | Walking Tour | 10:01 Architectural Digest | 7.37M subscribers | 192,282 views | April 22, 2025

Only around 5% of the world’s population have hazel eyes. Yet a 2009 study found that 55.2% of their Spanish cohort had hazel-green eyes. This eye color is also more common in Portugal than the global average. But why is there such a concentration of hazel eyes in the Iberian peninsula compared to most other parts of the world? And is the evolution of hazel eyes connected to the genetic history of Iberia? Now there are a two main types of hazel eyes. Iberian DNA and the Evolution of Hazel Eyes... | 15:00 Celtic History Decoded | 48.5K subscribers |...

Anthropologist Richard Rudgley explores the history of the Celtic world and reveals the Celtic tradition to be a crucial part of what makes a Brit a True Brit. From Germany to the far west of Ireland, by way of Gaul, Pictish Scotland and England under Roman occupation, Rudgley takes a 5,000-mile journey of discovery that starts around 1,000 BC and ends in the present day. He uncovers remarkable archaeological evidence that puts a brand new light on the savagery and civilisation of an often misunderstood European culture. Where Did the Celts Really Come From? | 48:22 Our History | 883K...

German archaeologists have unearthed a thriving local community located near a Roman camp far beyond the borders of the Roman frontier, La Brüjula Verde reports. The legionary camp of Anreppen was built along the Lippe River in the first century a.d. and occupied briefly as Rome attempted to expand its territory further into the province of Germania. Initial archaeological investigation eight years ago uncovered a single isolated farmstead near the camp, but recent excavations have shown that the settlement was far more substantial than originally thought. Several farmsteads have now been identified and archaeologists have recovered artifacts demonstrating that local...

Every Easter, children and adults alike eagerly search for colorful eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny on Sunday morning. Whether made of chocolate, painted with bright designs, or stuffed with little surprises, Easter eggs are a beloved tradition that bring so much joy to the beloved holiday. But have you ever stopped to wonder where this quirky custom comes from? Why do we associate eggs with Easter, and how did this tradition evolve from old rituals to the modern-day candy-fueled extravaganza we know and love? The answer is as layered as a perfectly decorated egg.

Researchers are analyzing 4,000 Roman stamped bricks from Trier to uncover insights into ancient construction, economy, and urban development using both archaeological and scientific techniques...Trier reached its peak in the 4th century AD, when it served as a residence for Roman emperors. Monumental structures like the Imperial Baths and the Basilica of Constantine still stand as evidence of this prosperous period. These buildings were constructed using fired bricks in various formats, which were employed in walls, roofing, and heating systems...A key project focus is the spatial distribution of the bricks, which will help researchers trace the architectural development of Augusta...

By modern standards, taxes were low in ancient Rome. But that didn't mean they were easy to pay... 0:00 Introduction 0:34 City-state taxes 1:11 The Roman Republic 1:56 The imperial tax system c3:17 Roman Egypt 4:00 Customs duties and tariffs 4:25 Agent.ai 5:04 Diocletian's reforms 5:32 Tax rates 5:57 Trouble paying 6:29 A regressive regime 7:02 It's good to be rich Why most Romans didn't pay Taxes | 8:47 toldinstone | 560K subscribers | 27,759 views | April 11, 2025

Built as Byzantium around 657 BC and then renamed Constantinople in the 4th century CE after Constantine the Great made the city his capital, the city of Istanbul officially received its present name on this day in 1930. Surprisingly, the capital of the Byzantine Empire was not renamed after the Ottomans captured it in 1453. Variations of “Constantinople” continued to be used by the Turkish-speaking conquerors long after they took control of the city. “It’s a fact that the Ottomans called Istanbul ‘Kostantiniyye,’ among other names, in thousands of their official documents,” said Christoph Herzog, chair of Turkish studies at...

As part of the series of tapestries by Peter Paul Rubens on the life of Constantine, we find a vignette from the early life of the first Christian Roman emperor showing him slaying a lion with an audience of Roman soldiers looking on. This is an odd anecdote from the life of Constantine and one that is not commonly known. Was it based on an actual event? Or was it one of those medieval interpolations meant to enhance the reputation of an ancient hero as a courageous and powerful hero? Let's take a look at the ancient sources. We know...

This video explores how books were published and distributed in ancient Rome. Why the Romans Stopped Reading Books | 10:25 toldinstone | 555K subscribers | 71,742 views | March 21, 2025 Chapters0:00 Introduction0:30 Literacy and texts1:19 Libraries2:09 Scrolls and codices3:13 Bookstores and booksellers4:07 Helix5:13 Publication6:17 Luxury and vintage books7:14 Bestsellers8:10 The end of the book trade

Portus Abonae, also known as Abona, was a bustling Roman port and settlement located at the junction of the rivers Avon and Trym in what is now Sea Mills, Bristol, England. Founded as early as the 3rd century AD, this port played a crucial role in the Roman Empire's maritime trade network. Portus Abonae, Roman Britain, c. AD 250 - 450 | 6:07 AncientSwan | 23.9K subscribers | 2,021 views | October 22, 2024

Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered the royal tomb of an unknown king...The tomb was found within an ancient Egyptian necropolis in Abydos. The burial is located about 23 feet (7 meters) underground and contains a limestone burial chamber covered with mudbrick vaults, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities wrote in a statement. The burial chamber was originally about 16 feet (5 m) high.The king's reign dates to the "Second Intermediate Period" (circa 1640 to 1540 B.C.), when northern Egypt was ruled by a group called the Hyksos and the southern part of Egypt was controlled by multiple Egyptian kings...The...

The Huns suddenly appeared in Europe in the 370s, establishing one of the most influential although short-lived empires in Europe. Scholars have long debated whether the Huns were descended from the Xiongnu. In fact, the Xiongnu Empire dissolved around 100... leaving a 300-year gap before the Huns appeared in Europe. Can DNA lineages that bridge these three centuries be found?...researchers analyzed the DNA of 370 individuals that lived in historical periods spanning around 800 years... encompassing sites in the Mongolian steppe, Central Asia, and the Carpathian Basin of Central Europe. In particular, they examined 35 newly sequenced genomes ranging from:...

Much of our detailed knowledge of Attila and the Huns comes from one relatively obscure source, the late 5th century History of Priscus. It’s probable that you’ve never heard of Priscus because his history was considered lost after about the 10th century AD. All that survives of it are fragments that later historians have recovered from other ancient and medieval sources that incorporated or paraphrased certain passages of interest. Excerpts from Priscus may be found embedded within works such as the Gothic History of Jordanes, the Histories of Procopius, the works of Constantine Porphyrogenitus, the Suda, the History of John...

When it emerged from the ground in 1853 at West Lodge, England, the so-called Colchester Vase was immediately deemed an important find due to its remarkable decorative relief depicting a gladiatorial battle, which dated the piece back to Roman Britain. It was also considered a cremation vessel, having been found containing human remains. But new studies have found that the jar was no ordinary grave object—it could represent the earliest form of sports memorabilia.Conducted by researchers at the Colchester and Ipswich Museums, where the artifact is held, the latest tests reveal that the vase was crafted out of local clay...

Explore Herculaneum's ancient wooden wonders! From carbonized staircases to intricately crafted furniture, discover the incredible preservation of Roman life and craftsmanship.0:00 Introduction2:00 Fabri2:43 small boat3:15 Telephos relief wooden coffered ceiling (recently discovered)3:57 bed, table, crib, bench5:28 Lararium shrines6:50 Idols, wax tablet, coin purses7:56 Recent finds from the Villa of the Papiri (inlaid ivory); trunkWooden furniture of Herculaneum preserved from Vesuvius | 9:21Ancient Rome Live | 74K subscribers | 821,158 views | February 8, 2024

Cleopatra: Short, Fat and Ugly By Rossella Lorenzi, Discovery News March 26 — Cleopatra, the most seductive queen of the ancient world, was in reality a short, fat and ugly woman, says a forthcoming exhibition at the British Museum. The scathing portrait emerged with the re-discovery of 11 previously unrecognized images of the queen — all statues done in the Egyptian style. Thought to portray other queens, the statues have now been acknowledged as being of Egypt's last pharaoh and will be displayed at the exhibition "Cleopatra of Egypt: From History to Myth" in April. They depict the alluring...

This video explores how Roman law became the legal framework of medieval and early modern Europe, and went on to inspire the civil codes used across two-thirds of the globe today. Why Scotland and Sri Lanka use Roman Law | 11:36 toldinstone | 551K subscribers | 29,782 views | March 7, 2025

European Commission president Ursula Von Der Leyen has laid out plans to “rearm Europe” as she voiced that the continent has now entered “an era of rearmament”. Speaking on Tuesday, Von Der Leyen highlighted that the EU defense plans set out could mobilize around €800 billion for defense. “We are in an era of rearmament. Europe is ready to massively boost its defense spending. Both to respond to the short term urgency to support Ukraine, but also the long-term need for more responsibility for our own European security,” she said in her speech. […] Under the plans, the EU will...

...the only known case of natural organic glass preservation in history. The brain vitrified at temperatures above 510°C followed by extremely rapid cooling, revealing a new timeline of volcanic hazards during the disaster. This unique preservation was only possible because of a perfect sequence: superheated ash cloud exposure, rapid cooling as the cloud dissipated, then burial by cooler volcanic flows...The victim, believed to be approximately 20 years old, was discovered in the Collegium Augustalium, a public building dedicated to the worship of Emperor Augustus. He is believed to have been the guardian of this important structure, which was located on...