Narona was an ancient city located in the Narenta Valley in present-day southern Croatia near the border with Bosnia-Herzegovina. The valley, home to the ancient Illyrian tribe, served as the route for the exchange of goods between the Mediterranean, the Adriatic Sea and the Illyrian hinterland. Narona became a major Roman stronghold and had a Roman… Continue reading The Augusteum at Narona (Croatia)
Category: Museum
Artefact: The Warren Cup
On this day (January, 8) in 1860 was born Edward Perry Warren, known as Ned Warren, an American art-lover and collector. Warren is now best known as the former owner of the Warren Cup, now exhibited in the British Museum. The Warren Cup, created early in the first century AD, is a remarkably important and… Continue reading Artefact: The Warren Cup
Felicem diem natalem, Luci Vere!
Lucius Ceionius Commodus, the future Lucius Verus, was born on December 15 in AD 130. He was the son of Lucius Aelius Caesar, Hadrian's first choice as heir, but Lucius' father died when he was only seven years old. Having lost his successor, Hadrian designated Antoninus Pius to be his successor and required him, in… Continue reading Felicem diem natalem, Luci Vere!
Artefact: Bronze caliga from an over life-size statue of a Roman cavalryman
Caligae were heavy hob-nailed military boots worn by the Roman legionary soldiers, auxiliaries and cavalrymen throughout the Roman Republic and Empire. This bronze caliga was part of an over life-size statue of a Roman cavalryman from the 1st or the 2nd century AD. It is exhibited at the Museo Civico Archeologico of Bologna. However this… Continue reading Artefact: Bronze caliga from an over life-size statue of a Roman cavalryman
The Nerva-Antonines in Copenhagen
The NY Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen has a spectacular imperial Roman sculpture gallery. Their collection of portraits of the members of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty is particularly impressive. The Nerva–Antonine dynasty was a dynasty of seven Roman Emperors who ruled from AD 96 to AD 192. These Emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius,… Continue reading The Nerva-Antonines in Copenhagen
Painted portrait of a woman from Antinoopolis, Egypt
On this day in 130 AD, Hadrian founded Antinoopolis (Egypt), in memory of his beloved Antinous who had drowned in the Nile a few days earlier. Antinoopolis is located on the east bank of the Nile in Upper Egypt near the modern village of Sheikh ‘Ibada. The site was originally an Egyptian city with a temple… Continue reading Painted portrait of a woman from Antinoopolis, Egypt
Antinous as Dionysus, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen
Inv. N° 1960, exhibited in the Central Hall. Found ca. 1700 in the Garden of the now-demolished Villa Casali in Rome. Called the "Antinous Casali," after its origin. «Der Kopf wird von vielen für den schönsten gehalten» (Friedrich von Ramdohr, 1787)
Artefact: Fish-shaped Glass Bottle from the Roman necropolis of Iader (Zadar)
While I finished working on my next blog entry about Classical Pula (Croatia), I started a new weekly post called Artefact of the Week. Not only have I been lucky enough to explore many ancient sites through my archaeology travels, but I have also been fortunate to visit many museums. Let's begin with this beautiful… Continue reading Artefact: Fish-shaped Glass Bottle from the Roman necropolis of Iader (Zadar)
The face of mock battles – images of Roman cavalry helmets from Germania Inferior
I recently resumed my travels on the Limes Germanicus and headed north along Rome's frontier in the Roman province of Germania Inferior. The Lower Germanic Limes extended from the North Sea at Katwijk in the Netherlands to Bonn along the Lower Rhine. Numerous museums with impressive collections of Roman artefacts can be found along the… Continue reading The face of mock battles – images of Roman cavalry helmets from Germania Inferior
The Gladiator Mosaic at Nennig, Germany
When the Romans arrived and settled in the Moselle valley over 2,000 years ago, they brought many things with them, including underfloor heating, winemaking, aqueducts, and road networks. The remains of the rural farmsteads contain luxurious installations, some of which were almost palace-like in dimensions and decorated with splendid mosaics. A famous example of Roman… Continue reading The Gladiator Mosaic at Nennig, Germany