Ancient World Review

Trash And Tombs In Ancient Pompeii

"Cemeteries in ancient Pompeii were 'mixed-use developments' with a variety of purposes that included serving as an appropriate site to toss out the trash," according to Science Daily.

The Voyage around the Erythraean Sea

"The Periplus Maris Erythraei (or ‘Voyage around the Erythraean Sea’ [note: the modern Red Sea]) is an anonymous work from around the middle of the first century CE written by a Greek speaking Egyptian merchant." (Source: Washington University) The document describes "the maritime trade-routes following the north-south axis from Egypt down the coast of East Africa as far as modern day Tanzania" and "the routes of the east-west axis running from Egypt, around the Arabian Peninsula and past the Persian Gulf on the west coast of India." The complete translation of this fascinating resource on the ancient sea trade can be found here. A detailed map of the Erythraean Sea in the 1st Century can be found here.

Roman Cavalry Helmet Found In Iron Age Shrine May Prove Britons Fought With Legions

"Constructed of sheet iron, the helmet, once decorated with gold leaf, is the only one to have been found in Britain with its silver gilt plating intact." Source: Telegraph.

"The helmet features scenes of Roman military victory, including the bust of a woman flanked by lions, and a Roman Emperor on horseback with the goddess Victory flying behind and a cowering figure, possibly a native Briton, being trampled under his horse's hooves.

"The object is believed to have been buried in the years around Roman Emperor Claudius's invasion of Britain in AD43." More here.

Terry Jones' Hidden History Of Rome

Income Inequality In The Roman Empire

"To determine the size of the Roman economy and the distribution of income, historians Walter Schiedel and Steven Friesen pored over papyri ledgers, previous scholarly estimates, imperial edicts, and Biblical passages. Their target was the state of the economy when the empire was at its population zenith, around 150 C.E. Schiedel and Friesen estimate that the top 1 percent of Roman society controlled 16 percent of the wealth, less than half of what America's top 1 percent control." Source: "Income Inequality In The Roman Empire," by Tim De Chant.

Pillar Collapses At Loreius Tiburtinus Villa In Pompeii

"A pillar was found collapsed at an ancient Roman villa in Pompeii on Thursday, as the government prepares a series of measures to preserve the unique but dilapidated archaeological area." Source: AFP News Agency. Note: the damage was apparently caused by severe weather in the area.

"Police were called in to carry out checks at the picturesque Loreius Tiburtinus villa from the 2nd century BC after the collapse of a pillar supporting one of the pergolas there was noticed by local technical staff.

"The villa has a large garden with pergolas and ponds, following a fashion of creating country-like residences in an urban environment.

Tomb Of The Scipios Reopens To Public

"The Roman tomb of the Scipioni, a family of war heroes and generals, the most famous being Scipio Africanus, who beat Hannibal, is set to open to the public again after twenty years of restoration." Source: Vancouver Sun.

"The family’s sarcophagi are spread out along a series of underground tunnels dug out of a hill of volcanic tuff near the Baths of Caracalla on the outskirts of the eternal city, which criss-cross a site 11 metres across.

"The tomb, which originally lay under a temple, was built at the beginning of the third century A.D by the consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbato, whose elegant sarcophagus holds pride of place at the end of the central gallery.

"The Scipio family held high political and military positions, but its most famous member, Scipio Africanus, is absent from the tomb."

Roman Barge Comes Up For Air After 2000 Years

"Archaeologists have recovered the final piece of a ship that sank in the river Rhone in France more than two millennia ago, which they hope will shed light on how the Romans led the way with globalization," according to Reuters.

Know The Romans Web Site

Know The Romans is a new UK website covering various aspects of Roman civilization. The site includes a large collection of videos about Roman architecture, building methods, legions, weapons, roads, aqueducts, etc. Very nicely done.

History of the Roman Colosseum