Greco-Roman Archaeology

Post by **Minimalist** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:21 am

Indeed there are certain motifs that repeat over and over, aren't there?

Beagle · Post by **Beagle** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 4:51 pm

http://www.spiegel.de/international/eur ... 40,00.html

Researchers of antiquity have known for a long time that there is not a word of truth to the legendary birth of Rome. In all likelihood, the nation's humble beginnings looked more like this: During the Iron Age, settlements consisting of straw huts were established on four of Rome's seven hills. In the late 8th century BC, these villages grew together to form a larger community. Apparently, there were also conflicts among the various chieftains.

Another article on the cave. With pics.

kbs2244 · Post by **kbs2244** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 7:30 pm

That is a decidedly Germanic point of view.
Ever since Teutoberg Forest they haven’t beloved in the Roman Myth.

Beagle · Post by **Beagle** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:29 pm

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071204/sc_ ... dnwgME1vAI

ROME (Reuters) - An ancient Roman wood and ivory throne has been unearthed at a dig in Herculaneum, Italian archaeologists said on Tuesday, hailing it as the most significant piece of wooden furniture ever discovered there.

The throne was found during an excavation in the Villa of the Papyri, the private house formerly belonging to Julius Caesar's father-in-law, Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, built on the slope of Mount Vesuvius.

The name of the villa derives from the impressive library containing thousands of scrolls of papyrus discovered buried under meters (yards) of volcanic ash after the Vesuvius erupted on 24 August 79.

Very nice find at Herculaneum.

Post by **Minimalist** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:51 pm

Always with Rome the same names keep coming back. A later, Cnaeus Calpurnius Piso was implicated in the murder of Germanicus during the reign of Tiberius!

Odd that they would have a "throne," though.

kbs2244 · Post by **kbs2244** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:26 pm

My Dad's easy chair in the front room would be concidered a "Throne" by some.
Me and my siblings, for instance.

Rokcet Scientist · Post by **Rokcet Scientist** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:41 pm

I wouldn't be surprised if, originally, the moniker 'throne' was rather loosely affixed to an ornately decorated chair/seat but has now taken on its own 'meaning', taken to suggest an emperor or other monarch held court there.
While, afaik, none ever did.

That 'throne' may be more a linguistic accident than a real throne.

Post by **Minimalist** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:46 pm

Yeah, the truth is kb that in a country that does not have a king it is okay to call the toilet a throne.

But....if you have a king....better to call it a chair.

Post by **Minimalist** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:16 pm

http://in.reuters.com/article/lifestyle ... 5620071210

ROME, Dec 10 (Reuters Life!) - Four frescoed rooms in the eastern wing of the house of Augustus, where he lived before becoming Rome's first emperor, will open to the public for the first time next year after three decades of restorations.

Italian archaeologists said on Monday the rooms dated from around 30 B.C. and had been buried -- which may explain why some of the paintings are so well preserved -- after Augustus moved to another residence on a higher level of the Palatine Hill.

It's good to be the king.....and even better to be the emperor.

Post by **Minimalist** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:40 pm

Early Christmas Shrine identified.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/200712 ... MAJG0.html

A few feet from the grotto, or "Lupercale," the Emperor Constantine built the Basilica of St. Anastasia, where some believe Christmas was first celebrated on Dec. 25.

Constantine ended the frequent waves of anti-Christian persecutions in the Roman empire by making Christianity a lawful religion in 313. He played a key role in unifying the beliefs and practices of the early followers of Jesus.

In 325, he convened the Council of Nicaea, which fixed the dates of important Christian festivals. It opted to mark Christmas, then celebrated at varying dates, on Dec. 25 to coincide with the Roman festival celebrating the birth of the sun god, Andrea Carandini, a professor of archaeology at Rome's La Sapienza University, told reporters Friday.

Beagle · Post by **Beagle** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:53 pm

Council of Nicaea

Boy, these guys made a mess of things. Depending on your point of view, of course.

Post by **Minimalist** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:19 pm

on Dec. 25 to coincide with the Roman festival celebrating the birth of the sun god,

....along with a lot of other stuff they borrowed from Mithras.

Post by **Minimalist** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:01 pm

That goodness for the Roman Subway project!

http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/awnplus ... 96593.html

Rome, April 17 - An Ancient Roman staircase which appears to have led into a previously unknown major building has been found during excavations for a new subway station.

Archaeologists immediately dubbed the white-marble staircase, the latest in a trove of finds at the site, ''the imperial steps''.

Post by **Minimalist** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 7:55 pm

http://www.cctv.com/program/cultureexpr ... 1520.shtml

In the Italian countryside, the ancient Roman feast of Vestalia is being revived. Six modern Vestal Virgins have presided over an event that used to mark the end of the harvest. It's part of a growing trend of "experimental archaeology," to teach history in a more interactive way.

I wonder how "modern" the "vestal virgins" actually are?

rich · Post by **rich** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:19 pm

I was wondering how "virgin"!