Late Spring AD 125 – Hadrian visits Sicily to climb Mount Etna and returns to Rome (#Hadrian1900)

In the late spring of AD 125, after visiting Delphi and possibly spending some time in Dyrrachium (see here), Hadrian set sail to return to Rome, having completed a four-year journey across the western and eastern provinces. However, instead of sailing directly to Rome and embarking for Brundisium, he chose to sail to Sicily. This… Continue reading Late Spring AD 125 – Hadrian visits Sicily to climb Mount Etna and returns to Rome (#Hadrian1900)

‘Baths, wine, and sex make life worth living’: how ancient Romans used public baths to relax, work out and socialise

by Peter Edwell, The Conversation; Edited by Dario Radley Standing in the vast ruins of the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, hundreds of gulls circle above. Their haunting cries echo voices from 1,800 years ago. Today, the bare shell of what was one of Rome’s largest bath complexes mostly sits empty, occasionally playing host to […]

Ancient Roman breakwater found off Bacoli shows ingenious engineering at imperial fleet base

In an underwater recovery operation off the coast of Bacoli in southern Italy, archaeologists have uncovered a Roman-era breakwater constructed from recycled architectural materials — a find that sheds light on ancient Roman maritime engineering. The submerged remains were discovered at Portus Iulius, the Roman naval base at Misenum, formerly the headquarters of the Classis […]

Rare 1,800-year-old Roman soldier’s wrist purse unearthed in Czech Republic reveals life on the empire’s frontier

Archaeologists in South Moravia in the Czech Republic uncovered a rare Roman military discovery—a fragment of a bronze wrist purse that is the oldest such discovery ever made in the Czech Republic. They discovered it on Hradisko Hill in January 2025 and dated it to more than 1,800 years old, offering a glimpse into the […]

Intact 7th century Etruscan tomb discovered in San Giuliano necropolis near Rome

An astonishing archaeological discovery has been made in the San Giuliano Necropolis, located in the Marturanum Regional Park near Barbarano Romano, central Italy. The Baylor University team, excavating under the auspices of Italy’s Ministry of Culture and in close collaboration with the Soprintendenza (Heritage Authority), has discovered a sealed, intact Etruscan rock-cut tomb dating back […]

For Men, About Men: A Review of Legion: Life in the Roman Army
The review presents a critical examination of the British Museum’s Legion exhibition from the perspective of a British-Iraqi, female archaeologist. While acknowledging that the exhibition brought together a stellar cast of objects, the author questions whether these were sufficient to sustain an enriching visitor experience without a strong narrative derived from recent research developments in […]
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Spring AD 125 – Hadrian travels to Boeotia and Phocis and visits Delphi (#Hadrian1900)

Four years had passed since Hadrian last saw Rome, and it was time for him to return home. In the spring of AD 125, the Emperor departed from Athens and began his journey northward to the Adriatic port of Dyrrachium. Along the way, Hadrian visited Boeotia and Phocis, where he dedicated a bear skin to… Continue reading Spring AD 125 – Hadrian travels to Boeotia and Phocis and visits Delphi (#Hadrian1900)