All articles tagged with #ancient rome
The Column of Marcus Aurelius in Rome, completed in 193 AD, vividly depicts the emperor's military campaigns during the Marcomannic Wars through intricate carvings, reflecting both triumph and the brutal realities of war. Recent laser restoration in 2025 has enhanced its details, preserving this ancient monument's legacy amid centuries of wear.
A new digital atlas reveals that the network of roads in ancient Rome was nearly 50% longer than previously thought, expanding from 117,163 miles to about 186,000 miles, thanks to advanced technology and analysis of historical and satellite data.
A new digital atlas reveals that the ancient Roman road network was nearly 50% longer than previously thought, expanding from 117,163 miles to about 186,000 miles, thanks to advanced technology and archival research, providing deeper insights into Roman infrastructure and its impact on history.
A new map called Itiner-e has nearly doubled the known length of the ancient Roman road network to 300,000 km, revealing that only about 3% of these roads are precisely mapped. The project compiles extensive historical and archaeological data, showing that many Roman routes are still in use today and highlighting the need for further research to fully understand the empire's extensive infrastructure.
A 50 B.C. mosaic from Pompeii called Memento Mori depicts a skull, a level, and symbols of wealth and poverty, serving as a reminder of mortality and equality in death, and was found in a house that also operated as a tannery.
The article explores how historical patterns of authoritarianism in ancient Rome can help us understand and resist similar trends in the modern United States, emphasizing the role of art, architecture, and political institutions in consolidating power, with parallels drawn to contemporary figures like Donald Trump.
Survivors and opportunists returned to Pompeii after the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius, living in the upper floors of buildings and engaging in disorganized, lawless activities for about 400 years until the city was abandoned in the fifth century, with new excavations revealing clearer evidence of this reoccupation.
New archaeological evidence suggests that after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, some survivors and others seeking valuables reoccupied Pompeii in precarious conditions, forming an informal settlement that persisted until the fifth century, revealing a more complex post-eruption history than previously understood.
New archaeological evidence indicates that after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, some survivors and others seeking settlement returned to live among the ruins of Pompeii, continuing to inhabit the site until the 5th century, in a makeshift community that lacked typical Roman infrastructure.
Archaeologists have found evidence that some survivors and new settlers reoccupied Pompeii after the AD79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius, living in precarious conditions in makeshift settlements within the ruins, challenging the previous notion that the city was completely abandoned after the disaster.
A new AI system called Aeneas has the potential to significantly enhance our understanding of ancient Rome by filling in missing parts of inscriptions, dating artifacts, and identifying their origins, thereby accelerating and improving historical research, despite some concerns about accuracy.
A DeepMind AI model named Aeneas has analyzed Latin inscriptions and provided a more precise date for the 'Res Gestae Divi Augusti,' suggesting it was created around A.D. 15, shortly after Augustus's death, demonstrating AI's potential to aid historical research by linking isolated data to broader social contexts.
In ancient Rome, gladiators were sometimes seen as symbols of tyranny, representing the power and control exerted by the ruling class over the populace. This perspective highlights the complex social and political dynamics of Roman society, where public spectacles were used to reinforce authority and distract from political issues.
Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator II' is an entertaining yet imitative sequel to the 2000 Oscar-winning film, featuring Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Maximus, and a standout performance by Denzel Washington as the Machiavellian Macrinus. While the film delivers on spectacle and action, it often feels like a retread of the original, with familiar plot elements and character dynamics. Despite this, Washington's charismatic portrayal and the film's grand visuals provide enough excitement for fans of the genre.
Recent DNA analysis of victims from Pompeii challenges long-held assumptions about their identities and relationships. The study reveals that a supposed mother in a famous cast was actually a man, unrelated to the children, and suggests diverse origins for the victims, indicating significant human mobility in the Roman period. This research highlights the potential for scientific analysis to reshape historical narratives and offers insights into the diverse backgrounds of Pompeii's inhabitants.