Pompeii gets cash boost from Italian government
BBC, 5 April 2012

The Italian government has launched a 105m euros (£87m) project to
save one of the world's greatest archaeological treasures, the ancient
city of Pompeii. There has been growing concern that the site, where
volcanic ash smothered a Roman city in AD79, has been neglected. A
number of structures have fully or partially collapsed, including the
"House of Gladiators" which fell down 18 months ago. Italy and the EU
have now put up the funds for a major restoration plan.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17634115

Greek and Byzantine-era tomb discoveries in Alexandria prompt
construction freeze
Al-Ahram [Egypt], 13 Apr 2012

Egyptian archaeologists have discovered four Greek and Byzantine-era
rock tombs in a section of old Alexandria's eastern necropolis in an
area neighbouring Al-Ibrahimeya tunnel. The site was discovered during
excavations carried out by the Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA)
and stretches between the areas of Al-Shatbi and Mostafa Kamel.
Excavations uncovered four rock-hewn Greek and Byzantine tombs
containing a collection of funerary pots, perfume containers and lamps.
MSA minister Mohamed Ibrahim stated that the aim of the excavations was
to inspect the area for archaeological artefacts before declaring it
free for residential building.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/41/39166/Heritage/GrecoRoman/Greek-and\
-Byzantineera-tomb-discoveries-in-Alexand.aspx

Akrotiri, The Mythical "Minoan Pompeii," Reopens to the Public After
Arduous Seven-Year Shutdown
ARTINFO [USA], April 13, 2012

The Bronze Age settlement of Akrotiri, home to some of the world's most
prized artifacts of Minoan civilization and culture, has been reopened
to the public following a tragic accident seven years ago in which a
British tourist was killed and several others were injured. Speaking at
a press conference on Wednesday, the beaming Deputy Culture and Tourism
Minister Petros Alivizatos said the opening would attract visitors and
stimulate Greece's crucial tourism industry, telling reporters, "One of
the most significant archaeological sites in Greece and the world opened
its gates again."

http://artinfo.com/news/story/798999/akrotiri-the-mythical-minoan-pompeii-reopen\
s-to-the-public-after-arduous-seven-year-shutdown

Looks interesting


Masters of Command: Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, and the Genius of
Leadership:Amazon:Books
Address:



http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1439164487/ref=aw_ls__1?coliid=I3RU870GL0BPR&colid\
=1KDL85MFASQX8

More on:
New tombs found from ancient Alexandria Al-Ahram [Egypt], 19 - 25 April
2012

This week, during excavation work being carried out in the area
neighbouring the Ibrahimiya tunnel, Egyptian archaeologists found
another section of the eastern necropolis of ancient Alexandria that
once stretched from Shatbi to the Mustafa Kamel district. The newly
discovered area contains four rock-hewn tombs from the Graeco-Roman and
Byzantine eras as well as a number of tombs at a deeper level and a rich
funerary collection. Among the new discoveries at the site is a very
finely decorated clay container from the second century BC known as a
hidra, a large pot with a long neck that held the cremated ashes of the
deceased. Mohamed Mustafa, director-general of Alexandria antiquities,
told the Weekly that the tomb walls still bore a layer of plaster and
traces of red paint.

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2012/1094/eg9.htm

I love when that happens . . .

Bulgarian Archaeologists Find Ancient Vase Depicting 'Group Sex'
Novinite [Bulgaria], April 22, 2012

Bulgarian archaeologists have unearthed an Ancient Greek vase featuring
an erotic scene during excavations in the Black Sea town of Sozopol. It
was discovered in the oldest archaeological layers in Sozopol dating
back from the end of the 7th century to the middle of the 6th century
BC, announced Prof. Bozhidar Dimitrov, Director of Bulgaria's National
History Museum, who described the erotic scene on the vase as depicting
"group sex" as cited by Focus. "This vase, which was unfortunately found
in several fragments, presents a very strong erotic scene. Several naked
young people, boys and girls, are shown having sex in an unorthodox way.
This is the first time such an ancient erotic scene is found in
Bulgaria," Dimitrov said, as cited by Focus.

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=138732

Also:

Ancient Temple Discovered in Messinia
Greek Reporter [USA], April 24, 2012

Archaeological research reveals an ancient temple in the mountains
between Ilia and Messinia, opposite the well-known imposing temple of
Epicurean Apollo. The area around the newly discovered temple was full
of architectural tools that were used to build a small temple, while
former head of the 38th Ephorate of Antiquities, archaeologist Dr. Xeni
Arapogianni explains that when the small temple was demolished in order
to build a new one, topmasts, triglyphs and other parts of the ancient
temple were found.

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2012/04/24/ancient-temple-discovered-in-messinia\
/

I hate when that happens . . .

Pompeii wall collapses, despite new conservation initiative
The Telegraph [UK], 22 Apr 2012

The Special Archaeological Superintendent for Naples and Pompeii
confirmed the collapse of the red-frescoed wall next to an unidentified
villa in an area already closed to the public. The collapse of the wall
is particularly embarrassing for the government as it follows several
other incidents at the world heritage site in the past two year . There
is growing concern Italy's ability to protect it from further
degradation and the impact of the local Mafia or Camorra. Giulia Rodano,
cultural affairs spokesman for the centre-left Italy of Values party,
said there was a need to restore state funding that had been eroded by
government cutbacks. "How many walls have to fall, how much rain or snow
should we expect to see a turnaround in state finance for the protection
of cultural assets," Ms Rodano said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9219470/Pompeii-wall-coll\
apses-despite-new-conservation-initiative.html

2,000-yr old tiles found in Junnar
Pune Mirror [India], May 5, 2012

While excavating in the Junnar region, archaeologists from the Deccan
College has turned up roof tiles used by settlers there, around 2,000
years ago. The find, claims the discoverer, implies that architectural
techniques and styles were more developed than thought previously. The
findings date back to the Satvahana dynasty, which ruled in the region
between 230 BC to 220 AD. In 2010, archaeologists had found ancient
bricks that inexplicably floated on water. Although there are records of
healthy trade relations between the Satvahanas and ancient Rome, the
Junnar tiles are unique in style and quality and are dissimilar with
building materials found in Rome at the time.

http://www.punemirror.in/article/2/20120505201205050223391873f5c406a/2000yr-old-\
tiles-found-in-Junnar.html

An ancient ship's SOS
Cyprus Mail, May 6, 2012

One day about 2,300 years ago, not long after the death of Alexander the
Great, a small merchant ship stacked with wine and almond-filled
amphoras sailed past the port of Kyrenia on Cyprus' northern coast. On
board were four sailors about whom we know little, except that they had
lowered their sail, possibly in anticipation of an approaching storm. We
do not know whether the boat intended to arrive at Kyrenia, or if it was
leaving. Maybe it was simply passing by; but what we do know is that it
sank 30 metres down to the bottom of the Mediterranean sea where it
remained for 23 centuries until found by a modern-day Cypriot out diving
for sponges. Since its excavation from the seabed between 1968 and 69,
the Kyrenia Shipwreck, as it came to be known, and its cargo of over 400
amphoras, has resided in Kyrenia Castle. Despite its being one of the
world's finest and best-preserved examples of classical naval
architecture and the cargo a unique source of information on trade in
the classical era, the wreck and its associated relics today face
permanent damage from neglect and decay.

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/kyrenia/ancient-ship-s-sos/20120506

The how and where of Roman age glassmaking
PhysOrg.com [USA], May 3, 2012

An EU-funded interdisciplinary study has contributed a deeper
understanding of glass production in Italy in the Roman age. The project
'The provenance of mosaic tesserae: an interdisciplinary study on Roman
age glass production and trade in Italy' (Promote) contributed knowledge
and offered possible answers to open questions surrounding the Roman age
glassmaking industry. An existing reconstruction of the economic model
of ancient glass production, focusing on Italy and vitreous mosaic
tesserae materials dating from 3rd century BC to 2nd century AD, has
been advanced on the basis of archaeological and archaeometric
literature. Hypothesising a three-phase productive system, information
was lacking on the location of the primary productive centres and
trading routes.

http://phys.org/news/2012-05-roman-age-glassmaking.html

I thought this book sounds interesting


A Roman Map Workbook:Amazon:Books
Address:



http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0865167265/ref=aw_cr_d_books

This book sounds interesting.  Has anybody seen it?  Amazon has no review
and no explanation of what it is.

-----Original Message-----
From: imperialrome2@...
[mailto:imperialrome2@...] On Behalf Of David / Amicus
Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2012 5:21 PM
To: julioclaudian@yahoogroups.com; imperialrome2@...
Subject: [Imperial Rome] A Roman Map Workbook

I thought this book sounds interesting


A Roman Map Workbook:Amazon:Books
Address:



http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0865167265/ref=aw_cr_d_books




------------------------------------

  Yahoo! Groups Links

I'm wondering if anyone can offer recommendations as far as books or other
sources on the topic of ancient Roman beliefs in the afterlife.  Thank you!

Well, a survey in the form of a quiz.

It's about how well people know the last years of the western section of the
Roman Empire (or at least the rulers).

It's very straightforward - without looking at any sources, can you (i) name the
last 10 emperors of the West (or, failing that, at least five), and (ii) put
them in correct order?

Barry

Coin from 32 BC oldest in Beau Street Hoard
BBC, 31 May 2012

The oldest Roman coin in a hoard discovered in Bath dates back more than
200 years earlier than the others already examined. The Beau Street
Hoard of more than 20,000 silver coins was found in a stone-lined box by
archaeologists working in Bath in 2007. Work has begun at the British
Museum to clean them. Stephen Clews, manager of the Roman Baths, said a
coin from 32BC was the oldest identified so far. British Museum
conservator Julia Tubman said the coins were initially estimated to
number about 30,000, but having excavated the soil block they were
contained in, she believes there are no more than 22,000. Discovered
about 150 yards from the Roman Baths, the hoard is described as the
fifth largest ever found in the UK.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-18280324

Continuity down through the ages: Proof of a thousand years' use of a
Sicilian farmland estate

PhysOrg.com [USA], May 29, 2012
Archaeological excavations have provided the first substantiation that a
farmland estate in Sicily boasts a history which reaches back over a
thousand years. Numerous finds demonstrate the continuous use of the
land complex as a nexus of settlement and economic and religious life
between the 5th and 16th century. The findings are the result of two
projects of the Austrian Science Fund FWF which comprise the first
in-depth archaeological exploration of Sicily's Byzantine period.

http://phys.org/news/2012-05-ages-proof-thousand-years-sicilian.html

Italian police impound 18,000 illegally excavated artifacts
Agence France-Presse, May 29, 2012

Italian police said Wednesday they had reported five people to
prosecutors after finding and impounding some 18,000 ancient artifacts
dug up in illegal excavations at archaeological sites near Rome. Police
have also sealed off three illegal dig sites previously unknown to
archaeologists, they said in a statement: a necropolis dating from the
Roman empire, a Roman villa and a sanctuary used by the Aequi people,
who lived in an area northeast of Rome in the fourth and fifth centuries
BC. The items impounded include ancient artworks, Roman sarcophagi and
engraved stones known as stela.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ixIDwPagyb3HqSraPq4xfI7dl9dg?\
docId=CNG.3ba73c86dd427493655d3dc035dae653.e1

I got this book today.  Should be a good read.


The Romans Who Shaped Britain:Amazon:Books
Address:


http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0500251894/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1339194372&sr=8-1