Pompeii Street, painted by Eduardo Ettore Forti (1897). https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pompeii_Street_by_Ettore_Forti.jpg. By the reign of Caesar Augustus, the city of Rome had a population of a million people. With so many crammed into such a small area, disease was a big problem. Having… Read More ›
archaeology
October 5 – The Opening of the Pit of the Underworld
Manes, Lares, and Lemures. © Jason R. Abdale (August 21, 2021) “Then I saw an angel coming down from Heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that… Read More ›
Today in Ancient Rome: A Reference Guide for Articles on the Ancient Roman Calendar
A scene from the movie The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964). Greetings all. For those who follow this website regularly, you know that ancient history is one of my major academic interests. Beginning in February 2019, I have been… Read More ›
October 1 – The Kalends of October
The Kalends of October, by Jason R. Abdale (October 1, 2021) It is now the month of October in ancient Rome. The weather has begun to cool, the Autumn harvest is ready to be gathered, and the soldiers are preparing… Read More ›
September 13 – Epulum Jovis: The Feast of Jove
There are many so-called “feast days” which are present within religious calendars. Among those that were listed in the ancient Roman religious calendar are the “Ides”. This was a religious holiday held in the middle of each month, and all… Read More ›
The Battle of Teutoburg: A Problem with Dating
September 9 to 11 of the year 9 AD is often attributed in modern sources as the date for the legendary Battle of Teutoburg, more commonly known as the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest – except the battle lasted for… Read More ›
August 13 – The Feast of Pomona, Goddess of Fruit
As we approach the middle of August, the heat of Summer is still on full-blast. Gardens are bursting with tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and a whole slew of other crops. Thoughts of the cool crisp breezes of Autumn are beginning to… Read More ›
July 15 – The Equitum Romanorum Probatio and the Lusus Troiae: The Public Exhibitions of the Ancient Roman Knightly Class
July 15 was the date for the Equitum Romanorum Probatio, “the Roman Knight Exhibition”. This event commemorated the anniversary of the Battle of Lake Regillus, in which the Roman Republic fought against its Latin neighbors during the 300s BC. Legend… Read More ›
The First Roman-Illyrian War, 229-228 BC: Ancient Rome’s First Armed Conflict in the Western Balkans
Introduction For many people learning about ancient history in any detail for the first time, the title “civilization” is largely confined to the civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome. In the West, especially, the Greek and Roman civilizations are… Read More ›
May 9, 11, and 13 – Rest in Peace: The Lemuria Festival of the Dead
Manes, Lares, and Lemures. © Jason R. Abdale (August 21, 2021) Do you believe in ghosts? The ancient Romans certainly did. The spirits of the Undead were a real concern and a real fear for the ancient Romans. Therefore, it… Read More ›
DINOSAURS AND BARBARIANS 