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 ›
Europe
May 15 – The Feast of Mercury
The Roman god Mercury, from the House of the Vettii, Pompeii. Image by Buzz Ferebee (2017).https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:House_of_the_Vettii_VI_15,1_Pompeii_2017_Detail_of_Mercury_with_his_caduceus_from_central_panel_on_north_wall_exedra_p_%28Mau_Plan%29_courtesy_of_Buzz_Ferebee.jpg. May 15 was the date of the Mercuralia, the Feast of Mercury. Mercury was the Roman version for the ancient Greek god Hermes, the… Read More ›
April 23 – The Vinalia Priora: The Ancient Roman Spring Wine Festival
I feel the coming of the flowery Spring,Wakening tree and vine;A bowl capacious quickly bringAnd mix the honeyed wine.Weave for my throat a garland of fresh dill,And crown my head with flowers,And o’er my breast sweet perfumes spillIn aromatic showers…. Read More ›
Dryosaurus
NOTE: This article was originally posted on April 8, 2020. It was substantially updated on December 14, 2022. This is Dryosaurus, a 10 foot long plant-eating ornithopod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation of western North America, and possibly… Read More ›
February 23 – The Terminalia: The Feast Day of the Roman Border God
February 23 was the date of the Terminalia, the festival dedicated to the ancient Roman god Terminus, the god of property boundaries. Yep, that was a real thing. Agrarian societies like the Roman peasant class took land ownership extremely seriously…. Read More ›
February 22 – The Caristia: The Ancient Roman Family Thanksgiving Feast
Fresco from the House of Julia Felix in Pompeii, Italy. February 22 was the ancient Roman holiday called the Caristia, and it was one of the biggest party days in the Roman calendar. Essentially it was Thanksgiving and Christmas put… Read More ›
February 21 – Rest in Peace: The Feralia Festival of the Dead
Classical Sunset. © Jason R. Abdale (August 20, 2021) The ancient Romans had several days in their calendar dedicated to honoring the dead. Among these was a period that lasted from February 13 to 21 which was known as the… Read More ›
February 13 – Rest in Peace: The Parentalia Festival of the Dead
Gone But Not Forgotten, painted by John William Waterhouse (1873). The Parentalia was a private remembrance day for the family’s deceased. The festival, for lack of a better word, lasted from February 13 to 21. During these days, all of… Read More ›
October 11 – The Meditrinalia: The Mid-Autumn Wine Tasting
The days are starting to get a bit cooler, with chilly mornings and soft crisp breezes throughout the day. The leaves are changing color and dropping to the ground, and animals are busily stockpiling food for their long Winter dormancy…. Read More ›
Haplocanthosaurus: An Enigmatic Sauropod from the Late Jurassic Period
Introduction The sauropods are the definitive image of the dinosaur. Almost always, whenever one hears the word “dinosaur”, the image of the long-necked long-tailed four-legged behemoth is what immediately springs to mind. The sauropods were the dominant land herbivores during… Read More ›
DINOSAURS AND BARBARIANS 
