21 April AD 121 – Hadrian celebrates Rome’s 874th birthday with circus games (#Hadrian1900) FOLLOWING HADRIAN Every year, the Romans celebrated their city’s birthday on 21 April, the day on which, according to early traditions, Romulus founded Rome by tracing the pomerium, the sacred urban boundary s…

21 April AD 121 – Hadrian celebrates Rome's 874th birthday with circus games. #NatalediRoma 🐺
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Mosaic depicting a wolf with what appears to be a large grin on its face. Two children (Romulus and Remus) stand underneath the wolf.

Happy birthday Rome! According to Roman tradition, Romulus founded the city #OnThisDay in 753 BC.

Here's a mosaic of Romulus's early years being raised by a wolf (who had a great smile) #BeforeTheyWereFamous

📷 @followinghadrian.bsky.social / CC BY-SA 2.0

🏺 #Archaeology

21 April AD 121 – Hadrian celebrates Rome’s 874th birthday with circus games (#Hadrian1900) FOLLOWING HADRIAN Every year, the Romans celebrated their city’s birthday on 21 April, the day on which, according to early traditions, Romulus founded Rome by tracing the pomerium, the sacred urban boundary s…

21 April AD 121 – Hadrian celebrates Rome's 874th birthday with circus games. #NatalediRoma 🐺
followinghadrian.com/2021/04/21/2...

Happy birthday, Roma! FOLLOWING HADRIAN April 21, 753 BC, is the traditional date given for the founding of Rome. According to Roman mythology, the founders were Romulus and Remus, twin brothers and sons of the gods Mars and Rhea Silvia.…

Happy birthday, Roma! 🐺
followinghadrian.com/2020/04/21/h...

#NatalediRoma

Relief from the Sebasteion depicting the Three Graces in a typical Hellenistic style. Dated to the 1st century AD. Aphrodisias Museum, Turkey.

Mosaic of the Three Graces from Caesarea. Dated to the 4th century AD. Archaeological Museum of Cherchell, Algeria.

The Three Graces, Roman copy of the first half of the 2nd century AD after a Hellenistic original. Cabinet of Masks, Vatican Museums, Rome.

Mosaic floor depicting the Three Graces dancing around an altar with offerings. Found in a Roman villa in Patras and dated to the 2nd or 3rd century AD. Archaeological Museum of Patras, Greece.

#MythologyMonday – The Three Graces, or Charites, are Greek goddesses of beauty, charm, and joy, often described as daughters of Zeus and Eurynome. They symbolise life's pleasures and harmony, depicted in Greek art as clothed and dancing, while later art often shows them nude and intertwined.

#AncientSiteSunday - The ancient Mycenaean citadel of Glas, located in central Greece near the former Lake Copais, is one of the largest fortified sites from the Mycenaean Bronze Age. Enclosed by massive cyclopean walls made of large limestone blocks, it has a commanding defensive character.

The bronze caliga is exhibited at the Museo Civico Archeologico of Bologna. This photo was taken at a temporary exhibition held at the Museum und Park Kalkriese.

#ArtefactSunday - Bronze caliga from an over-life-size statue of a Roman cavalryman from the 1st or the 2nd century AD. Caligae were heavy hobnailed military boots worn by Roman legionaries, auxiliaries, and cavalrymen throughout the Roman Republic and Empire.

SAUDI ARABIA – Hegra Archaeological Site https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1293

ALGERIA – Timgad https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/194

TURKEY -Nemrut Dağ http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/448

IRAN – Persepolis https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/114

On #WorldHeritageDay, we celebrate the enduring value of cultural heritage. 🌍🏛️ I have been fortunate to visit 182 UNESCO World Heritage Sites across 38 countries.
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#TheatreFriday - The Theatre of Arykanda (SW Turkey) is striking not for its size but for its dramatic setting on a steep mountainside overlooking the valley. Built in the mid-1st century BC for 3,000 people, it blends natural terrain with Greco-Roman design and hosted performances and civic events.

#PortraitThursday - Fayum funerary portrait from Roman Egypt of a bearded young man dressed in a light tunic with dark straps. This portrait was placed over the face of the deceased mummy, preserving the individual’s identity for the afterlife. Dated to the reign of Hadrian.

#ReliefWednesday - Marble relief showing the fate of Ixion, who was tied to an ever-spinning wheel in Tartarus, a punishment ordered by Zeus for his hubris and attempted seduction of Hera. Dated to the 1st or 2nd century AD.

Archaeological Museum of Side, Turkey.

Late Spring AD 125 – Hadrian visits Sicily to climb Mount Etna and returns to Rome (#Hadrian1900) FOLLOWING HADRIAN In late spring AD 125, after visiting Delphi and possibly spending time in Dyrrachium (see here), Hadrian set sail for Rome, having completed a four-year journey across the western and eastern prov…

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Mount Etna in Sicily (April 2025). "Afterwards, he sailed to Sicily,​ and there he climbed Mount Aetna to see the sunrise, which is many-hued, they say, like the rainbow." Historia Augusta

Sunrise at Mount Etna in Sicily (April 2025). "Afterwards, he sailed to Sicily,​ and there he climbed Mount Aetna to see the sunrise, which is many-hued, they say, like the rainbow." Historia Augusta

Mount Casius in Syria (Jebel Aqra in modern-day Turkey). Photo taken from Samandağ in 2017. "As he was sacrificing on Mount Casius,​ which he had ascended by night in order to see the sunrise, a storm arose, and a flash of lightning descended and struck both the victim and the attendant." Historia Augusta

#HadrianFactTuesday - Did you know that Hadrian was an avid mountain climber? 🗻 He ascended two of the most famous peaks in his empire: Mount Etna in Sicily to witness the sunrise (AD 125), and Mount Casius in Syria, where he narrowly escaped being struck by lightning (AD 129/130).

#MosaicMonday - The Mosaic of the Captives, depicting a captive family crouching with their hands bound. The central panel is surrounded by twelve portraits of Africans. The mosaic occupied the apse of the Civil Basilica in Tipasa (Algeria). Dated ca. AD 200-300.

Tipaza Museum, Algeria.

Wadi Rum Nabataean Temple In the Jordanian Wadi Rum, just west of the modern village of Wadi Ramm and at the base of the impressive cliffs of Jabal Rum, lie the remains of a Nabataean temple. This temple was constructed dur…

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#AncientSiteSunday - The Nabataean Temple in Wadi Rum (Jordan), built during the reign of King Aretas IV between 9 BC and AD 40 on an earlier Thamudic site, was dedicated to the goddess Allat. Discovered in 1931, it resembles other Nabataean temples, like the Winged Lions Temple at Petra.

Side A. The older, active lover (erastes) is bearded and wears a wreath, while the younger, passive partner (eromenos) is a beardless youth. The boy at the door with short hair, who is observing the scene, is probably a slave.

View of side B. On the reverse, the erastes is a beardless youth, crowned with a wreath, and the eromenos is a boy.

© The Trustees of the British Museum

© The Trustees of the British Museum

#ArtefactSunday - The Warren Cup is a small, 1st-century AD Roman silver vessel (skyphos) with two handles (now lost), about 10 cm tall, used for wine at elite banquets. Its notable erotic decoration depicts two scenes of male love-making in interior settings with textile hangings.

Yes, indeed. African-born would be more accurate.

Seated marble statue of the goddess Ceres, from the latter part of the 1st century AD National Museum of Roman Art (Merida), Spain.

Fresco depicting Ceres holding the long torch and a basket filled with ears of grain. From the House of the Dioscuri in Pompeii. Naples National Archaeological Museum, Italy.

Marble statue of Demeter-Ceres. Nîmes Archaeology Museum, France.

Altar decorated with paintwork, side A with depiction of Ceres, dating from the end of the 1st century/beginning of the 2nd century AD, found via Circo in 1825. Civico Museo Archeologico di Milano, Italy.

Io Cerealia! #OnThisDay, the Romans celebrated the seven-day festival in honour of the goddess Ceres, which began with games and theatrical performances (ludi circenses / ludi scaenici) held in the Circus Maximus.

Septimius Severus was born #OnThisDay in AD 145 at Leptis Magna in the province of Africa (modern Libya). He was the first African emperor.
www.worldhistory.org/Septimius_Se...

#RomanSiteSaturday - The partially restored Temple of Apollo in Side (Turkey) was constructed in the latter half of the 2nd century AD and was designed in the Corinthian order. Originally, the temple featured 6 white marble columns across its front. Currently, 5 of these columns have been restored.

#FrescoFriday - A charming still life panel fresco showing a rabbit nibbling at figs. 🐰 From Pompeii, dated AD 40-79.

Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli.

Revisited Aspendos this afternoon. The weather wasn't great, so I'm not sure if my camera photos will be an upgrade from my previous visit in 2013. Anyway, it was wonderful to be back. Here are some photos taken with my iPhone. #ArchaeologyTravel

#PortraitThursday - Marble portrait of an elderly man wearing a hat with a large circular brim. This artwork illustrates the Roman tradition of verism, a style that emphasises realistic and often unflattering features. Dated between the late 3rd century and early 2nd century BC. Torlonia Collection.

This morning, exploring the archaeological site of Sillyon, one of the lesser-known but striking ancient cities of the Antalya region. Perched dramatically on a steep hill in the region of ancient Pamphylia, it combines natural defensibility with a long, multi-layered history. #ArchaeologyTravel

#ReliefWednesday - Carved relief from a water tank depicting Venus bathing in a stream with two attendant nymphs. Dated to the 3rd century AD, found at High Rochester Fort.

Great North Museum, Newcastle.

Calendar Mosaic from Thysdrus (El Jem) showing Aprilis. Two women celebrate an April rite of Venus. Dated to the 1st half of the 3rd century AD. Sousse Archaeological Museum, Tunisia.

Mosaic of the Seasons and the Months. The month of April with Venus, the divinity of the month, riding on a bull that represents the zodiac sign of Taurus, 3rd century AD, found in Hellin (Albacete). National Archaeological Museum of Spain, Madrid.

The bronze statuette depicts Venus emerging from a bath, with her right hand holding a strand of hair and her left hand holding a mirror (only the handle remains). From Ovilava/Municipium Aelium Ovilava in Noricum. Dated to the 1st or 2nd century AD. Stadtmuseum Wels, Austria.

Welcome Aprilis!
April was sacred to Venus. On the Kalends of Aprilis, the Romans celebrated the Veneralia, a festival honouring Venus Verticordia. According to Ovid, the cult image of Venus was bathed in the ritual act of lavatio. The celebrants bathed communally, crowned in wreaths of myrtle.

At the forefront, the dome of Golgotha marks the site of Jesus Christ's crucifixion. From this location, the four rivers of Paradise flow: the Pishon, Gihon, Tigris (Hiddekel), and Euphrates (Perath). In the background, the Holy Sepulchre, recognisable by its entrance, is flanked by two buildings that symbolise Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

#MosaicMonday - A 6th-century AD Roman Christian mosaic depicting the Holy Sepulchre and Golgotha in Jerusalem.

National Museum of Bardo, Tunisia.

#ArtefactSunday - This exquisite bronze oil lamp from Vani, an important centre of ancient Colchis, depicts Zeus as an eagle carrying Ganymede to Olympus, with three spouts for flames. It was designed to hang, as indicated by attachment points. Dated 250-100 BC.

Vani Archaeological Museum, Georgia.

#RomanSiteSaturday - The Temple of Augustus and Rome in Ankara (Türkiye) features the most complete copy of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti inscribed in both Latin and Greek on its walls. This temple was constructed between 25 and 20 BC after Ancyra was designated as the new capital of Galatia.