SARCOPHAGUS WITH THE MYTH OF ORESTES, C. 150 CE. VATICAN MUSEUMS This is an odd, ambiguous subject for a sarcophagus. Clytemnestra, queen of Mycenæ, and her lover, the king's cousin Ægisthus, murder the king Agamemnon - his wife wants revenge for his sacrifice of their daughter Iphigenia, his cousin wants to carry on a blood feud. Anyway their kids Electra and Orestes get riled up about this and much suffering ensues. Here at centre we find Orestes, nude except for his cape and a sword, standing over the corpse of his mother whom he has just slain. At left is Ægisthus, also dead and in an awkward position, being dealt with by Orestes' chum Pylades. Back in time, at left, an old nurse is telling Electra of her father's murder as her attendants swoon around her. To the right of the central crime scene, two Erinyes or Furies emerge from behind a curtain. Below them, a slave with a scroll tries to avoid catching their attention. At far right Orestes is escaping them, seeking absolution.

An amazing #sarcophagus from c. 150 CE in the #VaticanMuseums for #SarcophagusSaturday with an excellent buffet of ancient sculptures atop it. The scene shows the #myth of #Orestes, and corpses litter the landscape, with vengeful Orestes wreaking havoc. The House of Atreus, eh! #AncientBluesky 🏺

Title page of A Workshop of Eloquence: A Collection of Gazan Literature from Late Antiquity, by Chance E. Bonar. Above the title is the logo for Dar al-Kalima University Press.

Proofs day for A Workshop of Eloquence: A Collection of Gazan Literature from Late Antiquity!

I'm grateful to be working with DAK University Press in Bethlehem and a Gazan Arabic translator to offer an introduction and selection of translated texts by, from, and about late ancient Gaza.

This incredible, almost Mannerist bust portrays Eutropius, the first eunuch to be consul. During his rise to power, he was notorious for his greed & cruelty which I think the sculptor knew and shows in this portrait. He eventually fell from power & was executed.

🕰️c400AD
🏛️📷 Kunsthistoriches Museum

Jesus washes Peter's feet (Arles, France) FAN.92.00.2487; Rep. 53. end of the fourth century, found in the Alyscamps behind the main altar of the shrine of St. Honoratus; detail: Christ washing the feet of his disciple, likely Peter; Christ ...

Jesus washing the feet of Peter on a late 4th c. sarcophagus from Arles. Peter raises his hands in protest. Beneath him you can see the outline of his empty sandal.

📷🇫🇷 flic.kr/p/rVsmUh

#photography
#HolyWeek
#MaundyThursday
#HolyThursday

Book Biographies: Towards a Cultural History of Byzantine Manuscripts | Mary Jaharis Center

Attend: Book Biographies: Towards a Cultural History of Byzantine Manuscripts, Byzantine Studies Symposium 2026, Dumbarton Oaks, April 24–25, 2026. Advance registration required maryjahariscenter.org/blog/book-bi...

BIAA Grants and Fellowships, 2025–2026 | Mary Jaharis Center

Funding opportunity: BIAA Grants and Fellowships, 2025–2026. Applications due April 26, 2026 maryjahariscenter.org/blog/biaa-gr...

Intellectual Interaction between Paganism and Christianity | Mary Jaharis Center

CFP: Intellectual Interaction between Paganism and Christianity, University of Bonn, June 26–27, 2026. Submissions due March 31, 2026 maryjahariscenter.org/blog/intelle...

Constantinian basilica (Trier, Germany) A Roman basilica in the original sense, that is to say, this magnificent brick hall (aula) was not built as a Christian house of worship, but rather served as a space for audiences with the emperor an...

Built as part of the imperial complex in Trier after Constantine succeeded his father as tetrarch in 306, the Aula Palatina is one of the best preserved basilicas from antiquity. It was not originally a church but a public and civic space.

📷🇩🇪 flic.kr/p/pM2J3D

#photography
#architecture
#travel

Follow the live stream here: youtube.com/live/BktIfz-...

Bernini and the pope who promoted him celebrated as Vatican marks 400 years of St. Peter's Basilica A new exhibition in Rome is celebrating one of the most important patron-artist relationships in European history.

“Bernini and the Barberini,” which explores the complex relationship between Gianlorenzo Bernini and his most important patron Pope Urban VIII, opened today at the Palazzo Barberini in Rome

Vast burial complex discovered in Rome’s Ostiense Necropolis Archaeologists conducting preventive excavations in southern Rome have uncovered an extensive funerary complex within the ancient Ostiense Necropolis, revealing exceptionally preserved tombs, decorate...

Vast burial complex discovered in Rome’s Ostiense Necropolis
www.heritagedaily.com/2026/03/vast...

Work to start on repairing 'tired' historic Lincoln Roman arch The city council says the 3rd Century monument suffered damage during bad weather

Work to start on repairing 'tired' historic Lincoln Roman arch
www.bbc.com/news/article...

My photo shows the monochrome mosaic floor of the women’s changing room at the Central Baths in Herculaneum. Black tessarae (mosaic tiles) are used to depict the sea god Triton, who is holding a club over his left shoulder and a small fish in his right hand. He is surrounded by a cherub, dolphins, octopus, and a squid. Set against a white tile background.

Here’s a fuller view of the mosaic floor in the women’s changing room (apodyterium) at the Central Baths in Herculaneum. The monochrome floor mosaic depicts a marine scene featuring the spectacular octopus together with the sea god Triton, a cherub, dolphins, and a squid.

Come learn with us! March 18th in NYC (or via livestream). See you there!

Saints Perpetua and Felicity (Ravenna, Italy)

Saints Perpetua and Felicity. Mosaic from the church of Sant'Apollinary Nuovo in #Ravenna. 6th century #Byzantine redecoration after seizure from the Arians. The saints are processing towards the Virgin Mary and Christ child.

📷🇮🇹 flic.kr/p/GR3Pvb

#photography
#art
#Italy
#LateAntiquity
#travel

Empresses from Late Antique and Medieval Roman (Middle Byzantine) eras
Empress Theodora and her court at San Vitale in Ravenna, Empress Ariadne and Personification of Constantinople at Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Empress Zoe in Hagia Sophia, Empress Eirene (Piroska of Hungary) in Hagia Sophia

Jodi Magness: Retrospective for The Ancient Jew Review — ANCIENT JEW REVIEW It is my hope that scholars who specialize in the study of texts will recognize that archaeology is not only relevant but indeed vital to their own research. 

Great to see this personal retrospective by Jodi Magness for @ancientjewreview.bsky.social. We have all benefited from her scholarship. At ICS we're especially grateful to have her as a member of our board of directors. www.ancientjewreview.com/read/2026/2/...

Jodi Magness: Retrospective for The Ancient Jew Review — ANCIENT JEW REVIEW It is my hope that scholars who specialize in the study of texts will recognize that archaeology is not only relevant but indeed vital to their own research. 

Great to see this personal retrospective by Jodi Magness for @ancientjewreview.bsky.social. We have all benefited from her scholarship. At ICS we're especially grateful to have her as a member of our board of directors. www.ancientjewreview.com/read/2026/2/...

Ancient Tombs with Winged Victories Unearthed in Rome’s Vast Ostiense Necropolis - Arkeonews Archaeologists uncover richly decorated imperial tombs with frescoes and winged Victory figures in Rome’s Ostiense Necropolis, revealing new

Ancient Tombs with Winged Victories Unearthed in Rome’s Vast Ostiense Necropolis

arkeonews.net/ancient-tomb...

Hospital Construction In Romania Just Turned Up A Staircase Leading Down Into Ancient Roman Catacombs Containing 34 Graves Excavations ahead of hospital construction in Constanța revealed 34 graves inside a necropolis from the ancient city of Tomis.

Hospital Construction In Romania Just Turned Up A Staircase Leading Down Into Ancient Roman Catacombs Containing 34 Graves

allthatsinteresting.com/romania-anci...

@mjcbac.bsky.social

Join us on March 18th @fordham.edu for a talk with Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social on her latest book!
RSVP here: www.catacombsociety.org/events/

Remote sensing surveying at the Abbatija tad-Dejr Catacombs (Rabat, Malta) Multidisciplinary remote sensing surveying techniques were employed at the site of the Abbatija tad-Dejr Catacombs in Rabat (Malta) as part of a colla…

A past Shohet recipient Davide Tanasi (University of South Florida) has worked extensively on the catacombs of Malta. In 2020 the ICS funded his project "The Digital afterlife of the Catacombs of Abbatija tad-Dejr at Rabat (Malta)". Read about his work here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

St Paul’s Catacombs awarded the European Heritage Label - The Malta Independent The Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, together with Heritage Malta, announced on Friday that the site of St Paul’s Catacombs in Rabat has been awarded the European

St Paul’s Catacombs awarded the European Heritage Label

www.independent.com.mt/articles/202...

Michael Huffington Chair of Eastern Orthodox Christianity at University of Oxford Apply now for the Michael Huffington Chair of Eastern Orthodox Christianity role on jobs.ac.uk - the leading job board for higher education jobs. View details.

Michael Huffington Chair of Eastern Orthodox Christianity at University of Oxford

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DQP657/m...

Painted vault in circular form divided into geometric regions of large and small circles and squares, and semicircles. White background. There are also scattered birds and other animals and garlands.

Painted vault from the catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus. At the center is an image of the good shepherd. Around the edge (clockwise from top): Daniel in the lions den, a baptism (of Jesus?), Noah's ark, Abraham sacrificing Isaac.

(Wilpert watercolor, pl. 73)

We're excited to be teaming up with Fordham to bring you the first "Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity Lecture" with @candidamoss.bsky.social! Join us!

Four photos. Top left a woman taking a photo. Top right, the same woman with a camera crouched in a catacomb tomb. Bottom left. The same woman with a camera with a man with a camera standing inside a catacomb chamber. Bottom right a shadow of a woman wearing a hat taking a photo against a wall of ancient inscriptions. Text: Estelle Brettman and Fernando Di Porto at work.

This event is part of our ongoing celebration of the centennial of the International Catacomb Society's founder Estelle Shohet Brettman (1925-1991).

You can learn more about her amazing life and dedication to the study of the catacombs on the ICS webpage: www.catacombsociety.org/about/about-...

Join us on March 18th @fordham.edu for a talk with Candida Moss @candidamoss.bsky.social on her latest book!
RSVP here: www.catacombsociety.org/events/

There is literary attestation but no firm archaeological evidence as of yet.