Over 70 years after the death of Benito Mussolini (1883-1945), historians have come across a message from Italy’s fascist dictator. Locked away in a tiny metal box with a couple of gold coins underneath a massive obelisk in the country’s capital, the note is in the form of a 1,200-word essay in Latin that unsurprisingly…
Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa (or Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa) was the capital and the largest settlement in Roman-controlled Dacia (mainly corresponding to modern Romania and Moldova), with its name partially derived from Sarmizegetusa – the former religious and political center of Dacia. Founded during the reign of Trajan, possibly between 106-107 AD – when…
As part of a recent archaeological expedition, researchers have stumbled upon the wreck of a ship, carrying thousands of jars full of garum - a pungent fish sauce used extensively in the cuisines of ancient Rome, Greece and Byzantium. Located 650 feet underwater, off the coast of Alassio in Northern Italy, the 2000-year-old shipwreck was discovered by…
History, some say, is static and dead. The latest undertaking of Rome’s archaeological superintendency, however, shows that what happened thousands of years ago can come alive, thus providing new insights into the ways of mankind. To be launched in two weeks, the new Verba Appia is a one-of-a-kind app that digitally recreates the history of…
The recent discovery of a large, 2500-year-old residence, in the central part of Rome, points to the possibility that the ancient city was considerably bigger than previously thought. Found on the Quirinal Hill, somewhere between modern-day Via Veneto street and the Termini train station, the ancient rectangular house is remarkably well-intact, complete with clay-smeared walls,…
At the recently-held Roskilde Festival, in Denmark, one would have found remarkably detailed sculptures of the human form. Designed by Italian artist, Edoardo Tresoldi, these colossal figures are painstakingly hand-crafted, by joining several pieces of metallic wire mesh. Tresoldi’s expertise lies in recreating the subtle facial expressions and contortions, the minute wrinkles in clothing and…
The Sistine Chapel is one of Rome’s most popular and prized historic sites. Set within the Vatican City and Museums, it welcomes around 25,000 visitors a day. The world-famous ceiling frescoes by Michelangelo are of course the main attraction, forming masterpieces of astonishing beauty and magnificence. Despite cameras being banned in the chapel, the visit…
A few days ago, we talked about how a fascinating animation short objectively (yet poignantly) showcases the profound loss of life during World War II. Well, this time around, yet another craftily-made animation short takes up yet another military history subject matter - but at the other end of the time spectrum. We are talking…
We have talked about the Great Pyramid of Giza, and how the massive structure has baffled historians throughout the ages by not only its size but also its abstruse purpose. But as it turns out, in ancient times, pyramids were not only limited to the African continent - as is evident from the still existing…
Earlier, we had talked at length about the crowd-controlling aspects of the Roman Colosseum, with its peak capacity to easily manage over 50,000 wild spectators. And now, yet another enduring evidence suggests the advanced level of the crowd-controlling scope demonstrated by this great freestanding amphitheater. During the (ongoing) $33 million restoration project, experts have found…