#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.

#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.

#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.

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.

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.

#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.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭 The Greek theatre of Segesta dates from the late 4th to early 3rd century BC, with the structure visible today primarily dating to the 2nd century BC. The theatre underwent several renovations during the Roman period, including modifications to the cavea and parodoi.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭 The Roman Theatre of Bulla Regia (Tunisia) was built during the co-rule of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus (AD 161–169). The theatre stands at the eastern end of the town, close to the forum, and features a 4th-century CE bear mosaic on the orchestra pavement.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭The remarkable Roman theatre in Hierapolis, Phrygia (Turkey), was constructed during the reign of Hadrian and renovated decades later under Septimius Severus. Extensive restorations have recently been completed.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭 The Theatre of Kibyra (Turkey) was built in the Hellenistic period and seated about 8,000. The 2nd century AD saw the addition of the upper cavea and a two-storey stage. Wooden posts indicating a velarium for shade and rain protection are still visible.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭 The Great Theatre of Ephesus, built into Panayir Hill opposite Harbour Street, is a well-preserved structure from the Hellenistic period, expanded under Roman emperors Claudius, Nero, and Trajan. It held 25,000 spectators before an earthquake in the 5th century AD damaged it.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭 The Theatre of Dougga in Tunisia was finished around AD 166 under Antoninus Pius. Publius Marcius Quadratus, from a wealthy family, funded its construction. Modest in size, it held 3,500 spectators on the well-preserved cavea with 19 tiers across three levels.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭 Mosaic depicting theatrical masks of Tragedy and Comedy. 2nd century AD, from Rome. Palazzo Nuovo, Musei Capitolini, Rome.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭 The ancient theatre at Termessos was built in the Hellenistic style in the early 2nd century BC into the slope of Mt. Solymos. It was expanded in the late 2nd century AD, and a roofed gallery with barrel vaults was added by the mid-4th century AD. Its capacity was around 4,000.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭 The Roman Theatre of Carthago Nova in modern-day Cartagena, Spain. The theatre was built between 5 and 1 BC, as evidenced by its dedication to Gaius and Lucius Caesar, grandsons of Augustus. It had a capacity of 7,000.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭 The Theatre of Myra is a well-preserved, large ancient Roman theatre located in Demre (Turkey), within the Antalya Province. It was originally built during the Hellenistic period, then expanded and rebuilt during the 2nd century AD, with a capacity of 10,000–13,000 spectators.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭 The Theatre of Miletus in Ionia, one of Anatolia's largest, was originally built in the Hellenistic period with 5,300 seats. The Romans later expanded it to 15,000, and the orchestra was designed for gladiatorial combat. It offered a scenic sea view in ancient times.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭 The Roman Theatre of Ostia was originally constructed at the end of the 1st century BC by Agrippa, with a capacity of 3,000 and made of opus reticulatum and tufa blocks. The current theatre's masonry dates to the late 2nd century AD, when it was enlarged to seat 4,000.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭 The Theatre of Petra (Jordan) was carved into the mountainside and consisted of three horizontal tiers of seats, separated by corridors, with a total capacity of 8,500 people. The monument was originally constructed by the Nabataeans and was later enlarged by the Romans.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭 The Greek Theatre of Epidaurus (Greece) was built in the 4th century BC by the architect Polykleitos the Younger on the southeast end of the sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius. Renowned for its acoustics and aesthetics, it is considered the most perfect ancient Greek theatre.

#WorldTheatreDay 🎭 The Theatre of Dougga (Tunisia) was completed in AD 166 under Antoninus Pius. Publius Marcius Quadratus, a member of one of the wealthiest families in the city, financed its construction. Quite modest in size, the theatre could seat 3,500 spectators on its well-preserved cavea.

As it is #WorldTheatreDay 🎭, let's marvel at one of the most impressive and best-preserved ancient theatres of the Roman world. The theatre of Aspendos in Turkey was built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius by an architect named Zeno. Its capacity was about 12,000.

#ReliefWednesday - Relief depicting the personification of the city of Salona, carved into Porta Caesarea in the 4th century AD. The letters MIVSF inscribed on the flag are the initials of the official name of Salona, Martia Iulia Valeria Salona Felix. Split Archaeological Museum, Croatia.

#MosaicMonday - Mosaic panel from the Gladiator Mosaic at the Roman villa in Nennig (Germany), depicting two rogues attempting to drive a bear off with lashes from their whips. The venatores are wearing knee breeks and very broad belts in addition to the leg wrappings. #WorldBearDay 🐻

#WorldBearDay 🐻 In AD 124, during his journey through Asia, Hadrian founded a new city, which he named Hadrianotherae (‘Hadrian’s hunts’) to commemorate a successful bear hunt. The reason for the city's foundation is reflected in its coinage, with the head of a she-bear appearing on the reverse.

Happy #WorldBearDay! 🐻 Here are some depictions of bears on Roman mosaics.

#RomanSiteSaturday - The Gallo-Roman theatre of Noviodunum Diablintum (Jublains, France), built during the reign of Domitian and expanded under Hadrian. It is estimated to have had a capacity of around 4,000 spectators. Noviodunum Diablintum served as the capital of the Diablintes tribe.

#WorldPoetryDay 📜

#WorldPoetryDay 📜Hadrian composed this poem in memory of his favourite horse, Borysthenes, who died during a boar hunt near the Gallo-Roman town of Apta Julia. The horse was named after the river Borysthenes (the Dnieper in Ukraine), which flowed through the land of the Alani.

Happy #WorldPoetryDay! 📜 Here's the mosaic of the Tragic Poet from Hadrumetum, depicting a seated poet beside a tragedy mask and a standing actor holding a comedy mask. In front of the poet are 12 scrolls believed to be the poet's plays. Dated around AD 250. Sousse Archaeological Museum, Tunisia.

Happy #Nowruz to everyone around the world celebrating the Persian New Year! 🌱🌿🌸 📸 Reliefs from the Apadana of Persepolis with gift-bearing delegations celebrating Nowruz, the Persian New Year festival at the spring equinox.

Happy #Nowruz! www.worldhistory.org/article/1871...

Happy birthday, Ovid! 🎂 “Let others praise ancient times; I am glad I was born in these.” ― Ovid

Happy first day of spring! 🌻🌺🌸🌼 Spring on the Mosaic of the Four Seasons from Ain Beida near Timgad. Dated 2nd century AD. National Museum of Antiquities, Algiers. #SpringEquinox #Spring

Happy #Nowruz to everyone around the world celebrating the Persian New Year! 🌱🌿🌸 📸 Reliefs from the Apadana of Persepolis with gift-bearing delegations celebrating Nowruz, the Persian New Year festival at the spring equinox.

#ReliefWednesday - Tufa relief featuring a sculpted bas-relief scene of Mithras Tauroctonos. From Transylvania, once part of the Roman province of Dacia, dated to the 2nd-3rd century AD. National Museum of Transylvanian History, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

⚱️ Marcus Aurelius died #OnThisDay in AD 180, in Vindobona (modern-day Vienna) while on a military campaign against the Marcomanni tribe. His son, Commodus, becomes the sole emperor.

#MosaicMonday - Mosaic depicting two gladiators in combat. Their Greek names are listed above: Margarites (left) and Hellenikos (right). This mosaic comes from the House of the Gladiators at the archaeological site of Kourion on the south coast of Cyprus. It dates to the late 3rd century AD.

🗡️Beware the Ides of March! #IdesOfMarch Julius Caesar was assassinated #OnThisDay in 44 BC, stabbed 23 times by senators at the Theatre of Pompey. He was later deified, and a temple was built in his honour in the forum. People still leave flowers at his funeral site.

#ReliefWednesday - Sassanid relief in Naqsh-e Rostam, near Persepolis (Iran), depicting the investiture of Narseh, the seventh king of the Sassanid Empire (c. AD 293–303). Narseh, Shapur I's youngest son, had ruled the eastern provinces and was called “Great King of Armenia” before becoming shah.

#MonsaicMonday - 6th-century AD mosaic in the Diakonikon-Baptistery of the Moses Memorial Church in Mount Nebo, Jordan, depicting a hunting-and-herding scene, interspersed with various animals.