#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.

#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.

On #WorldHeritageDay, we celebrate the enduring value of cultural heritage. 🌍🏛️ I have been fortunate to visit 182 UNESCO World Heritage Sites across 38 countries. 👉 followinghadrian.com/my-archaeolo...

#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.

#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.

#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