✨Pentheus being torn apart by maenads✨ Euripides ‘The Bacchae’ tells the unfortunate tale of Pentheus, the king of Thebes, who banned the worship of Dionysius. This provoked the wrath of the god and led to the women of Thebes breaking out into a Bachhic frenzy.

✨Roman tintinnabulum✨ There’s nothing like having a good set of bells to ward off trouble. Welcome to #PhallusThursday complete with this tintinnabulum shaped to resemble some sort of phallic-chimera.

A brand new @historicaljnl.bsky.social article makes the news! www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

✨Augustus and Tiberius - the Gemma Augustea✨ One of the most impressive artefacts from the Julio-Claudian period, the Gemma Augustea is our pick this #ReliefWednesday.

Get the chance to listen to the hosts' reactions to the episode in real time! We'll also pause the episode on occasion for more in-depth discussion and participants can post questions for the hosts in chat. Happening Sat., March 28th at 8:00 PM EDT (Australia: Sun., March 29th at 11:00 AM AEDT).

Join the hosts of Movies We Dig and The Partial Historians (@partialhistorians.bsky.social) for a special livestream watch party! We'll be screening Season 2 Episode 1 of Romulus, an Italian historical drama television series created by Matteo Rovere about the founding of Rome.

✨Cyrene ✨ This #MosaicMonday we celebrate the princess Cyrene who leant her name to the Greek colony in Libya. In myth she is known as the daughter of Hypseus, king of the Lapiths and the Naiad Chlidanope.

✨It’s Hercules… I mean, HUNKcules! ✨ Celebrate your Friyay right with this elegant depiction of the half-man, half-god, Hercules. This fresco is thought to come from Herculaneum (apt!) and is now held in the MAN Napoli. #FrescoFriday #AncientRome #Hercules

✨It’s Hercules… I mean, HUNKcules! ✨ Celebrate your Friyay right with this elegant depiction of the half-man, half-god, Hercules. This fresco is thought to come from Herculaneum (apt!) and is now held in the MAN Napoli. #FrescoFriday #AncientRome #Hercules

A Roman saucepan, of a type often used by soldiers for open-fire cooking. It was discovered inside the ruins of Castle Craig Broch, near Auchterarder, Scotland. #FindsFriday

✨The Gallic Sack of Rome - Part 6!✨ 390 BCE is finally coming to a close! As expected, there are similar elements in the ancient sources, but it is astonishing to see the different way the authors weave the details together.

✨Honouring the gods✨ This relief appears to depict the lead up to a bull sacrifice. There is a veiled figure at the altar with an attendant nearby, while another person leads the bull towards the final moment.

✨Crocodile✨ May your #MosaicMonday go as well as this crocodile with a very wide smile! This ‘Nilotic’ mosaic was found on the Aventine and can now be enjoyed in the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme.

It’s the #IdesOfMarch and we recommend you avoid the senate meeting, Jules…

✨A centaur and a young man✨ This scene is very reminiscent of another fresco of Chiron educating Achilles. The role of the centaur as teacher and guide to learning the arts and cultivating wisdom draws a connection between the epics of Homer and Pompeii.

Welcome to Queensland - the Censor State - where you can face up to two years’ imprisonment for a simple phrase.

✨Poseidon or Zeus✨ This stunning bronze sculpture is thought to be either Poseidon or Zeus. It dates to c. 460 BCE and was found near Cape Artemisium by fishermen in 1928. The figure is poised about to throw an object (now missing) but potentially a javelin. Today he’s our pick for #PhallusThursday

✨Hercules and Omphale✨ To atone for the murder of the Argonaut Iphitus, Hercules is required to spend a year in servitude under the Lydian princess Omphale.

Spectacular octopus from the floor of the women’s changing room at the Central Baths in ancient Herculaneum. 📷 by me #MosaicMonday #Archaeology

✨ Cave Canem - Beware of dog✨ Monday off to a rough start? We’d be barking mad not to suggest you take a moment to enjoy this top doggo from Pompeii who was doing their best to keep the entry safe. #MosaicMonday #AncientRome #Pompeii #Dog

Here’s a charming Roman fresco of a little rabbit eating figs 🐰❤️ From Pompeii, 45-79 AD. Now at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli. 📷 by me #FrescoFriday #Archaeology

Things used in everyday life are the real archaeological treasures! This sewing needle was made from animal bone some 13,000 years ago. Some designs simply don't need to be improved, because form and functions were perfectly matched from the start Length: 5.6 cm 📷 Landesmuseum Württemberg 🏺

✨Hercules and Omphale✨ To atone for the murder of the Argonaut Iphitus, Hercules is required to spend a year in servitude under the Lydian princess Omphale.

✨Special Episode - Swords and Cinema with Dr Jeremiah McCall ✨ We’re thrilled to chat with Dr Jeremiah McCall all about the depiction of the Roman military and battle scenes in all your favourite Roman movies and TV shows. You will need your popcorn for this special episode!

✨Relief plaque of temple attendants✨ This #ReliefWednesday we are enjoying this beautiful terracotta relief thought to date from the C1st CE but emulating the style of southern Italy and the influences of Magna Graecia.

✨A lion with Erotes and maenads✨ This scene has the feeling of a chaotic gathering, which might be because Dionysus (Bacchus) the god of wine is involved. The lion takes centre stage, but the various Erotes and maenads surround the lion making for quite a party. #MosaicMonday #AncientRome

✨A lion with Erotes and maenads✨ This scene has the feeling of a chaotic gathering, which might be because Dionysus (Bacchus) the god of wine is involved. The lion takes centre stage, but the various Erotes and maenads surround the lion making for quite a party. #MosaicMonday #AncientRome

✨ A little bit of cheek✨ We’re getting into the weekend early spirit by celebrating this lovely lady. With just a bit of stray drapery and instrument in hand, she looks relaxed and content, which is just what we wish for everyone these days. #FrescoFriday #AncientRome #History

Yes, this is a behind the scenes shot ☺️ #AncientRome #History

#ReliefWednesday This altar dedicated to Mars and Venus depicts the scene of the Lupercal. Romulus and Remus are tended to by the She-wolf, and there is a variety of wildlife part of the landscape. 🏛Palazzo Massimo 📸 Marie-Lan Nguyen 🏺AncientBluesky

✨The horse Leontius✨ Let’s hope your #MosaicMonday is going better than Leontius’. He’s thrown his rider during a hunt and maybe now searching for new adventures!

Can we trust Livy? Can we trust Diodorus Siculus? Tune in to find out! partialhistorians.com/2026/02/19/e... #Podcast🎙️ #AncientRome🏺 #Camillus

✨The tragic but hopeful tale of Phrixus and Helle✨ Unfortunately for siblings, Phrixus and Helle, they were hated by their stepmother, Ino…

🪿🪿The sacred geese have honked but still the Gallic siege of Rome continues! In this episode we catch the Gauls being cheeky with the scales, and it’s time to bust out your best renditions of ‘Eye of the Tiger’ because Camillus is doing a training montage.

The Roman Pharos (lighthouse) at Dover, still standing after almost 2,000 years! 🤩 It is the tallest surviving Roman structure in Britain, and one of only three surviving lighthouses from the former Roman Empire! Dated 1st-2nd century AD. 📷 me #Archaeology

✨Celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse✨ This stunning relief is a bit of mystery in terms of provenance, but the sense of movement makes it a show-stopper. The heroic nude is usually identified as Castor and he leads a gorgeous horse while a dog follows behind.

✨A Roman rooster ✨ This #MosaicMonday we celebrate the majesty of the rooster who is looking rather snappy in this mosaic. The provenance is unknown, though thought to be Tunisia. What can’t be overlooked is his confident pose. #AncientRome #History #Rooster

✨A Roman rooster ✨ This #MosaicMonday we celebrate the majesty of the rooster who is looking rather snappy in this mosaic. The provenance is unknown, though thought to be Tunisia. What can’t be overlooked is his confident pose. #AncientRome #History #Rooster

Bacchus, the god of wine (also known as Dionysus to the Greeks) lounges semi-nude in a golden and burgundy gown while holding a spectre of some kind. This is likely a thyrsus, but the telltale details are missing.

Bacchus, the god of wine (also known as Dionysus to the Greeks) lounges semi-nude in a golden and burgundy gown while holding a spectre of some kind. This is likely a thyrsus, but the telltale details are missing.

✨It’s #PhallusThursday ✨ A celebration of the imagery of the ancients, today we turn to this red figure ware vessel depicting an old man with quite the phallus. He is bound and a crow looks up at him in an allusion to the myth of Prometheus. #AncientGreece #Prometheus

✨It’s #PhallusThursday ✨ A celebration of the imagery of the ancients, today we turn to this red figure ware vessel depicting an old man with quite the phallus. He is bound and a crow looks up at him in an allusion to the myth of Prometheus. #AncientGreece #Prometheus

1. #SarcophagusSaturday brings me to this wonderfully carved fragment of a banquet scene from the lid of a now-lost sarcophagus from Palmyra (Tadmor),originally at the West Necropolis, Valley of the Tombs, Temple Tomb no. 36, Palmyra Museum, inv. no. 401/525, VI.5. 📸Troels Myrup

✨Palmyra funerary stele✨ Today we travel across the Roman empire to the city of Palmyra and the funerary stele of Maqi, son of Ma'ani. The stele dates to c. 200 CE. The identity of Maqi is evident in the inscription on the stele. The script is in Aramaic.

Surely we didn’t miss #SuperbOwl 😅 As far as we’re concerned, owls are always in season and worthy of celebration! This charming Attic owl serves as a mascot for the American School of Classical Studies in Athens. With its inquistive expression, what's not to love!

✨Achilles and Briseis✨ This stunning mosaic floor is thought to represent the moment when Briseis is taken from Achilles and given to Agamemnon. The conflict that this moment generates sets in motion the horrors covered in Homer's Iliad. #MosaicMonday #AncientGreece #AncientRome🏺

✨Achilles and Briseis✨ This stunning mosaic floor is thought to represent the moment when Briseis is taken from Achilles and given to Agamemnon. The conflict that this moment generates sets in motion the horrors covered in Homer's Iliad. #MosaicMonday #AncientGreece #AncientRome🏺

✨Dr G in print✨ It’s always an exciting day to see your work make it to print! I’m thrilled to have contributed to an exploration of gender concepts in ancient Rome to help researchers dipping into the subject for the first time.

Titus was the second Flavian emperor and had a huge influence on imperial Rome. The Flavians were the second dynasty of the imperial period - Titus’ reign was short, but significant.

Ever wondered what Roman religion was like *before* they meet the Greeks? This is a fascinating side to early Roman history and we chat about what we do know and what we can know when it comes to truly Roman practices in relation to the gods.