A #Roman glass vessel, in a beautiful cobalt blue with yellow-gold & white grain decoration around the middle. A beautiful piece of ancient glass from Spain, made some 1700+ years ago #Archaeology #AncientBlueSky

A #Roman mummy portrait from Egypt, depicting a young women with large, deep brown eyes & brown hair. The level of detail is beautiful, down to a slight blush in her cheeks. We don't know her name, but from the style of her clothes & hair she likely lived & died about 1850 years ago #AncientBlueSky

A classic #Roman helmet, with decorated cheek-pieces & a large neck-guard for extra protection. Imagine what this piece of kit might have seen in its original military use-life... On display in the National Archaeology Museum in Madrid #Archaeology #RomanArchaeology #AncientBlueSky

A selection of greeny-blue #Roman glass vessels, all found in Denmark, mostly in the graves of the elite - perhaps luxury imports for the rich, souvenirs of mercenary service in the Roman army, or diplomatic gifts. They're beautiful, however they ended up in Scandinavia! #AncientBlueSky

A 2nd century CE shrine at the Roman quarry near Segóbriga (Spain) found! ⛏️“Roman religious practices extended beyond major urban temples & ceremonial centres. Instead, sacred spaces could also emerge in industrial landscapes [like a quarry!] where communities worked & extracted natural resources.”

Two beautiful #Roman necklaces, made from gold with pearls & emeralds for decoration; these were originally worn by women in Roman Spain some 1700-2100 years ago, but their style is timeless! #AncientBlueSky #Archaeology #RomanArchaeology

An absolutely stunning photo! The 35m-long #Roman shipwreck, along with its cargo of 6,000 (!) amphorae was discovered in 2019 off the coast of the Greek Island of Kefalonia. It’s one of the largest Roman shipwrecks found in the Mediterranean. 📷 Ionian Aquarium

A #Roman mosaic octopus, found in a villa at Villaquejida (Spain) - laid some 1800-1900 years ago, but still looking fabulous today #MosaicMonday #AncientBlueSky

Twelve #Roman lead sling bullets (glandes), found at the site of Cabezo de Alcalá in Spain, & probably related to a siege of the site during the Sertorian War (82-70 BC) #RomanArchaeology #AncientBlueSky

#FindsFriday 🏺 Looking for new summer sandals before heatwave hits - should've gone to #Vindolanda.... The wall of #Roman shoes in the brilliantly presented museum there offers a superb variety. All thanks to the legendary preservation of some damp, anaerobic conditions on site. A selection:

A remarkable discovery at Aspendos: archaeologists have uncovered a Roman mosaic showing the river god Eurymedon. Dating to the 3rd century AD, it adds a new highlight to the city’s rich ancient heritage. 👉 www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/rare...

A #Roman military diploma issued to auxiliary soldier Longinus Festius when he retired from the #RomanArmy in AD 132 after 25 years of service in a unit of (Syrian) archers. It gave him, & his children (Longinus, Sestius, & Sestia), full Roman citizenship (no wife is mentioned) 🏺 #AncientBlueSky

A #Roman gem, once set into a ring, which is carved with the image of a left foot - not the most common design for this type of gem, but a lovely piece of work nonetheless! #Archaeology #AncientBlueSky

The tombstone of Gaius Saufeius, a #Roman soldier who served in the infamous 9th Legion. He was originally from Heraclea in Macedonia, but died while stationed in Britannia, at Lincoln. He died at the age of 40, after 22 years in the #RomanArmy - just a few years off retirement time #AncientBlueSky

Octopus vase! 🐙 This Mycenaean pottery jar, made more than 3000 years ago, is decorated with a fabulous image of an octopus - look at the swirling tentacles, & those big round eyes! 🏺 #AncientBlueSky

@drjeball.bsky.social Looking forward to this read!

How important was olive oil to the Romans? #NationalOliveDay 🫒 Vast quantities were produced in the province of Hispania Baetica and exported across the Empire. We can even measure fluctuations in the Roman economy just by tracking oil exports! 🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy... 🏺 #Archaeology

A pair of #Roman leather boxing gloves, excavated from the frontier fort at Vindolanda (Britain) - apparently daily life wasn't tough enough for some Roman soldiers, who needed a bit of extra fighting in their leisure time! 🏺 #AncientBlueSky

Grumpy #Roman soldiers on a relief from the Antonine Wall - probably sums up the frontier experiece quite well! #AncientBlueSky

A #Roman military luggage-tag, which marked out whatever it was attached to as belonging to Julius Candidus of the Legio XX (Valeria Victrix) - a handy way to make sure you didn't lose your personal belongings or military kit (vital, given that you had to pay for it!) #AncientBlueSky

A beautiful #Roman glass bowl, in a deep cobalt blue with white swirly decoration, & ridges around the outside. It has suffered a few cracks along the way in its 2000 years of life, but still looks amazing today! #AncientBlueSky

A beautiful #Roman glass bowl, in shades of amber, white, & dark brown/black glass, with ribs around the outside of the bowl. A beautiful piece of ancient glass that was made about 2000 years ago 🏺 #AncientBlueSky #Archaeology

Spartan shield, looted by Athens after the Battle of Pylos (425 BC) #AncientBlueSky

A #Roman tombstone dedicated to a former gladiator named Lycus, who fought just four times in the arena before winning his freedom. He was a heavy armed murmillo gladiator, & also fought left-handed - unusual enough that it was recorded on his tombstone #AncientBlueSky

A monochrome geometric #Roman floor mosaic, still in its original ancient position in the city of Italica (Spain), where it has lain for some 1700+ years #Archaeology #MosaicMonday #AncientBlueSky

A #Roman glass bowl, in a beautiful cobalt blue with ridges all around the outside. It was made in Italy about 2000 years ago #AncientBlueSky

A #Roman mosaic detail showing a little frog sitting on a lily-pad 🐸 #AncientBlueSky

The bronze ram of an #AncientGreek warship, made for naval warfare more than 2300 years ago #AncientBlueSky

An absolutely fascinating image on this Roman terracotta oil lamp. A horseman holding a long, oblong shield gallops left, looking over his shoulder. He wears trousers and is naked above the waist, with wild hair and a torc. Probably a Gallic warrior. 🏺 1/ Early 1st c. CE #MetMuseum 📸 me

A striking Hellenistic/#Roman glass bowl, made about 2100-2200 years ago. It has an almost hypnotic blue, green, & clear spiral pattern #AncientBlueSky

An adorable little #Roman dog figurine, some 1700+ years old - once an ornament, a lucky charm, or a child's toy, perhaps..?

A selection of #Roman glassware, which has survived in beautiful condition despite being up to 2000 years old #Archaeology #AncientBlueSky

A 2000-year old #Roman relief showing soldiers in battle formation, using their shields as a defensive wall #AncientBlueSky

Naughty dogs and naughty children walking over wet clay tiles 2,000 years ago, now immortalised. 🏛️ Fishbourne Roman Palace / @romanpalace.bsky.social 📷mine 🏺 #AncientBlueSky

Adorable wooden horses on wheels were pulled around by little ones in the past, too. A timeless reminder that play has been part of the human experience for millennia. From Egypt, Roman period, 30 BC-150 AD. 📷 Julia Thorne/Manchester Museum 🏺

A #Roman military diploma issued in AD 71 to Marcus Syrus when he left the military after 26 years of service with the marines. He was originally from Jerash (Jordan) but settled in Pompeii in retirement, where he stored his diploma in his bedside alcove

A happy (or sinister?) #Roman mosaic crocodile, basking on the banks of the Nile 🐊 #MosaicMonday 🏺 #AncientBlueSky

A rare #Roman terracotta oil-lamp, decorated with the image of a #camel. Found in the legionary fortress of Vindonissa, present-day Windisch, Switzerland. 📷 Béla Polyvàs, Kanton Aargau. 🏺 #archaeology

Amphora (storage pot) Found at Turret 44B, Hadrian’s Wall. It is stamped on the handle with QMCCCAS, indicating its contents came from an estate in Southern Spain. Now Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle #FindsFriday #Roman

A lovely pair of #Roman earrings, made of gold & decorated with chips of emerald & garnet - a beautiful piece of ancient jewellery! #AncientBlueSky

It is sometimes astounding to see the evidence of how skilled #Roman glassmakers could be... 🏺 #AncientBlueSky

Just another Monday… A Roman mosaic depicting a somewhat whimsical owl 🦉, found in Uzès, southern France, dating second half of the 1st century BC. 📷 Denis Gliksman, Inrap 🏺 #MosaicMonday

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

A #Roman tile , impressed with the footprint of a chicken that walked across it some 1600+ years ago 🐔 #AncientBlueSky

One of my favourite stories about Varus is when he is said to have appeared in the dream of Caecina, a #Roman commander campaigning in the same area of Germany. He rose covered in marsh water & blood, calling out & reaching his hand to Caecina, who pushed him away - spooky! 👻

A beautiful #Roman metal brooch in the shape of a horse - animal brooches were popular in the Roman world, & I can see why! #AncientBlueSky

The swirling central panel of a #Roman geometric mosaic - almost hypnotic! #MosaicMonday #AncientBlueSky

An ancient woolly sock from #Roman Egypt - with a split between the big toe & the other toes so that you could wear it with sandles! #AncientBlueSky

#RomanSiteSaturday The upper levels of El Djem Amphitheatre in Tunisia, 3rd century AD It was huge - I think this was floor 3 of 6! 📸 Mine #archaeology #photooftheday 🏺

A selection of #Roman ridged glass bowls, all made about 2000 years ago - but still looking fantastic! #AncientBlueSky