Rendered in the Roman Third Style, the murals feature visual illusions mimicking altars painted on dark, monochromatic fields of color.
ancient Rome
Roman Bust Discovered Beneath English Mansion’s Parking Lot
“It was an amazing feeling to have found something so old and special,” said the excavator operator who stumbled upon the artwork.
Archaeologists Find Evidence of Hallucinogenic Drug in Ancient Rome
Physiological reactions to a plant called black henbane were well documented throughout the Ancient Mediterranean world.
Students Win $700K for Using AI to Decipher Ancient Roman Scroll
The 2,000-year-old scroll was buried in volcanic mud and ash during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius
Did Archaeologists Discover Pliny the Elder’s Famous Roman Villa?
News that researchers may have found the site where Pliny watched the eruption of Mount Vesuvius epitomizes the pressure to tie discoveries to well-known narratives.
The Grim History of Rome’s Oldest Building
An ancient prison that once held enemies of the Roman state sits at the base of the Capitoline Hill, largely unchanged since it was first built.
Unearthed Clay Seals Shed Light on Ancient Roman Archiving Practices
The finding of such a large number of document seals is a window into daily life in the Roman city of Doliche in modern-day Turkey.
UK Museum Reclassifies Roman Emperor as Trans Woman
Contemporaries of Emperor Elagabalus describe the ruler’s preference for being called “lady.”
Vatican Opens Hidden Underground Roman Necropolis to the Public
Via Triumphalis is now accessible through a new separate entrance at the Vatican Museums’ Santa Rosa gate.
Student Uses AI to Read Ancient Scroll
21-year-old Luke Farritor identified the first word in a scroll that was buried in mud and ash during the 79 CE eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
New Pompeii Discovery Sheds Light on Slavery in Ancient Rome
The new finds give more detailed insight into the lives of enslaved Roman community members prior to the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
“Pizza” Depicted in Pompeii Fresco Is Sadly Just Focaccia
The flatbread likely had spices, pesto, and fruit. (all photos courtesy Archaeological Park of Pompeii) Italy may be famous for its pizza, but Ancient Romans never had a chance to have a slice. And yet, on a frescoed wall in Pompeii, archaeologists have uncovered what appears to be an early relative of the ubiquitous food: […]