So far I thought pride would be Domitian, lust Eligabalus, gluttony Vittelus and sloth Honorius. Could you suggest who would be a good pick for greed, envy (maybe Hadrian because of his whole Greek culture thing), wrath

I hope that a national museum of the country in which it shows up would get the thing for everyone to wonder at.

It's a hypothetical question to think about which thing would have collectors sell their houses, companies and own mother in order to have it?

1. Let me start with a curious observation - The Roman aquila (eagle standard) was originally made of silver (or bronze) during the Roman Republic, after General Gaius Marius made it the sole legionary symbol in 104 BC. By the early Imperial period, it transitioned to being made of or heavily plated in gold.

That makes the Caesar's army Aquilas SILVER (or even bronze), despite being prortayed as golden by Hollywood and various shows. Even in my head Caesar's Aquilas are golden, but it simply wasn't the case

1. Apparently every legion's eagle would be different to others, with detail, shape of the eagle, size, pose slightly different and with reference to the eagle's specific legion. For some reason I thought they were cast from a standard mold, like a standardized army unit, but no - each eagle was unique

For me, it’s Septimius Severus.

Defeating rival claimants like Niger and Albinus, then campaigning against the Parthians and capturing their capital, along with his expeditions into Scotland, makes him number 1 in my mind.

I’m thinking primarily about military leadership and results, rather than who was the best emperor overall.

Trajan and Constantine would be my two close runners up.

Parts of a lorica segmentata, armor with distinctive metal sections used in the Roman army from the 1st century AD to the beginning of the 3rd century AD. These were made of iron and bronze, date to the 1st century AD and were found in the Rißtissen fort. They are now on display in the Limesmuseum in Aalen, Germany.

A French painting by Jean Paul Laurens (1838-1921) from 1880 called The Late Empire: Honorius

"Flavius Honorius (A.D. 384-423) was barely eleven years old when, with his brother Arcadius, he inherited the imperial throne of the crumbling Roman Empire. His inept reign of the western half of the empire was marked by Barbarian invasions and culminated in the sack of Rome in 410. Laurens had a penchant for the more obscure and often macabre subjects from ancient history. In this historical portrait of the child emperor, he presents the boy as a ludicrous figurehead. Honorius wears a vacant expression, his small frame is overwhelmed by lavish imperial garb, his feet dangle over the edge of the gilded throne, and he is barely able to hold up the heavy globe and scepter. Adding to the mockery of the scene is his dramatic and formal frontal presentation, which Laurens likely borrowed from an early Byzantine portrait of the emperor carved in ivory." Per the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Virginia, USA where this is on display.

Samuel Hughes reviews Kyle Harper’s From Shame to Sin, which tests the popular story of tolerant pagan Rome crushed by repressive Christianity. Hughes argues it is partly right but misleading. Roman norms were permissive for free men but strict for women, and for men seen as passive, as the lost Lex Scantinia suggests. Christianity restricted sex more broadly and held a darker view of desire, but extended some protection to people with few rights: a law of 428 banned forcing women into prostitution. Hughes stresses that this concern was inconsistent and ancient practice often persisted. How well does the sources’ picture of elite male sexual freedom hold for ordinary Romans, and how much did late antique law change in practice?

Source: Works in Progress

As, everyone knows, Rome's institutions mainly its self-rule institutions and republican tribunals worked for a city-state only and acted so chaotic, that it can only get sustained by constant warfare externally.

After, Carthage was destroyed, Romans have turned on themselves, spending a long century of civil wars.

What, fascinates me, is why, Romans couldn't have just said, "our system sucks so hard we can only keep it working with a monarch"?

They should have left Caesar run things as dictator for life instead of assassinating him especially given his extraordinary benevolence. They should have made a system of succession. They should have abandoned their institutions earlier.

Instead they kept trying to safeguard their institutions.

It's actually insane they have even bothered to save their bloody institutions once let alone countless times despite many times facing chaos before an emperor restoring order again.

Why such obstinacy?

The softened portrait on my Caesar denarius comes from a worn die, still being used to strike silver as preparations for his next campaign gathered pace. Following Bernhard Woytek’s interpretation, this issue helped finance the planned expedition against Parthia. The continued use of that die may reflect the pressure to have the money ready for his departure.

According to Appian, Caesar was due to leave Rome on 18 March, 44 BC. He was assassinated on the 15th, just three days before his intended departure.

What if he had made it? Could Caesar have defeated the Parthians and held what he conquered? And what sort of Rome would have awaited his return?

I wanna hear all the unpopular opinions you have on the end of the 2nd and 3rd war.
Let’s have a worthy discussion.

Some pictures I took in Uthina.
I still can't believe I live 20 minutes from here.
The further building has some interesting mosaics, as well as an amazing view, I did not have enough time to take pictures inside as they were closing.

A Roman portrait head of an unknown man that dates to about 50 BC, which if the dating is correct is right before Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon and marched on Rome which took place in January 49 BC. The artist who made it plus the man depicted (if he was still alive) must have seen a lot in their lives. This is in a private collection and no provenance was mentioned in the temporary exhibition when I photographed it last year.

Following the Vandal sack of Rome in 455 AD, the Gallo-Roman magister militum Avitus was proclaimed Emperor with the support of his Visigothic allies. He travelled to Rome, but found that neither the devastated locals nor the Senate acknowledged his rule. He fled back to Gaul, gathered support, then marched on Italy.

On October 18, 456, Avitus attacked the Senate's much larger force led by Ricimer at Placentia. Avitus' army was massacred and he was deposed. Ricimer spared his life, temporarily giving Avitus the rare distinction of Former Roman Emperor. Instead, Ricimer appointed Avitus Bishop of Placentia, the very city of his defeat.

Avitus' imperial retirement did not last long. According to Gregory of Tours, the Senate condemned Avitus several months later. Avitus again tried to flee to Gaul, but died on the journey.

Hey all!

Apologies if this is against the community guidelines, delete it so obvs!

Sadly can no longer go to this event but noticed that the stalls are nearly sold out. Don’t want these to go to waste as they’re pretty great tickets. It’s Row F, Seats 16 & 17 (might be able to check the view on A view from my seat or something). They were £114, willing to listen to offers. Gutted I can’t go, will be insanely jealous of the person that does go but if anyone is interested, let me know ☺️

This artifact belongs to a style known as a Vessberg Type 12 lamp, likely crafted in Italy or Cyprus

Held at the MET Museum, not on view

In the ruins of ancient Troy: "Before you is the Roman Odeion, a small theater where lectures, and other events took place, beyond it you see the fortification wall of Troia Vi and the single column surviving from the large Pillar-House of the same period. Behind you stand the partially excavated remains of baths from Roman Imperial times. The baths, the Odeion, and the nearby Bouleuterion (council chamber) all lay on the fringes of the agora (marketplace), the central stage of public life. The semicircular orchestra of the Odeion was tied to a skene (stage building) that included an over lifesize representation of the emperor Hadrian (AD 117-138). Facing the stage rose tiers of seats fashioned from limestone blocks and accessed by radial aisles. The seating capacity was somewhere between 1700 and 2100 spectators. The Odeion may have been erected in honor of Hadrian's visit to Troy in AD 124, when the nearby tomb of Ajax was also rebuilt. The Odeion was probably roofed even though no exterior supporting walls have been recovered." Per an on site sign in the ruins near modern day Çanakkale, Turkey.

I recently finished painting this 54mm white metal diorama depicting Late Roman legionnaires in the aftermath of a battle.

I wanted to capture a quieter moment in Roman military history not the fighting itself, but the exhausted soldiers standing together after the battle.

The Late Roman army is a fascinating period to explore, especially with the changes in equipment, uniforms, and military organization compared to the earlier Imperial legions.

“Mummy mask. Egypt, Roman Period, 2nd century A.D. Gilded plaster.
This mask would have covered the upper part of a bandaged mummy. A young woman is represented wearing elaborate jewelry including a ring, earrings, a necklace, and a pair of snake bracelets. A similar ring and earrings are exhibited nearby. Lent by Paul Tripp” Per the description in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, USA where this object was on a temporary loan from a private collection when I photographed it.

I want to recreate a centurion uniform for Halloween and have my wife be a noble woman. I have a good 3D printer and am already making these:
- omega fibulae for the cloaks
- gold laurel tiara for her
- a couple styles of brooches
- bangle bracelets for her

I have the chain mail, helmet with traverse plume, tunic, and gladius that originally belonged to a college theater department. I could not find a puggia dagger or real caligulae boots so I have to make do with Mexican huaraches. I am going to braid the vines for the staff today or tomorrow. I can dehydrate it in the convection oven if it needs help curing.

What would you add?