Following Hadrian

March on the Mosaic with the months of the year starting with Martius. From Thysdrus (El Jem, Tunisia). Dated to the 1st half of the 3rd century AD. The March panel shows the Salii, who were the "leaping priests" of Mars, beating daggers on a shield to create music. The twelve Salii used song and dance as part of religious rituals held in March during the Spring equinox. Sousse Archaeological Museum, Tunisia.

Head of Mars Ultor (the Avenger), part of a relief sculpture and based on similar representations from the Temple of Mars Ultor in the Forum of Augustus. Dated 2nd century AD. Palazzo Altemps, Rome.

Fresco of a statue of Mars in the House of Venus, Pompeii.

Statue of Hadrian as Mars, the Roman god of war, from Italy, AD 117–125. Capitoline Museums, Rome.

Happy Kalends of March!
March is named after Mars, the Roman god of war, by Romulus. It inaugurated the beginning of the military campaign season, which lasted until October. Martius (March) originally was the first month of the Roman year.

Are you looking forward to visiting a free Iran?
Iran is a country with a long and rich history, where many civilisations thrived over thousands of years. With 29 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Iran offers an incredible variety of archaeological & cultural wonders.
www.worldhistory.org/article/1871...

"O man, whoever you are and wherever you come from, for I know you will come, I am Cyrus who won the Persians their empire. Do not, therefore, begrudge me this bit of earth that covers my body".

Plutarch, Life of Alexander 69.

#FrescoFriday - Ceiling fresco depicting Cupid and Psyche. From the ancient Roman civil settlement of Lauriacum, dated to the 2nd century AD.

Museum Lauriacum, Enn, Austria.

#EpigraphyTuesday - Altar to Zeus from Perge in Pamphylia, Asia Minor.

Διός

IK Perge 233
inscriptions.packhum.org/text/313966?...

In the pentagonal field below the platform is an inscription: MEMORIA / BLOSSI HONO/RATVS INGENVS ACTOR / PERFECIT (‘Tomb or memory of Blossus/Blossius. Honoratus (his) agent of free status brought (it) to completion’).

#MosaicMonday - The Mosaic of Daniel in the Lions’ Den, a Christian floor mosaic depicting a scene identified as the biblical story of Daniel in the lions’ den. From a Christian mausoleum at Furnos Minus (Tunisia), dated to the 6th century AD.

National Museum of Bardo, Tunisia.

However, this is not a mask of a royal family member, but a Roman cavalry helmet known as the Emesa helmet.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emesa_h...

A Greek inscription found in the Great Mosque of Homs reveals it was built over the Temple of the Sun of Emperor Elagabalus The discovery of a Greek inscription at the base of a column during restoration work at the Great Mosque of Homs, in Syria, has reignited academic controversy regarding the exact location of the Templ...

A Greek inscription found in the Great Mosque of Homs in Syria reveals it was built over the Temple of the Sun of Emperor Elagabalus. www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2026/02/a...

AD 120 – The army erects a wooden palisade on the German frontier (#Hadrian1900) FOLLOWING HADRIAN Hadrian’s deep concern with consolidating and defining the Empire started very early in his reign. Upon ascending the throne, the new emperor abandoned Trajan’s newly conquered province…

AD 120 – The army erects a wooden palisade on the German frontier.
followinghadrian.com/2020/09/23/a...

#RomanSiteSaturday - The Pont d'Aël is a well-preserved Roman aqueduct bridge in the Aosta Valley, northern Italy. It was built in 3 BC for irrigation and to supply water to the newly founded colony of Augusta Praetoria, and was privately financed by a Roman entrepreneur named Caius Avillius Caimus.

18 February AD 121 – Titus Haterius Nepos, the prefect of Egypt, visits the Memnon Colossus (#Hadrian1900) FOLLOWING HADRIAN On 18 February AD 121, Titus Haterius Nepos, the prefect of Egypt, visited the Colossus of Memnon at the Theban necropolis and heard the statue sing. Nepos immortalised his encounter by inscribing …

18 February AD 121 – Titus Haterius Nepos, the prefect of Egypt, visits the Memnon Colossus
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Summer AD 124 – Hadrian tours Asia (part 2) and visits Pergamon and Sardis (#Hadrian1900) FOLLOWING HADRIAN In the summer of 124, Hadrian continued his journey through the province of Asia, heading south to visit the great cities of Pergamon, Sardis, Smyrna and Ephesus. From Hadrianotherae, where the Emp…

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#EpigraphyTuesday - Inscription from the city of Thyatira celebrating Pergamon's achievement of becoming a neokoros (temple warden) for a second time, specifically for the imperial cult temple built for Trajan (Trajaneum).
Dated AD 114, Upper Acropolis, Pergamon, Turkey.

One of its most significant scenes is believed to be the earliest known portrayal of the poet Hesiod receiving inspiration from Calliope, Queen of the Muses. The Pegasus Mosaic is composed of around 160 shades of naturally colored stone tesserae, creating exceptional depth, shading, and lifelike expression. It is signed by the artist, Euporos.

#MosaicMonday - The Pegasus Mosaic at the Museum Hotel Antakya, dated to the 2nd century AD. It was discovered 8.5 meters beneath the surface during excavations for the hotel. At its centre is Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology, surrounded by panels depicting Apollo and the Nine Muses.

The Hadrianic Temple of Diktynna in Crete FOLLOWING HADRIAN On the eastern tip of the Rodopou Peninsula in West Crete are the scanty remains of a temple dedicated to the Cretan goddess Diktynna (Diktynnaion). Diktynna was the virgin goddess of hunting, wors…

The Hadrianic Temple of Diktynna in Crete.
followinghadrian.com/2017/06/11/t...

#RomanSiteSaturday - 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.

#FrescoFriday - Wall painting from Herodium depicting a sea view along with a bull, trees, a temple, a palm tree and a boat alluding to the conquest of Egypt by Augustus. Dated 20-15 BC.

Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

Ancient Roman altars to go on display in Edinburgh Two Mithraic Roman altars are to be displayed as a part of an upcoming exhibition after being acquired for the nation.

Two ancient Roman altars found near Edinburgh and acquired for the nation are set to go on public display for the first time as part of a new exhibition at the National Museums of Scotland (NMS).
www.bbc.com/news/article...

The rebuilding of Cyrene by Hadrian in AD 118/9 (#Hadrian1900) FOLLOWING HADRIAN In AD 115, while Trajan and the majority of the Roman troops were campaigning in Parthia in the East, the diasporic Jews rose against Rome, creating havoc in Cyrenaica, Egypt and Cyprus. The hostil…

The rebuilding of Cyrene by Hadrian in AD 118/9.
followinghadrian.com/2018/11/05/t...

#MosaicMonday - Mosaic fragment with a representation of Tyche, the guardian goddess of the city of Scythopolis (Beit She'an). She is wearing the mural crown (corona muralis) and carrying a cornucopia filled with fruits.

Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

Sepphoris/Diocaesarea Sepphoris, also known as Diocaesarea, lies 289 metres above sea level on a hill in the heart of the Galilee province, about 5 kilometres west of Nazareth. Its history can be traced back to the Pers…

followinghadrianphotography.com/2016/06/04/s...

The Roman theatre was built during the Severan era on the remains of a 1st-century AD theatre. It could seat about 7,000 spectators. It is the best-preserved ancient theatre discovered in Israel.

Palladius Street is a 150-metre collonaded street that crosses the city from the slopes of the Tel to the theatre. It was built during the Roman period and renovated at the beginning of the Byzantine period.

Silvanus Street runs north-south through the city.

Overview of Silvanus Street.

#AncientSiteSunday - Beit She'an, also called Scythopolis/Nysa, is an ancient city in Galilee, where the Harod and Jordan valleys meet, 27 km south of the Sea of Galilee and 5 km east of the Jordan River. Its strategic position has influenced its history, making it an important archaeological site.

#OnThisDay in AD 62 (or 63), Pompeii was severely damaged by an earthquake. The event is commemorated in a bas-relief that decorated the lararium of the House of Lucius Caecilius Iucundus, showing the damage to the Temple of Jupiter and its statues during the earthquake.

Winter AD 122/3 – Hadrian stays in Tarraco and rebuilds the Temple of Augustus (#Hadrian1900) FOLLOWING HADRIAN Having returned to Gaul from Britain (see here), Hadrian made the only known visit to his native land as emperor during the winter of AD 122/3. He took up his residence at Tarraco (Tarragona), Rome…

Winter AD 122/3 – Hadrian stays in Tarraco and rebuilds the Temple of Augustus.
followinghadrian.com/2023/01/23/w...

#ReliefWednesday - Nabataean relief of Atargatis, the Syrian goddess of fertility, depicted with her face covered with leaves and flowing hair. From the Temple of Khirbet et-Tannur, a hilltop sanctuary on the King’s Highway, 70 km north of Petra. Dated to the 1st half of the 2nd century AD.

Hegra Hegra, also known as Al-Hijr or Mada’in Salih, is one of the most significant archaeological sites in northwestern Saudi Arabia. It is located north of AlUla and the ancient capital of the Da…

[New post] Hegra
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Dis deabusque imm(ortalibus) / pro salute Imp(eratoris) Caes(aris) M(arci) Aur(elii) / Severi Antonini Aug(usti) Pii Fel(icis), / Parthici Max(imi), Brittanici (sic) Max(imi), / Germanici Max(imi), et Iul(iae) Aug(ustae) / matri Aug(usti) et castrorum et / senatus et patriae, Genio / hospiti et Fortunae Reduci / et Marti Conservatori, Aur(elius) / Glori[o]sus, Aug(usti) lib(ertus), adiutor / tabularior(um) votum solvit Translation To the immortal gods and goddesses, for the health of Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Augustus, Pius, Felix, Parthicus Maximus, Britannicus Maximus, Germanicus Maximus, and for Iulia Augusta, Mother of Augustus, of the Camp, of the Senate and of the Homeland, to the Genius of the hospitium, Fortuna Redux and Mars Conservator, Aurelius Gloriosus, imperial freedman, adiutor tabulariorum, fulfilled (his vow).

#EpigraphyTuesday -Stone altar set up by Aurelius Gloriosus, an imperial freedman, who dedicated it to all immortal gods and goddesses, as well as to emperor Caracalla & his mother, Julia Domna. From the Roman Fort at Hegra (Saudi Arabia), the southernmost fort of the Roman Empire. Dated AD 213-217.

The tomb is the most famous and the largest tomb in Hegra. It is an iconic example of Nabataean funerary architecture and stands isolated. It is carved into a massif about 23 metres high and 18 metres wide, with the access platform raised approximately 4 metres above ground level.

#TombTuesday - Qasr al Farid, also known as The Tomb of Lihyan Son of Kuza, is a 1st-century AD Nabataean tomb carved into a single huge rock in Hegra (Saudi Arabia), the southern capital of the Arabian Nabataean kingdom.

Exploring Verulamium, the Roman city of St Albans (UK) FOLLOWING HADRIAN Anyone interested in Roman Britain should have St Albans on their list of places to visit. I visited St Albans twice and enjoyed it on both occasions. A short train ride north of London, St Albans …

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Verulamium Museum, St Albans, England.

#MosaicMonday - The Shell Mosaic, a striking Roman floor panel from the Roman city of Verulamium in Britannia. It depicts a scallop shell and was designed to fit into a semicircular room, most probably the apse of an oecus, a hall for receiving guests. It is dated to around c. AD 150.