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Ancient Side.....The ruins of ancient Side are among of the most spectacular that remain in the modern world and showcase hundreds of years of Greek life in the Roman Empire. Its coastal location made Side a desirable trading port and, despite the prominence of piracy, Greek settlers flocked to the city around the sixth century BC. Unusually, this resulted in the preservation, rather than destruction, of the native culture and Side became a cultural melting pot - indeed, many original inscriptions found at the site today are written in the indecipherable native language. Hellenic influence in Side grew, however, and it was under Roman rule that the city really flourished - even gaining repute as the best slave market of the period. Many of the Roman ruins still remain, and the city has become a popular destination for eager explorers interested in discovering the rich history of the ancient Mediterranean. Today, this ancient metropolis showcases the skill with which the Romans were able to seamlessly combine elements of Greek culture, which they so admired, with their own recognisable Roman stamp of identity. Certainly, when Titus Flamininus declared the ‘freedom of the Greeks’ in 196BC he would not have imagined that the two cultures would have merged so comprehensibly centuries later. Reflecting this combined cultural legacy, and ranking among the most prominent sites at Side is the 2nd century AD ancient theatre. A unique example of fusion design, it was born out of this combination of Hellenic plans and Roman construction. Moreover, the theatre’s decoration dates to the period of the Antonine Emperors and the exterior columns tell the story of Dionysus (or Bacchus in Roman), the Greek God of wine and patron of the theatre. Among Side’s other fascinating remains are the temples to Apollo and Athena, which are picturesquely perched at the very tip of Side’s harbour. The sight of these ancient columns set against the picture-perfect Mediterranean sea makes for an ideal sightseeing spot. If that isn’t enough, the archaeological site at Side also features the remnants of the colonnaded main street, Roman baths, a nymphaeum and a Hellenic gate that decorates the exterior walls. The nearby museum is an ancient site in itself, being housed within a baths complex dating back to the second century AD, and contains many of the finds discovered during excavations of the ruins in the mid-twentieth century.
Detail from the Coffin of a child.
This coffin probably can be dated to the early phase of the Gamhud cemetery. According to the inscription running on the lower half of the lid, its owner was a girl, whose name may have been Tahyris. The carving is crude. The scenes and inscriptions covering the outer surfaces are not carefully executed but clearly attest experienced craftmanship.
Ptolemaic Period, from Gamhud.
inv. 51.2002.1-2
Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.
The temple, of travertine, was begun by the duumvirs M. Manilius M.f and L. Turpilius L.f., probably in the middle of the 2nd c. BCE. There is no solid evidence to identify the deity housed in the temple.
Cori, ancient Cora (Pleiades; PECS-Perseus; en.wikipedia; it.wikipedia)
"China's Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor's Legacy"
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
2013
"China’s Terracotta Warriors presents ten life-size terracotta figures— the maximum number permitted outside China in a single exhibition. Accompanying the figures are 110 rare objects from underground sites surrounding the First Emperor’s tomb and early Qin dynasty burial chambers, some newly discovered, from bronze weapons, sculptures of waterfowl, and a ceremonial limestone suit of armor to tiny gold animal-like figurines, all of which create an evocative picture of the First Emperor’s obsession with eternity and the afterlife." museum press release
DSC05033
Olympia, a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, the most famous games in history. The Olympic Games were held every four years throughout Classical Antiquity, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. The first Olympic Games were in honor of Zeus.
Julius Caesar, Imperator and Dictator, 49 B.C. - 15 March 44 B.C.
Obverse: elephant walking right trampling on a carnyx (a Celtic war trumpet) ornamented to look like a dragon, CAESAR below
Reverse: pontifical tools, culullus (cup) or simpulum (ladle), aspergillum (sprinkler), securis (sacrificial ax), and apex (priest's hat)
Mint: military mint, traveling with Caesar, 49 B.C.
Maximum Diameter: 18 mm
Weight: 3.81 grams
Denomination: Silver Denarius
Minted after his invasion of Italy and crossing of the Rubicon on 10 January 49 BC, this was the first coin type issued in Caesar's name. The elephant was the symbol of the Caesar family. The obverse was long described as an elephant trampling a horned serpent, symbolizing good triumphing over evil. For the Romans, however, the snake was a symbol of healing, not evil. Recent research has shown that the "horned serpent" is actually a Celtic war trumpet called a carnyx. Clearly, Caesar's elephant trampling a carnyx symbolizes Caesar's victory over the Celtic tribes of Gaul. This coin was a reminder of Caesar's military success. The reverse refers to Caesar's office of Pontifex Maximus, the high priest of Rome, a title now held by the Pope.
The obverse of a very small bronze coin struck in the name of, and portraying, the Roman Emperor Constans, 337- 350 AD, at the mint of Aquilea, in northern Italy.
He is crowned with a laurel and rosette diadem and wears a cloak over his armor (cuirass).
An Ancient Egyptian obelisk gifted to Britain in 1819 by the Viceroy of Egypt Mohammed Ali. Colloquially known as Cleopatra's Needle.
Full mirror brockage - diameter 14,2 mm. Weight: 1.581 gr.
O: DV CONSTANTI-NVS PT AVGG, veiled bust right
R: Incuse of obverse
I love the fact that Fern species are so ancient and can be found in fossils all over the world!
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The ancient Perch Rock Lighthouse with the modern Seaforth Docks radar station in the background.....
My first day in Egypt included the short bus ride from my Cairo hotel to Al-Jīzah on the outskirts of the city. Nothing prepares you for that first sighting of the Great Pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu, rising some 147 meters (481 feet) from the Giza Plateau.
People clamber all over the giant stones, each weighing 2.5 tonnes.
For the story, please visit: www.ursulasweeklywanders.com/history/stories-in-ancient-s...
Street art at Ouseburn Newcastle 1/3.
Spotted while on a hop on hop off bus tour of Newcastle…so naturally I hopped off to investigate further! And was pleasantly surprised by what I found in Ousebank…
印象凤凰－可爱的石狮子
A lovely stone lion, standing on another drum-like stone sculpture in front of a local store in Fenghuang. I have seen many stone lions throughout different regions of China, this one is definitely "one of a kind".
Fenghuang (Phoenix|凤凰), an ancient town in western Hunan province, is arguably the most beautiful town in China.
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Ancient Mexico Gallery, British Museum, London, England, UK. Complete indexed photo collection at WorldHistoryPics.com.
Special Egypt Exhibit, Henan Provincial Museum, Zhengzhou, China. Complete indexed photo collection at WorldHistoryPics.com.
Syracuse
8 litrae circa 212, AR 6.78 g. Female head l., wearing oak-wreath, earring and necklace; in field r., lighted torch. Rev. Slow quadriga l., empty but for sceptre; in upper field r., XAP. In exergue, ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ. NAC sale 25, 2003, 125.
Of the highest rarity, only the second specimen known of this historically fascinating
issue. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc
Ex Gorny & Mosch sale 146, 2005, 78.
The long and distinguished history of Syracusan independence was threatened in the Hellenistic Age, and it is much to the credit of their king Hieron II that the city did not lose its autonomy much earlier than it did. Hieron II ruled sixty years (275-215 B.C.) – a difficult feat even under the most favourable of circumstances, but he was trapped between two powerful and warlike neighbours, Carthage and Rome. In 263 B.C. he proclaimed his allegiance to Rome, and thereafter, Syracuse prospered as the rest of Sicily was ravaged. However, toward the end of Hieron’s 92-year life, Carthage and Rome became embroiled in the Second Punic War and the fate of Syracuse changed. As if signaling the bad times ahead, Hieron’s son and intended successor, Gelon, died in 216. When the elderly Hieron died in 215, his throne passed to his 15-year-old grandson Hieronymus, who was tricked into switching his allegiance from Rome to Carthage. His disgraceful 13-month reign ended with his own assassination in 214, which forced the Syracusans to establish the short-lived ‘Fifth Republic’.
Hyppocrates and Epycides, who got to power, entered into an alliance with Carthage. Roma immediately reacted by sending M. Marcellus to besiege Syracuse. After eight months Syracuse, with the help of the engineering genius of Archimedes, was still proudly resisting; the Romans were compelled to block the city by land and sea. In the meantime an army under the command of Himilcone was sent by Carthage to help Syracuse. Himilcone landed near Heraclea Minoa and took over Agrigentum. Hyppocrates, with a strong army, came out of Syracuse planning to fight M. Marcellus in the open.
Although, he himself was between two fires, M. Marcellus succeeded in eluding a fatal battle and eventually entered in Syracuse because the city has been left ungarded during a public celebration. Only the citadel, under of the command of Epicites, remained in the hands of the Syracusans. At the end, however M. Marcellus found himself besieged by the conjoined armies of Hyppocrates and Himilcone. Unfortunately an epidemic in the Syracusan and Carthaginian camps took the lives of the two commanders and of thousands of soldiers. Epicides escaped to Agrigentum still in Carthaginian hands.
This coin, which was probably struck during the “power vacuum” while one commander was dead and the other was escaped, is the last issue of the free city of Syracuse. Eventually, during the autumn of 212, the city opened the Achradina gates to M. Marcellus. Although an honourable peace treaty was promised, the city was abandoned to sack and massacre. Archimedes himself was slaugthered much with dishonour of M. Marcellus.
This coin is completely different from all the other coins of the fifth Republic. It shows on the obverse a female head with an oak wreath and on the reverse a quadriga without a driver. The type is based upon 16-litrae coins Hieron struck for his wife, Queen Philistis (otherwise virtually unknown), which shows Nike driving a chariot of trotting horses. This particular design reflects the upheaval in Syracuse: the horses go left rather than right, their heads hang sadly low rather than proudly upright, and the chariot is not driven by Nike, as before, but is empty save for a sceptre. All three of these elements indicate the power vaccum of those days in the city.
The coin’s denomination and weight are based upon the litra system adopted by Hieron. It proved ideal for calculating international exchange as there were conversion points for both the Attic and the Ptolemaic (Phoenician) standards: the Attic drachm was the equivalent of the Syracusan 5-litrae coin, and the Syracusan 16-litrae coin had the same value as a Ptolemaic tetradrachm (Phoenician shekel). Considering Hieron had strong ties with the Ptolemies, the latter concordance is hardly surprising. Indeed, this is made even clearer when one recognises that the veiled portrait of Hieron’s wife Philistis on these 16-litrae coins was modelled on those of the Ptolemaic queens Arsinoe and Berenice.
NAC46, 221