Ancient Archaeological Finds

1,700-year-old Roman coin sells for £550,000

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7112813/Incredible-2-300-year-old-Roman-coin-sells-550-000-auction.html  Quoting:

A stunning gold coin emblazoned with the face of Roman Emperor Allectus - has sold for a staggering £550,000. The incredibly rare coin was found by an unnamed treasure hunter as he searched a newly-ploughed field next to an old Roman road near Dover, Kent.  It was purchased by an enthusiast, also unnamed, and is worth far more now than it was when it was minted 1,700 years ago.

Known as an Aureus, the 24 carat gold coin has just one matching example in the world which is in the British Museum and is thought to have been worth 25 pure silver dinarii. The coin depicts a noble-looking Allectus on one face and on the flip side has two captives kneeling at the feet of Apollo . . .





Nigel Mills, of a coin consultant from Dix Noonan Webb, said: 'This is an amazing find and is one of the finest condition coins out there. I've never seen one like it in my 40 years of work so it really is a remarkable discovery . . .The rarity is there, the condition is there and it's made of 24 carat gold all of which make it an fantastic coin.'

Wikipedia:

Allectus was treasurer to Carausius, a Menapian officer in the Roman navy who had seized power in Britain and northern Gaul in 286. In 293 Carausius was isolated when the western Caesar, Constantius Chlorus, retook some of his Gallic territories, particularly the crucial port of Bononia (modern Boulogne), and defeated Frankish allies of Carausius in Batavia. Allectus assassinated Carausius and assumed command himself.

His reign has left little record, although his coin issues display a similar distribution to those of Carausius. They are found in north western Gaul, indicating that the recapture of Bononia did not spell the end of the rebel empire on that side of the English Channel.

Constantius launched an invasion to depose him in September 296. His forces sailed in several divisions. Constantius led one division from Bononia, but seems to have been delayed by bad weather. Another division, under the praetorian prefect Asclepiodotus, took advantage of fog to avoid Allectus's ships stationed at the Isle of Wight, and landed near Southampton Water, where they burnt their ships. Allectus's forces were forced to retreat from the coast, but were cut off by another of Constantius's divisions and defeated. Allectus himself was killed in the battle, having removed all insignia in the hope that his body would not be identified. Archaeology suggests that Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester) was the site of his defeat or the area surrounding the town. A group of Roman troops, who had been separated from the main body by the fog during the channel crossing, caught up with the remnants of Allectus's men, mostly Franks, at Londinium (London), and massacred them. Constantius himself, it seems, did not reach Britain until it was all over, and his panegyrist claims he was welcomed by the Britons as a liberator.

That's amazing! It's a beautiful coin. As a coin collector of sorts, if I had all the money in the world, I would buy it. I've always thought that selling old coins with a certificate of authenticity was was a good way for museums and colleges to make money. There was a scandal some time back in Sweden where some coins were being smelted. What a waste! Let me have some of those, ya know? I'm sure plenty of people would pay bank to have authentic viking and roman coins.

Neon Knight wrote:I like Hephaestus (Vulcan to the Romans). He is noble and sympathetic.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hephaestus

Yes, it's why I could never hang with Aphrodite or Hera. Hera threw her baby away because he was ugly. Aphrodite cheated on him all the time. I'm supposed to worship these creatures? what?

All of the ancient gods and goddesses possessed both human traits of weaknesses and strengths. Jealousy, lust, vengeance make them part of what they are, not so different than mortal human beings.
It makes me think that they were not so much worshiped, as they were feared.
I would hang with any of one of them, if given a chance to get to know them.

Wow, that coin is magnificent!

If I ever came in possession of it, I would have it set and I would wear it as a pendent on a 24 karat gold chain around my neck.

It would make perfect necklace for you OP, seeing that the flip side has your favorite god, Apollo depicted on it.

Yesterday something happened to me that was so uncanny that I just have to share.

I volunteered to help clear out some old books and supplies, left in one of the old medical offices that is going to be renovated.

I started packing books,  when I came across this statue of The Colossus of Rhodes.
The woman in charge of the move said I could keep the statue , as he was going to be thrown out anyway.
Needless to say, I am keeping him and he now adorns my desk. My protector of sorts  

The Colossus of Rhodes was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. He is the Ancient Greek god, Helios-the sun god. The Greek equivalent of Zeus and Apollo.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus_of_Rhodes

So strange because I never really thought much about Greek gods until this past week super coincidental!

Sary wrote:Yesterday something happened to me that was so uncanny that I just have to share.

I volunteered to help clear out some old books and supplies, left in one of the old medical offices that is going to be renovated.

I started packing books,  when I came across this statue of The Colossus of Rhodes.
The woman in charge of the move said I could keep the statue , as he was going to be thrown out anyway.
Needless to say, I am keeping him and he now adorns my desk. My protector of sorts  

The Colossus of Rhodes was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. He is the Ancient Greek god, Helios-the sun god. The Greek equivalent of Zeus and Apollo.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus_of_Rhodes

So strange because I never really thought much about Greek gods until this past week super coincidental!

It's a good example of Jung's idea of synchronicity:

"Jung believed life was not a series of random events but rather an expression of a deeper order, which he and Pauli referred to as Unus mundus. This deeper order led to the insights that a person was both embedded in a universal wholeness and that the realisation of this was more than just an intellectual exercise, but also had elements of a spiritual awakening. From the religious perspective, synchronicity shares similar characteristics of an 'intervention of grace'. Jung also believed that in a person's life, synchronicity served a role similar to that of dreams, with the purpose of shifting a person's egocentric conscious thinking to greater wholeness." - Wikipedia

Someone was going to throw it away? Shame. At the very least they could have given it to a consignment shop for resale. It's a good thing you found it!

Neon Knight wrote:

Sary wrote:Yesterday something happened to me that was so uncanny that I just have to share.

I volunteered to help clear out some old books and supplies, left in one of the old medical offices that is going to be renovated.

I started packing books,  when I came across this statue of The Colossus of Rhodes.
The woman in charge of the move said I could keep the statue , as he was going to be thrown out anyway.
Needless to say, I am keeping him and he now adorns my desk. My protector of sorts  

The Colossus of Rhodes was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. He is the Ancient Greek god, Helios-the sun god. The Greek equivalent of Zeus and Apollo.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus_of_Rhodes

So strange because I never really thought much about Greek gods until this past week super coincidental!

It's a good example of Jung's idea of synchronicity:

"Jung believed life was not a series of random events but rather an expression of a deeper order, which he and Pauli referred to as Unus mundus. This deeper order led to the insights that a person was both embedded in a universal wholeness and that the realisation of this was more than just an intellectual exercise, but also had elements of a spiritual awakening. From the religious perspective, synchronicity shares similar characteristics of an 'intervention of grace'. Jung also believed that in a person's life, synchronicity served a role similar to that of dreams, with the purpose of shifting a person's egocentric conscious thinking to greater wholeness." - Wikipedia

Coincidences happen to me quite often, most of the time they are little things and I smile but then I quickly dismiss them. I know that magical thinking is a sign of mental illness. I try not to get caught up in my own thoughts too much.
But sometimes when the synchronicity is so profound that to ignore/deny it , well that would be foolish.
It adds meaning to ones life.

OsricPearl wrote:Someone was going to throw it away? Shame. At the very least they could have given it to a consignment shop for resale. It's a good thing you found it!

Kolossos may have ended up in the hospital auxiliary thrift store, but Alyssa said that I could have him plus, he said that he wanted to go with me.

I hope that the books find a good home. They were gorgeous cardiology text books bound in what looked to be red leather.

One man’s trash is another mans treasure.

Sary wrote:

OsricPearl wrote:Someone was going to throw it away? Shame. At the very least they could have given it to a consignment shop for resale. It's a good thing you found it!

Kolossos may have ended up in the hospital auxiliary thrift store, but Alyssa said that I could have him plus, he said that he wanted to go with me.

I hope that the books find a good home. They were gorgeous cardiology text books bound in what looked to be red leather.

One man’s trash is another mans treasure.

It's a nice little story. May Kolossos bring you good luck.

https://www.realmofhistory.com/2018/05/24/first-corinthian-helmet-black-sea/  Quoting:

Archaeologists discover the first known ancient Corinthian helmet north of Black Sea

Taking its name from the city-state of Corinth, the Corinthian helmet pertains to the iconic classical gear that we identify with the ancient Greek hoplites, in spite of its relative disuse by the later decades of the 5th century BC (in favor of less constrictive designs). And in an interesting turn of events, archaeologists have come across the first known specimen of a Corinthian helmet north of Black Sea, in an area in the Taman Peninsula, south-west of Russia.

The incredible discovery in itself was found in a fragmented form – an unsurprising state since the object was buried for over 2,500 years. To that end, according to the researchers at Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IA RAS), who took part in the excavation of the site, the Corinthian helmet possibly dates from the early part of 5th century BC. It can also be hypothesized that it belonged to a warrior, with the ancient Greek custom entailing the burial of the warrior along with his helmet.



Suffice it to say, the helmet, like the shield, was perceived as a prestigious equipment in the ancient Greek world, with hoplites/citizens often showcasing their helmets in a place of honor inside their dwellings. As for the specific design attributes of the exemplary Corinthian helmet, the protective gear was usually made of bronze (or brass) and it tended to cover the entire head and neck, with slits for the eyes and mouth . . .

Reverting to the discovery in question here, the particular Corinthian helmet alludes to the ancient Greek presence in the area in and around Crimea, north of Black Sea. To that end, the Taman site, corresponding to ancient Phanagoria, is also home to a necropolis of 600 burial mounds where many Greek warriors of the Bosporus kingdom are buried. Historically, this Greek Bosporan Kingdom (Basileion tou Kimmerikou Bosporou) in eastern Crimea was founded in circa 5th century BC and was the successor to the Greek colonies already established in the region by circa 7th century BC.

Quite intriguingly, the Bosporan Kingdom was administered as an ancient Greek mercantile state . . . at one point its capital Panticapaeum (modern-day Kerch) was the third largest city in the Greek world . . . the strategic value of the realm was not lost on the Romans who offered the client-state status to the kingdom (circa late 1st century AD) even after the subjugation of mainland Greece, thus making it the longest surviving client kingdom of the Romans. [End quote]


The Corinthian helmet is my second favourite after the medieval great helm. Note the serpent on top of the crown in this replica:

That is a beautiful find. I also like ancient Greek armor. They were classy.

Whole chicken egg from Roman Britain recovered in southern England

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-50603415  Quoting:

The only complete chicken's egg from Roman Britain is a "genuinely unique discovery", according to an expert.



It was one of four hen's eggs found during a dig in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, although three broke releasing a "potent stench". The "remarkable collection" of other organic finds included leather shoes, wooden tools and a "very rare" basket. Archaeologist Edward Biddulph said the extent and range of discoveries "was more than could be foreseen". Mr Biddulph, senior project manager with Oxford Archaeology South, said the "standout discoveries" were found in a pit. From the late Third Century, people threw objects into it for good luck "much like a wishing well".

"The pit was still waterlogged and this has preserved a remarkable collection of organic objects. Most extraordinary of all was a basketry tray, made of woven oak bands and willow rods, and four chickens' eggs." The eggs were so fragile, three broke releasing a "potent stench of rotten egg", he said.



Eggs were associated with fertility, rebirth and the Roman gods Mithras and Mercury. Eggshell fragments have been found before, usually in Roman graves, but this is the "only complete Roman egg known in Britain" and "a genuinely unique discovery", Mr Biddulph said. He believes the eggs and bread basket could have been food offerings cast into the pit as part of a religious ceremony during a funeral procession.

Pre-Roman finds were also discovered, but the site reverted to agriculture after the late 4th Century. The dig took place between 2007 and 2016, ahead of the development of the Berryfields site, a mix of housing and community facilities. It borders the Roman road of Akeman Street, under the A41, next to the Roman town at Fleet Marston. The full results of the dig are being revealed after three years of analysis.