Table of Contents
From the Editor
The very talented Roman researcher and author, Marc Hyden, challenged recent theories on the origins of Christianity in his latest article. Did Emperor Titus invent Christianity? He took a closer look at the evidence, revealing a conspiracy theory built on coincidence and not facts.
As we approach the spooky season, we also learned about the world’s oldest recorded ghost story! Yes, from Mesopotamia. The oldest recorded everything seems to always come from Mesopotamia (or Egypt).
Site Update
You may have noticed some re-organizing on the main Substack page. The primary goal is to make it easier for the reader to find the content that interests them the most. For example, in the top navigation bar, you will find a Categories dropdown menu which opens up to specific themes or topics. I will continue to refine these in the coming days/weeks.
In the News
Romans Buried Lightning for a God
A 1,900-year-old inscription found at Hadrian’s Villa reveals that Romans actually buried the remains of lightning strikes as part of a sacred ritual. The practice was associated with Summanus, the god of nighttime lightning, and the find may mark a small sacred site where a lightning strike was believed to have occurred. Source: Archaeology Magazine.
A Colorful Roman Sword Fitting at Vindolanda
Archaeologists at Vindolanda have uncovered a beautifully decorated Roman sword scabbard fitting that spent roughly 1,800 years buried beneath the famous frontier fort. The copper-alloy piece still has traces of colorful enamel, offering another glimpse into the weapons and personal equipment used by Roman soldiers in Britain. Source: Arkeonews.
A 4,000-Year-Old Flower Still Growing Today
Seeds found inside a 4,000-year-old Hittite vessel at Külhöyük have been identified as the remains of Sevgi Çiçeği, a flower that still grows around Ankara today. The discovery suggests this distinctive and now highly localized plant has been part of the Central Anatolian landscape for thousands of years. Source: Arkeonews.
Ancient Ports Were Bigger Than We Thought
New underwater research suggests ancient Mediterranean ports could accommodate far more ships than their surviving stone walls and docks would suggest. Archaeologists found that ships also anchored in natural bays, along open coastlines, and in deeper waters beyond the formal harbor structures, changing how we understand the scale of ancient maritime trade. Source: Phys.org.
A Colorful Fifth Dynasty Tomb at Saqqara
Archaeologists have uncovered a Late Fifth Dynasty tomb at Saqqara belonging to a high-ranking official named Yunmin, who served as a judge and court director. Its two chapels contain beautifully preserved painted scenes showing farming, offerings, and processions, giving researchers a colorful glimpse into life and funerary traditions during the reign of Djedkare Isesi. Source: Archaeology Magazine.
A Giant Roman Mosaic and an Eros Head
Excavations at ancient Pompeiopolis in Türkiye have uncovered about 105 square meters of remarkably well-preserved fourth-century Roman mosaic flooring. Archaeologists also found a second-century AD head of Eros, adding another intriguing piece to the story of the city’s transformation from a Roman center into a Christian-era bishopric. Source: Türkiye Today.
Quote
No notice is taken of a little evil, but when it increases it strikes the eye. - Aristotle
Caption This!
Welcome to a new, fun series where you get to be part of the joke!
Each time, I’ll share a comic panel and leave the caption up to you. Come up with something funny, clever, sarcastic, ridiculous, or completely unexpected. There’s really no wrong answer, as long as it’s appropriate. Just comment below!
The best part? Your submissions could make it into a future “Caption This!” post! I’ll pick some of my favorites and feature them in a follow-up, so you might just see your caption alongside the next panel.
So take a look, get creative, and give me your best caption. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Last Week’s Comic Submissions
JCarter
Wait…did that guy say ‘Ides of March’ or ‘eyes of March’?
Trivia Question
Last Week’s Trivia Answer
Roman Emperor Diocletian was responsible for creating the Tetrarchy
Ask Me Anything
It has been a while since I have done an Ask-Me-Anything video, so, now is your chance to start asking your ancient history focused or Digging Up The Past questions! And once I get enough, a new video will be recorded!
Halloween Sale on Annual Subscriptions
Digging Up The Past is offering a Halloween promotional sale which ends on October 31st. Is it a bit early for a Halloween promotion? Nope! It is never too early for anything Halloween. 😄 Be sure to not miss out on getting 20% off annual subscriptions for all eternity! Mhua ha ha ha!
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Featured Image: The Triumph of Titus relief on the Arch of Titus. (Jean-Pol GRANDMONT / CC BY-SA 4.0)
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