Table of Contents
From the Editor
A lot has been on my mind lately. Something that I have noticed in recent months is that engagement seems to be down all over Substack. It isn’t limited to the newsletters but I am also seeing it on my podcast episodes to even the community driven Notes social feature. I have been asking around and it seems that I am not the only one affected by this and it may be more of a Substack platform issue. But at the same time, I need to consider increasing the quality of my content. I owe it to all of my subscribers.
I have been spending quite a bit of time in the recent couple of weeks creating new video content for the site (which also gets shared on social media). I have already shared the One-Minute Digs with you. And there are more episodes in the queue, waiting to get published.
Ancient Egyptian Dentistry Was Wild
Welcome to One-Minute Dig, your source for quick and fascinating historical facts, presented by Petros Koutoupis of Digging Up The Past.
I am also working on a new video series of short documentaries (we are talking 3-4 minutes long) which will likely remain behind the paywall called Forgotten Worlds. Similar to the One-Minute Digs, the goal is to provide quick digestible facts about the ancient cultures that continue to fascinate us. The first episode is nearly complete. Stay tuned for more…
Latest Podcast Episode on Emperor Titus
Also, be sure to check out our latest podcast episode where I sit down with research and author, Marc Hyden to discuss his latest book: Emperor Titus: The Right Hand of Vespasian. I never realized how much more there was to this little written about Roman Emperor.
Titus: Emperor, General, Destroyer
Petros Koutoupis sits down with author Marc Hyden, author of Emperor Titus: The Right Hand of Vespasian, to take a closer look at one of Rome’s most fascinating and often misunderstood emperors. We talk about Titus’ rise to power, his military career, his relationship with Vespasian, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the challenges he faced as emperor. …
Content and Scheduling
Consistency is good. Especially when it comes to online publications. I am also trying to figure out a proper schedule for content. The plan is to limit content to no more than 3 per week. After doing some research and following a few trial experiments, I believe I will schedule the following content on the following days.
Tuesdays — Long form articles or a detailed artifact analysis special feature
Thursdays — Audio Podcast or video content
Sundays — Weekly Digests (like this one)
Note - There may be some weeks where long form articles may not be available to publish (especially, in the beginning) but I will do my best to limit this interruption.
In the News
Ancient Roman Bathhouse Revealed at Apollon Smintheus
Archaeologists excavating the Apollon Smintheus sanctuary in Türkiye have uncovered the cold-water pools and changing room of a Roman bathhouse dating to around the third century AD. The discovery adds more detail to a complex that included hot rooms, service corridors, furnaces, and water systems. Source: Hürriyet Daily News.
A Mysterious Goddess Hidden in a Spanish Cave
More than 120 Roman inscriptions have been recorded inside a cave sanctuary in eastern Spain, including five dedicated to a previously unknown goddess called “the Lady.” The inscriptions, along with jewelry, pottery, coins, and other offerings, suggest the deep underground cave was an important place of worship. Source: Archaeology Magazine.
Göbekli Tepe May Have Been More Than a Ritual Site
New excavations at 11,600-year-old Göbekli Tepe are challenging the long-held idea that the site was used exclusively for religious gatherings. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of large residential structures, suggesting people may have actually lived there during part of its history. Source: IFLScience.
Did Bronze Age Arabia Have Its Own Brand?
Pottery produced at the oasis of Qurayyah in northwestern Arabia around 3,600 years ago may represent one of the earliest examples of branding. Its distinctive designs, consistent production methods, and wide distribution gave the pottery a recognizable identity that spread hundreds of miles. Source: Archaeology Magazine.
Egyptian Tomb Reveals Changing Burial Practices
A tomb in the Theban Necropolis is giving archaeologists a fascinating look at how Egyptian burial practices changed over several centuries. What began as separate burials in coffins eventually became densely arranged layers of mummies, including a curious case where a mummified dog was placed above human remains. Source: Archaeology Magazine.
Quote
For as the eyes of bats are to the blaze of day, so is the reason in our soul to the things which are by nature most evident of all. - 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!
Poll Question
Last Week’s Poll Answer
Athens and Sparta were the two prominent city-states that fought as the primary rivals in the Peloponnesian War.
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!
Reminder: Paid Subscriptions are Back!
Just another reminder that Paid Subscriptions are re-enabled! As a paid subscriber, not only will you get special access to both videos and special articles but your contributions will help support my project to continue providing the content you enjoy.
Expect to see fresh new paid subscriber content soon!
Starting today, 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!
Your subscriptions help support the content that goes into making this site possible, including interviews, videos, and other great features. Unfortunately, many of the tools, resources, and guest appearances that make this content possible come with a cost. Your support helps me keep creating and bringing more of this content to you.
Your support is genuinely appreciated. It helps keep the site going and, just as importantly, gives me the motivation to keep creating and sharing more with you!
Featured Image: The treasures of Jerusalem relief under the Arch of Titus in Rome, Italy. (Jebulon / CC0 1.0)
From Emperor Titus all the way back to Göbekli Tepe—what an absolute masterclass of a lineup! Don't sweat any platform algorithm dips either; true history buffs are always going to show up for deep dives like this. Keep crushing it, Petros!