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Roman Mausoleum with Gladiator Reliefs Discovered Along the Ancient Via Appia
A Roman mausoleum decorated with scenes of gladiatorial combat has been discovered along the ancient Via Appia near Apollosa in southern Italy, revealing a striking connection between funerary architecture and the spectacle culture of the early Roman Empire. The monumental tomb emerged unexpectedly after flooding from the nearby Serretelle stream exposed large limestone blocks in…
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The Dark Side of Roman Arenas: Bear Skull from Viminacium Offers First Osteological Evidence of Animal Brutality
A newly unearthed brown bear skull from the ancient city of Viminacium in Serbia has shed unprecedented light on the dark underbelly of Rome’s celebrated amphitheater culture. Dated to the 3rd century CE, the skull provides the first direct osteological evidence that wild animals, far from being exotic spectacles alone, were brutalized, caged, and repeatedly…