Roman

Visit to the Heberden Room in the Ashmolean

constantinakatsari November 19, 2012

Last week I took my students to visit the Heberden room in the Ashmolean museum in Oxford. The visit was organised in collaboration with the Keeper of Coins and Medals, Prof. Chris Howgego. As you probably already know Chris is an expert of Roman coins and the successful author of several books and articles on the subject. Before I even start describing the experience, I would like to express my gratitude to the Ashmolean staff for all their help and support on this educational trip. I know very... »

Roman jewellery in Japan

constantinakatsari July 1, 2012

No it is not about an exhibition! This is one of the most interesting instances of cross history, actual cultural contacts between Japan and the Roman empire! Glass jewellery have been discovered at the Utsukushi burial mound in Nagaoka, Kyoto prefecture. The jewellery date from the first to the fourth centuries AD, that is the peak of the Roman empire. Extensive analysis took place of the components of 5 mm glass beads and the fragments of gilt attached to them. According to the results, the be... »

New texts on athletes and shows in Roman Egypt

constantinakatsari May 15, 2012

“Training, Cheating, Winning, Praising: Athletes and Shows in Papyri from Roman Egypt 6.00pm – 7.15pm, followed by a drinks reception Wednesday, 20 June 2012 The British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH Three Short Lectures on the ‘Olympic’ tradition in Roman and Byzantine Egypt as revealed by new and old texts from Oxyrhynchus In the second and third centuries AD the cities of the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire developed a mania for grand public competit... »

Greek and Roman armies in Northern Balkans

constantinakatsari May 29, 2011

This is a conference very close to my research interests. I would have liked to participate. Is anyone else going? “Call for Proposals – Annual Conference of the Metropolitan Library of Bucharest, Sinaia, Romania, 20-22 September 2011. Section IV c. WORKSHOP “Greek and Roman Armies in Northern Balkans : Conflicts and Integration of the Warrior Communities, Vth c. B.C.- IIId c. A.D. ” This workshop is part of the research project “Warrior Structures and Exchanges bet... »

The Roman Monetary System

constantinakatsari March 16, 2011

Because of radical changes in my life, it has been almost a month since I posted anything in my blog. My fighting spirit seems to be returning with a vengeance and I am preparing myself for several worthwhile debates. One piece of news that may interest you is the publication of my monograph on The Roman Monetary System. The book has been published by Cambridge University Press in February but I had a chance to look at it only last week. The description at the back of the cover seems to be accur... »

The Collapse of a Roman Building in Pompei

constantinakatsari November 7, 2010

Newagencies all over the world testified to the collapse of a Roman building within the complex of the Schola Armaturarum Juventus Pompeiani in the renowned city of Pompeii. The building may have survived earthquakes, volcano eruptions, wars, the Camora and almost 2.500.000 tourists a year but it has not survived the recent abundant rains! At least, this is what the Italian Minister of Culture, Sandro Bondi, claimed. It is obvious to me that the rains had nothing to do with the incompetence of t... »

Ancient History Competition 15

constantinakatsari March 23, 2010

Manolis will not grace us today with a new quiz; so, I decided to ask a Roman question. Which Roman emperor was born in North Africa and died in Britain? »