#roman town

[thesilicontribesman]

The best preserved 'Lorica Segmentata', Roman Plate Armour in the world to date, Corbridge Roman Site Museum, Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland

[papermint-airplane]

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Transcript under the cut

Aiden: It's hard to know where to begin, really. I suppose I'll start from the day of my abduction from Earth. Aiden: There I was, minding my own business, when-- Rio: What were you doing on Earth? Aiden: Huh? Rio: Why were you on Earth? You're not one of those Sixamite probe enthusiasts, are you? Aiden: I--no! Of course not! But me being on Earth is a long story for another time. Rio: But-- Aiden: Anyway, I was on Earth conferring with the local inhabitants when all of a sudden… Aiden: I was hit with a psionic blast from an indeterminate location. Aiden: It wasn't quite strong enough to render me unconscious but it felt like someone was certainly trying. Naturally, something like that could only come from another Sixamite. Aiden: My first thought was that the cargo ship that had stranded me all those years ago had finally returned and I was going to be rescued-- Rio: You were dumped off a cargo ship? Were you a stowaway or something? Aiden: … Roman: Rio, will you let the man speak? You're getting too caught up in the details. Rio: Details are important when we're talking about a potential means of escape. Roman: I don't think he's gotten there yet. You need to be patient. Rio: Excuse you! I have plenty of patience, he's just being long-winded for no reason. Roman: You always do this! Bedtime stories used to take hours! Aiden: We're going to be here all night…

[milesworld96]

Night 1 already got me dying out here, what the fuck is Night 2 gonna do to me

[companion-showdown]

Who is the Greatest Accomplice to the Doctor's War Crimes?

TOURNAMENT MASTERPOST

[dollsome-does-tumblr]

they should just put j. smith-cameron and kieran culkin at a table together in the background of a scene in season three of the white lotus and that way we can all agree as a society that roman and gerri made up and are now on vacation even though there can’t be any more episodes of succession

what is the hbo horrible rich person cinematic universe for if not this????

i feel like i definitely read this idea online somewhere before and with each passing month it just becomes more and more obviously the morally responsible thing for hbo to do.

[blueiskewl]

Archaeologists Discovered Roman Floor Mosaics in Bulgaria

Archaeologists discovered floor mosaics with early Christian designs and nearly 800 artifacts in the archaeological reserve of Marcianopolis in Devnya, in the northeastern part of Bulgaria.

The Roman town of Marcianopolis (present-day Devnya) in northeastern Bulgaria appears to have originated as a Thracian settlement. It was later inhabited by Hellenized settlers from Asia Minor and named Parthenopolis.

Roman Marcianopolis was established around 106 CE, following Trajan’s campaigns in Dacia to the north. The settlement was named after his sister, Ulpia Marciana. At the crossroads between Odessos (modern Varna), Durostorum, and Nicopolis ad Istrum, as well as the location of plentiful springs, Marcianopolis became a strategically important settlement.

Diocletian’s administrative reforms in the late third century CE divided Moesia Inferior into Moesia Secunda and Scythia Minor, with Marcianopolis serving as the former’s administrative capital. Marcianopolis experienced its most prosperous period during the middle of the fourth century CE. From 367 CE to 369 CE, the eastern emperor Valens used Marcianopolis as his winter quarters during campaigns against Visigoth incursions in the region. During this time, it served as the Eastern Empire’s temporary capital.

Floor mosaics with early Christian designs were found in the remains of a building. Archaeologists are not yet sure whether it was a public building or it belonged to a rich Roman citizen.

The tentative dating of the mosaics is in the first half of the 4th century AD.

The finds from the current archaeological season in Devnya contain another thousand bronze coins, several clay lamps and two clay vessels, which are awaiting scientific processing and restoration.

During the past archeological season, researchers restored bronze vessels discovered in the 1990s in a brick-walled tomb dating to the late 2nd – early 3rd century.

The vessels had a ritual use and were related to the personality of the person buried, Mosaic Museum director Ivan Sutev said in a statement to BTA.

They are richly decorated and the workmanship is exquisite, he added. The find includes a vessel for pouring liquids as offering to a deity, and a wine jug with a trefoil mouth (oenochoe). A simple kitchen pan was also found along with these. All this leads archaeologists to suggest that a Roman citizen of Marcianopolis may have been laid to rest in the tomb, but that he may have had more specific functions: a soldier, a cook, or even a priest, Sutev said.

Pottery that was discovered in the basilica’s environs during excavations in 2023 has since been restored. Among these are a mortarium vessel for liquids and an exquisite crater-shaped pot for liquids. These were located in the structure with the mosaic floors. Coins from the time of Emperor Theodosius II were also found scattered on the floor.

In 447, Attila’s Huns captured and destroyed Marcionopolis after conquering the entire Balkan Peninsula but failing to capture Constantinople. That is determined by 20 gold coins scattered on the floor of the building being studied. On one side of the coins is an image of Theodosius II, while on the other is the patron goddess of Constantinople. Among the coins discovered during the Marcianopolis excavations were those from the city’s founding in the second century. The latter are dated to the sixth century, around the time of Emperor Justinian.

By Oguz Buyukyildirim.

[tarnationface]

spoilers for the main mystery in pentiment

[rubeau-art]

PREVIEW - A Town Called Hope

Hey all! The current draft of chapter one is under the cut (to save people on mobile from a long post), and the Mp3 file can be found [HERE]

The audio isn't the best, but it's serviceable

Cheers!

A Town Called Hope

Chapter One

Grey clouds hung heavy in the evening sky, the threat of rain rumbling within them. The trip had been uneventful, but looking at those clouds would give anyone pause. Reynard was no exception. Uneventful or not, he was not about to drive through that approaching storm in the dark. It looked like the next village he found would be his home for the night.  

It was hard to tell if the sun had set by the time the lights of next the village came into view. ‘Blackwood’ the faded sign by the road announced. A fitting name for the place. Dark woods pressed in on the little village from all sides- expect the one that was pressed in by a broad lake. The clouds Reynard had been trying to avoid had settled into a dark blanket over the woods and thatched rooftops, and by the time he pulled up to the village Inn, the rain had dropped. It clattered like marbles on the windshield of his tiny yellow car, and for a moment he debated sleeping in the back seat. He glanced back at the seat in question. No. He was not going to scrunch himself in there just to avoid getting a little bit wet. Not again. Taking a deep breath, he snatched his bag from the passenger seat and swung the door open.

In the few seconds it took for him to sprint across the carpark to cover of the Inn, Reynard was soaked through. He hunched his shoulders against the cold highland air and hurried inside.

A wave of relief washed over Reynard as he stood there, dripping on the doormat. It looked like most of the town was in that night. To get away from the rain? Or to not be alone during the storm? The warm air was full of circling chatter and laughter, interspersed with the occasional crack and pop from the roaring fire at the far end of the building. The sounds seemed to hold up the old wooden rafters overhead, giving the place a life all its own. Reynard received some warm smiles as he dripped his way over to the bar, but everyone seemed content to keep to their little circles and conversations. That was until he made it to the bar and caught the attention of the young lady behind the counter.

“Excuse me, Miss? I was wondering-“

The young lady turned to face him, tucking a wayward strand of bleached-blonde hair behind her ear. The second she laid eyes on him she let out a small, shrill squeak- then covered her mouth rather quickly, her cheeks pink with embarrassment. Oh no, Reynard thought to himself.

“I- I’m so sorry, I don’t know where that noise came from,” She waggled her hand in the air between them. An anxious tick maybe? “You’re Reynard Walker! You must get this a lot, but I’ve read all your books. I’m really a huge fan.”

He didn’t ‘get that a lot’. The few books he had written had been poorly received by the public. They much preferred the articles and fluff he wrote for magazines as a part of his day job. This young lady seemed to be one of the few exceptions. He felt a smile pull on his lips and nodded politely. “I really appreciate that. It’s a pleasure to meet a fan. Miss…?”

“Shit-“ she covered her mouth again, cheeks burning, “I mean, um- Anna. It’s Anna.” She took a moment to calm herself down and did her best to keep her hands from fluttering about. “S-so! What can I do for you?”

“A room for the night, please. And maybe a mop.” He glanced at the line of puddles he’d left on the flagstone floor behind him.

Anna followed his gaze. “Oh gosh- I’ll sort that in a second.” She fished about beneath the counter. The click of a lock. A soft clink. A key set on the bar. “We have more than enough rooms this time of year. No one hangs around after the end of the Autumn festival. Not unless they’re hungover.” Reynard raised an eyebrow as he picked up the key. She might have floundered before, but Anna had been quick to find her stride. Not the worst fan he’d come across by any means. “If you don’t mind me asking-” Anna continued as she went back to pulling pints for the locals. “What brings you all the way out here? Didn’t think there would be anything worth writing about in these woods. Unless it’s a personal trip? You getting yourself away from the big city for a while?”

Reynard felt his lips tighten. “Personal work.” He said flatly, “Not here though. I’ll be heading up to Hope in the morning.” He saw the way her eyes lit up. Anna wanted to know more. Reynard was not going to give it to her.

Anna sighed and smiled. “I suppose I’ll just have to wait, then.” Reynard blinked. He was surprised there had been no attempt to push. His shoulders relax and smiled again. He was too used to being around other journalists.

 Anna waved her hand at him, shooing him away from the bar. “Go on now. Go get yourself dry. We don’t want you catching a cold and having to stay here when you’ve got work to do.”

---

Reynard found his room upstairs, dropped his things and showered before heading back down to the bar. Tucked away in a quiet corner, he watched locals drift in and out with the breaks in the downpour outside. Anna brought him dinner at one point. As he ate, he fished out his phone and tapped out a text.

‘Hey Chris, finally stopped for the night. Cute town. I think you’d like it.’

Almost immediately his phone rang in his hand. It was Chris. He picked up.

“Glad to know you’re still alive. Not one text. All day.” Chris was clearly annoyed, but Reynard could tell she was happy to hear from him, “Anyway, did you make it to the border, or is this another cute town you’re talking about?”

“Not at the border yet. Storm held things up.” He could hear her relief through the phone. Relief that he hadn’t pushed through the storm and into the night no doubt. “It’s nice here though. Little village, nice Inn. Chatty locals.”  

“Oh you must love that.” She laughed, and Reynard smiled. “Alright I’ll let you go now I know you’re alive, but you have to tell me when you arrive tomorrow, okay?”

“If there’s any reception. Otherwise, It might be a day or two before I get back here.” He could hear the little noise she made in disapproval. “Hey, at least Hope’s an empty town. How much trouble could I get into?”

A few tables across, a stranger tilted his head, listening to the writer’s half of the conversation.

“Oh my god, Ren! Now you’re for sure going to get into trouble. It’s like saying ‘what could possibly go wrong’.” She was laughing. “You just can’t help yourself can you. Listen, have a good night and I’ll send the police if I don’t hear from you in a week.”

“You know they won’t come again.” He teased, hearing the roll of her eyes.

“I’ll use a fake name for you. Goodnight, Ren.”

“Night, Chris.” Reynard looked at the blank screen of his phone after the click. After a moment a flicker of movement at the edge of the table pulled him from his thoughts.

A young man stood there. Long dark hair framed a tired-looking face. But those eyes were anything but tired. Reynard recognized that look. That spark of curiosity. He’d caught it on his own reflection many times. Reynard tucked his phone away, his gaze set on the man as he waited. An awkward pause dragged on before the stranger spoke in a hushed voice.

“I overheard you talking to Anna. You’re heading to Hope-” Reynard frowned, the young man hurried to explain himself. “Wait- Look, I know you don’t want to talk about it. I gathered that much from your talk with Anna. But I… I have something that might be of interest to you.”

“What makes you think that?” Reynard’s tone was calm. Where was this going?

“You’re a writer, yeah? A writer going to Hope for a ‘personal project’.” He fixed Reynard with a stare laced with- what? Understanding? Urgency? Another pause. Reynard gestured to the seat opposite him. The stranger slipped into the booth, a little smile on his face. “I’m Roman, by the way.”

“Reynard.” He offered. Then, with a hint of humor in his voice, “Though you probably ‘overheard’ that too.”

“Maybe.” Roman chuckled, “Bad habit of mine. I’ve read some of your work too. Your research is solid. That’s why I think you might want to take this.”

Roman pulled a battered notebook from inside his duffle coat. Its spine was reinforced with tape, and the pages of the book groaned from the sheer number of notes stuffed between them. He set it on the table and pushed it across to Reynard.

Reynard picked up the book and turned it over in his hands. Thumbing through the pages, his eyebrows raised. The book was full of research notes. Photos, fragments of maps, cuttings from newspapers across the decades. It was all about Hope. Roman had puzzled together a record of the town’s cryptic history, right up until it had gone dark in the late 40s. Pieces were missing, but it was as near a complete a report Reynard had ever seen. As he turned another page, a photograph fell out. Faded and water damaged, it showed children running in a schoolyard while a woman watched on.

“How did you get all this?” Reynard almost whispered, staring at the photo on the table. The water damage had made the woman’s face impossible to make out, but something about her was familiar. It made him uncomfortable.

“I’ve been looking into the town on and off for a few years.” Roman glanced over his shoulder. Paranoia maybe? “Figured with you being a writer and all, you might be able to get some use out of them.”

Reynard tucked the photo away and set the book down on the table. “You would pass over ‘a few years’ worth of notes to a stranger because you overheard me talking about the same town at a bar?” He didn’t even bother to hide the suspicion in his voice.

“Only if they have a ‘personal’ reason for going there.” Roman locked eyes with him. “No one has been there since the town was fenced off decades ago, and there’s no evidence that anyone ever left the town before it went dark. At least not in the records. But what if off the record, there was someone who made it out after all-“

“They would be dead by now.” Reynard cut in sharply. He pushed the book back across the table and stood. “Nice meeting you.”

“Wait! I- Shit!” Roman moved to stand- and his phone rang. Whatever it was, it was enough to make him hesitate in going after Reynard.

Reynard didn’t hang around. He strode out of the bar, up the stairs into the quiet of the guestrooms.   

---

Sat in the quiet of his room, Reynard pulled a battered leather case from his things. Resting his thumb on the latch, he stared at the worn edges and patched corners of the case. His hand was shaking. Roman’s words rattled through his brain. Someone had gotten out. But having Roman pin him that quickly had been unsettling.

He couldn’t do this to himself. Not tonight. Overthinking it all would do him no good. He tucked the case back into his things and pushed them under the bed. ‘Tomorrow’s problems’, he thought. 

Thunder rolled overhead as he turned off the light. Rain against the windows pulling him into a deep, dreamless sleep.

[thesilicontribesman]

Reconstructed Ceiling Plaster Panel from the Bathhouse Frigidarium at Wroxeter Roman City.

The painted panels were intended to make it look like a coffered ceiling for a vault.

Later Second Century CE, Wroxeter Roman City, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

[papermint-airplane]

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Transcript under the cut

[Rio thinking]

Aisling called me heartless. But…I'm…I'm not. No! I'm not! I love Roman! I love him so much, I'll do anything for him.

He's given up so much of his life already because of me, and I won't let him give up any more. Not if there's something I can do about it.

It was always just the two of us against the world after Mom left.

Roman never got to have a normal life. He was too busy taking care of me.

He was always there for me. Always.

And I repaid him by getting him trapped on some stupid rock in the middle of nowhere. Some sister I am.

So the last time was a failure. So it literally blew up in my face. So what?

I'll try again and again a thousand times if it means even the slightest chance of success. I'll make up for the trouble I caused.

The way everyone looks at him now, because of me…he doesn't deserve that. They can call me whatever they want but all Roman did was believe in me.

I let him down before, but now I have another chance. The portal WILL work! I won't blow it this time.

I WILL get Roman home, back to the life he deserves. Fuck everyone else. Fuck Woeford. I don't care what happens to any of them.

Shit. Maybe I really am heartless.

[milesworld96]

I HAVENT watched Elimination Chamber yet as I’m just watching Smackdown rn, but I looked at the atdu tag and why are people panicking over them breaking up WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE GRAYSON WALLER EFFECT😨

[glitchaxolol]

My overall reaction to Wrestlemania!

Some matches were a bit plain but holy shit some of those were amazing and chaotic. I loved Rhea v Becky and they still fought well despite Becky being sick. Could’ve been longer but I like how the ladder match went! Rock & Roman v Seth & Cody was crazy cool. Drew v Seth was absolutely awesome and then Damian coming to cash in made it even more awesome! Bayley & Iyo put up a hell of a fight, Bayley deserves that title. And Cody v Roman was abso-fucking-lutely insane. It was so chaotic that I just loved it so much!

Not saying I hate the other matches btw, these were just my favorites!

(Also Roman was looking hot asf, like what I wouldn’t do for him.🤭😋)

[just-late-roman-republic-things]

Hi

I saw your latest post (sort of off topic sorry) and was wondering if you have any thoughts on Pliny the elder calling Tiberius the gloomiest of men?

Tiberius was pretty gloomy, to be sure. I typed out a few hundred words of all the trauma he went through before realizing I can't possibly cover it all in one post. Let's just say that if you read a biography of him (I recommend Robin Seager's or David Shotter's), you WILL want to cry for him, and then you will want to slap him for the Very Bad Way he eventually lashed out at everyone around him.

He's a clear example of a well-intentioned, awkward man put in a position he was horrifically unsuited for, who was manipulated and isolated instead of receiving the help he desperately needed, and who developed a deep paranoia, fear, anger and vengefulness as a result. Those feelings caused him to hurt a lot of people in his final years.

I think he's also a good example of how most "bad people" aren't born that way, but shaped by their environment. It actually took a hell of a lot to break him. His reign didn't really get ugly until he was 72, had lost everyone he loved, and was betrayed by his closest remaining friend.

(I also think the most lurid allegations about his retirement to Capri are made up. He was an old, ill, introverted, exhausted man who'd already retired to Rhodes once before to hang out with scholars, and who took a few old philosophers with him to Capri. The most nefarious thing they probably did was arguing about Plato. I don't think he intentionally caused Julia the Elder's death, either, considering that he'd previously begged for Augustus to release her from exile.)

[movie--posters]

[fluentisonus]

that said it's so interesting that this was a major roman town & yet there's nothing here anymore. like there's no continuous inhabitation besides a couple nearby farms, at some point people just left it & moved away