| From: Tom Clarke | 4/22/2016 1:10:02 PM | | | | | | ‘Be cheerful, live your life:’ Ancient mosaic ‘meme’ found in Turkey’s south
HATAY – Anadolu Agency
What could be considered an ancient motivational meme which reads “be cheerful, live your life” in ancient Greek has been discovered on a centuries-old mosaic found during excavation works in the southern province of Hatay.
Demet Kara, an archaeologist from the Hatay Archaeology Museum, said the mosaic, which was called the “skeleton mosaic,” belonged to the dining room of a house from the 3rd century B.C., as new findings have been unearthed in the ancient city of Antiocheia.
“There are three scenes on glass mosaics made of black tiles. Two things are very important among the elite class in the Roman period in terms of social activities: The first is the bath and the second is dinner. In the first scene, a black person throws fire. That symbolizes the bath. In the middle scene, there is a sundial and a young clothed man running towards it with a bare-headed butler behind. The sundial is between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. 9 p.m. is the bath time in the Roman period. He has to arrive at supper at 10 p.m. Unless he can, it is not well received. There is writing on the scene that reads he is late for supper and writing about time on the other. In the last scene, there is a reckless skeleton with a drinking pot in his hand along with bread and a wine pot. The writing on it reads ‘be cheerful and live your life,’” Kara explained.
Kara added the mosaic was a unique finding for the country.
“[This is] a unique mosaic in Turkey. There is a similar mosaic in Italy but this one is much more comprehensive. It is important for the fact that it dates back to the 3rd century B.C.,” Kara said.
She also said that Antiocheia was the world’s third largest city in the Roman era, and continued:
“Antiocheia was a very important, rich city. There were mosaic schools and mints in the city. The ancient city of Zeugma in [the southeastern province of] Gaziantep might have been established by people who were trained here. Antiocheia mosaics are world famous.”
April/22/2016
hurriyetdailynews.com |
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| To: Tom Clarke who wrote (4462) | 4/23/2016 6:17:50 AM | | From: Tom Clarke | | | | A 2,400 year-old mosaic discovered during excavations in Turkey's southern Hatay province, showing a skeleton lying down with a jorum in his hand and a wine pitcher and bread on the side could be one of its kind, Turkish researchers have said.
The mosaic, which is reportedly from the 3rd century BCE, was first discovered in 2012, when municipality was carrying out work to build a cable car in Antakya and found ancient remains.
Excavations were then launched to search the area for more remains.
According to archeologist Demet Kara at Hatay Archeology Museum, the mosaic is a part of ancient Greek-Roman city of Antioch and has an Ancient Greek inscription saying 'Be cheerful, enjoy your life.'
Kara further noted that professors have referred to the mosaic as the 'skeleton mosaic' and have concluded that the mosaic belonged to the dining room of a house belonging to the upper class back then.
She noted that there is a similar mosaic in Italy, but this one is more comprehensive, making it a unique piece.
The ancient city of Antioch was established by Seleucus I Nicator -who is one of Alexander the Great's generals- in the 4th century BCE. It is known to be the first place where the followers of Jesus were referred to as Christians.
Hatay is known for its Roman-era mosaics dating back to the second and third centuries BCE.
dailysabah.com |
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| From: LindyBill | 4/27/2016 9:17:55 AM | | | | | | Templeborough Roman fort
GREAT 3D FLYTHROUGH AT SITE
A Roman fort was first built on the site in earth and wood in the first century AD (most likely in the period 43 to 68), and was later rebuilt in stone. It is thought to have been occupied until the Roman withdrawal from England c410 but its original name has never been ascertained.
The Roman road called Icknield Street (sometimes Ryknild or Riknild Street) crossed the River Don at a ford close to the fort. There was also a road named Batham Gate that ran southwest from the fort to Brough-on-Noe in Derbyshire.
The double bank that surrounded the fort was still visible in 1831 although it is believed that stone blocks from the site were regularly carried off and re-used in nearby buildings.
Archaeological excavations of part of the fort and bath house were carried out in 1877 by the Rotherham Literary and Scientific Society headed by local historians, J D Leader and John Guest. They found evidence that the fort had been burned to the ground and rebuilt twice.
In 1916 the site of the fort was acquired by Steel, Peech and Tozer’s steelworks in order to expand their works to meet the demand for steel during World War I. The plans for the steelworks required the site to be leveled, and 10–15 feet of soil were removed from the area of the fort, destroying all archaeological remains.
A tile stamped with the stamp of Cohors IV Gallorum found on the site dates to either the time of Domitian (81–96) or Trajan (98–117). The Fourth Cohort of Gauls are known to have occupied the fort, as evidenced by the clay tiles and carved Roman tombstones discovered on the site. |
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| From: isopatch | 4/29/2016 9:34:46 PM | | | | | | There's also a strong case for Charles Martel being "Founder of France". Good read, nevertheless.
Extraordinary times, as new dynasties emerged to take control of larger and larger portions of the failing Western Roman Empire.
Iso
<The Commanding Clovis I: King of the Merovingian Dynasty and Founder of France
26 APRIL, 2016 - 03:53
DHWTY
Clovis I was the second king of the Merovingian Dynasty, and its first ruler to unite all the Franks in the region of Gaul under Merovingian rule. Due to this achievement, Clovis is often regarded as the founder of France. In addition to this unification, Clovis is also remembered for his conversion to Christianity. Like the Roman emperor Constantine, Clovis’ conversion was related to a battle, and paved the way for the adoption of Christianity (specifically Roman Catholicism, as opposed to Arianism) by the Franks.
Military PowerClovis I was born around 466 AD, and was the son of a chief by the name of Childeric. Clovis’ father was the leader of a Germanic tribe known as the Salian Franks, and served as an ally of Rome. When Childeric died, Clovis, who was 15 years old at that time, inherited his father’s position. Five years after inheriting his father’s throne, Clovis came into conflict with Syagrius, the last Roman governor of Gaul.
Syagrius was defeated by Clovis at the Battle of Soissons in 486 AD, and the governor fled to Toulouse, hoping to find refuge with the Visigothic king Alaric II. Clovis demanded that Syagrius be handed over to him, to which Alaric complied. Syagrius was brought back to Soissons, where he was beheaded.
The captured Syagrius is brought before Alaric II who orders him sent to Clovis I. ( Public Domain )
Clovis continued his military campaign, conquering many important cities, including Paris, Rouen, and Reims by the end of the year. By 491 AD, much of western Gaul was under Clovis’ rule. By this time Clovis had ordered the assassination of several Frankish kings, and added their kingdoms to his. During the early 6th century AD, Clovis defeated the Visigoths in southern Gaul, and added much of what is today the region of Aquitaine to his kingdom. By the time of Clovis’ death in 511 AD all the Franks in Gaul were united under the Merovingians.
Delayed VengeanceAnother important contribution of Clovis to history was his adoption of Roman Catholicism. Christianity had already taken root in Gaul prior to Clovis’ conversion, and Childeric, his father, is recorded to have been on good terms with the bishops of Gaul. This policy was continued by Clovis, and may be exemplified in a story recorded by Gregory of Tours.
In this story, Clovis and his soldiers are said to have looted many churches after defeating Syagrius in 486 AD. One of the looted items was “a vase of marvelous size and beauty”. The bishop, from whose church the vase was taken, sent a messenger to Clovis, begging for the restoration of this particular vase.
The king brought the messenger back to Soissons, where he had taken up residence. Once there, Clovis placed the loot in the middle of his army, and told his men that he would like the vase for himself so that he could return it to the bishop. Clovis’ soldiers, except one, agreed that the vase should be given to the king. This soldier who disagreed made his opinions known by stepping forward and crushing the vase with his battle axe. Furthermore, the soldier cried “Thou shalt receive nothing of this unless a just lot give it to thee.”
St. Remy, Bishop of Rheims, begging of Clovis the restitution of the Sacred Vase taken by the Franks in the Pillage of Soissons. ( Public Domain )
The shattered vase was given to the bishop’s messenger, and Clovis is said to have not lost his cool on that occasion, and kept an appearance of calm and patience. Needless to say, the king was not at all satisfied with the soldier’s behavior.
A year later, Clovis got his revenge. During a review of his troops, Clovis recognized the soldier, and reproached him for the poor condition of his arms. The king then seized his battle axe and threw it on the ground. When the soldier bent down to pick his weapon up, the king used his own battle axe to crush the head of the unfortunate man, saying “Thus didst thou to the vase at Soissons.”
Clotilde Clovis’ conversion to Christianity can also be found in Gregory of Tours’ account, and may be said to have begun with his marriage to Clotilde. This woman was the daughter of the king of the Burgundians, and was a Christian herself. Clotilde strove to convert her pagan husband to the Christian faith, to no avail. Despite her failures, Clotilde did not give up her intention of converting her husband. Her efforts finally paid off when Clovis was in the midst of a battle with the Alemanni.
During this battle, Clovis’ army was on the brink of defeat, when he decided to pray to the god of the Christians. In return for victory, Clovis promised to be baptized. Miraculously, the enemy then fled from the field, leaving Clovis victorious. Thus, Clovis became a Christian, and his wife was later venerated as a saint for her role in Clovis’ religious conversion.
The Baptism of Clovis. ( Public Domain )
Featured image: Saint Remigius baptizes Clovis, in a painting of ca 1500. Photo source: Public Domain .
By Wu Mingren
ReferencesCavendish, R., 2011. Death of Clovis I of the Franks. [Online]
Available at: http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/death-clovis-i-franks
Halsall, P., 1996. Medieval Sourcebook: Gregory of Tours: On Clovis. [Online]
Available at: http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/source/gregtours1.asp
Kurth, G., 1908. Clovis. [Online]
Available at: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04070a.htm
Rickard, J., 2013. Clovis I, king of the Franks, r.481-511. [Online]
Available at: http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/people_clovis_I.html
Wasson, D. L., 2014. Clovis I. [Online]
Available at: http://www.ancient.eu/Clovis_I/
- See more at: ancient-origins.net |
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| From: isopatch | 5/3/2016 9:44:36 PM | | | | | | Although the proportions of the instrument are, at best, a close approximation of the ancient original; the music in the video is purely speculative, historically speaking. Nevertheless the brilliant tonal quality and rich resonance produced is extraordinarily beautiful, at least to this old guitarist's ear.
Hope you folks enjoy it, too.
Iso
<The Lyre Of Megiddo
Published on Jan 25, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27opcKxcg1c
<The "lyre of Har Megiddo" is an instrument etched onto an ivory plaque that was discovered by archaeologist Gordon Loud in the excavations of a royal palace in the ancient city of Megiddo (aka Armageddon) in Israel. One of the interesting things about this image, which appears at the beginning of this video, is that it dates from roughly the time of the biblical King David (slightly before 1000 B.C.) and if David played a harp, as the Tanach (Old Testament) says he did, it was almost certainly an instrument of this sort.
David's instrument, which was called a "kinnor" in ancient Hebrew, had ten strings, and we know that he played it "with his hand" (as opposed to using a plectrum or pick for strumming - 1 Samuel 13:9). Being curious as to what this instrument might have sounded like, I built a replica of it, and that is what I am playing in this video. It is tuned to an F harmonic minor scale, and strung with pure silk. Harps and lyres in ancient time were strung with gut but silk, when it is properly prepared, is equally hard, strong and resonant.
Was this the sound that lulled troubled King Saul to sleep? We cannot know for sure, but it is possible. If you are curious about this instrument, here is a page on my website that explains a little about its construction and history.>
peterpringle.com |
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| From: isopatch | 5/5/2016 10:53:07 AM | | | | | | <Molecular clock for estimating ages of ancient genomes
Mon, May 02, 2016
Researchers report a genetic method for estimating the age of ancient human remains.
Accurate estimation of the ages of ancient human specimens is crucial for interpreting ancient DNA analyses. Though radiocarbon dating, a standard tool for estimating the ages of specimens, is remarkably precise, it can be biased by contamination. Priya Moorjani and colleagues developed a complementary approach for dating ancient genomes by comparing the cumulative numbers of genetic recombination events between ancient and present-day non-Africans since the time of Neanderthal introgression into their common ancestors. Most non-Africans have around 2% Neanderthal ancestry resulting from human and Neanderthal interbreeding that occurred around 50,000 years ago. Assuming an approximately constant recombination rate per generation, the amount of recombination that has occurred since the initial introduction of Neanderthal DNA can be used as a molecular clock to infer the number of missing generations between an ancient genome and present-day genomes. The authors tested their method on five ancient human specimens from North America, Europe, and Siberia with sequenced genomes and radiocarbon dates between 12,000 and 45,000 years ago and obtained age estimates that were consistent with radiocarbon dates. Using correlation between radiocarbon dates, measured in years, and Neanderthal introgression dates, measured in generations, the authors estimated the historic generation interval to be approximately 28 years per generation. According to the authors, the estimate is consistent with those for present-day West Eurasians.
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Working in a clean room, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, took extensive precautions to avoid contaminating Neanderthal DNA samples - extracted from bones like this one - with DNA from any other source, including modern humans. NHGRI researchers are part of the international team that sequenced the genome of the Neanderthal, Homo neanderthalensis.
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The study report* is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences(PNAS).
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*“ A genetic method for dating ancient genomes provides a direct estimate of human generation interval in the last 45,000 years,” by Priya Moorjani et al.>
http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/spring-2016/article/molecular-clock-for-estimating-ages-of-ancient-genomes |
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