Lamp contains Roman Cremation Urn

Lamp turns out to contain Roman cremation urn. Sells for $700,000 at auction

Story here

Roman Architecture - Yale Open Courses

I recommend watching the Yale lectures series "Roman Architecture" by Professor Kleiner. The entire course is online on YouTube in a series of fascinating lectures. Professor Kleiner is one of those teachers whose own enthusiasm and love for Roman history brings everything she talks about to life.

Click below to start the first lecture: "An Introduction to Roman Architecture"
http://youtu.be/qd3MJPHaotQ

Roman Toilets

I can say, without a doubt, that I would have absolutely hated Roman toilets! lol
It would be bad enough sharing the toilet area with the opposite sex...but the sponge really clinches it.

Treasure hunting farmer raises worries of archaeologists

A farmer has been crudely digging into an ancient aqueduct in the hopes of finding Roman treasure and archaeologists, in the hopes of stopping the farmer,  have asked for the Italian government to intervene.

Click here to read the story

More on the Collapse in Pompeii

http://bloggingpompeii.blogspot.com/2010/11/collapse-at-iii36.html

and in the news:

Pompeii collapse prompts charges of official neglect

House of Gladiators collapses in Pompeii

Look at link with photos...terrible. How did this happen? Was there no sign it was about to collapse?

Blogging Pompeii: Collapse in the House of the Gladiators

From A Blog About History:

ANCIENT SHIPWRECK POINTS TO MAJOR ROMAN BATTLE

The shipwreck was found near the island of Levanzo, west of Sicily, which is where historical documents place the battle.

In the summer of 2010, Royal and his colleagues discovered a warship’s bronze ram – the sharp, prolonged tip of the ship’s bow that was used to slam into an enemy vessel. This tactic was heavily used in ancient naval battles and was thought to have played an important role in the Punic fights.