Rare Roman horse race mosaic

Scenes from a chariot race are depicted in a rare Roman mosaic excavated in rural Cyprus in 2017. Dating from the 4th Century AD, it is in Akaki, a village not far from Nicosia. Only a handful of similar mosaics - showing a hippodrome race - have been found at ancient Roman sites. The ornate 26-metre-long (85ft) mosaic was probably part of a wealthy man's villa.

A Roman hippodrome (circus) was a long, open-air stadium built for chariot and horse racing, social events, and imperial ceremonies. The oblong arenas featured a straight start/finish line, curved turning ends (metae), and a central dividing barrier (spina).

Colossus of Nero

The Colossus of Nero was a 30-to-37-meter bronze statue in Rome created by Zenodorus. Commissioned by Nero to stand in the porch of his Domus Aurea, it originally depicted Nero as the sun god Sol. (Helios) Later emperors removed the likeness of Nero. The statue was moved to a spot outside the Flavian Amphitheatre, which became known, by its proximity to the Colossus, as the Colosseum. Nero, Rome mint, (AD 65-66).

The last mention of the Colossus is in a manuscript from the late 4th century AD. The statue disappeared afterwards, likely destroyed and melted down after the sack of Rome. Today, the only remains are some concrete blocks that made up the foundation of its marble pedestal.

See ---- Nero's Domus Aurea

Bronze battering rams from First Punic War

In 2021 bronze battering rams — each weighing 450lbs — were recovered from Roman wrecks that sunk off the coast of Sicily in 241 BC. Originally attached to the bows of warships, the rams were used against the Carthaginian fleet during the Battle of the Aegates that ended the First Punic War. Fought in the waters around Sicily and North Africa, conflict between the Phoenicians and the Romans lasted 23 years. The First Punic War was the first of three wars fought between the Phoenicians of Carthage and Rome in the early third century BC.

Romans sunk 50 Carthaginian vessels and captured 70 more at the cost of 30 of their own ships and damage to 50 more. It's thought the fleets of both sides originally numbered some 200 vessels. Carthaginian rams had inscriptions to the god Baal on them were less well made than the Roman rams. Roman rams have an inscription by an inspector to verify that they met standards.

The Battle of the Aegates was fought off the western coast of the island of Sicily on 10 March 241 BC. It was the final naval battle between the fleets of Carthage and the Roman Republic during the First Punic War. A unique bronze helmet discovered by marine archaeologists off the Sicilian coast are dated to the sea battle. The helmet is a Montefortino, a Celtic style-helmet that was worn across Europe, also  known as a "Roman helmet".

Diving to 120m, archaeologists examined an area of about 5 sq km, littered with the relics of the decisive battle. Bronze helmets, amphora, weapons and ancient battle rams cast in bronze, were salvaged from the seabed.

The first Punic War, with the largest naval battles of antiquity, would drag on for more than 20 years. The battle of Egadi, in 241 BC was a turning point: the Carthaginians were defeated and forced to abandon Sicily. Rome also won Corsica and Sardinia.

Reconstruction of a Hellenic trireme

Artifacts continue to be pulled from the seafloor, offering clues to the battle. 11 of 19 rams found are Roman, but this can be explained by the fact the Carthaginians captured Roman ships in a previous battle.

The many Montefortino helmets may have belonged to mercenaries from Gaul and Iberia, who fought for Carthage and were known to sometimes wear them.

Treasure trove of Sarmatian jewellery unearthed in Russia

In 2015 a trove of ancient jewellery was found in the grave of a woman dating to the first century AD. She was a Sarmatian - a group of people who worshipped fire and whose unmatched skills in warfare was seen as the inspiration for the Amazons of Greek mythology. Sarmatian women were feared as much as much as men. The discovery of the intact burial mound in Russia was described as 'priceless' by archaeologists.

Sarmatian cataphracts during Dacian Wars as depicted on Trajan's Column.

The Sarmatians were nomadic people who migrated from central Asia to the Ural mountains between the 6th and 4th century BC. They were fierce warriors who fought on horseback. Their archery skills were famed throughout the ancient world. As well as gold and silver jewellery, experts found more than 100 iron arrowheads in the grave, as well as a horse harness.

The noblewoman's grave and treasures are in a group of at least 29 burial mounds that came to light during the construction of an airport serving Rostov-on-Don. Next to her skull were gold earrings.

Gold vial

A 'hiding place' in the grave contained a collection of knives and an unfinished sword with brooches on its handle.

Items in the burial were dated from the first century BC to the first century AD. At her feet there were fragments of a bronze bucket with the image of the Gorgon's head.

A Sarmatian diadem, found at the Khokhlach kurgan, 1st century AD.

Roman silver coin hoard in Turkey

Augustus. Silver Denarius (4.02 g), 27 BC-AD 14. Rome, 16 BC. L. Mescinius Rufus, moneyer.

In 2021 a hoard of 651 ancient silver Roman coins was discovered inside a jug in the ancient city of Aizanoi. Hidden beneath three terracotta plates, the collection features 439 standard Roman silver denarii and 212 Greek cistophoric silver coins from Pergamon, dating to the reign of Emperor Augustus (27 BC to 14 AD). The hoard included coins of Julius Caesar, his assassin Brutus, and Mark Antony. Researchers guess the coins were brought to Aizanoi by a high-ranking Roman army officer. Most coins were minted in Southern Italy.

Aizanoi is famous for its well-preserved Aizanoi Temple of Zeus.

Maturing portraits of Nero

A silver cistophorus (three denarius) of 50-51 CE, portrays Nero at 13, before he became emperor. Nero, as Caesar, AR Denarius. 51-54 AD. On the reverse sacral implements of the different priests. Nero was around 18 in 54 AD.

Maturing portraits on Roman coins is rare. Few emperors began their reigns young and ruled long enough that aging can be observed in their coinage. Nero evolved dramatically from a slender youth to a heavy-set autocrat, charting his psychological shift and physical decline from age 12 to 30. Nero was the son of Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina the Younger, sister of Caligula. Due to his maternal family line, Nero was the great-great-grandson of  Augustus. This helped him to legitimate his position as emperor. Nero became emperor in 50 CE at age 16 due to the influence of his mother over Claudius.

Nero was 20 when this portrait appeared on silver denarii of 56-57 CE. Nero was 22 or 23 on a tetradrachm struck 59-60 CE. Nero was 25 in 62-63 CE.

Nero is infamous for brutally debasing currency and severely taxing to fund his palace, the Domus Aurea.

A menacing portrait appeared on a silver tetradrachm of 65-66 CE.

Nero is also famous for persecuting Christians and blaming them for the great fire of 64 AD. The great fire cleared the way for Nero's Domus Aurea on the Oppian Hill in the heart of ancient Rome.

This coin was struck within a year of his death in 68. He was about 30.

Hoard of five Roman Republican silver denarii

A rare hoard of five Roman Republican silver denarii was uncovered near Halle (Saale) in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. One coin dates to 148 BC, and the other four were minted between 82 and 79 BC. Heavy wear indicates the silver coins were in active circulation before being buried. Experts believe the coins were kept together in a small pouch that was eventually scattered by farming. Found well outside the borders of the Roman Empire, the silver likely arrived via trade. Three of the five coins are serrated denarii, known as serrati, with saw-like edges. Two of those carry scratched graffiti.

People living in what is now Saxony-Anhalt didn't use coins as everyday money. The silver denarii likely served as prized objects and a store of wealth. The coins could have reached the area through trade, diplomatic gifts, payments, exchanges between Germanic groups, or Roman military campaigns. Earlier archaeological work has linked Roman expeditions led by Drusus, Ahenobarbus, and the future Emperor Tiberius to central Germany. Roman marching camps have also been identified in the region.

Artemis Gallery ancient antiquities

Artemis Gallery unlocks the mysteries of ancient times with auctions of classical antiquities, and ancient and ethnographic art.

Polychrome gesso box, Egypt, 26th Dynasty, circa 662 to 525 BCE, with hieroglyphs on each of four panels, $40,000-$60,000

Greek Illyrian bronze helmet, circa late 6th to 5th century BCE. $20,000-$30,000

22 karat gold Burmese Buddha dates to the 12th century. $50k.

Pre-Columbian ceramic figure of the Veracruz (Mexico) culture is a life-size ocarina. $40k-$60k.

Wood mummiform sarcophagus depicting Falcon Bird Horus. Circa 664 to 332 BCE, very rare $25k-$35k.

1st century cavalry officer’s bronze parade mask. Estimate $80k-$100k.

Greek Cycladic marble female figure, circa 2500 BCE. Est. $80k-$100k.

Enormous Early Byzantine (400 to 600 CE) liturgical table finely carved from a single piece of creamy white marble. $100k-$300k

Chinese Han Dynasty terracotta horse, circa 206 BCE to 220 CE. Est: $75,000-$150,000

Urartu bronze helmet, 8th-7th century BCE. Est. $250k-$350k

Greek Paestan red-figure bell krater, Magna Graecia, southern Italy, circa 340 to 330 BCE $6,000-$8,000

Museum-quality pieces are from Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian and Native-American cultures. Celtic and Viking relics include gold jewelry. Viking 18K gold ring with central cabochon garnet and flanking emerald cabochons, circa 9th to 12th centuries CE, $25k.

Large Ancient Roman marble head of a man, circa 1st to 3rd century CE $20k-$30k