Ancient Artifacts

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Nero's bathtub - Imperial Porphyry

Nero's bathtub, a porphyry basin, was commissioned by Nero between 54-68 AD for his Domus Aurea (Golden House).

It was carved from a single, rare slab of Imperial porphyry from Egypt. Imperial Porphyry is a prized, deep purple, volcanic igneous rock with white feldspar crystals, quarried exclusively by the Romans in ancient Egypt at Mons Porphyrites (now Jabal Dokhan).

Red porphyry Sarcophagus of Helena, Musei Vaticani, Vatican City, Vatican.

Discovered around 18 AD by the Roman legionary Caius Cominius Leugas, it became the most prestigious stone for the Roman and Byzantine elite. The name stems from the Greek word for purple. (porphyra) The stone was restricted solely to the Imperial family. Its rarity and exclusive ownership meant the stone was more valuable than gold.

At the center of the Pantheon in Rome is a large circle of Imperial porphyry on the floor where, for 300 years, new emperors stood to be crowned. Its immense value comes from the rarity of the purple porphyry and its historical connection to Roman imperial power. The quarry is now depleted, making the artifact irreplaceable. It is now located in the Pio Clementino Museum at the Vatican Museums in Rome.

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Claudius aureus brings £4,000

A rare Roman gold coin unearthed by a beekeeper in the UK in 2023 made £4,000 at auction. Rob Turrell was metal detecting on a field near Diss in Norfolk when he hit the find of a lifetime. The aureus weighs 7.70 grams of pure gold, and was struck by the emperor Claudius in AD 41-2 with the portrait and name of his father Nero Claudius Drusus, a highly respected general and consul.

The inscription records Claudius Drusus's celebrated campaigns subjugating the Germanic tribes in 12-9 BC. Claudius Drusus was renowned in the Roman army for defeating many Celtic chiefs in combat before his untimely death in 9 BC after a riding accident.

Needing to establish military legitimacy, Claudius launched the invasion of Britain in AD 43. He sent a force of 4 legions plus auxillaries, some 40,000 to 50,000 men. Claudius died on October 13, AD 54, at the age of 63. Historians widely agree he was assassinated. The consensus implicates his wife, Agrippina the Younger, who allegedly had him fed a dish of poisoned mushrooms. The aureus, a month’s pay for a Roman soldier, was likely lost shortly after Claudius invaded in AD 43.

Nepotian

In AD 350, Magnentius revolted, murdered Constans and claimed the Western Empire. Nepotian (Flavius Julius Popilius Nepotianus Constantinus, nephew of Constantine I) did the same in Rome. On June 3, 350 CE Nepotian attempted to take control over Rome and proclaimed himself emperor. He challenged the usurper Magnentius and seized Rome with a small band of gladiators. After ruling for 28 days, he was defeated by Magnentius' general Marcellinus and killed on June 30, 350. Coin shown is extremely rare. VF, even hard brown surfaces. $6,400.

Nepotian managed to strike both gold solidi and bronze centenionalis coins at the Rome mint during his brief reign. Many of his coins, and certainly his gold, are museum pieces.

Monday, June 1, 2026

Pompeii reveals garum

Garum is a fermented fish sauce that was used as a condiment in Phoenicia, ancient Greece, Carthage, Rome, and later Byzantium.

Garum was used extensively throughout the ancient world as a condiment and was a frequent trade item. What went into garum and how it was prepared was lost to time.

In 2014 a team from the University of Cadiz began excavating at Pompeii in search of garum. They found a garum store and, inside, were 2,000-year-old traces of the sauce itself. For the first time ever an actual sample of garum could be analyzed to find out exactly what it was made of. Microscopic analysis revealed pollen grains revealing which selection of herbs were used. The sample also told them exactly what species of fish was used.

The spices are characteristic of the Mediterranean – rosemary and coriander. Anchovies were used.

Like modern soy sauce, fermented garum is a rich source of umami flavoring, including monosodium glutamate. When mixed with wine, vinegar, black pepper, or oil, garum enhances the flavor of a wide variety of dishes, including boiled veal and steamed mussels. It was so common that even slaves used it to improve the taste of their bread.

Garum was produced in various grades and consumed by all social classes. After the liquid was ladled off the top of the mixture, the remains of the fish, called allec, were used by the poorest classes to flavor their staple porridge or farinata. The finished product was labour intensive. The best garum fetched very high prices. The highest-quality was made from prime fish like mackerel and red mullet, along with the blood and innards. The most expensive of these was dubbed haimation or garum sociorum. It was an extremely expensive, clear, amber liquid reserved for the Roman elite. The manufacture and export of garum was an element of global trade in the ancient world and a driver for Roman conquest of coastal areas.

Didius Julianus

Didius Julianus was executed on this day in 193, ending a 66-day reign that had begun when he purchased the throne at auction from the Praetorian Guard. Marcus Didius Julianus was Roman emperor from March to June 193, during the Year of the Five Emperors.

The Praetorian Guard arranged for army officer Pertinax to succeed the executed Commodus. He attempted reforms during his reign of 86 days. One was the restoration of discipline among the Praetorian Guards, and that led to his death. The Praetorian Guard expected a donativum, and agitated until he produced money, selling off Commodus' property. Pertinax was assassinated by the Guard on 28 March 193. The guard auctioned off the imperial title, which was won by wealthy senator Didius Julianus.

DIDIUS JULIANUS. 193 AD. AV Aureus, VF. $16k.

The mint of Rome was quick to produce new issues, as was the case with Didius Julianus. On the 28th March 193 he outbid Flavius Sulpicianus, the father-in-law of Pertinax, for the empire at the praetorian camp auction, by promising to pay each man 25,000 sestertii. The cohors praetorium was composed of 16 cohorts of 1000 men, meaning Didius had bid 40 million sestertii, 10 million denarii or 400,000 aurei. Threatened by the military, the Senate also declared him emperor. His wife and daughter both received the title Augusta.

Upon his accession, Julianus immediately reversed Pertinax's monetary reforms by devaluing the Roman currency. Pertinax had increased the silver content of the denarius to 87%, Didius Julianus ordered it reduced to 75%.

Julianus was killed in the palace by a soldier on 2 June 193 AD. According to the Roman historian Cassius Dio, Julianus' last words were: "But what evil have I done? Whom have I killed?"

Sunday, May 31, 2026

Siege of Jerusalem

On this date in 70 CE Roman forces led by future emperor Titus breached the second of three fortified walls surrounding Jerusalem.

The first coin attributed to Pompey is a rare gold aureus, probably issued at Rome on his triumph in 71 BCE. Five are known.

In 63 BC Roman general Pompey captured Jerusalem. The Romans intially ruled through a local client king but later Jerusalem became a directly ruled province, marked by oppressive governors. Discord culminated in 66 CE in the First Jewish Revolt. The revolt was successful at first: Jewish forces quickly expelled the Romans from Jerusalem, and a revolutionary government was formed. Nero sent general Vespasian to meet the Jewish forces, an endeavour that pushed the majority of the rebels into Jerusalem by the time Vespasian was proclaimed emperor in 69 CE.

In April 70 CE Roman general Titus besieged Jerusalem. Coinciding with Passover, the Romans allowed pilgrims to enter the city but refused to let them leave—thus depleting supplies in Jerusalem. Within the walls, the militant Zealots struggled with other Jewish factions, which weakened the resistance further. The Romans encircled the city with a wall to cut off supplies to the city completely. The Flavians seized power amidst the Year of the Four Emperors in 69 CE, and used the conquest of Jerusalem as imperial propaganda. Judaea Capta coinage was issued in all denominations.

The immense wealth plundered from the Temple helped finance monuments in Rome, including the Colosseum and the Arch of Titus.

By August 70 CE the Romans had breached the final defenses and massacred much of the remaining population. They also destroyed the Second Temple. The loss of the Temple is still mourned by Jews today during the fast of Tisha be-Av.

Relief on the Arch of Titus depicting temple spoils of 71 CE.

In 2017 excavations at Mount Zion in Jerusalem discovered a gold coin bearing the likeness of Roman Emperor Nero. The coin had been struck in either 56 and 57 AD. The aureus bears the portrait of a young Nero as Caesar. Researchers said that the coin was likely part of a Jewish store of wealth, hidden before their mansions were razed – along with the rest of the city – by Titus and the Roman legions. The coin was likely overlooked by looting Roman soldiers.

Mosaics of Pompeii

Pompeii has provided valuable insight to the Roman world and most agree it is the richest archaeological site in the world.

Cave Canem - Latin for "Beware of dog".

Fine mosaics were a common feature in the villas of the town and depicted scenes from mythology, the owner’s business interests or animal scenes. They are of the highest artistic merit.