Prometheus: The Creator of Man

In Greek mythology, Prometheus is a Titan, hero, and trickster figure who is credited with the creation of man from clay, and who defies the gods by stealing fire and giving it to humanity, an act that enabled civilization. Prometheus is known for his intelligence and as a champion. The punishment of Prometheus as a consequence of the theft is eternal torment. The immortal Prometheus was bound to a rock, where each day an eagle, the emblem of Zeus, was sent to feed on his liver, which would then grow back overnight to be eaten again the next day. Prometheus is freed at last by the hero Heracles (Hercules).

King Offa of Mercia

King Offa's coins featured the Islamic declaration 'No God but Allah.' This example is the only one known to exist.

King Offa of Mercia, who reigned between 757AD and 796AD, minted hundreds of Gold dinars featuring his name and the Islamic declaration of faith. The Anglo-Saxon moneyer who made this coin clearly did not understand Arabic. The Arabic inscription is upside down in relation to Offa’s name, and there is abundant evidence Offa was Christian, not Muslim.

This gold coin might have been one of 365 gold coins Offa reportedly sent to the pope in Rome. Offa may have chosen to mint the gold dinar because it was the dominant coinage in the Mediterranean in this period.

Ancient ‘Texas Serengeti’ had rhinos, alligators, 12 kinds of horses

From 1939 to 1941 a federal agency that provided work to millions of Americans during the Great Depression put unemployed Texans to work as fossil-hunters. They dug up tens of thousands of specimens from sites near Beeville, Texas. For the past 80 years the fossils have been stored at the University of Texas at Austin and virtually forgotten.

The fossil trove of nearly 4,000 specimens represent 50 animal species, all of which roamed the Texas Gulf Coast around 12 million years ago. Among the finds was a new genus of gomphothere, an extinct relative of elephants with a shovel-like lower jaw.

Other fossils include the American alligator and an extinct relative of modern dogs.

A paper describing the fossils and geologic setting was published April 11, 2019, in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica.

Metal Detectorists in U.K. land huge 14th century hoard

A 14th century hoard of 557 gold and silver coins has been discovered in Buckinghamshire. The haul includes a dozen gold coins from the time of the Black Death. It is one of the biggest hoards found in the UK in the last decade. The finders are four amateur detectorists taking part in a local metal detector rally. The finders were initially delighted to find a dozen silver Edward I and II coins. At the end of the day they had found 276 silver coins and nine gold nobles. The silver coins are believed to be from the reign of Edward I and II - 1272 to 1327.

The full gold nobles might be worth up to £10,000 each although condition may be an issue. The silver coins might be worth between £20 and £50.

Rare Byzantine gold coin found by schoolboys in Israel

A rare Byzantine gold coin has been found by a group of schoolboys in northern Israel. The coin was found along a stream in the Galilee region. The coin is a solidus minted by the emperor Theodosius II in Constantinople around 420–423 CE. Theodosius II was named to the throne as an infant in 402 and ruled until 450 when he died in a riding accident. A high quality (AU) Theodosius II solidus would expect to make at least $ 1500.

Ides of March - Pawn Stars

The Ides of March was a day in the Roman calendar that corresponds to 15 March. It was marked by several religious observances and was notable for the Romans as a deadline for settling debts. The Ides is the 13th for most months, but the 15th in March, May, July, and October. In 44 BC, it became notorious as the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar which made the Ides of March a turning point in Roman history.

See ----->"Ides of March" Coins

Ancient Egyptian Tomb found with spectacular art

A recently discovered 4,300 year old tomb belonging to a high-ranking official is covered in colorful reliefs and well-preserved inscriptions. The tomb dates to the Fifth Dynasty, around 2400 BC.

Saqqara, where archaeologists made the latest discovery, once served as the necropolis for the Ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis, located on the west bank of the Nile, around 15 miles south of Cairo.

British woman accused of stealing ancient tiles from Pompeii

Caprice Arnold, a 21-year-old from the UK, thought it would be great idea to loot tiles from Pompeii. She climbed over a barrier and used a sharp object to cut 20 tiles from a floor. A caretaker of the grounds spotted her. The guard stopped her and asked for her details to make a report, but she walked away, leaving the mosaic pieces on the ground. "The woman showed no remorse" said a statement. Back in the UK, she claims she only bent down to 'inspect loose tiles.' She cannot explain how 3 tiles ended up in her bag. "It ruined the trip from then on and I was not able to enjoy it" she said.

Authorities spotted Arnold scaling the security rail at the House of the Anchor, one of the most famous homes at the ancient historical site. The house is known for the mosaic tile anchor design at the front of the residence.

The damage is thought to be around $ 5,000. It is far from the first time Italian police has taken action on tourists vandalizing and looting the historic city.

See ----->The Curse of Pompeii

Roman emperor Trajan statue revealed in Turkey

Archaeologists in the ancient city of Laodicea in the western province of Denizli have unearthed a grandiose statue of Trajan. Researchers think the Trajan statue—which once stood by a fountain—was destroyed and buried in an earthquake. The team pieced together all 356 fragments to reconstruct the imposing monument. The statue is likely unique in terms of its size and intricacy. The three-meter-high sculpture is highly detailed. The emperor's clothes feature symbols from Roman mythology: Jupiter’s thunderbolt, the head of Medusa and two griffins representing Apollo. Towards the end of the Roman Republic, Laodicea benefited from its advantageous position on a trade route, and became one of the most important cities of Asia Minor. Early Laodicea became a seat of Christianity.

The area is prone to earthquakes, and a great tremor occurred in the reign of Nero (60 AD) that completely destroyed the city.

See ----->Trajan - optimus princeps

'Fast food' counter found in Pompeii

Archaeologists have discovered a well-preserved “fast food” counter at Pompeii. The frescoed counter was found in one of 150 thermopolia, Roman cook-shops, which were discovered in the Regio V area of the city. In ancient Rome, fast food parlors served the poor who could not afford to install kitchens at their homes. Menus typically included coarse bread with salty fish, baked cheese, lentils, and mulled spiced wine.