Yellowstone volcano: 133 earthquakes registered in one month

There are five tremors a day on average. Monitoring records from the US Geological Survey shows that all of the earthquakes have been relatively small, with the largest being a 3.5. Some geologists argue that when it comes to forecasting a volcano eruption, it's not the size of the seismic activity, but more the quantity.

A spate of small earthquakes around a volcano usually signifies that magma and gasses beneath the surface are beginning to navigate their exit.

Volcanism at Yellowstone is relatively recent, with calderas that were created during large eruptions that took place 2.1m, 1.3m, and 630,000 years ago. The calderas lie over a hotspot where light and hot magma (molten rock) from the mantle rises toward the surface. The hotspot appears to move, but it is much deeper than the terrain and remains stationary while the North American Plate moves over it.

The Sword of Charlemagne

Joyeuse, is the name traditionally attributed to Charlemagne's personal sword. The sword of Joyeuse, which resides in the Louvre Museum, is one of the most famous swords in history. Historical records link the sword to Charlemagne the Great, King of the Franks. The story begins in 802 AD. Legend says that the sword was forged by the famous blacksmith Galas, and took three years to complete. The sword was described as having magical powers. It was said to have been so bright that it could outshine the sun and blind its wielder's enemies in battle, and any person who wielded it could not be poisoned.

Charlemagne (742-814 AD) did much to define the shape and character of medieval Europe. After the fall of the Roman Empire, he was the first to reunite Western Europe. He ruled a vast kingdom that encompassed what is now France, Germany, Italy, Austria, and the Low Countries. The sword was moved to the Louvre in 1793 following the French Revolution. It was last used by a French king in 1824 with the crowning of Charles X. The pommel (top fitting) of the sword dates from the 10th and 11th centuries, the cross to the second half of the 12th century, and the grip to the 13th century. The grip once featured a fleur-de-lis, but was it removed for the coronation of Napoleon I in 1804.

Sekhmet 'The Powerful One'

In 2017 archaeologists discovered 66 fragments and statues of Sekhmet believed to have been warding off evil from Amenhotep III’s temple. Amenhotep III’s reign, between 1386 to 1349 BC, is regarded as the peak of Egypt’s prosperity and power.

A toppled black granite statue of Amenhotep III was also found at the site.

The statue of Amenhotep shows the king as a young man and is thought to have been commissioned during his reign. Pharoah Amenhotep III became a king at the age of 12, when he inherited an empire spanning from the Euphrates to Sudan. His temple is being preserved and rebuilt as part of a government approved renovation project.

Sekhmet, often called “the powerful one” is the daughter of Egyptian sun god Ra and was believed to ward off evil and ill health. Her influence was powerful on the Egyptians. Some statues depict her standing and holding the symbol of life – a sceptre made of papyrus.

Discovery attests to Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of the bloody Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in the sixth century B.C. The Babylonians, under King Nebuchadnezzar, besieged Jerusalem and then conquered the city, razing it and burning it to the ground. Experts digging in an excavation site at Jerusalem’s Mount Zion found layers of ash and arrowheads, as well as lamps, a gold and silver tassel or earring and pieces of ceramics from the Iron Age.

The arrowheads are known as 'Scythian arrowheads' and have been found at other battle sites from the 7th and 6th centuries BCE. They were fairly common. The Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem took place in 587 and 586 B.C. The nature of the artifacts and the layer of ash point to a bloody chapter in the city’s long history.

Hoard of Pompeii charms found

Archaeologists in Pompeii have discovered a treasure trove of good luck charms and fertility amulets which they think may have been used for casting spells by an ancient Roman sorcerer. Most of the items would have belonged to women. A room with the bodies of 10 victims, including women and children, was excavated in the same house.

The trove was found in what remained of a wooden box. The wood itself had decomposed and only the bronze hinges remained, preserved by the volcanic material which hardened over it. The objects included crystals, amber and amethyst stones, buttons made of bones, beetles from the orient, amulets, dolls, bells, miniature penises, fists and even a tiny skull.

They were found at the Casa del Giardino.

Agathocles of Syracuse

Agathocles was a Greek tyrant of Syracuse (317–289 BC) and king of Sicily (304–289 BC). The son of a potter, he entered the army along with his brother Antander. In 333 BC he married the widow of his patron Damas, a distinguished and wealthy citizen. He was twice banished for attempting to overthrow the oligarchical party in Syracuse. In 317 BC he returned with an army of mercenaries and they took the city. After banishing or murdered some 10,000 citizens, he made himself master of Syracuse. He then created a strong army and fleet and subdued the greater part of Sicily. War with Carthage followed.

His last years were plagued by ill-health and the turbulence of his ambitious grandson Archagathus, at whose instigation he is said to have been poisoned. He was a born leader and used cruelty to gain his ends, but he afterwards showed himself a mild and popular tyrant. Agathocles restored the Syracusan democracy on his death bed and did not want his heirs to succeed him as king.

Machiavelli reasons that Agathocles' success, in contrast to other criminal tyrants, was due to his ability to commit his crimes quickly and ruthlessly, and states that cruelties are best used when they are applied at one blow and are necessary to one's security, and that are not persisted in.

The Staffordshire Hoard

A hoard was found a decade ago in the village of Hammerwich in Staffordshire. It is the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork ever found.

3,500 pieces were excavated. One item is a silver gilt strip bearing a Biblical inscription in Latin – the only inscribed item in the haul. It reads: ‘Surge domine et disepentur inimici tui et fugent qui oderunt te a facie tua’ – 'rise up, o Lord, and may thy enemies be scattered and those who hate thee be driven from thy face’

The hoard consists of up to 5.094 kg (11.23 lb) of gold and 1.442 kg (3.18 lb) of silver. 66 gold sword hilt collars and many gold hilt plates were found, some with inlays. It's thought the hoard were items seized in battle ca 600 AD and buried for later recovery. The hoard was purchased jointly by the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery for £3.285m under the Treasure Act.

Phaethon

Phaethon was the son of the Oceanid Clymene and the solar deity Helios in Greek mythology. He asked his father for proof of his relationship with the sun. When the god promised to grant him whatever he wanted, he insisted on being allowed to drive the sun chariot for a day.

Placed in charge of the chariot, Phaethon was unable to control the horses.

In some versions, the Earth first froze when the horses climbed too high, but when the chariot then scorched the Earth by swinging too near, Zeus decided to prevent disaster by striking it down with a thunderbolt. Phaethon fell to earth and was killed.

Phaeton became symbolic of heroic aspiration.

Pax Romana Gallery and Auction

Pax Romana are London dealers and auctioneers of Ancient Art and Numismatics. Their gallery is opposite the British Museum. Ca.200 AD. Legionary Roman silver intaglio ring with laurel wreath with a Roman legionary eagle.

Greek Corinthian bronze helmet belonging to Spartan warrior. Circa 600 BC. Est £30k-£50k.

CA. 600-800 AD. Extremely rare, Early Medieval, Merovingian / Frankish gold pendant; decorated with raven heads.

Ca.4000 BC. Very rare alabaster Tell Brak Eye Idol.

Ca.100 AD. Roman Imperial marble head of a Young Emperor Geta

Ca.500-400 BC. Greek Terracotta - Demeter standing with Persephone sitting on her left shoulder and clasping her daughter's arm.

Roman Emperor Galba

Surviving under tyrants like Caligula or Nero was a difficult task if you belonged to the Roman upper class. They tended to consider prominent members of the Senate their rivals, and thus found need to dispose of them. Anyone who did not master the art of survival didn't last long. Galba mastered it, for a while. Galba was 73 when the governor of the province of Gallia Lugdunensis contacted him in the winter of 67/68. Gaius Iulius Vindex put himself at the forefront of those who no longer wanted to fund Nero’s massive extravagances.

Galba, 68-69. Denarius April to late 68. Galba Sestertius, Rome 68-69

When Nero learned about the rebellion of Vindex, he immediately assumed that Galba could become a threat. The murder attempt failed. It made clear to Galba that his tactics would not protect him from another assassination attempt by Nero. On April 2, 68, he stepped in front of the army on the forum of Cartagena. The army did what it was expected to do: it proclaimed Galba emperor. The Senate dismissed Nero on June 9, 68, and sentenced him to death. Galba was appointed his successor.

Galba, Aureus July 68-January 69

Instead of concentrating on his army, Galba focused on the seriously depleted state coffers. He tried to recover the 2.2 billion sestertii Nero had given away as gifts. The tide was turning for Galba on January 1, 69, when all the legions were requested to renew the oath on the emperor. The Roman army on the Rhine refused. The legionaries were upset that Galba had not rewarded them for their support during the rebellion. Galba vainly tried to take up the fight. A bad decision. Galba was killed and more conflict followed. The eventful year 69 AD went down in Roman history as the 'Year of the Four Emperors'.

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