Minoan Gold

Minoan, about 1850-1550 BC. 'Master (or Mistress) of the Animals'

The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age society that arose on the island of Crete and flourished from about the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC. 'Minoan' was coined after the mythic King Minos.

Minos is associated in myth with the labyrinth, which identifies with the site at Knossos.

The Minoan civilization developed from local Neolithic culture around 3100 BC, with complex urban settlements starting around 2000 BC. According to Greek mythology, King Minos of Crete had the craftsman Daedalus construct the Labyrinth in order to conceal the Minotaur.Salzburg Multiple lane labyrinth with Theseus and the Minotauros in the center.

The Minotaur was a half bull and half man creature that yearly ate the Athernian tribute of fourteen young men and women.

The Bronze Age began in Crete as the island developed centers of commerce. This enabled the upper classes to expand their influence. The ground would be laid for a monarchist power structure - a precondition for great empires. Around 1450 BCE, Minoan culture experienced a turning point due to a natural catastrophe, possibly the eruption of Thera. (Santorin) The palace in Knossos seems to have remained largely intact. The Minoan palace sites were occupied by the Myceneans around 1420 BC. By 1200 BC the Minoans had faded into history.

Signet ring dates to around 1500 BCE

UK gardeners land gold hoard

A family weeding their garden in New Forest in 2020 discovered a hoard of gold coins that may have been hidden during the dissolution of the monasteries there. The find of 63 gold coins and one silver coin, mostly date from the reigns of kings from Edward IV to Henry VIII. The coins were likely hidden around 1540 and sold for over $20k USD.

Four gold coins depicting Henry VIII have the initials of three of his wives on them. The initials stand for his first three wives Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour. Henry VIII put the initials of whoever his wife was at the time on his coins but stopped the practice after Jane. Henry divorced Catherine, beheaded Anne and lost Jane when she died after giving birth.

Siberia's Valley of the Kings

The Arzhan-2 Scythian burial is one the most amazing discoveries ever made. For the first time faces of the buried couple have been revealed. A vale north of Turan, Tuva has become famous for its pancake-shaped Scythian kurgany (burial mounds).

Excavations in 2001 unearthed magnificent artifacts dating from 600 BC. Arzhaan I is the largest kurgan in Tuva. A dig in the early 1970s turned up thousands of gold and silver artifacts.

The valley holds an amazing 700 burial sites and eight large kurgany. In addition to 44 pounds of gold, researchers discovered items made of iron, turquoise, amber and wood. The royal tomb Arzhan 2 was excavated in July, 2015 and is about 2,600 years old. The unknown monarch was entombed with 14 horses, a defining symbol of wealth by the Scythian.

Beside him lay his queen and 33 others lie entombed, including 5 children. They were all likely sacrificed to accompany him on his journey to the afterlife. The burial chamber contained some 9,300 decorative gold pieces ... more than 20 kg of gold. DNA analysis indicated those buried were from the Iranian ethno-linguistic group. Analysis of strontium isotopes in the bones reveal all were locals except for the queen. The king was about 50 years old and analysis of his remains revealed that he died of prostate cancer. It's thought that in his last years he wouldn't have been able to walk.

The Salvation of Rome: Gordian III

Rome in the third century was a time of turmoil and encroaching chaos. Gordian III assumed the throne in 238 CE at the age of 13, making him the youngest sole Roman emperor. In 235, following the murder of Severus, Maximinus Thrax was acclaimed emperor by his troops. Born of Thracian origin and given the nickname Thrax "the Thracian", a growing opposition against him followed. The Roman Senate and the population of Rome opposed his rule. In 238, a rebellion broke out in the Africa Province, where Gordian's grandfather and uncle, Gordian I and II, were proclaimed joint emperors. This revolt was suppressed by Cappellianus, a loyal supporter of Maximinus.

Later in 238, a senatorial revolt broke out, leading to the successive proclamations of Gordian I, Gordian II, Pupienus, Balbinus, and Gordian III.

Maximinus advanced on Rome, but was halted at Aquileia, where he was assassinated by elements of the Legio II Parthica.

Gordian III served for almost six years before dying under mysterious circumstances while fighting against the Sassanian Persians. He was succeeded by his praetorian prefect, Philip the Arab. The Latin word “aureus” means “golden”, and derives from the Roman word for gold: aurum. The aureus was first produced in the first century BCE and was still being struck in the fourth century CE. It was initially valued at 25 silver denarii.

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.

Accounts suggest that the Romans sunk 50 Carthaginian vessels and captured 70 more, although at the cost of 30 of their own ships and damage to 50 more. It is thought that 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 had been worn across Europe, also popularly 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 some of 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.