Spectacular 'Leda and the Swan' found in Pompeii

In 2019 archaeologists found a watercolor fresco depicting 'Leda and the Swan' in Pompeii. Amazingly preserved it has brilliant detail and color despite being buried for nearly 2,000 years. The Orto dei fuggiaschi (The garden of the Fugitives)

'Leda and the Swan' is a common theme. The swan is an embodiment of the Roman god Zeus, who is impregnating Leda.

The Pereshchepina Hoard

Belt Plaque Gold. Second half of the 7th century BC

The Pereshchepina Treasure is a major deposit of Bulgarian, Sassanian, Sogdian, Turkic and Avarian objects. The hoard was discovered in 1912 in the village of Mala Pereshchepina (20 km from Poltava, Ukraine) by a boy shepherd who literally stumbled over a golden vessel and fell into what is thought to be the grave of Kuvrat, the founder of Great Bulgaria and father of Asparuh, the founder of the First Bulgarian Empire.

Comb with Scythians in Battle. Gold; cast and chased. Late 5th - early 4th century BC

Plaque in the Form of the Head Gold; stamped. Scythian. 4th century BC

Sword Hilt. Gold and iron; chased. Scythian. 5th century BC

The 800 piece trove contains finely crafted gold artifacts that exceeds 21 kg and 50 kg of silver. (42 pounds, 110 pounds) Items ranged from 500 BC to 670 AD and are of Byzantine, Persian and Barbarian origin. Three gold rings are engraved with the monogram of Kubrat, and his 400gm gold patrician buckle and sword were found. Torque (Grivna) Gold; cast, forged, chased. Meotian Culture. Late 4th century BC

Necklace. Gold; stamped, soldered, filigreed, repousse. Meotian Culture. Late 4th century BC

Plaque with Scythian Warriors. Gold; repousse. Scythian. 4th century BC

Facing for a Horse's Frontlet Gold; stamped. Scythian. 4th century BC

Overlay for a Goryt (Case for a Bow and Arrows) Gold; stamped. Scythian. 4th century BC Hand-Washing Vessel: Pitcher and Ladle Poltava Region, Ukraine. Silver gilt

Overlay for a Wooden Vessel Gold; stamped. Scythian. First half of the 5th century BC Pair of Boat-Shaped Earrings Gold; forged, stamped, soldered, filigreed. Scythian. 4th century BC

Goblet Poltava Region, Ukraine 7th century

Relics from the time of the Battle of Salamis uncovered

The remains of a building was discovered by archaeologists working at a site off the coast of Salamis in 2019. They found ceramics, statues, columns and other features. They also found marble sculptures, including the head of a statue.

It was around this time, 480 B.C., that the Battle of Salamis took place. Following successful invasions by the Persians, the Greek fleet had withdrawn to Salamis and they were outnumbered. At this point Themistocles, a politician and general, convinced Greek allies to build a fleet and fight.

See ----->Ancient Naval Bases Discovered in Athens' Piraeus Harbor

The Aqueduct of Constantinople

The longest aqueduct of all time, the Aqueduct of Valens is 429 km long and supplied Constantinople with water. In AD 324, the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great made Constantinople the new capital of the Roman Empire. The aqueduct system worked for more than 700 years, until at least the 12th century.

Roman Mosaics

Nike,1st century.

Theatre Mask.

Pregnant mummy found

A pregnant mummy has been found. "Scribe, priest of Horus-Thoth worshiped as a visiting deity in the Mount of Djeme, royal governor of the town of Petmiten, Hor-Djehuty, justified by voice, son of Padiamonemipet and lady of a house Tanetmin," the translation read.

She died just over 2,000 years ago, in the first century BCE, between the ages of 20 and 30.

Abraxas

An abraxas is an invented word or symbol. An ancient charm word engraved on gemstones composed of seven Greek letters, which when converted to numerals, totaled 365 (the number of heavens by Gnostic sect). Abraxas is considered the Supreme Unknown in gnostic theogony and the source of 365 emanations in Persian mythology. His name is found on gems and amulets, and is associated with the word “abracadabra.”

Abrasax stones are ancient gemstones engraved with the word Abrasax, or the images of the god, or both the image and inscriptions.

Nymphaeum Museum in Rome

The Rome headquarters of the National Insurance and Assistance Body for Doctors and Dentists is in the Piazza Vittorio section of the city. 13 feet under the lobby of the country’s leading medical pension fund are the restored ruins of Casa Caligula. After a nine-year excavation, it will open to the public for the first time. Caligua declared himself a god and spoke of making his horse ´Incitatus´ a senator.

Caligula, officially Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus, is recorded as a sadistic lunatic and one of Rome's worst tyrants. Sources describe his cruelty, sadism, extravagance, and sexual perversion. He was born in the year 12 and spent his childhood in military camps along the Rhine with his father Germanicus, one of the great Roman generals of his time. His mother, Agrippina the Elder, the granddaughter of Augustus himself, used to dress Gaius up as a soldier, down to the caliga sandals on his feet.

In early 41, Caligula was assassinated as a result of a conspiracy by officers of the Praetorian Guard, senators, and courtiers.

1937 Edward VIII Gold Pattern 5 Sovereign $2.2m

This Great Britain 1937 Edward VIII Gold Pattern 5 Sovereign graded NGC PF 67 Ultra Cameo had an estimate of $1m. It made $2.2m. It is one of two known in private hands. Only a few pattern coins were produced for Edward VIII after his coronation in 1936. Less than a year into his reign, he gave up the throne, and his coinage was never issued.

DNA suggests Vikings may have been plagued by smallpox

Researchers collected DNA from viruses in the remains of northern Europeans living during the Viking Age, some of whom were likely Vikings themselves. They were infected with extinct but related versions of the variola virus that causes smallpox. It is still uncertain when the virus that causes smallpox first began to infect people. The disease is estimated to have killed as many as 500 million people.

Researchers isolated viral DNA from human teeth and bones, like this 1,200-year-old smallpox-infected Viking skeleton found in Öland, Sweden. The team reconstructed nearly complete genetic blueprints of four of the 11 ancient viruses. During that period, smallpox may have been widespread throughout Europe and could have caused serious disease.

Sanxingdui Ruins

Sanxingdui (Chinese: 三星堆;'Three Star Mound') is a major Bronze Age site in modern Guanghan, Sichuan, China. It was populated in the 12th–11th centuries BCE. Archaeologists found six new sacrificial pits and unearthed more than 500 items dating back 3,000 years at the Sanxingdui Ruins in Sichuan Province last year.

Items from four of the pits included pieces of gold masks, gold foil, bronze masks, bronze tree relics and several ivory pieces.

Gold mask found in China

Archaeologists have uncovered a 3,000-year-old gold mask in southwest China. Weighing about 280 grams of 84% gold, the ceremonial mask is one of over 500 items unearthed from six newly discovered "sacrificial pits."

The finds were made at Sanxingdui, a 4.6-square-mile area outside the provincial capital of Chengdu. Experts say the items may shine light on the Shu state, a kingdom that ruled in the western Sichuan basin until 316 BC.