Siege of Flevum: unsuccessful Frisian attack on a Roman fort in 28 CE, probably identical to Velsen.In 28, the Frisians, a Germanic tribe living in what is now called Holland and was then known as Germania Inferior, revolted against the…
After the battle in the Teutoburg Forest, the Roman commander Tiberius led several retaliatory campaigns, but he understood that the country beyond the Rhine could not be occupied and stopped the war. Late in 14, the Roman prince Germanicus resumed…
The following text, known as CIL 06.3492, is a well-known inscription, found in Rome, and dating back to the reign of (probably) the emperor Marcus Aurelius (r.161-180).note[An earlier date, during the reign of Antoninus Pius, was accepted by Emil Ritterling.]…
Simon ben Kosiba, surnamed Simon bar Kochba ("son of the star") was a Jewish Messiah. Between 132 and 135, he was the leader of the last resistance against the Romans. After the end of the disastrous rebellion, the rabbis called…
This inscription, known as CIL1².614, was found in Alcala de los Gazules (ancient Lascuta) near modern Cádiz in southern Spain. It documents the first use of the title of "imperator".
Lucius AIMILIVS Lucii Filius INPEIRATOR DECREIVIT
VTEI QVEI HASTENSIVM SERVEI
IN TVRRI LASCVTANA…
Woerden Elagabal Inscription: dedication to the Syrian sun god Elagabal, remarkable because it is quite old and was found outside Syria.Elagabal was a Syrian sun god, who was worshipped with rituals that are strongly reminiscent of the Babylonian Akitu festival.…
Tolsum Writing-Tablet or Tabula Tolsummiana: oldest written text from the Netherlands.
Tolsum, writing tablet (front)
In 1914, laborers digging in the "terp"…
The Roman jurist Ulpian (c.170-228) was born in Tyre, and was proud about it. In his book On Taxes, he commented upon his city's juridical status: its citizens had full Roman citizen rights ("Italian law"). The section is known from…