Dr Crom
LightNews LightNews
banner
doccrom.bsky.social
Dr Crom
@doccrom.bsky.social
5.4K followers 620 following 4.2K posts
Classicist, archaeologist, sci-fi and horror nerd and, most importantly, ginger. Oh, and... "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn". #EdgyPedlar #AncientStuff
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
doccrom.bsky.social
Dr Crom @doccrom.bsky.social · Oct 17
AncientBluesky 🏺- A favourite! The eponymous piece from the Tomb of the Blue Vase, Pompeii (HGE08). A stunning cameo glass amphora, with grape-harvesting Cupids: ca. 1st Century AD. #Pompeii #Archaeology

Image: National Archaeological Museum, Naples (13521). Link - mann-napoli.it/gli-oggetti-...
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - or rather BY this day, 11 February - in AD 55 Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, the son of Emperor Claudius, was dead - allegedly through Nero poisoning him. 🏺

Image: Silver drachm of Caesarea in Cappadocia; British Museum (1893,0804.3). Link - www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
Obverse of a silver coin: Draped bust of Messalina, right, hair in plait. Reverse of a silver coin: The three children of Claudius: Octavia and Britannicus hold hands, Antonia holds cornucopiae.
February 11, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by Dr Crom
doccrom.bsky.social
As it's #SuperbOwlSunday - let's enjoy this lovely Red-Figure Kalpis, attributed to the 'Group of the Floral Nolans' at Athens, ca. 480-470 BC.

Truly, a Superb Owl. 😉

Image: J. Paul Getty Collection (86. AE.229). Link - getty.edu/art/collecti...
Close-up of the decorative detail of a Red-Figure kalpis, showing a dapper wee owl staring out at the viewer with wide eyes.
February 8, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by Dr Crom
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 8 February - in AD 421, Constantius III was proclaimed co-Emperor in the West by Honorius, whom he had served as 'Magister Militum'. Constantius would die seven months later. #History 🏺

Image: RIC X Honorius 1339; Münzkabinett Wien (RÖ 38758). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
February 8, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Reposted by Dr Crom
krithemp.bsky.social
If you’re concerned about the planned reduction of Latin at Austrian schools, please consider signing this petition addressed to Bundesminister Wiederkehr: Latein & Altgriechisch sind keine „toten Sprachen“:
mein.aufstehn.at/petitions/la...
Jetzt unterzeichnen: Latein ist kein Luxus - es ist Bildung
Das Bildungsministerium plant Latein durch KI-Bildung zu ersetzen. Wer Latein aus den Schulen streicht, schwächt Bildung und kritisches Denken.
mein.aufstehn.at
February 3, 2026 at 11:17 AM
doccrom.bsky.social
As it's #SuperbOwlSunday - let's enjoy this lovely Red-Figure Kalpis, attributed to the 'Group of the Floral Nolans' at Athens, ca. 480-470 BC.

Truly, a Superb Owl. 😉

Image: J. Paul Getty Collection (86. AE.229). Link - getty.edu/art/collecti...
Close-up of the decorative detail of a Red-Figure kalpis, showing a dapper wee owl staring out at the viewer with wide eyes.
February 8, 2026 at 3:12 PM
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 8 February - in AD 421, Constantius III was proclaimed co-Emperor in the West by Honorius, whom he had served as 'Magister Militum'. Constantius would die seven months later. #History 🏺

Image: RIC X Honorius 1339; Münzkabinett Wien (RÖ 38758). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
February 8, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Reposted by Dr Crom
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 5 February - in 2 BC the Roman Senate decreed a public holiday to celebrate Augustus taking the title of 'Pater Patriae' - 'Father of the Fatherland'. The title was the culmination of his imperial identity. #History 🏺

Image: RIC Augustus 206. Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
Obverse of a Roman aureus: Head of Augustus, laureate, right. Legend: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE
February 5, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Reposted by Dr Crom
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 5 February - in AD 62, the town of Pompeii was severely damaged by an earthquake. The event is commemorated in a frieze decorating the altar in the lararium of the House of Caecilius Iucundus (V.1.26). #Pompeii #Archaeology 🏺
February 5, 2026 at 3:15 PM
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 5 February - in 2 BC the Roman Senate decreed a public holiday to celebrate Augustus taking the title of 'Pater Patriae' - 'Father of the Fatherland'. The title was the culmination of his imperial identity. #History 🏺

Image: RIC Augustus 206. Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
Obverse of a Roman aureus: Head of Augustus, laureate, right. Legend: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE
February 5, 2026 at 3:17 PM
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 5 February - in AD 62, the town of Pompeii was severely damaged by an earthquake. The event is commemorated in a frieze decorating the altar in the lararium of the House of Caecilius Iucundus (V.1.26). #Pompeii #Archaeology 🏺
February 5, 2026 at 3:15 PM
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 4 February - in AD 211 Septimius Severus died at York. His advice to his sons Geta and Caracalla: “Be harmonious, enrich the soldiers, scorn all other men” (Dio 77.15.3). #History 🏺

Image: RIC IV Sept.Sev. 255; Münzkabinett Berlin (18278266). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
February 4, 2026 at 5:50 PM
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 1 February - Oppius Niger, the officer in command at Bremetennacum (Ribchester), writes to his brother officer, Priscinus, at Vindolanda. #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: British Museum (1980,0303.28). Link - britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
A Roman wooden writing tablet, in thirteen fragments.
February 1, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Reposted by Dr Crom
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 30 January - in 58 BC Livia Drusilla was born. Wife of Augustus and mother of Tiberius, she was an astute politician and "more than a match for her husband's wiles" (Tacitus, Annals 5.1). #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: RIC Claudius 101; ANS 1978.27.5. Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
Obverse of a Roman dupondius: Head of Augustus, radiate, left. Reverse of a Roman dupondius: Livia, draped, wearing a wreath of corn-ears, seated left on an ornamented throne, holding corn-ears in right hand and long torch in left.
January 30, 2026 at 10:26 AM
Reposted by Dr Crom
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 30 January - in 9 BC the Senate declared a public holiday to celebrate the dedication of the Ara Pacis Augustae - 'The Altar of Augustan Peace'. The Altar had been decreed by the Senate on 4 July 13 BC in celebration of Augustus' return from Spain and Gaul. #AncientHistory 🏺
January 30, 2026 at 10:24 AM
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 30 January - in 58 BC Livia Drusilla was born. Wife of Augustus and mother of Tiberius, she was an astute politician and "more than a match for her husband's wiles" (Tacitus, Annals 5.1). #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: RIC Claudius 101; ANS 1978.27.5. Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
Obverse of a Roman dupondius: Head of Augustus, radiate, left. Reverse of a Roman dupondius: Livia, draped, wearing a wreath of corn-ears, seated left on an ornamented throne, holding corn-ears in right hand and long torch in left.
January 30, 2026 at 10:26 AM
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 30 January - in 9 BC the Senate declared a public holiday to celebrate the dedication of the Ara Pacis Augustae - 'The Altar of Augustan Peace'. The Altar had been decreed by the Senate on 4 July 13 BC in celebration of Augustus' return from Spain and Gaul. #AncientHistory 🏺
January 30, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Reposted by Dr Crom
doccrom.bsky.social
ClassicsBluesky 🧵🏺

#LatinForTheDay – 28 January #Horace

“tu ne quaesieris, scire nefas, quem mihi, quem tibi
finem di dederint, Leuconoe, nec Babylonios
temptaris numeros. ut melius, quidquid erit, pati,
seu pluris hiemes seu tribuit Iuppiter ultimam,...
January 28, 2026 at 9:37 AM
doccrom.bsky.social
#ReliefWednesday - A rather fabulous polychrome relief of a 'secutor' type gladiator, with wonderful colour survival: ca. 2nd Century AD. Its excavation context was only rediscovered in 2017. #Art #Gladiator 🏺

Image: Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki (MTH 28158). Link - amth.gr/en/exhibitio...
January 28, 2026 at 9:48 AM
doccrom.bsky.social
ClassicsBluesky 🧵🏺

#LatinForTheDay – 28 January #Horace

“tu ne quaesieris, scire nefas, quem mihi, quem tibi
finem di dederint, Leuconoe, nec Babylonios
temptaris numeros. ut melius, quidquid erit, pati,
seu pluris hiemes seu tribuit Iuppiter ultimam,...
January 28, 2026 at 9:37 AM
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 27 January - in AD 98 Marcus Ulpius Traianus (Trajan) succeeded Nerva as Roman Emperor. His reign was marked by extensive military campaigning; he also adopted the title 'Optimus' - 'The Best'! #History 🏺

Image: RIC II Trajan 372; BnF (IMP-3401). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
Obverse of a Roman aureus: Bust of Trajan, laureate, right. Reverse of a Roman aureus: Senator standing right, left, holding sceptre and sacrificing over altar, facing Genius, standing left, right, holding cornucopiae.
January 27, 2026 at 9:29 AM
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 27 January - in AD 6, Tiberius re-dedicated the rebuilt Temple of Castor and Pollux, linking it to him and his brother Drusus. The original - dedicated 15 July in 484 BC - had been damaged by fire. #Rome #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: 📸 Allan T. Kohl. Link - jstor.org/stable/commu...
The standing remains of a Roman temple: three Cornithian columns with a remnant of entablature. The overall impression is that of a set of cricket stumps and bails.
January 27, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Reposted by Dr Crom
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 25 January - in AD 41, after the Senate "were reduced to incompetence" (Josephus, JA 19.254), Claudius was confirmed as emperor of Rome, placed in the position by the Praetorians. #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: RIC Claudius 7; British Museum (R.6481). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
January 25, 2026 at 3:52 PM
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 25 January - in AD 41, after the Senate "were reduced to incompetence" (Josephus, JA 19.254), Claudius was confirmed as emperor of Rome, placed in the position by the Praetorians. #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: RIC Claudius 7; British Museum (R.6481). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
January 25, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Dr Crom
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 24 January - in AD 41 the third Roman Emperor Gaius, better known by his nickname Caligula, was assassinated by a conspiracy headed by the military tribune Cassius Chaerea. #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: RIC 1 Gaius 1; Münzkabinett Wien (RÖ 5199). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
Obverse of a Roman aureus: Head of Caligula, bare, right. Reverse of a Roman aureus: Head of Augustus, radiate, right; in field, left and right, a star.
January 24, 2026 at 8:40 AM
Reposted by Dr Crom
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 24 January - in AD 76 Publius Aelius Hadrianus was born. Nominated as his successor by Trajan on his deathbed, Hadrian would reign as Roman Emperor AD 117-138. #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: RIC 2.3 Hadrian 7; BnF (IMP-2). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
Obverse of a Roman aureus: Bust of Hadrian, laureate, cuirassed, right, viewed from front. Reverse of a Roman aureus: Trajan standing right, Hadrian standing left, both clasping hands.
January 24, 2026 at 8:39 AM