James Coverley
@jamescoverley.bsky.social
Roman history with the potential to be quite interesting. Subscribe for emperors, scandals & unhinged history 👇
Substack - https://jamescoverley.substack.com
Tip Jar - https://ko-fi.com/jamescoverley
Substack - https://jamescoverley.substack.com
Tip Jar - https://ko-fi.com/jamescoverley
Pinned
James Coverley
@jamescoverley.bsky.social
· Jul 10
The Twelve Caesars
Amazon.com: The Twelve Caesars eBook : Suetonius, Gaius, Coverley, James: Kindle Store
www.amazon.com
It’s done!
My new translation of Suetonius’ The Twelve Caesars is now available on Kindle!
A scandalous classic, reborn for the 21st century, with a modern voice, intro, glossary, and fully linked endnotes.
If you've followed the journey, thank you.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH5YQB3H
My new translation of Suetonius’ The Twelve Caesars is now available on Kindle!
A scandalous classic, reborn for the 21st century, with a modern voice, intro, glossary, and fully linked endnotes.
If you've followed the journey, thank you.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH5YQB3H
#ancienthistory #africa #rome #romans
Come with me to #Libya and the city of Leptis Magna. Not literally, of course, I'm not made of money!
Not really a candidate for #RomanFortThursday, but who's counting?
Read Here - shorturl.at/wtN0d
Come with me to #Libya and the city of Leptis Magna. Not literally, of course, I'm not made of money!
Not really a candidate for #RomanFortThursday, but who's counting?
Read Here - shorturl.at/wtN0d
February 19, 2026 at 12:35 PM
#ancienthistory #africa #rome #romans
Come with me to #Libya and the city of Leptis Magna. Not literally, of course, I'm not made of money!
Not really a candidate for #RomanFortThursday, but who's counting?
Read Here - shorturl.at/wtN0d
Come with me to #Libya and the city of Leptis Magna. Not literally, of course, I'm not made of money!
Not really a candidate for #RomanFortThursday, but who's counting?
Read Here - shorturl.at/wtN0d
#reliefwednesday #ancienthistory #archaeology
Epitaph for a child, late first to early second century AD, the Via Appia, Rome.
“D(is)M(anibus) Callisteni v(ixit)a(nnos)I,m(enses)VI. Callistus f(iliae)dulciss(imae) pos(uit).”
Epitaph for a child, late first to early second century AD, the Via Appia, Rome.
“D(is)M(anibus) Callisteni v(ixit)a(nnos)I,m(enses)VI. Callistus f(iliae)dulciss(imae) pos(uit).”
February 18, 2026 at 9:43 PM
#reliefwednesday #ancienthistory #archaeology
Epitaph for a child, late first to early second century AD, the Via Appia, Rome.
“D(is)M(anibus) Callisteni v(ixit)a(nnos)I,m(enses)VI. Callistus f(iliae)dulciss(imae) pos(uit).”
Epitaph for a child, late first to early second century AD, the Via Appia, Rome.
“D(is)M(anibus) Callisteni v(ixit)a(nnos)I,m(enses)VI. Callistus f(iliae)dulciss(imae) pos(uit).”
In recognition of the #lunaryear, here are two rather sprightly-looking winning horses, Adorandus and Crinitus, from the stud farm of Sorothus at ancient Hadrumetum (modern-day Sousse in #Tunisia), late 2nd century AD
What fine fellows!
What fine fellows!
February 17, 2026 at 9:16 PM
In recognition of the #lunaryear, here are two rather sprightly-looking winning horses, Adorandus and Crinitus, from the stud farm of Sorothus at ancient Hadrumetum (modern-day Sousse in #Tunisia), late 2nd century AD
What fine fellows!
What fine fellows!
#ancientbluesky #religion #history #ancientrome #vespasian #jesus
In today's article, the emperor Vespasian performs some healing miracles, despite initially being rather sceptical that he could!
Read Here - shorturl.at/mqDC8
In today's article, the emperor Vespasian performs some healing miracles, despite initially being rather sceptical that he could!
Read Here - shorturl.at/mqDC8
February 17, 2026 at 1:14 PM
#ancientbluesky #religion #history #ancientrome #vespasian #jesus
In today's article, the emperor Vespasian performs some healing miracles, despite initially being rather sceptical that he could!
Read Here - shorturl.at/mqDC8
In today's article, the emperor Vespasian performs some healing miracles, despite initially being rather sceptical that he could!
Read Here - shorturl.at/mqDC8
#ancienthistory #rome #fuckICE #trump #politics #history
If you want to deal with tyranny, history has shown that the best way is to get out there and do it yourself.
Read for free - shorturl.at/5ntnp
If you want to deal with tyranny, history has shown that the best way is to get out there and do it yourself.
Read for free - shorturl.at/5ntnp
February 15, 2026 at 3:38 PM
#ancienthistory #rome #fuckICE #trump #politics #history
If you want to deal with tyranny, history has shown that the best way is to get out there and do it yourself.
Read for free - shorturl.at/5ntnp
If you want to deal with tyranny, history has shown that the best way is to get out there and do it yourself.
Read for free - shorturl.at/5ntnp
#history #archaeology #ValentinesDay
Some of the most touching expressions of love in the Roman world are those tinged with tragedy in funeral inscriptions. Romans were overcome with love and felt its loss as deeply as we do.
Here, Parius Vitalis mourns his departed love, Thalassia.
Some of the most touching expressions of love in the Roman world are those tinged with tragedy in funeral inscriptions. Romans were overcome with love and felt its loss as deeply as we do.
Here, Parius Vitalis mourns his departed love, Thalassia.
February 14, 2026 at 2:29 PM
#history #archaeology #ValentinesDay
Some of the most touching expressions of love in the Roman world are those tinged with tragedy in funeral inscriptions. Romans were overcome with love and felt its loss as deeply as we do.
Here, Parius Vitalis mourns his departed love, Thalassia.
Some of the most touching expressions of love in the Roman world are those tinged with tragedy in funeral inscriptions. Romans were overcome with love and felt its loss as deeply as we do.
Here, Parius Vitalis mourns his departed love, Thalassia.
#ancientbluesky #roman #history #archaeology
THE PEASANTS ARE REVOLTING!! Turns out that not everybody was pleased to see the Romans when they turned up, for some reason.
Read more here - shorturl.at/h3oqi
THE PEASANTS ARE REVOLTING!! Turns out that not everybody was pleased to see the Romans when they turned up, for some reason.
Read more here - shorturl.at/h3oqi
February 14, 2026 at 1:51 PM
#ancientbluesky #roman #history #archaeology
THE PEASANTS ARE REVOLTING!! Turns out that not everybody was pleased to see the Romans when they turned up, for some reason.
Read more here - shorturl.at/h3oqi
THE PEASANTS ARE REVOLTING!! Turns out that not everybody was pleased to see the Romans when they turned up, for some reason.
Read more here - shorturl.at/h3oqi
#MilanoCortina2026 #Olympics #MosaicMonday
Detail of athletes from the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, c 216 AD
Detail of athletes from the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, c 216 AD
February 13, 2026 at 6:23 PM
#MilanoCortina2026 #Olympics #MosaicMonday
Detail of athletes from the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, c 216 AD
Detail of athletes from the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, c 216 AD
#Ancientbluesky #history #navy #marines
The epitaph of a Roman marine
D(is) M(anibus). T(ito) Terentio Maximo , mil(iti) ex (triere) Iove, nat(ione) Bess(us) vix(it) ann(is) XL, mil(itavit) an(nis) XX. C(aius) Iul(ius) Philo (triere) Mercur(io), Q(uintus) Domitius ...
The epitaph of a Roman marine
D(is) M(anibus). T(ito) Terentio Maximo , mil(iti) ex (triere) Iove, nat(ione) Bess(us) vix(it) ann(is) XL, mil(itavit) an(nis) XX. C(aius) Iul(ius) Philo (triere) Mercur(io), Q(uintus) Domitius ...
February 13, 2026 at 6:07 PM
#Ancientbluesky #history #navy #marines
The epitaph of a Roman marine
D(is) M(anibus). T(ito) Terentio Maximo , mil(iti) ex (triere) Iove, nat(ione) Bess(us) vix(it) ann(is) XL, mil(itavit) an(nis) XX. C(aius) Iul(ius) Philo (triere) Mercur(io), Q(uintus) Domitius ...
The epitaph of a Roman marine
D(is) M(anibus). T(ito) Terentio Maximo , mil(iti) ex (triere) Iove, nat(ione) Bess(us) vix(it) ann(is) XL, mil(itavit) an(nis) XX. C(aius) Iul(ius) Philo (triere) Mercur(io), Q(uintus) Domitius ...
#ancientbluesky #history #romans
In this week's Acta Populi newsletter, there is grumpy misanthropy, whether a slave could get another job and juicy sausages.
Read it here - shorturl.at/azcSQ
In this week's Acta Populi newsletter, there is grumpy misanthropy, whether a slave could get another job and juicy sausages.
Read it here - shorturl.at/azcSQ
February 12, 2026 at 12:53 PM
#ancientbluesky #history #romans
In this week's Acta Populi newsletter, there is grumpy misanthropy, whether a slave could get another job and juicy sausages.
Read it here - shorturl.at/azcSQ
In this week's Acta Populi newsletter, there is grumpy misanthropy, whether a slave could get another job and juicy sausages.
Read it here - shorturl.at/azcSQ
#archaeology #romanhistory #history #ancientbluesky
A contract for the engagement of castanet dancers:
"To Isidora, castanet dancer, from Artemisia of the village of Philadelphia. I wish to engage you with two other castanet dancers to perform at the festival at my house for six days ...
A contract for the engagement of castanet dancers:
"To Isidora, castanet dancer, from Artemisia of the village of Philadelphia. I wish to engage you with two other castanet dancers to perform at the festival at my house for six days ...
February 11, 2026 at 2:55 PM
#archaeology #romanhistory #history #ancientbluesky
A contract for the engagement of castanet dancers:
"To Isidora, castanet dancer, from Artemisia of the village of Philadelphia. I wish to engage you with two other castanet dancers to perform at the festival at my house for six days ...
A contract for the engagement of castanet dancers:
"To Isidora, castanet dancer, from Artemisia of the village of Philadelphia. I wish to engage you with two other castanet dancers to perform at the festival at my house for six days ...
#Jesus #ancientbluesky #thebible #history
Was Jesus actually resurrected?
Ok, I admit, the title is a bit click-baity, but you stopped to look, right? But what does the #NT actually say about the resurrection, and why does the narrative change?
Find out here - shorturl.at/vObdp
Was Jesus actually resurrected?
Ok, I admit, the title is a bit click-baity, but you stopped to look, right? But what does the #NT actually say about the resurrection, and why does the narrative change?
Find out here - shorturl.at/vObdp
February 10, 2026 at 1:06 PM
#Jesus #ancientbluesky #thebible #history
Was Jesus actually resurrected?
Ok, I admit, the title is a bit click-baity, but you stopped to look, right? But what does the #NT actually say about the resurrection, and why does the narrative change?
Find out here - shorturl.at/vObdp
Was Jesus actually resurrected?
Ok, I admit, the title is a bit click-baity, but you stopped to look, right? But what does the #NT actually say about the resurrection, and why does the narrative change?
Find out here - shorturl.at/vObdp
#archaeology #romanhistory #history
Epitaph of Grania Clara, a freedwoman.
Grania ⸢e⸣ A(uli) l(ibertae) Clarae ,
lib(ertae)frugi;vixitann(is) XXIII.
Stomachum mihi nullụ [m]
uncquam fecit nisi quod mo[rtua est].
Epitaph of Grania Clara, a freedwoman.
Grania ⸢e⸣ A(uli) l(ibertae) Clarae ,
lib(ertae)frugi;vixitann(is) XXIII.
Stomachum mihi nullụ [m]
uncquam fecit nisi quod mo[rtua est].
February 9, 2026 at 12:54 AM
#archaeology #romanhistory #history
Epitaph of Grania Clara, a freedwoman.
Grania ⸢e⸣ A(uli) l(ibertae) Clarae ,
lib(ertae)frugi;vixitann(is) XXIII.
Stomachum mihi nullụ [m]
uncquam fecit nisi quod mo[rtua est].
Epitaph of Grania Clara, a freedwoman.
Grania ⸢e⸣ A(uli) l(ibertae) Clarae ,
lib(ertae)frugi;vixitann(is) XXIII.
Stomachum mihi nullụ [m]
uncquam fecit nisi quod mo[rtua est].
"A dark-haired young woman, asleep; with kitten" by Charles Beale (1660-1714), previously attributed to Mary Beale (1633–1699), his wife, whom Charles referred to as "my dearest heart".
February 8, 2026 at 3:01 PM
"A dark-haired young woman, asleep; with kitten" by Charles Beale (1660-1714), previously attributed to Mary Beale (1633–1699), his wife, whom Charles referred to as "my dearest heart".
#Ancienthistory #ancientbluesky #history
In honour of the #Olympics, this is the 'Diploma of the Boxer' c. AD 180-190. The one but last signature (sixth to third line counting from the end) gives us the handwriting of the athlete Marcus Aurelius Demostratos Damas.
In honour of the #Olympics, this is the 'Diploma of the Boxer' c. AD 180-190. The one but last signature (sixth to third line counting from the end) gives us the handwriting of the athlete Marcus Aurelius Demostratos Damas.
February 8, 2026 at 1:26 PM
#Ancienthistory #ancientbluesky #history
In honour of the #Olympics, this is the 'Diploma of the Boxer' c. AD 180-190. The one but last signature (sixth to third line counting from the end) gives us the handwriting of the athlete Marcus Aurelius Demostratos Damas.
In honour of the #Olympics, this is the 'Diploma of the Boxer' c. AD 180-190. The one but last signature (sixth to third line counting from the end) gives us the handwriting of the athlete Marcus Aurelius Demostratos Damas.
#history #ancientbluesky #rome #elagabalus
Whether or not the stuff written about Elagabalus was true, and a lot of it wasn't, they were a strange person and, ultimately, a very tragic one for whom I have a lot of sympathy.
Read more here - shorturl.at/0uxA1
Whether or not the stuff written about Elagabalus was true, and a lot of it wasn't, they were a strange person and, ultimately, a very tragic one for whom I have a lot of sympathy.
Read more here - shorturl.at/0uxA1
February 7, 2026 at 1:38 PM
#history #ancientbluesky #rome #elagabalus
Whether or not the stuff written about Elagabalus was true, and a lot of it wasn't, they were a strange person and, ultimately, a very tragic one for whom I have a lot of sympathy.
Read more here - shorturl.at/0uxA1
Whether or not the stuff written about Elagabalus was true, and a lot of it wasn't, they were a strange person and, ultimately, a very tragic one for whom I have a lot of sympathy.
Read more here - shorturl.at/0uxA1
#ancientbluesky #hadrianswall #England #Scotland #wales #history
At a certain point, the Roman Empire stopped expanding. But why? Find out here - shorturl.at/MAEJp
At a certain point, the Roman Empire stopped expanding. But why? Find out here - shorturl.at/MAEJp
February 5, 2026 at 1:22 PM
#ancientbluesky #hadrianswall #England #Scotland #wales #history
At a certain point, the Roman Empire stopped expanding. But why? Find out here - shorturl.at/MAEJp
At a certain point, the Roman Empire stopped expanding. But why? Find out here - shorturl.at/MAEJp
#jokes #ancientbluesky #history #archaeology
Did the Romans tell each other jokes? Yes! Were they funny? I'll let you be the judge of that:
open.substack.com/pub/jamescov...
Did the Romans tell each other jokes? Yes! Were they funny? I'll let you be the judge of that:
open.substack.com/pub/jamescov...
Top Five Funniest* Roman Jokes
*This is, of course, entirely subjective.
open.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:31 PM
#jokes #ancientbluesky #history #archaeology
Did the Romans tell each other jokes? Yes! Were they funny? I'll let you be the judge of that:
open.substack.com/pub/jamescov...
Did the Romans tell each other jokes? Yes! Were they funny? I'll let you be the judge of that:
open.substack.com/pub/jamescov...
Did the Romans Practice Human Sacrifice?
open.substack.com/pub/jamescov...
open.substack.com/pub/jamescov...
Did the Romans Practice Human Sacrifice?
A Roman citizen's 'caput' referred either to their head, literally, or, politically and socially speaking, their status in society.
open.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Did the Romans Practice Human Sacrifice?
open.substack.com/pub/jamescov...
open.substack.com/pub/jamescov...
#ancientbluesky #history #roads #romans
What have the Romans ever done for us, apart from … road signs! You see them every day, but never really notice them. Which is, after all, entirely the point of them.
Read more here - shorturl.at/Qwxk9
What have the Romans ever done for us, apart from … road signs! You see them every day, but never really notice them. Which is, after all, entirely the point of them.
Read more here - shorturl.at/Qwxk9
February 3, 2026 at 1:26 PM
#ancientbluesky #history #roads #romans
What have the Romans ever done for us, apart from … road signs! You see them every day, but never really notice them. Which is, after all, entirely the point of them.
Read more here - shorturl.at/Qwxk9
What have the Romans ever done for us, apart from … road signs! You see them every day, but never really notice them. Which is, after all, entirely the point of them.
Read more here - shorturl.at/Qwxk9
#history #politics #fuckICE In the modern world, there are some people who believe that the state should not be responsible for feeding the children of the poor.
2,000 years ago, this was not an issue:
"... if any parent should report that he has offspring, which on account of poverty ...
2,000 years ago, this was not an issue:
"... if any parent should report that he has offspring, which on account of poverty ...
February 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM
#history #fuckICE Martial (de Spectaculis, III) lists the people in a crowd in Rome as being Arabs, Germans, Thracians, Sarmatians and Ethiopians, all marked out by the dazzling array of their clothing, the bewildering range of speech and accents and even their incredibly exotic hairstyles.
February 2, 2026 at 2:56 AM
#ancientbluesky #politics #history #trump #ICE
In De Re Publica, III.22, Cicero argued that true law is not whatever a city happens to enact. Rome cannot make injustice just by voting for it. Athens cannot excuse wrongdoing by tradition. Tyrants cannot legalise crime by decree.
In De Re Publica, III.22, Cicero argued that true law is not whatever a city happens to enact. Rome cannot make injustice just by voting for it. Athens cannot excuse wrongdoing by tradition. Tyrants cannot legalise crime by decree.
February 1, 2026 at 9:18 PM
#ancientbluesky #politics #history #trump #ICE
In De Re Publica, III.22, Cicero argued that true law is not whatever a city happens to enact. Rome cannot make injustice just by voting for it. Athens cannot excuse wrongdoing by tradition. Tyrants cannot legalise crime by decree.
In De Re Publica, III.22, Cicero argued that true law is not whatever a city happens to enact. Rome cannot make injustice just by voting for it. Athens cannot excuse wrongdoing by tradition. Tyrants cannot legalise crime by decree.
#history #prostitutes
We all know who the lowest of the low are in society. Actors. Gadding about in a wig, pretending to be a talking donkey … no wonder they were so hated in Roman times. Comparing them to prostitutes seems unfair to prostitutes. Or does it? Let’s find out tinyurl.com/5cxnzrpe
We all know who the lowest of the low are in society. Actors. Gadding about in a wig, pretending to be a talking donkey … no wonder they were so hated in Roman times. Comparing them to prostitutes seems unfair to prostitutes. Or does it? Let’s find out tinyurl.com/5cxnzrpe
Prostitutes and Actors, Oh My!
One often hears Roman actors being compared to prostitutes, and in terms of ancient Rome, it was certainly true that actors occupied the same space in society as prostitutes, gladiators, and athletes,...
tinyurl.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:59 PM
#history #prostitutes
We all know who the lowest of the low are in society. Actors. Gadding about in a wig, pretending to be a talking donkey … no wonder they were so hated in Roman times. Comparing them to prostitutes seems unfair to prostitutes. Or does it? Let’s find out tinyurl.com/5cxnzrpe
We all know who the lowest of the low are in society. Actors. Gadding about in a wig, pretending to be a talking donkey … no wonder they were so hated in Roman times. Comparing them to prostitutes seems unfair to prostitutes. Or does it? Let’s find out tinyurl.com/5cxnzrpe