Dr Simon Trafford
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simontrafford.bsky.social
Dr Simon Trafford
@simontrafford.bsky.social
Curriculum Leader of Classics at a state grammar school; IB examiner; author of a few Classics related bits. Swansea University, University of Oxford alumnus. Living in Kent; working in SE London.

https://swansea.academia.edu/SimonTrafford
Pinned
I'm really pleased to see my article on a bilingual pun in Catullus 40 out today in The Classical Quarterly. 😊
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
ERIS: A WORDPLAY IN CATULLUS 40 | The Classical Quarterly | Cambridge Core
ERIS: A WORDPLAY IN CATULLUS 40 - Volume 74 Issue 1
www.cambridge.org
A well-preserved Roman road is among the finds uncovered by archaeologists in a city centre.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Roman road discovered in Manchester city centre - BBC News
Archaeologists say the dig uncovered one of the best Roman finds in the city in more than 20 years.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 12, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Revised plans for an office block in the City of London have been approved, after a Roman basilica was found beneath the site.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

www.bbc.com/news/article...
Office plans amended after Roman basilica found in City of London - BBC News
The development will include an exhibition showcasing the 2,000-year-old basilica.
www.bbc.com
July 11, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Archaeologists in South Moravia in the Czech Republic uncovered a rare Roman military discovery—a fragment of a bronze wrist purse that is the oldest such discovery ever made in the Czech Republic.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

archaeologymag.com/2025/06/roma...
Rare 1,800-year-old Roman soldier’s wrist purse unearthed in Czech Republic reveals life on the empire’s frontier
Rare Roman wrist purse fragment found in Czech Republic reveals insights into soldiers' lives during the Marcomannic Wars.
archaeologymag.com
July 6, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Archaeologists announced that their nearly two decade-long excavations have produced concrete proof that the School of Homer at the site of Agios Athanasios was indeed a site where the Trojan War hero was worshipped.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

news-artnet-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/news.art...
Lost Cult Site Dedicated to Odysseus Discovered on Ithaca
For more than a century, archeologists have looked for proof that a complex in Ithaca was related to Odysseus, now they have found it.
news-artnet-com.cdn.ampproject.org
July 1, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Archaeologists uncover significant remnants of the ancient Roman city of Metlosedum, now modern-day Melun, in a recent excavation revealing the urban sophistication and strategic importance of the site in the Roman province of Gallia Lugdunensis.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

arkeonews.net/archaeologis...
Archaeologists Uncover Large Roman-Era Complex Beneath Modern Melun - Arkeonews
Archaeologists have uncovered significant remnants of the ancient Roman city of Metlosedum, now modern-day Melun
arkeonews.net
June 30, 2025 at 10:50 AM
I'm currently reading The Persian Boy by Mary Renault.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺 #BookSky 📚💙
June 28, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Excavations in the locality of Cupa, in southeastern Italy, have uncovered remains of the ancient walls and numerous materials from the brutal siege the Romans inflicted on the city, which was an ally of Hannibal during the Second Punic War.
#ClassicsBluesky🏺

www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2025/06/o...
Over 170 Meters of Wall and 450 Lead Projectiles from the Roman Siege Discovered in an Italian City Allied with Hannibal
Archaeological excavations in the locality of Cupa, in the municipality of Ugento in the southeastern tip of Italy, have uncovered remains of the ancient Messapian walls and numerous materials from th...
www.labrujulaverde.com
June 25, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
A marble votive altar decorated with a row of women for #EpigraphyTuesday. A #Greek inscription from Delos, dedicated to Hestia (Vesta). Dating to the Hellenistic period, 100BC-100.
📷British Museum (1890,0113.1)
#AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology
June 24, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
Starts 9th July!! New online course: Ancient Rome in 50 Monuments, by Dr Paul Roberts.

Each Wednesday from 9th July to 6th August 2025, 6.00pm - 7.30pm (UK time) + recordings will be available

Information and booking at:
www.hellenicandromanlibrary.org/Events/Event...

#ClassicsBluesky 🏺
June 24, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Archaeological excavations on Via Alessandrina, just a few meters from Trajan’s Forum, uncovered an imposing marble head depicting a male face with pronounced features, abundant hair, and an intense expression.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2025/06/l...
Large Marble Head from the Impressive Porticus Trisigmentata Discovered in Trajan’s Forum
Archaeological excavations on Via Alessandrina, just a few meters from Trajan’s Forum, uncovered an imposing marble head depicting a male face with pronounced features, abundant hair, and an intense e...
www.labrujulaverde.com
June 24, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I have been teaching Suburani for 3 years now and I didn't know until reading this introduction to Seneca's Letters to Lucilius in Book 3 that Seneca's Lucilius is the father of our Suburani Lucilius from Books 1&2! Mind blown. 🤯
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺
June 23, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
Got a few minutes to lament those extra seasons of Rome we never got?

You'll weep like Tiro as Pullo wields the blade on Cicero.

youtu.be/1cIVJD1cmbk?...
Rome (2004): HBO's Untold 5 Season Story
YouTube video by Little Wars TV
youtu.be
June 21, 2025 at 6:20 PM
16 Must-Read Books About Greek Mythology and Other Folklore: From feminist retellings of classic tales to modernized takes.

#ClassicsBluesky 🏺
www.marieclaire.com/culture/book...
16 Books That Put a Modern Day Twist on Ancient Mythology
All the gods and goddesses you know and love, but with a scandalous or feminist twist.
www.marieclaire.com
June 21, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Archaeologists have pieced together thousands of fragments of 2,000-year-old wall plaster to reveal remarkable frescoes that decorated a luxurious Roman villa.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Huge archaeological puzzle reveals Roman London frescoes - BBC News
Thousands of fragments of plaster are pieced together to reveal frescos from a Roman London villa.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 20, 2025 at 9:53 AM
The Pompeii Archaeological Park has recreated an ancient perfume garden—right down to its antique roses.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

news.artnet.com/art-world/po...
A 2,000-Year-Old Pompeii Garden Springs Back to Life
Pompeii Archaeological Park has unveiled the restored Garden of Hercules , freshly planted with violets, ruscus plants, and antique roses.
news.artnet.com
June 19, 2025 at 9:53 AM
#ClassicsBluesky, where am I now?
June 18, 2025 at 2:14 PM
OK #ClassicsBluesky, where am I today?
June 18, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
For the first time this year, Labour is making up some ground in the polling average - now back to where they were before the locals.

Reform lead by 4.7%, down from a 7.7% peak.

RFM: 28.7% (+14.0)
LAB: 24.0% (-10.7)
CON: 17.8% (-6.5)
LDM: 13.8% (+1.3)

electionmaps.uk/polling
June 17, 2025 at 9:50 AM
A hoard of 13 silver coins found in a field was probably lost in the wake of the Roman invasion of Britain in AD43, according to a historian.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

www.bbc.com/news/article...
Downham Market coin hoard 'probably lost by a Roman invader' - BBC News
The discovery is "a drum roll of Roman coins from the late republic through to the early empire".
www.bbc.com
June 16, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
New online course!! Ancient Rome in 50 Monuments, by Dr Paul Roberts.

Each Wednesday from 9th July to 6th August 2025, 6.00pm - 7.30pm (UK time) + recordings will be available

Information and booking at: www.hellenicandromanlibrary.org/Events/Event...

#ClassicsBluesky #AncientBluesky #Romans🏺
June 12, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
This Thursday's #imageoftheweek is this fascinating Pompeiian fresco depicting Narcissus gazing at his own reflection - which only appears as a disembodied head. #classicssky #classicsbluesky #ancientbluesky
June 12, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
#FrescoFriday
The Tomb of the Diver can be found in what was the ancient Greek city of Poseidonia (Paestum to the Romans).

Discovered in June 1968, the tomb contains five different frescoes. Thought to date to roughly 500-470BC.
#Archaeology #History #Art.
#AncientBlueSky🏺
June 13, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
#FrescoFriday

Detail of a Roman fresco showing scene of dressing a priestess or bride. Found in the palaestra of the Forum Baths at Herculaneum. Dated back to 1st century CE.

📷https://feminaeromanae.org

#classicsbluesky #ancientbluesky
June 13, 2025 at 2:58 PM