Brittunculus
@brittunculus.bsky.social
History/classics MA
"The climate is wretched” - Tacitus #RomanBritain
"The climate is wretched” - Tacitus #RomanBritain
With military usage continuing well into the 20th Century!
November 21, 2025 at 7:10 AM
With military usage continuing well into the 20th Century!
A fort / look-out station as impressive as Scarborough Castle, if the reconstruction drawing is accurate:
November 21, 2025 at 7:10 AM
A fort / look-out station as impressive as Scarborough Castle, if the reconstruction drawing is accurate:
Tile plaque with female face from the legionary bathhouse at Exeter. A line of these plaques would have decorated the eaves of a tiled roof; helping ward off bad luck and pigeons! Made by the 2nd Legion Augusta around AD60 and now in the @rammuseum.bsky.social.
#ReliefWednesday
#RomanFortThursday
#ReliefWednesday
#RomanFortThursday
November 19, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Tile plaque with female face from the legionary bathhouse at Exeter. A line of these plaques would have decorated the eaves of a tiled roof; helping ward off bad luck and pigeons! Made by the 2nd Legion Augusta around AD60 and now in the @rammuseum.bsky.social.
#ReliefWednesday
#RomanFortThursday
#ReliefWednesday
#RomanFortThursday
Does the special type of chair, with a long curving back, have a special significance? These muses in Trier have them too. #mosaicmonday
November 17, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Does the special type of chair, with a long curving back, have a special significance? These muses in Trier have them too. #mosaicmonday
#MosaicMonday
A new mosaic discovered just a few months ago, down the road from where my partner's sister lives.
It came to light as part of a housing development in Newnham, Glos.
But there's no intention to clear and record it fully, which is a crying shame! Details in Alt text.
#RomanBritain
A new mosaic discovered just a few months ago, down the road from where my partner's sister lives.
It came to light as part of a housing development in Newnham, Glos.
But there's no intention to clear and record it fully, which is a crying shame! Details in Alt text.
#RomanBritain
November 17, 2025 at 8:42 AM
#MosaicMonday
A new mosaic discovered just a few months ago, down the road from where my partner's sister lives.
It came to light as part of a housing development in Newnham, Glos.
But there's no intention to clear and record it fully, which is a crying shame! Details in Alt text.
#RomanBritain
A new mosaic discovered just a few months ago, down the road from where my partner's sister lives.
It came to light as part of a housing development in Newnham, Glos.
But there's no intention to clear and record it fully, which is a crying shame! Details in Alt text.
#RomanBritain
A Corinium dolphin mugging at the camera
November 15, 2025 at 10:54 AM
A Corinium dolphin mugging at the camera
Hundreds of 'irregular burials' have been identified from Roman Britain. Often the head was separated from the body after death and placed between the legs.
The rationale is unknown but one theory is it was to ensure the 'restless dead' stayed in the grave... #Halloween #RomanBritain
The rationale is unknown but one theory is it was to ensure the 'restless dead' stayed in the grave... #Halloween #RomanBritain
October 31, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Hundreds of 'irregular burials' have been identified from Roman Britain. Often the head was separated from the body after death and placed between the legs.
The rationale is unknown but one theory is it was to ensure the 'restless dead' stayed in the grave... #Halloween #RomanBritain
The rationale is unknown but one theory is it was to ensure the 'restless dead' stayed in the grave... #Halloween #RomanBritain
I was a bit disappointed that the Minerva heads they were selling in the gift shop had overly classicised her features, but she painted up well nonetheless.
(Now a stylish paperweight on my desk.)
(Now a stylish paperweight on my desk.)
October 31, 2025 at 6:41 PM
I was a bit disappointed that the Minerva heads they were selling in the gift shop had overly classicised her features, but she painted up well nonetheless.
(Now a stylish paperweight on my desk.)
(Now a stylish paperweight on my desk.)
A pipeclay figurine of a puppy, found behind the temple at Aquae Sulis (Bath, Somerset).
Dogs were associated with healing which makes his presence at #RomanBritain 's most famous health spa very appropriate.
Now in the Roman Baths Museum.
#PhallusThursday #Bath
#GoodBoy
Dogs were associated with healing which makes his presence at #RomanBritain 's most famous health spa very appropriate.
Now in the Roman Baths Museum.
#PhallusThursday #Bath
#GoodBoy
October 30, 2025 at 9:30 AM
A pipeclay figurine of a puppy, found behind the temple at Aquae Sulis (Bath, Somerset).
Dogs were associated with healing which makes his presence at #RomanBritain 's most famous health spa very appropriate.
Now in the Roman Baths Museum.
#PhallusThursday #Bath
#GoodBoy
Dogs were associated with healing which makes his presence at #RomanBritain 's most famous health spa very appropriate.
Now in the Roman Baths Museum.
#PhallusThursday #Bath
#GoodBoy
A beautifully intricate geometric mosaic from Silchester, Hampshire ( #Roman Calleva Atrebatum).
The materials used were mainly local: limestone (yellow), Purbeck chalk (white), Kimmeridge shale (black) & crushed tile (red).
Later C.2, now in @readingmuseum.bsky.social
#RomanBritain #MosaicMonday
The materials used were mainly local: limestone (yellow), Purbeck chalk (white), Kimmeridge shale (black) & crushed tile (red).
Later C.2, now in @readingmuseum.bsky.social
#RomanBritain #MosaicMonday
October 27, 2025 at 12:48 PM
A beautifully intricate geometric mosaic from Silchester, Hampshire ( #Roman Calleva Atrebatum).
The materials used were mainly local: limestone (yellow), Purbeck chalk (white), Kimmeridge shale (black) & crushed tile (red).
Later C.2, now in @readingmuseum.bsky.social
#RomanBritain #MosaicMonday
The materials used were mainly local: limestone (yellow), Purbeck chalk (white), Kimmeridge shale (black) & crushed tile (red).
Later C.2, now in @readingmuseum.bsky.social
#RomanBritain #MosaicMonday
Map of Roman London by antiquarian William Stukeley, c.1719.
Wrong about almost everything, but fascinating nonetheless.
Wiltshire Museum @wiltshiremuseum.bsky.social
#RomanSiteSaturday
#RomanBritain
#Londinium
Wrong about almost everything, but fascinating nonetheless.
Wiltshire Museum @wiltshiremuseum.bsky.social
#RomanSiteSaturday
#RomanBritain
#Londinium
October 24, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Map of Roman London by antiquarian William Stukeley, c.1719.
Wrong about almost everything, but fascinating nonetheless.
Wiltshire Museum @wiltshiremuseum.bsky.social
#RomanSiteSaturday
#RomanBritain
#Londinium
Wrong about almost everything, but fascinating nonetheless.
Wiltshire Museum @wiltshiremuseum.bsky.social
#RomanSiteSaturday
#RomanBritain
#Londinium
Some wonderful objects; including:
19 drawings of small "household gods", Roman period (234), found in Devizes in 1714.
19 drawings of small "household gods", Roman period (234), found in Devizes in 1714.
October 24, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Some wonderful objects; including:
19 drawings of small "household gods", Roman period (234), found in Devizes in 1714.
19 drawings of small "household gods", Roman period (234), found in Devizes in 1714.
The guy on the right here from Bignor may be executed in a similar style??
October 20, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The guy on the right here from Bignor may be executed in a similar style??
A personification of Autumn from Cirencester (Roman Corinium), Gloucestershire. Seasonal attributes include a pruning hook and hair composed of vine leaves & grapes.
Late C2 / C3
#MosaicMonday #RomanBritain
@coriniummuseum.bsky.social
Late C2 / C3
#MosaicMonday #RomanBritain
@coriniummuseum.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 8:05 AM
A personification of Autumn from Cirencester (Roman Corinium), Gloucestershire. Seasonal attributes include a pruning hook and hair composed of vine leaves & grapes.
Late C2 / C3
#MosaicMonday #RomanBritain
@coriniummuseum.bsky.social
Late C2 / C3
#MosaicMonday #RomanBritain
@coriniummuseum.bsky.social
For #MosaicMonday, a rather lovely peacock made using blue and green glass tesserae to simulate iridescent plumage. Found in Fenchurch Street, London in 1858 and now in the British Museum.
#RomanBritain #AncientBluesky
#RomanBritain #AncientBluesky
October 13, 2025 at 7:44 PM
For #MosaicMonday, a rather lovely peacock made using blue and green glass tesserae to simulate iridescent plumage. Found in Fenchurch Street, London in 1858 and now in the British Museum.
#RomanBritain #AncientBluesky
#RomanBritain #AncientBluesky
Someone you know is already there (and he recommends the museum cafe)
October 9, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Someone you know is already there (and he recommends the museum cafe)
Archaeologists were forced to work in tunnels just 2 ft high under the Cathedral floor 😮 to extract the 30,000 fragments, which were then pieced together as a huge jigsaw over 10 years of work. Imprints left by the reed backing provided an essential guide.
3/4
Image (c) R Schneider, Museum am Dom.
3/4
Image (c) R Schneider, Museum am Dom.
October 9, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Archaeologists were forced to work in tunnels just 2 ft high under the Cathedral floor 😮 to extract the 30,000 fragments, which were then pieced together as a huge jigsaw over 10 years of work. Imprints left by the reed backing provided an essential guide.
3/4
Image (c) R Schneider, Museum am Dom.
3/4
Image (c) R Schneider, Museum am Dom.
The ceiling originally decorated a large room in the imperial palace and each panel either depicts a richly-attired woman, an austere philosopher or pairs of squabbling chubby erotes (cupids).
2/4
Visualisation from www.strassen-der-roemer.eu
2/4
Visualisation from www.strassen-der-roemer.eu
October 9, 2025 at 9:58 AM
The ceiling originally decorated a large room in the imperial palace and each panel either depicts a richly-attired woman, an austere philosopher or pairs of squabbling chubby erotes (cupids).
2/4
Visualisation from www.strassen-der-roemer.eu
2/4
Visualisation from www.strassen-der-roemer.eu
#FrescoFriday
Reconstructed ceiling painting found under Trier Cathedral, Germany. One of 15 figured panels, it may depict a personification of Wealth or a lady of the imperial family. When seen in person, the skill & patience of the restorers is staggering!
Early C.4, now in the Museum am Dom.
1/4
Reconstructed ceiling painting found under Trier Cathedral, Germany. One of 15 figured panels, it may depict a personification of Wealth or a lady of the imperial family. When seen in person, the skill & patience of the restorers is staggering!
Early C.4, now in the Museum am Dom.
1/4
![The female figure is shown taking a string of pearls from a jewellery box, with her pinkie raised, as if showing it to the viewer. She wears a small golden crown, a laurel wreath, a chunky bejewelled necklace and a halo (nimbus) appears behind her head. The blue background was painted with expensive 'Egyptian blue' pigment, and the image is framed by bold red and green borders. It is made up of 100s of fragments of plaster.
(c) R. Scheider from the Museum am Dom website.
[Photography is forbidden in the museum.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xkwpcac33nehntion4dkmt2t/bafkreibezkdhvciu54lofexsppgyle7mo5eenildhvzeaul4govnfjxms4@jpeg)
October 9, 2025 at 9:58 AM
#FrescoFriday
Reconstructed ceiling painting found under Trier Cathedral, Germany. One of 15 figured panels, it may depict a personification of Wealth or a lady of the imperial family. When seen in person, the skill & patience of the restorers is staggering!
Early C.4, now in the Museum am Dom.
1/4
Reconstructed ceiling painting found under Trier Cathedral, Germany. One of 15 figured panels, it may depict a personification of Wealth or a lady of the imperial family. When seen in person, the skill & patience of the restorers is staggering!
Early C.4, now in the Museum am Dom.
1/4
#hillfortswednesday
Entering the hillfort at Lydney Park, Gloucestershire, through the north gateway. The 5 acre fort occupies a promontory on the edge of the Forest of Dean, high above the Severn estuary.
📸 May 2025
Entering the hillfort at Lydney Park, Gloucestershire, through the north gateway. The 5 acre fort occupies a promontory on the edge of the Forest of Dean, high above the Severn estuary.
📸 May 2025
September 30, 2025 at 9:53 PM
#hillfortswednesday
Entering the hillfort at Lydney Park, Gloucestershire, through the north gateway. The 5 acre fort occupies a promontory on the edge of the Forest of Dean, high above the Severn estuary.
📸 May 2025
Entering the hillfort at Lydney Park, Gloucestershire, through the north gateway. The 5 acre fort occupies a promontory on the edge of the Forest of Dean, high above the Severn estuary.
📸 May 2025
The guy at bottom left has a rather more provincial cousin at Wroxeter 😀
September 23, 2025 at 10:17 AM
The guy at bottom left has a rather more provincial cousin at Wroxeter 😀
On #TombTuesday a coloured reconstruction of Sextus Valerius Genialis' tombstone. He was a tribesman of the Frisii and joined the cavalry regiment of the Thracians. He died aged 40 in Britannia at Corinium ( #Roman Cirencester, Gloucs.)
#RomanBritain
@coriniummuseum.bsky.social
#RomanBritain
@coriniummuseum.bsky.social
September 22, 2025 at 9:37 PM
On #TombTuesday a coloured reconstruction of Sextus Valerius Genialis' tombstone. He was a tribesman of the Frisii and joined the cavalry regiment of the Thracians. He died aged 40 in Britannia at Corinium ( #Roman Cirencester, Gloucs.)
#RomanBritain
@coriniummuseum.bsky.social
#RomanBritain
@coriniummuseum.bsky.social