Dr Pat Witts
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wittspat.bsky.social
Dr Pat Witts
@wittspat.bsky.social
Specialist in Roman mosaics, with particular interests in iconography and antiquarian illustrations; also hedgehogs in any medium. Author. Membership Secretary asprom.org (posting personally).
Following last week's monochrome elephant, this is another common type of depiction in Roman mosaics. From the Great Pavement at Woodchester, moving around Orpheus. 1/2
#MosaicMonday
@classicalalan.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 2:36 PM
For this #HillfortsWednesday, it's a favourite one: Eildon Hill North near Melrose, seen here from the road to Newstead (Trimontium). It's on the left in this picture, with one of its companions - Eildon Mid Hill - on the right, and can be seen for miles. 1/2
November 12, 2025 at 11:36 AM
There's been a request for elephants in mosaic, and we always like to oblige! To start with, here is the splendid beast from the Horkstow Orpheus mosaic. 1/2
#MosaicMonday
#AncientBlueSky 🏺
@classicalalan.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 11:07 AM
By amazing coincidence, my offering for #HillfortsWednesday was already lined up when I saw the post below: the opposite view of the bench on which @pottedhistory.bsky.social is sitting! I believe there is a hillfort lurking in the distance on the right (Lordenshaws).
November 5, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Here are other photos of the two fragments in question.
November 3, 2025 at 3:32 PM
For this #MosaicMonday, continuing to look at the fascinating fragments from Dinnington. A bird's head above centre is easy to recognise, but what is in the fragment below left? Seems to be figured work with two tiny red triangles. Ideas very welcome! 1/2
#AncientBlueSky 🏺
November 3, 2025 at 11:34 AM
For #AdoorableThursday, doors don't come any more adorable than this! Spotted at the top of Castle Street (wonder where they got that name ...) in Warkworth. A quick look online suggests that this is one of many fairy doors in the town. 🧚🪄
October 30, 2025 at 12:13 PM
#HillfortsWednesday wasn't on my mind when taking these photos last month, but it transpires that Dunbar Castle started life as a hillfort. Takes some imagination, especially as the harbour entrance was blasted through the ruins in 1844! 1/2
October 29, 2025 at 12:57 PM
A certain site in Dorset has been in the news this week for its imminent TV appearance, so for #EpigraphyTuesday here is evidence that those Durotriges got everywhere! In the wonderful museum at Chesters on Hadrian's Wall, recording their building work. 1/3
October 28, 2025 at 11:16 AM
A splash of colour for the first Monday after the clocks went back (in the UK). Wells Cathedral (with blue sky) from the Bishop's Palace Garden and from the Market Place (with rainbow), taken on Friday.
#MedievalMonday
October 27, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Continuing a look at the Dinnington fragments for #MosaicMonday. This is part of Daphne, identified by her hand turning into leaves. On display in the excellent Museum of Somerset but my photo was taken in 2005 at the time of excavation.
October 27, 2025 at 11:11 AM
The sun is shining (though not sure for how long ...) and it's #PhallusThursday 😀, so here's an exceptional example in the wonderful Chesters Museum on Hadrian's Wall - a favourite collection for many of us. 1/2
October 23, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Mercury, one of the reliefs at Abbotsford, Sir Walter Scott's house near Melrose, said to come from Old Penrith. CSIR l.4 Scotland lists this under 'Aliena' since Old Penrith is not in Scotland, rather than 'Falsa', but is that face a bit suspect? And what a large purse! #ReliefWednesday
October 22, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Scenery softer down south, but this was yesterday.
October 21, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I'm not a regular contributor to #EpigraphyTuesday, but this caught my eye. According to RIB, it's a door jamb rather than an altar (decoration only on the right side). The dedication includes Mars Thincsus and the two Alaisiagae, who appear to be fierce Germanic goddesses. 1/3
October 21, 2025 at 11:21 AM
For #MedievalMonday, part of the extraordinary chantry chapel to Prior Leschman (1480-1491) in Hexham Abbey. Note the bagpiper lower left!
October 20, 2025 at 2:27 PM
A fragment from the intriguing villa at Dinnington. Usually regarded as cupid with a wing but there's something odd about that face! Why is the hair shown frontally but the face apparently not? Thoughts welcome. 1/2
#MosaicMonday
#AncientBlueSky 🏺
October 20, 2025 at 9:57 AM
For #SundaySheep, these are not just any sheep in a field, but they're studying the environs of Corbridge Roman Town. This one neglected her studies to pose obligingly. Church tower in Corbridge just visible in background.
October 19, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Mentioned by Roger Wilson in 'A Guide to the Roman Remains in Britain', without which it would be very easy to miss. 2/2
October 16, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Spot the phallus! A cheeky little reused example lurking in a drain near the tribunal in the principia at Vindolanda. Wonder how many visitors walk over this without noticing? Second part of post is a close-up view. 1/2
#PhallusThursday
October 16, 2025 at 12:14 PM
For #HillfortsWednesday, a serendipitous view of North Berwick Law: stopped for petrol on a recent trip and saw this on the way out of the garage! (Did a tour of the supermarket car park and stopped specially - of course. 😉)
October 15, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Mars, one of the reliefs at Abbotsford, Sir Walter Scott's house near Melrose, said to come from Old Penrith. CSIR l.4 Scotland lists this under 'Aliena' since Old Penrith is not in Scotland, rather than 'Falsa', but that spear looks odd! #ReliefWednesday
October 15, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Ah, thank you, that might explain it. This is my photo of the east gate looking out. Is Alan standing on the left, in its modified north tower, with the photographer standing in the gateway itself, looking north? That would seem to fit, in which case mystery solved!
October 13, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Prompted by the glimpse @moleymole.bsky.social recently gave us of his well-stocked bookshelves, I'm sharing this display seen recently in the excellent bookshop at Vindolanda. Made my day to see my first book looking so happy! 1/2
#MosaicMonday
October 13, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Following last week's #MosaicMonday post, this is another modern mosaic I enjoyed on a recent trip. It repays close looking and should raise a smile! By the late Maggy Howarth, with design input from local schoolchildren, decorating the small Millennium Garden at Ravenglass in Cumbria.
October 13, 2025 at 6:24 PM