Alex Gough Author

For #Halloween 💀, this Skeleton Mosaic from Antioch reminds us to enjoy life and stay cheerful. The skeleton figure reclines, holding a drinking cup in one hand, with two loaves of bread and a wine amphora by his side. The motto Ο ΕΥΦΡΟΣΥΝΟΣ (Euphrosynos), “The Cheerful One” (who brings joy), is inscribed on both sides of his head. Dated to the 3rd century AD. 📍 Hatay Archaeological Museum, Turkey.

A map of the Roman Empire showing the imperial provinces alongside a selection of Hadrianic coins from the adventus (imperial arrivals), restitutor (restoration and benefaction), province (personifications of the provinces) and exercitus (provincial armies) series. These coins formed part of Hadrian’s celebrated provincial coinage, reflecting his extensive travels across the empire, his benefactions to the provinces, and his close relationship with the provincial armies. © Simeon Netchev, for Following Hadrian.

Yesterday’s archaeological exploration took me to Doclea (Duklja), near Podgorica in Montenegro. 🇲🇪 #ArchaeologyTravel Doclea was an important Roman city in the province of Dalmatia, later becoming the capital of the province of Praevalitana. Its extensive ruins include the remains of a forum, temples, public baths and early Christian basilicas. For me, the highlight of the visit was an inscription dedicated to Divus Traianus (Divo Traiano), the deified emperor Trajan, who was officially consecrated after his death in AD 117.

#EpigraphyTuesday - Bilingual inscription honouring Hadrian, erected by the civic community of Tomis during the governorship of Gaius Ummidius Quadratus Sertorius Severus in AD 120. CIL III 7539 edh-www.adw.uni-heidelberg.d… 📍 National History and Archaeology Museum of Constanța, Romania. Hadrian’s visit to the lower Danube appears to have strengthened relations with the Greek cities of Moesia Inferior. In AD 120, the civic community of Tomis (res publica Tomitanorum) honoured the emperor with a monumental bilingual inscription in Latin and Greek, probably erected beneath a statue of Hadrian. Latin: Imp(eratori) Cae[s(ari) divi Traiani Pa]rthici / filio divi N[ervae nepoti Traian]o Hadria/no Aug(usto) pontif(ici) [max(imo) trib(unicia)] pot(estate) IIII co(n)s(uli) [I]II res p(ublica) Tomita(norum) / C(aio) Ummidio Quadrato S[allustio Serto]rio leg(ato) Aug(usti) pr(o) pr(aetore) // Greek: Αὐτοκράτορι Καίσαρ [ι θεοῦ Τραϊανοῦ] Παρθικοῦ υἱῷ θεοῦ / Νέρουα υἱωνῷ Τραϊανῷ [Ἁδριανῷ Σεβαστῷ] ἀρχιερεῖ μεγίστῳ δη / μαρχικῆς ἐξουσίας [τὸ δ ὑπάτῳ τὸ γ] βουλὴ δῆμος Τομειτῶν / Γ (άϊος) Οὐμμίδιος Κοδρᾶτος [Σαλλούστιος Σε] ρτώριος πρεσβευτὴς τοῦ / Σεβαστοῦ [καὶ ἀντιστράτ] ηγος καθιέρωσεν.