Mapungubwe: South Africa’s lost city of gold

A thousand years ago, Mapungubwe in Limpopo province was the center of the largest kingdom in Africa, where a sophisticated people traded gold and ivory with China, India and Egypt. The Iron Age site was declared a World Heritage site by Unesco in July 2003. Mapungubwe is an area of open savannah at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers and abutting the northern border of South Africa and the borders of Zimbabwe and Botswana. It thrived from around 1220 to 1300.

Twenty-three graves have been excavated so far with the bodies in three of these graves buried in the upright seated position associated with royalty, with a variety of gold and copper items, and exotic glass beads. The finds provide evidence not only of the early smithing of gold in southern Africa, but of the extensive wealth and social differentiation of the people.

Mapungubwe’s fortune only lasted until about 1300, after which climate changes, resulting in the area becoming colder and drier, led to migrations further north.

Between 1200 and 1300 AD, the Mapungubwe region was the center of trade in southern Africa. Wealth came to the region from ivory and later from gold deposits that were found in Zimbabwe. The area was also agriculturally rich. The wealth in the area led to differences between rich and poor.

Golden rhino, Mapungubwe National Park

The Succubus

A succubus is a demon in female form, or supernatural entity in medieval folklore that appears in dreams and takes the form of a woman in order to seduce men, usually through sex. A succubus may take a form of a beautiful young girl but closer inspection may reveal deformities of her body, such as bird-like claws or serpentine tails. Folklore describes the act of sexually penetrating a succubus as akin to entering a cavern of ice. During the time when succubus lore was created, any sexual activities that were not purposefully procreative were considered a sin. The succubus may well have been used as an excuse for men to retain their faith.

In some stories a succubus collects semen from the men she seduces. The incubi or male demons then use the semen to impregnate human females.

Ichthyosaur fossil proves ancient sea monster roamed the world

A nearly complete fossil of the giant ‘lizard fish’ Ichthyosaur has been unearthed in India. It’s the first time the 150-million-year-old fishlike reptile has been found on the sub continent. It was found among the remains of its prey. It appears to belong to the Ophthalmosauridae family of Ichthyosaurs, closely related to Northern Hemisphere varieties. It likely lived between 152 and 157 million years ago. Ichthyosaur_decimated_V01 by mathewdc on Sketchfab

Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum

A new exhibition at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History offers a glimpse into the world of the ancient gladiators. “Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum” at Fernbank through Jan. 7, brings one of the most famous and violent traditions of ancient Rome to life with more than 100 artifacts, replicas and displays. Many of the exhibition’s artifacts are being displayed for the first time outside of Italy

The friezes from Persepolis

Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550–330 BC) and is a World Heritage Site. It is situated 60 km northeast of the city of Shiraz in Fars Province, Iran. The friezes from Persepolis represent the highest artistic achievement of the Achaemenid Empire.

After invading Achaemenid Persia in 330 BC, Alexander the Great sent his army to Persepolis by the Royal Road. He stormed the "Persian Gates", a pass through the modern-day Zagros Mountains. Alexander's troops looted Persepolis.

Historians wrong about ancient Roman vase for centuries

New research shows that one the British Museum’s most famous artifacts—the Portland Vase—was manufactured by a different technique than the one traditionally assumed by historians and archaeologists. For centuries, experts in antiquities have said that the Portland Vase, along with other Roman cameo glass artifacts, were manufactured by the ancient Romans using a blown glass technique. Arguments say a cold-processing technique now known as “pate de verre” was used. The Portland Vase was crafted sometime between 30 BC to 50 AD and is probably the best known piece of Roman cameo glass in the world today.

Wedgwood replica

The Pereshchepina Hoard

Belt Plaque Gold. Second half of the 7th century BC

The Pereshchepina Treasure is a major deposit of Bulgarian, Sassanian, Sogdian, Turkic and Avarian objects. The hoard was discovered in 1912 in the village of Mala Pereshchepina (20 km from Poltava, Ukraine) by a boy shepherd who literally stumbled over a golden vessel and fell into what is thought to be the grave of Kuvrat, the founder of Great Bulgaria and father of Asparuh, the founder of the First Bulgarian Empire.

Comb with Scythians in Battle. Gold; cast and chased. Late 5th - early 4th century BC

Plaque in the Form of the Head Gold; stamped. Scythian. 4th century BC

Sword Hilt. Gold and iron; chased. Scythian. 5th century BC

The 800 piece trove contains finely crafted gold artifacts that exceeds 21 kg and 50 kg of silver. (42 pounds, 110 pounds) Items ranged from 500 BC to 670 AD and are of Byzantine, Persian and Barbarian origin. Three gold rings are engraved with the monogram of Kubrat, and his 400gm gold patrician buckle and sword were found. Torque (Grivna) Gold; cast, forged, chased. Meotian Culture. Late 4th century BC

Necklace. Gold; stamped, soldered, filigreed, repousse. Meotian Culture. Late 4th century BC

Plaque with Scythian Warriors. Gold; repousse. Scythian. 4th century BC

Facing for a Horse's Frontlet Gold; stamped. Scythian. 4th century BC

Overlay for a Goryt (Case for a Bow and Arrows) Gold; stamped. Scythian. 4th century BC Hand-Washing Vessel: Pitcher and Ladle Poltava Region, Ukraine. Silver gilt

Overlay for a Wooden Vessel Gold; stamped. Scythian. First half of the 5th century BC Pair of Boat-Shaped Earrings Gold; forged, stamped, soldered, filigreed. Scythian. 4th century BC

Goblet Poltava Region, Ukraine 7th century

The Sword of Charlemagne

The sword of Joyeuse, which resides in the Louvre Museum, is one of the most famous swords in history. Historical records link the sword to Charlemagne the Great, King of the Franks. The story begins in 802 AD. Legend says that the sword was forged by the famous blacksmith Galas, and took three years to complete. The sword was described as having magical powers. It was said to have been so bright that it could outshine the sun and blind its wielder's enemies in battle, and any person who wielded it could not be poisoned. Charlemagne is said to have acquired the sword in Spain.

Charlemagne (742-814 AD) did much to define the shape and character of medieval Europe. After the fall of the Roman Empire, he was the first to reunite Western Europe. He ruled a vast kingdom that encompassed what is now France, Germany, Italy, Austria, and the Low Countries. The sword was moved to the Louvre in 1793 following the French Revolution. It was last used by a French king in 1824 with the crowning of Charles X. The pommel (top fitting) of the sword dates from the 10th and 11th centuries, the cross to the second half of the 12th century, and the grip to the 13th century. The grip once featured a fleur-de-lis, but was it removed for the coronation of Napoleon I in 1804.

Marble Mosaic from Caligula's ‘Orgy Ship’ now a coffee table in NYC

The square slab of marble flooring, decorated with a floral motif made of pieces of green and red porphyry, serpentine and molded glass, was discovered at an Italian collector's Park Avenue apartment in New York City. The precious artifact was stolen from Italy's Roman Ship Museum after World War II and was seized by the New York district attorney's office from the collection of Helen Fioratti. She purchased the piece more than 45-years-ago from an aristocratic Italian family that lived on Lake Nemi. Lake Nemi is a small volcanic lake located about 30 km (19 mi) south of Rome. The artifact dates to Caligula's reign, 37-41 AD and came from one of his three elaborate ships built at Lake Nemi. Described as “floating palaces” the ships were noted for their extreme opulence and luxury. The ships were over 70 meters long and were richly decorated with marble, gold and bronze.

After Caligula was killed, his ships were sunk and remained underwater for centuries. Benito Mussolini was the first to launch an organized exploration of the lake and two vessels were retrieved between 1928 and 1932. The third ship, which was the most luxurious of the three, was never retrieved. The short reign of the cruel and quite possibly insane Caligula was extremely expensive for the citizens of Rome.

Lake Nemi

See ----->http://psjfactoids.blogspot.ca/2015/12/caligula-coins.html
See ----->http://psjfactoids.blogspot.ca/2017/06/roman-gold-aureii-star-in-swiss-auction.html

Gold Thief busted at famous Mandalay Pagoda

The Mahamuni Buddha Temple is a temple and pilgrimage site in southwest of Mandalay, Myanmar. Recently a man who scraped gold from Mandalay’s ancient bronze Mahamuni Buddha image was arrested. Security cameras caught the man scraping out the gold from the back of the Mahamuni image.

With a short piece of steel pipe hidden up his sleeve, Tun Aung Kyaw mingled with other pilgrims who were applying gold leaves to the 6.5-ton image as offerings. Devotees have regularly applied gold leaves to the image over centuries. Except for the face, the image is covered with layers of gold believed to be about 15 centimeters (6 inches) thick. The trustees of the pagoda said this is the first time gold has ever been removed from the image. Kyaw is being charged with theft and defaming Buddhism, a serious offense in Myanmar.