 | A U.S. veteran discovered the grave of a sixth-century Saxon soldier buried with a sword, spear and knife. The Bronze Age burial was found at Salisbury Plain in England, not far from Stonehenge.  |
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Ancient Warrior Clutching Spear Found
Monday, July 30, 2018
Ancient ‘gate of hell’ in Turkey to open to visitors
 | An ancient Roman “gate to hell,” believed to be a passage to the underworld in southwestern Turkey, will open to visitors. The gate, which was named “Plutonium” after the god of the underworld, Pluto or Hades, was unearthed at the site of Hierapolis-Pamukkale. |  |
 | Hierapolis-Pamukkale was founded at the end of the second century B.C. Its thermal springs were believed to have great healing powers. Ceded to Rome in 133 B.C., Hierapolis flourished, reaching its peak of importance in the second and third centuries A.D. The gate was thought to belch the “breath of death,” killing all, except the divinely immune priests who led animals to sacrifice. Scientists have provided an explanation for the mystery. Fissures in the earth’s surface, beneath the site, emits carbon dioxide at concentrations so high it can be deadly. |
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Ancient Mosaic Discovered in Lod Excavation
 | An ancient mosaic that once belonged to a Roman villa in the city of Lod was discovered recently by archaeological excavations at the site. The mosaic-decorated reception and courtyard, as well as a water system were found last month as the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) dug in preparation for the construction of a visitors’ center in Lod. |  |
 | A 1,700-year-old mosaic discovered in Lod, Israel, was revealed to the public for the first time in November, 2015. Measuring 36 by 42 feet, the impressive artwork covered in depictions of nature was found during construction of a visitor center for the Lod Mosaic, another artwork found two decades ago in that same area. |  |
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Gold of Croesus
 | Croesus was the king of Lydia from 560 to 547 BC until his defeat by the Persians. In Greek and Persian cultures the name of Croesus became a synonym for great wealth. His wealth came from the sands of the River Pactolus in which the King Midas washed his hands to rid himself of the 'Midas Touch'. Croesus is credited with issuing the first true gold coins with a standardized purity for general circulation. Coins were made from gold purified by heating with salt to remove the silver. |  |
 | Around 550 BC, near the beginning of his reign, Croesus paid for the construction of the temple of Artemis at Ephesus, which became one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Croesus was a legendary figure, but was an actual king who ruled from the city of Sardis. |  |
 Marble column from the Temple of Artemis at Sardis |  |  |
 Tholos of Delphi | When Croesus was alerted that the Persians under Cyrus were gaining power he sent to the Oracle at Delphi to know whether he should go to war against the Persian Empire. The oracle replied: "If Croesus goes to war he will destroy a great empire." Pleased by this answer, Croesus made preparations and met the Persian army at the Halys River. The battle at the Halys was a draw. Cyrus pressed the attack, massacred Croesus’ cavalry in the field by mounting his own cavalry on dromedaries (whose scent frightened the Lydian horses) and captured Croesus.  Herd of dromedaries |  Croesus was dragged before Cyrus in chains |
 | Cyrus ordered Croesus to be burned alive. When Croesus saw the flames lapping toward him, he called out for aid from Apollo to rescue him and a sudden rain shower broke overhead and put out the fire. Croesus cried out, "O Solon! Solon! Solon!" Cyrus asked a translator what this word meant and Croesus told the story of Solon’s visit, how no man can be counted happy until after his death, and how he was misled by the Oracle at Delphi. Cyrus was moved by this story and Croesus was released. He sent him to Delphi for an answer from the gods as to why he was betrayed. The answer came back that the Oracle had spoken only truth - a great empire had, in fact, been destroyed by Croesus – and it was not the fault of the gods if man misinterpreted his words. |
  | Greek literature for generations held up Croesus as a symbol of enormous wealth but one whose gold could not assure him happiness or even success. Experts have determined it was in ancient Sardis in the time of Croesus that the first coins of pure gold and pure silver were struck, an important step leading to a monetary economy. |  |
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Heritage August Platinum Night® Auction
Heritage August Platinum Night® Auction is scheduled for August 17th. The sale features the crème-de la-crème of numismatics.
 Croesus and later. AV stater. NGC Gem MS 5/5 - 5/5. Sardes, ca. 553-539 BC. Tied for the finest graded example. |  |  Syracuse. Time of Dionysius I (ca. 405-370 BC). AR decadrachm. NGC Choice AU. |
 | Macedonian. Alexander III the Great (336-323 BC). AV distater. NGC Choice AU. |  |
Friday, July 27, 2018
German farmer awarded $904,000 for Roman horse head
 | Authorities must pay a farmer 773,000 euros ($904,000) for a bronze horse’s head dating to Roman times that was found on his land in 2009. The head, part of a statue of the Roman emperor Augustus, was found by archeologists in Lahnau in western Germany. The state initially paid 48,000 euros. |  |
 Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius in the Capitoline Museum, Rome 176-180 CE |  Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck 2 BC-AD 12.  13-14 AD. Laureate head of Augustus. |  Augustus ruled from 16 January 27 BC until his death 19 August AD 14. |
Thursday, July 26, 2018
The Year of the Four Emperors
 Galba | The Year of the Four Emperors, 69 AD, was a year of the Roman Empire in which four emperors ruled in succession: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. On June 9, 68 AD, Nero was tried in absentia and condemned to death. He met death at his own hand, thereby attaining the distinction of being the first Roman Emperor to commit suicide. |  Otho |
 Vitellius | Vespasian was legate of Legio II Augusta during the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 and subjugated Judaea during the Jewish rebellion of 66. Vespasian brought stability and after his death in 79, he was succeeded by his eldest son Titus, thus becoming the first Roman emperor to be directly succeeded by his own natural son. |  Vespasian |
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Heritage on-line features US coins July 24-25 Internet Coin Auction
Heritage features US coins July 24-25 2018 at it's Internet Coin Auction. Only coins certified by NGC, PCGS and ANACS are offered.
