Greetings all,

In the news, a previously unidentified ancient Greek city has been found:

https://greekreporter.com/2023/09/30/lost-ancient-city-found-serres-greece/

The city was in northern Greece and occupied until the 6th Century AD. Two Byzantine churches have been identified on the site. Archaeology will be ongoing and there is hope the name of the City will be discovered in inscriptions.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

In the news, the discovery of a Byzantine era inscription of Psalm 86  found in Israel:

https://phys.org/news/2023-09-unearthing-ancient-faith-byzantine-greek.html

The psalm is "A Prayer of David" and it was inscribed around the end of the 4th Century AD. While not a huge discovery in itself, this story does highlight the interesting (and previously ignored) site where it was found. 

This is also one of the very, very few Byzantine archaeology stories to happen in 2023. For some reason there has been almost zero archaeology from the Byzantine period happening (or at least being reported) lately. 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

On this day we we commemorate the crowning of Tiberius II Constantius as Emperor on September 26th in 578 AD:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_II_Constantine

He was the first Greek speaking Emperor, and was a successful military commander. He was tall and handsome, and for the most part popular with his subjects.

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

On this day we commemorate the convening of the Second Council of Nicea on September 24th in 787 AD:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Council_of_Nicaea

This Second Council formally restored the use and veneration of icons which had been suppressed under the reigns of Emperor Leo III and his son Constantine V. 

This council restored Sacred Art as we know it today... there should be cake!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

On this day we commemorate the life of the Roman general Flavius Aetius, who was killed through court intrigue on September 21st in 454 AD:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavius_Aetius

 

Known as "The last of the Romans", Flavius Aetius had stopped Attila the Hun at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains. Aetius was the most influential man in the Empire for two decades and his untimely death greatly weakened the Western Roman Empire.

Let us celebrate his impressive victories and accomplishments, and reflect on his example of Romanitas.

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings all,

 

On this day we commemorate the Emperor Constantine's victory over Licinius in the Baddle of Chrysopolis on September 18th in 324 AD with the celebration of the Ludi Triumphales: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chrysopolis

Licinius had been defeated at the Battle of the Hellespoint, and retreated to Chalcedon in Bithinia. Constantine's forces followed and attacked, routing Licinius' forces.  Licinius escaped and fled with 30,000 troops to Nicomedia, but this defeat established Contantine's sole rule over the Empire and the end of the Tetrarchy.

After this event, today was the date of the Ludi Triumphales, public games inaugurated by the Emperor Constantine to commemorate this event:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludi_Triumphales

Today would have been marked with games in the Hippodrome and public feasting - celebrations continued until September 22nd.

 

 

-Marcus Cassius Julianus

 Greetings all,

On this day we commemorate the birth of the future Western Roman Emperor Honorius on in Constantinople on September 9th in 384 AD:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorius_(emperor)

He was the younger brother of Arcadius who later became Emperor of the East. Even though neither were considered good rulers, there should still be cake!

-Marcus Cassius Julianus