Images of the head of Medusa, the mythical gorgon beheaded by Perseus, were used throughout the Classical world as a symbol of power and protection. In this article, Adam Parker explores her presence in Roman Britain, at the edge of the Roman Empire.

Here is some exciting news: as of 1 November, Editor-in-Chief Josho Brouwers will be working full-time on Ancient World Magazine. Here are some of the things you can expect moving forward.

The Empress Messalina has received more than her fair share of attention in popular culture, mostly likely due to her scandalous reputation in the ancient sources. What is often overlooked is that she was also a political force in Rome’s first imperial dynasty.

One of the most impressive structures of ancient Rome, the Pantheon was a temple dedicated to all the gods. The main room consisted of a large cylindrical drum topped by a dome, with a central hole or oculus allowing for light and air – and rain! – to pass through.

In this recent book (2020) in Routledge’s Themes in Archaeology series, Rachel J. Crellin examines archaeological approaches to change, why those used in the past have been insufficient, and outlines a new approach.

Many people believe that the ancient Greeks used, among other things, armour that was made of layers of linen cloth glued together. But there is no ancient text linking linen armour and glue. No other culture made armour this way. So where does this idea come from?

The ancient Greek symposium was a drinking party in which the participants engaged in a number of activities. In this article, Daniel Woon focuses on cultural aspects of the symposium.

In Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age, science journalist and science fiction author Annalee Newitz explores the life, death, and afterlife of four cities across the globe, and connects their histories to the challenges facing urban life in the twenty-first century.

Military disasters were fairly rare in the Roman world – at least, according to the historical record. But when they happened, they happened with a vengeance – and could permanently destroy the reputation of those involved, even if their actions were not actually to blame.

It’s that time of the year again: we’re going on a short break, so we can relax for a bit and prepare stuff for Ancient World Magazine. We’ll be back to our semi-regular schedule on the 1st of September!