Mosaic at Ancient Thurii/ Sybaris, possibly the death place of Herodotus.
The ancient city of Sybaris (720BC-445BC) flourished as a port city before its destruction and abandonment for 58 years. Once Athenian citizens re-settled it, including Herodotus, "father of history", it rose once again. Later, it fell under Roman Influence and would be occupied by both Hannibal and Spartacus in their campaigns against Rome. The city was lost until the 1960s, buried under 4 meters of sediment by .
The ancient city of Sybaris (720BC-445BC) flourished as a port city before its destruction and abandonment for 58 years. Once Athenian citizens re-settled it, including Herodotus, "father of history", it rose once again. Later, it fell under Roman Influence and would be occupied by both Hannibal and Spartacus in their campaigns against Rome. The city was lost until the 1960s, buried under 4 meters of sediment by .
A 5thC BC corinthian helmet with the skull of a warrior inside supposedly found at the Battlefield of Marathon, Greece.
The 192 Athenians killed in the battle were cremated, so there's a chance it belonged to one of the 11 Plataean allies who also fell during the fight in 490BC.
It now forms part of the Royal Ontario Museum’s collections, but originally it was discovered by George Nugent-Grenville, who was the British High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands between 1832-35.
A keen antiquarian, Nugent-Grenville carried out a number of rudimentary archaeological excavations in Greece, one of which took place on the Plains of Marathon, where the helmet was uncovered.
The 192 Athenians killed in the battle were cremated, so there's a chance it belonged to one of the 11 Plataean allies who also fell during the fight in 490BC.
It now forms part of the Royal Ontario Museum’s collections, but originally it was discovered by George Nugent-Grenville, who was the British High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands between 1832-35.
A keen antiquarian, Nugent-Grenville carried out a number of rudimentary archaeological excavations in Greece, one of which took place on the Plains of Marathon, where the helmet was uncovered.
The Lough Gur Shield
This bronze shield excavated from Lough Gur gives many people a frisson of excitement as they imagine the warriors who used it in battle. The truth, of course, is less violent but just as fascinating.
Contemporary theory is that this was one of a number of votive offerings deposited in the lake and it was probably never used in battle at all. The fact that the shield dates back to over 700 BC is also an eye-opener in that it shows a thriving level of craftmanship in the country well over two thousand years ago. That’s several hundred years before the time period in which the Fionn mac Cumhaill stories are set.
The shield in the image is actually a replica which can be seen at Lough Gur. The original is kept in the National Museum of Ireland (for obvious reasons).
This bronze shield excavated from Lough Gur gives many people a frisson of excitement as they imagine the warriors who used it in battle. The truth, of course, is less violent but just as fascinating.
Contemporary theory is that this was one of a number of votive offerings deposited in the lake and it was probably never used in battle at all. The fact that the shield dates back to over 700 BC is also an eye-opener in that it shows a thriving level of craftmanship in the country well over two thousand years ago. That’s several hundred years before the time period in which the Fionn mac Cumhaill stories are set.
The shield in the image is actually a replica which can be seen at Lough Gur. The original is kept in the National Museum of Ireland (for obvious reasons).