The first Metropolis in Sub-Saharan Africa and Capital of the first Kingdom of Kush, sometimes called Kingdom of Kerma or Kingdom of Old Kush in literature, Founded around 3000 BC, the City reached a population of 10,000 in the 19th-18th century BC , and it became the heart of a flourishing and sophisticated state that was on par technologically with the greatest Bronze Age civilizations and acted as a middleman in Trade networks between the interior of Sub-Saharan Africa and Eurasia. The Kingdom would cause Egypt great trouble during their 2nd Intermediate Period, Raiding as far as Thebes and further north into Asyut and beyond, possibly allying with the Hyksos and reaching an extent equal to middle kingdom Egypt.

It also raided and fought with the early New Kingdom. Super underrated.

A Roman relief in red marble depicting Odysseus tied to his boat with beeswax in the ears of his fellow crew members in order to pass the sirens as described in The Odyssey by Homer. This was dated on stylistic grounds to the 1st century AD with what appears to be a contemporary Roman ship depicted with shields and spears in a row, as well as a double rudder and oars in the water, although bronze age Greek ships would have looked different. This is in on display in the Ducal Palace in Urbino, Le Marche, Italy which is a UNESCO world heritage site.

The statue has disappeared forever.

Source: Jaussen & Savignac (1914, pl. XXXVI:1)

One of the most significant titles in ancient history, particularly during the post-Hellenistic period, was “benefactor” (ευεργέτες) and “founder” (Κτιστης). Local elites, particularly those who rose to prominence in Anatolia, grew considerably more powerful as a result of wars and migrations. These titles, which were primarily used for rulers during the early Hellenistic period, began to be applied to local elites.

Bryonianis Lollianus was also one of these local aristocrats. He has been honored time and again for the aqueduct he had built in Pamphylia and for bringing water to the city. In particular, the military and civil roles he held within the Roman system are frequently cited as integral to his legacy. In addition to being one of many wealthy local philanthropists, it is his wife who has caught my attention the most: Kyreinia Patra.

Κυρεινίαν Πάτραν, τὴν κρα-

τίστην, ∙ γυναῖκα Βρυωνιανοῦ

Λολλιανοῦ, τοῦ κρατ(ίστου) ∙ δουκηνα-

ρίου, ἀπὸ ἐπιτρόπων, πριμιπι-

λαρίου, ∙ κτίστου καὶ φιλοπά-

τριδος καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν εὐεργέτου

τῆς πατρίδος, θυγατέρα καὶ ἐγγό-

νην ὑπατικῶν, ∙ γερουσία τοῦ Με-

γάλου Συνεργίου τὴν φιλόπατριν.

εὐτύχει ❦ Πηγάσι.

“The gerousia of the Great Synergeion [honours] Kyr(e)inia Patra, the most distinguished woman, wife of Bryonianus Lollianus, the most distinguished ducenarius, formerly an epitropos and primipilaris, founder, devoted to her native city, and a benefactor of her native city in every respect; daughter and granddaughter of men of consular rank.

Farewell, Pegasoi!”

What caught my attention in this text is that Patra descended from a line of individuals who held consular rank. Based on his name, we can say that he was from Anatolia, but his father and grandfather also held consular ranks. During the 3rd century CE, it appears that individuals in Anatolia who had served in Roman offices increased their local influence through marriages within their own circles.

Much research has been conducted on what the European Middle Ages entailed, but the Middle Ages in Anatolia present significant challenges. Neither the latifundia nor the local lords have come to the fore. In a sense, the feudal system had not yet become firmly established. However, as seen in these inscriptions, local micro-dynasties had emerged. This may well be an important milestone marking the transition to the Middle Ages.

https://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/350881?hs=91-99

Hi all,

I've been experimenting with 3d models inspired by the designs on coins, and this time I went with one of my favorites, Julius Caesar’s Aeneas denarius. I added a coin holder to display my Aenas coin.

The reverse shows Aeneas escaping Troy while carrying his father Anchises on his shoulder. That little statue in his hand is the Palladium, a sacred statue of Athena. I tried to keep the pose close to the original, with some broken stonework underneath to complete the scene.

There’s also a nice bit of ancient family bragging behind the design 😂 Caesar’s family claimed descent from Aeneas through his son Iulus. Since Aeneas was the son of Venus, putting her on the front and him on the back was basically Caesar saying his family descended from a goddess.

These coins were struck around 47–46 BC to pay his troops during the African campaign. Always find it interesting how much history can fit on such a small piece of silver.

Pretty happy with how this one turned out, especially the tiny Athena! Let me know what you think :)

Is there a coin design or ancient representation you’d like to see turned into a 3D display? Drop a photo or the name of the coin below, I’m looking for ideas for the next one :)

We bought this exact replica of a Chinese TeraCotta Warrior on our trip to China about 20 years ago. This summer 2026 my nephew painted him to look like they did 3000 years ago. I made the weapon in my workshop. We really like it. A few pictures of the stages.

I recently painted this 54mm white metal miniature of a Persian noble horse archer.

Mounted archers played an important role in Persian warfare for centuries. They combined mobility with ranged attacks, allowing cavalry to harass enemy formations while avoiding close combat. This style of warfare became especially famous under the Parthians, who perfected the tactic of shooting arrows while retreating known as the "Parthian shot."

Hope you like it!

The Sabaean Great Wall of Awwam, also known as the Awwam Temple, is one of the oldest and most significant ancient religious sites in the MENA region, with its origins tracing back to the late second millennium BC, buried beneath the sands of the Arabian Peninsula.

2,000 years ago, a bronze masterpiece immortalized a young girl playfully chasing a partridge.

The is one of two very similar sculptures depicting little girls chasing partridges. The works date to between the 1st century BC and the 2nd century AD. Cast using the lost wax technique, both pieces stand out for their remarkable technical quality: the careful detailing of the hair and tunic which are full of movement, the eyes which still show traces of eye lashes made from thin metal sheets, and the bird's beautiful feathers.

It is highly unusual for ancient bronze sculptures to survive completely intact like this because bronze was a coveted metal. These pieces were looted from an archaeological site in southern Spain in 2007-08, illegally taken out of the country, and auctioned abroad in 2012. They were recovered by Spain's National Cultural Heritage Squad and returned to Spain on December 20, 2025. (My photo)

Someone said this is a Byzantine coin I goggle lens it and it said it's a mamluk coin, I bought this coin in a random place in Syria

(ALSO idk if this is the right subreddit)

A Roman mosaic depicting many types of animals that were enchanted by Orpheus (in the upper right section) per Greek mythology. This dates to the 2nd century AD, was part of a bath house, and is behind protective glass in Perugia, Italy.