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objects of intrigue

Can an Old Coin Solve the Mystery of a Lost Roman Emperor?

Examining whether a ruler slipped through the cracks of a tumultuous century.
Line Sidonie Talla Mafotsing January 17, 2023
Mamucium Roman Fort
Manchester, England

Mamucium Fort

Once used to protect important Roman trade routes.
Benidorm Roman Castellum
Benidorm, Spain

Roman Castellum in Benidorm

This ancient fort has been a great insight into the Roman presence in the region.
Braga, Portugal

Polychrome Augustus of Prima Porta

A replica of the Roman emperor in glorious full color.
Though in ruins, the church is still remarkable.
Killeshin, Ireland

Killeshin Church

An elaborate Romanesque archway, built right before the British occupation of Ireland.
Roman ruins in Michaelerplatz
Vienna, Austria

Ausgrabungen Michaelerplatz

In the middle of a Vienna square, Roman ruins dating back some 2,000 years are on display.
Nazi World War II Enigma machines can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction—even those uncovered from the seafloor.
nazis

6 Unexpected Treasures Found in Curious Places

From a Nazi code machine found at the bottom of a bay to a vintage Babe Ruth card hidden in a piano.
Sarah Durn May 20, 2022
One of the olive trees at Hadrian’s Villa dates back to the 13th century.
trees

A Roman Emperor's Villa Is Now Producing Olive Oil

Hadrian's estate has trees found nowhere else on Earth.
Vittoria Traverso May 5, 2022
Alchemists were a puzzling bunch. Take, for instance, this 1618 engraving by Matthaeus Merian the Elder, which is full of alchemical secrets encoded in complex symbols.
secret

7 Puzzles That Perplexed People for Centuries

From the secrets of Venice’s codebreakers to China’s intricately carved puzzle balls, these historical ciphers will inspire your curiosity.
Sarah Durn May 3, 2022
Though the <em>arêtes de poisson</em>, or “fishbones,” tunnels were discovered in 1959, research on their origin has been halting and inconclusive.
exploration

Was There Treasure Buried Under Lyon?

Since their discovery more than 60 years ago, the "Fishbones" tunnels beneath the French city have been an enigma.
Anna Richards December 19, 2022
A block carrying an ancient Roman inscription was reused in a medieval wall in Conza. On the left, the remains of the Roman forum can be seen below street-level buildings that survived a 1980 earthquake.
disasters

In 1980, an Earthquake Destroyed an Italian Town—and Revealed Another

In Conza today, millennia of history seem to exist all at the same time.
Federico Formica April 6, 2022
Within the flat enclose of the D-shaped fort
Monreith, Scotland

Barsalloch Fort

A 2,000-year-old Iron Age fort offers stunning ocean views.
ruins

Podcast: Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
The Podcast Team March 24, 2022
Alfred the Great statue
London, England

Alfred the Great Statue

King of the Saxons on top, Roman goddess of wisdom on the bottom.
Archaeologist Carrie Atkins has found more than 20 references to female merchants scattered in millennia-old receipts, tax documents, and temple inscriptions.
ships

Rediscovering Rome’s Female Merchants

As queens or captains, women deftly operated ships across the Red Sea and Mediterranean 2,000 years ago.
Sarah Durn March 17, 2022
Recreation of remains found directly below.
Colchester, England

Colchester’s Roman Circus

It's believed emperor Hadrian himself funded this once architectural wonder.
Roman Columns of Brindisi
Brindisi, Italy

Roman Columns of Brindisi

It's believed that these columns marked the end of the Via Appia.
NoviPark Roman Amphorae
Modena, Italy

NoviPark Roman Amphorae

Hundreds of Roman amphorae are stored in an ususpecting underground parking lot.