Brittunculus
@brittunculus.bsky.social
History/classics MA. Living with DPDR.
"The climate is wretched” - Tacitus
#RomanBritain
"The climate is wretched” - Tacitus
#RomanBritain
Pinned
Brittunculus
@brittunculus.bsky.social
· Nov 19
A fragment of a military intelligence report from the Roman fort at Vindolanda, on the northern frontier of #RomanBritain. The thin, postcard-sized wooden tablet describes the fighting style of the native Britons, disparagingly referred to as BRITTUNCULI or 'Little Brits.'
#EpigraphyTuesday
#EpigraphyTuesday
A wonderful combination of Roman realism and Celtic linear decoration. And a decapitated barbarian too. 🤩
"A copper-alloy ornament of a panther resting its paws on a severed head dates from AD43-200 ... [is] a "striking example of a Romano-British design", fusing pre-conquest Iron Age geometric patterns with Roman imagery."
#AncientBluesky
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#AncientBluesky
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Why is the discovery of Roman carriage fitting in Essex important?
A Romana-British metal artwork of a panther is believed to show the severed head of a barbarian.
www.bbc.com
January 24, 2026 at 10:56 PM
A wonderful combination of Roman realism and Celtic linear decoration. And a decapitated barbarian too. 🤩
Reposted by Brittunculus
🤩Online tickets are free🤩
'Unlocking Orpheus: Cirencester museum hosts day of Roman myth and mosaic discovery' (7 Feb, 2026).
Unlocking Orpheus: Cirencester museum hosts day of Roman myth and mosaic discovery | Cotswold District Council News
Enthusiasts of archaeology and ancient myth are invited to step back into Roman Britain and uncover the story behind Cirencester’s celebrated Orpheus mosaic at a special conference hosted by…
news.cotswold.gov.uk
January 16, 2026 at 10:52 PM
🤩Online tickets are free🤩
Repost for #FindsFriday ⚔️
For #RomanFortThursday here’s a projectile (ballista bolt?) point from Wroxeter. My 📷 object in care of EH
January 16, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Repost for #FindsFriday ⚔️
Meanwhile in Gaul...
#Ruinoftheday : la « pierre de Couhard » près d’Autun en #Bourgogne. Ce monument en forme de pyramide est un monument funéraire, peut-être du Ier s., dont les vestiges conservés atteignent encore 25m.
January 16, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Meanwhile in Gaul...
Reposted by Brittunculus
Our @antiquaries.bsky.social Low Ham book (myself, Roger Leech and @thepostexcox.bsky.social ) is now available OA - library.oapen.org/handle/20.50... - the first synthetic publication of one of Britannia's largest villas, with reports on strat, finds, & enviro remains, & fully contextualised. 1/10
January 13, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Our @antiquaries.bsky.social Low Ham book (myself, Roger Leech and @thepostexcox.bsky.social ) is now available OA - library.oapen.org/handle/20.50... - the first synthetic publication of one of Britannia's largest villas, with reports on strat, finds, & enviro remains, & fully contextualised. 1/10
Like the cheeky gorgoneion peeking out from under her armpit
#FindsFriday - a bronze relief of Minerva from Charlton Down
www.romansociety.org/Imago/Image-...
#ClassicsBluesky #AncientBluesky 🏺
www.romansociety.org/Imago/Image-...
#ClassicsBluesky #AncientBluesky 🏺
January 16, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Like the cheeky gorgoneion peeking out from under her armpit
The Roman jackboot
Discovered in a bog near Hawick in the south of Scotland in 1820, this larger-than-life bronze leg once belonged to a Roman statue of an emperor or general on horseback. #FindsFriday
January 16, 2026 at 4:13 PM
The Roman jackboot
Reposted by Brittunculus
One of two of the Roman bath houses at Vindolanda, in the vicus, close to the fort’s west gate.
This fort was occupied by Coh IV Gallorum from the early 3rd C.
The baths served the soldiers and townspeople of #Vindolanda south of #HadriansWall.
#RomanFortThursday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own.
This fort was occupied by Coh IV Gallorum from the early 3rd C.
The baths served the soldiers and townspeople of #Vindolanda south of #HadriansWall.
#RomanFortThursday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own.
January 8, 2026 at 4:35 PM
One of two of the Roman bath houses at Vindolanda, in the vicus, close to the fort’s west gate.
This fort was occupied by Coh IV Gallorum from the early 3rd C.
The baths served the soldiers and townspeople of #Vindolanda south of #HadriansWall.
#RomanFortThursday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own.
This fort was occupied by Coh IV Gallorum from the early 3rd C.
The baths served the soldiers and townspeople of #Vindolanda south of #HadriansWall.
#RomanFortThursday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own.
A sea-panther from the amazing Orphic mosaic at Littlecote #Roman Villa, Wiltshire.
c.AD 350 - 365.
📸 me
#MosaicMonday
#RomanBritain
c.AD 350 - 365.
📸 me
#MosaicMonday
#RomanBritain
January 5, 2026 at 9:27 AM
A sea-panther from the amazing Orphic mosaic at Littlecote #Roman Villa, Wiltshire.
c.AD 350 - 365.
📸 me
#MosaicMonday
#RomanBritain
c.AD 350 - 365.
📸 me
#MosaicMonday
#RomanBritain
Coin of iron-age King Cunobelinus depicting Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings. With one face he looks back at the past while the other peers into future. Appropriately, the month January is named after him.
Early C.1st
Happy new year!
#RomanBritain #IronAge #ReliefWednesday
Early C.1st
Happy new year!
#RomanBritain #IronAge #ReliefWednesday
December 31, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Coin of iron-age King Cunobelinus depicting Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings. With one face he looks back at the past while the other peers into future. Appropriately, the month January is named after him.
Early C.1st
Happy new year!
#RomanBritain #IronAge #ReliefWednesday
Early C.1st
Happy new year!
#RomanBritain #IronAge #ReliefWednesday
Reposted by Brittunculus
In the ancient #Roman world, even steelyard weights (counterbalances) could be made with first class artistry. Here, this bronze weight is shaped into the bust of a man, perhaps a Greek philosopher (or maybe the merchant!). 🏺 1/
Romano-British, 1st or 2nd c. CE, from London. #BritishMuseum
📸 me
Romano-British, 1st or 2nd c. CE, from London. #BritishMuseum
📸 me
December 29, 2025 at 9:11 PM
In the ancient #Roman world, even steelyard weights (counterbalances) could be made with first class artistry. Here, this bronze weight is shaped into the bust of a man, perhaps a Greek philosopher (or maybe the merchant!). 🏺 1/
Romano-British, 1st or 2nd c. CE, from London. #BritishMuseum
📸 me
Romano-British, 1st or 2nd c. CE, from London. #BritishMuseum
📸 me
Reposted by Brittunculus
December 27, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Martial also suggested as #Saturnalia gifts a pig, an axe, a parrot and tables. Generous, but awkward to wrap. 🙄
🌟 #Sigillaria, the last day of #Saturnalia, was for gift-giving: candles, figs, figurines, dice, lamps, toys, & pets. On 23 Dec, Larentalia honoured the Lares & Acca Larentia, Romulus & Remus’ nurse, celebrating household spirits and the protection of home & family.
December 23, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Martial also suggested as #Saturnalia gifts a pig, an axe, a parrot and tables. Generous, but awkward to wrap. 🙄
Reposted by Brittunculus
Looking for a Christmas gift that’s protective, portable and a little bit outrageous? Adopt a Roman flying phallus.
Perfect for the impossible-to-buy-for friend, AND adoptions help conserve objects at Colchester Museums. Adopt: colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/adoptanobject
Perfect for the impossible-to-buy-for friend, AND adoptions help conserve objects at Colchester Museums. Adopt: colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/adoptanobject
December 14, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Looking for a Christmas gift that’s protective, portable and a little bit outrageous? Adopt a Roman flying phallus.
Perfect for the impossible-to-buy-for friend, AND adoptions help conserve objects at Colchester Museums. Adopt: colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/adoptanobject
Perfect for the impossible-to-buy-for friend, AND adoptions help conserve objects at Colchester Museums. Adopt: colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/adoptanobject
'Winter' from Caerwent, Wales (now in Newport Museum) wears a hooded cloak against the cold & wet, maybe the 'birrus Britannicus' mentioned in Diocletian's Price Edict of AD301.
A birrus was worth 6,000 denarii. Price details of Winter's furry mosaic companions in the ALT texts.
#MosaicMonday
📸 me
A birrus was worth 6,000 denarii. Price details of Winter's furry mosaic companions in the ALT texts.
#MosaicMonday
📸 me
December 22, 2025 at 9:59 AM
'Winter' from Caerwent, Wales (now in Newport Museum) wears a hooded cloak against the cold & wet, maybe the 'birrus Britannicus' mentioned in Diocletian's Price Edict of AD301.
A birrus was worth 6,000 denarii. Price details of Winter's furry mosaic companions in the ALT texts.
#MosaicMonday
📸 me
A birrus was worth 6,000 denarii. Price details of Winter's furry mosaic companions in the ALT texts.
#MosaicMonday
📸 me
Reposted by Brittunculus
Its #FindsFriday!
During our curator's work repacking the Trosley Roman Villa & Bathhouse excavation archive Andy came across this lovely little tile fragment with another pawprint on it.
We aren't entirely sure what animal this came from; what are your thoughts?
Let us know in the comments!
During our curator's work repacking the Trosley Roman Villa & Bathhouse excavation archive Andy came across this lovely little tile fragment with another pawprint on it.
We aren't entirely sure what animal this came from; what are your thoughts?
Let us know in the comments!
December 19, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Its #FindsFriday!
During our curator's work repacking the Trosley Roman Villa & Bathhouse excavation archive Andy came across this lovely little tile fragment with another pawprint on it.
We aren't entirely sure what animal this came from; what are your thoughts?
Let us know in the comments!
During our curator's work repacking the Trosley Roman Villa & Bathhouse excavation archive Andy came across this lovely little tile fragment with another pawprint on it.
We aren't entirely sure what animal this came from; what are your thoughts?
Let us know in the comments!
#FindsFriday: A 'dragonesque' brooch from the British Museum. Its belly is inlaid with coloured enamel, and the pin (missing) would have fitted on the back between the two necks. These wonderfully sinuous brooches were popular in the decades after the Roman invasion.
#RomanBritain
📸 me
#RomanBritain
📸 me
December 19, 2025 at 1:57 PM
#FindsFriday: A 'dragonesque' brooch from the British Museum. Its belly is inlaid with coloured enamel, and the pin (missing) would have fitted on the back between the two necks. These wonderfully sinuous brooches were popular in the decades after the Roman invasion.
#RomanBritain
📸 me
#RomanBritain
📸 me
Reposted by Brittunculus
What are you doing to celebrate the start of the Saturnalia festival? I am having my traditional Saturnalia feast with some delicious ancient Roman food and wine! 🍷
#Saturnalia 🪔
#Saturnalia 🪔
December 17, 2025 at 8:01 PM
What are you doing to celebrate the start of the Saturnalia festival? I am having my traditional Saturnalia feast with some delicious ancient Roman food and wine! 🍷
#Saturnalia 🪔
#Saturnalia 🪔
Reposted by Brittunculus
Testing, testing, 1-2-3. After much fafftootling around in the guts of Wordpress and PHP, prodding of reluctant backups, and many, many very, very naughty words, you can try out our restored website here: rme45762.live-website.com
Roman Military Equipment – From Start to Finish
rme45762.live-website.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Testing, testing, 1-2-3. After much fafftootling around in the guts of Wordpress and PHP, prodding of reluctant backups, and many, many very, very naughty words, you can try out our restored website here: rme45762.live-website.com
Reposted by Brittunculus
Io Saturnalia!
December 16, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Io Saturnalia!
Reposted by Brittunculus
#MosaicMonday
It's Christmas party time, for mortals and mythical beings alike. Here Silenus, mentor of Bacchus, might be making his way home after a good night out on his long-suffering donkey. Wine cup still in hand.
From a C.2nd mosaic now in @coriniummuseum.bsky.social, Cirencester.
📸 mine 2022
It's Christmas party time, for mortals and mythical beings alike. Here Silenus, mentor of Bacchus, might be making his way home after a good night out on his long-suffering donkey. Wine cup still in hand.
From a C.2nd mosaic now in @coriniummuseum.bsky.social, Cirencester.
📸 mine 2022
December 15, 2025 at 8:12 AM
#MosaicMonday
It's Christmas party time, for mortals and mythical beings alike. Here Silenus, mentor of Bacchus, might be making his way home after a good night out on his long-suffering donkey. Wine cup still in hand.
From a C.2nd mosaic now in @coriniummuseum.bsky.social, Cirencester.
📸 mine 2022
It's Christmas party time, for mortals and mythical beings alike. Here Silenus, mentor of Bacchus, might be making his way home after a good night out on his long-suffering donkey. Wine cup still in hand.
From a C.2nd mosaic now in @coriniummuseum.bsky.social, Cirencester.
📸 mine 2022
#MosaicMonday
It's Christmas party time, for mortals and mythical beings alike. Here Silenus, mentor of Bacchus, might be making his way home after a good night out on his long-suffering donkey. Wine cup still in hand.
From a C.2nd mosaic now in @coriniummuseum.bsky.social, Cirencester.
📸 mine 2022
It's Christmas party time, for mortals and mythical beings alike. Here Silenus, mentor of Bacchus, might be making his way home after a good night out on his long-suffering donkey. Wine cup still in hand.
From a C.2nd mosaic now in @coriniummuseum.bsky.social, Cirencester.
📸 mine 2022
December 15, 2025 at 8:12 AM
#MosaicMonday
It's Christmas party time, for mortals and mythical beings alike. Here Silenus, mentor of Bacchus, might be making his way home after a good night out on his long-suffering donkey. Wine cup still in hand.
From a C.2nd mosaic now in @coriniummuseum.bsky.social, Cirencester.
📸 mine 2022
It's Christmas party time, for mortals and mythical beings alike. Here Silenus, mentor of Bacchus, might be making his way home after a good night out on his long-suffering donkey. Wine cup still in hand.
From a C.2nd mosaic now in @coriniummuseum.bsky.social, Cirencester.
📸 mine 2022
Reposted by Brittunculus
Now the site of present-day Canterbury, Kent, Durovernum Cantiacorum was the 'civitas' capital of the Cantiaci nation in Roman Britain. (Canterbury Roman Museum) #RomanSiteSaturday
December 13, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Now the site of present-day Canterbury, Kent, Durovernum Cantiacorum was the 'civitas' capital of the Cantiaci nation in Roman Britain. (Canterbury Roman Museum) #RomanSiteSaturday
Reposted by Brittunculus
Want to explore Roman cemeteries closer to home? Join our Trimontium Talk this Thursday at 7:30 pm (UK): “Till death us do part: Roman Cemeteries and the mystery of the missing Trimontium mausolea.” — Online and in person, book through our website or link tree.
December 10, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Want to explore Roman cemeteries closer to home? Join our Trimontium Talk this Thursday at 7:30 pm (UK): “Till death us do part: Roman Cemeteries and the mystery of the missing Trimontium mausolea.” — Online and in person, book through our website or link tree.