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Dr Simon Trafford

@simontrafford.bsky.social

1.4K followers 720 following 660 posts

Curriculum Leader of Classics at a state grammar school; IB examiner; author of a few Classics related bits. Swansea University, University of Oxford alumnus. Living in Kent; working in SE London. https://swansea.academia.edu/SimonTrafford

swansea.academia.edu

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Nov 14

I'm really pleased to see my article on a bilingual pun in Catullus 40 out today in The Classical Quarterly. 😊
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

ERIS: A WORDPLAY IN CATULLUS 40 | The Classical Quarterly | Cambridge Core

ERIS: A WORDPLAY IN CATULLUS 40 - Volume 74 Issue 1

www.cambridge.org

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jul 12

A well-preserved Roman road is among the finds uncovered by archaeologists in a city centre.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Roman road discovered in Manchester city centre - BBC News

Archaeologists say the dig uncovered one of the best Roman finds in the city in more than 20 years.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jul 11

Revised plans for an office block in the City of London have been approved, after a Roman basilica was found beneath the site.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Office plans amended after Roman basilica found in City of London - BBC News

The development will include an exhibition showcasing the 2,000-year-old basilica.

www.bbc.com

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jul 6

Archaeologists in South Moravia in the Czech Republic uncovered a rare Roman military discovery—a fragment of a bronze wrist purse that is the oldest such discovery ever made in the Czech Republic.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

archaeologymag.com/2025/06/roma...

Rare 1,800-year-old Roman soldier’s wrist purse unearthed in Czech Republic reveals life on the empire’s frontier

Rare Roman wrist purse fragment found in Czech Republic reveals insights into soldiers' lives during the Marcomannic Wars.

archaeologymag.com

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jul 1

Archaeologists announced that their nearly two decade-long excavations have produced concrete proof that the School of Homer at the site of Agios Athanasios was indeed a site where the Trojan War hero was worshipped.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

news-artnet-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/news.art...

Lost Cult Site Dedicated to Odysseus Discovered on Ithaca

For more than a century, archeologists have looked for proof that a complex in Ithaca was related to Odysseus, now they have found it.

news-artnet-com.cdn.ampproject.org

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 30

Archaeologists uncover significant remnants of the ancient Roman city of Metlosedum, now modern-day Melun, in a recent excavation revealing the urban sophistication and strategic importance of the site in the Roman province of Gallia Lugdunensis.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

arkeonews.net/archaeologis...

Archaeologists Uncover Large Roman-Era Complex Beneath Modern Melun - Arkeonews

Archaeologists have uncovered significant remnants of the ancient Roman city of Metlosedum, now modern-day Melun

arkeonews.net

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 28

I'm currently reading The Persian Boy by Mary Renault.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺 #BookSky 📚💙

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 27

10 Wonders of Roman Britain.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

www.heritagedaily.com/2025/06/ten-...

Ten Roman wonders of Britain

Discover the Roman Empire’s extraordinary legacy left on Britain through this selection of ten Roman wonders. - HeritageDaily - Archaeology News

www.heritagedaily.com

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 25

Excavations in the locality of Cupa, in southeastern Italy, have uncovered remains of the ancient walls and numerous materials from the brutal siege the Romans inflicted on the city, which was an ally of Hannibal during the Second Punic War.
#ClassicsBluesky🏺

www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2025/06/o...

Over 170 Meters of Wall and 450 Lead Projectiles from the Roman Siege Discovered in an Italian City Allied with Hannibal

Archaeological excavations in the locality of Cupa, in the municipality of Ugento in the southeastern tip of Italy, have uncovered remains of the ancient Messapian walls and numerous materials from th...

www.labrujulaverde.com

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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford

The Hellenic Society @hellenicsociety.bsky.social · Jun 24

'Greek inscription and mosaic floors uncovered at ancient city of Olympos'

neoskosmos.com/en/2025/06/2...

#ClassicsBluesky

Greek inscription and mosaic floors uncovered at ancient city of Olympos - Neos Kosmos

Archaeologists have uncovered mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions at the ancient city of Olympos, located in the Antalya region of Turkey.

neoskosmos.com

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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford

Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · Jun 24

A marble votive altar decorated with a row of women for #EpigraphyTuesday. A #Greek inscription from Delos, dedicated to Hestia (Vesta). Dating to the Hellenistic period, 100BC-100.
📷British Museum (1890,0113.1)
#AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

A marble votive altar from the Hellenistic area. Found in Greece,Cyclades, Delos. It depicts a row of women. Two women at the front are holding hands and wearing drapery. Some damage to faces of the women and to the base of the altar. The inscription is above the two central women in Greek.
Inscription: Zopyros, son of Zopyros (dedicates) the house to Hestia and the people.
Dimensions: Diameter: 73.66 centimetres
Height: Height: 73.66 centimetres.

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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford

The Roman Society @theromansoc.bsky.social · Jun 24

Starts 9th July!! New online course: Ancient Rome in 50 Monuments, by Dr Paul Roberts.

Each Wednesday from 9th July to 6th August 2025, 6.00pm - 7.30pm (UK time) + recordings will be available

Information and booking at:
www.hellenicandromanlibrary.org/Events/Event...

#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 24

Archaeological excavations on Via Alessandrina, just a few meters from Trajan’s Forum, uncovered an imposing marble head depicting a male face with pronounced features, abundant hair, and an intense expression.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2025/06/l...

Large Marble Head from the Impressive Porticus Trisigmentata Discovered in Trajan’s Forum

www.labrujulaverde.com

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 23

I have been teaching Suburani for 3 years now and I didn't know until reading this introduction to Seneca's Letters to Lucilius in Book 3 that Seneca's Lucilius is the father of our Suburani Lucilius from Books 1&2! Mind blown. 🤯
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford

Working Classicists @workingclassicists.bsky.social · Jun 21

Got a few minutes to lament those extra seasons of Rome we never got?

You'll weep like Tiro as Pullo wields the blade on Cicero.

youtu.be/1cIVJD1cmbk?...

Rome (2004): HBO's Untold 5 Season Story

YouTube video by Little Wars TV

youtu.be

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 21

16 Must-Read Books About Greek Mythology and Other Folklore: From feminist retellings of classic tales to modernized takes.

#ClassicsBluesky 🏺
www.marieclaire.com/culture/book...

16 Books That Put a Modern Day Twist on Ancient Mythology

All the gods and goddesses you know and love, but with a scandalous or feminist twist.

www.marieclaire.com

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 20

Archaeologists have pieced together thousands of fragments of 2,000-year-old wall plaster to reveal remarkable frescoes that decorated a luxurious Roman villa.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Huge archaeological puzzle reveals Roman London frescoes - BBC News

Thousands of fragments of plaster are pieced together to reveal frescos from a Roman London villa.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 19

The Pompeii Archaeological Park has recreated an ancient perfume garden—right down to its antique roses.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

news.artnet.com/art-world/po...

A 2,000-Year-Old Pompeii Garden Springs Back to Life

Pompeii Archaeological Park has unveiled the restored Garden of Hercules , freshly planted with violets, ruscus plants, and antique roses.

news.artnet.com

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 18

Absolutely. Works very nicely for a simple day trip.

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 18

Yes, we took 40 Y8s for a day trip. I've been loads of times. It's always a fun day seeing Fishbourne in the morning, then Bignor in the afternoon.

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 18

Correct. 10 points to you, sir!

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 18

#ClassicsBluesky, where am I now?

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 18

10 points to you, sir.

Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 18

OK #ClassicsBluesky, where am I today?

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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford

Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · Jun 17

For the first time this year, Labour is making up some ground in the polling average - now back to where they were before the locals.

Reform lead by 4.7%, down from a 7.7% peak.

RFM: 28.7% (+14.0)
LAB: 24.0% (-10.7)
CON: 17.8% (-6.5)
LDM: 13.8% (+1.3)

electionmaps.uk/polling

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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · Jun 16

A hoard of 13 silver coins found in a field was probably lost in the wake of the Roman invasion of Britain in AD43, according to a historian.
#ClassicsBluesky 🏺

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Downham Market coin hoard 'probably lost by a Roman invader' - BBC News

The discovery is "a drum roll of Roman coins from the late republic through to the early empire".

www.bbc.com

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