A Taste of Pompeii

Fresco from Villa of Mysteries

Have ever wondered what sort of wine was served in an ancient Roman banquet?  You know, the kind made famous by TV dramas like I Claudius, where guests lounged for hours, picking at sumptuous delicacies and were entertained by musicians and artists from around the world?  Well now you can savor at least one wine reconstructed from ancient varietals in the area near Pompeii. The … Read more

A Roman Bowl from a Mongolian Tomb

This bowl is a fine example of pinched-glass craftmanship. It is of Roman (possibly Byzantine) origin and is believed to be dated to the 5th Century ACE (based on the age of the tomb which is from the Hunnu period.) It is also proof of the power of the Silk Road on both trade and politics, because it was found a few years back in … Read more