James Coverley
@jamescoverley.com
Roman historian | Weekly deep dives + videos | Subscribe for emperors, scandals & unhinged history 👇
Substack - https://jamescoverley.substack.com
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@potentiallyinterestingroman
Substack - https://jamescoverley.substack.com
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@potentiallyinterestingroman
The swans represent Apollo, Augustus’ patron god and the Egyptian scenes celebrate the triumph of Rome, and both men, over the recently annexed province.
October 31, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The swans represent Apollo, Augustus’ patron god and the Egyptian scenes celebrate the triumph of Rome, and both men, over the recently annexed province.
On either side are two gossamer-thin candelabra, adorned with tiny swans, and on top of each is an Egyptian-style scene. These are fitting scenes for the owners of the villa, Augustus’ right-hand man, Agrippa and his wife, Augustus’ daughter Julia.
October 31, 2025 at 3:00 PM
On either side are two gossamer-thin candelabra, adorned with tiny swans, and on top of each is an Egyptian-style scene. These are fitting scenes for the owners of the villa, Augustus’ right-hand man, Agrippa and his wife, Augustus’ daughter Julia.
The flat, 2D nature of the whole decoration is deliberate. It is all so ephemeral that the visitor is drawn to these intricate scenes, hidden in the midst of the glittering darkness - moths drawn to dazzling flames.
October 31, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The flat, 2D nature of the whole decoration is deliberate. It is all so ephemeral that the visitor is drawn to these intricate scenes, hidden in the midst of the glittering darkness - moths drawn to dazzling flames.
The central panel on the back wall has a mural of a pavilion with slender columns supporting a roof hung with gems. In the centre of the panel is a tiny, yet exquisitely painted landscape.
October 31, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The central panel on the back wall has a mural of a pavilion with slender columns supporting a roof hung with gems. In the centre of the panel is a tiny, yet exquisitely painted landscape.
For #frescofriday the extraordinary 'black room' from the imperial villa at Boscotrecase, dating to the end of the first century BC. It might look dark and gloomy now, but the walls would originally have been burnished to a glossy finish, filling the room with almost magical reflected candlelight.
October 31, 2025 at 2:38 PM
For #frescofriday the extraordinary 'black room' from the imperial villa at Boscotrecase, dating to the end of the first century BC. It might look dark and gloomy now, but the walls would originally have been burnished to a glossy finish, filling the room with almost magical reflected candlelight.
#Reliefwedensday #ancientbluesky #archaeology
The woman is the main focus of this funerary altar, although the relationship between her and the two chaps is uncertain. Her hairstyle dates this to the early part of Hadrian's reign.
The woman is the main focus of this funerary altar, although the relationship between her and the two chaps is uncertain. Her hairstyle dates this to the early part of Hadrian's reign.
October 29, 2025 at 11:52 AM
#Reliefwedensday #ancientbluesky #archaeology
The woman is the main focus of this funerary altar, although the relationship between her and the two chaps is uncertain. Her hairstyle dates this to the early part of Hadrian's reign.
The woman is the main focus of this funerary altar, although the relationship between her and the two chaps is uncertain. Her hairstyle dates this to the early part of Hadrian's reign.
There's a video to go with it, too, so if you could pop along there, watch it for a while so YouTube thinks I'm awesome, and then hit like and subscribe, that would be superb!
It's got blood and gore in it, and that's what you came for, right? Are you not entertained!?
tinyurl.com/wrnxdd8x
It's got blood and gore in it, and that's what you came for, right? Are you not entertained!?
tinyurl.com/wrnxdd8x
October 7, 2025 at 11:50 AM
There's a video to go with it, too, so if you could pop along there, watch it for a while so YouTube thinks I'm awesome, and then hit like and subscribe, that would be superb!
It's got blood and gore in it, and that's what you came for, right? Are you not entertained!?
tinyurl.com/wrnxdd8x
It's got blood and gore in it, and that's what you came for, right? Are you not entertained!?
tinyurl.com/wrnxdd8x
For #findsfriday, the beautiful 1stC BC 'Maiden of Vulci'. Her light corset and hairstyle date her to the early Augustan period, and if you look closely, you can see how her hair would have been decorated with the typical hair jewellery of the time. She also had a pair of earrings.
October 3, 2025 at 10:03 AM
For #findsfriday, the beautiful 1stC BC 'Maiden of Vulci'. Her light corset and hairstyle date her to the early Augustan period, and if you look closely, you can see how her hair would have been decorated with the typical hair jewellery of the time. She also had a pair of earrings.
Another happy customer!
It's genuinely humbling to think that anyone finds my little corner of the historical world so inspiring.
Why not join us and get a free ebook copy of Suetonius' Twelve Caesars, translated by yours truly?
It's got sex and violence in it! 🤣
It's genuinely humbling to think that anyone finds my little corner of the historical world so inspiring.
Why not join us and get a free ebook copy of Suetonius' Twelve Caesars, translated by yours truly?
It's got sex and violence in it! 🤣
September 25, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Another happy customer!
It's genuinely humbling to think that anyone finds my little corner of the historical world so inspiring.
Why not join us and get a free ebook copy of Suetonius' Twelve Caesars, translated by yours truly?
It's got sex and violence in it! 🤣
It's genuinely humbling to think that anyone finds my little corner of the historical world so inspiring.
Why not join us and get a free ebook copy of Suetonius' Twelve Caesars, translated by yours truly?
It's got sex and violence in it! 🤣
#writers #Occult #magick #witchcraft #alchemy #medieval #goth
Available now in time for Halloween and terrifying people sitting next to you on the bus, the definitive version of Paracelsus' epic alchemical magick tome, 'Of the Supreme Mysteries...'
Available now at this link
shorturl.at/lMXWz
Available now in time for Halloween and terrifying people sitting next to you on the bus, the definitive version of Paracelsus' epic alchemical magick tome, 'Of the Supreme Mysteries...'
Available now at this link
shorturl.at/lMXWz
September 22, 2025 at 12:51 AM
#writers #Occult #magick #witchcraft #alchemy #medieval #goth
Available now in time for Halloween and terrifying people sitting next to you on the bus, the definitive version of Paracelsus' epic alchemical magick tome, 'Of the Supreme Mysteries...'
Available now at this link
shorturl.at/lMXWz
Available now in time for Halloween and terrifying people sitting next to you on the bus, the definitive version of Paracelsus' epic alchemical magick tome, 'Of the Supreme Mysteries...'
Available now at this link
shorturl.at/lMXWz
#ancientblusky #skystorians #archaeoloy #history
All these are available for free, or take out a paid subscription for exclusive nice stuff and a FREE copy of my last book! (ebook only)
jamescoverley.substack.com
All these are available for free, or take out a paid subscription for exclusive nice stuff and a FREE copy of my last book! (ebook only)
jamescoverley.substack.com
September 17, 2025 at 6:32 AM
#ancientblusky #skystorians #archaeoloy #history
All these are available for free, or take out a paid subscription for exclusive nice stuff and a FREE copy of my last book! (ebook only)
jamescoverley.substack.com
All these are available for free, or take out a paid subscription for exclusive nice stuff and a FREE copy of my last book! (ebook only)
jamescoverley.substack.com
#archaeology #ancientbluesky #skystorians #history
Just a reminder that if you sign up for a $5 a month subscription on Substack, not only will you bring joy and peace to my soul, and support an independent writer, but I'll send you a free ebook of my latest book!
I'm paying you to like me! 🤣🤣
Just a reminder that if you sign up for a $5 a month subscription on Substack, not only will you bring joy and peace to my soul, and support an independent writer, but I'll send you a free ebook of my latest book!
I'm paying you to like me! 🤣🤣
September 16, 2025 at 11:04 PM
#archaeology #ancientbluesky #skystorians #history
Just a reminder that if you sign up for a $5 a month subscription on Substack, not only will you bring joy and peace to my soul, and support an independent writer, but I'll send you a free ebook of my latest book!
I'm paying you to like me! 🤣🤣
Just a reminder that if you sign up for a $5 a month subscription on Substack, not only will you bring joy and peace to my soul, and support an independent writer, but I'll send you a free ebook of my latest book!
I'm paying you to like me! 🤣🤣
#MosaicMonday #ancientbluesky #archaeology
Detail of the Nile mosaic of Palestrina showing a trireme and a huge Egyptian bloke in a tiny boat. Uncertain in date, but probably somewhere around 100 BC, I'd reckon, judging by the subject matter and style. The mosaic that is, not the bloke in the boat.
Detail of the Nile mosaic of Palestrina showing a trireme and a huge Egyptian bloke in a tiny boat. Uncertain in date, but probably somewhere around 100 BC, I'd reckon, judging by the subject matter and style. The mosaic that is, not the bloke in the boat.
September 15, 2025 at 1:12 PM
#MosaicMonday #ancientbluesky #archaeology
Detail of the Nile mosaic of Palestrina showing a trireme and a huge Egyptian bloke in a tiny boat. Uncertain in date, but probably somewhere around 100 BC, I'd reckon, judging by the subject matter and style. The mosaic that is, not the bloke in the boat.
Detail of the Nile mosaic of Palestrina showing a trireme and a huge Egyptian bloke in a tiny boat. Uncertain in date, but probably somewhere around 100 BC, I'd reckon, judging by the subject matter and style. The mosaic that is, not the bloke in the boat.
#hillfortswednesday #ancientbluesky #Wales #Cymru #skystorians
Dryslwyn Castle, Wales, Cymru, glowering in the mists. Built in the 1220s by one of the princes of Deheubarth who, presumably, lacked somewhere to glower from.
(Please subscribe on Substack so I, too, may glower from somewhere misty.)
Dryslwyn Castle, Wales, Cymru, glowering in the mists. Built in the 1220s by one of the princes of Deheubarth who, presumably, lacked somewhere to glower from.
(Please subscribe on Substack so I, too, may glower from somewhere misty.)
September 10, 2025 at 12:16 PM
#hillfortswednesday #ancientbluesky #Wales #Cymru #skystorians
Dryslwyn Castle, Wales, Cymru, glowering in the mists. Built in the 1220s by one of the princes of Deheubarth who, presumably, lacked somewhere to glower from.
(Please subscribe on Substack so I, too, may glower from somewhere misty.)
Dryslwyn Castle, Wales, Cymru, glowering in the mists. Built in the 1220s by one of the princes of Deheubarth who, presumably, lacked somewhere to glower from.
(Please subscribe on Substack so I, too, may glower from somewhere misty.)
#ancientbluesky #archaeology #skystorians
Tomorrow's article (available on Substack) will be about Roman hats. If you want to get ahead, get a hat!
If you want to murder a tyrant, get a hat, two daggers and mint some coins!
Subscribe now - it's free and makes me happy.
jamescoverley.substack.com
Tomorrow's article (available on Substack) will be about Roman hats. If you want to get ahead, get a hat!
If you want to murder a tyrant, get a hat, two daggers and mint some coins!
Subscribe now - it's free and makes me happy.
jamescoverley.substack.com
September 8, 2025 at 5:52 PM
#ancientbluesky #archaeology #skystorians
Tomorrow's article (available on Substack) will be about Roman hats. If you want to get ahead, get a hat!
If you want to murder a tyrant, get a hat, two daggers and mint some coins!
Subscribe now - it's free and makes me happy.
jamescoverley.substack.com
Tomorrow's article (available on Substack) will be about Roman hats. If you want to get ahead, get a hat!
If you want to murder a tyrant, get a hat, two daggers and mint some coins!
Subscribe now - it's free and makes me happy.
jamescoverley.substack.com
Using, of course, the Van de Graaf canon of medieval page construction, because ... well ... look at it!
August 4, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Using, of course, the Van de Graaf canon of medieval page construction, because ... well ... look at it!
The whole process of producing these will skimp on absolutely nothing to make the finest possible physical book, all produced by some of the finest artisans I can find.
As part of that process, I have digitised my own typeface to set the whole thing, because if I'm doing it, I'm doing it all.
As part of that process, I have digitised my own typeface to set the whole thing, because if I'm doing it, I'm doing it all.
August 4, 2025 at 7:26 PM
The whole process of producing these will skimp on absolutely nothing to make the finest possible physical book, all produced by some of the finest artisans I can find.
As part of that process, I have digitised my own typeface to set the whole thing, because if I'm doing it, I'm doing it all.
As part of that process, I have digitised my own typeface to set the whole thing, because if I'm doing it, I'm doing it all.
Please buy my book! It's fucking awesome! Thanks!
It's available everywhere books are available. Probably. Click the link below.
books2read.com/thetwelvecae...
It's available everywhere books are available. Probably. Click the link below.
books2read.com/thetwelvecae...
August 3, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Please buy my book! It's fucking awesome! Thanks!
It's available everywhere books are available. Probably. Click the link below.
books2read.com/thetwelvecae...
It's available everywhere books are available. Probably. Click the link below.
books2read.com/thetwelvecae...
Speaking of political flashpoints, my latest translation of The Twelve Caesars, now updated, is now available just about everywhere, up to and including the surface of Pluto (probably).
books2read.com/thetwelvecae...
books2read.com/thetwelvecae...
July 28, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Speaking of political flashpoints, my latest translation of The Twelve Caesars, now updated, is now available just about everywhere, up to and including the surface of Pluto (probably).
books2read.com/thetwelvecae...
books2read.com/thetwelvecae...
For #FindsFriday, a quick trip to #Poland #Polska and Castle Kolno, where some clumsy oaf lost something rather precious crossing the moat about 600 years ago ...
arkeonews.net/rare-medieva...
arkeonews.net/rare-medieva...
July 25, 2025 at 4:19 AM
For #FindsFriday, a quick trip to #Poland #Polska and Castle Kolno, where some clumsy oaf lost something rather precious crossing the moat about 600 years ago ...
arkeonews.net/rare-medieva...
arkeonews.net/rare-medieva...
Initially the blame was put on the retreating Germans who were accused of deliberately setting the museum alight, although ultimately it was concluded that Allied shelling was to blame. Today, recreations of the ships can still be seen, but most of the originals has been destroyed.
7/8
7/8
July 20, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Initially the blame was put on the retreating Germans who were accused of deliberately setting the museum alight, although ultimately it was concluded that Allied shelling was to blame. Today, recreations of the ships can still be seen, but most of the originals has been destroyed.
7/8
7/8
On the evening of May 31, 1994, Axis troops retreating in the face of the Allied advance set up a gun position about 200m from the museum. Returning American shelling started a small fire in the museum which, within hours, had destroyed the museum and both ships.
6/8
6/8
July 20, 2025 at 12:41 PM
On the evening of May 31, 1994, Axis troops retreating in the face of the Allied advance set up a gun position about 200m from the museum. Returning American shelling started a small fire in the museum which, within hours, had destroyed the museum and both ships.
6/8
6/8
A fine new museum was built to house the ships in 1936, alongside many of the artefacts recovered from them over the centuries. And there they stayed, safe and happy, until the outbreak of World War II and the inevitable destruction that it brought.
5/8
5/8
July 20, 2025 at 12:41 PM
A fine new museum was built to house the ships in 1936, alongside many of the artefacts recovered from them over the centuries. And there they stayed, safe and happy, until the outbreak of World War II and the inevitable destruction that it brought.
5/8
5/8
... in 1927, Mussolini ordered that the lake be drained and the wrecks recovered. By 1931 enough of the lake had been drained to remove the first ship. However the drainage caused the underlying strata of the lake bed to collapse and so the second boat wasn't recovered until 1932.
4/8
4/8
July 20, 2025 at 12:41 PM
... in 1927, Mussolini ordered that the lake be drained and the wrecks recovered. By 1931 enough of the lake had been drained to remove the first ship. However the drainage caused the underlying strata of the lake bed to collapse and so the second boat wasn't recovered until 1932.
4/8
4/8
... gladiatorial contest held in an arena.
Lake Nemi was also the location for two huge ships built by Caligula, the exact purpose of which is uncertain, but they contained marble, mosaic floors, heating and plumbing, and baths. The ships remained on the lake bed for centuries until...
3/8
Lake Nemi was also the location for two huge ships built by Caligula, the exact purpose of which is uncertain, but they contained marble, mosaic floors, heating and plumbing, and baths. The ships remained on the lake bed for centuries until...
3/8
July 20, 2025 at 12:41 PM
... gladiatorial contest held in an arena.
Lake Nemi was also the location for two huge ships built by Caligula, the exact purpose of which is uncertain, but they contained marble, mosaic floors, heating and plumbing, and baths. The ships remained on the lake bed for centuries until...
3/8
Lake Nemi was also the location for two huge ships built by Caligula, the exact purpose of which is uncertain, but they contained marble, mosaic floors, heating and plumbing, and baths. The ships remained on the lake bed for centuries until...
3/8