Romans borrowed their gods’ personalities from Greek or earlier predecessors, but the original gods predated the influence of deities from Greece.
Bunnies, Eggs, and Goddesses: Is Easter a Pagan or a Christian Festival?
The Goddess “Eostre,” pagan symbols, and the Christian holiday are at odds with one another; is Easter a melding of pagan and Christian celebrations?
The Destruction of Herculaneum: Vesuvius Claimed More Than One Victim
Experts chart the story of how Vesuvius destroyed Herculaneum in its archaeological remains, showing how they differ from nearby Pompeii.
How Did the People of Pompeii Die? Suffocation Versus Thermal Shock
Accepted scholarship has always maintained that Pompeii’s victims were killed by suffocation. But re-examination of casts and skeletal remains suggests another cause of death.
Human Remains in Pompeii: The Body Casts
How were archaeologists able to retrieve such life-like casts of the bodies of Vesuvius’s victims? The key to the revival of Pompeii’s citizens is plaster, along with care and patience.