Natasha Sheldon

About Natasha Sheldon

Natasha Sheldon studied ancient history and archaeology at Leicester and Bristol Universities in the UK. She was awarded the Arnold Wycombe Gomme prize for Ancient History and holds a BA honours in ancient history and archaeology and a MA in ancient history and historiography.

Natasha researches and writes mainly on the subjects of ancient history and archaeology. Her specialist area is Roman history. Both of her dissertations in the field of magic and religion in the Roman Empire have been published. They are: The Origins and Meaning of Roman Witchcraft and Roman Magic and Religion in Late Antiquity. Natasha is currently involved in further research in this area.

Natasha has travelled widely across Europe and the Middle East and has first-hand experience of many ancient sites – Roman and otherwise. A few examples of sites she has explored are Pompeii, Herculaneum, Rome in Italy, Leptis Magna in Libya, Jerash in Jordan and Palmyra in Syria. There are many others!

Many of her journeys have been motivated by her studies but also by her love of exploration-at home and abroad. She loves to experience other cultures. Adventures to date include riding camels in the Sahara, visiting Tripoli and having tea with the Bedouin.

Natasha’s articles have been published by Italianvisits.com and Travel Thru history. She is the author of four historical travel guides: Discovering Pompeii, Civic Pompeii, Pompeii’s Last Days and Exploring Herculaneum. Her first book, Not a Guide to Leicester, a collection of fascinating facts about her adopted hometown is out now. ‘100 Days in Leicester’ is to follow in June 2014.

Natasha’s website ancienthistoryarchaeology.com includes information of her travels and links to all her history articles on the web. It is a growing resource for anyone studying or interested in ancient history and archaeology.

Her personal writing blog can be found at: http://natashasheldonwriter.blogspot.co.uk

Commemorating Fors Fortuna: The Romans Celebrate Luck

Fors Fortuna

The Romans celebrated luck goddess Fors Fortuna on each 24 June, which also coincided with the summer solstice.

Burying Richard III: Details of the Re-Interment and Tomb of ‘The Last Warrior King’ Revealed

Overhead representation of the tomb, showing the controversial cross. Copyright: The Diocese of Leicester

Richard III’s bones, once under a carpark, will receive royal treatment with a new tomb and stained glass windows in the Cathedral of Leicester.

Summanus: Celebrating Jupiter’s Forgotten Dark “Twin”

The temple of Summanus was constructed somewhere in the vicinity of the Circus Maximus

Summanus, the now nearly forgotten Roman god of night lightning once boasted a reputation more prominent than that of Jupiter.

The Vestalia: Celebrating Vesta and Purifying Rome

Wenceslas_Hollar_-_The_Greek_gods._Vesta

The goddess Vesta protected Rome, earning an annual festival in her honour which purified both her shrine and the city of Rome.

Is The Month of June Named After Roman Goddess Juno?

juno

The month of June is named after the Roman Goddess Juno, who’s just a copy of Greek Hera – right? Not quite. There’s a lot of history wrapped up in the name, Juno.