Elon Musk’s defenders were quick to claim that his hand motion was actually an ancient “Roman salute” — but that gesture never existed.
Sarah E. Bond
Sarah E. Bond is associate professor of history at the University of Iowa. She blogs on antiquity and digital humanities, and is the author of Trade and Taboo: Disreputable Professions in the Roman Mediterranean and the forthcoming Strike: Labor, Unions, and Resistance in the Roman Empire (Yale University Press, February 2025).
Posted inArt
Uncovered Medieval Tattoos Flesh Out a Misunderstood Practice
Archaeologists discovered the second known example of Medieval Nubian tattoos in Sudan, bringing us closer to unraveling the art form’s longer history.
Posted inArt
Top 10 Archaeology Stories of 2024
From nationalist ancient bread and unearthed cities to protecting cultural heritage, archaeologists brought a wealth of stories to light in what has been a dark year.
Posted inFilm
The Insidious False History of Gladiator II
The film’s casting of Africa and Africans as largely rebellious, uncivil, and above all outside of the bounds of the Roman empire is incorrect and dangerous.
Posted inNews
Lebanon’s Ancient Heritage Under Threat as Israel Ramps Up Attacks
The Israeli army has issued new evacuation orders for residents of Baalbek, home to Ancient Roman temples and archaeological ruins.
Posted inArt
The Elementary School That Welcomed Keith Haring
To My Friends at Horn is a reminder that artists do not exist in a vacuum and context illuminates the impact of the artist and activist.
Posted inNews
Is the “Lion of Venice” Actually From China?
A new study traces the winged leonine artwork back to the Yangtze River basin, hypothesizing that it was likely a colossal, reassembled “tomb guardian.”
Posted inArt
The Ancient Art of the Labor Strike
Though the term “strike” was coined in 1768, the history of work stoppages is much older and artists have been involved from the start.
Posted inOpinion
Why Do We Expect Ancient Romans to Have British Accents in Movies?
Most of the objectors to Denzel Washington’s accent are men who think too much about the Roman Empire. Here’s how the accent has changed throughout cinema.
Posted inBooks
The Enslaved People Who Wrote Down the New Testament
Art history has long concealed the scribes who put swaths of the Bible and early Christian writings on paper.
Posted inNews
New Research Questions the Existence of Early Christian “House Churches”
A new study challenges long-held beliefs about the physical spaces of Christian worship, proving that the emerging religion’s story is not immutable.
Posted inFilm
A Glimpse Into Pompeii’s Terrifying Final Moments
In the last episode of PBS’s new docuseries, archaeologists discover remarkable graffiti and shrine offerings that bring the ancient city — and its extinction — into view.