Refine your search

The results of your search are listed below alongside the search terms you entered on the previous page. You can refine your search by amending any of the parameters in the form and resubmitting it.

Select all Deselect all Add selection to lightbox
Large Small
Thumbnails per page
Commodus (161-192) was born in 161 and was son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. At 15 years old, Commodus become co-emperor with his father in 177, making Marcus Aurelius the first emperor to have a legitimate biological heir since Vespasian. He became sole emperor three years later, when his father died in 180.<br/><br/> One of his first acts was to devalue the Roman currecy, the largest reduction since Nero's reign. Unlike his father's reign of almost continuous warfare, Commodus ruled over a relatively peaceful Empire, though it was marked by political strife and increasingly megalomaniacal behaviour by Commodus himself. Roman historian Dio Cassius stated that Commodus' reign marked the decline 'from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust', with many claiming that Commodus' terrible rule began the decline of the Roman Empire.<br/><br/> Commodus was extremely proud of his physical prowess, and often compared himself to Hercules, seeing himself as a reincarnation of the demigod. He also sometimes fought in scandalous gladiatorial games. His despotic and disgraceful rule was eventually ended with his assassination on the 31st of December, 192, when he was strangled by his wrestling partner Narcissus after a previous poisoning attempt had failed. He was declared a public enemy by the Senate after his death and his statues were thrown down.
Marcus Aurelius (121-180) was born in 121 to a prominent family in Iberian Baetica. Marcus Aurelius, along with future joint emperor Lucius Verus, was adopted by Antoninus Pius upon his own adoption as heir by Hadrian. Marcus Aurelius was a nephew of Antoninus' wife, and soon became his favoured son.<br/><br/> When Antoninus Pius passed away in 161, Marcus Aurelius became co-emperor with his adopted brother Lucius Verus, though he was resistant to becoming emperor at first. Marcus refused to take office unless Lucius was given equal powers, upsetting the senate's wishes to confirm Marcus alone. Together they co-ruled the Empire until Lucius' death from plague in 169, the first time Rome had ever been ruled by two emperors.<br/><br/> Marcus Aurelius defeated a resurgent Parthian Empire during his reign, also successfully waging the Marcomannic Wars in central Europe. Marcus was a stern follower of Stoicism, and his writings on it, commonly known as 'Meditations', are some of the more significant sources on ancient Stoic philosophy. He died in 180 at the age of 58, becoming the last of the 'Five Good Emperors'.
Born Lucius Ceionius Commodus (130-169) in 130, his name was altered to Lucius Aelius Commodus when his father was adopted by Hadrian as his heir. When Lucius' father, who shared the same name, died in 138 CE, Lucius was adopted by Antoninus Pius alongside Marcus Aurelius.<br/><br/> Now known as Lucius Aelius Aureius Commodus, Lucius would finally become Lucius Verus after his ascension to co-emperor in 161, sharing power with Marcus Aurelius as part of the latter's demands to the Roman Senate when he became emperor. During their reign, the Empire defeated a resurgent Parthian Empire, sacking the capital of Ctesiphon in 164.<br/><br/> Lucius Verus died in 169 after 8 years of rule, struck down by either food poisoning or smallpox, dying during the widespread Antonine Plague. He was deified by the Roman Senate as the Divine Verus after his death. Despite ruling alongside Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus is not included in the 'Five Good Emperors'.
Antoninus (86-161) was born in 86 to Consul Titus Aurelius Fulvus, and would grow up to become friend and ally to Emperor Hadrian, who adopted him as son and heir in 138. In turn, Hadrian made Antoninus adopt future emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus as his successors<br/><br.> Antoninus ascended to emperor the same year of his adoption, acquiring the name Pius after he persuaded the Senate to grant Hadrian divine honours. He made few initial changes to Hadrian's arrangements and policies, and he oversaw a non-military and mostly peaceful reign, the most peaceful in the Principate's history. He was also perhaps the instigator of the first direct contact between Rome and China, confusion remaining whether Antoninus or Marcus Aurelius sent the first envoy.<br/><br/> Antoninus Pius died of illness in 161, aged 74, and was succeeded by his adopted sons Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, who reigned as co-emperors. Antoninus Pius is named as one of the 'Five Good Emperors', and was the longest reigning emperor since Augustus, surpassing Tiberius by a few months.
Born Publius Aelius Hadrianus (76-138 CE) to a well-established family with old roots in Hispania, Hadrian was related to Emperor Trajan through his father, who was a maternal cousin of Trajan's. Trajan did not officially designate an heir before he died, though his wife Pompeia Plotina claims that Trajan named Hadrian his successor just before his death.<br/><br/> Hadrian travelled extensively during his reign, visiting nearly every province in the Roman Empire. He attempted to turn Athens into the Empire's cultural capital, and had a Greek lover named Antinous. Hadrian also spent a lot of time with the military, often wearing his military attire and dining and sleeping alongside his soldiers. He is perhaps most famous for building Hadrian's Wall, the wall that marked the northern limit of Britannia.<br/><br/> Hadrian was a philhellene (admirer of Greek culture) in most of his tastes as well as a humanist, and is regarded among the 'Five Good Emperors'. He adopted Lucius Aelius as his heir in 136, but the latter died two years later in January 138. He eventually adopted Antoninus Pius as his successor, so long as Antoninus agreed to adopt Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, Lucius Aelius' son, as his heirs. Hadrian died of heart failure on the 10th of July, 138.
Marcus Ulpius Traianus (53-117), more famously known as Trajan, was born in the province of Hispania Baetica in 53 CE, to a non-patrician family. He rose to prominence during Domitian's reign, and fought in numerous campaigns. He was adopted as Nerva's heir and successor in 97 CE, the emperor compelled to do so by the Praetorian Guard. Trajan became emperor in 98 after his predecessor's death.<br/><br/> Trajan is considered one of the greatest emperors of the Roman Empire, with the senate officially declaring him 'optimus princeps', or 'best ruler'. He was a highly successful soldier-emperor who led the greatest military expansion in Roman history, with the empire reaching its maximum territorial extent under his rule. He was also known for his philanthropic rule and extensive building programmes, reshaping Rome and leaving numerous landmarks behind.<br/><br/> His beneficent and prosperous reign earned him an enduring reputation that has survived throughout the centuries, and he has been deified as the second of the 'Five Good Emperors'. He died of a stroke in 117 after almost 20 years of rule, and was succeeded by his adopted heir Hadrian.
Born in 30 CE, Marcus Cocceius Nerva (30-98 CE) was a member of Italian nobility rather than Roman elite, though the Cocceii were still one of the most esteemed and influential political families of the late Republic and early Empire.<br/><br/> Nerva served much of his imperial service under Nero and the Flavian dynasty, and when Domitian was assassinated in 96 CE by a conspiracy of freedmen and Praetorian Guard, Nerva was declared emperor by the Roman senate. This marked the first time the Senate had ever elected an emperor. He was sixty-five when he became emperor, and one of his main goals was to restore liberties to the senate that had been curtailed during Domitian's autocratic rule.<br/><br/> Nerva's very brief reign was hindered by various problems, and a revolt in in 97 CE by the Praetorian Guard forced him to adopt an heir of their choosing, Trajan. Nerva died of natural causes after barely fifteen months in office, and was succeeded and deified by Trajan. He was known as a wise and moderate emperor, who ensured a peaceful transition of power after his death, and was the first of the 'Five Good Emperors'.
Born in 30 CE, Marcus Cocceius Nerva (30-98 CE) was a member of Italian nobility rather than Roman elite, though the Cocceii were still one of the most esteemed and influential political families of the late Republic and early Empire.<br/><br/> Nerva served much of his imperial service under Nero and the Flavian dynasty, and when Domitian was assassinated in 96 CE by a conspiracy of freedmen and Praetorian Guard, Nerva was declared emperor by the Roman senate. This marked the first time the Senate had ever elected an emperor. He was sixty-five when he became emperor, and one of his main goals was to restore liberties to the senate that had been curtailed during Domitian's autocratic rule. <br/><br/> Nerva's very brief reign was hindered by various problems, and a revolt in in 97 CE by the Praetorian Guard forced him to adopt an heir of their choosing, Trajan. Nerva died of natural causes after barely fifteen months in office, and was succeeded and deified by Trajan. He was known as a wise and moderate emperor, who ensured a peaceful transition of power after his death, and was the first of the 'Five Good Emperors'.
Born Lucius Ceionius Commodus (130-169) in 130, his name was altered to Lucius Aelius Commodus when his father was adopted by Hadrian as his heir. When Lucius' father, who shared the same name, died in 138 CE, Lucius was adopted by Antoninus Pius alongside Marcus Aurelius.<br/><br/> Now known as Lucius Aelius Aureius Commodus, Lucius would finally become Lucius Verus after his ascension to co-emperor in 161, sharing power with Marcus Aurelius as part of the latter's demands to the Roman Senate when he became emperor. During their reign, the Empire defeated a resurgent Parthian Empire, sacking the capital of Ctesiphon in 164.<br/><br/> Lucius Verus died in 169 after 8 years of rule, struck down by either food poisoning or smallpox, dying during the widespread Antonine Plague. He was deified by the Roman Senate as the Divine Verus after his death. Despite ruling alongside Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus is not included in the 'Five Good Emperors'.
Marcus Ulpius Traianus, Trajan, was born in the province of Hispania Baetica in 53 CE, to a non-patrician family. He rose to prominence during Domitian's reign, and fought in numerous campaigns. He was adopted as Nerva's heir and successor in 97 CE, the emperor compelled to do so by the Praetorian Guard. Trajan became emperor in 98 after his predecessor's death.<br/><br/> Trajan is considered one of the greatest emperors of the Roman Empire, with the senate officially declaring him 'optimus princeps', or 'best ruler'. He was a highly successful soldier-emperor who led the greatest military expansion in Roman history, with the empire reaching its maximum territorial extent under his rule. He was also known for his philanthropic rule and extensive building programmes, reshaping Rome and leaving numerous landmarks behind.<br/><br/> His beneficent and prosperous reign earned him an enduring reputation that has survived throughout the centuries, and he has been deified as the second of the 'Five Good Emperors'. He died of a stroke in 117 after almost 20 years of rule, and was succeeded by his adopted heir Hadrian.
Born Publius Aelius Hadrianus (76-138 CE) to a well-established family with old roots in Hispania, Hadrian was related to Emperor Trajan through his father, who was a maternal cousin of Trajan's. Trajan did not officially designate an heir before he died, though his wife Pompeia Plotina claims that Trajan named Hadrian his successor just before his death.<br/><br/> Hadrian travelled extensively during his reign, visiting nearly every province in the Roman Empire. He attempted to turn Athens into the Empire's cultural capital, and had a Greek lover named Antinous. Hadrian also spent a lot of time with the military, often wearing his military attire and dining and sleeping alongside his soldiers. He is perhaps most famous for building Hadrian's Wall, the wall that marked the northern limit of Britannia.<br/><br/> Hadrian was a philhellene (admirer of Greek culture) in most of his tastes as well as a humanist, and is regarded among the 'Five Good Emperors'. He adopted Lucius Aelius as his heir in 136, but the latter died two years later in January 138. He eventually adopted Antoninus Pius as his successor, so long as Antoninus agreed to adopt Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, Lucius Aelius' son, as his heirs. Hadrian died of heart failure on the 10th of July, 138.
Antoninus (86-161) was born in 86 to Consul Titus Aurelius Fulvus, and would grow up to become friend and ally to Emperor Hadrian, who adopted him as son and heir in 138. In turn, Hadrian made Antoninus adopt future emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus as his successors.<br/><br/> Antoninus became emperor in the same year as his adoption, acquiring the name Pius after he persuaded the Senate to grant Hadrian divine honours. He made few initial changes to Hadrian's arrangements and policies, and he oversaw a non-military and mostly peaceful reign, the most peaceful in the Principate's history. He was also perhaps the instigator of the first direct contact between Rome and China, confusion remaining whether Antoninus or Marcus Aurelius sent the first envoy.<br/><br/> Antoninus Pius died of illness in 161, aged 74, and was succeeded by his adopted sons Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, who reigned as co-emperors. Antoninus Pius is named as one of the 'Five Good Emperors', and was the longest reigning emperor since Augustus, surpassing Tiberius by a few months.
Marcus Aurelius was born in 121 to a prominent family in Iberian Baetica. Marcus Aurelius, along with future joint emperor Lucius Verus, was adopted by Antoninus Pius upon his own adoption as heir by Hadrian. Marcus Aurelius was a nephew of Antoninus' wife, and soon became his favoured son.<br/><br/> When Antoninus Pius passed away in 161, Marcus Aurelius became co-emperor with his adopted brother Lucius Verus, though he was resistant to becoming emperor at first. Marcus refused to take office unless Lucius was given equal powers, upsetting the senate's wishes to confirm Marcus alone. Together they co-ruled the Empire until Lucius' death from plague in 169, the first time Rome had ever been ruled by two emperors.<br/><br/> Marcus Aurelius defeated a resurgent Parthian Empire during his reign, also successfully waging the Marcomannic Wars in central Europe. Marcus was a stern follower of Stoicism, and his writings on it, commonly known as 'Meditations', are some of the more significant sources on ancient Stoic philosophy. He died in 180 at the age of 58, becoming the last of the 'Five Good Emperors'.
Commodus was born in 161 and was son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. At 15 years old, Commodus become co-emperor with his father in 177, making Marcus Aurelius the first emperor to have a legitimate biological heir since Vespasian. He became sole emperor three years later, when his father died in 180.<br/><br/> One of his first acts was to devalue the Roman currecy, the largest reduction since Nero's reign. Unlike his father's reign of almost continuous warfare, Commodus ruled over a relatively peaceful Empire, though it was marked by political strife and increasingly megalomaniacal behaviour by Commodus himself. Roman historian Dio Cassius stated that Commodus' reign marked the decline 'from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust', with many claiming that Commodus' terrible rule began the decline of the Roman Empire<br/><br/> Commodus was extremely proud of his physical prowess, and often compared himself to Hercules, seeing himself as a reincarnation of the demigod. He also sometimes fought in scandalous gladiatorial games. His despotic and disgraceful rule was eventually ended with his assassination on the 31st of December, 192, when he was strangled by his wrestling partner Narcissus after a previous poisoning attempt had failed. He was declared a public enemy by the Senate after his death and his statues were thrown down.
Óc Eo is an archaeological site in Thoại Sơn District in southern An Giang Province, Vietnam, in the Mekong River Delta region of Vietnam. It is also one of the modern day communes of Vietnam. Óc Eo may have been a busy port of the kingdom of Funan between the 1st and 7th centuries CE. Scholars use the term 'Óc Eo Culture' to refer to the ancient material culture of the Mekong Delta region that is typified by the artifacts recovered at Óc Eo through archeological investigation.<br/><br/> The remains found at Óc Eo include pottery, tools, jewelry, casts for making jewelry, coins (including coins from the Roman Empire), and religious statues. Many of the remains have been collected and are on exhibition in the Museum of Vietnamese History in Ho Chi Minh City.