spain valladolid medieval church apse collapse 1234769931

A section of the apse of the 12th-century Romanesque-Mudejar Church of Our Lady of the Castle (also known as the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption) in Muriel de Zapardiel, Valladolid, Spain, collapsed on Monday morning. The protected Bien de Interés Cultural was immediately closed to the public, with no injuries reported. Heritage experts attribute the collapse to long-standing structural issues such as humidity, cracks, and brickwork erosion, compounded by years of insufficient maintenance. The Archbishopric of Valladolid, which owns the church, stated that inspections last summer had not indicated imminent risk, while regional culture minister Gonzalo Santonja visited the site and called for further analysis.

rome tour well preserved underground dwelling livestream 1234769884

Rome is offering livestream tours of the House of the Griffins, an ancient Roman home on the Palatine Hill that has never been open to the public. Dating to the 2nd-1st century BCE, the dwelling features well-preserved frescoes, mosaics, and two stucco griffins. Starting March 3, after years of restoration, small groups of up to 12 visitors can watch a guide with a head-mounted camera explore the underground structure, with narration in English or Italian.

unusual medusa carving discovered archaeological site turkey 1234769506

Archaeologists excavating a Roman forum near the ancient city of Amastris (modern-day Amasra) in Turkey have uncovered a marble Medusa carving with an unusual smiling expression. The relief was found atop decorative columns that once formed a covered walkway (stoa) in the forum. Excavations began three years ago after historical remains were discovered during school construction in 2017. The project, overseen by Bartin University’s Archaeology Application and Research Center and supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture’s “Heritage of the Future” initiative, has so far reconstructed three columns across the 30,000-square-foot site.

pompeii multilevel buildings digital reconstructions 1234758104

A new study published in the Pompeii Archaeological Park's online journal reveals that the ancient Roman city featured multilevel buildings far more impressive than previously understood. Using digital technology, the Pompeii Reset project—a collaboration between the Pompeii Archaeological Park and Humboldt University of Berlin—created 3D reconstructions of structures encased in ash during the 79 CE eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The case study focused on the House of Thiasus in Regio IX, where a 39-foot-tall tower with two levels, including a dining room with city views, was reconstructed. Researchers employed laser scanners, structured-light scanning, and photography to build digital models, then virtually added missing architectural elements like staircases and windows, testing them for structural plausibility.

thirty five arrested in bulgaria criminal art trafficking network 1234762594

Bulgarian authorities, with support from Europol, arrested 35 individuals and conducted 131 searches across Bulgaria, seizing over 3,000 cultural artifacts valued at more than €100 million. The operation targeted a criminal network trafficking artifacts from Thracian and Greco-Roman civilizations across Europe, with connections to illegal excavations in Bulgaria and the Balkans. The investigation, which began after a 2020 house raid that uncovered 7,000 artifacts, involved law enforcement from Albania, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and the UK, and was coordinated from Sofia and Eurojust in The Hague.

after museum heist syrian cultural authorities face scrutiny over lack of transparency 1234761570

Syria's Ministry of Culture briefly published details of artifacts stolen from the Damascus National Museum, including six Roman-era marble statues of Venus and gold ingots, only to delete the post hours later. The theft occurred on Sunday night and was discovered Monday morning when a broken door was found. International media reported the theft citing anonymous sources, and the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) confirmed an investigation but provided no further details. The museum, which houses thousands of antiquities, had reopened in January after closing during the civil war and the fall of the Assad regime.

Upcoming Exhibitions

Bellarmine Hall Galleries at Fairfield University Art Museum will host an exhibition from September 18 to December 12, 2026, exploring 'Egyptomania'—the 19th-century European fascination with ancient Egyptian art and culture. The show features paintings, prints, photographs, and decorative art from the early 19th century to the present, including works like Charles-Théodore Frère's *Along the Nile* (ca. 1870). Curated by Megan Paqua, the exhibition examines how Egyptian symbols and motifs were adopted, exoticized, and commercialized, often erasing the ancient Egyptian people themselves. It aims to contrast simplified or stereotypical narratives with current archaeological understanding.

Making fashion out of art: Students hit the runway with designs inspired by BYU Museum of Art exhibit

BYU students staged a runway show at the BYU Museum of Art, presenting fashion and makeup designs inspired by paintings from the exhibition "The Sense of Beauty: Six Centuries of Painting from Museo de Arte de Ponce." Students in a sewing class taught by Amber Williams created looks based on specific artworks, such as a dress evoking Dante Gabriel Rossetti's "The Roman Widow" and a contemporary two-piece inspired by Frederic, Lord Leighton's "Flaming June." Hair and makeup were done in collaboration with Theater and Media Arts students led by Jennine Hollingshaus. The exhibition, on view until Jan. 3, features works from the Museo de Arte de Ponce in Puerto Rico.

Ancient Roman Cargo Lost for 2,000 Years Resurfaces in Swiss Lake

A team of Swiss archaeologists and the nonprofit Octopus Foundation have recovered a 2,000-year-old Roman cargo from Lake Neuchâtel. The haul consists of approximately 600 remarkably preserved artifacts, including stacks of brand-new ceramic plates, bowls, goblets, weapons, tools, chariot wheels, and a wicker basket, dating from between 50 B.C.E. and 50 C.E. The ship itself was not found.

roman mosaic trojan war alternate scene 2726514

In the summer of 2020, a British family discovered a Roman mosaic on their farmland in Rutland, England, depicting scenes from the Trojan War. Archaeologists from the University of Leicester later uncovered three panels showing the battle between Achilles and Hector, dating to the 4th century C.E. The mosaic, named the Ketton Mosaic, is the first known depiction of the Trojan War in a British mosaic and was originally part of a Roman villa's dining room floor.

Route 66, a ‘Linear Museum Stretched Across Eight States,’ Turns 100

Cultural institutions across the United States are launching a series of exhibitions and preservation projects to commemorate the centennial of Route 66. From the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to local galleries along the 2,448-mile corridor, these programs examine the highway's evolution from a vital migration artery to a kitschy symbol of Americana. The initiatives aim to provide a nuanced look at the road’s history, including the experiences of marginalized travelers who relied on the Green Book to navigate segregated landscapes.

Literature Today: The Crisis of the Novel as a Symptom of Social Change

La letteratura oggi: la crisi del romanzo come sintomo di un cambiamento sociale

The article examines the perceived crisis of the novel as a literary form, tracing its historical rise alongside the bourgeoisie in the 17th and 18th centuries. It argues the novel functioned as a mirror for a coherent social class with shared values, serving as a device for collective representation. The form's foundational premise of a recognizable community began to fracture in the 20th century, particularly after World War II, as societies atomized and grand ideological narratives collapsed.

Hugo the Decorator

Hugo décorateur

An exhibition and accompanying book explore Victor Hugo's lesser-known role as an interior decorator, focusing on the elaborate interiors he created for his homes in Paris and during his exile on the island of Guernsey. Curator Gérard Audinet conducted extensive research to reconstruct these lost environments, which were filled with eclectic objects, artworks by friends, and prestigious gifts.

New SLAM exhibition brings ancient Rome to life in ‘Ancient Splendor: Roman Art in the Time of Trajan’

The Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) has opened “Ancient Splendor: Roman Art in the Time of Trajan,” a major traveling exhibition featuring a seven-foot-tall marble statue of Emperor Trajan and a vast array of artifacts from his reign. Organized in collaboration with the Italian organization StArt and curated by Roman expert Lucrezia Ungaro alongside SLAM’s Hannah Segrave, the show is structured into three thematic sections: the imperial household, the domestic lives of everyday Romans, and the public sphere. To enhance immersion, the museum has integrated sensory elements including scent stations that replicate ancient fragrances and a commissioned soundscape.

Taos Pueblo artist honored in poignant museum tribute

The Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos has opened a posthumous retrospective dedicated to DeAnna Autumn Leaf Suazo, a rising Indigenous artist who was tragically killed in 2021 at the age of 29. The exhibition, titled "Honoring DeAnna Autumn Leaf Suazo," features over 20 works including large-format paintings, ledger drawings, and the first public display of illustrations from her children’s book, "Taos Pueblo Fall." The show highlights her unique aesthetic, which blended her Taos Pueblo and Diné heritage with influences from Japanese anime and manga.

Treasures of the past shine in ‘Ancient Splendor’

The Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) is launching 'Ancient Splendor: Roman Art in the Time of Trajan,' a major exhibition featuring approximately 160 artifacts including imperial portraiture, mosaics, jewelry, and frescoes. Curated by Lucrezia Ungaro and Hannah Segrave, the show utilizes theatrical design and sensory elements like scents to immerse visitors in the Roman world. The exhibition is bolstered by significant loans from prestigious Italian institutions, including the Vatican Museums and the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Travel back in time on an immersive journey through Italy’s rich mosaics at Miami’s Frost Art Museum

The Frost Art Museum at Florida International University in Miami has opened "MOSAICO: Italian Code of a Timeless Art," an exhibition featuring ancient Italian mosaics, including fragments from a ship belonging to Roman emperor Caligula and 11th-century stone slabs from the tombs of Saints Benedict and Scholastica. These artifacts, on view in the US for the first time, are loaned from the Capitoline Museums in Rome and are presented alongside immersive digital projections by Magister Art that recreate sites like the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Basilica of San Vitale. The exhibition is organized by region, highlighting Unesco World Heritage sites and spanning techniques from the Hellenistic period to Roman opus sectile.

Trajan’s force: Houston exhibition to explore Ancient Rome’s imperial peak

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is opening "Art and Life in Imperial Rome: Trajan and His Times," an exhibition exploring the artistic and cultural legacy of Emperor Trajan (AD 98–117). The show features loans from major Italian institutions including the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli and the Vatican Museums, with standout works such as a 2-meter marble statue of Trajan and a colossal portrait of his wife Plotina. The exhibition, conceived in 2021 with Italian consultancy StArt, will travel to the Saint Louis Museum of Art in March 2026, with each venue offering a different focus—Houston emphasizing large-scale objects like a recreation of Trajan's Column, and St. Louis delving into the port city of Ostia.

Altos de Chavón Art Gallery presents ‘WONDERLAND

The Altos de Chavón Art Gallery in La Romana, Dominican Republic, is presenting 'WONDERLAND,' a new exhibition by artist Stepanova opening on January 9, 2026. The show explores early childhood perception through immersive paintings, and the opening will feature a darkroom installation, live performances, and a curated atmosphere.

Vatican to open contemporary art gallery in historic papal library

The Vatican Apostolic Library has created a new exhibition hall for contemporary art, which will be inaugurated by Pope Francis on November 5. The first exhibition, titled "EVERYONE: Humanity on its way," features unpublished works by Roman artist Pietro Ruffo, including a site-specific installation in the Sala Barberini that transforms the space into a tropical forest. Historic treasures from the library, such as a 17th-century map of the Nile by Ottoman explorer Evliya Çelebi, will be displayed in dialogue with Ruffo's contemporary reinterpretations.

Why AI Doesn't Steal Our Imagination – with Jenifer Becker

Warum KI uns nicht die Fantasie raubt – mit Jenifer Becker

Author and cultural scholar Jenifer Becker discusses the impact of artificial intelligence on creativity in the Monopol podcast "Fantasiemuskel." She argues that while AI-generated text is often generic, it can liberate us from the romantic myth of the solitary genius by demonstrating that most ideas already exist. Becker leads the "AI Lab Kit" at the Hildesheim Literature Institute, using experimental projects to push language models beyond their algorithmic comfort zones.

A 1st-Century Roman Cargo Uncovered in Lake Neuchâtel

Une cargaison romaine du Ier siècle mise au jour dans le lac de Neuchâtel

Archaeologists have completed two major underwater excavation campaigns in Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland, recovering over 1,000 artifacts from a Roman cargo shipment dating between 20 and 50 AD. The discovery, initially spotted via aerial photography in 2024, includes exceptionally well-preserved items such as Spanish olive oil amphorae, tableware, military weaponry, and rare organic materials like a wicker basket and chariot wheels. The site was kept secret for two years to prevent looting while divers meticulously retrieved the historical treasures.

Excerpt from the Iliad in a mummy's abdomen and gold tongues: rare discoveries made in Egypt

Extrait de l’Iliade dans l’abdomen d’une momie et langues en or : de rares découvertes effectuées en Égypte

Archaeologists working at the necropolis of Oxyrhynchus in Egypt have made a series of rare discoveries, the most significant being a fragment of papyrus from Homer's Iliad found inside the abdominal cavity of a Roman-era mummy. This marks the first time a Greek literary text has been found incorporated into the ancient Egyptian embalming process, suggesting a unique hybridization of funerary practices.

Sotheby’s to Hold Auction in Diriyah Featuring over 60 Artworks

A priceless 2,500-year-old golden helmet and three golden bracelets from Romania's Dacia civilization, stolen from the Drents Museum in the Netherlands in January 2025, were returned to Romania on Tuesday. The artifacts arrived at Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport under guard and were displayed at Bucharest's National History Museum, flanked by armed security. The recovery followed 14 months of investigations, diplomatic tensions, and an ongoing trial of three suspects; one bracelet remains missing but Dutch authorities vow to continue the search.

Newly Restored Roman Artifacts from Ostia Antica Installed in Rome's Hotels

I reperti romani appena restaurati di Ostia Antica vengono allestiti negli alberghi di Roma

Three Roman masterpieces from the 2nd century AD, previously hidden in the storerooms of the Ostia Antica Archaeological Park, have been installed in the lobbies of historic hotels in central Rome. The works include marble portraits of Empress Faustina the Elder and noblewoman Domizia Lucilla, alongside a restored fresco of Lachesis, one of the Fates. This initiative, titled "Ostia Antica Goes to Town," is part of the broader "Art Outside the Museum" project, which pairs cultural institutions with the hospitality sector to bring archaeological treasures into the public eye.

Bread, Wine, and Fish: How the Archaeology of Food Tells the Story of Life in Herculaneum

Pane, vino e pesce. Tutta l’archeologia del cibo racconta che vita si faceva a Ercolano: l’itinerario gratuito

The Herculaneum Archaeological Park has launched a new thematic itinerary titled "I luoghi del cibo a Ercolano" (The Places of Food in Herculaneum), offering visitors a deep dive into the gastronomic culture of the Roman city buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD. The guided path leads through ancient street food stalls known as thermopolia, specialized wine shops, and the bakery of Sextus Patulcius Felix, where stone mills and ovens remain intact. The experience extends to the Casa dei Cervi to illustrate the social rituals of elite banqueting and includes a supplementary exhibition at Villa Campolieto featuring organic remains preserved by the eruption.

Death of Denis Coekelberghs

Disparition de Denis Coekelberghs

Denis Coekelberghs, an art historian and contributor to La Tribune de l'Art, died on February 25 at the age of 85. He was a specialist in the work of François-Joseph Navez and Flemish Baroque sculpture, and earned his doctorate in art history from the Catholic University of Louvain in 1976.

‘War, Religion and Love’ collide in Sac State student’s solo art exhibition

Sacramento State fine arts student Desiree Thomas has debuted her solo exhibition, "War, Religion and Love," at the university’s R.W. and Joyce Witt Gallery. The show features oil paintings that utilize romanticized imagery to explore unsettling themes, including internal psychological struggles and the domestic lives of Nazi soldiers. Notable works like "The Fine Line Between Ambition and Insanity" and "Home" challenge viewers to confront the duality of beauty and darkness through complex religious and historical symbolism.

Conceptual Play: at Parliament Gallery Flaviu Cacoveanu reflects on the elements of everyday life opening up countless directions of meaning

Romanian artist Flaviu Cacoveanu has opened a solo exhibition titled 'Conceptual Play' at Parliament Gallery. The show features works where the artist transforms ordinary, everyday objects and materials into conceptual art pieces, inviting viewers to find new meanings in the familiar.

FROM SÃO PAULO TO NEW YORK: THE MUSEUM OF ERRANCY OF ÉDOUARD GLISSANT

DE SÃO PAULO A NUEVA YORK: EL MUSEO DE LA ERRANCIA DE ÉDOUARD GLISSANT

The exhibition "La tierra, el fuego, el agua y los vientos: Por un Museo de la Errancia con Édouard Glissant" has traveled from the Instituto Tomie Ohtake in São Paulo to the Center for Art, Research and Alliances (CARA) in New York, marking its first U.S. presentation. Curated by Manuela Moscoso with Marian Chudnovsky, and building on prior work by Ana Roman and Paulo Miyada, the show engages with the philosophy of Martinican poet and philosopher Édouard Glissant, particularly his concepts of errantry, Relation, opacity, and the Tout-Monde. It centers on Glissant's unrealized idea of a museum as a fluid, porous space that resists colonial frameworks and fixed origins, featuring works by artists such as Melvin Edwards, Gerardo Chávez, and Eduardo Zamora.