Huge 2,000-Year-Old Leather Shoe Unearthed Near Roman Fort: "Promising For Future Excavations"
A huge 2,000-year-old waterlogged leather shoe was unearthed by archaeologists while digging near the site of Magna, a Roman fort built along Hadrian's Wall around 112 AD. Hadrian's Wall was built to guard the wild north-west frontier of the Roman Empire. It stretched 73 miles from coast to coast.
The shoe, belonging to a Roman soldier with massive feet, was found at the bottom of an ankle-breaker ditch, a deep defensive trench designed to trap attackers if they got that far. The size of the leather sole measured 12.6 inches from toe to heel, equivalent to men's size UK 13.
The researchers found pottery and other smaller items, but three 2,000-year-old leather shoes, that were still intact, surprised them. The shoe will provide new data about manufacturing techniques and the people of that era.
The volunteers for the Magna Project wrote on the excavation blog, "It's always exciting to find anything that hasn't been touched for 2000 years but a shoe is such a personal item; it really puts you in touch with the people who used to live at the fort."
"This is really promising for our future excavations," Rachel Frame, a senior archaeologist for the dig project, wrote on the project's diary page.
The researchers said they have a plan to expand their dig to inside the fort to look for other items of archaeological importance.
The archaeologists who found it revealed that people were stunned after the discovery, as it "drew impressed gasps" when it was pulled from the ground.
Two shoes were discovered on May 21. As mentioned in Magna Dig Diary 2025, archaeologists revealed that the other one had all of its sole layers intact, along with part of the heel area still attached. Most of the hobnails were there in the outer sole.
"This gives us a really good look at how Roman shoes were made: multiple layers of leather were used to form the sole, held together with thongs, stitching and hobnails. These also reinforced the outer surface for walking and are found on many styles of shoe," Frame noted in the post.
"Sadly, the toe area is missing meaning that we can only estimate its original size, but it was still clear this would have been a large shoe when complete," Frame added.
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NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
Huge 2,000-Year-Old Leather Shoe Unearthed Near Roman Fort: "Promising For Future Excavations"
A huge 2,000-year-old waterlogged leather shoe was unearthed by archaeologists while digging near the site of Magna, a Roman fort built along Hadrian's Wall around 112 AD. Hadrian's Wall was built to guard the wild north-west frontier of the Roman Empire. It stretched 73 miles from coast to coast. The shoe, belonging to a Roman soldier with massive feet, was found at the bottom of an ankle-breaker ditch, a deep defensive trench designed to trap attackers if they got that far. The size of the leather sole measured 12.6 inches from toe to heel, equivalent to men's size UK 13. The researchers found pottery and other smaller items, but three 2,000-year-old leather shoes, that were still intact, surprised them. The shoe will provide new data about manufacturing techniques and the people of that era. The volunteers for the Magna Project wrote on the excavation blog, "It's always exciting to find anything that hasn't been touched for 2000 years but a shoe is such a personal item; it really puts you in touch with the people who used to live at the fort." "This is really promising for our future excavations," Rachel Frame, a senior archaeologist for the dig project, wrote on the project's diary page. The researchers said they have a plan to expand their dig to inside the fort to look for other items of archaeological importance. The archaeologists who found it revealed that people were stunned after the discovery, as it "drew impressed gasps" when it was pulled from the ground. Two shoes were discovered on May 21. As mentioned in Magna Dig Diary 2025, archaeologists revealed that the other one had all of its sole layers intact, along with part of the heel area still attached. Most of the hobnails were there in the outer sole. "This gives us a really good look at how Roman shoes were made: multiple layers of leather were used to form the sole, held together with thongs, stitching and hobnails. These also reinforced the outer surface for walking and are found on many styles of shoe," Frame noted in the post. "Sadly, the toe area is missing meaning that we can only estimate its original size, but it was still clear this would have been a large shoe when complete," Frame added.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
One nation, one menu
The Board of Secondary Education, Telangana, sets the syllabus. The Illuminati of Hyderabad food sets the menu. The board prescribes one textbook for all schools. The Freemasons wrote one menu for all restaurants. Schools hire teachers to teach from that book. Restaurants hire chefs to cook from that one menu. Some teachers follow the syllabus to the dot. Some go beyond and try harder. Some just read from the guide and go home. Same with chefs — some follow the recipe to the dot, some experiment, and some just reheat leftovers. Schools have different names, fees, and uniforms. Restaurants have different names, prices, and themes. But what they teach and what they cook is exactly the same. Yet every time a new restaurant opens up, my friends lose their minds. Conversations go like this: 'Bro, a new restaurant just opened! Let's try that oldest dish invented in 800 AD at this place that opened in June 2025.' Yes, Bob Dylan, the times they are a-changin' — but they're not changing fast enough. We urgently need to move to Mars. I need AI to cut my nails. I don't want to give OTPs — I should blink twice and a cab should appear. And when will Google Maps show directions to Limbo? And here we are, wasting precious brainpower deciding what to eat and where. So today, I will solve this one useless problem for all you good people trying to build this planet into a better place. The Illuminati is trying to stall your progress by keeping you stuck between Chicken Manchurian and chicken manchiga unda? Basically, everyone wants the best food their money can buy, right? So, we stop working, check reviews, watch three-hour podcasts, ask ChatGPT to deep dive, and then, with half-conviction, pick a place and order. Later we say, 'Today wasn't that good.' Meanwhile, the glacier melted 100 litres, and a self-driving car missed its turn. Instead, try this: Pick any dish — say Chicken Noodles (which, by the way, every restaurant, even a Rajasthani one, will have). Have low expectations. You've got Rs 1,000? Pick any premium place. They all sound exotic, pretending they just returned from Vietnam — but they're as Indian as you are, so how different can it really taste? Just pick any one. You've got Rs 500? Choose any less-fancy street place. They'll serve the same noodles, just in a scratched-up plate, and use brighter food colours and dim lighting so you don't notice the scratches. One gravy is orange. One gravy is green. But once you taste them, it all feels the same. You've got Rs 100? Stop at the place with the worst spelling. This applies to Butter Chicken, Pizza, Mandi, and nowadays even Biryani. So let's save ourselves and the planet from having endless conversations about 'What's your favourite restaurant?' and 'Where should we eat?' We're on the brink of extinction. And food is just basic fuel. Sure, we all love our fuel. But Indian Oil or Bharat Petroleum — how does it even matter? Sandesh @msgfromsandesh (This comedian is here to tell funny stories about Hyderabad) (The writer's views are his own)
Time of India
6 days ago
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Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius enjoys social media revival
Representative AI image "Look within. Within is the fountain of good, and it will ever bubble up, if thou wilt ever dig." Wise statements like this can be found in the "Meditations" of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121-180 C.E.). He had never intended these reflections for publication, having written them purely for himself, but they have become some of the most widely read writings after the Bible and the Quran. A bestseller, so to speak, which has been translated into numerous languages worldwide. Known today as a philosopher-king, Marcus Aurelius ruled at a time marked by crises and catastrophes. He ascended to the throne in 161 C.E., just a few years before the Marcomannic Wars (166-180 C.E.) — the Marcomanni were Germanic tribes — which would shake the Roman Empire to its foundations. In addition, he faced economic problems, social tensions and the spread of the Antonine Plague, a form of smallpox, throughout his territory. 'You have power over your mind, not outside events' Equanimity — that was one of the basic principles of Marcus Aurelius, who was a great fan of the Stoics, an ancient school of philosophy founded by the Greek Zeno of Citium in 300 B.C.E. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Marcus Aurelius wanted to be a good ruler, but what is good governance? That question, which remains relevant to this day, was of great concern to him, as reflected in his "Meditations." But his contemporaries would never have read his writings, according to archaeologist Marcus Reuter, director of the Rheinisches Landesmuseum in Trier. "The Romans also never saw him as a philosopher-king. His writings were never made public during his lifetime. He wrote for himself, in the quiet of his room in the evening." Aurelius only acquired the image of the philosopher-king after the publication of his "Meditations" in the 15th or 16th century. Reuter and historian Viola Skiba, director of the Stadtmuseum Simeonstift in Trier, have co-curated a joint exhibition, in each of their institutions, on Marcus Aurelius, set to run from June 15 to November 23, 2025. Skiba said the themes of the exhibition are more current than they had anticipated. The question of what good leadership looks like has taken on a new urgency, especially in these crisis-ridden and polarised times. At the same time, the question is as old as human history itself, and was clearly a focus in the ancient world. Donald Trump 'not a role model' What, according to Marcus Aurelius, distinguishes good governance? "Basically, it is guided by the cardinal virtues of antiquity," said Skiba. Those desirable virtues include wisdom, justice, prudence and moderation. A key concept is the "orientation toward the common good," acting in a way that truly benefits the community as a whole. "This is, so to speak, also what separates a good ruler from a bad one according to [the Greek philosopher] Aristotle." Reuter added that Marcus Aurelius would most likely have considered Donald Trump "not a good leader, and certainly not a role model." But of course, Marcus Aurelius was a product of his time, who grew up within the social structures of antiquity. "There was slavery, and not even Marcus Aurelius wanted to abolish it," said Reuter. The emperor also did not question "that there were people with and without Roman civil rights, or that women did not have the same rights as men." From today's perspective, it may also seem odd to consider as virtuous an emperor who waged brutal wars. "According to ancient standards, the emperor was expected to ensure the security of the empire and protect its inhabitants — even by very brutal means if necessary," said Reuter. "He was extensively involved in court cases. He endeavoured to pass just judgments, and always put the interests of the state first," added Reuter. The construction of the Porta Nigra in Trier — today the city's famous landmark — can also be traced back to Marcus Aurelius. It was part of the city wall that Aurelius had built to protect its citizens. 'Very little is needed to make a happy life' Aphorisms like the above can seem like mockery coming from a wealthy emperor, but they were meant sincerely. Indeed, Marcus Aurelius cultivated a rather modest lifestyle and even had imperial household items — his private assets — auctioned off when the state was in financial crisis. "As far as I know, no Roman emperor before or after him did that," said Reuter. Marcus Aurelius also apparently spent a lot of time pondering the meaning of life, which is presumably the reason so many young people nowadays are interested in him and his writings. In Reuter's estimation, "his 'Meditations' are a little treasure trove containing something to address nearly every situation in life." Reuter pointed out that Marcus Aurelius' writings don't lend themselves to being read from front to back, but are well-suited to dipping into to find inspiration. They are, after all, the private musings of someone who spent time thinking about what was truly important in life. So it's small wonder that quotes by the Roman emperor can be found all over social media. The exhibition in Trier builds on this contemporary interest in Marcus Aurelius and the topics that occupied him. It's designed to inspire visitors from all over the world to reflect on themselves, society and what a long-ago Roman emperor still has to say to us today. Or, as Skiba put it, "Every society is based on individuals, and if each and every individual asks themselves these philosophical and political questions, then it also works as a whole."
