A colossal head of grand old man the Emperor #Vespasian. From Rome, normally in Naples Archaeological Museum Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli Now in the exhibition Domiziano Odio e Amore "Domitian Love and Hate" in the #Capitolini Rome. Poor man's head was used as a great basin in the middle ages!

King of the lake...Great bronze lion mask now in Palazzo Massimo Rome Palazzo Massimo from one of #Caligula's great pleasure barges on Lake Nemi. The barges were excavated in 1929 but destroyed by fire in 1944.

To sleep - perchance to dream... Ariadne, all unknowing, sleeps sweetly. Winged hypnos lightly crouches on her head to ensure a restful slumber. Sogni d'oro Ariadne. But Theseus... National Archaeological Museum of #Taranto

Jane Eyre #Etruscan style. Part of the wonderful Arte Salvata exhibition of retrieved illegally trafficked artefacts now at Museo Nazionale Romano Museo delle Terme, Rome

Lovers of #Pompei it's time again for me Sophie Dr Sophie Hay and others to doubt the August date of the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. We think later - a main plank of this is the #pomegranate as seen with a gorgeous cockerel from the House of the Chaste Lovers Pompeii Sites

Who's a good pup! #dogs and #Latin (and sausages) - a great combination. "Ave Caesar, morituri te salutant" is the title of this painting by the German artist Wilhelm Trubner. Bode Museum Berlin @museumsportal. Those sausages know their days are numbered...

My very dear friend Dr Helen Patterson passed away last night. She was a major figure in the study of the history of Early Medieval Italy - and possibly the greatest ceramics specialist for this period. She will be so much missed but her legacy is very great. Sleep well Helen x

Raising a glass to valentines everywhere! Though if they drink wine neat from the amphora, who knows how it will end... From the newly restored House of the Vettii at Pompeii Sites . Photo my own

These boots weren't made for walking...A pair of terracotta boots from the grave of a woman. Around 900BC Athens, Agora Museum. Photo my own

Thanks Tom Dr Tom Horne, Viking Academic for highlighting this. There is a very real danger of asbestos in older buildings used as material stores and museum/gallery reserves. I lost a dear friend 15 years ago to mesothelioma directly linked to a museum reserve. Take NO chances with asbestos.

A #RomanoBritish angle to #MosaicMonday Went back to the wonderful villa at ChedworthRomanVilla First site I ever visited - 51 years ago (God!) - and this floor was on the first postcard i ever bought. I love the 'bite' out of the mosaic and floor, revealing the workings. Photo mine

Gazing at an old friend British Museum This disc formed the base of the cameo #glass Portland Vase 15BC-AD25. Paris Prince of Troy in a timeless gesture of indecision..Which goddess is most beautiful? He chooses Aphrodite and triggers the Trojan War. #Rome starts here.

He's got his father's eyes!! Pasiphae gazing at her son the minotaur. Cup in the wonderful Cabinet des Medailles, Paris. About 375BC from Vulci. Reminded me of the excellent Labyrinth exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum Go and see it!

This was the office for this week - lucky me! Pompeii Sites Working on an exciting new research project for the Ashmolean Museum with Director for Pompeii Gabriel Zuchtriegel . Met up with wonderful Sophie Hay Dr Sophie Hay now working at Pompeii - lucky woman! (And lucky Pompeii)

A still-life discovered in #pompeii with an offering of bread (?) and fruits next to a cup of wine

Simply stunning. The beautiful fortification of Rocca Calascio high in the Abruzzo

The #PortlandVase as never seen before. Glorious 19th century polychrome from Hill Pottery, Burslem, with scenes from the 420s BC Meidias Vase. Given to British Museum in memory of the great Ian Jenkins. Now in the beautiful #ColourRevolution exhibition Ashmolean Museum

Delighted to be welcoming back to @the_bsr tomorrow so many friends and colleagues of Dr Helen Patterson. You can now follow the conference online. Sign up here: bsr.ac.uk/production-and… (all times CET)