Two Roman statues unearthed near Beit She’an

Two Roman statues were discovered after a Beit She’an resident took a stroll north of the ancient tell. A woman noticed the top of a head of one of the statues while walking around the ancient Biblical site, known in Roman times as Scythopolis. The resident and her husband alerted the authorities, which quickly arrived at the site and uncovered the statues.

Such artifacts are usually placed near or inside burial caves, and are intended to be a likeness of the deceased. They date to the late Roman-early Byzantine period (third to fourth centuries CE). Similar sculptures have been found in the past near the region of Beit She’an, which sits at the junction of the Jordan River Valley and Jezreel Valley. Heavy winter rains bring such finds to the surface.

The Likho

Likho is an embodiment of evil fate and misfortune in Slavic mythology. A creature with one eye, it is often depicted as an old, skinny woman in black or as an evil male goblin. In ancient times, the likho was believed to be a servant of Death. During pre-Christian times villages would conduct a ritual during times of epidemic and burn an effigy of Likho. Likho was supposed to come and eat a person. This was used to scare small children. Likho is a noun meaning bad luck in modern Russian.

Expensive US pennies

The 1914-S Lincoln cent. Over 4 million minted. What makes this coin extremely valuable is condition. $105,800 in 2016. 1944-D Lincoln Penny on a Zinc-Coated Steel Planchet. Over 430 million were struck. $115,000 in 2006.

1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny. $117,500 in 2014. 1872 Indian Head Penny. $126,500 in August 2007.

1877 Indian Head Penny. $149,500 in August 2007. 1914-D Lincoln Penny. $152,750 in 2017. An uncirculated example in its original mint state makes this coin extremely rare.

1864 Indian Head Penny–"L" on Ribbon. $161,000 in 2011. 1943 Lincoln Cent Struck on Bronze Alloy. $164,500 in 2013.

1856 Flying Eagle Cent. $172,500 in 2004 1909 VDB Matte Proof Lincoln Penny. $258,500 in 2014

1943-S Lincoln Cent Struck on Bronze. $282,000 in 2016. 1944-S Lincoln Steel Penny. $373,750 in 2008.

1943-D Lincoln Bronze Cent. $1,700,000 in September 2010. The only known example of a 1943 Lincoln penny struck at the Denver mint on the bronze alloy. All pennies produced in 1943 were to be struck on zinc-plated steel planchets instead of the regular copper alloy. Some bronze cents from 1942 slipped into the production line. The single example from the Denver mint is unique and very likely the most expensive penny on earth.

Tree of life is dying: Africa's ancient baobab

Africa's ancient trees of life are being killed by climate change. Researches found that nine of the oldest 13 baobab trees and five of the six biggest ones have partially or completely died in the past 12 years. The baobab tree is revered in Africa. Medicinal compounds are extracted from its leaves, while the fruit -rich in vitamin C -- is used for nourishment and the seeds yield oil. Three trees that were older than 2,000 years have all died in the past decade.

Ashurnasirpal II Relief - $ 31m

Retrieved from Nimrud in modern-day Iraq in the mid-19th century. Standing more than seven feet high, this proud figure was once part of an elaborate decorative scheme that covered the walls of the Northwest Palace at Nimrud, which was constructed some 3,000 years ago. An Assyrian gypsum relief of a Winged Genius. Reign of Ashurnasirpal II, circa 883-859 BC.

The Assyrian relief sold for $30,968,750.

'He was the king of kings.'

The stone’s surface is covered in ‘Standard Inscription’, a cuneiform incantation that recalls Ashurnasirpal: ‘Fierce monarch, merciless hero, the word of whose mouth destroys mountains and seas…’

Truk Lagoon National Monument

A visual history lesson about World War II lies at the bottom of Truk Lagoon. The lagoon played host to Operation Hailstone on February 16/17, 1944 when American planes launched an aerial attack on anchored ships. Truk Lagoon was a major naval base with an extensive infrastructure for the Japanese Imperial Navy. Because of this, the base had earned the nickname "the Gibraltar of the Pacific." Truk Lagoon was considered the most formidable of all Japanese strongholds in the Pacific.

Truk was Japan's equivalent of the Americans' Pearl Harbor, it was their largest forward naval base.

The Japanese fleet lost an estimated 10 warships, over 30 supply vessels, 275 aircraft, light cruisers, and destroyers, and an estimated 4,500 military personnel during the two-day strike.

Forewarned by intelligence a week before the US raid, the Japanese had withdrawn their larger warships (heavy cruisers and aircraft carriers) to Palau.

Harnessed horse unearthed in ancient stable near Pompeii

Archaeologists have unearthed the petrified remains of a harnessed horse and saddle in the stable of a villa in Pompeii. It's thought the villa belonged to a high-ranking military officer. The remains of other horses were also found.

The villa's terraces had views of the Bay of Naples and Capri island. The area was previously excavated, during the early 1900s, but later re-buried. It's thought suffocating volcanic ash or boiling vapors killed the horses.

The Rakshasa

In Hindu mythology, a rakshasa is a malignant demon, especially one of a band of demons at war with Rama and Hanuman. The word rakshasa comes from the Sanskrit rākṣasa, meaning ‘demon’. The rakshasa was later incorporated into Buddhism. Rakshasas are also called 'Maneaters'. A female rakshasa is known as a Rakshasi. They were insatiable cannibals that could smell the scent of human flesh. Some drank blood with their palms or from a human skull.Generally they could fly, vanish, and had Maya (magical powers of illusion), which enabled them to change size at will and assume the form of any creature.

Cool Ancients at Heritage

Heritage offers a remarkable array of coins from every available epoch in history, hailing from every corner of the globe.

Ancients: ZEUGITANA. Carthage. Ca. 320-270 BC. EL stater NGC Choice XF ★ 5/5 - 4/5 Ancients: THRACIAN KINGDOM. Lysimachus (305-281 BC). AR tetradrachm. NGC AU 5/5 - 3/5 Ancients: JUDAEA. Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-135 AD). AR zuz. NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5

German East Africa: German Colony. Wilhelm II Proof Rupie 1905-J PR65 PCGS

Gem Mint State Stater of Croesus

Croesus is most famous for introducing the world's first pure gold and pure silver coins. Prior to this, coins were produced in electrum, a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver. Scholars argue that the gold standard of Croesus was introduced in stages, designed to recall the circulating electrum staters. Once a sufficient number had been recalled, the Lydian government issued a new light stater.

Though the light stater was produced for a longer period than the heavy stater, the light stater is actually the rarer coin. The market seems to be catching on. This NGC Gem MS light stater sold in April for $180,000.
See ----->Gold of Croesus

The Trident

Corinthian plaque, 550–525 BC.

The trident has always been associated with Poseidon. Poseidon was gifted his trident by the elder cyclopes, the one-eyed giants of ancient Greece, to help him in the war against the titans. Poseidon, as well as being god of the sea, was also known as the 'Earth Shaker' because when he struck the earth in anger he caused earthquakes. He also used his trident to stir up tidal waves, tsunamis and sea storms. In Hindu mythology, it is the weapon of Shiva, known as trishula.

Egypt unveils spectacular tomb of ancient high priest

Archaeologists have discovered the tomb of a priest dating back more than 4,400 years in the pyramid complex of Saqqara south of Cairo. The tomb belongs to 'Wahtye' a high priest who served during the fifth dynasty reign of King Neferirkare. His tomb is decorated with scenes showing the royal priest alongside other members of his family.

Pharaoh Neferefre