Roma Urbs Aeterna

For the past few weeks, the eyes of the world had been fixed on events in the Eternal City of Rome, with the burial of one pontiff and the election of his successor. In world history, the buildings, monuments and art of Rome provides a continuous thread that connects our world with ancient triumphs and tragedies. For good or ill, it forms a sturdy framework to fixtures of our modern world, even to those of us who reside far from it. Whether it's the timeless views of old bridges that bisect the Tiber, the inscribed stonework of recovered ruins or terracotta statuary now residing in museums, Rome has so many faces, so many impressions to show us. Infographics decode the mysteries of a Pompeii bathhouse or Hadrian's wall. Scenes from everyday life, depicted in painted images or inlaid mosiac humanize the people of ancient Rome. We see it reflected in opulent image from Renaissance or 18th century art. There are the backstories behind significant archaeological discoveries. Even a little factoid revealing what Gaius Julius Caesar thought of beer.

Members 91.4k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warning: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

Related Posts: 

Rome and Constantinople (New Rome). The Roman (and Byzantine) Empire

The Medieval Horse and its Equipment

Castles in the World

Photo Credit: Rainhard2 on Pixabay

The Medieval Horse and its Equipment

The horse is such a central figure in popular media depictions of the Middle Ages that most people seldom notice the inaccuracies or misconceptions. For example, fantasy movies would have us believe that every average farm boy with dreams of grandeur just happened to have access to a well-bred Friesian stallion, never mind the fact that destriers were expensive, high-maintenance and exclusively reserved for the elite. There were times when laws prohibited the peasantry from even owning equines above a certain height, or at all. If however, you are interested in scratching beneath the glamor of modern myth to uncover some real facts, this fascinating Facebook group, dedicated to the tack and care of medieval steeds should give you plenty to digest. Posts include period depictions, book references, real artifacts from museums and links to re-enactments. 

Members: 2.2k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

Equine Art

Reliving Arabian Horse History

Castles in the World

Mia's Bayeux Tapestry Story

I love Haworth and the Bronte Parsonage

The Bronte sisters have always fascinated me. Their incredible bond with each other and to their Byronically tragic brother Branwell. Their imaginative exploration of the inner worlds that fueled their creativity. The sheer audacity with which they set out to undertake what so few women of their age did - get published. This Facebook group is dedicated to the English town where the Brontes spent most of their lives, and nurtured their talent. Where their father preached his sermons. The pictures shared breathe life into the powerful backdrop of their classic novels, showing the timelessness of Haworth and the moors that inspired them. Contemporary perspectives are interwoven with historical narratives and memorabilia. We get a rare glimpse of one of Charlotte's miniature books. There are historical photographs from the 1850s, showing Haworth and its people as the Bronte sisters must have experienced it. A post on Charlotte's friend Elizabeth Gaskell, who wrote a biography of Charlotte and later became a literary giant herself. For anyone who loved the books and want to get closer to the young women who created them. 

Members: 14.4k, at the time of writing

Trigger warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

Related posts:

Prince Albert, Queen Victoria & Their Family (1800-1918)

Ancient Stone Bothering

When seen in context to the brief lives of humans and the even shorter spans of many animals, stone, rock and boulder seems eternal, strewn across the landscape by the long-ago giants of myth. Some stones are lone reminders of a bygone era. Others hosted mysterious rituals or secret roundevous. From the impressive and instantly recognizable image of Stonehenge to the Dolmen of Menga, Spain, here's a Facebook group that celebrates all those enigmatic corners of the world that retain a little of the timeless mysteries of our past. Carnac. Stenness in Orkney.  Pentra Ifan. Carn Goch. Maen Llia. Callanish in the Outer Hebrides. These stones remember our ancestors. And that is where the bothering part comes in, capturing the temporary intrusions of humans, sheep, cows, dogs and an assortment of other indignities. What do the stones make of us? Heaven alone knows. We can but wonder...

Members: 47.2k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

Mia's Bayeux Tapestry Story

The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the world's most famous pieces of handcraft. And it tells the story of one of the most significant events in English history - the 1066 invasion of William of Normandy. The original is believed to be around 950 years old. To single-handedly reproduce this incredible piece of cultural art is no mean feat, but that is exactly what the self-taught, Swedish-born artist Mia Hansson has set out to do. To tell the story of this incredible project (which started in July 2016), and to share media about its tie-ins, she had created this Facebook group. The posts offer fascinating insights into the scale and effort involved in bringing the work to life. 

Members: 5k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

Mia's website: https://www.miasbayeuxstyleart.uk/

Mia's other Facebook Group: https://web.facebook.com/groups/miasdrawingandsewing?_rdc=1&_rdr

Prince Albert, Queen Victoria & Their Family (1800-1918)

It is difficult to imagine the 19th century without calling it the Victorian era. Queen Victoria, her clever, industrious husband and their nine children are central to everything that era stood for and their offspring spread out across the royal houses of Europe. This facebook group shares historical photographs of the direct and extended family members and descendants of Victoria and Albert, but there are also swoonworthy royal dresses, as well as historical factoids. You will probably see many princes, princessses, dukes, duchesses, counts, countesses and more that you've never heard of, and don't forget to read the comments to some of the posts, which are interesting in and of their own. If you are into royalty, and/or history, you'll probably enjoy this community.

Members: 60.4k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: Royalty

Go here to visit or join.  

Ancientology

 If you consider the age of the planet, then written human history is spectacularly short and woe-fully inadequate. There are even large segments of written history that remains mysterious and obscure, when viewed from the lens of the 21st century. In this group, you will find hints and clues of our ancient forebears and their contemporaries, but also of fossils and creatures that walked the earth long before humans were even around. There were posts of enigmatic stone stairs and megalithic structures in Sicily, rock paintings in British Columbia, Chilean mummies, ancient Romanian weaponry, Polish treasure hoards, rock-cut temples in India and Roman mosaics when I paid my visit. 

Members 72.9k, at the time of writing. 

Trigger warnings: None

Go here to visit or join. 

If you know of a Facebook group that you feel deserves a mention, let me know in the comments. 

Update: This group does not exist anymore - 29 March 2026

Celebrating the Wright Brothers

It's impossible to imagine a world without aviation. In a world where it is possible to cross continents in a hours rather than weeks or even months, few people ever pause to reflect on the early pilots that made this possible. The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur rightly deserve their place in history as aviation pioneers. The Facebook group dedicated to their legacy also features both current and past pilots of note, as well as a little bit of humor and even a model plane here or there.  Although this group is small, by comparison to most of the groups I've been featuring, they deserve some love, as an awesome community. 

Members: 1.8k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None

Go here to visit or join. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons.

Medieval Mirth & Jollity

 Hollywood often paints the Middle Ages as a grubby, depressing time of religious conservatism and superstition. But even a quick glance at surviving media from the period will cure you of that misbelief. The medieval era was gaudy, ribald, naughty and funny. They enjoyed feasts and jousting, mischievous monks and naughty nuns. And this Facebook group is a great space for sharing the lighter side of life in the Middle Ages or expressing a yearning for simpler times. Enjoy knightly humor, kings and queens, fair maidens and hilarious re-interpretations. 

Members: 166.5k at time of writing

Trigger Warnings: Gruesome medieval depictions.

Go here to visit or join. 

Castles in the World

Castles make some of the most intriguing tourist attractions in the world. But one thing you'll notice very quickly when browsing through the images posted on this Facebook Group is the fact that not all castles are created equal. From humble, dark age fortifications to the opulence of Versailles and jaw-dropping towers that perch precariously from steep cliffs, the sheer variety in historical architecture is astounding. Some castles are citadels that once housed vibrant communities. Others are now little more than ruins. There are castles that fit perfectly into their surroundings, be it hilltop or port-side. Example are the beautiful Mont St Michel in Normandy, Artana Castle in Kosovo, and Cochem Castle in Germany. Feed your appetite for fairy-tales and fantasy. 

Members: 301.6k at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None

Go here to visit or join. 

History for the Witty 2.0

 At its best, this Facebook group is a fusion of pop culture and historical media. You see historical photos with an up-to-date spin on it. There are jokes that may have taken centuries or even millennia to be set up. There may be bathroom humor and sexual innuendo with more history thrown into the mix. See ignorance cleverly trolled. Let vintage media surprise you. Enjoy media, memes and assorted thoughts that mix up today with any number of yesterdays. A sense of humor will be mandatory for maximum enjoyment. 

Members: 279.7k at time of writing. 

Trigger warnings: nudity and inappropriate/adult humor. 

Click here to visit or join.

HISTORY, HISTORY

Everything that has already happened, any time from about five minutes ago, is history, but only time will tell what reaches the archives. Threads on the discussion board include 'Favorite era in history', 'history mystery', 'History women - Most memorable ?', 'a good book', 'Favorite Founding Father?', 'Lost Roanoke colony' and '96 years ago today'. If you'd rather see history than read about it, there are some great recommendations in 'Top 5 History Movies'. There are lots of links to other internet resources in wall posts. The gallery has less than 100 images, but there are some fascinating ones, including school pictures of Barack Obama and stills from a 1935 film, called 'Sanders of the River' in which a penniless Jomo Kenyatta acted decades before he was to become first prime minister and later president of an independent Kenya.

What's great about this group: Explore the non-boring side of history.

Update (28 October 2023)

While there are numerous awesome history groups, I could not conclusively link any of them to the Facebook group profiled here. 

Joshua A. Norton for Emperor

For those not familiar with the story, Joshua Abraham Norton, failed 19th century businessman and resident of San Francisco became legend by declaring himself emperor of the United States of America in 1859 and dissolved Congress. According to some reports, as many as 30,000 people paid their respects on the day of his burial. There aren't that many threads on the discussion board, but 'Reasons to admire Emperor Norton', 'Beer and Blasphemy' and 'Emperor Norton was frozen!' count among the topics included. The wall posts feature more, including a link 'his' blog. There are photos and cartoons of the esteemed Emperor in the gallery as well as an image of his tombstone.Several other groups exist to honor his memory, but this is the largest and most active.

What's great about this group: Celebrate the life and memory of a popular historical eccentric.

Update (24 October 2023)

This Facebook Group no longer exists. There is a Facebook Account with the name Joshua A Norton and a Facebook Page entitled The Emperor Norton Trust, which is linked to a website with the same name. The page has 1,800 followers and can be found here. 

If you remember this you grew up in the 1890's

Every once in a while, I stumble upon a group that's a true winner. This one has an authentic and original theme, to which members are true, with great ingenuity and lots of fun seem to be had by all. In the information section, you can study some details of what life was truly like in the period. The discussion board includes threads such as 'Did you attend the fair?' (meaning the Worlds' Fair in Chicago in 1893, in case you've forgotten) 'Most humorous trend?', 'Most Memorable Moments?', 'The New Adventures of Queen Victoria', 'The Consumptive Look', 'Where were you when McKinley was shot?' and 'Music memories from 1890's'. In the gallery you will find images from products of the period as well as plenty of authentic black and white photographs from the period. The wall posts are lots of fun, too.

What's great about this group: Its authentic atmosphere.

Update (18 April 2024)

There are two older groups with this name. The larger (123 members) one can be found here. Although it is no longer active, there is some really interesting content which is still available from its heyday. The smaller (36 members) and possibly older (going back to 2007) group can be found here. 

Poppy Field on Facebook

You may accuse me of having my dates mixed up, but as one thread on this group states, in reality, every day should be Remembrance Day. The group commemorates, as does Poppy Day, which is celebrated on the 11th of November, the end of World War One and remembers the fallen from both World Wars. The famous poem, penned by Major John McCrae is included in the group description and several threads, such as 'Remembrance and Wartime Poetry' and 'Poems that made me stop and think' also focus on war poetry. Individual casualties are named in the wall posts - there are over 800 - or featured in memorial gravesite photographs or black and white snapshots in the gallery. One thread, 'They died between the Armistice and the Cease-Fire...' links to a BBC article which lists American soldier, Henry Gunther, shot in the final minute before the ceasefire, as the last of the fallen.

What's great about this group: Spare a moment to reflect on the human side of history.

Click here to go directly to 'Poppy Field on Facebook'.