The Quote:

…and when a people reaches that height God will provide a weapon, the idols will be shattered, the tyranny will crumble like a house of cards and liberty will shine out like the first dawn.

- Jose Rizal

The Painting:

Destruction by Thomas Cole, 1833-1836. Painting number four in his “The Course of Empire” series in which imperialism is critiqued, and pastoralism is promoted, through the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire.

Specialists involved in the Herculaneum Conservation Project have excavated the ancient sewers of the city and uncovered the largest deposit of organic material ever found in the Roman world.

Layers of excrement that lay buried by volcanic mud for centuries are giving experts new clues about the diet and health of the city’s ancient inhabitants.

Project manager Jane Thompson told ANSA the team has recovered some 750 large sacks of human excrement.

You know you’re an archaeological (or historical as the case may be) geek when shit is cool.

(Source: archaeology)