Regina

Explore the mystery by repainting an ancient Syrian-style tombstone found in the North East of England. Restoring the tombstone reveals stunning imagery of Roman objects and over fifty information trails about Roman life provided by experts from the Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British Museum.

British Museum reference numbers are provided for anyone wishing to find out more about the objects either at the British Museum or online.

The app content is provided by The British Museum, Verulamium Museum (St Albans), Frances McIntosh (Portable Antiquities Scheme), Sam Moorhead (British Museum and Roman Society), Nick Hodgson (Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums).

Three influencers have come together to talk about what they enjoy about The Mystery of Regina’s Tombstone:

• Dr Margaret Mountford of Alan Sugar and The Apprentice fame, puts on her classicist hat to discuss the Latin and Aramaic inscriptions on the tombstone;


• Mary Beard, Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge, discusses a range of questions that this mysterious Roman tombstone raises. Who in South Shields could have carved the Aramaic inscription? How did Regina come to be a freedwoman? What are Regina's links to the stunning Roman city of Palmyra in Syria?;


• Historian and TV presenter, Tom Holland, explores the Syrian city of Palmyra in app as well as discussing Roman life in the Middle East and how a Roman legion from Syria may have settled in the North East of England.