Minerva - July/August 2015

A king, a castle and a library
Stunning illuminated books and manuscripts collected by Francis I are on show in their original home, the Château de Blois. Nicole Benazeth

The faces of Roman Britain
Although there are scant records of the inhabitants of Britain under Roman rule, fragments can be pieced together to paint a picture of the craftsmen, soldiers and slaves who lived here. Guy de la Béyodère

Exploring the Eternal City
Taking private tours of the Vatican and the Colosseum are the only way to see these major sights of Rome without the crowds. Lucia Marchini

A twist in the tale
The decoration of some Roman weapons is not what it seems; it can be proved to have had a deadly practical purpose. David Sim

Terrantica
Ancient images of the Great Mother found around the Mediterranean celebrate Gaia, or the Earth, in an exhibition in Rome. Dalu Jones

Super models
An unparalleled collection of miniature Classical buildings are displayed in the restored Model Room which Sir John Soane designed specially for them at his London home-museum. Lucia Marchini

Scroll up, scroll up
On show in Los Angeles, Dead Sea Scrolls: The Exhibition is proving to be surprisingly popular but, nearly 70 years after the discovery of the scrolls, some key questions remain unanswered. Murray Eiland