In Explorator 13.42

I sent this one out early out of fear of internet outtages this a.m. … didn’t materialize, of course. Some items of interest from my weekly newsletter; some have already appeared at rogueclassicism and some will hopefully appear later. I’m including a section I put together on the goings-on in Egypt just in case you’re interested:

================================================================
CRISIS IN EGYPT
================================================================
… I figure this deserves a section of its own at this
particular time; we’ll see if it’s needed next week:

First, a few blogs which are keeping on top of things (almost on an hourly
basis):

http://egyptology.blogspot.com/
http://www.eloquentpeasant.com/
http://www.kv64.info/ (might have to scroll a bit through this one)
http://paul-barford.blogspot.com/ (ditto)

… and a Facebook page (Restore + Save the Egyptian Museum!):

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_197921123555505&ap=1

… and a looting database:

http://egyptopaedia.com/2011/

Mary Beard’s son sent out some dispatches about the general atmosphere:

http://timesonline.typepad.com/dons_life/2011/01/cairo-riots-eye-witness-account\
.html
http://timesonline.typepad.com/dons_life/2011/02/live-from-cairo.html

No doubt folks are familiar with the early reports of damage to things
associated with Tut, e.g.:

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/01/28/5943271-archaeologists-assess-tu\
t-tragedy
http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/36841/mummies-are-beheaded-and-museums-ransack\
ed-amid-egypts-revolutionary-chaos/
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/01/pictures/110131-egyptian-museum-\
looted-artifacts-damaged-egypt-protests-mubarak/?now=2011-01-31-00:01
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/01/110131-egypt-egyptian-museum-zah\
i-hawass-mubarak-science-world-cairo-tombs/
http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/tut-family-mummies-damaged-in-egypt-riots.\
html
http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/egypts-tombs-temples-under-siege.html

Zahi Hawass (now Minister of Antiquities) has given the impression that
everything is ‘just fine’:

http://www.drhawass.com/blog/state-egyptian-antiquities-3-february-2011
http://www.livescience.com/culture/egypt-museum-cairo-110303.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-30/egyptian-antiquities-safe-after-museum-\
s-looting-official-says.html
http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/01/5967554-government-says-antiquit\
ies-are-safe

… but he’s giving mixed messages in the press:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hzDtpsLDQuq03GDXOwb6_QBcMvNg?\
docId=CNG.5059cecfb0aba8394b7f8d99ed739f16.5e1
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/world/middleeast/02antiquities.html
http://abcnews.go.com/International/video/mummies-safe-egypt-12812079

… but clearly there were things happening at Saqqarah (and environs):

http://www.artsjournal.com/culturegrrl/2011/02/news_flash_detailed_report_abo_1.\
html
http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2011/02/egypt-update-rare-tomb-may-hav\
e.html
http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/egypts-tombs-temples-under-siege.html

… and at the tombs of Neferefre and Sahure (not sure if this is lumped in
with the Saqqarah items):

http://www.tntmagazine.com/tnt-today/archive/2011/02/01/egypt-revolt-antiquities\
-in-danger.aspx

… and Qantara Museum:

http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFLDE70U0XN20110131

… and there was possibly another attempt at the Cairo Museum (I’m not sure
of the chronology of this
report):

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gwO71j6o3JQqrJOuDHm\
fO1yaLv3Q?docId=5811480

… and elsewhere:

http://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/2011/02/04/03004-20110204ARTFIG00656-les-archeolo\
gues-redoutent-de-nouveaux-pillages-en-egypte.php

… and Cleopatra-seeker Kathleen Martinez was suggesting otherwise too:

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2011/2/4/38490/Dominican-Egyptologist-reg\
rets-the-looting-of-antiquities

… and we’re reading reports of several museums being looted:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/fighting-raiders-of-ancient-history/story-fn6cc\
wsa-1226000503142

… and some sort of ‘international alert’ was sent out to watch for looted
items:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/02/us-britain-egypt-antiquities-idUSTRE71\
14YM20110202
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110202/sc_nm/us_britain_egypt_antiquities
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Museums+high+alert+ancient+Egyptian+loot/42109\
25/story.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110202/lf_nm_life/us_finearts_egypt_antiquities_3
http://www.wbir.com/rss/article/155310/2/UTs-McClung-Museum-experts-keeping-eye-\
on-Egypt

… and UNESCO waded in:

http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFLDE71013C20110201

… so despite the assurances, other scholars seem to be adopting a ‘wait
and see’ attitude (these are all different; many
of the scholars have ‘connections’ to digs going on, of course):

http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/media/chaos-in-todays-egypt-sparks-worries-abo\
ut-its-ancient-past/19828072/
(Laurel Bostock)
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2011/02/qa-with-dr-wi\
lleke-wendrich.html(Willeke
Wendrich)
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/03/egypt%E2%80%99s-treasures-at-risk/
(Bob Brier)
http://www.telegram.com/article/20110203/NEWS/102030853/-1/NEWS04 (Donny
George; Alexandra Cleworth)
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/national_world&id=7936370(Carol
Redmount)
http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/dutch-egyptologist-sounds-vandalism-alarm(Maa\
rten
Raven)
http://www.unreportedheritagenews.com/2011/01/damage-reported-at-giza-pyramids.h\
tml(Gerry
Scott)

Still, we’re getting some followup pieces that are giving some hope:

http://blogs.ngm.com/blog_central/2011/02/report-from-egypt-checking-out-the-tom\
bs-at-saqqara.html

And in case you were wondering about the beheaded mummies mentioned last
weekend:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41433151/ns/technology_and_science-science/
http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/egypt-headless-mummies-identity-110204.htm\
l

Oddly, we didn’t get many stories of evacuations of archaeological types
(that I saw, anyway):

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/02/uc-study-abroad-students-archeolog\
y-team-evacuated-from-egypt.html

Folks were protecting the Bibliotheca Alexandrina:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/feb/01/alexandria-youth-protecting-library

We’re also getting the first of the oped pieces suggesting ‘repatriation’
ideas from various
countries might not be the best idea after all:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703833204576114580200904212.html
================================================================
EARLY HUMANS
================================================================
Apparently we’re faster than Neanderthals:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1353644/Achilles-heel-Reason-won-\
race-survival-Neanderthals-went-extinct.html
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20927984.700-youd-beat-a-neanderthal-in-a-\
race.html

… although there’s still a bit of Neanderthal in all of us:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1352499/Modern-man-4-cent-Neander\
thal-DNA-inside-him.html

Pondering the Denisovans:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2011/02/03/133464424/leaky-replacement-human-neand\
erthal-and-denisovan-blends

More on an earlier departure from Africa:

http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?id=206056

================================================================
ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT
================================================================
A Byzantine church find might also be the site of the tomb of Zechariah:

http://www.antiquities.org.il/about_eng.asp?Modul_id=14
http://news.scotsman.com/world/Israel-Tomb-raiders-lead-officials.6709597.jp
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=44672
http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/zechariah-tomb-old-testament-110203.html
http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/Features/Archeological-Excavations-in-Horbat-Midr\
as-Israel/4566/(photos)
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Early+History+-+Archaeology/Byzantine_church_m\
osaic_floor_Hirbet_Madras_2-Feb-2011.htm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1353003/Byzantine-church-discovered-near\
-Jerusalem-burial-place-prophet-Zechariah.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=133429116
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/02/israel-archeology-byzantine-mosaic-p\
hrophet-zecharia
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/02/03/archaeologists-may-have-found-tomb-of-prophet-\
zechariah/
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0203/1-500-year-old-church\
-discovered-by-archaeologists-in-Israel
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20110202/tsc-church-unearthed-in-israel-may-hold-c2f\
f8aa.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/02/israel-old-church_n_817422.html
http://www.torontosun.com/news/world/2011/02/02/17123266.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110202/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_ancient_church

… while the discovery (it is claimed) of the Laodicea Church isn’t getting
quite as much
attention:

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=ancient-church-discovered-in-western-tu\
rkey-2011-01-31
================================================================
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)
================================================================
Restoration work continues on the Acropolis:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5haEDR92V5k7lbrFx76H2CCSr_taw?\
docId=CNG.5a73e88b2737221ddfdd9d4ecd2a1988.7b1

Philip Freeman on what Alexander the Great would do with Egypt right about
now:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110203/OPINION01/102030335/Guest-opin\
ion-What-would-Alexander-do-in-Egypt-today-?BUSINESS04

TellmeOmuse is an interesting project:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703652104576122182508638812.html

On the possible Syrian origins of the myth of Orion:

http://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/201102018849/Travel/archaeologists-orio\
n-the-hunter-greek-myth-born-in-syrian-mountain.html

J. Rufus Fears talks about democracy:

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/05/133520533/Different-Meanings-Of-Democracy-For-West\
-Middle-East

More on that Roman road found in Puddletown Forest:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1353574/Motorway-maximus-Unearthe\
d-stunning-Roman-super-highway-built-1-900-years-ago.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1353574/Roman-road-Dorset-forest-\
-1-900-years-constructed.html

On the utility of Latin:

http://www.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/6669953/forget-mandarin-latin-is-the-key-\
to-success.thtml

Feature on Mt Hymettus:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite4_25545_02/02/2011_370862

Didn’t we have this medicine-from-a-shipwreck story a few months ago?:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/01/AR2011020100169.\
html
http://www.smh.com.au/world/shipwreck-gives-up-secrets-of-ancient-medicine-20110\
203-1affk.html

Not sure if this feature on one of the ‘curves’ in the Circus Maximus will
make it into English or not:

http://roma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2011/02/01/news/circo_massimo-11907048/

What Frederick Danker is up to:

http://www.christianchronicle.org/blog/2011/02/new-testament-scholar-danker-dona\
tes-extensive-library-to-heritage-christian-university/

What Susan Rotroff is up to:

http://news.brynmawr.edu/?p=7738

Stephen Margheim appears to be a rising star:

http://www.baylor.edu/pr/news.php?action=story&story=87928

… although they don’t seem to get that at UMaine:

http://mainecampus.com/2011/01/31/petition-appeals-for-latin/

… while Howard has dropped its Classics major:

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/02/01/howard_university_spares_philosoph\
y_and_african_studies_the_axe_but_guts_or_changes_71_others

The annual Roman numerals attempt at wit:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/03/AR2011020303182.\
html

… while Tom Payne puts a Greek/Roman spin on the Super Bowl:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?id=6076613

Nice followup story on the Tod-sponsoring-the-Colosseum thing:

http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/No+Venice-style+mega-ads+on+the+Colosseu\
m+during+its+sponsored+conservation/23017

Review/interview/podcast with Peter Stothard, *Spartacus Road*:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-04/rome-crucified-6-000-spartacus-led-slav\
e-rebels-lewis-lapham.html

Review of Tom Payne’s translation of Ovid’s *Ars Amatoria*:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/427b8534-2a63-11e0-804a-00144feab49a.html

Review of Matthew Dennison, *Livia, Empress of Rome*:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/04/AR2011020402997.\
html

More on efforts to restore the Olympias:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite6_10590_30/01/2011_375914
http://jacksonsun.com/article/20110130/NEWS01/110129013/1002/rss

================================================================
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
================================================================
Time Magazine has a feature on the ‘Top 25 Political Icons’:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2046285_2045996_20459\
06,00.html

… while elsewhere we have a list of the 10 most powerful women in history:

http://listverse.com/2008/10/02/top-10-most-powerful-women-in-history/

… and a list of five famous philosophers greatest hypocrises:

http://www.slate.com/BLOGS/blogs/browbeat/archive/2011/01/31/5-famous-philosophe\
rs-greatest-hypocrisies.aspx

On the history of encyclopedias:

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/knowledge-through\
-the-pages-the-evolution-of-encyclopedias-2203767.html

================================================================
TOURISTY THINGS
================================================================
Palmyra:

http://www.hellomagazine.com/travel/201102024881/ancient-ruins/palmyra/syria/1/
================================================================
CRIME BEAT
================================================================
Second Temple coins and jugs found during a weapons search in Galilee:

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=206567
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/142125
================================================================
NUMISMATICA
================================================================
Not sure if I mentioned attempts by a Somerset museum to keep the Frome
Hoard:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-12285254

Latest eSylum newsletter:

http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v14n05.html
================================================================
EXHIBITIONS, AUCTIONS, AND MUSEUM-RELATED
================================================================
Everyone is going gaga at Google’s Art Project:

http://www.googleartproject.com/

Septimius Severus:

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/exhibitions/8826893.New_exhibition_about_Roma\
n_Emperor_Septimius_Severus_at_the_Yorkshire_Museum/
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/8833444.Bust_of_Roman_Emperor_unveiled/

Alexander the Great:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/feb/02/macedonia-exhibition-alexander-the\
-great

A couple of Titians are on tour of the US:

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/03/133441944/two-titian-masterpieces-traveling-throug\
h-u-s
================================================================
Useful Addresses
================================================================
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