Day: September 6, 2020

#Thelxinoe ~ Classics News for the Weekend of September 5-6, 2020

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

Hodie est a.d. VIII Id Sept. 2772 AUC ~ 19 Metageitnion in the fourth year of the 699th Olympiad

In the News

In Case You Missed It

Classicists and Classics in the News

Greek/Latin News

Fresh Bloggery

Fresh Podcasts

The Ionian Greek cities break out in revolt against the Persian Empire

It’s the Season One Finale, and we’re ending with a bang, not a whimper! It’s pretty much common knowledge that Facebook violates its users’ basic data privacy rights. But did you know that Facebook also is one of the prime vectors for billions of dollars of criminal trafficking in looted artifacts, inflicting catastrophic economic and cultural damage on vulnerable populations in conflict regions across the Middle East, fueling regional violence and transnational terrorism? Whether your answer is yes or no, we implore you to listen in to hear impassioned Archaeoactivist and everyday hero, Katie Paul, on this vitally important but little known crisis, complete with pointers on what we all can do to combat this global security threat. Join her as she walks Karen through a day in the life of an ancient Egyptian tomb raider and brings to light some of the most important issues facing the future of both history, and those who love it.

On a distant, storm-swept island, the dream-haunted Queen Penelope must defend her home from the ravages of pirates and thieves, and save her son from an untimely death. This series of Lore & Legend is called ‘The Gates of Dream’ — exploring tales of encounters between the heroes and heroines of Greek Myth, and the Gods and Spirits of the Greek Underworld – the Lands of Dream, Death, and Darkest Fate…

“I think we can all empathize with someone who’s like a son, or in this case, an adopted son, trying to kind of make his own mark and escape the shadow of his father, and leave something on the world of his own.” In the year 79 CE, Pliny the Elder set out to investigate … “

While the attempted coup was going on, Claudius had troops in Mauretania under the command of Suetonius Paulinus. One of Paulinus’ officers, Gnaeus Hosidius Geta, chases the Moors over the Atlas Mountains and into the desert – where he has to call on foreign gods to save his legions.

The Ionian Greek cities break out in revolt against the Persian Empire

This is a cultural history episode about sexuality in Ancient Rome. I thought the topic would be fun and juicy, but that’s because my memory of Roman sexuality was hazy. After refreshing it with lots of research, I can safely say that ‘fun’ is not a word I would apply to it. ‘Insanely disturbing’ is probably more fitting. Most of the ancient sources, in fact, seem to indicate that little to no attention was paid to the idea of sex being for mutual pleasure. Rather, sex was primarily seen as something to reinforce dominance and hierarchy. In this episode, we’ll cover prison sex, rapey garden gnomes, the similarities and differences between ancient Roman and Christian sexualities, the origin of the word ‘family’ (it’s not pleasant), threatening sexual violence to prove one’s manliness, the violent myths about Rome’s founding, the Rape of the Sabine women, sex and slavery, prostitution, why speaking of homosexuality or heterosexuality made no sense in Ancient Rome, legal trials as rap battles, Cicero & the art of character assassination, Mark Anthony & the art of assassinating Cicero, Augustus’ puritanism, gladiators fighting against their own wildcat-shaped phalli, Roman sexual art, and much, much more.

In this Olympic length episode I discuss the origin of the games and how both they and the site developed over time. I’ll also be picking up the wider aspects of it all from politics to nudity and even foul play.

Priestesses of Vesta, Goddess of hearth, home and family, the College of Vestal Virgins were Rome’s only full-time priesthood. They numbered only six and were selected from noble Roman families at an early age, between six and 10 years old. They would tend the sacred fire in the Temple of Vesta and remain virgins for the duration of their tenure, which would stretch long into womanhood, lasting at least 30 years. Their importance to Rome was paramount and throughout this ancient civilisation’s pagan history, the Vestal Virgins remained right at the heart of Roman society. But things were not always plain sailing for the Vestals during their 1,000 year history… I was delighted to be joined by a leading light on this subject Peta Greenfield to talk through the history of the Vestals. From the importance of fire and water for the cult to the infamous Vestal punishment of ‘incestum’ Peta explained the history behind all in this brilliant chat.

60 BCE – 44 BCE – The continuation of Caesar’s story covering the First Triumvirate, The Gallic Wars and Caesar’s Civil War.  Rome could never be the same again.

13th official episode of Spartan History Podcast, The sons of Heracles. Looking at the foundation of Sparta itself and the journey it’s inhabitants took to get there.

On this week’s episode of PillarTalk we are joined by our friend and UoM Masters Student – Jess Charlesworth, to discuss who we think are  the best and worst Roman emperors . Including debates surrounding the intentions of Nero, Antoninus Pius and our favourite cleaning products – plus! two wine spills and an entire wine glass smash.

Book Reviews

Alia

‘Sorting’ Out Your Day:

Today on the Etruscan Brontoscopic Calendar:

If it thunders today, it portends women acquiring power beyond what is ‘appropriate’.

… adapted from the text and translation of:

Jean MacIntosh Turfa, The Etruscan Brontoscopic Calendar, in Nancy Thomson de Grummond and Erika Simon (eds.), The Religion of the Etruscans. University of Texas Press, 2006. (Kindle edition)