Hodie est pr. Kal. Dec. 2772 AUC ~ 15 Maimakterion in the fourth year of the 699th Olympiad

In the News

• Norton Disney’s history and archaeology group to find out true size of Roman villa and surrounding Iron Age archaeology
• Ancient Greek Theaters Get More Funds to Improve Access by Visitors | culture & arts , culture | The National Herald
• Turkish forces arrest officer responsible for smuggling antiquities out of Syria

In Case You Missed It

• Altar to Greek god Pan used as brick in Byzantine church wall in Israel – Archaeology – Haaretz.com
• Lego Rolled Out Intricate 9,000-piece Model of Roman Colosseum on Black Friday, it’s Sold Out Already

Classicists and Classics in the News

• Tom Winnifrith obituary | Classics and ancient history | The Guardian

Public Facing Classics

• The end of Readers at Cambridge | Blog post by Mary Beard – The TLS

Fresh Bloggery

• The Dog and His Treasure: A Fable about Priorities – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• “No Knife for A Child”: A Proverb – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• Catching Up | The Second Achilles
• Cicero’s Height and Demosthenes’ Lamp – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• Andromache and Astyanax, Painted by Pierre Paul Prud’hon (c. 1758–1823) | The Historian’s Hut
• The Pointed Origin Tale For The Samnite Name | The Historian’s Hut
• De “Everest Fallacy” – Mainzer Beobachter
• Webster Says: “F**k All Your Proconsuls!” – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• Paris’ Prologue 9: The Interpretation of Hecuba’s Dream: spannycattroy — LiveJournal
• La gemma Stosciana – Liv Mariah Yarrow
• On Byres – Liv Mariah Yarrow
• Oracle of Delphi: Why Was It So Important To Ancient Greeks?
• Roman Gardens : Dr Andy Fox – ClassicalFix

Blog-like Publications

• ‘Unknown’ Kilkis and Seleucus I Nikator in an international competition

Fresh Podcasts

• ‎Spartan History Podcast: 019. The Expansion of Sparta on Apple Podcasts

19th official episode of Spartan History Podcast

• ‎Everything Everywhere Daily History Podcast: The Battle of Cannae on Apple Podcasts

One of the greatest battles in Roman history was one of its greatest losses. It was a defeat that shook the city to its core and could have very well ended the Roman Republic. …but it didn’t. The reason why it didn’t is a story of determination and the difference between tactics and strategy. Learn more about the Battle of Cannae, one of the greatest battles in ancient history, on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.

• ‎Working Over Time: “Plague, Sepsis & Cinnamon” – Physicians in Ancient Rome on Apple Podcasts

Today we have an appointment with the doctor in Ancient Rome, when the practice of medicine was a little bit different than it is today. Antibiotics, we love you! But, despite their less sophisticated understanding of medical science, the tools and techniques of Ancient Romans hit surprisingly close to the mark, in terms of human anatomy and its ailments. In fact, they were pretty darned effective with cinnamon, scalpels, and the odd bone axe.

• ‎A.D. History Podcast: The Kitos War & Bar Kokhba Revolt | 131AD-140AD F/ Sam Aronow on Apple Podcasts

Did the Jewish people ever have a chance to return to Jerusalem under Roman Rule? Was Hadrian as good an emperor as he’s often made out to be? Well, do we have a story and interview for you!

• ‎Greek Mythology Retold: Achilles: Super Men of Greek Mythology, Part 1 of 2 on Apple Podcasts

An exploration of Achilles “history” with myth-facts about his childhood and training. And how his role in the Trojan War as a combat veteran and commander shaped his most intimate relationships.

• ‎Greek Mythology Retold: Achilles: Super Men of Greek Mythology, Part 2 of 2 on Apple Podcasts

Part 2 of 2: Continuing the exploration of Achilles “history” with myth-facts about his childhood and training. And how his role in the Trojan War as a combat veteran and commander shaped his most intimate relationships.

• ‎The History Of European Theatre: Stages, Scenery, Props and Politics on Apple Podcasts

A look at the detail of the staging of Roman plays, including the use of the stage, scenery, masks, props and costume. How wall paintings and sculpture may give us some useful insights into Roman theatre. The position of actors in Roman society and how the acting troupe may have been organised. Cicero’s commentary on theatre and it’s audience and some detail on his friendship with the two greatest actors of the day and how they helped him get out of a political scrape.

Fresh Youtubery

• You won’t believe what you’ll find on the Ara Pacis Augustae – Ancient Rome Live | American Institute for Roman Culture
• Appuntamento con il restauro Ep. 3 | Etruschannel

Book Reviews

• [AJA] Decoration and Display in Rome’s Imperial Thermae: Messages of Power and Their Popular Reception at the Baths of Caracalla By Maryl B. Gensheimer. New York: Oxford University Press 2018.
• [AJA] Infancy and Earliest Childhood in the Roman World: “A Fragment of Time” By Maureen Carroll. Oxford: Oxford University Press 2018.
• [AJA] Funerary Archaeology and Changing Identities: Community Practices in Roman-Period Sardinia By Mauro Puddu (Archaeopress Roman Archaeology 55). Oxford: Archaeopress 2018.

Online Talks and Professional Matters

• Non-Persian Artists in the Art of the Achaemenid Empire
• Contested histories, materialized politics: ancient Macedonia
• See what’s happening today in Dr Pistone’s Online Classics Social Calendar

Alia

• The Complicated History of Religion and Archaeology | Discover Magazine
• The incredible story of how Boudica destroyed a Hertfordshire city – HertsLive

‘Sorting’ Out Your Day:

• Homeromanteion | Online Homeric Oracle
• Sortes Virgilianae (English)
• Sortes Virgilianae (Latin)
• Consult the Oracle at UCL

Today on the Etruscan Brontoscopic Calendar:

If it thunders today, it portends that mortals shall live as comfortably as the gods but of course, evils will come in direct proportion.

… 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)