Hodie est a.d. IV Id. Aug. 2776 AUC ~ 24 Hekatombaion in the third year of the 700th Olympiad

In the News

• [paywalled] Roman bridge in Chepstow river Wye mud – diggers await dates | South Wales Argus

In Case You Missed It

• From ancient pizzas to snake shrines: Take a look around this recently excavated home in Pompeii | Euronews
• Ruins of Emperor Nero’s Theater Discovered near Vatican – Scientific American
• D.A. Bragg Announces Return of 42 Antiquities to the People of Italy – Manhattan District Attorney’s Office

Fresh Bloggery

• More Cover Drafts | Archaeology of the Mediterranean World
• PaleoJudaica.com: Rogan, Purity in the Gospel of John (T&T Clark)
• Laudator Temporis Acti: Classical Taste
• Aeneas Didn’t Escape, The Greeks Let Him Go – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• Ovid – The Historian’s Hut
• Aino Ackté Alcestena (Sketch Of Aino Ackté As Alcestis), By Albert Edelfelt (c. 1854-1905) – The Historian’s Hut
• Ovid On The Immortality Of Literature – The Historian’s Hut
• Laudator Temporis Acti: The Zeitgeist
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Zitate der Aeneis in den Briefen des Hieronymus: Eine digitale Intertextualitätsanalyse zur Untersuchung kultureller Transformationsprozesse
• Laudator Temporis Acti: Seriocomedy
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Incestus et prohibitae nuptiae. L’inceste à Rome: Conception romaine de l’inceste et histoire des prohibitions matrimoniales pour cause de parenté dans la Rome antique
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Themes in Plato, Aristotle, and Hellenistic Philosophy: KEELING LECTURES 2011–18
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Démons iraniens: Actes du colloque international organisé à l’Université de Liège les 5 et 6 février 2009 à l’occasion des 65 ans de Jean Kellens
• How long does it take to produce a professional translation from Latin? – Roger Pearse
• My Exciting Adventure in Greece, Part 5 (August 9th, 2023) – Tales of Times Forgotten
• Endure Shame for the Sake of Friends – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• Gaius Julius Caesar (1): consul – Mainzer Beobachter
• Post-destruction votive deposit found in Agrigento – The History Blog
• Gaius Julius Caesar (2): Gallië – Mainzer Beobachter
• Gaius Julius Caesar (3): dictator – Mainzer Beobachter
• PaleoJudaica.com: Essays on the Psalms of Solomon (Mohr Siebeck)
• Visiting the ancient Glanum and Saint-Rémy-en-Provence – Time Travel Rome
• Laudator Temporis Acti: A Tyrant

Association/Departmental Blogs and News

• A new beginning for Kosmos – The Kosmos Society
• Presenting Newest Publication From Western Anatolia – Groundcheck
• DAI4UKR: Archaeological and Epigraphic Evidence about the Religious Life of the Roman Garrison in Tyras – Documenting, Recording and Saving Ukrainian Archaeological Heritage

Other Blog-like Publications

• What Happened to the Son of Alexander the Great?
• Votive offering of figurines found at the Valley of the Temples | HeritageDaily – Archaeology News
• “Whatever!”: In Defense of Anachronism in Ancient Rome ‹ Literary Hub
• Stop comparing the West to Rome – UnHerd
• Aeneid IX.621-716 – by publius vergilius maro

Assorted Twitter Threads

• @DocCrom on Ovid,  Remedia Amoris 543-554

Fresh Podcasts

• Ad Navseam: No Pain, No Grain: The Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Part I (Ad Navseam, Episode 126) on Apple Podcasts

After a welcome hiatus for all of us (especially you, listener), Jeff and Dave are back in the studio for a look at the archaic hymn to the goddess Demeter. Was this intended to be used in the ritual and liturgy of the mystery cult, or is it just a breezy, Saturday afternoon matinee poem? Clocking in at 495 lines, how does this eypllion differ from the shorter poems from the seventh century? What is a mystery religion, how does this one compare to the cults of Mithras and Dionysus, and exactly how small do scientists intend to make tomatoes, while being sure we will still ingest them? Tune in for the answers to these and other pressing questions as the summer rolls along.

• The Ancients: Attila the Hun: Scourge of God on Apple Podcasts

One of the most powerful, and feared, leaders of history – Attila the Hun’s legacy has persevered over centuries. His consolidation of the Hunnic tribes helped play a significant role in shaping the ancient geopolitical landscape of 5th century Europe and Asia – ultimately helping him to invade the Western Roman Empire. But where did Attila the Hun come from, and what was his early royal life like? In this episode Tristan welcomes Hyun Jin Kim back to the podcast to take us through this tumultuous moment of history. Looking at how Attila consolidated his power, exerted control over the Romans, and how he ascended to the throne – is Attila the Hun really as terrifying as history makes him out to be, or is he even worse?

• Thin End of the Wedge: 58. Looking back at RAI Leiden: on conferences, and catching up with guests on Apple Podcasts

This special episode is a follow-up on the big annual conference. I offer some thoughts on what happened, and on how things might be in the future. As part of this, I catch up with three colleagues who have appeared as guests. Two were among the very first guests, who kindly helped me start the podcast. It was a leap in the dark for all of us. Since then, there have been a lot of changes for Gina and Jana. The third is a more recent guest, but someone who will shape our experience at next year’s conference. Saana offers her thoughts on this year’s topic–inequality–and gives us some hints about what we can expect in Helsinki next summer.

Fresh Youtubery

• What did average Romans do in Ancient Rome? – YouTube | Ancient Rome Live
• Discover the ancient Greek festival of The City or Great Dionysia – YouTube
• Yet Another Update!~ – YouTube | Ancient Geeko-Roman
• These Books Should Be On Your TBR If You Like A ~Classics Vibe ~ – YouTube | MoAn Inc.

Book Reviews

• BMCR ~ Andreas Avgousti, Recovering reputation: Plato and demotic power. New York: Oxford University Press, 2022.
• BMCR ~ Bernard Legras, Cléopâtre l’Egyptienne. Mondes anciens. Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 2021.
• BMCR ~ Anne Boud’hors, David Brakke, Andrew Crislip, Samuel Moawad, The rediscovery of Shenoute: studies in honor of Stephen Emmel. Orientalia Lovaniensia analecta, 310. Leuven; Paris; Bristol: Peeters, 2022.

Online Talks and Conference-Related Things

• See what’s happening today in Dr Pistone’s Online Classics Social Calendar
• SCS Events Calendar

Jobs, Postdocs, and other Professional Matters

• Placement:Service | Society for Classical Studies

Alia

• Greek Man in Roman-Era London Used Amulet to Ward Off Plague
• Was the Parthenon of Acropolis Built by Slaves?
• The Jewish Prophesy of Alexander the Great
• The Fascinating History of Ancient Greek Messengers

Diversions

• Latin Wordle – latindictionary.io
• GNT Wordle
• Verbdum – Ludus verborum cotidianus

‘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 pain, suffering, and  malaise for most of the people.

… 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)

Hodie est a.d. V Id. Aug. 2776 AUC ~ 23 Hekatombaion in the third year of the 700th Olympiad

In the News

• The calm before the storm: How Vesuvius deceived the inhabitants of Stabiae, Rome’s ‘little Pompeii’ | Culture | EL PAÍS English
• Precious Ancient Roman Site Set Ablaze by Fireworks During Town Celebration
• New York Returns Over 40 Stolen Antiquities To Italy | Barron’s
• Ancient Wine Press That Depicts Greek Gods Discovered In Israel
• Round-the-clock excavations at Church of Holy Sepulchre yield historical treasures | The Times of Israel

In Case You Missed It

• Roman road network spanning the South West identified in new research: LiDAR scans and geographical modelling establish first evidence of long-distanced roads system — ScienceDaily
• Archaeologists Find Evidence for Roman-Era Road Network in South West Britain | Sci.News
• Coal Miners Discover Ancient Roman Boat in Serbia | Smart News| Smithsonian Magazine

Classicists and Classics in the News

• Classical Studies at Massey University celebrates its own legacy | Stuff.co.nz

Fresh Bloggery

• Presocratic Healthcare Plan: Everyone a Doctor, Everyone a Sage – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• Lawlessness and The City – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Neighbourhoods and City Quarters in Antiquity: Design and Experience
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Dossier : Éros en jeu
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Open Access Monograph Series: Études Anciennes
• Laudator Temporis Acti: Periplus
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Peupler et habiter l’Italie et le monde romain
• A Tale of Two Sophokleis – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• De slag bij Adrianopel – Mainzer Beobachter

Other Blog-like Publications

• Roman road network spanning the South West of England identified in new research – Arkeonews
• Was Ancient Athens Really a Democracy?
• Archaeologists identify Roman road network | HeritageDaily – Archaeology News
• Precious Roman Gem Engraved with Mythological Figure Discovered in Italian Lagoon – Arkeonews
• “Magic mirror” to ward off evil found at ancient Usha | HeritageDaily – Archaeology News
• High school student discovered a 1500-year-old ancient Magical Mirror – Arkeonews
• Archaeologists uncover Bronze Age pyramidal structure in the Eurasian steppe | HeritageDaily – Archaeology News
• Digging on the Dark Side of the Volcano – Archaeology Magazine
• Aeneid IX.503-620 – by publius vergilius maro
• Now discovered in the Valley of the Temples a room containing a treasure made up of 60 very ancient ceramics – Stile Arte
• Archaeology: ancient Aquileia finds recovered from the sea – Quotidiano dei Contribuenti

Fresh Youtubery

• Fullers of Ancient Rome (The Clothes Cleaners of Rome) – YouTube | World History Encyclopedia
• Hello IN LATIN (Adele cover) – “salve” (Translation by Keith Massey) [The Tudors] – YouTube
• Inside the Walls of Carthage – The Rome of Africa DOCUMENTARY – YouTube | Invicta
• Food in Ancient Greece -An Interview with Flint Dibble Part 1 – YouTube

Book Reviews

• BMCR ~ Dominick Delp, Zwischen Ansässigkeit und Mobilität: die sogenannte Grosse Kolonisation der Griechen aus migrationstheoretischer Perspektive. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2022.
• BMCR ~ Sharon L. James, Golden Cynthia: essays on Propertius. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Press, 2022.

Exhibition Related Things

• Ephemeris ~ NOVA AB UCRAINA De impetibus recentioribus 

Online Talks and Conference-Related Things

• See what’s happening today in Dr Pistone’s Online Classics Social Calendar
• SCS Events Calendar

Jobs, Postdocs, and other Professional Matters

• Assistant Professor of Egyptology Brown University
• Assistant Professor of Classics job with Department of Classics | 37505557
• Placement:Service | Society for Classical Studies

Alia

• Did the Ancient Celts Worship Greek Gods?
• The Roman Emperor Who Tried to Bring Monetary ‘Reform’ to the Empire—and Failed Miserably – Foundation for Economic Education
• Ancient Greeks of India: The Final Stand of Hellenism
• 5 Popular Misconceptions about Ancient Egypt
• What did Cleopatra, Egypt’s last pharaoh, really look like? | Live Science

Diversions

• Latin Wordle – latindictionary.io
• GNT Wordle
• Verbdum – Ludus verborum cotidianus

‘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 a year of good health for people.

… 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)

Hodie est a.d. VI Id. Aug. 2776 AUC ~ 22 Hekatombaion in the third year of the 700th Olympiad

In the News

• Alderney skeleton about 2,500 years old, archaeologists say – BBC News
• Studies in Türkiye’s ancient castle shed light on Urartian seismic precautions | Daily Sabah
• Archaeologists Find Ancient Roman Luxury Baths With Underfloor Heating
• ‘No parallel in region’ for central Jordan Iron Age site — Canadian archaeologist | Jordan Times

In Case You Missed It

• Egypt’s Coastal Waters Reveals Ancient Shipwreck and Relics | Egyptian Streets
• Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities Announces The Discovery Of An Archaeological Marvel Off The Coast of El Alamein – EgyptToday
• Roman road network identified in Devon and Cornwall – BBC News
• Roman road network spanning the south west UK identified in new research
• ‘Magical Mirror’ to Protect Against Evil Eye 1,500 Years Ago Discovered

Public Facing Classics

• I, Claudius Redivivus | Blog post by Mary Beard | The TLS

Fresh Bloggery

• Talking Too Much and the Work of Existing – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• A Blessed Man – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE\
• Bits and Bobs 3 – More stuff from the inbox – Roger Pearse\
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Petition to Support and Expand the Packard Humanities Institute’s Greek Inscriptions Database!
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Des rois au Prince: Pratiques du pouvoir monarchique dans l’Orient hellénistique et romain (IVe siècle avant J.-C. – IIe siècle après J.-C.)
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Penser l’oligarchie à Athènes aux Ve et IVe siècles: Aspects d’une idéologie
• Bits and Bobs 4 – Roger Pearse
• Laudator Temporis Acti: Different Things
• Laudator Temporis Acti: Dear Mr. Brown
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Réalités et imaginaire des supplices en Grèce ancienneJudging the Days of the Week – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• Clasping a Butterfly – Liv Mariah Yarrow
• Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues: One Born Every Minute
• VI Ferrata, het Gestaalde Legioen (1) – Mainzer Beobachter
• VI Ferrata, het Gestaalde Legioen (2) – Mainzer Beobachter
• PaleoJudaica.com: Henze & Lincicum (eds.), Israel’s Scriptures in Early Christian Writings (Eerdmans)
• New translations of Thucydides added » Perseus Digital Library Updates

Other Blog-like Publications

• Roman Training Ground Found at Megiddo – Biblical Archaeology Society
• L’or de Massalia, ou l’antique tentation des numismates | L’Antiquité à la BnF
• Roman road network spanning the South West of England identified in new research – Arkeonews
• Archaeologists identify Roman road network | HeritageDaily – Archaeology News
• USF team discovers 2,000-year-old Roman house during excavation in Malta – Arkeonews
• Precious Roman Gem Engraved with Mythological Figure Discovered in Italian Lagoon – Arkeonews
• Aeneid IX.410-502 – by publius vergilius maro

Assorted Twitter Threads

• @DocCrom on Ovid, Remedia Amoris 523-536

Fresh Podcasts

• The Classics Podcast: Classics and Careers: Tristan Hughes, Producer and Presenter at History Hit on Apple Podcasts

In Episode 2 of ‘The Classics Podcast Does…Careers’, Katrina chats to Tristan Hughes, Producer and Presenter at History Hit and the host of The Ancients podcast. They chat Rome Total War, ed tech start ups, studying Down Under, the secrets of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and whether podcasts can beat TV…

• History is Gay: 0.19. Classical Myths, Monsters, and Ancient Gays: A Conversation with Liz Gloyn on Apple Podcasts

In this interview episode, Leigh talks with Dr. Elizabeth Gloyn, Reader in Latin Language and Literature at Royal Holloway, the University of London, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her research focuses on the intersection between Latin literature, ancient philosophy, and gender studies; as well as topics of classical reception (particularly monsters) and the history of women in Classics. She is also the author of Tracking Classical Monsters in Popular Culture. Thanks to listener Cheryl Morgan for connecting us for this wonderful conversation on queerness in the ancient world (including adorable poly couples), what Seneca really said about the Amazons, and how fanfiction has created a unique space for queering classical monsters.

• So You Think You Can Rule Persia: 44.5 Can Alexander Rule Persia? on Apple Podcasts

Join us today for a wonderful crossover with the Alexander Standard where we’ll chat about all things Alexander, his immediate successors, and everything in between!

• Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold: But What About Rome?! Roman Mythology & the Great Mother Cybele on Apple Podcasts

Liv dives (or perhaps wades into the shallows) of Roman mythology and religion, and tells the story of how the Phrygian goddess Cybele ended up in Italy.

Fresh Youtubery

• Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus – YouTube | Smarthistorh
• Who is Dionysius of Syracuse? #shorts – YouTube | Invicta
• De Superbia et Praeiudicio – Capitulum I – YouTube
• Was Jesus a Revolutionary? – YouTube | Digital Hammurabi
• Maroon IN LATIN (Taylor Swift cover) – “carbunculus” – YouTube
• LatinPerDiem Latin Lessons: Bradwardine, De Causa Dei 2 – YouTube
• Who Was The REAL Plato of Athens? ROBIN WATERFIELD On The Most Famous Philosopher of Ancient Greece – YouTube | Moan Inc.

Book Reviews

• BMCR ~ Warren S. Smith, Religion and Apuleius’ Golden Ass: the sacred ass. Routledge monographs in classical studies. Abingdon; New York: Routledge, 2023.
• BMCR ~ Lavinia Galli Milić, Annick Stoehr-Monjou, Au-delà de l’épithalame: le mariage dans la littérature latine (IIIe s. av. – VIe s. ap. J.-C.). Giornale italiano di filologia – Bibliotheca, 27. Turnhout: Brepols, 2022.
• BMCR ~ Filippo Canali De Rossi, Le iscrizioni degli antichi autori greci e latini. Roma: Scienze e Lettere, 2021.

Online Talks and Conference-Related Things

• Graduate Student Conference: “Change and Continuity” – The Canadian Institute in Greece
• See what’s happening today in Dr Pistone’s Online Classics Social Calendar
• SCS Events Calendar

Jobs, Postdocs, and other Professional Matters

• Placement:Service | Society for Classical Studies

Alia

• When Lord Elgin Removed the First Sculptures from the Parthenon
• What was it like to be a woman in Ancient Sparta? | Sky HISTORY TV Channel

Diversions

• Latin Wordle – latindictionary.io
• GNT Wordle
• Verbdum – Ludus verborum cotidianus

‘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  harmless diseases for the animals.

… 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)

Hodie est a.d. VII Id. Aug. 2776 AUC ~ 21 Hekatombaion in the third year of the 700th Olympiad

In the News

• ‘Large villa complex’ could be uncovered at Cambridge dig site where Roman artefacts were found – Cambridgeshire Live
• Stolen head of Hermes: after 45 years it returns to its place – Michelangelo Buonarroti is back
• Roman road network spanning the South West identified in new research – News
• Roman road network spanning the south west of England identified in new research | The Independent

In Case You Missed It

• 42-Foot-Long Ancient Roman Ship Uncovered by Miners in Serbia – ARTnews.com
• Ancient Roman boat from empire’s frontier unearthed in Serbian coal mine | Live Science

Greek/Latin News

• Audio-Nachrichten auf Latein 05.08.2023 – Vatican News
• Ephemeris ~ IMRAN KHAN COMPREHENSUS EST Vir politicus Pakistanus de peculatu condemnatus est 

Fresh Bloggery

• Laudator Temporis Acti: Like-Mindedness
• Laudator Temporis Acti: Falsehoods
• Old Drunks On the Dance Floor – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• PaleoJudaica.com: Which Ten Commandments? And whose?
• Why we should use Latin spellings of Greek names – Roger Pearse
• Does Jerome say that Christians need never shower again after baptism? – Roger Pearse
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Rome : éduquer et combattre. Un florilège en forme d’hommages
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Jouer pour la cité: Histoire sociale et politique des musiciens professionnels de l’Occident romain
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Le marché du crédit dans le monde romain
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Pratiques religieuses, mémoire et identités dans le monde gréco-romain
• Put Those Cares to Sleep! – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• The Letter of Claudius to the Alexandrians – Roger Pearse
• Het oudste Jeruzalem – Mainzer Beobachter
• Romeins Jeruzalem – Mainzer Beobachter
• Laudator Temporis Acti: Plotting Our Destruction
• Bad Planning and Disasters – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• PaleoJudaica.com: Rhetorical poetics of the Aramaic incantation bowls
• Laudator Temporis Acti: The True Function of a University
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Virtual museum of Syria
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Open Access Monograph Series: Egyptian Texts Series
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Museum of Stone Tools
• What It Takes to Understand Vergil – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• Houtkamer – Mainzer Beobachter
• PaleoJudaica.com: Ship-protection talisman found near Israeli beach

Other Blog-like Publications

• Greeknes and Otherness: beyond the stereotype. Athens, Sparta, Thebes.
• Astrology and imperial legitimacy in ancient Rome – Ancient World Magazine
• Rome’s libraries were shrines to knowledge – and imperial power | Aeon Essays
• Was This Centurion the Most Decorated Roman Soldier of All Time?
• Restoration of three entablature blocks on the north facade of the Temple of Epicurean Apollo – The Archaeology News Network
• Gladiators were mostly Vegetarians and they were fatter than you may think – Arkeonews
• Archaeologists uncover Roman mosaic depicting Medusa | HeritageDaily – Archaeology News
• Delphi: A Guide to the History of the Ancient Site
• Aeneid IX.207-313 – by publius vergilius maro
• Aeneid IX.314-409 – by publius vergilius maro
• Ancient necromancy: Jerusalem cave was gateway to underworld – Big Think
• How Does Ovid’s Version of the Medusa Myth Reflect Roman Anxieties About Female Sexuality? – Ekklesia Magazine
• Curse Tablets and Our Understanding of the Ancient World – Ekklesia Magazine
• Knowing Alexander (II) | The Second Achilles

Fresh Podcasts

• The Partial Historians: Special Episode – Women of Myth with Ancient History Fan Girl on Apple Podcasts

We sit down to chat with Genn and Jenny, the fabulous cohosts of the Ancient History Fan Girl podcast. They have recently published Women of Myth: From Deer Woman and Mami Wata to Amaterasu and Athena which examines fifty women and femme presenting figures from cultures across the globe.

• The Ancients: Pompeii: Life Before the Eruption on Apple Podcasts

The ancient city of Pompeii is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries on earth. Frozen in time since 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted, its story is one that continues today. In episode one of this special series, Tristan Hughes takes you into its bustling streets: from markets to homes, experience the vibrancy and intricacies of Pompeian life. Meet one of the city’s most impressive residents and unearth the textures of everyday existence in a world paused in time, only to be rediscovered centuries later.

• History Rage: S8 E01 – Kira Jones on AI Reconstructions en Apple Podcasts

We’re back with Series 8 and kicking off the rage this week we welcome art historian, and Latin Consultant for Wandavision (is that not the coolest credit ever?) Dr. Kira Jones and she wants to rage ENOUGH WITH THE AI RECONSTRUCTIONS ALREADY! We’ll be talking about how many reconstructions are made from careless and false information. How Ancient Romans didn’t view portraits in the same way we would, how the Cleopatra coin is more about Mark Anthony than Cleopatra, and a lady whose funeral portrait came with interchangeable hair.

• History Extra podcast: Rome vs Persia: an unwinnable fight on Apple Podcasts

The Roman empire was used to getting its own way – but there was one power it was never able to overcome. Despite frequent bouts of warfare, the Parthian and later Persian empire managed to hold its own against Rome for more than six centuries, until a new force emerged that would transform the Middle East forever. Historian of the ancient world Adrian Goldsworthy speaks to Rob Attar about the evolving relationship between Rome and Persia, and explains why neither was ever able to vanquish the other.

Fresh Youtubery

• Ancient Greek Culture, Now. Cosmote TV, History Channel. Trailer, Season 2. Bettina Joy de Guzman. – YouTube
• How The Roman Empire Was Built On Brutality & Fratricide | Rome: Empire Without Limit | Timeline – YouTube
• Ancient Roman ship uncovered in Serbia | ANC – YouTube
• Turning Hades & Persephone into a YA Rom-Com: CHAOSONOLYMPUS Talks New Book “Girl, Goddess, Queen” – YouTube | Moan Inc.
• Medicinal Suppression: “Healing” Female Lust in Ancient Greece – YouTube
• The Legion Part 2 First Century BC – YouTube | Adrian Goldsworthy

Book Reviews

• BMCR ~ Baukje van den Berg, Homer the rhetorician: Eustathios of Thessalonike on the composition of the Iliad. Oxford studies in Byzantium. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2022.
• BMCR ~ Kyriakos Tsantsanoglou, Tragic papyri: Aeschylus’ Theoroi, Hypsipyle, Laios, Prometheus Pyrkaeus, and Sophocles’ Inachos. Berlin; Boston: De Gruyter, 2022.
• BMCR ~ Amy J. Maitland Gardner, Carl Walsh, Tracing gestures: the art and archaeology of bodily communication. London: Bloomsbury, 2022.

Exhibition Related Things

• Tracing Freud on the Acropolis review – Freud’s big fat Greek guilt complex | Art | The Guardian

Dramatic Receptions

• New tragicomedy prods and pokes at social norms

Online Talks and Conference-Related Things

• See what’s happening today in Dr Pistone’s Online Classics Social Calendar
• SCS Events Calendar

Jobs, Postdocs, and other Professional Matters

• Placement:Service | Society for Classical Studies

Alia

• The Settlements of the Ancient Greeks in Egypt
• Aesop’s Fables: Ancient Greek Stories with Important Lessons
• The Other Battle of Thermopylae: When Celts Invaded Ancient Greece
• How to Collect Antiquities Without Getting Busted – Robb Report
• The Giant Whale that Terrorized Constantinople
• The Greek Historian Herodotus, Known as “The Father of History”
• First Map of Known World Created by Ancient Greek Anaximander
• Abu Simbel: Ramses the Great’s incredible temple complex – ABC Radio
• This Castle Just Outside Of Rome Is Actually The Ancient Tomb of Caecilia Metella
• On the Spot: Bettany Hughes | History Today
• 3,200 Year-Old Mesopotamian Perfume Recreated

Diversions

• Latin Wordle – latindictionary.io
• GNT Wordle
• Verbdum – Ludus verborum cotidianus

‘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 severe winds and an outbreak of diseases.

… 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)

Hodie est Non. Aug. 2776 AUC ~ 19 Hekatombaion in the third year of the 700th Olympiad

In the News

• “Astonishing” number of wine glasses unearthed at mysterious ancient city in Albania | protothemanews.com

In Case You Missed It

• Excavations of Stabia, discovered frescoes and sculptures of a Roman villa from 2 thousand years ago
• Greece Will Limit Acropolis Visits as Europe Fights Tourist Crush – The New York Times
• Spanish archaeologists plan rescue of 2,500-year-old Phoenician shipwreck – The Archaeology News Network
• Restoration of three entablature blocks on the north facade of the Temple of Epicurean Apollo – The Archaeology News Network
• Ancient Roman boat from empire’s frontier unearthed in Serbian coal mine | Live Science
• The art of Roman water management revealed

Fresh Bloggery

• Foto’s van Bodi in Bonn – Mainzer Beobachter
• Laudator Temporis Acti: Ruin
• Homer’s Lyre and the Lyric Muse – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• All Unhappy Families…. – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• Dio Chrysostom on Preferring Even Unpleasant Lies to the Truth – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• Declaring War on the Morning Birds – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• Why Minucius Felix is later than Tertullian – Roger Pearse
• To His Own Drunk Self, a Song – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Aubergistes et clients: L’accueil mercantile dans l’Occident romain (IIIe s. av. J.-C.-IVe s. apr. J.-C.)
• Ilja Pfeijffer, Alkibiades (3) – Mainzer Beobachter
• Pocket Calculator | Sphinx
• Ilja Pfeijffer, Alkibiades (4) – Mainzer Beobachter
• Matthias Henze and David Lincicum, eds. Israel’s Scriptures in Early Christian Writings – Reading Acts
• Fireside Friday, August 4, 2023 – A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry

Association/Departmental Blogs and News

• Via Prima Latin – Short Course – Classics – University of Birmingham
• Tragedy Queered: A conference to explore the impact of Graeco-Roman tragedy on queer culture (6-7 July 2023) | Classics at Reading

Other Blog-like Publications

• Rome’s libraries were shrines to knowledge – and imperial power | Aeon Essays
• Was This Centurion the Most Decorated Roman Soldier of All Time?
• Why did Aristotle Oppose Plato’s Theory of Forms?
• Excavations at the Acropolis of Amphipolis shed light on the Hellenistic and Roman past of the city – The Archaeology News Network
• Ancient Greek Cosmology: How Did the Greeks See the Universe?
• A rare 2,500-year-old marble disc, designed to protect ancient ships and ward off the evil eye discovered near Palmachim Beach – Arkeonews
• Aeneid IX.107-206 – by publius vergilius maro

Fresh Podcasts

• History Hack: History Hack: Big Caesars and Little Caesars on Apple Podcasts

Ferdinand Mount joins us to talk about his new book “Big Caesars and Little Caesars”, all about the Big Caesars who set out to achieve total social control and Little Caesars who merely want to run an agreeable kleptocracy without opposition: from Julius Caesar and Oliver Cromwell through Napoleon and Bolivar, to Mussolini, Salazar, De Gaulle and Trump.

Fresh Youtubery

• Did the Old Testament Endorse Slavery? Interview and Book Launch with Dr. Josh! – YouTube | Digital Hammurabi
• All Roads Lead to Rome: The Roads of Ancient Rome – YouTube | World History Encyclopedia

Dramatic Receptions

• Powerful Women Emerge From “The Hidden Territories of the Bacchae” | Nippertown

Online Talks and Conference-Related Things

• See what’s happening today in Dr Pistone’s Online Classics Social Calendar
• SCS Events Calendar

Jobs, Postdocs, and other Professional Matters

• Placement:Service | Society for Classical Studies

Alia

• Aesop’s Fables: Ancient Greek Stories with Important Lessons

Diversions

• Latin Wordle – latindictionary.io
• GNT Wordle
• Verbdum – Ludus verborum cotidianus

‘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:

[Saturday] If it thunders today, it portends that women are more wise.

{Sunday] If it thunders today it portends there will be an abundance of honey, but a shortage of water and other food items.

… 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)