Hodie est a.d. XVIII Kal. Septembres 2772 AUC ~  15 Metageitnion in the third year of the 699th Olympiad.

In the News

• Shard reveals how Cyprus’ ancient kingdoms managed economy 
• Inscription Found in Paleochoria Links Goddess Artemis to Amarynthos Sanctuary – The National Herald 

In Case You Missed It

• A “Sorcerer’s Treasure Trove” Uncovered in Pompeii | Hyperallergic 

Public Facing Classics

• [Nandini Pandey] Not Bringing Home a Baby – EIDOLON 
• [Peter Jones] How Boris’s Roman predecessors took back control | The Spectator 

Fresh Bloggery

• Laudator Temporis Acti: Words Written on Rocks 
• Singing While the House Burns Down – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE 
• Being Digitally Humane | Summertime Fragments 
• Showing, telling and escaping to other worlds: some reflections on a classically-themed show & tell at Cardiff | Mythology and Autism – Susan Deacy 
• An ancient handbook of short-hand: Tironian notes and the “Commentarii notarum Tironianarum” – Roger Pearse 
• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: Wikipedia: Women’s Classical Committee 
• An Awkward Letter about Not Getting Letters – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE 
• Capitoline Triad – Montecelio, Italy – Atlas Obscura 

Fresh Podcasts

• Julius Caesar and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day – Ancient History Fangirl 

When Julius Caesar returned to Rome after his last military campaign, he had big plans. Plans like remaking Rome in the image of Alexandria—as a beacon of light and learning. Transforming the Roman calendar and enacting sweeping government reforms. Invading Parthia for some reason. And making himself Dictator for Life—and the next best thing to a king and god. But Caesar should have been more on his guard. Because, among the aristocracy, the plebeian class and his own friends and soldiers, a secret movement to assassinate him was building steam…

Book Reviews

• [BMCR] Diana Y. Ng, Molly Swetnam-Burland (ed.), Reuse and Renovation in Roman Material Culture: Functions, Aesthetics, Interpretations. 
• [BMCR] Sabine R. Huebner, Geoffrey S. Nathan, Mediterranean Families in Antiquity: Households, Extended Families, and Domestic Space. 
• [BMCR] Laurel Fulkerson, A Literary Commentary on the Elegies of the ‘Appendix Tibulliana’. Pseudepigrapha Latina. 

Dramatic Receptions

• From Godzilla-size chickens to a stop-motion Aeneid: the lost worlds of Ray Harryhausen 

Alia

• [Odyssey related] The Last Odyssey: Read an excerpt from James Rollins novel | EW.com 

‘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 should thunder today, things will just get worse.

… 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. XIX Kal. Septembres 2772 AUC ~  14 Metageitnion in the third year of the 699th Olympiad.

In the News

• Grave Robbers Missed These Ancient Greek Graves, Filled with More than a Dozen Skeletons | Live Science 
• Inscription found in Evia sheds light on significant ancient sanctuary – Xinhua | English.news.cn 
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• Archeologia, il ventre di Ugento restituisce una grande tomba romana 
• Reperti di un relitto nei fondali di Reggio, scoperto un patrimonio culturale sommerso | Calabria7 
• Ancient Roman house in southeast Turkey to welcome visitors next year – Daily Sabah 
• [Possibly paywalled] A Rare and Ancient Mosaic from a Greek Synagogue Goes on Display » Mosaic 

 

In Case You Missed It

• Amulets of Deities, Skulls and Phalluses Found in Ancient Pompeii | Live Science 
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Fresh Bloggery

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• The Cost of Peer Review (and notes on open access publishing) | Summertime Fragments 
• Classics in Arabic | The Iliad: A Radio Drama in Arabic based on Homer’s Iliad 
• An unusual view of the Meta Sudans across the Piazza del Colosseo in 1930 – Roger Pearse 
• How Many Drinks? – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE 

Fresh Podcasts

• Episode 73: Things Get Weird — The Endless Knot 

The Fates have decreed that it’s time for us to talk about the word “Weird”! We discuss its etymology, the concept of fate in the ancient and medieval world, whether mythical women really do usually appear in threes, and Shakespeare.

Book Reviews

• [BMCR] Philip Bosman (ed.), Intellectual and Empire in Greco-Roman Antiquity. 
• [BMCR] James Wilberding, Julia Trompeter, Alberto Rigolio (trans.), Michael of Ephesus: On Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics 10; Themistius: On Virtue. 
• [BMCR] Michael Roberts, Venantius Fortunatus: Poems. Dumbarton Oaks medieval library, 46.
• [BMCR] Thomas Bénatouïl, Katerina Ierodiakonu (ed.), Dialectic after Plato and Aristotle. 
• THE LONG SHADOW OF ANTIQUITY: What Have the Greeks and Romans Done for Us? – Classics for All
• ZENOBIA: Shooting Star of Palmyra – Classics for All
• Le monnayage de Bizyè | Spartokos a lu

Dramatic Receptions

• Casper’s Theatre of the Poor’s ‘The Bacchae’ gives modern take on ancient play | Arts & Theatre | trib.com 
• Edinburgh Festival 2019 – ‘Oedipus’ by the Internationaal Theater Amsterdam – The Edinburgh Reporter 

Professional Matters

• Feminism & Classics 2020 
• Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Classics ~ College of the Holy Cross | ChronicleVitae 

Alia

• Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion trailer: The classic comic book celebrates its 60th anniversary
• Video games are literature’s new frontier | VentureBeat 
• Museums Across the UK Are Making Doomsday Plans for Brexit. Here Are Their Biggest Fears | artnet News
• [Possibly paywalled] What Really Happened at Masada? » Mosaic 

‘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 should thunder today, it portends war for all people, but there will be an abundance of crops.

… 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 id. Sextiles (Augustas) 2772 AUC ~  13 Metageitnion in the third year of the 699th Olympiad.

In the News

• Pompeii archaeologists uncover ‘sorcerer’s treasure trove’ – BBC News
• Ancient Tombs Unearthed in Nemea, Greece Shed Light on Mycenaean Civilization | GreekReporter.com 
• Punic Wars: Tombs of Iberian prince and 24 aristocrats unearthed in Spain | In English | EL PAÍS 
• Tornos News | Unique intact Hellenistic tomb found in Kozani of northern Greece 
• Race to preserve rare Mosaic of Ancient Greek Synagogue – Diaspora – Jerusalem Post 
• Archaeologists exiled from Syria mourn the cost of war 

In Case You Missed It

• Scientists recreate Cleopatra’s 2,000-year-old perfume | World | The Times 

Public Facing Classics

• [Mary Beard] Have a nice day? Lessons from a funeral – TheTLS 

Fresh Bloggery

• The Outrage Machine | Sphinx
• Plague and the End of Antiquity | Summertime Fragments 
• Madness, Prophecy, Poetry – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE 
• Experience Harvard’s “Ancient Greek Hero” MOOC | The Kosmos Society 
• Be Smart, Don’t Fart: The Pythagorean Prohibition on Beans – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE 

Fresh Podcasts

• ‎Ancient History Hound: Kings of Rome. Numa Pompilius. 

In this episode I continue the theme of early Rome by looking at its second King. Numa Pompilius. I talk about how he came to the throne, what religious initiatives he set in place and how the sources handled their accounts of him. As ever there are some curious tangents involving dancing, possible magic, thunderstorms and stinking charms.

Book Reviews

• [BMCR] Hartmut Leppin, Die frühen Christen: Von den Anfängen bis Konstantin. Historische Bibliothek der Gerda Henkel Stiftung. 
• [BMCR] Philip Michael Forness, Preaching Christology in the Roman Near East: A Study of Jacob of Serugh. Oxford early Christian studies. 
• [BMCR] Paul Erdkamp, Claire Holleran (ed.), The Routledge Handbook of Diet and Nutrition in the Roman World. 
• [BMCR] David Walsh, The Cult of Mithras in Late Antiquity. Development, Decline and Demise ca. A.D. 270-430. Late Antique Archaeology (Supplementary Series), volume 2. 

Professional Matters

• CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR  CAMWS 2020 | CAMWS 

Alia

• [Piranesi] Prisons of the mind – The Statesman 
• How Far Did Ancient Rome Spread? – HISTORY 
• New catalogue presents virtuosity of Neo-Classicist goldsmith Luigi Valadier | The Art Newspaper 
• [Niall Ferguson] No, this isn’t the fall of Rome – The Boston Globe 

‘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 should thunder today, it portends plague upon the bodies of both humans and 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 pridie id. Sextilies (Augustas) 2772 AUC ~  12 Metageitnion in the third year of the 699th Olympiad.

In the News

• Archaeologists discover 2,000-year-old Roman war arrow in northern Israel – China.org.cn 
• Tombs unearthed in Greece sheds more light on Mycenaean civilization – China.org.cn 

In Case You Missed It

• Ancient eagle sculptures found in Anatolian Hellenistic temple – Daily Sabah 

Fresh Bloggery

• Bestiaria Latina Blog: Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: August 11 
• Dispatches from the Antipodes – Natalie Haynes’ Troy Story – The Partial Historians 
• Explaining the Cuckoo: Women Know Everything – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE 
• Laudator Temporis Acti: I Completely Forbid This 
• One House Has Fallen, But More Should – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE 
• Histories 1.30-1.32: Solon at the Court of Croesus Part 1 – the story of Tellos – The Classical AnthologyThe Classical Anthology 
• Histories 1.30-1.32: Solon at the Court of Croesus Part 2 – Cleobis and Biton – The Classical AnthologyThe Classical Anthology 
• Laudator Temporis Acti: And Did Those Goatish Feet in Ancient Time…? 

Fresh Podcasts

• ‎Emperors of Rome: Episode CXXIV – The Lowest Depths of Foulness (Elagabalus II) 

When Elagabalus finally reached Rome, the city seemed to hold its breath. The young Emperor embraced both the roles of ruler and high priest of a foreign religion, and there were many that questioned where his priorities lie.

Guest:

Dr Caillan Davenport (Senior Lecturer, Roman History, Macquarie University/Humboldt Research Fellow, Goethe University, Frankfurt)

• The Ancient World Podcast Episode T9 – Tryphon 

Synopsis: The Seleucid rebel Diodotus Tryphon uses Thea and Alexander Balas’ young son, Antiochus VI, to capture most of Syria.  Though paralyzed at home, Demetrius II embarks on a bold plan to challenge the conquests of Mithridates…

Book Reviews

• [BMCR] Paul Potter, Hippocrates. Volume XI: Diseases of Women 1-2. The Loeb classical library, 538.
• [BMCR] Scott Kennedy, Two Works on Trebizond. Michael Panaretos. Bessarion. Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library 52. 
• [BMCR] Nikos Panou, Hestor Schadee (ed.), Evil Lords: Theories and Representations of Tyranny from Antiquity to the Renaissance. 

Dramatic Receptions

• Daughters of Troy Presented by the American Thymele Theatre – The National Herald 

Professional Matters

• Religion, Medicine, Disability, and Health in Late Antiquity First Book Workshop | James McGrath 
• The Haifa Center for Mediterranean History – Tenure track position Lectureship/Professorship in the Environmental History of the Mediterranean 

Alia

• AWOL – The Ancient World Online: New Oriental Institute Mobile App 

‘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 should thunder today, there will be an abundance of acorns and food for cattle, but they will spoil during the ripening season.

… 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 III id. Sextilies (Augustas) 2772 AUC ~  11 Metageitnion in the third year of the 699th Olympiad.

In the News

• Trove of Stunning Classical-Age Antiquities Discovered on Tinos Island | GreekReporter.com 
• ‘Hollyhurst Haul’ declared treasure at inquest | Whitchurch Herald 
• Yeroskipou wants to swap land to save ancient site from development  – Cyprus Mail 

In Case You Missed It ~ Long Reads

• What We Owe Homer – CounterPunch.org 
• Cleopatra May Have Once Smelled Like This Recreated Perfume | Smart News | Smithsonian 
• ANE TODAY – 201908 – Crosses and Crucifixions, Misunderstood and Misinterpreted-a guide for/to the perplexed – 
• 18,000 Illegally Trafficked Cultural Goods Seized in an International Crackdown 

Greek/Latin News

• Radiogiornale Latino 10.08.2019 – Vatican News 

Public Facing Classics

• [Mary Beard] The pleasures of Manchester – TheTLS 

Fresh Bloggery

• Missed Your Target But Hit Your Step-Mother? That’s Not So Bad – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE 
• Weekend Reading: Raining, Cats and Hogs – Classical Studies Support 
• El Jem Amphitheatre – El Jem, Tunisia – Atlas Obscura 
• The Radiocarbon Dating of the “New Sappho” Papyrus | Variant Readings 
• Laudator Temporis Acti: Fate 
• Blog: Celebrating the Scholarship of W.S. Scarborough and the Contributions of African American Classicists | Society for Classical Studies 
• It’s All Greek to You and Me, So What Is It to the Greeks? – Atlas Obscura 
• The Gardens of Adonis – Trifling Pleasures – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE 
• Dispatches from the Antipodes – Natalie Haynes’ Troy Story – The Partial Historians 
• Prometheus, Philosopher King and the Invention of Marriage – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE 
• The message, not the medium: improving lecturing at international conferences. | Doug’s Archaeology 
• “The Dog’s Grave”: Did Odysseus Kill Hecuba? – SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE 

Bingeworthy Past Podcastery

This one is still ongoing but is approaching its 100th episode … it’s on a bit of a summer break, so it’s a good time to catch up!

• ‎The History of Ancient Greece on Apple Podcasts 

Landscape Modery

Book Reviews

• OVID, FASTI BOOK III – Classics for All

Dramatic Receptions

• [Paywalled] Anguis review — ancient queen gets a modern interview | Saturday Review | The Times 
• Oedipus reborn as a power-hungry politician at Edinburgh International Festival | HeraldScotland 
• Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019 – REVIEW The Trojans ★★★★ – The Edinburgh Reporter 

Alia

• Why Socrates’ Methods Are So Important | Psychology Today Canada 
• Did Emperor Nero Really Play The Fiddle While Rome Burned? – History Extra 
• “Codes and Codebreaking” at UNE’s Museum of Antiquities | The Armidale Express 
• Nazi salute furore: There is no such thing as a ‘Roman salute’ | News24 
• Searching for the real Troy story in Turkey | Stuff.co.nz 

‘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 should thunder today, it portends a good harvest but the destruction of reptiles and harm to humans.

… 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)