Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Tourist returns mosaic tiles to Hagia Sophia

Tourist returns mosaic tiles to Hagia Sophia
In 1956, an American lady was visiting Istanbul, where Hagia Sophia was under restoration. Some workers gave her 11 tiny mosaic tiles--just to be nice, I guess? (Darn that Turkish hospitality instinct!) She took them home in her purse (customs officials, anybody?), but over the years began to be freaked out by the thought that she had artistic contraband in her house. They even gave her nightmares. Recently, on a return trip to Istanbul, she brought them along and--being too chicken to face the Authorities at HS--gave them to a jeweler in a shop near HS, and HE, fortunately, Did the Right Thing and handed them over to the people who manage HS (who are presumably the Government). Now everybody is happy and the lady can sleep soundly. What will happen to the tiles?

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The TLS blog: Humanities in the dock

The TLS blog: Humanities in the dock
This review of a new edition of Cicero asks the rhetorical question "Why read Cicero in the 21st century?" Focus is particularly on the Pro Archia.

Washington National Cathedral to reopen this weekend – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

Washington National Cathedral to reopen this weekend – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs
After damage in the unusual earthquake and then a hurricane, the cathedral has lost some of its architecture, and repairing it will take "tens of millions of dollars."

Monday, November 14, 2011

More Findings, Uncertainty About Emperor's Birthplace : Discovery News

More Findings, Uncertainty About Emperor's Birthplace : Discovery News
Excavation of a house on the slopes of the Palatine, near the Arch of Titus. Excavators think this house may have belonged to Augustus' (real) father.

Looting of Libyan treasure highlights illicit antiquities trade - CNN.com

Looting of Libyan treasure highlights illicit antiquities trade - CNN.com
More on the theft of the treasure of Benghazi and the danger to other antiquities in unstable countries. It appears that things in Libya did not go as badly as they might have--no repeat of Baghdad, at least as far as anyone can tell at this point. There is also the scary point that the border between Egypt and Libya has become, as they say, "porous."

How to Wear a Toga the Ancient Roman Way | The Getty Iris

How to Wear a Toga the Ancient Roman Way The Getty Iris
Quick! Get yourself out of Malibu for College Night at the Getty Villa, Tues. Nov. 15. You are encouraged to wear a toga, and this handy video shows you how to put on one. Links inside the article take you to more webpages on this subject. Woo hoo!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Magical Viking stone may be real - Telegraph

Magical Viking stone may be real - Telegraph
Don't be put off by the stupid headline. Kind of a cool find, suggesting ways the Vikings may have been able to navigate at sea.

Ancient artefacts unearthed in Tisbury (From Salisbury Journal)

Ancient artefacts unearthed in Tisbury (From Salisbury Journal)
A British hobbyist with a metal detector came upon an ancient bronze spearhead and did NOT do what most people do (dig it up, along with the other 100 objects near it, put them in a shoebox and take them to the local antique dealer to see if they're worth anything); no, he left the site undisturbed and CALLED THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS, so that the objects could be excavated properly. Give this man a cookie! The site contains bronze objects from the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age, which will be taken to the British Museum to be studied. The location of the site is being kept secret, so less scrupulous people will stay away.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Italy: A modern prince fights for a Roman emperor's villa - Adnkronos CultureAndMedia

Italy: A modern prince fights for a Roman emperor's villa - Adnkronos CultureAndMedia
A garbage dump adjacent to the Villa Adriana at Tivoli? Not if Prince Urbano Barberini (his real name!) has anything to say about it! I got one word for you idiotic politicians who came up with this idea: Naples.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

BBC News - Looted Libyan treasure 'in Egypt'

BBC News - Looted Libyan treasure 'in Egypt'
The so-called "Treasure of Benghazi," a bunch of ancient coins and such, was retured to Libya from Italy in 1961. Then it sat in a bank vault in Benghazi, until the Libyans could get around to building a museum for the stuff. In 2011, it was still in the bank vault, with no museum in sight--since Mr. Gaddafy had other priorities--and then the revolution came and, in the chaos, Somebody made off with the artifacts. Some pieces may be showing up in markets in Egypt.
Again, DON'T BUY ANCIENT STUFF ON @#$% EBAY!