Iraq's Ancient Ur Site in Danger : Discovery News
Nothing much in the way of excavation has been done here since Woolley dug in the 1930s, for God's sake. Not much conservation, and what was done wasn't too great. There was also a nice article about Ur in Archaeology magazine a few months back, by an American soldier who was stationed near there; his report was also very depressing.
Good grief, people; this place is one of the earliest great human monuments on the planet. It has survived over 5000 years of weather, war, and usage. Stuff it has seen makes our current squabbles seem quite trivial.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Gladiator Chews Out Ref From Grave : Discovery News
Gladiator Chews Out Ref From Grave : Discovery News
Mala vocatio! Bad call by a gladiatorial ref. This gladiator's epitaph tells how he knocked down his opponent and presumably should have been given the victory then, but a corrupt official let the opponent get back up and continue the fight. I hate when that happens.
Mala vocatio! Bad call by a gladiatorial ref. This gladiator's epitaph tells how he knocked down his opponent and presumably should have been given the victory then, but a corrupt official let the opponent get back up and continue the fight. I hate when that happens.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Speakers for Passages exhibit in OKC
Speakers for Passages exhibit
The Passages exhibit on the history of the Bible and its texts is at the OKC Museum of Art. There are some visiting scholars who will be speaking in connection with the exhibit. This is the schedule. Note especially Dirk Obbink on papyri Sept. 13.
The Passages exhibit on the history of the Bible and its texts is at the OKC Museum of Art. There are some visiting scholars who will be speaking in connection with the exhibit. This is the schedule. Note especially Dirk Obbink on papyri Sept. 13.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Archaeologists Unscramble Ancient Graffiti In Israel : NPR
Archaeologists Unscramble Ancient Graffiti In Israel : NPR
Aramaic, it turns out, is the key to all other Semitic languages--the archaeologist in the article calls it "the little black dress" of the Semitic wardrobe. Maybe that explains why I've always had so much trouble reading Nabataean.
Note that there are 16 very nice photos of the tombs described, tombs from the Roman thru Byzantine period in Israel. And the archaeologist is right: graffiti are very wonderful sources, because they are written but not literary, so they are spontaneous, uncensored, and authentic. And sometimes they say funny things (like "Good luck on your resurrection").
Aramaic, it turns out, is the key to all other Semitic languages--the archaeologist in the article calls it "the little black dress" of the Semitic wardrobe. Maybe that explains why I've always had so much trouble reading Nabataean.
Note that there are 16 very nice photos of the tombs described, tombs from the Roman thru Byzantine period in Israel. And the archaeologist is right: graffiti are very wonderful sources, because they are written but not literary, so they are spontaneous, uncensored, and authentic. And sometimes they say funny things (like "Good luck on your resurrection").
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
With Roman Ruins Under Threat, Libya’s Ancient Past Presses Against Its Present - Global Spin - TIME.com
With Roman Ruins Under Threat, Libya’s Ancient Past Presses Against Its Present - Global Spin - TIME.com
!@#$ Gaddafi may hide military assets at Leptis Magna, and NATO won't promise not to bomb the site if he does. It hadn't occurred to me that Leptis is halfway between Tripoli and Misrata. This is bad. Bad flashbacks to the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003, when we had to worry about Saddam booby-trapping Ctesiphon.
This Libya thing had been get settled soon, because I really want to see Leptis some day!
!@#$ Gaddafi may hide military assets at Leptis Magna, and NATO won't promise not to bomb the site if he does. It hadn't occurred to me that Leptis is halfway between Tripoli and Misrata. This is bad. Bad flashbacks to the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003, when we had to worry about Saddam booby-trapping Ctesiphon.
This Libya thing had been get settled soon, because I really want to see Leptis some day!
Book Review: A Most Dangerous Book - WSJ.com
Book Review: A Most Dangerous Book - WSJ.com
A review of Christopher Krebs' new book about Tacitus' Germania. Gratias maximas to Dr. H.R. Nollert for the link.
A review of Christopher Krebs' new book about Tacitus' Germania. Gratias maximas to Dr. H.R. Nollert for the link.
Patrick Leigh Fermor, 1915-2011: scholar, writer, hero. - By Christopher Hitchens - Slate Magazine
Patrick Leigh Fermor, 1915-2011: scholar, writer, hero. - By Christopher Hitchens - Slate Magazine
Hello! Long time no blog. Finally, however, a nice article on scholars--especially classicists--playing heroic (if not always Homeric) roles in WWII. Our old favorites BMW Knox and NGL Hammond make cameo appearances here. (Also, Mr. Hitchens, I fear your Horace quote is misspelled. But I overlook that, as long as you say nice things about the classicists.)
BTW, last week Hitchens had an article on Slate.com with a cameo appearance by a naked Maurice Bowra! But most of the article was about Rep. Weiner, so I shall spare us all.
Hello! Long time no blog. Finally, however, a nice article on scholars--especially classicists--playing heroic (if not always Homeric) roles in WWII. Our old favorites BMW Knox and NGL Hammond make cameo appearances here. (Also, Mr. Hitchens, I fear your Horace quote is misspelled. But I overlook that, as long as you say nice things about the classicists.)
BTW, last week Hitchens had an article on Slate.com with a cameo appearance by a naked Maurice Bowra! But most of the article was about Rep. Weiner, so I shall spare us all.
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