Weekly Roundup of History, Archaeology and Writing Wisdom Jan 2-8

Join me at the San Diego State University Writers’ Conference! Top notch presenters on craft and getting published

January 22-24 I’ll be teaching at the San Diego State University Writers’ Conference. If you’re a writer and are feeling the need for an infusion of inspiration and practical help, you can still sign up. Here’s the link to the conference website. Look at the breakout sessions and speakers to see if this is for you. There are agent and editor meetings–but you’ll have to check to be sure those are still available. Probably so. There is also a $40 off discount if you sign up and know me (one of the faculty). Use this link and use discount code WC16 (scroll to bottom to select the Special Fee).

Here are some posts I enjoyed around the web this week:

You’d think finding another temple on the Acropolis wouldn’t be possible. But a temple whose historical existence we knew of but had found no remnants of has come to light on this venerable rock. A small temple of Asclepius has been gradually puzzled out from initial research that revealed a pile of unidentified architectural parts. Asclepius is associated with healing. We think of technology as the locus of big changes, but archaeology and its related ancient history are at least as subject to shifts and new understandings. Click here for The Greek Reporter “Asclepius Sanctuary on Acropolis Slope to be Restored”

Now Alexandria Virginia has a big archaeological find. While digging the foundations of a new hotel, a Revolutionary War period ship has been uncovered. Still a mystery whose ship and what it carried, but apparently the area it was found was once in the Potomac River and filled 200 years ago to expand the waterfront area—and a time capsule of a ship was locked inside. How fun. Many thanks to Linda Goth for bringing this one to my attention. Click here for “Historic Find Centuries-old Ship Discovered at Old Town Alexandria Hotel Construction site”

For Phoenix Metro residents who are interested in the Etruscans, here’s a lecture of interest:

American Institute of Archaeology Central Arizona Chapter Announces January Lecture:

Masters of Prophecy: Religion, Identity, and the Fate of the Etruscans in the Context of Roman Italy
Speaker: Dr. Daniele F. Maras, Pontificia Accademia Romana di Archeologia, Rome, Italy
January 21, 2016, 6:00 PM
ASU West Campus, Kiva Hall

For directions and further information click here on the AIA Central Arizona Society

Odysseus returned to his home on the island of Ithaca after the Trojan War on October 25, 1207 BC. So declare a group of scientists from two Greek universities. They are basing this conclusion—rather startlingly specific and concrete for a guy I think of as at least partially mythic—on a prophetic declaration in the poem that they say references a meteor shower and a ¾ eclipse of the sun. Given that we have no way to date the Trojan War with any certainty—or possibly even feel certain of its existence in a form like that of the epic poem’s description—this is kind of mind boggling. It is a paper in a respected academic journal, so I’m going to let this possible “fact” sit in my consciousness and see what happens. I have no problem imagining these heroes as real, but this takes “reality” to such a precise level! Any astronomers or textual critics want to take a swing at this? I can think of several problems with their use of the passages from the Odyssey, but my one semester of college astronomy just isn’t going to cut it for anything on that side of this discussion. “The Anatomy of a Complex Astronomical Phenomenon Described in the Odyssey” in Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry Click here for “The Anatomy of A Complex Astronomical phenomenon Described in The Odyssey” in MAA.