Some posts I enjoyed from around the web this week:
Mary Beard, whose history of Rome, SPQR, has received high honors and visibility—always an accomplishment for anything written about the ancient world—also takes on modern critics who say she should stay off TV because of her appearance. She’s won the name “troll slayer” for her ability to dismiss these misogynist idiots with a mixture of humor and spirit. She’s sticking to her gray hair (and so am I, so I’m glad I’m in such illustrious company). I do love her red shoes. And at least this article includes some delightful Roman insights from this distinguished classicist amidst all the discussion of the unpopular appearance of older women. Who knew Roman emperors had such shoe fetishes? Click here for New York Times “Mary Beard and Her ‘Battle Cry’ Against Internet Trolling”
The outside of the Colosseum gets a scrub for 6.5 million euros. Beautiful white travertine again with no more blackened pollution stains. Now they claim it looks “almost the same as ancient times” (minus all the statues, other adornments and the rest of the walls). In the process they found signs of the rebuild after the great fire and the numbers marking the stands. I admit I found it kind of creepy to climb around the Colosseum, not my favorite spot in Rome. How about you? Click here for “Colosseum Makeover to be completed next week”
Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled Egypt for a long, productive reign, intrigues us today for many reasons, but not least as a female ruler who took on the full symbolic regalia of a Pharaoh, sometimes depicting herself as a man in the process. And then there are those mysterious erasures of her monuments. Who wanted to wipe out her memory and why? This year, the German Archaeological Institute discovered carved blocks that were part of a building from early in Queen Hatshepsut’s reign. What’s intriguing is that the blocks were originally carved to show her as a female and then have been changed to a male image. Does this building give us insight into her early reign or do we reach for another explanation?
By the way, if you want a good novel of Hatshepsut, Stephanie Thornton’s Daughter of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt
Click here for “Barque station of Hatshepsut unearthed at Aswan island”
How to do a book giveaway: an intelligent post on the highly worthwhile website Women’s Fiction Writers. Any tips on giveaways of your own? From readers—what do you like? Click here for Women’s fictin Writers “5 Tips for a successful book Giveaway by author Kate Moretti”
From ancient Antioch in modern Turkey, the best skeleton mosaic yet. Those Greeks and Romans. They liked to remind their guests that you should enjoy today because tomorrow you’ll be dead. Such a jolly way to celebrate life—toss symbols of death here and there as party decorations! At least this skinny guy has a bottle of booze and some snacks around him.
2400 Year-old Skeleton Mosaic Found in Turkey that says “Be Cheerful, Enjoy Life”