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Judith Starkston

Judith Starkston has spent too much time exploring the remains of the ancient worlds of the Greeks and Hittites. Their myths and clashes inspire her fiction and open gates to magical realms. She has degrees in Classics from the University of California, Santa Cruz and Cornell. She loves myths and telling stories, and her novels imbue fantasy with the richness of ancient worlds. The first book in her Trojan Threads Series, Hand of Fire was a semi-finalist for the M.M. Bennett’s Award for Historical Fiction. Priestess of Ishana, the first in her historical fantasy Tesha series, won the San Diego State University Conference Choice Award. Judith is represented by Richard Curtis.

Egyptian sacred portal, false door

Egyptian Sacred Portal

A museum’s limestone stela, which functioned as an Egyptian sacred portal or false door, hides a more complicated history than it appears, quite beyond its unusual dedication to a woman. Artifacts have both the history of their origins and the tale of their passage through the ages.

Trojan War mosaic subject, Hercules & Hippolyta, Delacroix

Roman-Era Mosaic Of Trojan War, Hercules, Neptune

In Syria, archaeologists uncovered a magnificently detailed mosaic depicting the Trojan War, Neptune and Hercules. I’m less thrilled than those quoted in the press because–well, the artist’s choice of subject does matter. But Hercules has some gorgeous muscles. Here’s my view.

book cover image Three Great Lies

Review of Three Great Lies by Vanessa MacLellan

Here’s my review of a quirky time-slip novel set in Egypt. A modern tourist tumbles into the ancient world and along with a cat-headed girl assists a mummy–and herself–to find happiness.

book cover image Love and Death among the Cheetahs

Review: Love and Death among the Cheetahs by Rhys Bowen

With her Royal Spyness series, Rhys Bowen excels at giving readers lighthearted mysteries with a chewy under layer of thought-provoking elements. I particularly enjoyed Love and Death among the Cheetahs. Here’s my review.

King's Gate showing bronze helmet style

A Hittite Bronze Helmet

Most ancient armor comes to us via burial goods, but we have virtually no grave gifts from the Hittites, so this bronze helmet from the Hittite royal city of Sapinuwa is a big deal and lots of fun. Even more so that it matches the famous King’s Gate at Hattusa.

Immage of the Colossi of Memnon at Dazzling Aten & Amenhotep's Mortuary Temple

Dazzling Aten & Amenhotep’s Mortuary Temple

You’d think there wouldn’t be vast new archaeological discoveries in Egypt. In fact, recent years have brought to light both Amenhotep’s mortuary temple and an entire city, called Tehn Aten, or Dazzling Aten (the sun god). It’s all pretty extraordinary.