Skip to content
Home » Weekly Posts » Page 10

Weekly Posts

Rubens' Hector & Achilles version of Roman Trojan War mosaic

The Roman Trojan War Mosaic

You might remember my post about the Trojan War mosaic found in a Roman villa in England not so long ago. If you are a fan of mosaics, Roman Britain, the Iliad, or history and archaeology in general, you’ll love this update and its excellent video display of each of the mosaic’s panels.

Book cover image The Hidden Palace

Review of The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker

With The Hidden Palace, follow-up to her historical fantasy The Golem and the Jinni, Wecker returned with a layered novel of many complex characters, including even richer developments of the golem and jinni, completely intriguing magical beings. Here’s my review of this enticing book.

Cleopatra from 1917 movie

Cleopatra’s Tomb: Archaeological Wishful Thinking?

The location of Cleopatra’s tomb is a longstanding mystery. Is a determined archaeologist narrowing in on uncovering this famed secret or should she appreciate a newly uncovered engineering marvel for its own sake?

Golden mask, part of King Tutankhammun's burial treasure

The Burial Treasures of King Tutankhamun

In this 100th year since the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, here’s a good answer to that burning question, “Why did Tut have so much more treasure than any of the other Pharaohs?” It’s way beyond escaping the usual plundering.

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.