For several generations, we have been awed by the beautifully preserved elegance of Pompeii. Exquisite frescoes and mosaics, lovely gardens, neighborhood bars, and ghostly plaster casts of those who died. But rarely do we get glimpses into the darker side of Roman life, the life of slaves. The recent excavations have uncovered Pompeiian slave quarters.
From a Neolithic city, the famous archaeological site of Catalhöyük in Turkey comes a re-examination of the earliest woven fabric fibers. What were they made from? Definitely not what you’d think.
An aspect of Hittite culture that has always drawn my interest is the role of influential women within it. That’s true despite its patriarchal structures. Now, Hittite seal impressions found at Carchemish, a venerable site in SE Turkey, identify another prominent Hittite woman, named Matiya. What do we learn about her? I also give a quick “how to” for understanding Hittite seal impressions. Modern business logos had nothing on the Hittites.
Perhaps the most effective way to “go back in time” is to read letters written in the past. Fortunately, personal letters survive written by Egyptians and Hittites during the Bronze Age. I particularly enjoy the insights I gain about the personalities of the writers. I’m delving into my favorite Hittite queen’s letters to Pharaoh and sharing insights into Egyptian life via an excellent article in ANET.
As I begin drafting the 4th book in the Tesha series, I’m deep into renewing my knowledge of the capital city of Hattusa. It turns out I’m out of date, and the new understanding of this massive archaeological site is a gift to a fiction writer. I’m reporting back from my deep-in-the-weeds research.
I’ve had inklings about the forms and role of slavery in the ancient Near East, but I was grateful for an excellent piece in Ancient Near East Today that clarified that unexpected picture. For most of us, not what we think.
How did the Parthenon marbles end up in the British Museum and where are they best viewed? My personal take and a good overview history.
Archaeologists at the dig on the island of Samothrace, home of one of the major Greek mystery cults, are applying imaginative techniques that remind me of the processes I go through as a writer of historical fiction. And then for extra fun there is the mystery behind ancient mystery cults. Read on.
The recent designation of Arslantepe, a dig in southeastern Turkey, as a World Heritage site has got me exploring this ancient city’s significance in light of my own fiction. Politics and artwork both reveal intriguing ways that this site–which I wasn’t familiar with previously–reflects the historical realities that I incorporate into my fiction.
I’m not traveling to Egypt anytime soon, but I’m happy to armchair visit to view the newly restored tomb of Pharaoh Djoser, one of the early rulers and builder of the step pyramid. Why did he build a tomb and a pyramid?
