The scene of a deity pursuing a mortal libinously is not exactly a rare event in antiquity. From vases to reliefs and even the backs of mirrors the love affairs of the Greek gods were an easy option for an artist to bake into life on a vase or tease out of marble. Normally the …
Eos and her lovers: Proof that the early bird gets the worm Read More »
Medusa and Perseus. On my YouTube channel I look at a famous Greek vase which depicts Medusa being decapitated by Perseus (it’s currently in the British Museum). I hope you find it interesting. Let me know here or on my YouTube channel.
Hirsuite Hellenes, Greeks and the beard. For the ancient Greeks the beard was a cornerstone of masculinity. To be in possession of a full beard marked you out as a fully adult male and in the societies of the Classical period (and earlier) this was not to be taken lightly. Presuming that you were a …
Taking it on the chin: The beard in Greece and Rome. Read More »
Bees in Greek myth. As we have seen in the previous article, apiculture had become a sophisticated industry by the time Homer was composing epithets and gruesome deaths. The Mediterranean and its trade routes facilitated an easy exchange of ideas and technologies. One civilisation, the Minoan may well have passed on technologies or offered alternatives …
As it’s World museum selfie day on Jan 18th here’s a few pics from my visits to museums over the years. Couple in there of me in Roman kit as part of a museum Roman day, always great fun. ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]
Sarpedon on leadership. The Iliad is full of characters, some of them less well known than others and Sarpedon is a really crucial part of the Homer’s tale. Through him a number of themes and motifs are examined and codes reinforced. He isn’t a frontrunner in the fame stakes and probably known more for the …
Wild bees, and honey a beginning. A cave in southern Spain carries a simple image depicted on a wall. At first glance it might seem difficult to work out what is occurring. The picture is of a figure collecting honey and given the bees swarming around, he or she is certainly working hard for it. …
