Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 15h

I'm particularly fond of Japanese prints. This is lovely.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 21h

Crisp sunny mornings and crunchy golden leaves are here, so we’re celebrating with this wonderfully seasonal woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige.

🍁 Maple Trees at Mama, Tekona Shrine, and Linked Bridge, 1857, by Utagawa Hiroshige I (1797–1858). EAX.4362

3

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 15h

I know a few things about spectral hounds, but have never seen one around the Long Man.

South Downs National Park @southdownsnp.bsky.social · 2d

You've heard of the Long Man of Wilmington but have you heard of the Black Dog of Wilmington?

Legend has it a Ghostly Black Dog with bright red eyes can be seen stalking Windover Hill above the Long Man.
⠀
📷 Verity Stannard

#SouthDowns #SpookySeason

The famous chalk figure on the side of Wilmington Hill - the Long Man of Wilmington - underneath a starry sky

2

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 1d

I somehow missed this post.

TripFiction @tripfiction.bsky.social · 19d

#booktok #tiktok

Spotlight Review

Riviera Gold by Laurie R King

Roving around The Riviera in 1925

@allisonandbusby.bsky.social

#blueskybooks #booksky

2

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 1d

But of course.

University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk · 3d

NEW: We’re honoured to be ranked number one in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the tenth consecutive year. 👏

Aerial view of the University of Oxford, showcasing its historic buildings and spires under a clear sky at sunset. Text overlay states "Oxford named best university in the world for a record tenth consecutive year".

1 4

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 1d

I'm always amazed that something fragile could survive so long.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 1d

This jar stands at an impressive height of 75 cm. The painted decoration depicts an octopus, swimming in an abstract seascape. The jar comes from the Minoan palace at Knossos, on the island of Crete, and was created in the 15th century BCE.

A close up image of an ancient pot with a large octopus painted on in black with it's tentacles all curled around it.

5

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 2d

I do hope you are enjoying reading about our time in Venice.

Keltoi90814 @keltoi90814.bsky.social · 4d

Currently reading. #booksky

Cover of the book “Island of the Mad” by Laurie R. King.

3

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 2d

Three interesting objects to honour #WorldAnimalDay. I'm particularly fond of the coin with the bee.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 2d

🐝 Tetradrachm coin with a bee, Turkey, silver, HCR5273
🪽 Dish with three cranes, waves and clouds, 1600–1800. Porcelain, 3 x 16.8 x 12.5 cm. EA1981.44
🐯 Tiger, 1889–1995, after Gao Qifeng (1889–1933). Ink and colour on paper, 164 x 88 cm. EA1995.249

A round ancient coin with a bee in the centre

A blue and white wavy edged plate with three cranes painted in the centre

A painting of a tiger walking in the snow and roaring

5

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 2d

I haven't, but I do have sympathy with you over the botched stripes.

dnratl.bsky.social @dnratl.bsky.social · 3d

Who else besides me is infringing on Mr. Blake's copyright by using his Tiger Tiger art as a screensaver? And commiserates with the botched stripes in the middle? Watercolors can be tricky.

2

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 3d

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 3d

This dream-like illustration is a detail from William Blake’s illustration to the 'Divine Comedy', Purgatorio XXVII, showing Dante and Statius sleeping with Virgil watching.

Detail from Dante and Statius sleeping, William Blake, 1827. WA1918.3

A watercolour of a staircase with three figures sleeping on three of the steps. In the sky is a large sun.

1 2

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 4d

I believe today is the last day to purchase the e-book of The Lantern's Dance at the special low price.

6

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 4d

That is a beautiful photograph.

Jansen Mann @hellojansen.com · 4d

Apparently, I was walking the South Downs 8 years ago.

6

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 5d

Yes, it is.

Finn Hopson @finnhop.bsky.social · 5d

Autumn in the South Downs National Park. It’s going to be a colourful one apparently.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/oct/07/fiery-spectacular-rainbow-autumn-colour-bloom-gardens-uk

A photograph of autumnal trees in a foggy woodland. The foreground tree has two trunks that twist round each other.

A photograph of yellow birch leaves against a cool, foggy woodland background.

A young birch tree growing on a heather covered heathland. Lots of cobwebs. Does anyone read this stuff?

Orange, green and yellow bracken growing beneath pines in a foggy Sussex woodland.

7

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 5d

Beautiful.

Mike Curry Photography ©️ 📷 @mikecurryphotography.com · 6d

The South Downs - October 2025

A view of a greenfield in the South Downs with an atmospheric sky

2

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 5d

Skill and a very steady hand.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 5d

🎨 The decoration painted onto these bottles is on the inside of the glass!

The process is known as verre églomisé, it is an application that not only requires special tools but an incredible level of skill.

A glass bottle painted from the inside with a rural Chinese scene with three women sitting under a tree

3

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 6d

Ms King is home from the hospital and recovering. I know we all send her well wishes for a speedy recovery.

1 24

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 6d

The U.S. e-version of The Lantern's Dance is on sale for $1.99 from now until Oct. 8th.

3

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 7d

It is indeed.

University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk · 7d

Our beautiful city 😍

📷 Instagram | Juncao_Oxford

Aerial view of Oxford at sunrise, featuring the Radcliffe Camera and surrounding historic buildings under a vibrant sky.

1 4

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 7d

Such intricate work and over 2400 years old. Amazing.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 7d

This striking gold necklace was made over 2,400 years ago. In ancient Greece, acorns were symbols of abundance and fertility, and used as decoration on gold objects.

The necklace was excavated over 150 years ago from the necropolis of Nymphaion in the Crimea, previously an ancient Greek colony.

A gold necklace with pendants in the shape of acorns hanging across the whole piece

5

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 8d

I agree.

dnratl.bsky.social @dnratl.bsky.social · 8d

Reminds me of old logo for UK TV production company, Thames below. But MUCH prettier.

3

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 8d

The U.S. e-version of The Lantern's Dance is on sale for $1.99 from now until Oct. 8th.

2

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 8d

No, I haven't.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 9d

Have you ever heard of the emperor Domitianus?

This remarkable coin discovered on farmland near Chalgrove in 2003 provides proof that a man named Domitianus claimed to be emperor in the early 270s CE. It was fused in a mass of nearly five thousand coins within a partially intact Roman jar.

3

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 8d

Beautiful photographs.

University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk · 10d

Reflections in the water 🌧️

📷 Instagram | Judy.Martin46 (September, 2025)

Radcliffe Camera building in Oxford reflected in a puddle on a cobblestone street, under a partly cloudy sky.

Reflection of historic buildings and bicycles along a narrow street puddle under a clear blue sky.

View of Magdalen Tower in Oxford, reflected in a puddle on a gravel pathway surrounded by greenery under a partly cloudy sky.

1 4

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 8d

My pleasure, of course.

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 9d

I'm pleased you enjoyed my first memoir. I hope you go on to enjoy the rest of them. laurierking.com/russell-holm...

1 1 4

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 9d

The E-version of THE LANTERN'S DANCE! It will be discounted at $1.99 and promoted on Amazon from 10/3 to 10/8.