Becky Wallower
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bwallower.bsky.social
Becky Wallower
@bwallower.bsky.social
1.3K followers 540 following 1.3K posts
archaeology, history, environment, quirky stuff -- love London, arts, travel -- writer, organiser, modest activist/stirrer 🏺
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bwallower.bsky.social
#TerracottaTuesday
Striking C4 BC rhyton/drinking vessel w Actaeon metamorphosing into a stag.
In common version of myth, it's his penalty for having seen Artemis/Diana bathing naked: he's fated to be torn apart by dogs.
From Timmari Hill tombs; in archaeology museum, Matera Basilicata.
Forming lower part of rhyton is head of mythical Actaeon, with antlers growing through his thick hair, large wide eyes, straight nose, smallish mouth. Upper part is red figured ware on black background. A figure there is seated, with flowing stole flying behind, holding a shallow bowl.
November 25, 2025 at 1:11 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/11/25/w...
Where will Labour government’s local reforms leave England’s cash-strapped museums?
Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ planned overhaul of regional councils promises stability, but delivers confusion for the cultural sector
www.theartnewspaper.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:09 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
1 of 8 fabulous Medieval #TilesOnTuesday found in Tring Herts curiosity shop: all but one show naughty/playful child Jesus in imaginary tales.
Here, bully destroys pool Jesus made along the Jordan and falls dead. Virgin intervenes, and bully returns to life at touch of Jesus's foot.
In BM. More ALT.
A dark reddish brown tile decorated with yellowish tan border and scenes. On left, Jesus left finds one of the pools he's made on the Jordan has been interfered with by a bully, who drops dead on discovery and turns upside down. On right, Virgin comes along and raises her hand to Jesus and encourages his to make amends, while Jesus, looking back at her, raises his right foot to touch the bully ahead of him, who is walking away. One of incomplete set of 8 in British Museum. All but one story depicted are not found in Bible, but invented to illustrate childhood of someone human and divine. When tales result in death of a playmate, they're shown upside down, Virgin Mary or Joseph always intervene and return everything to normal.
November 25, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
bwallower.bsky.social
#MosaicMonday
Semi-elliptical mosaic pavement from an apse: a hunt in marshlands where groups of men hunt from boats, using a large drag-net.
A v weird way to trap such exotic creatures as ostrich, stag, boar, birds??
Nathan Davis, BM's missionary in N Africa excavated 1850s in Utica, Tunisia.
🏺
Semi elliptical mosaic with white background. Two boats, one at each corner along the bottom, each have two men in them, casting a drag net that forms a border along the top. Within the space under the net are bits of branches, a tree, foliage, plus exotic birds (including an ostrich, ?peahen and smaller ones). Exotic beasts include a stag, an antelope, a wild boar and a spotted leopard, ?lizard and a ?wolf/jackal.
November 24, 2025 at 10:42 AM
bwallower.bsky.social
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/11/24/p...
Vast pre-Maya earthwork in Mexico is a map of the cosmos, archaeological analysis suggests
The 3,000-year-old ceremonial complex of Aguada Fénix in Tabasco was designed as a monumental “cosmogram”, according to new research
www.theartnewspaper.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:23 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
Who've been naughty boys then....?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Two peers suspended from House of Lords for breaking lobbying rules
Lord Evans of Watford and Lord Dannatt were filmed breaking rules in undercover footage recorded by Guardian
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:30 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
#MosaicMonday
Semi-elliptical mosaic pavement from an apse: a hunt in marshlands where groups of men hunt from boats, using a large drag-net.
A v weird way to trap such exotic creatures as ostrich, stag, boar, birds??
Nathan Davis, BM's missionary in N Africa excavated 1850s in Utica, Tunisia.
🏺
Semi elliptical mosaic with white background. Two boats, one at each corner along the bottom, each have two men in them, casting a drag net that forms a border along the top. Within the space under the net are bits of branches, a tree, foliage, plus exotic birds (including an ostrich, ?peahen and smaller ones). Exotic beasts include a stag, an antelope, a wild boar and a spotted leopard, ?lizard and a ?wolf/jackal.
November 24, 2025 at 10:42 AM
bwallower.bsky.social
I see!! Thanks for heads up. That's bonkers, but presumably he'll be back at some point.....
November 24, 2025 at 9:47 AM
bwallower.bsky.social
There is that.... Still rather have it than not though!
November 23, 2025 at 7:18 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
Thanks. And thanks for taking time to make suggestions!!
November 23, 2025 at 7:13 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
@why.bsky.team
Why isn't my feed 'Latest from follows' not working?? Msg on clicking says

Hmm, some kind of issue occurred when contacting the feed server. Please let the feed owner know about this issue.
Message from server: Internal Server Error

View profile
November 23, 2025 at 7:12 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
Nope. Did that. Msg says no.
November 23, 2025 at 7:11 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
Trying to notify mystery feed supplier....
November 23, 2025 at 7:10 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
So maybe just me... A mystery so far.
November 23, 2025 at 7:05 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
I'm getting
'Message from server: Internal Server Error'
in Home and Latest from Follows.
Why?
How to fix?
November 23, 2025 at 6:42 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
The Angels are Coming!
Lux Muralis has been bringing spectacular sound and light creations to cathedrals around Britain.
Now at Southwark from tomorrow, with an angelic theme to herald in Advent in every corner.
cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/whats-on/the...
This from St Paul's in Feb 👇
November 23, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
bwallower.bsky.social
#StaircaseSaturday
Breathtakingly lovely.
The Palladian 'Tulip Staircase' in Inigo Jones' Queen's House in Greenwich - the first unsupported spiral stair in Britain.
Commissioned c.1616 by Anne of Denmark, Queen to James I.
Completed c.1635 for Henrietta Maria, Queen to Charles I.
A spiral staircase, cantilevered from surrounding circular walls, all in white. Bannister railings in elegant blue wrought iron with designs featuring spiral stems and tulip like flowers. These were probably meant to be lillies, connected to French royal symbolism of Henrietta Maria.
November 22, 2025 at 12:16 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
Love Barbara Hepworth sculptures, though somewhat mystified how Art Newspaper's '10 essential works in UK. includes the one at UN in New York....
Here's one of my local favourites instead: a smaller version of the UN one called Single Form (Memorial), in Battersea Park.
Cast bronze sculpture by Barbara Hepworth of elongated irregular shape, with a hole perforating it at top left, beside a lake in Battersea Park on a bright day in London.
November 22, 2025 at 1:19 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/10/30/t...
Ten essential Barbara Hepworth works to see in the UK
Barbara Hepworth was one of the most important artists of the 20th century, who helped shape what we think of as Modern sculpture today
www.theartnewspaper.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:08 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/11/21/p...
Penn Museum opens Native North America Gallery after two-year overhaul
The Philadelphia museum, located on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, has completely rethought the 2,000-sq.-ft gallery in collaboration with eight Indigenous curators
www.theartnewspaper.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
lizanderson.bsky.social
Adrian Chiles interviewing a Norfolk woman metal detectorist on Saturday Live R4, though not giving her time to answer questions properly. She’s found a gold Iceni Quarter Stater (coin) but apparently this doesn’t count as treasure. Good she’s referenced the need to report/record finds on the PAS.
November 22, 2025 at 9:55 AM
bwallower.bsky.social
#StaircaseSaturday
Breathtakingly lovely.
The Palladian 'Tulip Staircase' in Inigo Jones' Queen's House in Greenwich - the first unsupported spiral stair in Britain.
Commissioned c.1616 by Anne of Denmark, Queen to James I.
Completed c.1635 for Henrietta Maria, Queen to Charles I.
A spiral staircase, cantilevered from surrounding circular walls, all in white. Bannister railings in elegant blue wrought iron with designs featuring spiral stems and tulip like flowers. These were probably meant to be lillies, connected to French royal symbolism of Henrietta Maria.
November 22, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
bwallower.bsky.social
Back to Secrets of the Thames exhibition at Lon Museum to write update for next @londonarchaeo.bsky.social.
So many intriguing #FindsFriday from the foreshore.
Here badges 1300-1500 for #PhallusFriday: 1 popping out of purse, several dancing on comb, plus cockerel worn to crow about virility.
ALT
Displayed in Secrets of the Thames exhibition at London Museum Docklands: 3 lead badges, worn on cloaks or hats. Left a cockerel, worn by young Londoners to advertise virility. Cock was a symbol for lust Centre: a purse decorated with cross hatch design with dots; a phallus is popping up in the centre between bag and handle. Purses were symbols of good fortune and metaphors for vaginas. Right: a double sided comb, with dancing phalluses in the central band. Displayed on a thin stand in an exhibition case. Found by mudlarks JB Hathaway, Tony Pilson and Ian Smith. The exhibition tells history and stories behind hundreds of mudlarked finds over the centuries.
November 21, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
allantadams.bsky.social
The Second World War left its mark on Bamburgh in the form of beach defences, including anti-tank cubes and pillboxes. There are also a number of aeroplane items in the castle museum.

#Sketchbook #drawing #ArtShare
Watercolour sketch of concrete blocks on the edge of a sandy beach, partially blocking a curving pathway climbing through sand dunes. In the background is a row or houses with a church tower just visible between the buildings. Pencil and watercolour sketch of a Second World War pillbox among grass covered sand dunes with a large castle in the background. Pen sketch of a Second World War aircraft gunsight.
November 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
Back to Secrets of the Thames exhibition at Lon Museum to write update for next @londonarchaeo.bsky.social.
So many intriguing #FindsFriday from the foreshore.
Here badges 1300-1500 for #PhallusFriday: 1 popping out of purse, several dancing on comb, plus cockerel worn to crow about virility.
ALT
Displayed in Secrets of the Thames exhibition at London Museum Docklands: 3 lead badges, worn on cloaks or hats. Left a cockerel, worn by young Londoners to advertise virility. Cock was a symbol for lust Centre: a purse decorated with cross hatch design with dots; a phallus is popping up in the centre between bag and handle. Purses were symbols of good fortune and metaphors for vaginas. Right: a double sided comb, with dancing phalluses in the central band. Displayed on a thin stand in an exhibition case. Found by mudlarks JB Hathaway, Tony Pilson and Ian Smith. The exhibition tells history and stories behind hundreds of mudlarked finds over the centuries.
November 21, 2025 at 12:23 PM