Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 20h

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

Keltoi90814 @keltoi90814.bsky.social · 2d

Currently reading. #booksky

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

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 20h

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

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

🐝 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

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maryrussell.bsky.social @maryrussell.bsky.social · 21h

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

dnratl.bsky.social @dnratl.bsky.social · 1d

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

That is a beautiful photograph.

Jansen Mann @hellojansen.com · 3d

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

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

Yes, it is.

Finn Hopson @finnhop.bsky.social · 4d

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.

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

Beautiful.

Mike Curry Photography ©️ 📷 @mikecurryphotography.com · 5d

The South Downs - October 2025

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

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

Skill and a very steady hand.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 4d

🎨 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

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

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

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

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

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

It is indeed.

University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk · 5d

Our beautiful city 😍

📷 Instagram | Juncao_Oxford

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

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

Such intricate work and over 2400 years old. Amazing.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 6d

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

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

I agree.

dnratl.bsky.social @dnratl.bsky.social · 6d

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

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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.

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

No, I haven't.

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

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.

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

Beautiful photographs.

University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk · 8d

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.

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

My pleasure, of course.

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

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

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

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.

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

It is always a good time to visit my area of the downs.

uk-nb.bsky.social @uk-nb.bsky.social · 13d

Why now is the time to visit the South Downs and see Lee Miller’s home

https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/165597/

On a quiet country lane in East Sussex, alongside the jigsaw patches of pale yellow, green and mustard…

Why now is the time to visit the South Downs and see Lee Miller’s home - United Kingdom News Beep

On a quiet country lane in East Sussex, alongside the jigsaw patches of pale yellow, green and mustard of the South Downs, an unshowy sign hanging from a

www.newsbeep.com

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

A lovely colour and shape.

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 11d

🍐This beautiful pear-shaped porcelain bottle from Japan is covered in a distinctive green flambé glaze.

It was made by Ishiguro Kōkō of the Sumida Pottery in Tokyo, named after the nearby Sumida River.

A pear-shaped Japanese bottle with a vibrant and highly reflective green glaze. There are also hints of yellow and blue

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

Tending grapes is thirsty work at any time.

Bodleian Libraries @bodleian.ox.ac.uk · 10d

Pinch, punch, it's the first of the month. And here's your medieval Labour of the Month, courtesy of a 13th century psalter:

Ennius @enniusredloeb.bsky.social · 11d

Treading grapes is thirsty work in October.
#MedievalCalendar
Bodleian Library MS. Add. A. 46; Calendar from a Psalter; 13th century, third quarter: f.5v @bodleian.ox.ac.uk

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

I will pass on the good thoughts to Ms King. We haven't heard as yet how she is after the surgery.

Jean Weller @jeanweller.bsky.social · 9d

Hope you heal quickly and well!

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

Ms King is having surgery today. Help me to send her healing thoughts -- which of course Holmes says is balderdash, but I feel thinking about someone is never a bad thing.

laurierking.bsky.social @laurierking.bsky.social · 9d

Because I am currently in a nice sterile room having my spine rebuilt so I can punt again, I ask you to think healing thoughts. Not for me, but for this sad and turmoil-pressed world. And if you are so moved, to do one thing that makes life better for someone.
See you on the other side.
Laurie

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