Michael Freeman
@michaelfreemanphd.bsky.social
Ancient Med. social historian and Assistant Professor of Classics @ Texas Tech.
Papyrologist, myth buff, museum nerd
| views my own
Papyrologist, myth buff, museum nerd
| views my own
The ink is officially dry and I am thrilled to announce that my book “Hands That Write: The Training and Lived Experiences of Ancient Mediterranean Scribes” is under contract with OUP! @oxfordunipress.bsky.social
Sincere thanks to the editors, readers and mentors who have supported this project.
Sincere thanks to the editors, readers and mentors who have supported this project.
December 11, 2025 at 12:33 AM
The ink is officially dry and I am thrilled to announce that my book “Hands That Write: The Training and Lived Experiences of Ancient Mediterranean Scribes” is under contract with OUP! @oxfordunipress.bsky.social
Sincere thanks to the editors, readers and mentors who have supported this project.
Sincere thanks to the editors, readers and mentors who have supported this project.
The ancient Egyptians maintained 12 months of exactly 30 days each by observing five intercalary days at the end of the year.
These days existed outside of the standard reckoning of time and were essentially back-to-back feasts, and I feel this just perfectly captures the vibe of Dec. 26th-31st.
These days existed outside of the standard reckoning of time and were essentially back-to-back feasts, and I feel this just perfectly captures the vibe of Dec. 26th-31st.
December 11, 2025 at 12:17 AM
The ancient Egyptians maintained 12 months of exactly 30 days each by observing five intercalary days at the end of the year.
These days existed outside of the standard reckoning of time and were essentially back-to-back feasts, and I feel this just perfectly captures the vibe of Dec. 26th-31st.
These days existed outside of the standard reckoning of time and were essentially back-to-back feasts, and I feel this just perfectly captures the vibe of Dec. 26th-31st.
It was an honor to have met this remarkable woman and to have hosted her as our annual orator years ago.
May Dr. Jane Goodall rest peacefully in the Earth she fought so tirelessly to protect.
May Dr. Jane Goodall rest peacefully in the Earth she fought so tirelessly to protect.
October 1, 2025 at 9:21 PM
It was an honor to have met this remarkable woman and to have hosted her as our annual orator years ago.
May Dr. Jane Goodall rest peacefully in the Earth she fought so tirelessly to protect.
May Dr. Jane Goodall rest peacefully in the Earth she fought so tirelessly to protect.
Bare minimum for holding a conversation: Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray, South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio, Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, Television, North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe.
going to go out on a limb and imagine this guy's not actually very good at conversations
August 17, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Bare minimum for holding a conversation: Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray, South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio, Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, Television, North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe.
Reposted by Michael Freeman
“This week, Mellon Leadership Fellow and Nero scholar Lauren Donovan Ginsberg busts the myth of the useless humanist; a falsehood often used to justify cuts to humanities departments and programs today.”
August 14, 2025 at 3:15 PM
“This week, Mellon Leadership Fellow and Nero scholar Lauren Donovan Ginsberg busts the myth of the useless humanist; a falsehood often used to justify cuts to humanities departments and programs today.”
Reposted by Michael Freeman
“I asked ChatGPT” yeah well I asked the beautifully coiffed snake god Glykon by submitting my query in writing to his prophet Alexander at the temple in Abonoteichos that has a back room nobody’s allowed to go into
July 30, 2025 at 12:51 PM
“I asked ChatGPT” yeah well I asked the beautifully coiffed snake god Glykon by submitting my query in writing to his prophet Alexander at the temple in Abonoteichos that has a back room nobody’s allowed to go into
I’m really proud of my article, “The Body of the Scribe,” which will be appearing in CJ 120.4—give the issue a read!
New issue of Classical Journal Vol. 120, No. 4 (2025) muse.jhu.edu/issue/54778 @projectmuse.bsky.social @hopkinspress.bsky.social
@michaelfreemanphd.bsky.social
@michaelfreemanphd.bsky.social
May 5, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I’m really proud of my article, “The Body of the Scribe,” which will be appearing in CJ 120.4—give the issue a read!
Reposted by Michael Freeman
The Vatican Digitizes a 1,600-Year-Old Illuminated Manuscript of the Aeneid
The Vatican Digitizes a 1,600-Year-Old Illuminated Manuscript of the Aeneid
It’s fair to say that every period which has celebrated the literature of antiquity has held epic Roman poet Virgil in extremely high regard, and that was never more the case than during the early Chr...
www.openculture.com
March 25, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The Vatican Digitizes a 1,600-Year-Old Illuminated Manuscript of the Aeneid
🚨Classics Job Opportunity Alert🚨
If anyone in my network is interested in teaching Latin in a K-12 setting and is open to relocation (to the American Southwest), I have eyes on a great opportunity for you.
DM me for details!
If anyone in my network is interested in teaching Latin in a K-12 setting and is open to relocation (to the American Southwest), I have eyes on a great opportunity for you.
DM me for details!
March 19, 2025 at 2:44 PM
🚨Classics Job Opportunity Alert🚨
If anyone in my network is interested in teaching Latin in a K-12 setting and is open to relocation (to the American Southwest), I have eyes on a great opportunity for you.
DM me for details!
If anyone in my network is interested in teaching Latin in a K-12 setting and is open to relocation (to the American Southwest), I have eyes on a great opportunity for you.
DM me for details!
Reposted by Michael Freeman
FYI #AncientBlueSky: An excellent BMCR review of Raffaella Cribiore's "Listening to the Philosophers" is here, describing it as "fearless, insightful, lucid, & thought-provoking." bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2025/2025.03...
And, more at @cornellupress.bsky.social: www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
And, more at @cornellupress.bsky.social: www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
March 5, 2025 at 2:38 PM
FYI #AncientBlueSky: An excellent BMCR review of Raffaella Cribiore's "Listening to the Philosophers" is here, describing it as "fearless, insightful, lucid, & thought-provoking." bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2025/2025.03...
And, more at @cornellupress.bsky.social: www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
And, more at @cornellupress.bsky.social: www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
Reposted by Michael Freeman
Reminder: we're hiring in the Dept. of History at Appalachian State University. TT line at Asst. Professor level. Must be able to teach courses in history (area of specialization open), as well as in history/social studies education. #skystorians #academicsky
careers.historians.org/jobs/rss/191...
careers.historians.org/jobs/rss/191...
Assistant Professor, History/Social Studies Education in Boone, NC for Appalachian State University
Exciting opportunity in Boone, NC for Appalachian State University as a Assistant Professor, History/Social Studies Education
careers.historians.org
October 26, 2023 at 4:13 PM
Reminder: we're hiring in the Dept. of History at Appalachian State University. TT line at Asst. Professor level. Must be able to teach courses in history (area of specialization open), as well as in history/social studies education. #skystorians #academicsky
careers.historians.org/jobs/rss/191...
careers.historians.org/jobs/rss/191...
Reposted by Michael Freeman
Many of us seem to have opinions about this particular historical moment and I really don’t know if the majority of those opinions need to be in the public sphere. I certainly have nothing useful to say, except that I can’t sleep thinking of the innocents who died and will die. And that’s it, really
October 13, 2023 at 12:30 PM
Many of us seem to have opinions about this particular historical moment and I really don’t know if the majority of those opinions need to be in the public sphere. I certainly have nothing useful to say, except that I can’t sleep thinking of the innocents who died and will die. And that’s it, really
You could make a Roman edition of “Subterranean Homesick Blues” just by reading from Wheelock:
“Poets in the forum are standing on the pediment.”
“Girls in the patria praise the Roman government.”
“The man and the sailor see old books there.”
“The wisdom of the farmer cannot help the magister.”
“Poets in the forum are standing on the pediment.”
“Girls in the patria praise the Roman government.”
“The man and the sailor see old books there.”
“The wisdom of the farmer cannot help the magister.”
September 30, 2023 at 5:27 AM
You could make a Roman edition of “Subterranean Homesick Blues” just by reading from Wheelock:
“Poets in the forum are standing on the pediment.”
“Girls in the patria praise the Roman government.”
“The man and the sailor see old books there.”
“The wisdom of the farmer cannot help the magister.”
“Poets in the forum are standing on the pediment.”
“Girls in the patria praise the Roman government.”
“The man and the sailor see old books there.”
“The wisdom of the farmer cannot help the magister.”
I think we’ve missed a real opportunity by not branding “ClassicsBlueSky” as “CloudCuckooLand”
September 30, 2023 at 12:17 AM
I think we’ve missed a real opportunity by not branding “ClassicsBlueSky” as “CloudCuckooLand”
Reposted by Michael Freeman
PUBLICATION DAY! The Cambridge Companion to Metal Music is now available for purchase! It includes my chapter “Sparta and the Reception of Ancient History in Metal,” along with several other chapters by my colleagues in Metal Studies.
Link to purchase in post below!
AncientBluesky
Link to purchase in post below!
AncientBluesky
September 14, 2023 at 5:59 PM
PUBLICATION DAY! The Cambridge Companion to Metal Music is now available for purchase! It includes my chapter “Sparta and the Reception of Ancient History in Metal,” along with several other chapters by my colleagues in Metal Studies.
Link to purchase in post below!
AncientBluesky
Link to purchase in post below!
AncientBluesky
Our exhibit “Manuscript Migration” opened at Duke’s Rubenstein Rare Book Library yesterday!
Grateful to my fellow curators for their collaboration throughout this process and all those at Duke and in the community who contributed research, design work, art, funds, time and energy to its creation!
Grateful to my fellow curators for their collaboration throughout this process and all those at Duke and in the community who contributed research, design work, art, funds, time and energy to its creation!
September 1, 2023 at 2:59 PM
Our exhibit “Manuscript Migration” opened at Duke’s Rubenstein Rare Book Library yesterday!
Grateful to my fellow curators for their collaboration throughout this process and all those at Duke and in the community who contributed research, design work, art, funds, time and energy to its creation!
Grateful to my fellow curators for their collaboration throughout this process and all those at Duke and in the community who contributed research, design work, art, funds, time and energy to its creation!
Looking forward to presenting at this online conference in just a few weeks with my colleague Amanda Ball (not yet on BlueSky)!
Links are available by request from the organizers.
Links are available by request from the organizers.
August 30, 2023 at 10:55 PM
Looking forward to presenting at this online conference in just a few weeks with my colleague Amanda Ball (not yet on BlueSky)!
Links are available by request from the organizers.
Links are available by request from the organizers.
Reposted by Michael Freeman
Hey everyone, Sportula currently has a backlog of emergency requests—they really need funds! The next person who donates to Sportula gets a free copy of the Thetis volume I co-edited! You can donate through Venmo with the username @Sportula! Email me ([email protected]) with receipt!
August 22, 2023 at 11:12 PM
Hey everyone, Sportula currently has a backlog of emergency requests—they really need funds! The next person who donates to Sportula gets a free copy of the Thetis volume I co-edited! You can donate through Venmo with the username @Sportula! Email me ([email protected]) with receipt!
Reposted by Michael Freeman
Since they don't have an account here yet: The Sportula still exists! This month, they only had enough funds to fill 6 microgrants, & the backlog of emergency requests is more than double that. Any donation helps: Venmo @sportula or join Patreon:
Patreon
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Support and engage with artists and creators as they live out their passions!
www.patreon.com
August 22, 2023 at 11:32 PM
Since they don't have an account here yet: The Sportula still exists! This month, they only had enough funds to fill 6 microgrants, & the backlog of emergency requests is more than double that. Any donation helps: Venmo @sportula or join Patreon:
So excited to see the opening of this exhibit I helped curate! I’m so proud of the collaborative student and faculty research that created this, and so grateful for the exhibitions team at Duke for all of their incredible, hard work making it possible and beautiful!
Pictures to come soon!
Pictures to come soon!
August 29, 2023 at 11:21 PM
So excited to see the opening of this exhibit I helped curate! I’m so proud of the collaborative student and faculty research that created this, and so grateful for the exhibitions team at Duke for all of their incredible, hard work making it possible and beautiful!
Pictures to come soon!
Pictures to come soon!