Spencer McDaniel
@spencermcdaniel.bsky.social
Studies ancient Greek cultural and social history, BA history and classical studies @IUBloomington, MA @BrandeisCLAS, she/her.
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
every trans person i see post about the OU suspension knows that the suspended target is trans & a grad student, & has an innate awareness that this is about purging trans employees. every cis person i see thinks the target is a rando professor & that this is about giving conservatives good grades
December 1, 2025 at 12:04 AM
every trans person i see post about the OU suspension knows that the suspended target is trans & a grad student, & has an innate awareness that this is about purging trans employees. every cis person i see thinks the target is a rando professor & that this is about giving conservatives good grades
It is often claimed that no one knows how the tetragrammaton, the four Hebrew letters representing the proper name of God, were pronounced. In reality, compelling evidence indicates that they were originally pronounced "Yahweh."
#Yahweh
talesoftimesforgotten.com/2025/11/26/s...
#Yahweh
talesoftimesforgotten.com/2025/11/26/s...
Scholars Have Discovered How to Pronounce the True Name of God - Tales of Times Forgotten
Today, most Jews, Christians, and Muslims simply call their god “God,” but it is fairly common knowledge that the texts of the Hebrew Bible refer to the God of Israel by his proper name, which, in Heb...
talesoftimesforgotten.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:10 AM
It is often claimed that no one knows how the tetragrammaton, the four Hebrew letters representing the proper name of God, were pronounced. In reality, compelling evidence indicates that they were originally pronounced "Yahweh."
#Yahweh
talesoftimesforgotten.com/2025/11/26/s...
#Yahweh
talesoftimesforgotten.com/2025/11/26/s...
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
I guess I now have to do a thread on shoes in ancient Mesopotamia in response to this (which happens to be from one of my favourite accounts).
I’m not an archaeologist, nor do I really know anything about shoes, but let’s go on this journey together.
I’m not an archaeologist, nor do I really know anything about shoes, but let’s go on this journey together.
can't believe this ancient mesopotamia shoe wearing ass said people need to dress up at the airport
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
I guess I now have to do a thread on shoes in ancient Mesopotamia in response to this (which happens to be from one of my favourite accounts).
I’m not an archaeologist, nor do I really know anything about shoes, but let’s go on this journey together.
I’m not an archaeologist, nor do I really know anything about shoes, but let’s go on this journey together.
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
An ancient multiplication table in clay by a student named Suen-apil-Urim from the 1800s BCE
November 22, 2025 at 8:21 AM
An ancient multiplication table in clay by a student named Suen-apil-Urim from the 1800s BCE
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
BREAKING: We're suing the Trump administration for banning transgender federal employees from using the restroom that aligns with their gender.
This needless and discriminatory policy is another effort to push trans people out of public life — but we aren't going anywhere.
This needless and discriminatory policy is another effort to push trans people out of public life — but we aren't going anywhere.
November 20, 2025 at 6:53 PM
BREAKING: We're suing the Trump administration for banning transgender federal employees from using the restroom that aligns with their gender.
This needless and discriminatory policy is another effort to push trans people out of public life — but we aren't going anywhere.
This needless and discriminatory policy is another effort to push trans people out of public life — but we aren't going anywhere.
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
Eilmer of Malmesbury, the original air friar
November 20, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Eilmer of Malmesbury, the original air friar
This remains, to this day, one of my favorite stories from ancient Egyptian history: the time when the pharaoh's tomb workers went on strike.
November 14, 1152 BCE: the first recorded workers' strike occurred in ancient Egypt under Pharaoh Ramses III. Artisans and laborers working on the royal tombs at Deir el-Medina stopped working in protest of delayed and insufficient rations, a form of wages. collezioni.museoegizio.it/en-GB/materi...
November 14, 2025 at 12:43 PM
This remains, to this day, one of my favorite stories from ancient Egyptian history: the time when the pharaoh's tomb workers went on strike.
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
It's some fairly well known etymology that we owe some everyday words to Martin of Tours (d. 397).
The most famous episode of his life is when he selflessly cut his cloak (in Latin: 'cappa') in two. That cloak was later venerated in Frankish lands, from which come the words 'chapel' and 'chaplain'.
The most famous episode of his life is when he selflessly cut his cloak (in Latin: 'cappa') in two. That cloak was later venerated in Frankish lands, from which come the words 'chapel' and 'chaplain'.
Since today is Saint Martin's Day, here's a humble image of the popular saint that I recently encountered on Veliki Brijun, Croatia. Carved for a church in Senj c. 1330, it has "Sveti Marъtinъ" written in Glagolitic letters around the saint's head – part of Croatia's long tradition of Glagolitic.
November 11, 2025 at 12:11 PM
It's some fairly well known etymology that we owe some everyday words to Martin of Tours (d. 397).
The most famous episode of his life is when he selflessly cut his cloak (in Latin: 'cappa') in two. That cloak was later venerated in Frankish lands, from which come the words 'chapel' and 'chaplain'.
The most famous episode of his life is when he selflessly cut his cloak (in Latin: 'cappa') in two. That cloak was later venerated in Frankish lands, from which come the words 'chapel' and 'chaplain'.
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
November is depicted in this mosaic from Sousse, Tunisia, with a priest in the guise of Hermanubis with two pterophoroi. It commemorates the Inventio Osiridis, a week-long reenactment of the death of Osiris and the quest of Isis to recover his body, held in the month of Khoiak (Oct-Nov). 🏺 1/
November 2, 2025 at 3:10 PM
November is depicted in this mosaic from Sousse, Tunisia, with a priest in the guise of Hermanubis with two pterophoroi. It commemorates the Inventio Osiridis, a week-long reenactment of the death of Osiris and the quest of Isis to recover his body, held in the month of Khoiak (Oct-Nov). 🏺 1/
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
A tiny but very charming #Etruscan amber pendant in the shape of a squatting #monkey, height 4.7 cm.
Found in Vetulonia, #Italy, dating late 8th/early 7th century BC.
Photo: Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Toscana
🏺 #archaeology
Found in Vetulonia, #Italy, dating late 8th/early 7th century BC.
Photo: Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Toscana
🏺 #archaeology
November 4, 2025 at 7:14 AM
A tiny but very charming #Etruscan amber pendant in the shape of a squatting #monkey, height 4.7 cm.
Found in Vetulonia, #Italy, dating late 8th/early 7th century BC.
Photo: Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Toscana
🏺 #archaeology
Found in Vetulonia, #Italy, dating late 8th/early 7th century BC.
Photo: Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Toscana
🏺 #archaeology
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
An extraordinary discovery was made in Ibiza: a 30-centimeter wooden sculpture representing Hercules. Considering the scarcity of wooden sculptures preserved from the Roman era, this discovery is truly remarkable.
The figure was found in a Roman well that was later reused as a refuse pit. 🧵1/2
🏺
The figure was found in a Roman well that was later reused as a refuse pit. 🧵1/2
🏺
November 2, 2025 at 8:21 AM
An extraordinary discovery was made in Ibiza: a 30-centimeter wooden sculpture representing Hercules. Considering the scarcity of wooden sculptures preserved from the Roman era, this discovery is truly remarkable.
The figure was found in a Roman well that was later reused as a refuse pit. 🧵1/2
🏺
The figure was found in a Roman well that was later reused as a refuse pit. 🧵1/2
🏺
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
An update on the Getty's APPEAR (Ancient Panel Paintings: Examination, Analysis, and Research) project, which aggregates and studies panel portraits from antiquity—chugging along since 2013. www.getty.edu/projects/app... 🎨🖌️
October 31, 2025 at 3:27 PM
An update on the Getty's APPEAR (Ancient Panel Paintings: Examination, Analysis, and Research) project, which aggregates and studies panel portraits from antiquity—chugging along since 2013. www.getty.edu/projects/app... 🎨🖌️
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
A remarkably well-preserved early medieval comb, found in Trier, 5th century, made from animal bone with iron rivets.
The comb consists of three layers: the central strip with fine teeth is decorated with stylized animal heads and is framed by two side plates. To protect the ... 🧵1/2
📷 me
🏺
The comb consists of three layers: the central strip with fine teeth is decorated with stylized animal heads and is framed by two side plates. To protect the ... 🧵1/2
📷 me
🏺
October 27, 2025 at 6:22 AM
A remarkably well-preserved early medieval comb, found in Trier, 5th century, made from animal bone with iron rivets.
The comb consists of three layers: the central strip with fine teeth is decorated with stylized animal heads and is framed by two side plates. To protect the ... 🧵1/2
📷 me
🏺
The comb consists of three layers: the central strip with fine teeth is decorated with stylized animal heads and is framed by two side plates. To protect the ... 🧵1/2
📷 me
🏺
Most people assume that the city of Athens is named after the goddess Athena—but intriguing epigraphic and linguistic evidence has persuaded many specialist scholars that the goddess is actually named for the city.
#Athens #Athena #GreekMythology #classics
talesoftimesforgotten.com/2025/10/20/i...
#Athens #Athena #GreekMythology #classics
talesoftimesforgotten.com/2025/10/20/i...
Is Athena Named After Athens, or Vice Versa? - Tales of Times Forgotten
In ancient times, the people of the Greek city-state of Athens regarded the goddess Athena as their patron. The special relationship between the goddess and the city is reflected in their shared name,...
talesoftimesforgotten.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Most people assume that the city of Athens is named after the goddess Athena—but intriguing epigraphic and linguistic evidence has persuaded many specialist scholars that the goddess is actually named for the city.
#Athens #Athena #GreekMythology #classics
talesoftimesforgotten.com/2025/10/20/i...
#Athens #Athena #GreekMythology #classics
talesoftimesforgotten.com/2025/10/20/i...
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
Most histories of hoodies go with 12th century monks as the originator, but I like to show my students this one from 5th-7th century Egypt.
October 25, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Most histories of hoodies go with 12th century monks as the originator, but I like to show my students this one from 5th-7th century Egypt.
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
But this misses out the best part of this mosaic! To the left of Odysseus' ship is a smaller boat with a man holding what looks suspiciously like a gigantic prawn. This man is likely to be the homeowner who commissioned the mosaic.
(Mosaic from Dougga, Tunisia; C3rd AD; currently in Bardo Museum)
(Mosaic from Dougga, Tunisia; C3rd AD; currently in Bardo Museum)
October 24, 2025 at 4:42 PM
But this misses out the best part of this mosaic! To the left of Odysseus' ship is a smaller boat with a man holding what looks suspiciously like a gigantic prawn. This man is likely to be the homeowner who commissioned the mosaic.
(Mosaic from Dougga, Tunisia; C3rd AD; currently in Bardo Museum)
(Mosaic from Dougga, Tunisia; C3rd AD; currently in Bardo Museum)
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
A president who can tear down 1/3 of the White House can tear down the entire White House. A president who can steal $230M from the treasury can steal $1T from the Treasury. We have both legalized and tolerated Trump’s crimes, so they will only get bigger.
October 24, 2025 at 12:54 PM
A president who can tear down 1/3 of the White House can tear down the entire White House. A president who can steal $230M from the treasury can steal $1T from the Treasury. We have both legalized and tolerated Trump’s crimes, so they will only get bigger.
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
2,700-year-old temple with 'sacred cave' discovered in Turkey — and it may honor the 'mother goddess' | Live Science
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
2,700-year-old temple with 'sacred cave' discovered in Turkey — and it may honor the 'mother goddess'
The temple may have been dedicated to a mother goddess worshipped by many cultures, including the Greeks and the Romans.
www.livescience.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:56 PM
2,700-year-old temple with 'sacred cave' discovered in Turkey — and it may honor the 'mother goddess' | Live Science
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
List of discontinued merit badges (Boy Scouts of America)
October 3, 2025 at 11:53 PM
List of discontinued merit badges (Boy Scouts of America)
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
A perfect souvenir from a day at the chariot races! This pottery cup or jar has barbotine (liquid clay) decoration, piped on just like cake icing. It depicts four quadrigae (four-horse chariots) in an endless circular race. 🏺 #ancientbluesky 1/
Colchester, 2nd c. CE. 📸 me
Colchester, 2nd c. CE. 📸 me
September 30, 2025 at 9:46 PM
A perfect souvenir from a day at the chariot races! This pottery cup or jar has barbotine (liquid clay) decoration, piped on just like cake icing. It depicts four quadrigae (four-horse chariots) in an endless circular race. 🏺 #ancientbluesky 1/
Colchester, 2nd c. CE. 📸 me
Colchester, 2nd c. CE. 📸 me
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
So the cool thing about this: there are two scripts here, Bactrian and Brahmi. The Brahmi is a common Buddhist curse formula, the Bactrian appears to be gibberish.
No clue if the curse is still active (we'll find out I guess), but the nail can still probably give you tetanus
No clue if the curse is still active (we'll find out I guess), but the nail can still probably give you tetanus
how your email finds me
(Bactrian curse slab, 5-6 c. AD)
(Bactrian curse slab, 5-6 c. AD)
September 29, 2025 at 9:57 AM
So the cool thing about this: there are two scripts here, Bactrian and Brahmi. The Brahmi is a common Buddhist curse formula, the Bactrian appears to be gibberish.
No clue if the curse is still active (we'll find out I guess), but the nail can still probably give you tetanus
No clue if the curse is still active (we'll find out I guess), but the nail can still probably give you tetanus
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
Fun fact, a “cupa” is a barrel in Latin. People who made a cupa later became coopers. I like to tell this to everyone Cooper I meet whether they want to hear my etymology or not.
A marvellous scene of daily life for #ReliefWednesday: A #Roman funerary relief depicting the transport of two (wine?) barrels on a four wheeled cart pulled by two oxen. A #dog, probably the driver's beloved companion, is sitting on the barrels. 🧵1/2
🏺 #archaeology
🏺 #archaeology
September 23, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Fun fact, a “cupa” is a barrel in Latin. People who made a cupa later became coopers. I like to tell this to everyone Cooper I meet whether they want to hear my etymology or not.
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
The destruction of the Gaza city mosque is a devastating loss to humanity as a whole. A part of our global medieval heritage destroyed in furtherance to a genocide. I despair.
Built in the 13th century. So that mosque stood for 800 years with every sort of person from every place and every religion in the world passing through Gaza century after century, only for it to be blown up by some shithead loser sitting behind a computer that we probably paid for.
My rage knows no bounds
September 17, 2025 at 11:16 AM
The destruction of the Gaza city mosque is a devastating loss to humanity as a whole. A part of our global medieval heritage destroyed in furtherance to a genocide. I despair.
Reposted by Spencer McDaniel
Two adorable Egyptian figurines: a roaring hippo and a baby hippo, dating ca 1,800 BC. Hippos were associated with life and rebirth. On display at Neues Museum Berlin. 📷 me
🏺 AncientEgyptBluesky
🏺 AncientEgyptBluesky
September 14, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Two adorable Egyptian figurines: a roaring hippo and a baby hippo, dating ca 1,800 BC. Hippos were associated with life and rebirth. On display at Neues Museum Berlin. 📷 me
🏺 AncientEgyptBluesky
🏺 AncientEgyptBluesky