Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · 4h

WOOHOO!!

Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 8h

Thank you to everyone who entered this. The winner was @classicalalan.bsky.social - signed book on its way to you tomorrow!

And the winner of the extra book, kindly donated by @biggreenbooks.bsky.social, was @mthrjo.bsky.social (please can you message Simon with your address).

Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 15h

I'm giving away this signed 1st edition h/b of my new novel (it has a tiny jacket rip which means I wouldn't sell it) to one person who reposts this.

You might like it if you like:
Folkloric creatures
Old records
Intricate psychedelic stories
The idea of circular time

All shares much-appreciated.

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Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery

Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · 16h

It is a bit grey in London this morning, so here is a little golden sun to cheer us all up!

The original watercolour and gold ink painting on recycled cotton rag paper is now available in my Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Suns....

A small painting of a sun with a face with a shiny gold halo.

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Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery

Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · 17h

This is the only visible stretch of the Roman wall of Dorchester, known in ancient times as Durnovaria. Only the inner rubble core of the wall survives - it would have been faced with more regular carved blocks on each side, but these have long since disappeared. #WallsonWednesday

A short stretch of rough rubble wall incorporated into a garden wall with a fence in front.

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Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery

Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 15h

I'm giving away this signed 1st edition h/b of my new novel (it has a tiny jacket rip which means I wouldn't sell it) to one person who reposts this.

You might like it if you like:
Folkloric creatures
Old records
Intricate psychedelic stories
The idea of circular time

All shares much-appreciated.

Joe McLaren's fabulous cover for Everything Will Swallow You

A close up of the small tear on this first edition of Everything Will Swallow You

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Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery

Trimontium Trust & Museum @trimontiumtrust.bsky.social · 18h

A clip of Longcroft for #HillfortsWednesday - a complex hillfort to the east of #Oxton in the #ScottishBorders. It had 3 periods of construction that have created four ramparts with intermediate ditches. The traces of several round houses can also be seen.

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Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · 16h

It is a bit grey in London this morning, so here is a little golden sun to cheer us all up!

The original watercolour and gold ink painting on recycled cotton rag paper is now available in my Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Suns....

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Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery

The Partial Historians 🏺 @partialhistorians.bsky.social · 16h

Witness Augustus as you’ve never seem him, re-sculptured to look nothing like himself!

The scene is ostensibly Augustus driving a chariot of Tritons. The imagery includes Tritons holding a shield with an oak wreath (thought to be the clipeus virtutis) and Victoria.

#ReliefWednesday #AncientRome

Description from Kunsthistorisches Museum: “The cameo shows Augustus, clad in a toga – the heads of the figures are all modern – viewed from the front in a chariot being pulled through the sea by Tritons. The triumphant naval victor holds a branch in his right hand and a sceptre in his left. An oak wreath is attached to the parapet of the chariot, and a shell is attached to the end of the handle. While the two middle Tritons – one holding a horn in his right, the other a dolphin in his left – each raise an arm symmetrically as if pointing at Augustus, the two outer Tritons carry the symbols of his reign in front of him: the left holds a globe, on which a shield with an oak wreath (clipeus virtutis) flanked by two ibexes, and the right shows Victoria floating on the globe. The cameo was probably created soon after 27 BCE, when Augustus was awarded the oak wreath, which - together with the ibex - was also engraved on the back of the stone in the 16th century.”

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Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · 16h

Yes I went there when I visited - but the covered mosaics were closed unfortunately.

Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · 17h

This is the only visible stretch of the Roman wall of Dorchester, known in ancient times as Durnovaria. Only the inner rubble core of the wall survives - it would have been faced with more regular carved blocks on each side, but these have long since disappeared. #WallsonWednesday

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Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery

Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · 1d

This is my ink drawing of Wayland's Smithy, a Neolithic long barrow close to the Ridgeway in Oxfordshire. It is said that if you leave your horse there with a coin then Wayland will magically reshoe it.
The original artwork is now available on my Etsy shop here: shorturl.at/HDzSI
#TombTuesday

A black and white ink drawing of the neolithic tomb known as Wayland's Smithy

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Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery

Dr Francis Young @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social · 2d

I’m pleased to say you can now pre-order my next book, ‘Fairies: A History’ (out in February 2026) from
@politybooks.bsky.social. Thank you to Jeremy Harte, Simon Young, Jo Hickey-Hall and Owen Davies for such generous endorsements! 🌿📚 www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?b...

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Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery

Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 1d

A stunning head of Medusa, the mythical creature whose sight turns everyone to stone. Medusa’s head was a popular motif used to ward off any evil.
The #Roman bronze fitting was found in Xanten, dating 1st century AD

On display at Römermuseum Xanten.

📷 me

🏺#archaeology

A detailed bronze sculpture of a face with wide eyes and flowing, wavy hair radiating outward resembling snakes, displayed in a glass case under museum lighting.

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Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery

Paul Robichaud @pjrobichaud.bsky.social · 1d

West Kennett Long Barrow, July 2023. #TombTuesday

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Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · 1d

Amazing!

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Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery

Dr Jo Ball @drjeball.bsky.social · 1d

Wow, #Roman tombstones really do get around - this one was rediscovered in New Orleans, after being transported across the Atlantic by unknown persons in the chaotic aftermath of WW2...

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

New Orleans couple discovers ancient Roman grave marker in their yard

Discovery of 1,900-year-old headstone dedicated to Roman sailor sets off effort to repatriate item to Italy

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery

Thomas S Brown @tomsbrown.bsky.social · 1d

I'm 65 and I have reached the point in my life and working life I had dreamed of as a young human and I'm on the lip of the unimaginable. You are not too old to... Anything. Begin
Keep going.

Fey creature looks longingly at cathedral looming in the night marsh behind them.

Book cover art for Nira by Thomas sniegosli and Jeannine atcherson. Woman surrounded by strange creatures in a pub. She has whiskey, which is important.

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Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · 1d

Inspiring words, thank you.

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Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · 1d

This is my ink drawing of Wayland's Smithy, a Neolithic long barrow close to the Ridgeway in Oxfordshire. It is said that if you leave your horse there with a coin then Wayland will magically reshoe it.
The original artwork is now available on my Etsy shop here: shorturl.at/HDzSI
#TombTuesday

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Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · 1d

The interior is not open to visitors I am afraid, and this is the only picture I took. You might find more out there on the internet...

Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery

Paul B 〓〓 @whatsmellslikeblue.bsky.social · 2d

Went to Bignor on Saturday, and saw many fine mosaics, one of which was of Venus. The text for the room says how her eyes follow you around the room. My sister and I agreed that she just looks bored. #MosaicMonday

A mosaic of the goddess Venus, rolling her eyes.

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Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · 2d

As someone who cycles through central London on a daily basis, I see much more stupid and dangerous behaviour amongst pedestrians than I do amongst drivers.

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Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery

Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · 2d

Next to majestic Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire can be found the remains of its medieval monastery, including the 12th-century Prior's House and parts of the infirmary complex. These are now regarded as the oldest collection of monastic buildings still in daily use in Britain. #MedievalMonday

A courtyard next to Ely Cathedral, its historical buildings boasting large Romanesque arches.

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Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery

Durotriges Dig @durotrigesdig.bsky.social · 2d

The powerful face of Winter on a mosaic discovered by George Tupper in 1811 @bignorvilla.bsky.social in West #Sussex

Wrapped in a hooded cloak, this mid 4th century portrait is the only one of the 4 Seasons on the summer dining room floor to survive

📷 Nov 2023

#MosaicMonday #Roman #WinterIsComing

A mournful personification of Winter, tightly wrapped in a cloak, depicted on a Roman mosaic floor

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Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery

Trimontium Trust & Museum @trimontiumtrust.bsky.social · 2d

A rare Iron Age textile from Loch Tay preserved for thousands of years & thought to be the earliest of its kind - Scottish Crannog Centre - 📷 ©A. Palyvos.
Textile-making tools found at Trimontium 📷 ©NMS & TrimontiumTrust.

This weekend don't miss our Iron Age Textiles Workshop! zurl.co/AntJr

Image of the Crannog textile, collage of textile-making Roman and Iron Age tools

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Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · 2d

Next to majestic Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire can be found the remains of its medieval monastery, including the 12th-century Prior's House and parts of the infirmary complex. These are now regarded as the oldest collection of monastic buildings still in daily use in Britain. #MedievalMonday

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