Claire Heywood
@claireheywood.bsky.social
Author | DAUGHTERS OF SPARTA (2021), THE SHADOW OF PERSEUS (2023), THE WANDERING QUEEN (coming 2026) | Only Connect alumna and quiz enthusiast | Interested in classics, archaeology, mythology, writing, books, films, games
Website: claireheywood.info
Website: claireheywood.info
Pinned
I have a new book coming out next year! THE WANDERING QUEEN is a historical fiction retelling of the legendary Queen Dido. Cover reveal for the UK hardback edition:
Have a feeling Medea would have really vibed with Lily Allen's West End Girl album
October 31, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Have a feeling Medea would have really vibed with Lily Allen's West End Girl album
Starting to see some really lovely early reviews for my upcoming novel, THE WANDERING QUEEN - out next February. Always a relief when you're putting new work out into the world! It's available for preorder if you'd like to treat your future self.
October 23, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Starting to see some really lovely early reviews for my upcoming novel, THE WANDERING QUEEN - out next February. Always a relief when you're putting new work out into the world! It's available for preorder if you'd like to treat your future self.
Around half way through The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley and finding it enjoyable, original, and highly impressive - especially for a debut. Just brilliant, thoughtful fiction.
October 21, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Around half way through The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley and finding it enjoyable, original, and highly impressive - especially for a debut. Just brilliant, thoughtful fiction.
Going back through my photos from Athens, and thought I would share this beautiful Mycenaean object from the National Archaeological Museum 🏺
Label: 'Bronze dagger with inlaid decoration. A Nilotic landscape with felines chasing aquatic birds among papyrus flowers is depicted on the blade.'
Label: 'Bronze dagger with inlaid decoration. A Nilotic landscape with felines chasing aquatic birds among papyrus flowers is depicted on the blade.'
October 15, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Going back through my photos from Athens, and thought I would share this beautiful Mycenaean object from the National Archaeological Museum 🏺
Label: 'Bronze dagger with inlaid decoration. A Nilotic landscape with felines chasing aquatic birds among papyrus flowers is depicted on the blade.'
Label: 'Bronze dagger with inlaid decoration. A Nilotic landscape with felines chasing aquatic birds among papyrus flowers is depicted on the blade.'
My new novel, THE WANDERING QUEEN, is one of the chosen titles in the Waterstones 25% off preorder sale. Preorder using code OCTOBER25 between now and Friday, and get a juicy 25% off!
#WPreorder
THE WANDERING QUEEN is a Dido retelling, out in February 2026
#WPreorder
THE WANDERING QUEEN is a Dido retelling, out in February 2026
October 14, 2025 at 11:18 AM
My new novel, THE WANDERING QUEEN, is one of the chosen titles in the Waterstones 25% off preorder sale. Preorder using code OCTOBER25 between now and Friday, and get a juicy 25% off!
#WPreorder
THE WANDERING QUEEN is a Dido retelling, out in February 2026
#WPreorder
THE WANDERING QUEEN is a Dido retelling, out in February 2026
Reposted by Claire Heywood
Was prehistory a feminist paradise?
Was prehistory a feminist paradise?
Visions of matriarchal utopia may be wishful thinking, but there’s growing evidence of women wielding power
www.theguardian.com
October 5, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Was prehistory a feminist paradise?
Reposted by Claire Heywood
Friends in UK/ those with friends in UK, please share widely! 🤗 @corabeth.bsky.social @lucianixon.bsky.social @armanddangour.bsky.social @gregwoolf.bsky.social @lejenksbrown.bsky.social @emilylhauser.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ancient-gr...
Oxford University, Nov 24 Monday, 5- 6:30 pm, Kendrew Barn.
Ancient Greek Choir Workshop:
Come & sing the melodious hymns & lyrics written by Mesomedes, Athenaios, & Seikilos! Led by Bettina Joy de Guzman 🤗
Oxford University, Nov 24 Monday, 5- 6:30 pm, Kendrew Barn.
Ancient Greek Choir Workshop:
Come & sing the melodious hymns & lyrics written by Mesomedes, Athenaios, & Seikilos! Led by Bettina Joy de Guzman 🤗
September 24, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Friends in UK/ those with friends in UK, please share widely! 🤗 @corabeth.bsky.social @lucianixon.bsky.social @armanddangour.bsky.social @gregwoolf.bsky.social @lejenksbrown.bsky.social @emilylhauser.bsky.social
Reposted by Claire Heywood
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
July 30, 2025 at 6:03 AM
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
Today I'm researching Ancient Greek riddles, but can you solve the riddle that, according to one account, caused Homer to die from vexation?
Posed to him by some boys on the island of Cos:
'What we caught, we threw away. What we did not catch, we kept.'
Posed to him by some boys on the island of Cos:
'What we caught, we threw away. What we did not catch, we kept.'
September 23, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Today I'm researching Ancient Greek riddles, but can you solve the riddle that, according to one account, caused Homer to die from vexation?
Posed to him by some boys on the island of Cos:
'What we caught, we threw away. What we did not catch, we kept.'
Posed to him by some boys on the island of Cos:
'What we caught, we threw away. What we did not catch, we kept.'
There's a giveaway running over on Goodreads for advance copies of my new novel, THE WANDERING QUEEN! If you're based in the US you can enter for a chance to win 1 of 10 copies. Open until 29th September. Good luck! 🤞
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
September 20, 2025 at 11:39 AM
There's a giveaway running over on Goodreads for advance copies of my new novel, THE WANDERING QUEEN! If you're based in the US you can enter for a chance to win 1 of 10 copies. Open until 29th September. Good luck! 🤞
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
Working on a new Greek myth retelling where sooo many of the the characters have names beginning with A. And I just know this is going to be confusing for readers but also... those are their names? Sorry in advance, I guess! #amwriting
September 17, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Working on a new Greek myth retelling where sooo many of the the characters have names beginning with A. And I just know this is going to be confusing for readers but also... those are their names? Sorry in advance, I guess! #amwriting
Reposted by Claire Heywood
There are so many amazing finds from prehistoric pile dwellings settlements: 3,500-year-old wooden whisks found in settlements at the Lake Carera/Italy.
By rotating the shaft, it’s possible to whip cream until it turns into butter. Larger whisks were presumably used for.... 🧵 1/2
#archaeology 🏺
By rotating the shaft, it’s possible to whip cream until it turns into butter. Larger whisks were presumably used for.... 🧵 1/2
#archaeology 🏺
August 3, 2025 at 6:55 AM
There are so many amazing finds from prehistoric pile dwellings settlements: 3,500-year-old wooden whisks found in settlements at the Lake Carera/Italy.
By rotating the shaft, it’s possible to whip cream until it turns into butter. Larger whisks were presumably used for.... 🧵 1/2
#archaeology 🏺
By rotating the shaft, it’s possible to whip cream until it turns into butter. Larger whisks were presumably used for.... 🧵 1/2
#archaeology 🏺
There's a replica Spanish galleon in Bristol harbour? Say no more.
July 19, 2025 at 4:22 PM
There's a replica Spanish galleon in Bristol harbour? Say no more.
Reposted by Claire Heywood
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Every British person on the internet is complaining about you
July 13, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Every British person on the internet is complaining about you
I have a new book coming out next year! THE WANDERING QUEEN is a historical fiction retelling of the legendary Queen Dido. Cover reveal for the UK hardback edition:
July 7, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I have a new book coming out next year! THE WANDERING QUEEN is a historical fiction retelling of the legendary Queen Dido. Cover reveal for the UK hardback edition:
Reposted by Claire Heywood
A Dido and Aeneas #MosaicMonday. The Low Ham #Roman mosaic shows the tragic love story. A 4th century AD piece found in the bath block, the oldest object in Britiain that tells a complete story. shorturl.at/3QrPK
📷 The Museum of Somerset
#AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology
📷 The Museum of Somerset
#AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology
June 9, 2025 at 5:36 PM
A Dido and Aeneas #MosaicMonday. The Low Ham #Roman mosaic shows the tragic love story. A 4th century AD piece found in the bath block, the oldest object in Britiain that tells a complete story. shorturl.at/3QrPK
📷 The Museum of Somerset
#AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology
📷 The Museum of Somerset
#AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology
Spending my afternoon researching prehistoric beekeeping 🐝
June 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Spending my afternoon researching prehistoric beekeeping 🐝
Reposted by Claire Heywood
A more than 3000-year-old Egyptian basket of coiled palm fibre with a lid.
Baskets served as household containers and were frequently placed in tombs, containing grave goods such as jewelry or food offerings.
The basket has been remarkably preserved because of Egypt's arid desert climate. 1/2
📷me
🏺
Baskets served as household containers and were frequently placed in tombs, containing grave goods such as jewelry or food offerings.
The basket has been remarkably preserved because of Egypt's arid desert climate. 1/2
📷me
🏺
May 31, 2025 at 7:32 AM
A more than 3000-year-old Egyptian basket of coiled palm fibre with a lid.
Baskets served as household containers and were frequently placed in tombs, containing grave goods such as jewelry or food offerings.
The basket has been remarkably preserved because of Egypt's arid desert climate. 1/2
📷me
🏺
Baskets served as household containers and were frequently placed in tombs, containing grave goods such as jewelry or food offerings.
The basket has been remarkably preserved because of Egypt's arid desert climate. 1/2
📷me
🏺
Every museum had a perfect little zoomorphic guy, and this is the one from the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. A hedgehog? 2800-2300 BC 🏺
May 5, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Every museum had a perfect little zoomorphic guy, and this is the one from the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. A hedgehog? 2800-2300 BC 🏺
Ten years in the making and I finally made it to Mycenae! I set half of my first novel, DAUGHTERS OF SPARTA, here and have been desperate to see the site with my own eyes ever since. Surreal and special experience 🏺
May 2, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Ten years in the making and I finally made it to Mycenae! I set half of my first novel, DAUGHTERS OF SPARTA, here and have been desperate to see the site with my own eyes ever since. Surreal and special experience 🏺
Reposted by Claire Heywood
"Stop procrastinating" in cuneiform:
"Why don't you write your tablet and do your homework? If you don't, they will say: "Is *this* the sister of Sheru'a-eṭirat, eldest daughter of the Succession Palace of Ashur-etel-ilani-mukinni, the great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria?"
"Why don't you write your tablet and do your homework? If you don't, they will say: "Is *this* the sister of Sheru'a-eṭirat, eldest daughter of the Succession Palace of Ashur-etel-ilani-mukinni, the great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria?"
Queen Liballi-sharrat, the wife of king Ashurbanipal, and his sister Sherua-etirat were both literate.
In fact, Sherua-etirat once scolded her sister, then the crown princess, for not doing her homework. Literacy, it seemed, was an expectation of these Assyrian queens.
In fact, Sherua-etirat once scolded her sister, then the crown princess, for not doing her homework. Literacy, it seemed, was an expectation of these Assyrian queens.
April 10, 2025 at 9:23 AM
"Stop procrastinating" in cuneiform:
"Why don't you write your tablet and do your homework? If you don't, they will say: "Is *this* the sister of Sheru'a-eṭirat, eldest daughter of the Succession Palace of Ashur-etel-ilani-mukinni, the great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria?"
"Why don't you write your tablet and do your homework? If you don't, they will say: "Is *this* the sister of Sheru'a-eṭirat, eldest daughter of the Succession Palace of Ashur-etel-ilani-mukinni, the great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria?"
Gorgeous object 😍 You'll find this game featured in my new novel, out next year
Anyone for a board game?
This ancient Egyptian game of ‘Hounds and Jackals’ is almost 4,000 years old!
Also known as the ‘Game of 58 holes’, it’s thought it was played in a similar way to ‘Snakes and Ladders’.
📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#Archaeology
This ancient Egyptian game of ‘Hounds and Jackals’ is almost 4,000 years old!
Also known as the ‘Game of 58 holes’, it’s thought it was played in a similar way to ‘Snakes and Ladders’.
📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#Archaeology
April 8, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Gorgeous object 😍 You'll find this game featured in my new novel, out next year
Reposted by Claire Heywood
Reposted by Claire Heywood
#ReliefWednesday - Melian terracotta plaque showing the return of Odysseus disguised as a beggar: ca. 460-450 BC. Penelope appears distraught, but it looks as if Eumaeus is so shocked his hat's popped off! #AncientBluesky 🏺
Image: MMoA, New York (30.11.9). Link - metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
Image: MMoA, New York (30.11.9). Link - metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
April 2, 2025 at 12:38 PM
#ReliefWednesday - Melian terracotta plaque showing the return of Odysseus disguised as a beggar: ca. 460-450 BC. Penelope appears distraught, but it looks as if Eumaeus is so shocked his hat's popped off! #AncientBluesky 🏺
Image: MMoA, New York (30.11.9). Link - metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
Image: MMoA, New York (30.11.9). Link - metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
Did I buy an intaglio amethyst necklace so I could feel like a Roman lady? Yes I did. Would I recommend it? Yes I would.
April 2, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Did I buy an intaglio amethyst necklace so I could feel like a Roman lady? Yes I did. Would I recommend it? Yes I would.