Isabel Köster
@iotasubscript.bsky.social
PhD; associate professor of Roman history and literature; particularly enthusiastic about Roman religion and insults; author of Stealing from the Gods: Temple Robbery in the Roman Imagination (Michigan, 1/2026); never speak for my employer
Look… a special issue on divine intervention!
New issue of the Classical Journal Vol. 121, No. 1 (2025) muse.jhu.edu/issue/55854 @projectmuse.bsky.social @hopkinspress.bsky.social
@ingerkuin.bsky.social
@ingerkuin.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Look… a special issue on divine intervention!
No, Apple Mail, I do not need a summary of a 4-line email, thanks!
November 10, 2025 at 3:52 PM
No, Apple Mail, I do not need a summary of a 4-line email, thanks!
Reposted by Isabel Köster
MA/ New England ancient historians: an international boarding school in Braintree is seeking a long term substitute teacher for high school world history, starting ASAP until mid March. Emphasis on ancient and medieval history. DM me if interested!
(Sharing this on behalf of a friend)
(Sharing this on behalf of a friend)
November 9, 2025 at 3:39 PM
MA/ New England ancient historians: an international boarding school in Braintree is seeking a long term substitute teacher for high school world history, starting ASAP until mid March. Emphasis on ancient and medieval history. DM me if interested!
(Sharing this on behalf of a friend)
(Sharing this on behalf of a friend)
Still haven’t seen the movie, but this does indeed raise many questions.
November 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Still haven’t seen the movie, but this does indeed raise many questions.
I got to play with a simulation of a Korean divination technique that is based on the first animal sound you hear (in the new year, technically). The dog bark got me “Many thieves for the year,” so I’d like to remind everyone that the temple robbers are happy to go on tour for a book talk.
November 8, 2025 at 8:56 PM
I got to play with a simulation of a Korean divination technique that is based on the first animal sound you hear (in the new year, technically). The dog bark got me “Many thieves for the year,” so I’d like to remind everyone that the temple robbers are happy to go on tour for a book talk.
I just took a photo of this yesterday!
This #ReliefWednesday we celebrate Hecate, the goddess of the crossroads and transitions.
This is a votive relief to Hecate and the inscription warns against defacement of the place where the relief was located. Presumably the relief was originally located in a sanctuary to the goddess.
This is a votive relief to Hecate and the inscription warns against defacement of the place where the relief was located. Presumably the relief was originally located in a sanctuary to the goddess.
November 5, 2025 at 8:28 AM
I just took a photo of this yesterday!
One for your epigraphy goal list: Xi’an’s absolutely incredible Forest of Steles. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stele_F... (which will also be happy to answer with a demo any questions you might have about stele rubbings)
Stele Forest - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
October 31, 2025 at 8:56 AM
One for your epigraphy goal list: Xi’an’s absolutely incredible Forest of Steles. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stele_F... (which will also be happy to answer with a demo any questions you might have about stele rubbings)
Reposted by Isabel Köster
Attention, classics and translation people! Scott McGill and I are organizing a panel for SCS 2027 called "The Indirect Method: Translations as Sources." Please read, share, and/or submit!
www.classicalstudies.org/annual-meeti...
www.classicalstudies.org/annual-meeti...
The Indirect Method: Translations as Sources (Committee on Translations) | Society for Classical Studies
Call for Abstracts: The Indirect Method: Translations as SourcesTranslation Panel, annual SCS meeting in Philadelphia, 2027Proposed by: SCS Committee on Translations of Classical AuthorsOrganizers: Sc...
www.classicalstudies.org
October 30, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Attention, classics and translation people! Scott McGill and I are organizing a panel for SCS 2027 called "The Indirect Method: Translations as Sources." Please read, share, and/or submit!
www.classicalstudies.org/annual-meeti...
www.classicalstudies.org/annual-meeti...
The first author copy has arrived!! The official publication date is Jan. 7th (and the open access— i.e., free— electronic version will become available on that date as well). I’m planning to be at the SCS in San Francisco to hold Mr. Murder Mittens’s paw. press.umich.edu/Books/S/Stea...
October 30, 2025 at 1:15 PM
The first author copy has arrived!! The official publication date is Jan. 7th (and the open access— i.e., free— electronic version will become available on that date as well). I’m planning to be at the SCS in San Francisco to hold Mr. Murder Mittens’s paw. press.umich.edu/Books/S/Stea...
One of my favorite paintings.
For #NationalCatDay, here is a portrait of Sita and Sarita, by Cecelia Beaux. #BlackCats seem appropriate this close to #Halloween.
October 30, 2025 at 12:26 PM
One of my favorite paintings.
I was never into ringtones, but I miss AIM and Livejournal.
Bluesky: the website to be on if you’re the exact right age to remember when buying a ringtone was a thing, and thought it was really cool when it was.
October 29, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I was never into ringtones, but I miss AIM and Livejournal.
I’m currently ignoring instructions for an author photo to promote my new book…
"Yes, I do need the sword and the letter for the author's photo that will promote my new book on the university's website"
#HistoriansAtWork #skystorians #academicchatter
#HistoriansAtWork #skystorians #academicchatter
![Engraving of D. Fran[cis]co de Quevedo y Villegas showing him with a letter in his right hand, and a sword. He also wears eye glasses (https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dc-993e-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99).](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:wwym6cglvbd5odxfkykn2uh2/bafkreigeo2ocm4m4mmp6qg4ypzeg7vcrihydrljfd46tfnqv32zkkop76m@jpeg)
October 28, 2025 at 12:06 PM
I’m currently ignoring instructions for an author photo to promote my new book…
Reposted by Isabel Köster
if you’re curious about what i’m up to, OUP has unlocked the introduction until 11/24. you can read that here:
Introduction: “Magic” and Early Petrine Literary Traditions
Abstract. This introductory chapter aims to problematize the popular axiom that one person’s magic is another person’s miracle. This understanding of magic
academic.oup.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:46 AM
if you’re curious about what i’m up to, OUP has unlocked the introduction until 11/24. you can read that here:
Reposted by Isabel Köster
#CFP Mediterranean Antiquity in the Work of H. P. #Lovecraft - online (Zoom) - April 10-11, 2026 www.carmanromanophd.com/lovecraftcon... Due by Nov 26
Lovecraft — Carman Romano, PhD
www.carmanromanophd.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:41 AM
#CFP Mediterranean Antiquity in the Work of H. P. #Lovecraft - online (Zoom) - April 10-11, 2026 www.carmanromanophd.com/lovecraftcon... Due by Nov 26
Reposted by Isabel Köster
ㅤ
— Kazuaki Horitomo
ㅤ
— Kazuaki Horitomo
ㅤ
October 25, 2025 at 2:14 PM
ㅤ
— Kazuaki Horitomo
ㅤ
— Kazuaki Horitomo
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“[O]utputs may be inaccurate, unexpected, or offensive.” As someone who’s recently had ample occasion to snort at translation app vs Chinese, this is iconic.
Apple markets its new AirPods as being able to translate other languages directly in your ears. When @matteowong.bsky.social tested out the tool, it was barely able to help him buy flowers or tamales:
Lost in AirPod Translation
Apple promises to put an AI interpreter in everyone’s ears. It couldn’t even help me order tamales.
bit.ly
October 25, 2025 at 7:33 AM
“[O]utputs may be inaccurate, unexpected, or offensive.” As someone who’s recently had ample occasion to snort at translation app vs Chinese, this is iconic.
China inscriptions folks, can you help me make sense of what I saw in the National Art Museum of China? The translation app would make these squeezes. Is that correct and if so, how are they made? They look incredible, and I am very jealous.
October 21, 2025 at 2:13 PM
China inscriptions folks, can you help me make sense of what I saw in the National Art Museum of China? The translation app would make these squeezes. Is that correct and if so, how are they made? They look incredible, and I am very jealous.
I recently gave a talk on the professionalism of burglars vs the utter lack of professionalism of temple robbers in Roman literature. Turns out I gave the burglars way too much credit…
> GO UP LADDER
I do not understand 'go up'
> USE LADDER
Use ladder with what?
> CLIMB LADDER
You climb the ladder
> LOOK
You are in a museum gallery. It is dark, but a display case glints in the dim light.
> EXAMINE DISPLAY CASE
It's full of jewels!
> PICK UP JEWELS
You take the jewels.
I do not understand 'go up'
> USE LADDER
Use ladder with what?
> CLIMB LADDER
You climb the ladder
> LOOK
You are in a museum gallery. It is dark, but a display case glints in the dim light.
> EXAMINE DISPLAY CASE
It's full of jewels!
> PICK UP JEWELS
You take the jewels.
October 20, 2025 at 12:33 AM
I recently gave a talk on the professionalism of burglars vs the utter lack of professionalism of temple robbers in Roman literature. Turns out I gave the burglars way too much credit…
Reposted by Isabel Köster
October 14, 2025 at 6:48 PM
When you're cursing the Online Jacoby (why is that interface? Just why?) and Brill decides to send you a "satisfaction survey."
October 14, 2025 at 11:12 AM
When you're cursing the Online Jacoby (why is that interface? Just why?) and Brill decides to send you a "satisfaction survey."
Nope, those “sit all day to get a footnote out of it” days are still not my favorite even if it’s a pretty footnote.
October 13, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Nope, those “sit all day to get a footnote out of it” days are still not my favorite even if it’s a pretty footnote.
Reposted by Isabel Köster
Interesting new, open access article in Greece & Rome blends epigraphy, poetry on stone (Greek epigrams), and tracing ethnicity:
“Dying Greek in Rome: Greek Funerary Epigrams from Imperial Rome” www.cambridge.org/core/journal... I love this: ‘κάλλος δ’ αὖ μετὰ μοῖραν Ἀμαζόνος ἔσχεν ἄπιστον’
“Dying Greek in Rome: Greek Funerary Epigrams from Imperial Rome” www.cambridge.org/core/journal... I love this: ‘κάλλος δ’ αὖ μετὰ μοῖραν Ἀμαζόνος ἔσχεν ἄπιστον’
October 7, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Interesting new, open access article in Greece & Rome blends epigraphy, poetry on stone (Greek epigrams), and tracing ethnicity:
“Dying Greek in Rome: Greek Funerary Epigrams from Imperial Rome” www.cambridge.org/core/journal... I love this: ‘κάλλος δ’ αὖ μετὰ μοῖραν Ἀμαζόνος ἔσχεν ἄπιστον’
“Dying Greek in Rome: Greek Funerary Epigrams from Imperial Rome” www.cambridge.org/core/journal... I love this: ‘κάλλος δ’ αὖ μετὰ μοῖραν Ἀμαζόνος ἔσχεν ἄπιστον’
Oh look, it's academic busy season and Goodreads decides to treat us to a list of 141 dark academia titles...
Class in Session: 141 Dark Academia Books for Fall Reading
Back-to-school season is always a weird time for everyone. Young people dread it for obvious reasons, and grown-ups tend to get intense flashbacks. B...
www.goodreads.com
October 11, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Oh look, it's academic busy season and Goodreads decides to treat us to a list of 141 dark academia titles...
CAMWS put Mobile on the itinerary for 2026, so better start collecting... (this seems like too much of a hike from the city proper, but looks amazing)
October 11, 2025 at 5:44 PM
CAMWS put Mobile on the itinerary for 2026, so better start collecting... (this seems like too much of a hike from the city proper, but looks amazing)