Judith Herrin | Lightnews

Chapps @chapps.bsky.social · 3d

This little #Roman silver statuette of a shepherd is displayed incorrectly at the #BritishMuseum (1st pic). Because when he's turned, you can see that he's carrying an adorable smiling lamb in a skin bag slung over his shoulder. 😍 🏺 1/

Probably 1st c. CE.
📸 me #ancientbluesky

Silver statuette of a young shepherd - with apparently some worn gilding, given the golden sheen on his short cloak (which the museum doesn't mention) - facing forward, carrying an open skin bag in the crook of his left arm, and something slung over his shoulder. He's clean-shaven, with full short hair combed forward ('Caesar-style'), and wearing open toed boots. He's standing contrapposto, all his weight on his left leg, while his right foot, slightly back, is lifting - he's obviously walking towards us.

British Museum (1867,0508.764)

A photo taken a few years ago, when the statuette was turned to the right, allowing us to see that the shepherd has another skin bag slung over his shoulder, in which a cute smiling lamb is taking a ride, its front hooves hanging over the front edge of the bag.

Judith Herrin @judithherrin.bsky.social · 3d

Magnificent Good Shepherd discovered in Iznik (ancient Nicaea) Turkey

Sarah E. Bond @sarahebond.bsky.social · 3d

Today is Charlemagne’s death day in 814 CE. In his honor, I give you the best depiction of professors writing in their offices while attempting not to socially interact with each other on any level. It’s from the Aachen Gospels. 📕

View
Aachen Gospel Book: The Four Evangelists (folio 14v)
Creator
Unknown
Creator role
Illuminator
Date
795-810
Current location
Europe, Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia, Aachen, Domschatz, repository

Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 3d

Fascinating world of ancient #glass: One of my favourite #Roman objects made of glass is this little basket (height 6.5cm). It is not clear what it was used for, possibly to hold cosmetics.

From Syria, dating 3rd century AD.

On display at British Museum

📷 me

🏺#archaeology

The picture shows a vessel in the shape of a two handled basket of brown colour.

Byzantine Mosaics @byzantinemosaics.bsky.social · 3d

Detail of Ornament https://www.wikiart.org/en/byzantine-mosaics/detail-of-ornament-1030

Mary Jaharis Center for Byzantine Art and Culture @mjcbac.bsky.social · 4d

CFP: Summer Symposium in Oriental Christian & Armenian Studies 2026, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, June 18–19, 2026. Submissions due February 22, 2026 maryjahariscenter.org/blog/summer-...

Summer Symposium in Oriental Christian & Armenian Studies 2026 | Mary Jaharis Center

maryjahariscenter.org

James Heath @mumblerjamie.bsky.social · 4d

#EpigraphyTueday with the gravestone of Mercatilla at Bath.

D(IS) M(ANIBVS) / MERC(ATILLA) MAGNI L(IBERTA) / ALVMNA VIXIT AN(NVM) I / M(ENSES) VI D(IES) XII.

To the spirits of the departed, Mercatilla, freedwoman and foster-daughter of Magnius, lived 1 year, 6 months, 12 days.

#AncientBlueSky🏺

The Byzantine Legacy @thebyzantinelegacy.bsky.social · 7d

Check out new interview with archaeologists working at Olympos in Lycia (modern Antalya)

Sarcophagus of Captain Eudemos, Temple, Peristyle of the Bishop's Palace, and more from the Olympos Excavations interview with Dr. Gökçen Öztaşkın and Dr. Seçkin Evcim

Sue Wilkes @suewilkesauthor.bsky.social · 7d

This piece of fired brick from the Legions' Tile works at Holt in Cheshire bears the signatures of three workers to confirm their expenses have been paid. Grosvenor Museum. #romans

Expenses for Junius, Maternus and Belletus.

Judith Herrin @judithherrin.bsky.social · 8d

From the bit of the mosaic in Hagia Sophia that is harder to see.

Byzantine Mosaics @byzantinemosaics.bsky.social · 8d

the Co-emperor Alexios, Eldest Son of John Ii https://www.wikiart.org/en/byzantine-mosaics/the-co-emperor-alexios-eldest-son-of-john-ii-1122

Byzantine Mosaics @byzantinemosaics.bsky.social · 8d

the Co-emperor Alexios, Eldest Son of John Ii https://www.wikiart.org/en/byzantine-mosaics/the-co-emperor-alexios-eldest-son-of-john-ii-1122

Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 8d

This beautiful #Roman enamelled copper alloy flask in hexagonal shape was found in Welzheim.
The small vessel was a product of a workshop in Britain or Gaul and was presumably used to hold perfume.
Dating 2. century AD.

#findsfriday 🏺

📷 @almbawue.bsky.social

Enamelled copper alloy flask in hexagonal shape, featuring intricate geometric patterns in turquoise, red, and gold against a green patinated surface, with visible cracks.

The Byzantine Legacy @thebyzantinelegacy.bsky.social · 14d

St. Anthony the Great, a famous monk from Egypt. Mosaic in the parekklesion of the former Pammakaristos Monastery/Fethiye Museum

Today is the feast day of St. Anthony the Great

Judith Herrin @judithherrin.bsky.social · 15d

Great name for a football team

Chapps @chapps.bsky.social · 16d

Found in France, this rare set of two bronze portraits of male youths are wearing a hairstyle popular during the reign of Nero. In fact they may have been attendants in a youth organization called the Iuventus, held in special favor under that emperor. 🏺 1/

Gallo-Roman, ca. 60-70 CE.
📸 me

This bronze bust portrays a youth of about eight to ten years old. The neck is long, and the finely worked head bears characteristics of the Julio-Claudians. The brow is wide, the nose fine, the mouth delicate and the chin small. The front of the head is carefully articulated while the back is only summarily modeled. A smooth fringe of locks frames the forehead. Curls are swept in front of the ears. There is a calyx of acanthus leaves preserved on the front lower edge of the bust.

The busts originally had long, separately made locks of hair, which were attached to the back of the heads, which was the clue that these may be attendants of the Iuventus.

Gallo-Roman, ca. 60-70 CE.
Getty Villa Museum (89.AB.67.1)

This bust portrays a youth of about ten to twelve years old. Atop a long neck sits a delicate head, bearing the characteristics of the Julio-Claudians. The brow is wide, the nose fine, the mouth delicate and the chin small. The front of the head is carefully articulated while the back is only summarily modeled. A smooth fringe of locks frames the forehead. Curls are swept in front of the ears. Traces of discoloration around the lower edges of the bust suggest that it had an attachment, probably a calyx of leaves affixed with solder as on 89.AB.67.1.

Gallo-Roman, ca. 60-70 CE.
Getty Villa Museum (89.AB.67.2)

Byzantine Mosaics @byzantinemosaics.bsky.social · 15d

Christ as a Warrior. Ego Sum Via, Veritas Et Vita https://www.wikiart.org/en/byzantine-mosaics/christ-as-a-warrior-ego-sum-via-veritas-et-vita-425

Chapps @chapps.bsky.social · 16d

Found in France, this rare set of two bronze portraits of male youths are wearing a hairstyle popular during the reign of Nero. In fact they may have been attendants in a youth organization called the Iuventus, held in special favor under that emperor. 🏺 1/

Gallo-Roman, ca. 60-70 CE.
📸 me

The Byzantine Legacy @thebyzantinelegacy.bsky.social · 16d

Kariye Camii, the former Chora Monastery
From "Les anciennes églises byzantines de Constantinople" by Domenico Pulgher (1880)

LMC_CurryCreations @lmcurry.bsky.social · 16d

Portrait of a young Cooper Hawk

#bird #birdoftheday #photography #blueskybirds #birdsofbluesky #canonphotography #birdart #wildlife #nature #birdportrait #birdofprey

London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 16d

‘For a Roman statesman, Cicero’s aversion to provincial command and military glory was almost unseemly; he was only happy when his finger was on the pulse of life at Rome. Away from it, he was desolate.’

Michael Kulikowski on a new Life of Cicero.

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Michael Kulikowski · New Man on the Make: Cicero’s Gambles

Trying to psychoanalyse historical figures is rarely productive, but Cicero was a type we can all recognise. He had a...

www.lrb.co.uk

richardcomont.bsky.social @richardcomont.bsky.social · 17d

Bombus terrestris workers (3+) out and active in Malvern today, busily collecting pollen and nectaring on Mahonia

Judith Herrin @judithherrin.bsky.social · 23d

Another wonder unearthed from the sand in Sohag - foundations not very high but impressive and lovely clay bottles for wine

Sue Wilkes @suewilkesauthor.bsky.social · 24d

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #romans

'Extraordinary' Roman era bone box found in Worcestershire town

The excavation at Milestone Ground in Broadway uncovered 8,000 years of human activity.

www.bbc.co.uk

Judith Herrin @judithherrin.bsky.social · 25d

Note the white plaster foot bottom left ... the original was found in Constantinople/Istanbul where the statues had been made and set up.

The Roman Society @theromansoc.bsky.social · 25d

Our new online course: 'The Idea of Decline: Make Rome Great Again?' starts Wednesday 14th January!

This course looks at the idea of decline in the ancient world as a concept whose resonances echo right down to the present day.

www.hellenicandromanlibrary.org/Events/Event...

#AncientBluesky 🏺

Judith Herrin @judithherrin.bsky.social · 25d

Amazing carving of the three kings for Epiphany from Damascus

Exmoor4all @exmoor.bsky.social · 25d

Good morning from Exmoor!

Beautiful high tide with full moon and Jupiter at Minehead Harbour.
Photo by Adrian Campbell.

The Roman Society @theromansoc.bsky.social · 25d

Our new online course: 'The Idea of Decline: Make Rome Great Again?' starts Wednesday 14th January!

This course looks at the idea of decline in the ancient world as a concept whose resonances echo right down to the present day.

www.hellenicandromanlibrary.org/Events/Event...

#AncientBluesky 🏺

The Byzantine Legacy @thebyzantinelegacy.bsky.social · 26d

Snowy day at the Hippodrome of Constantinople/modern Atmeydanı in Sultanahmet, Istanbul

Judith Herrin @judithherrin.bsky.social · Dec 31

Great terms for a better 2026!

The Byzantine Legacy @thebyzantinelegacy.bsky.social · Dec 31

Health, Life, Joy, Peace, Good Cheer, Hope
Υγεία, Ζωή, Χαρά, Ειρήνη, Ευθυμία, Ελπίς
4th-century mosaic from Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum) at the British Museum

CL Hellisen @clhellisen.bsky.social · Dec 30

I've decided on Fahrenheit 451 as my final book of the year. I have read Bradbury, but for some reason, never this one.

Usually I skip the forewords but decided not to, and I'm glad I read this one because it was lovely, and ended thus.

So here, after fifty years, is Fahrenheit 451. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I’m glad that it was done.

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