Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
@moudhy.bsky.social
Assyriologist at Wolfson College (Oxford), writer plagued by self-doubt, lover of dead languages. I think we should all be doing what we can to save the planet.
My book is now out! 😎 https://lnk.to/BetweenTwoRivers
My book is now out! 😎 https://lnk.to/BetweenTwoRivers
Pinned
Happy Publication Day to me! 🎉😱🥹🧿
Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History is officially out!
It’s a history of the region through objects found in an ancient museum in Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna’s palace, and I hope you all like it 💛 lnk.to/BetweenTwoRi...
Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History is officially out!
It’s a history of the region through objects found in an ancient museum in Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna’s palace, and I hope you all like it 💛 lnk.to/BetweenTwoRi...
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
Our ancient love of dogs is really reassuring
For anyone wondering, some possible dog names have survived from cuneiform sources.
On tiny dog figurines found buried under a palace in Nineveh, Iraq are inscriptions that seem to be names.
dan rigiššu “loud is his bark”
munaššiku gārîšu “biter of his foe”
mušēṣi lemnūti “expeller of evil”
On tiny dog figurines found buried under a palace in Nineveh, Iraq are inscriptions that seem to be names.
dan rigiššu “loud is his bark”
munaššiku gārîšu “biter of his foe”
mušēṣi lemnūti “expeller of evil”
November 19, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Our ancient love of dogs is really reassuring
It’s been a minute y’all. How is everyone doing on here?
November 18, 2025 at 9:12 PM
It’s been a minute y’all. How is everyone doing on here?
Well this has been the busiest month of my life so far (waking up at 4am to work before work and then working after hours almost daily). Sorry to have left you all without cuneiform for so long.
Here is a canine Sith Lord to tide you over until I’ve recovered and can properly return…
Here is a canine Sith Lord to tide you over until I’ve recovered and can properly return…
May 30, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Well this has been the busiest month of my life so far (waking up at 4am to work before work and then working after hours almost daily). Sorry to have left you all without cuneiform for so long.
Here is a canine Sith Lord to tide you over until I’ve recovered and can properly return…
Here is a canine Sith Lord to tide you over until I’ve recovered and can properly return…
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
The conservative movement has turned against reality on every scientific issue of our time, from gun violence to climate change to epidemiology.
If campuses are ideologically homogenous, it's not because academia has ostracized conservatives. It's because conservatives have ostracized academia.
If campuses are ideologically homogenous, it's not because academia has ostracized conservatives. It's because conservatives have ostracized academia.
April 21, 2025 at 11:56 AM
The conservative movement has turned against reality on every scientific issue of our time, from gun violence to climate change to epidemiology.
If campuses are ideologically homogenous, it's not because academia has ostracized conservatives. It's because conservatives have ostracized academia.
If campuses are ideologically homogenous, it's not because academia has ostracized conservatives. It's because conservatives have ostracized academia.
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
🏺
This tiny fragment of an ancient stone bowl preserves a moment in the life of someone who helped bring babies into the world.
The bowl is broken, the name is broken, but the profession is not.
This bowl was dedicated to a deity by a sha-zu, a “midwife” sometime around 2500 BCE.
The bowl is broken, the name is broken, but the profession is not.
This bowl was dedicated to a deity by a sha-zu, a “midwife” sometime around 2500 BCE.
April 26, 2025 at 11:36 AM
🏺
This tiny fragment of an ancient stone bowl preserves a moment in the life of someone who helped bring babies into the world.
The bowl is broken, the name is broken, but the profession is not.
This bowl was dedicated to a deity by a sha-zu, a “midwife” sometime around 2500 BCE.
The bowl is broken, the name is broken, but the profession is not.
This bowl was dedicated to a deity by a sha-zu, a “midwife” sometime around 2500 BCE.
April 26, 2025 at 11:14 AM
This tiny fragment of an ancient stone bowl preserves a moment in the life of someone who helped bring babies into the world.
The bowl is broken, the name is broken, but the profession is not.
This bowl was dedicated to a deity by a sha-zu, a “midwife” sometime around 2500 BCE.
The bowl is broken, the name is broken, but the profession is not.
This bowl was dedicated to a deity by a sha-zu, a “midwife” sometime around 2500 BCE.
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
10. Someone I've followed forever on twitter (& now here) - I was super excited to have @moudhy.bsky.social on to talk all things ancient near east, particularly kingship
www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/tfk
www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/tfk
THE FIRST KINGS with Moudhy Al-Rashid
Moudhy Al-Rashid on the first kings in history - The origins of the institution, royal ideology & propaganda, & their use of violence & terror
www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com
April 21, 2025 at 7:38 PM
10. Someone I've followed forever on twitter (& now here) - I was super excited to have @moudhy.bsky.social on to talk all things ancient near east, particularly kingship
www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/tfk
www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/tfk
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
the one on the right is a copy of part of a list of Akkadian synonyms called Malku=sharru. Words that are difficult for some reason (like being old, or from another language) are explained using a more straightforward word. Very helpful list
April 25, 2025 at 7:19 AM
the one on the right is a copy of part of a list of Akkadian synonyms called Malku=sharru. Words that are difficult for some reason (like being old, or from another language) are explained using a more straightforward word. Very helpful list
I’m so excited to join @lswisnom.bsky.social tomorrow for a panel on ancient Mesopotamia!
It’s not too late to buy tickets if you’d like to join two Assyriologists nerd out over old stuff with Shappi Khorsandi events.bl.uk/events/histf...
It’s not too late to buy tickets if you’d like to join two Assyriologists nerd out over old stuff with Shappi Khorsandi events.bl.uk/events/histf...
April 25, 2025 at 10:23 AM
I’m so excited to join @lswisnom.bsky.social tomorrow for a panel on ancient Mesopotamia!
It’s not too late to buy tickets if you’d like to join two Assyriologists nerd out over old stuff with Shappi Khorsandi events.bl.uk/events/histf...
It’s not too late to buy tickets if you’d like to join two Assyriologists nerd out over old stuff with Shappi Khorsandi events.bl.uk/events/histf...
Beautiful photos.
The tablet on the left is the “Flood Tablet” of the Epic of Gilgamesh.
The tablet on the right looks like it might be a word list.
The tablet on the left is the “Flood Tablet” of the Epic of Gilgamesh.
The tablet on the right looks like it might be a word list.
Inspired by books authored by Elif Shafak & @moudhy.bsky.social I decided to visit the British Museum while in London. Despite the crowds I managed to see the tablets from Mesopotamia & the lamassus - & picked up a copy of The Epic of Gilgamesh
April 25, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Beautiful photos.
The tablet on the left is the “Flood Tablet” of the Epic of Gilgamesh.
The tablet on the right looks like it might be a word list.
The tablet on the left is the “Flood Tablet” of the Epic of Gilgamesh.
The tablet on the right looks like it might be a word list.
A little Sumerian riddle to brighten your day.
“When I am small, I am the child of the garden.
“When I grow, I am (on) the body of the gods.
“When I became an old person, I am the physician of the land.”
What am I?
“When I am small, I am the child of the garden.
“When I grow, I am (on) the body of the gods.
“When I became an old person, I am the physician of the land.”
What am I?
April 25, 2025 at 6:24 AM
A little Sumerian riddle to brighten your day.
“When I am small, I am the child of the garden.
“When I grow, I am (on) the body of the gods.
“When I became an old person, I am the physician of the land.”
What am I?
“When I am small, I am the child of the garden.
“When I grow, I am (on) the body of the gods.
“When I became an old person, I am the physician of the land.”
What am I?
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
The best SBL panel I attended was on the use of ancient stories of genocide in Israel for modern acts of genocide in Israel. My philological take: Religious Mass Murder of Canaanites in Iron Age Israel: Did it Really Happen and Where did the Idea Come From? sethlsanders.wordpress.com/2024/09/30/r...
Religious Mass Murder of Canaanites in Iron Age Israel: Did it Really Happen and Where did the Idea Come From?
In its Truth and Reconciliation findings, Canada described how biblically-based religion has long been intertwined with the destruction of Native cultures and peoples. But what was the reality behi…
sethlsanders.wordpress.com
December 11, 2024 at 6:09 PM
The best SBL panel I attended was on the use of ancient stories of genocide in Israel for modern acts of genocide in Israel. My philological take: Religious Mass Murder of Canaanites in Iron Age Israel: Did it Really Happen and Where did the Idea Come From? sethlsanders.wordpress.com/2024/09/30/r...
I had the pleasure of talking to Dr Philip Davies about ancient Mesopotamia and my book, Between Two Rivers. Early writing, cities, medicine, museums, astronomy, & more.
He saved the best for last with a question about wisdom from 5,000 years ago. Hope you enjoy it! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez41...
He saved the best for last with a question about wisdom from 5,000 years ago. Hope you enjoy it! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez41...
The First Museum in the World and the Unusual Artefacts it Contained - Dr Moudhy Al Rashid
YouTube video by Amazing Academics
www.youtube.com
April 22, 2025 at 8:46 AM
I had the pleasure of talking to Dr Philip Davies about ancient Mesopotamia and my book, Between Two Rivers. Early writing, cities, medicine, museums, astronomy, & more.
He saved the best for last with a question about wisdom from 5,000 years ago. Hope you enjoy it! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez41...
He saved the best for last with a question about wisdom from 5,000 years ago. Hope you enjoy it! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez41...
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
I'll be in Oxford tomorrow talking to @moudhy.bsky.social about history and Fall of Civilizations and signing books. Come join us!
Date: 22 apr • 17:30
Location: 48-51 Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BQ
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/moudhy-al-...
Date: 22 apr • 17:30
Location: 48-51 Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BQ
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/moudhy-al-...
Moudhy Al-Rashid and Paul Cooper in Conversation
Join us at this 'in conversation' event for a fresh and fascinating new look at the world and the birth of history.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
April 21, 2025 at 12:48 PM
I'll be in Oxford tomorrow talking to @moudhy.bsky.social about history and Fall of Civilizations and signing books. Come join us!
Date: 22 apr • 17:30
Location: 48-51 Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BQ
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/moudhy-al-...
Date: 22 apr • 17:30
Location: 48-51 Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BQ
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/moudhy-al-...
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
Don't sleep on @jonjtaylor.bsky.social's interview with @moudhy.bsky.social, their discussion on scale and detail of historical narratives in particular is lovely:
www.buzzsprout.com/1338718/epis...
www.buzzsprout.com/1338718/epis...
April 18, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Don't sleep on @jonjtaylor.bsky.social's interview with @moudhy.bsky.social, their discussion on scale and detail of historical narratives in particular is lovely:
www.buzzsprout.com/1338718/epis...
www.buzzsprout.com/1338718/epis...
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
*6 DAYS UNTIL HISTFEST 2025*
Have you got your tickets? Join us for a weekend of history at the British Library 26-27 April. Including…
📜 ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA
with @moudhy.bsky.social Shaparak Khorsandi & Selena Wisnom
⏰ 5PM, SAT 26 APRIL
🎟️ Book via HistFest.org (click ‘HistFest 2025’)
Have you got your tickets? Join us for a weekend of history at the British Library 26-27 April. Including…
📜 ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA
with @moudhy.bsky.social Shaparak Khorsandi & Selena Wisnom
⏰ 5PM, SAT 26 APRIL
🎟️ Book via HistFest.org (click ‘HistFest 2025’)
April 20, 2025 at 9:01 AM
*6 DAYS UNTIL HISTFEST 2025*
Have you got your tickets? Join us for a weekend of history at the British Library 26-27 April. Including…
📜 ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA
with @moudhy.bsky.social Shaparak Khorsandi & Selena Wisnom
⏰ 5PM, SAT 26 APRIL
🎟️ Book via HistFest.org (click ‘HistFest 2025’)
Have you got your tickets? Join us for a weekend of history at the British Library 26-27 April. Including…
📜 ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA
with @moudhy.bsky.social Shaparak Khorsandi & Selena Wisnom
⏰ 5PM, SAT 26 APRIL
🎟️ Book via HistFest.org (click ‘HistFest 2025’)
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
Euphemisms for pot have a long history: the 15th-century study of ḥašīš "weed" in Arabic, by the historian al-Badrī, tells us that 'In Yemen it is “the Green.” In Diyar Bakr, it is “the Dusty.” In Antioch, it is “Cat-head"...In Syria, it is known as “the Toasted” in Hama and “the Cheerer” in Homs.'
April 20, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Euphemisms for pot have a long history: the 15th-century study of ḥašīš "weed" in Arabic, by the historian al-Badrī, tells us that 'In Yemen it is “the Green.” In Diyar Bakr, it is “the Dusty.” In Antioch, it is “Cat-head"...In Syria, it is known as “the Toasted” in Hama and “the Cheerer” in Homs.'
Back on social media after a few days off to recover from a really heavy week, and was not expecting to return to so much book love. You are all so kind. Thank you 🧡
April 15, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Back on social media after a few days off to recover from a really heavy week, and was not expecting to return to so much book love. You are all so kind. Thank you 🧡
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
A wonderful fascinating book.
I was not expecting to find this history, stories from Mesopotamia so engaging.
I am loving the glimpses of astronomy, mathematics, neighbour disputes, gods and kings.
The author has done an outstanding job.
(About half way through but had to proclaim my delight.)
I was not expecting to find this history, stories from Mesopotamia so engaging.
I am loving the glimpses of astronomy, mathematics, neighbour disputes, gods and kings.
The author has done an outstanding job.
(About half way through but had to proclaim my delight.)
Happy Publication Day to me! 🎉😱🥹🧿
Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History is officially out!
It’s a history of the region through objects found in an ancient museum in Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna’s palace, and I hope you all like it 💛 lnk.to/BetweenTwoRi...
Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History is officially out!
It’s a history of the region through objects found in an ancient museum in Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna’s palace, and I hope you all like it 💛 lnk.to/BetweenTwoRi...
April 14, 2025 at 1:56 PM
A wonderful fascinating book.
I was not expecting to find this history, stories from Mesopotamia so engaging.
I am loving the glimpses of astronomy, mathematics, neighbour disputes, gods and kings.
The author has done an outstanding job.
(About half way through but had to proclaim my delight.)
I was not expecting to find this history, stories from Mesopotamia so engaging.
I am loving the glimpses of astronomy, mathematics, neighbour disputes, gods and kings.
The author has done an outstanding job.
(About half way through but had to proclaim my delight.)
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
Looking for a #history pod to listen to this weekend?
I had a super time speaking with brilliant @moudhy.bsky.social about her book on ancient Mesopotamia & the 'history of history' #BetweenTwoRivers, for @intelligence2.bsky.social
Available on all your pod platforms:
megaphone.link/NSR8766235582
I had a super time speaking with brilliant @moudhy.bsky.social about her book on ancient Mesopotamia & the 'history of history' #BetweenTwoRivers, for @intelligence2.bsky.social
Available on all your pod platforms:
megaphone.link/NSR8766235582
Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History, with Moudhy Al-Rashid by Intelligence Squared
megaphone.link
April 12, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Looking for a #history pod to listen to this weekend?
I had a super time speaking with brilliant @moudhy.bsky.social about her book on ancient Mesopotamia & the 'history of history' #BetweenTwoRivers, for @intelligence2.bsky.social
Available on all your pod platforms:
megaphone.link/NSR8766235582
I had a super time speaking with brilliant @moudhy.bsky.social about her book on ancient Mesopotamia & the 'history of history' #BetweenTwoRivers, for @intelligence2.bsky.social
Available on all your pod platforms:
megaphone.link/NSR8766235582
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
I'm with @cosmicrami.com on this. Hands down one of the best books I've read in the last few years. An absolute banger by @moudhy.bsky.social
Book review 🧵👇🏽
‘Between Two Rivers’ by @moudhy.bsky.social
I finally got a moment this weekend to sit down and finish the last chapter. I’ve been holding off because, I didn’t want it to end.
What a wonderful journey across time this book is. Probably my favourite book I’ve read in last 5 years.
‘Between Two Rivers’ by @moudhy.bsky.social
I finally got a moment this weekend to sit down and finish the last chapter. I’ve been holding off because, I didn’t want it to end.
What a wonderful journey across time this book is. Probably my favourite book I’ve read in last 5 years.
April 12, 2025 at 6:46 AM
I'm with @cosmicrami.com on this. Hands down one of the best books I've read in the last few years. An absolute banger by @moudhy.bsky.social
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
In this book @moudhy.bsky.social opens and closes with the story of Ennigaldi-Nanna — a princess and high priestess that might have curated thousands of years of her own past and history.
Moudhy’s book is today’s version of Ennigaldi-Nanna’s museum - a collection and look into ancient Mesopotamia.
Moudhy’s book is today’s version of Ennigaldi-Nanna’s museum - a collection and look into ancient Mesopotamia.
April 12, 2025 at 5:19 AM
In this book @moudhy.bsky.social opens and closes with the story of Ennigaldi-Nanna — a princess and high priestess that might have curated thousands of years of her own past and history.
Moudhy’s book is today’s version of Ennigaldi-Nanna’s museum - a collection and look into ancient Mesopotamia.
Moudhy’s book is today’s version of Ennigaldi-Nanna’s museum - a collection and look into ancient Mesopotamia.
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
Of course for me, the early beginnings of astronomy stood out. The passion and enthusiasm I have for this topic today forms a bridge that stretches thousands of years back through time to my ancestors who defined the mathematics of eclipses and recorded comets passing through their skies.
April 12, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Of course for me, the early beginnings of astronomy stood out. The passion and enthusiasm I have for this topic today forms a bridge that stretches thousands of years back through time to my ancestors who defined the mathematics of eclipses and recorded comets passing through their skies.
Reposted by Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
I had goosebumps as each chapter ended. My brain was like a Time Machine that transported me back to be an observer in each of these stories — just there, present and watching the daily lives of the people of Mesopotamia. Their joys, struggles, thinking, pain, learnings, marvel and communications.
April 12, 2025 at 5:14 AM
I had goosebumps as each chapter ended. My brain was like a Time Machine that transported me back to be an observer in each of these stories — just there, present and watching the daily lives of the people of Mesopotamia. Their joys, struggles, thinking, pain, learnings, marvel and communications.