@ProfShakespeare
@profshakespeare.bsky.social
Professor Emerita, University of Reading; Founder & Director https://henslowe-alleyn.org.uk; Shakespeare, drama, theatre history, literature and manuscripts expert.
Between 300 and 400 works, including Egyptology journals and scientific documentation used by researchers, have been damaged by a water leak at the Louvre: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Water leak in the Louvre damages hundreds of works, museum says
Open valve in heating system affects 300 to 400 items just weeks after a brazen jewel theft raised security concerns
www.theguardian.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Between 300 and 400 works, including Egyptology journals and scientific documentation used by researchers, have been damaged by a water leak at the Louvre: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Planned strike action taking place between 8 and 12 December will affect our services including an extension to our collection access suspension. There is also the possibility of short notice disruption. Please make sure you check our latest status updates before you visit bit.ly/StrikeActionDec2025
Planned strike action in St Pancras
We have been notified of planned strike action taking place between Monday 8 and Friday 12 December 2025.
bit.ly
December 5, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Planned strike action taking place between 8 and 12 December will affect our services including an extension to our collection access suspension. There is also the possibility of short notice disruption. Please make sure you check our latest status updates before you visit bit.ly/StrikeActionDec2025
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Eternal enemies: the dragon and the elephant
BL Royal MS 12 C XIX; Bestiary with theological texts; England; c1200-c1210; f.62r
BL Royal MS 12 C XIX; Bestiary with theological texts; England; c1200-c1210; f.62r
December 5, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Eternal enemies: the dragon and the elephant
BL Royal MS 12 C XIX; Bestiary with theological texts; England; c1200-c1210; f.62r
BL Royal MS 12 C XIX; Bestiary with theological texts; England; c1200-c1210; f.62r
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
One of my most favourite glass vessels: A marvellous Roman vessel in the form of a pig, made of blue glass. It was used to hold ointment or perfume.
Found in a burial in Cologne. Dating late 2nd/early 3rd century AD
📷 Römisch-Germanisches Museum Köln
🏺 #archaeology
Found in a burial in Cologne. Dating late 2nd/early 3rd century AD
📷 Römisch-Germanisches Museum Köln
🏺 #archaeology
December 5, 2025 at 9:10 AM
One of my most favourite glass vessels: A marvellous Roman vessel in the form of a pig, made of blue glass. It was used to hold ointment or perfume.
Found in a burial in Cologne. Dating late 2nd/early 3rd century AD
📷 Römisch-Germanisches Museum Köln
🏺 #archaeology
Found in a burial in Cologne. Dating late 2nd/early 3rd century AD
📷 Römisch-Germanisches Museum Köln
🏺 #archaeology
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
The Lewis Chessmen
These 12th-century chess pieces are packed with personality, and have such charmingly expressive eyes! ♟️ 👀
From a large gaming hoard discovered on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, in 1831.
📷 by me
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
These 12th-century chess pieces are packed with personality, and have such charmingly expressive eyes! ♟️ 👀
From a large gaming hoard discovered on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, in 1831.
📷 by me
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
December 5, 2025 at 11:39 AM
The Lewis Chessmen
These 12th-century chess pieces are packed with personality, and have such charmingly expressive eyes! ♟️ 👀
From a large gaming hoard discovered on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, in 1831.
📷 by me
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
These 12th-century chess pieces are packed with personality, and have such charmingly expressive eyes! ♟️ 👀
From a large gaming hoard discovered on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, in 1831.
📷 by me
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
Going “Rock’nn’Roll”: www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/d...
Brian Cox on Tom Stoppard’s sensational Rock’n’Roll: ‘I looked through the curtain and saw Mick Jagger and Václav Havel’
The actor, who starred as a Marxist academic in the acclaimed 2006 play at the Royal Court, remembers an astonishing writer of ideas and elegance
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Going “Rock’nn’Roll”: www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/d...
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
A magnificent hidden treasure of Welsh legal history- a beautifully illustrated manuscript of the Welsh text of the laws of Hywel Dda dating from the 14th century #medievalsky
December 2, 2025 at 10:02 AM
A magnificent hidden treasure of Welsh legal history- a beautifully illustrated manuscript of the Welsh text of the laws of Hywel Dda dating from the 14th century #medievalsky
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of a #SophieFromRomania 2026 calendar! We’ve collaborated once again with our patron @rorycj.bsky.social to create a stunning A4 landscape calendar featuring 12 photos of his beloved dog (and internet sensation) Sophie! Buy now: buff.ly/903dxlY
December 2, 2025 at 10:45 AM
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of a #SophieFromRomania 2026 calendar! We’ve collaborated once again with our patron @rorycj.bsky.social to create a stunning A4 landscape calendar featuring 12 photos of his beloved dog (and internet sensation) Sophie! Buy now: buff.ly/903dxlY
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
In case you missed our first announcement, there’s still over a month to submit your abstracts 🪶
We have already received some amazing proposals, and can’t wait to put together a fantastic programme for April!
We have already received some amazing proposals, and can’t wait to put together a fantastic programme for April!
December 1, 2025 at 1:35 PM
In case you missed our first announcement, there’s still over a month to submit your abstracts 🪶
We have already received some amazing proposals, and can’t wait to put together a fantastic programme for April!
We have already received some amazing proposals, and can’t wait to put together a fantastic programme for April!
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
The incredible ‘Orkney Hood’ from Scotland! 🏴
So well preserved it looks like it was woven yesterday rather than some 1,500 years ago!
It’s thought the hood was made for a child. Found in 1867 in a peat bog in St Andrews Parish, Orkney.
National Museum of Scotland
📷 by me
#Archaeology
So well preserved it looks like it was woven yesterday rather than some 1,500 years ago!
It’s thought the hood was made for a child. Found in 1867 in a peat bog in St Andrews Parish, Orkney.
National Museum of Scotland
📷 by me
#Archaeology
December 2, 2025 at 11:19 AM
The incredible ‘Orkney Hood’ from Scotland! 🏴
So well preserved it looks like it was woven yesterday rather than some 1,500 years ago!
It’s thought the hood was made for a child. Found in 1867 in a peat bog in St Andrews Parish, Orkney.
National Museum of Scotland
📷 by me
#Archaeology
So well preserved it looks like it was woven yesterday rather than some 1,500 years ago!
It’s thought the hood was made for a child. Found in 1867 in a peat bog in St Andrews Parish, Orkney.
National Museum of Scotland
📷 by me
#Archaeology
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Yes, the rumours are true (sorry). I'm back at Leeds next July for #IMC2026, speaking on praemunire no less, nearly a decade after I completed the PhD. No, I don't know how it's been a decade. And no, I haven't published the book yet. Have you been speaking to my old PhD supervisor?
December 3, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Yes, the rumours are true (sorry). I'm back at Leeds next July for #IMC2026, speaking on praemunire no less, nearly a decade after I completed the PhD. No, I don't know how it's been a decade. And no, I haven't published the book yet. Have you been speaking to my old PhD supervisor?
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Our services will be affected between 8 and 12 December due to planned strike action at our St Pancras site. This includes an extension to our current collection access suspension.
To check what’s impacted, please visit our website. bit.ly/StrikeAction...
To check what’s impacted, please visit our website. bit.ly/StrikeAction...
Planned strike action in St Pancras
We have been notified of planned strike action taking place between Monday 8 and Friday 12 December 2025.
bit.ly
December 3, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Our services will be affected between 8 and 12 December due to planned strike action at our St Pancras site. This includes an extension to our current collection access suspension.
To check what’s impacted, please visit our website. bit.ly/StrikeAction...
To check what’s impacted, please visit our website. bit.ly/StrikeAction...
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
2/2 Exceptional roses. Don’t they cheer up your day?
December 3, 2025 at 4:03 PM
2/2 Exceptional roses. Don’t they cheer up your day?
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Cats may have arrived in Europe just 2,000 years ago! Felines were revered in Egypt, and new research indicates that the genomes of modern domestic cats are closely related to wildcats from North Africa.
archaeology.org/news/2025/12/03/genetic-study-offers-new-thoughts-on-cat-domestication/
archaeology.org/news/2025/12/03/genetic-study-offers-new-thoughts-on-cat-domestication/
December 3, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Cats may have arrived in Europe just 2,000 years ago! Felines were revered in Egypt, and new research indicates that the genomes of modern domestic cats are closely related to wildcats from North Africa.
archaeology.org/news/2025/12/03/genetic-study-offers-new-thoughts-on-cat-domestication/
archaeology.org/news/2025/12/03/genetic-study-offers-new-thoughts-on-cat-domestication/
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
A new discovery has revealed gold-decorated iron lances that were sacrificed at a sacred spring in modern-day Boeslunde approximately 2800 years ago.
Iron weapons with similar gold decoration from this period are unusual and without parallel in all of Northern Europe.
vestmuseum.dk/en/nyt-fund-...
Iron weapons with similar gold decoration from this period are unusual and without parallel in all of Northern Europe.
vestmuseum.dk/en/nyt-fund-...
December 3, 2025 at 9:40 PM
A new discovery has revealed gold-decorated iron lances that were sacrificed at a sacred spring in modern-day Boeslunde approximately 2800 years ago.
Iron weapons with similar gold decoration from this period are unusual and without parallel in all of Northern Europe.
vestmuseum.dk/en/nyt-fund-...
Iron weapons with similar gold decoration from this period are unusual and without parallel in all of Northern Europe.
vestmuseum.dk/en/nyt-fund-...
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me: two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. Ate them.
December 2, 2025 at 9:01 AM
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me: two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. Ate them.
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree. Ate it.
December 1, 2025 at 8:27 AM
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree. Ate it.
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me: three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. Ate them. Ooh la la.
December 3, 2025 at 9:25 AM
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me: three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. Ate them. Ooh la la.
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. They're not calling anymore. Ate them.
December 4, 2025 at 9:03 AM
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. They're not calling anymore. Ate them.
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Shells found in Spain could be among oldest known musical instruments.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Shells found in Spain could be among oldest known musical instruments
Conch-shell trumpets discovered in Neolithic settlements and mines in Catalonia make tone similar to french horn, says lead researcher
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Shells found in Spain could be among oldest known musical instruments.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Somewhere in a Roman brickyard, around 1800 years ago, a fresh tile was drying ahead of firing - until a dog trotted straight across it.
Centuries later, the tile has made it into a museum: not because of an emperor, but thanks to one dog who accidentally walked his way into history.🧵1/2
📷me
Centuries later, the tile has made it into a museum: not because of an emperor, but thanks to one dog who accidentally walked his way into history.🧵1/2
📷me
December 2, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Somewhere in a Roman brickyard, around 1800 years ago, a fresh tile was drying ahead of firing - until a dog trotted straight across it.
Centuries later, the tile has made it into a museum: not because of an emperor, but thanks to one dog who accidentally walked his way into history.🧵1/2
📷me
Centuries later, the tile has made it into a museum: not because of an emperor, but thanks to one dog who accidentally walked his way into history.🧵1/2
📷me
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
This charming Christmas card depicts Dick Whittington (S PAM 808) (19--) Our library was founded by money left by the real Whittington in 1425, so a nice connection.
A lovely detail is the flap that opens up to reveal his cat. On the back is the inscription "Harold, love from Kitty"🎄
A lovely detail is the flap that opens up to reveal his cat. On the back is the inscription "Harold, love from Kitty"🎄
December 2, 2025 at 4:58 PM
This charming Christmas card depicts Dick Whittington (S PAM 808) (19--) Our library was founded by money left by the real Whittington in 1425, so a nice connection.
A lovely detail is the flap that opens up to reveal his cat. On the back is the inscription "Harold, love from Kitty"🎄
A lovely detail is the flap that opens up to reveal his cat. On the back is the inscription "Harold, love from Kitty"🎄
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Tom Stoppard, playwright of dazzling wit and playful erudition, dies aged 88
Tom Stoppard, playwright of dazzling wit and playful erudition, dies aged 88
A theatrical sensation since the 1960s, whose dramas included Arcadia, The Real Thing and Leopoldstadt, Stoppard also had huge success as a screenwriter
The playwright Tom Stoppard, whose playful erudition dazzled the theatregoing world for decades, has died aged 88.
One of a select band of writers from any discipline to earn his own adjective – “Stoppardian” – in the Oxford English Dictionary, he delighted in the most improbable juxtapositions: philosophy and gymnastics in Jumpers (1972); early 19th-century landscape gardening and chaos theory in Arcadia (1993); rock music, dissident Czech academics and the love poetry of Sappho in Rock ’n’ Roll (2006). Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Tom Stoppard, playwright of dazzling wit and playful erudition, dies aged 88
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
My cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com books.
Lots more here: www.theguardian.com/books/series/tom-gauld-s-cultural-cartoons
Lots more here: www.theguardian.com/books/series/tom-gauld-s-cultural-cartoons
November 29, 2025 at 11:59 AM
My cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com books.
Lots more here: www.theguardian.com/books/series/tom-gauld-s-cultural-cartoons
Lots more here: www.theguardian.com/books/series/tom-gauld-s-cultural-cartoons