Simon Bralee
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simonbralee.com
Simon Bralee
@simonbralee.com
3.4K followers 870 following 530 posts
Advocate for arts and humanities. I believe in the importance of sharing the stories of research to create impact outside of universities. Comms professional and history postgrad researching Anubis in the Roman World. 🏛️🐍
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Reposted by Simon Bralee
uclarchaeology.bsky.social
Happy 200th Birthday to @ucl.ac.uk As part of the celebrations we will be posting 200 artefacts & objects from the IoA & @archsoutheast.bsky.social

Day 1: this c.200,000 year old Levallois flake from Baker's Hole in the Thames Valley.

#UCL200
A Levallois flake is held by Dr Matthew Pope who is wearing purple gloves. The text on the image reads: Happy 200th Birthday to UCL! As part of the celebrations we will be posting 200 artefacts & objects from the IoA. Day 1: this c.200,000 year old Levallois flake from Baker's Hole in the Thames Valley. Find out more in our stories!
February 11, 2026 at 1:44 PM
simonbralee.com
If you're interested in history, then watch out for some great events, exhibitions and books from UCL this year to mark its bicentenary.
ucl.ac.uk UCL @ucl.ac.uk · 8h
Today, UCL turns 200. 🎉 For two centuries, our community has opened doors, challenged convention and pushed the boundaries of knowledge across every discipline. Thank you to everyone who’s been part of the UCL story, here’s to the next century. ✨

#UCL200 #LoveUCL
February 11, 2026 at 1:42 PM
simonbralee.com
Heinrich Schliemann, business man and excavator extraordinaire, translated Homer's description of the Trojan cult statue of Athena glaukopis as owl-faced. He identified these owl pots with the goddess and on this assumption concluded he had found the legendary city of Troy #SuperbOwl #AncientBluesky
A clay pot with a vaguely owl-like head with beak and eyes. It has a round body with handles which are positioned where the wings or arms would go and two domes positioned to resemble stylised breasts, which might suggest it’s not a bird or not just a bird.
February 8, 2026 at 7:45 PM
simonbralee.com
Not the best photo, but this tiny figurine of the god Mercury clutching his purse was found on the banks of the River Thames, perhaps lost off board a ship or someone’s person. It may also have been intentionally dropped. Mercury protected merchants, thieves, dead souls and more 🏺 #AncientBluesky
A bronze statuette of the god Mercury wearing a winged helmet and holding a money pouch. He is mounted in a museum, part of the Museum of the Docklands Mudlarking exhibition.
February 7, 2026 at 6:34 PM
simonbralee.com
The golden bull man of Sicily. A tetradrachm depicting the river-god Gelas, patron deity of Gela, Sicily. 5th century BCE. A fascinating image of one of the many animal-shaped divinities from Mediterranean antiquity 🏺 #AncientBluesky
A gold coin depicting a bull with bearded human face. Greek letters at the top of the coin spell out Gelas.
February 5, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Reposted by Simon Bralee
dsaarchaeology.bsky.social
So, does the Artemis crew realize what they are signing up for? #MoonSphinx
February 5, 2026 at 3:34 PM
simonbralee.com
This article shows very clearly the short sightedness of current higher education ‘policy’. Universities are vital sources of social, economic and cultural regeneration which is also equitable. The loss of institutions is devastating to individuals and communities. A very difficult read.
‘If I think about what this means, I want to cry’: what happens when a city loses its university?
When Essex University’s Southend campus opened, it was a message of hope for a ‘left behind’ UK seaside town. Its closure will be felt far beyond its 800 students, some of whom will not get their degr...
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:31 AM
simonbralee.com
Gorgeous hair lovingly carved on the grauwacke head of the god Serapis, from Alexandria, 2nd century CE, now held in Munich #AncientBluesky
A black stone head with curly hair and beard intricately carved out. Upon his head, a calathos, the holy grain-weight of the god Serapis.
February 2, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Reposted by Simon Bralee
chapps.bsky.social
Have you ever wondered what Romans used as a monetary X system before the introduction of coins? Feast your eyes on these two early Republic aes signatum bronze currency bars, one with the image of a bull, the other an elephant. Not marked with value, a somewhat confusing system. 🏺 1/ 📸 me
In the time of the early Republic, before the adoption of a formal coinage system, the Romans used flat bronze currency bars. This example - with a relief of a bull on both sides - is known as aes signatum (Latin, literally 'stamped bronze'), usually weighing around five Roman pounds. The value of these bars isn't known, and they weren't standardized. They were in use from the 5th century BCE until the mid-3rd century BCE, when they were replaced by the first Roman coin, the aes grave. The ancient writer Livy (4.60.6) records how wealthier taxpayers: '...were first to contribute; and because there was as yet no coined silver, some of them conveyed their weighed brass to the treasury in wagons, rendering their contribution very showy.' Roman Republican, ca. 280-250 BCE. Minted in Rome. British Museum, London (1978,0721.1) Relief of an elephant in profile on this bronze currency bars, facing right, his trunk held upwards in an S shape. He or she also has tusks. In the time of the early Republic, before the adoption of a formal coinage system, the Romans used flat bronze currency bars. The weight fluctuated and there's no agreed-upon value, but in the modern era this particular denomination - with an elephant on the obverse, and a sow on the reverse - is known as aes signatum (Latin, literally 'stamped bronze'), usually weighing around five Roman pounds. These were in use from the 5th century BCE until the mid-3rd century BCE, when they were replaced by the first Roman coins, the aes grave. Minted in Rome about 275 BCE. British Museum, London (1867,0212.1)
January 29, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Reposted by Simon Bralee
charlotlaveau.bsky.social
Statue of Goddess Isis the Magician represented as a triple headed goddess
copper alloy statue of femme figure with three heads
January 28, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by Simon Bralee
brucespringsteen.net
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Simon Bralee
chapps.bsky.social
Almost unimaginable parade armor - a helmet and cuirass - made from the skin of a crocodile. Roman soldiers were particularly attracted to the crocodile cult in Egypt, and this armor was probably used in cult processions. 🐊 🏺 1/

Manfalout, Egypt, 3rd-4th c. CE. #BritishMuseum #ancientbluesky 📸 me
Suit of armor - helmet and cuirass (body armor) - made from a single crocodile skin. The cuirass has the spiky belly of the crocodile, and the helmet clearly comes from the head of the beast. The scaly armor is very dark brown, with some lighter brown highlights.
January 24, 2026 at 6:01 PM
simonbralee.com
Although a purely culinary item this pig-shaped pie mould from Pompeii reminds me of the cakes shaped in the forms of animals linked to Seth (pigs, donkeys, crocodiles), which ancient Egyptians ate to show that evil will be defeated and justice when it comes, will be delicious. 🏺 #AncientBluesky
A bronze mould in the shapes of a pig side on.
January 25, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by Simon Bralee
drnwillburger.bsky.social
Given the news, it seems appropriate to share this photograph once more. Feel free to share.

Hand of a gilded bronze statue of an Roman emperor.

From Kempten, 1st to 3rd c. AD
On display at Archäologische Staatssammlung

📷 me
A large bronze hand is displayed in a museum, with its middle finger extended while the other fingers except the thumb are broken or missing
January 25, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Reposted by Simon Bralee
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
And if he had played no role at all in helping people, he would still merit the right to life under the rule of law and his wrongful death would still be murder. In our shared humanity we are all equals.
January 24, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Reposted by Simon Bralee
jackjenkins.me
As clergy pray, arrests begin
January 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM
simonbralee.com
Although it’s going through a difficult time, I don’t think I could ever lose faith with the country of Dylan. Solidarity with his home state today as they collectively, powerfully and peacefully face down the ICE facists, showing us all how to do it.
Minnesotans strike to protest ICE surge in state: ‘No work, no school, no shopping’
Organizers demand ICE leave state and agency be investigated for constitutional violations
www.theguardian.com
January 23, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Simon Bralee
partialhistorians.bsky.social
✨Pan riding an ithyphallic mule✨

The Greek god Pan was connected with flocks and shepherds so it perhaps only fitting that he is depicted here upon a mule, who is faithfully rendered complete with phallus.
The relief shows Pan astride a mule walking past a column. Before them is a tree with an excited dog attempting to reach a small figure of Priapus who is bearded and holding a cornucopia.
January 22, 2026 at 6:15 AM
simonbralee.com
That’ll do pig. A small bronze figurine of a boar, rendered so realistically you can see the scowl on its face and the individual hair and bristles shaped almost like a porcine combover.

From Colchester, Roman period.

#AncientBluesky
A small bronze figurine of a crouching pig.
January 22, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Reposted by Simon Bralee
wittspat.bsky.social
A certain Iron Age boar has been attracting attention recently, so for this #MosaicMonday here's a perky Roman boar. He's from the wonderful Triumph of Neptune and the Seasons mosaic from La Chebba, now in the Bardo in Tunis, and he represents Winter.
#AncientBlueSky 🏺
A detail from a Roman mosaic showing a boar in profile with his head to the right, emerging from reeds. The boar is realistically drawn in detail, with his short tail, ridge fur and tusk shown. Below his feet are shadows to indicate that he is moving.
January 19, 2026 at 10:36 AM
Reposted by Simon Bralee
ideasroadshow.bsky.social
👣 Love this Bowl with Human Feet which is almost 6,000 years old! Egypt, Nile clay, ca. 3700–3450 B.C.

The bowl which has a beautiful polished surface is very similar in form to the Egyptian hieroglyph meaning "to bring."

🏛️ Met

🏺 🗃️ #arthistory #skystorians #ancientbluesky #archaeology #Egypt
Bowl with Human Feet. This simple, round bowl, tipped slightly forward as if to offer its contents, has two such feet solidly attached to its underside
January 14, 2026 at 8:29 AM
simonbralee.com
Jacob Epstein’s Primeval Gods and Sun God from 1910, carved either side of a Hoptonwood stone block. Inspired by the Egyptian sculpture in the British Museum, it is currently on loan from the Met and on display in Tate Britain. International connections.
A relief carving on a square stone block depicting a colossal, monolithicesque human figure facing head on. Its belly contains a tumbling figures and another human figure with hands on head resembling a scarab beetle. A relief carving on a square block of a human figure with stretched out limbs and prominent member male. The figure’s hair emanates from his head like solar rays.
January 18, 2026 at 7:58 PM
simonbralee.com
We all shine on, like the moon and Serapis and the sun.

Oil lamp with image of the god Serapis between a crescent moon and a star or sun. Made in Ephesus, said to be Egyptian, about 100-150 CE. Currently held by British Museum 🏺 #AncientBluesky #Egyptology
A fragmentary mould-made lamp, depicting a bust of the gnarly bearded god Sarapis emerging from a lotus leaves, flanked by a crescent-moon and star or sun.
January 14, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Reposted by Simon Bralee
anthonymajanlahti.bsky.social
#MosaicMonday brings us to #Roman #Carthage in 375 CE, to a well-appointed #domus with a floor #mosaic showing the #seasons and #months. This fragment now in the #BritishMuseum shows #November as a priestess of #Isis, with a #sistrum in her hand. See the ALT text for why. #AncientBluesky 🏺
FLOOR MOSAIC OF THE MONTHS, FRAGMENT WITH NOVEMBER AS ISIS, 375 CE. THE BRITISH MUSEUM This fragment was part of a large floor mosaic depicting the months and seasons, from a wealthy domus in Carthage 2.0, the Roman version, which was the main city of Roman North Africa. The female figure represents November, which we know because she is holding a sistrum, a kind of rattle used in Isaic ceremonies. The main festival for Roman worshippers of Isis was the Isia, which occupied the last days of October and the first day of November. It was a long celebration that may have influenced the Christian feast of Easter: the first days were full of wailing and mourning for the death of Osiris, who had died at the hand of the evil god Set. The body of Osiris was cut into pieces and scattered across Egypt. Isis set out to gather them and reassemble her husband, and November 1 was the Heuresis or "finding", when Osiris returned to life and all was joyous. November 3 was the Hilaria or day of joy.
January 12, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by Simon Bralee
chapps.bsky.social
This engraved Romano-Egyptian magical gem (green jasper) depicts the Egyptian god and psychopomp Anubis holding an ointment jar and standing over a lion-shaped bier. The mummified body of Osiris lies on top. 💀🏺 #ancientbluesky 1/

100-125 CE. #GettyVilla
📸 me
Oval green jasper gemstone with an engraved scene of the jackal-headed god Anubis standing behind a funerary bier, which is shaped like a striding lion. Anubis holds an ointment jar over the mummified body of his father, Anubis, who is fully wrapped in bandages.
January 11, 2026 at 1:28 AM