Scott McDonough
@sjmcdonough.bsky.social
Historian of the late ancient world: Sasanian Iran, the Caucasus, and the Eastern Roman Empire. Professor at William Paterson University. I like cats, photography, and sweet cabbage pierogi.
Hello, my name is Scott and I'm a tetradrachm-o-holic...
![Obverses of three tetradrachms, 2 Seleucid (above) and one Indo-Greek (below). Seleucid coins feature right-facing busts wearing diadems. The Indo-Greek coin has right facing bust wearing plumed helmet, with Greek inscription "King [and] Savior Menander."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:djy7i7upruyt3kzaczq6fs3p/bafkreifrt7mhsppbscjwjhj7rphhudpuw2xayfzri3j5mcdmo6mjvl5opy@jpeg)
![Reverses.
Top left, standing figure of Zeus with Greek inscription "King Antiochus [God] Manifest."
Top right, seated figure of Zeus with Greek inscription, "King Philip [God] Manifest Philadelphos"
Bottom: Standing figure of Athena with Karsoshthi inscription, "Great King Menamdrasa, Savior"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:djy7i7upruyt3kzaczq6fs3p/bafkreicrjihq4c37huareak3hzcab6xisatdc3wqpcrbigq2dyfl7kwbie@jpeg)
February 14, 2026 at 1:06 AM
Hello, my name is Scott and I'm a tetradrachm-o-holic...
Reposted by Scott McDonough
My 2 cents about The Atlantic’s Mellon Foundation polemic and humanities funding:
Beyond its specious content, the article illustrates something truly dangerous: the normalization of conspiratorial tropes about externally funded research in universities originally seen in extremist propaganda. 1/5
Beyond its specious content, the article illustrates something truly dangerous: the normalization of conspiratorial tropes about externally funded research in universities originally seen in extremist propaganda. 1/5
February 13, 2026 at 10:02 PM
My 2 cents about The Atlantic’s Mellon Foundation polemic and humanities funding:
Beyond its specious content, the article illustrates something truly dangerous: the normalization of conspiratorial tropes about externally funded research in universities originally seen in extremist propaganda. 1/5
Beyond its specious content, the article illustrates something truly dangerous: the normalization of conspiratorial tropes about externally funded research in universities originally seen in extremist propaganda. 1/5
Reposted by Scott McDonough
Never forget the anniversary of King Taejong falling off his horse!
February 8, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Never forget the anniversary of King Taejong falling off his horse!
Reposted by Scott McDonough
February 7, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Reposted by Scott McDonough
February 7, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Reposted by Scott McDonough
We put on an all-Yiddish community production of fiddler on the roof in Philadelphia and cast member and local artist Sofie Rose Seymour created the most amazing show poster that ever was
February 6, 2026 at 5:10 AM
We put on an all-Yiddish community production of fiddler on the roof in Philadelphia and cast member and local artist Sofie Rose Seymour created the most amazing show poster that ever was
Reposted by Scott McDonough
This is Maria, a 6-year-old detained by ICE last year.
She began to unravel soon after arriving at a detention center in Texas, wetting the bed after years without accidents, crying through the night and begging to breastfeed again.
Most of all, she wanted to be reunited with her cat, Milo. 1/
She began to unravel soon after arriving at a detention center in Texas, wetting the bed after years without accidents, crying through the night and begging to breastfeed again.
Most of all, she wanted to be reunited with her cat, Milo. 1/
February 6, 2026 at 6:25 PM
This is Maria, a 6-year-old detained by ICE last year.
She began to unravel soon after arriving at a detention center in Texas, wetting the bed after years without accidents, crying through the night and begging to breastfeed again.
Most of all, she wanted to be reunited with her cat, Milo. 1/
She began to unravel soon after arriving at a detention center in Texas, wetting the bed after years without accidents, crying through the night and begging to breastfeed again.
Most of all, she wanted to be reunited with her cat, Milo. 1/
My Internet searches to find images of "Yaz I" archaeological sites in Central Asia are not yielding results.
However, I now know that the writers of "Situation" are called Yazoo outside of North America.
But they do not found small, rural settlements, and presumably they inhume their dead.
However, I now know that the writers of "Situation" are called Yazoo outside of North America.
But they do not found small, rural settlements, and presumably they inhume their dead.
![Cover of Yaz[oo] album "Upstairs at Eric's"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:djy7i7upruyt3kzaczq6fs3p/bafkreihdmpgfcczd6egmpk3jf6tfmyz63w5rfkiljhf3xmdxj7qwr4gws4@jpeg)
February 7, 2026 at 1:58 AM
My Internet searches to find images of "Yaz I" archaeological sites in Central Asia are not yielding results.
However, I now know that the writers of "Situation" are called Yazoo outside of North America.
But they do not found small, rural settlements, and presumably they inhume their dead.
However, I now know that the writers of "Situation" are called Yazoo outside of North America.
But they do not found small, rural settlements, and presumably they inhume their dead.
Reposted by Scott McDonough
The public made noise for Liam Ramos and it got him released from Dilley.
Now we must make noise for 7 year old Diana Crespo.
Her parents were taking her for emergency medical care when ICE grabbed them, and she’s rotting in the camp sick and exposed to measles.
Get them out!
Now we must make noise for 7 year old Diana Crespo.
Her parents were taking her for emergency medical care when ICE grabbed them, and she’s rotting in the camp sick and exposed to measles.
Get them out!
February 6, 2026 at 12:08 AM
The public made noise for Liam Ramos and it got him released from Dilley.
Now we must make noise for 7 year old Diana Crespo.
Her parents were taking her for emergency medical care when ICE grabbed them, and she’s rotting in the camp sick and exposed to measles.
Get them out!
Now we must make noise for 7 year old Diana Crespo.
Her parents were taking her for emergency medical care when ICE grabbed them, and she’s rotting in the camp sick and exposed to measles.
Get them out!
Reposted by Scott McDonough
A wonderful find of a new Syriac Chronicle covering the 7th century and much more. Arabic has treasures to share. All we have to do is go and look.
February 5, 2026 at 9:08 PM
A wonderful find of a new Syriac Chronicle covering the 7th century and much more. Arabic has treasures to share. All we have to do is go and look.
Any suggestions for (very) short trips out of Santa Fe? I have a conference there in April and was thinking of flying into ABQ and renting a car. I've been considering:
Abiquiu/Ghost Ranch
Puye Cliff Dwellings
Bandelier National Monument
I've seen Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, which were spectacular
Abiquiu/Ghost Ranch
Puye Cliff Dwellings
Bandelier National Monument
I've seen Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, which were spectacular
February 5, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Any suggestions for (very) short trips out of Santa Fe? I have a conference there in April and was thinking of flying into ABQ and renting a car. I've been considering:
Abiquiu/Ghost Ranch
Puye Cliff Dwellings
Bandelier National Monument
I've seen Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, which were spectacular
Abiquiu/Ghost Ranch
Puye Cliff Dwellings
Bandelier National Monument
I've seen Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, which were spectacular
It's astonishing how quickly some things can be resolved with a phone call (something I will never do without prompting).
February 4, 2026 at 6:06 PM
It's astonishing how quickly some things can be resolved with a phone call (something I will never do without prompting).
Reposted by Scott McDonough
Manuscripts tell stories of borders, upheaval, and resilience. On February 25 (11am CT), Dr. Josh Mugler shares ways that manuscripts bear witness to the consequences of partition and how we can reconnect what was thought to be lost.
RSVP for this free, virtual program: hmml.org/events
RSVP for this free, virtual program: hmml.org/events
February 3, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Manuscripts tell stories of borders, upheaval, and resilience. On February 25 (11am CT), Dr. Josh Mugler shares ways that manuscripts bear witness to the consequences of partition and how we can reconnect what was thought to be lost.
RSVP for this free, virtual program: hmml.org/events
RSVP for this free, virtual program: hmml.org/events
Reposted by Scott McDonough
Some very interesting reading from @cjg70.bsky.social and Ben Savill! academic.oup.com/past/advance...
Papyrus Economies and the Experience of Early Medieval Papal Documents*
Abstract. The medium of papyrus, a ubiquitous, state-sponsored product in the Roman world, was turned by the empire’s loss of Egypt in the 630s–640s into a
academic.oup.com
January 31, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Some very interesting reading from @cjg70.bsky.social and Ben Savill! academic.oup.com/past/advance...
How many different "Pompeii of the..." formulations have you encountered?
Akrotiri, Pompeii of the Aegean
Panjikent, the Central Asian Pompeii
Joya de Cerén, Pompeii of the Americas
Lajia, China's Pompeii
Hasanlu Tepe, Pompeii of Iran (Iron Age)
Shahr-e Sukhteh, Pompeii of Iran (Bronze Age)
1/
Akrotiri, Pompeii of the Aegean
Panjikent, the Central Asian Pompeii
Joya de Cerén, Pompeii of the Americas
Lajia, China's Pompeii
Hasanlu Tepe, Pompeii of Iran (Iron Age)
Shahr-e Sukhteh, Pompeii of Iran (Bronze Age)
1/
January 31, 2026 at 6:33 PM
How many different "Pompeii of the..." formulations have you encountered?
Akrotiri, Pompeii of the Aegean
Panjikent, the Central Asian Pompeii
Joya de Cerén, Pompeii of the Americas
Lajia, China's Pompeii
Hasanlu Tepe, Pompeii of Iran (Iron Age)
Shahr-e Sukhteh, Pompeii of Iran (Bronze Age)
1/
Akrotiri, Pompeii of the Aegean
Panjikent, the Central Asian Pompeii
Joya de Cerén, Pompeii of the Americas
Lajia, China's Pompeii
Hasanlu Tepe, Pompeii of Iran (Iron Age)
Shahr-e Sukhteh, Pompeii of Iran (Bronze Age)
1/
Reposted by Scott McDonough
~ chasing a beautiful supercell thunderstorm across south-central Nebraska on July 1st of 2024 ~
January 30, 2026 at 5:35 AM
~ chasing a beautiful supercell thunderstorm across south-central Nebraska on July 1st of 2024 ~
What is the story is with the big foot on this provincial coin of Trajan Decius? Did the Isindians have a foot idol in their local temple? Something in the Odyssey with Achilles' Elephantiasis? A reference only found in Pausanius' lost Description of Asia? Inquiring minds want to know.
#Numismatics
#Numismatics
January 28, 2026 at 2:11 AM
What is the story is with the big foot on this provincial coin of Trajan Decius? Did the Isindians have a foot idol in their local temple? Something in the Odyssey with Achilles' Elephantiasis? A reference only found in Pausanius' lost Description of Asia? Inquiring minds want to know.
#Numismatics
#Numismatics
Mosaics of Hisham's Palace/Qaṣr Hishām/Khirbat al-Mafjar near Jericho.
#MosaicMonday
#MosaicMonday
January 26, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Mosaics of Hisham's Palace/Qaṣr Hishām/Khirbat al-Mafjar near Jericho.
#MosaicMonday
#MosaicMonday
Why do I find it so much more disappointing that Column of Arcadius in Istanbul/Constantinople survived until 1719, than if it had just been lost in antiquity?
January 24, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Why do I find it so much more disappointing that Column of Arcadius in Istanbul/Constantinople survived until 1719, than if it had just been lost in antiquity?
Reposted by Scott McDonough
🎉 publication day! 🎉
editions & translations of the correspondence btw Umar b. Abd al-Aziz and Leo the Isaurian in medieval Latin, Christian Arabic, Muslim Arabic, Aljamiado, Armenian & early modern Latin. plus the intro to explain how they're all related!
open access & available here:
editions & translations of the correspondence btw Umar b. Abd al-Aziz and Leo the Isaurian in medieval Latin, Christian Arabic, Muslim Arabic, Aljamiado, Armenian & early modern Latin. plus the intro to explain how they're all related!
open access & available here:
January 23, 2026 at 8:37 PM
🎉 publication day! 🎉
editions & translations of the correspondence btw Umar b. Abd al-Aziz and Leo the Isaurian in medieval Latin, Christian Arabic, Muslim Arabic, Aljamiado, Armenian & early modern Latin. plus the intro to explain how they're all related!
open access & available here:
editions & translations of the correspondence btw Umar b. Abd al-Aziz and Leo the Isaurian in medieval Latin, Christian Arabic, Muslim Arabic, Aljamiado, Armenian & early modern Latin. plus the intro to explain how they're all related!
open access & available here:
Reposted by Scott McDonough
And Then Sunset
#photography #travel #iphone #Scape #Arizona #landscape #GrandCanyon #EastCoastKin #Sunset
I nor any of my camera gear fell into the giant hole
Again not the best photo of not the best sunset, but I will be back at it this morning
Hopi Point, Grand Canyon, Arizona - Jan 22 2026
#photography #travel #iphone #Scape #Arizona #landscape #GrandCanyon #EastCoastKin #Sunset
I nor any of my camera gear fell into the giant hole
Again not the best photo of not the best sunset, but I will be back at it this morning
Hopi Point, Grand Canyon, Arizona - Jan 22 2026
January 23, 2026 at 1:31 PM
And Then Sunset
#photography #travel #iphone #Scape #Arizona #landscape #GrandCanyon #EastCoastKin #Sunset
I nor any of my camera gear fell into the giant hole
Again not the best photo of not the best sunset, but I will be back at it this morning
Hopi Point, Grand Canyon, Arizona - Jan 22 2026
#photography #travel #iphone #Scape #Arizona #landscape #GrandCanyon #EastCoastKin #Sunset
I nor any of my camera gear fell into the giant hole
Again not the best photo of not the best sunset, but I will be back at it this morning
Hopi Point, Grand Canyon, Arizona - Jan 22 2026
So, Harrassowitz didn't send me a shipping notification, and USPS never gave me a failed delivery notice, but this is at last in my hands a few weeks late!
This monograph is a wonderful 880 page, 1.6kg brick, and my Winter Break ends tomorrow, but I'll do my best...
#Sasanian
#Zoroastrianism
This monograph is a wonderful 880 page, 1.6kg brick, and my Winter Break ends tomorrow, but I'll do my best...
#Sasanian
#Zoroastrianism
January 20, 2026 at 5:18 PM
So, Harrassowitz didn't send me a shipping notification, and USPS never gave me a failed delivery notice, but this is at last in my hands a few weeks late!
This monograph is a wonderful 880 page, 1.6kg brick, and my Winter Break ends tomorrow, but I'll do my best...
#Sasanian
#Zoroastrianism
This monograph is a wonderful 880 page, 1.6kg brick, and my Winter Break ends tomorrow, but I'll do my best...
#Sasanian
#Zoroastrianism
I'm teaching my "Silk Road" class this semester, so I can trot out this image again.
January 19, 2026 at 10:20 PM
I'm teaching my "Silk Road" class this semester, so I can trot out this image again.
Reposted by Scott McDonough
#AncientSiteSunday - Bishapur, a Sasanian city in the Fars region of Iran, located on the road that connected the Sasanian capitals of Istakhr and Ctesiphon. The site is known for its Sasanian-era bas-reliefs and the ruins of a royal city.
followinghadrianphotography.com/2020/09/30/b...
followinghadrianphotography.com/2020/09/30/b...
January 18, 2026 at 2:54 PM
#AncientSiteSunday - Bishapur, a Sasanian city in the Fars region of Iran, located on the road that connected the Sasanian capitals of Istakhr and Ctesiphon. The site is known for its Sasanian-era bas-reliefs and the ruins of a royal city.
followinghadrianphotography.com/2020/09/30/b...
followinghadrianphotography.com/2020/09/30/b...
Additions to my teaching collection of ancient coins from the NYINC yesterday.
Fifth, and finally, I got a silver tetradrachm of the Indo-Greek king Menander I Soter (c. 165/155[6]–130 BCE). I use images of this coin all the time in my classes. 1/
Fifth, and finally, I got a silver tetradrachm of the Indo-Greek king Menander I Soter (c. 165/155[6]–130 BCE). I use images of this coin all the time in my classes. 1/
January 17, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Additions to my teaching collection of ancient coins from the NYINC yesterday.
Fifth, and finally, I got a silver tetradrachm of the Indo-Greek king Menander I Soter (c. 165/155[6]–130 BCE). I use images of this coin all the time in my classes. 1/
Fifth, and finally, I got a silver tetradrachm of the Indo-Greek king Menander I Soter (c. 165/155[6]–130 BCE). I use images of this coin all the time in my classes. 1/