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.
Reposted by Scott McDonough
Top of the morning.
November 10, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Top of the morning.
Reposted by Scott McDonough
Qualities of Ringdoves (recto); On the Benefits of Quails (verso), from a Manafi' al-Hayawan (On the Usefulness of Animals) of Ibn Bakhtishu' (d. 1058) https://clevelandart.org/art/1945.382
November 9, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Qualities of Ringdoves (recto); On the Benefits of Quails (verso), from a Manafi' al-Hayawan (On the Usefulness of Animals) of Ibn Bakhtishu' (d. 1058) https://clevelandart.org/art/1945.382
Reposted by Scott McDonough
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 9:23 AM
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
Curiously, I just taught about the ʿAbbāsid Caliph al-Muʿtaṣim's recruitment of Türks for his private guard yesterday. This should be a great talk at ISAW if you're in the NYC area on November 11th...
From Samarkand to Samarra: Turks in the Army of the Abbasid Caliphs (9th century CE)
This lecture will take place in person at ISAW. Registration is required; click through for the registration link. This talk will explore some of the questions and controversies surrounding the deploy...
isaw.nyu.edu
November 7, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Curiously, I just taught about the ʿAbbāsid Caliph al-Muʿtaṣim's recruitment of Türks for his private guard yesterday. This should be a great talk at ISAW if you're in the NYC area on November 11th...
Some details from the Parthian Rhyta of Old Nisa. From the State Museum of Türkmenistan in Aşgabat (Türkmenistanyň Döwlet Muzeýi).
November 4, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Some details from the Parthian Rhyta of Old Nisa. From the State Museum of Türkmenistan in Aşgabat (Türkmenistanyň Döwlet Muzeýi).
Going through my summer photos from the State Museum of Türkmenistan in Aşgabat (Türkmenistanyň Döwlet Muzeýi), which has amazing ancient collections and...contemporary art.
November 4, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Going through my summer photos from the State Museum of Türkmenistan in Aşgabat (Türkmenistanyň Döwlet Muzeýi), which has amazing ancient collections and...contemporary art.
Rhyta on parade at the State Museum of Türkmenistan in Aşgabat (Türkmenistanyň Döwlet Muzeýi).
November 4, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Rhyta on parade at the State Museum of Türkmenistan in Aşgabat (Türkmenistanyň Döwlet Muzeýi).
This vase found in the Buddhist Stupa at Merv was really snazzy. Now at the State Museum of Türkmenistan in Aşgabat (Türkmenistanyň Döwlet Muzeýi).
November 4, 2025 at 2:50 AM
This vase found in the Buddhist Stupa at Merv was really snazzy. Now at the State Museum of Türkmenistan in Aşgabat (Türkmenistanyň Döwlet Muzeýi).
Reposted by Scott McDonough
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
Reposted by Scott McDonough
1st November is All Saints' Day.
BL Add 11695; The 'Silos Apocalypse'; 1091-1109 CE; Spain, N.; ff.112v, 113r
BL Add 11695; The 'Silos Apocalypse'; 1091-1109 CE; Spain, N.; ff.112v, 113r
November 1, 2025 at 9:26 PM
1st November is All Saints' Day.
BL Add 11695; The 'Silos Apocalypse'; 1091-1109 CE; Spain, N.; ff.112v, 113r
BL Add 11695; The 'Silos Apocalypse'; 1091-1109 CE; Spain, N.; ff.112v, 113r
A bit of fall color from my morning walk.
November 2, 2025 at 1:11 AM
A bit of fall color from my morning walk.
Reposted by Scott McDonough
1st November is All Saints' Day
BnF MS Latin 1141; Sacramentarium of Charles the Bald (?); 9th century, c.869-870; ff.5v, 6r @gallicabnf.bsky.social
BnF MS Latin 1141; Sacramentarium of Charles the Bald (?); 9th century, c.869-870; ff.5v, 6r @gallicabnf.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 7:35 PM
1st November is All Saints' Day
BnF MS Latin 1141; Sacramentarium of Charles the Bald (?); 9th century, c.869-870; ff.5v, 6r @gallicabnf.bsky.social
BnF MS Latin 1141; Sacramentarium of Charles the Bald (?); 9th century, c.869-870; ff.5v, 6r @gallicabnf.bsky.social
Reposted by Scott McDonough
Roman glass cups with colourful enamel decoration of animals from the Roman arena. AD 200s.
Found in richly-furnished graves in Denmark. National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen. 📷 by me
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
Found in richly-furnished graves in Denmark. National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen. 📷 by me
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
October 31, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Roman glass cups with colourful enamel decoration of animals from the Roman arena. AD 200s.
Found in richly-furnished graves in Denmark. National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen. 📷 by me
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
Found in richly-furnished graves in Denmark. National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen. 📷 by me
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
Can anyone identify the bloated disciples on this bizarre Fodzyme ad that showed up in my Facebook feed? I'm curious if Judas snuck out before the gluten consumption...
Also, is it canonical that the Body and Blood of The Lord cause bloating?
Also, is it canonical that the Body and Blood of The Lord cause bloating?
October 30, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Can anyone identify the bloated disciples on this bizarre Fodzyme ad that showed up in my Facebook feed? I'm curious if Judas snuck out before the gluten consumption...
Also, is it canonical that the Body and Blood of The Lord cause bloating?
Also, is it canonical that the Body and Blood of The Lord cause bloating?
Reposted by Scott McDonough
The Princeton University numismatic collection integrated into the Nomisma.org Linked Open Data cloud, with almost new 3,600 coins! 💰 If you don’t know about the Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE) project (my fav of all), with many 1000s of coins and types, check it out! numismatics.org/ocre/
October 30, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The Princeton University numismatic collection integrated into the Nomisma.org Linked Open Data cloud, with almost new 3,600 coins! 💰 If you don’t know about the Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE) project (my fav of all), with many 1000s of coins and types, check it out! numismatics.org/ocre/
Reposted by Scott McDonough
Mar Awa III, patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, also born in Chicago, gave Pope Leo a Cubs jersey.
October 28, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Mar Awa III, patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, also born in Chicago, gave Pope Leo a Cubs jersey.
I was invited to Ottawa as a humble grad student to present my research. I have very warm feelings for their Classics Department and university, even if I almost froze to death due to my poor packing (thank heavens for the toque and scarf I bought at The Bay).
www.change.org/p/save-greek...
www.change.org/p/save-greek...
Sign the Petition
Save Greek and Latin at the University of Ottawa!
www.change.org
October 28, 2025 at 5:13 PM
I was invited to Ottawa as a humble grad student to present my research. I have very warm feelings for their Classics Department and university, even if I almost froze to death due to my poor packing (thank heavens for the toque and scarf I bought at The Bay).
www.change.org/p/save-greek...
www.change.org/p/save-greek...
I went to see the Tyshawn Sorey Trio yesterday (he's an alumnus of my university). I've never been much of a jazz fan, but their performance was fantastic. If you have a chance to catch them, I really encourage you to do so.
#Jazz
www.tyshawnsorey.com
#Jazz
www.tyshawnsorey.com
Tyshawn Sorey
www.tyshawnsorey.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:48 AM
I went to see the Tyshawn Sorey Trio yesterday (he's an alumnus of my university). I've never been much of a jazz fan, but their performance was fantastic. If you have a chance to catch them, I really encourage you to do so.
#Jazz
www.tyshawnsorey.com
#Jazz
www.tyshawnsorey.com
Reposted by Scott McDonough
For reasons too complex to explain here, I wrote an Apple II program designed for Early Modern Age Catholics to determine if they're allowed to have sex with their wife, or if it'd be a sin.
Here's the video of it running.
Here's the video of it running.
October 25, 2025 at 7:49 AM
For reasons too complex to explain here, I wrote an Apple II program designed for Early Modern Age Catholics to determine if they're allowed to have sex with their wife, or if it'd be a sin.
Here's the video of it running.
Here's the video of it running.
I took this photo in 2017 on the road back from Badlands National Park. I think it still holds up. Moo!
#photography
#photography
October 25, 2025 at 1:55 PM
I took this photo in 2017 on the road back from Badlands National Park. I think it still holds up. Moo!
#photography
#photography
Reposted by Scott McDonough
Been too long since I did a big silly ancient history 🧵so let's bring an old one back over from the Bad Place:
It's time for ::air horn:: Publius Ventidius Bassus, the coolest Roman you have never heard of and the only person to walk in a triumph first as captive, then as triumphing general. 1/
It's time for ::air horn:: Publius Ventidius Bassus, the coolest Roman you have never heard of and the only person to walk in a triumph first as captive, then as triumphing general. 1/
October 23, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Been too long since I did a big silly ancient history 🧵so let's bring an old one back over from the Bad Place:
It's time for ::air horn:: Publius Ventidius Bassus, the coolest Roman you have never heard of and the only person to walk in a triumph first as captive, then as triumphing general. 1/
It's time for ::air horn:: Publius Ventidius Bassus, the coolest Roman you have never heard of and the only person to walk in a triumph first as captive, then as triumphing general. 1/
Reposted by Scott McDonough
A 2nd article is also out today, w/Michele Scarlassara!
We present a previously unpublished Syriac incantation bowl from the Penn Museum, w/a formula paralleling several Mandaic bowls, w/intriguing social-historical implications
1st bowl published using spectral imaging!
brill.com/view/journal...
We present a previously unpublished Syriac incantation bowl from the Penn Museum, w/a formula paralleling several Mandaic bowls, w/intriguing social-historical implications
1st bowl published using spectral imaging!
brill.com/view/journal...
October 22, 2025 at 11:19 AM
A 2nd article is also out today, w/Michele Scarlassara!
We present a previously unpublished Syriac incantation bowl from the Penn Museum, w/a formula paralleling several Mandaic bowls, w/intriguing social-historical implications
1st bowl published using spectral imaging!
brill.com/view/journal...
We present a previously unpublished Syriac incantation bowl from the Penn Museum, w/a formula paralleling several Mandaic bowls, w/intriguing social-historical implications
1st bowl published using spectral imaging!
brill.com/view/journal...
Basically the same:
October 22, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Basically the same:
I don't even particularly like the White House, but totally demolishing its East Wing with absolutely no oversight to build a hideous monstrosity of a throne room/mortuary temple is a real cherry on top of Trump's abuse of power s%!t sundae.
The White House heard the complaints
Dismissed them as “manufactured outrage”
And kept demolishing the East Wing on Tuesday
New photo and update with @jonathanreports.bsky.social
Dismissed them as “manufactured outrage”
And kept demolishing the East Wing on Tuesday
New photo and update with @jonathanreports.bsky.social
White House continues East Wing demolition amid cries of Trump overreach
More of the structure was torn down Tuesday to make way for President Donald Trump’s planned ballroom, despite complaints about the project’s lack of transparency,
www.washingtonpost.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:35 PM
I don't even particularly like the White House, but totally demolishing its East Wing with absolutely no oversight to build a hideous monstrosity of a throne room/mortuary temple is a real cherry on top of Trump's abuse of power s%!t sundae.
Reposted by Scott McDonough
I just came across this mind-blowing reconstruction of the #Pantheon … in Lego. Not only does it accurately reflect the architecture, but it reconstructs everything with suggested polychrome decoration. The statues are ‘painted’, as are parts of the architecture. Bravo! 👏 🏺
flic.kr/s/aHBqjCxeQ1
flic.kr/s/aHBqjCxeQ1
HADRIAN’S Pantheon 124AD at ITALY BRICK EXPO
From a nearly 5,000-piece Lego Ideas project to a 17,000-piece upgrade! Hadrian's Pantheon 124AD is finally ready for the biggest Lego event ever held in ROME: "ITALY BRICK EXPO" on October ...
flic.kr
October 21, 2025 at 9:00 PM
I just came across this mind-blowing reconstruction of the #Pantheon … in Lego. Not only does it accurately reflect the architecture, but it reconstructs everything with suggested polychrome decoration. The statues are ‘painted’, as are parts of the architecture. Bravo! 👏 🏺
flic.kr/s/aHBqjCxeQ1
flic.kr/s/aHBqjCxeQ1